Team EAP
What formation and strategy is being used?
A 3-5-2 with rampaging fullbacks, a midfield balanced for presence and creativity and super-lethal strike combo operating at the front. The flexibility of the team gives us the ability to play a balanced game with ability to move the ball forward from all over the pitch.
Why the 3-5-2 is a perfect fit for this team?
CENTRAL DEFENCE: A central defender (Andersson) who is flexible to operate as a sweeper, defender or a defensive midfielder as per the game needs, flanked by a left footed defender (Agger) and a right footed defender (Pepe) operating at their favourite sides make up of a perfect back 3.
WING BACKS: Best in world wing backs (Carlos & Maicon) operating in their respective flanks provide a width and a perfect balance between offence and defence.
MIDFIELD: Left Midfielder (Di Maria) and Right Midfielder (Gattuso) are both flexible to operate inside through the middle or outside supporting the flanks. A complete central midfielder in Arteta capable of playing a holding role in defence dictating play or attacking role providing assists to keep the game ticking for the side, completes the midfield.
STRIKERS: Uber-lethal strike duo of Litmanen-Suarez who are both flexible to drift around and create for each other or score screamers themselves, they will be the perfect foil to each other and be the focal point of attacks.
What makes the team tick?
Flexibility. Fluidity. Adaptability. Lethality.
* A extremely hard working midfield in Di Maria - Arteta - Gattuso. No slackers here. They will work their sock off bridging defence and attack.
* Di Maria and Gattuso can operate either through the middle or out wide in the flanks. Carlos/Di Maria is a mouth watering combo abundant in pace and creativity.
* Gattuso and Maicon are equally effective on the right wing. Gattuso can move up inside supporting the attack or drift back to flanks giving Maicon freedom to rampage forward.
* Arteta is a creative and intelligent midfielder who can keep the game ticking from the middle. Having a 3 man defence behind him releives him of a bit of defensive duties letting him do more creative damage from the middle. Capable of playing both attacking and a defensive game, him and Gattuso are the perfect foil to cover for each other.
+ Litmanen - Suarez in attack is absolutely lethal. The goal scoring ability of both is beyoind question.
+ Both players are creative, intelligent and well capable of drifting about pulling defenders out of positions and creating for each other. This coupled with the scoring record makes them nightmare for any opposition defence.
Special Mention: King: - Jari Litmanen.
The man of the goals, the assists, the threats, the brains and the lungs. Anyone slated to step into Bergkamp's shoes would have a hard time living up to expectations, but do it successfully to out shine his predecessor, takes a special kind of player and Litti is that special. With an outstanding 36 goals in 39 appearances (Ajax, 93-94) and 19 goals in 26 European appearances (1993-96) his lethality is beyond question.
Cool in the box, nerves stay home when Jari plays. He’s got a nose for the right position and has all the skills and techniques for scoring. He can head a ball, chip, shoot hard, use curves, whatever… He is king of the assist, works hard for the team and can play on many positions. Litmanen had perfect ball control. Chest, head, thigh, feet – left or right – he could do it all. Wonderful technique but only deployed in service of the team. Also played as a AM, he knew exactly when to pick his moment to join the striker in the box. The Fin is the best no. 10 Ajax ever had. A perfect team player.
Frank Rijkaard: "Dennis Bergkamp was brilliant for Ajax but the best No.10 we ever had was Jari."
Player Profiles:
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/the-criteria-draft-the-drafts.393672/page-71#post-16173702
Team Boris
Quick overview of my players:
GK - Reina in his prime was arguably one of the best in Europe, good reflexes, good sweeper, decent with crosses, and very good distribution.
Defence - Gary Kelly is a solid enough full back, was named in two PFA team of the years, and apparently is a draft god, so, feck Roberto Carlos. In the centre then I feel I have an excellently balanced partnership in Lucio and Nesta. Lucio was an extremely powerful and dynamic defender who may have been clumsy from time to time, but he is partnered by easily the best central defender in this draft in Nesta, who would keep him in check and anticipate all danger around him. On the left van Bronkhorst is a good full back who will offer an excellent attacking outlet from the left.
