Himannv
Full Member
Gio's Starting XI
vs
EAP's Starting XI
Gio's Tactics
TEAM
Our defence comprises one half of a potential all-time France XI in Manuel Bossis and Laurent Blanc. Sol Campbell is a natural Desailly-esque partner for Blanc and both have substantial experience taming many of the great attackers of the 1990s and early 2000s. On the right is Leandro who is arguably the most under-rated of all Brazilian full-backs, and who just gets better every time I watch him for Flamengo and the Selecao. Both Leandro and Bossis are well versed playing as width-providing full-backs in narrow systems, given their role for Brazil and France respectively. Indeed both were often the solitary sources of genuine width (with in-cutting Junior on the other flank; often the converted CB Battiston for France on the other side) in their distinctive national sides.
Our midfield trio blends craft, defensive steel and attacking thrust. Deputising for the injured Masopust, Gerson comes in to form a natural partnership with Tito Goncalves that should work in a similar way to his successful tandem with Clodoaldo. Both were the premium South American midfielders of the 1960s with Goncalves all-conquering at club level for Penarol and Gerson on fire for Brazil in 1970. Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard provides dig and quality and will relish the Alonso/Mascherano-esque platform in Gerson/Goncalves to bomb forward.
Ahead are the two 10s in Zinedine Zidane and Florian Albert. Both beautifully elegant but crucially contrasting in styles - Zidane floating and dancing around midfielders, Albert more vertical and direct. Both put Brazil to the sword in swashbuckling fashion in World Cups with three of the most famous individual performances the tournament has seen.
They will feed Luigi Riva who should be a smooth Serie A styled partner for Zidane, whilst providing enough presence to play in and off Albert. In the top strikers in the pool, Riva is perhaps best suited to playing in this formation by working across the line, stretching play and holding it up. Often he had to all of that and more for Cagliari in the late 1960s.
KEY POINTS
- An aerially strong back line well suited to dealing with Kocsis. Good in the air across the defence, but exceptionally so in the middle with Blanc and Campbell.
- Attack-minded, high quality full-backs in Leandro and Bossis to make the formation sing. When Christmas Trees clash, having class on the ball in wide areas outside of the clustered centre can be vital.
- A midfield and attack that can shift wide on and off the ball. Gerrard is custom designed for this set-up with a dual central and right-sided role. All of Zidane, Riva and Gerson were also natural peeling to the left [examples to follow].
EAP's Tactics
Key Roles:
Sandor Kocsis - Goals:Game ratio at +1.10! Support on ground from Rivaldo, Savicevic, Junior & Sousa. Receive regular crosses from Kaltz/Benarrivo to utilize his stellar heading ability.
Rivaldo - #9.5 Will be more attacking of the duo. Having Junior pushing up behind him will support this.
Dejan Savicevic - Advanced playmaker.
Leovegildo Junior - Box to Box playmaker. Will push up to support Rivaldo's attacking role.
Gennaro Gattuso - Defensive ball winner.
Paulo Sousa - DLP. Game runner.
Antonio Benarrivo/Manfred Kaltz - "One man flank" attacking full backs. Excellent crossers (esp Kaltz) to utilize Kocsis heading abilities.
Fernando Hierro/Pietro Vierchowod - Classic Stopper/Sweeper.
Petr Cech - Top notch keeper.
Tactics:
Slightly lopsided Tree with Rivaldo doing a 9.5 and Savicevic taking on more playmaking duties. Having Junior's playmaking skills up the pitch will enhance Rivaldo's contribution in attacking third. Gattuso will do the dirty work supporting Savicevic. Sousa will run the game with ample support from defensively astute Junior and Gattuso flanking him.
Both side midfielders and both AMs are flexible through the middle and drifting out wide. Gives a lot of tactical flexibility in opening spaces offensively and making them hard to defend against.
vs
EAP's Starting XI
Gio's Tactics
TEAM
Our defence comprises one half of a potential all-time France XI in Manuel Bossis and Laurent Blanc. Sol Campbell is a natural Desailly-esque partner for Blanc and both have substantial experience taming many of the great attackers of the 1990s and early 2000s. On the right is Leandro who is arguably the most under-rated of all Brazilian full-backs, and who just gets better every time I watch him for Flamengo and the Selecao. Both Leandro and Bossis are well versed playing as width-providing full-backs in narrow systems, given their role for Brazil and France respectively. Indeed both were often the solitary sources of genuine width (with in-cutting Junior on the other flank; often the converted CB Battiston for France on the other side) in their distinctive national sides.
Our midfield trio blends craft, defensive steel and attacking thrust. Deputising for the injured Masopust, Gerson comes in to form a natural partnership with Tito Goncalves that should work in a similar way to his successful tandem with Clodoaldo. Both were the premium South American midfielders of the 1960s with Goncalves all-conquering at club level for Penarol and Gerson on fire for Brazil in 1970. Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard provides dig and quality and will relish the Alonso/Mascherano-esque platform in Gerson/Goncalves to bomb forward.
Ahead are the two 10s in Zinedine Zidane and Florian Albert. Both beautifully elegant but crucially contrasting in styles - Zidane floating and dancing around midfielders, Albert more vertical and direct. Both put Brazil to the sword in swashbuckling fashion in World Cups with three of the most famous individual performances the tournament has seen.
They will feed Luigi Riva who should be a smooth Serie A styled partner for Zidane, whilst providing enough presence to play in and off Albert. In the top strikers in the pool, Riva is perhaps best suited to playing in this formation by working across the line, stretching play and holding it up. Often he had to all of that and more for Cagliari in the late 1960s.
KEY POINTS
- An aerially strong back line well suited to dealing with Kocsis. Good in the air across the defence, but exceptionally so in the middle with Blanc and Campbell.
- Attack-minded, high quality full-backs in Leandro and Bossis to make the formation sing. When Christmas Trees clash, having class on the ball in wide areas outside of the clustered centre can be vital.
- A midfield and attack that can shift wide on and off the ball. Gerrard is custom designed for this set-up with a dual central and right-sided role. All of Zidane, Riva and Gerson were also natural peeling to the left [examples to follow].
EAP's Tactics
Key Roles:
Sandor Kocsis - Goals:Game ratio at +1.10! Support on ground from Rivaldo, Savicevic, Junior & Sousa. Receive regular crosses from Kaltz/Benarrivo to utilize his stellar heading ability.
Rivaldo - #9.5 Will be more attacking of the duo. Having Junior pushing up behind him will support this.
Dejan Savicevic - Advanced playmaker.
Leovegildo Junior - Box to Box playmaker. Will push up to support Rivaldo's attacking role.
Gennaro Gattuso - Defensive ball winner.
Paulo Sousa - DLP. Game runner.
Antonio Benarrivo/Manfred Kaltz - "One man flank" attacking full backs. Excellent crossers (esp Kaltz) to utilize Kocsis heading abilities.
Fernando Hierro/Pietro Vierchowod - Classic Stopper/Sweeper.
Petr Cech - Top notch keeper.
Tactics:
Slightly lopsided Tree with Rivaldo doing a 9.5 and Savicevic taking on more playmaking duties. Having Junior's playmaking skills up the pitch will enhance Rivaldo's contribution in attacking third. Gattuso will do the dirty work supporting Savicevic. Sousa will run the game with ample support from defensively astute Junior and Gattuso flanking him.
Both side midfielders and both AMs are flexible through the middle and drifting out wide. Gives a lot of tactical flexibility in opening spaces offensively and making them hard to defend against.