Midfield - My central midfield is powerful and solid. Emerson, child of Capello, was a very good holding midfielder and efficient on the ball. Viera was a beast and Lampard is a goal scoring machine. On the left side I have David Ginola, a fantastic two footed, skillful winger, with a great cross, goes both ways, which is especially helpful with van Bronhorst bombing on outside him.
Attack - Villa is playing as a right sided forward, sometimes drifting out to the wing but mainly trying to make runs into the box to get on to crosses from the left. Makaay had an unbelievable goal scoring record in his prime, 198 goals in 349 games for Deportivo and Bayern between 1999 and 2007, and was La Liga top scorer in 2003.
On the bench I have Matt Le Tissier, who can come on and create some magic at any moment.
Against EAP's team I will look to expose what I perceive to be a number of key weaknesses.
1. Agger is very poor in the air, Makaay was good in the air. Thus, down the left in particular, Makaay will drift to the far post on to Agger, with Villa darting to the front and Lampard arriving from deep. With the quality of Ginola and van Bronkhorst's delivery, Makaay would win his fair share of aerial duels, whether it be knock downs or attempts on goal.
2. Ginola vs. Pepe. The nature of his side means Maicon will be playing higher up than normally, thus there will be times when Ginola will get into 1 vs. 1 situations with Pepe, and I think Ginola destroys him here.
3. Power in midfield. I know EAP has Gatusso, but as units I think Emerson, Viera, and Lampard will be able to bully that midfield and dominate the game. Also, as a whole, they are basically all better players.
4. Racism. EAP's team has two racists, a vote for him is a vote for racism, is that really a policy you want to adopt and show to the world here at RedCafe.Net?
Obviously Roberto Carlos is a massive threat down the left, so in order to attempt to combat this Villa is playing from the right, who has a higher work rate than Ginola. Also, Viera is playing as a right sided CM, so will be in a position to get out to cover for Gary Kelly, who, once again, is a draft god.
Suarez, Di Maria and Litmanen are also obvious threats, but Nesta and Lucio both have the recovery pace to catch either, thus they will be able to squeeze up and tighten the spaces in front of them, limiting the amount of ball getting into Suarez's feet around the box.
What formation and strategy is being used?
A 3-5-2 with rampaging fullbacks, a midfield balanced for presence and creativity and super-lethal strike combo operating at the front. The flexibility of the team gives us the ability to play a balanced game with ability to move the ball forward from all over the pitch.
Why the 3-5-2 is a perfect fit for this team?
CENTRAL DEFENCE: A central defender (Andersson) who is flexible to operate as a sweeper, defender or a defensive midfielder as per the game needs, flanked by a left footed defender (Agger) and a right footed defender (Pepe) operating at their favourite sides make up of a perfect back 3.
WING BACKS: Best in world wing backs (Carlos & Maicon) operating in their respective flanks provide a width and a perfect balance between offence and defence.
MIDFIELD: Left Midfielder (Di Maria) and Right Midfielder (Gattuso) are both flexible to operate inside through the middle or outside supporting the flanks. A complete central midfielder in Arteta capable of playing a holding role in defence dictating play or attacking role providing assists to keep the game ticking for the side, completes the midfield.
STRIKERS: Uber-lethal strike duo of Litmanen-Suarez who are both flexible to drift around and create for each other or score screamers themselves, they will be the perfect foil to each other and be the focal point of attacks.
What makes the team tick?
Flexibility. Fluidity. Adaptability. Lethality.
* A extremely hard working midfield in Di Maria - Arteta - Gattuso. No slackers here. They will work their sock off bridging defence and attack.
* Di Maria and Gattuso can operate either through the middle or out wide in the flanks. Carlos/Di Maria is a mouth watering combo abundant in pace and creativity.
* Gattuso and Maicon are equally effective on the right wing. Gattuso can move up inside supporting the attack or drift back to flanks giving Maicon freedom to rampage forward.
* Arteta is a creative and intelligent midfielder who can keep the game ticking from the middle. Having a 3 man defence behind him releives him of a bit of defensive duties letting him do more creative damage from the middle. Capable of playing both attacking and a defensive game, him and Gattuso are the perfect foil to cover for each other.
+ Litmanen - Suarez in attack is absolutely lethal. The goal scoring ability of both is beyoind question.
+ Both players are creative, intelligent and well capable of drifting about pulling defenders out of positions and creating for each other. This coupled with the scoring record makes them nightmare for any opposition defence.
Special Mention: King: - Jari Litmanen.
The man of the goals, the assists, the threats, the brains and the lungs. Anyone slated to step into Bergkamp's shoes would have a hard time living up to expectations, but do it successfully to out shine his predecessor, takes a special kind of player and Litti is that special. With an outstanding 36 goals in 39 appearances (Ajax, 93-94) and 19 goals in 26 European appearances (1993-96) his lethality is beyond question.
Cool in the box, nerves stay home when Jari plays. He’s got a nose for the right position and has all the skills and techniques for scoring. He can head a ball, chip, shoot hard, use curves, whatever… He is king of the assist, works hard for the team and can play on many positions. Litmanen had perfect ball control. Chest, head, thigh, feet – left or right – he could do it all. Wonderful technique but only deployed in service of the team. Also played as a AM, he knew exactly when to pick his moment to join the striker in the box. The Fin is the best no. 10 Ajax ever had. A perfect team player.
Frank Rijkaard: "Dennis Bergkamp was brilliant for Ajax but the best No.10 we ever had was Jari."
Player Profiles:
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/the-criteria-draft-the-drafts.393672/page-71#post-16173702
Team Boris
Quick overview of my players:
GK - Reina in his prime was arguably one of the best in Europe, good reflexes, good sweeper, decent with crosses, and very good distribution.
Defence - Gary Kelly is a solid enough full back, was named in two PFA team of the years, and apparently is a draft god, so, feck Roberto Carlos. In the centre then I feel I have an excellently balanced partnership in Lucio and Nesta. Lucio was an extremely powerful and dynamic defender who may have been clumsy from time to time, but he is partnered by easily the best central defender in this draft in Nesta, who would keep him in check and anticipate all danger around him. On the left van Bronkhorst is a good full back who will offer an excellent attacking outlet from the left.
Midfield - My central midfield is powerful and solid. Emerson, child of Capello, was a very good holding midfielder and efficient on the ball. Viera was a beast and Lampard is a goal scoring machine. On the left side I have David Ginola, a fantastic two footed, skillful winger, with a great cross, goes both ways, which is especially helpful with van Bronhorst bombing on outside him.
Attack - Villa is playing as a right sided forward, sometimes drifting out to the wing but mainly trying to make runs into the box to get on to crosses from the left. Makaay had an unbelievable goal scoring record in his prime, 198 goals in 349 games for Deportivo and Bayern between 1999 and 2007, and was La Liga top scorer in 2003.
On the bench I have Matt Le Tissier, who can come on and create some magic at any moment.
Against EAP's team I will look to expose what I perceive to be a number of key weaknesses.
1. Agger is very poor in the air, Makaay was good in the air. Thus, down the left in particular, Makaay will drift to the far post on to Agger, with Villa darting to the front and Lampard arriving from deep. With the quality of Ginola and van Bronkhorst's delivery, Makaay would win his fair share of aerial duels, whether it be knock downs or attempts on goal.
2. Ginola vs. Pepe. The nature of his side means Maicon will be playing higher up than normally, thus there will be times when Ginola will get into 1 vs. 1 situations with Pepe, and I think Ginola destroys him here.
3. Power in midfield. I know EAP has Gatusso, but as units I think Emerson, Viera, and Lampard will be able to bully that midfield and dominate the game. Also, as a whole, they are basically all better players.
4. Racism. EAP's team has two racists, a vote for him is a vote for racism, is that really a policy you want to adopt and show to the world here at RedCafe.Net?
Obviously Roberto Carlos is a massive threat down the left, so in order to attempt to combat this Villa is playing from the right, who has a higher work rate than Ginola. Also, Viera is playing as a right sided CM, so will be in a position to get out to cover for Gary Kelly, who, once again, is a draft god.
Suarez, Di Maria and Litmanen are also obvious threats, but Nesta and Lucio both have the recovery pace to catch either, thus they will be able to squeeze up and tighten the spaces in front of them, limiting the amount of ball getting into Suarez's feet around the box.
