vs
Harms
The idea was to build a team with a bit more flair than I usually do for it to suit George Best better. All of my defensive players are either good or excellent on the ball and were known for their distribution from the back (Boateng & Schmeichel) and even huge attacking prowess (Alves & young Cole). The midfield base also combines great engine with flair and creativity — both Falcão & Tigana played important roles in one of the most exciting teams of all-time. A bit more info on Özil later, but here he’s well-positioned to pick out the runners with his outstanding passing — but also, he’s free from the burden of leadership, so psychologically he’ll be closer to his Real Madrid & Germany version, which I actually rate very highly. He also has the ability or drift both left and right, which should be useful with my forwards.
The front line structure should not require much explanation. Just thinking of those three together is incredible — and in Law I have the perfect striker to facilitate finding a perfect balance up front. I’ll probably post more on Stanley Matthews, since I’d watched a few of his games lately and, as usual, found my perception of him a little flawed. He used to cut inside much more often that I would imagine, but rarely it was to shoot — mostly it was to act as an additional playmaker. He also used his left foot much more often than I expected, despite obviously preferring his right one, and even his sole international hat-trick included 2 left-footed goals.
Key duel: Stanley Matthews vs Marcos Rojo
Stanley Matthews is one of the most devastating dribblers of all-time who was known for single-handedly destroying his opponents time and again. The list of his victims from the game we can find on-line include the likes of Nilton Santos (Matthews was 41 at the time) & Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (Matthews was fecking 50!). And here we have Marcos Rojo.
Player focus: Mesut Özil
His reputation had currently hit the rock bottom, but we shouldn’t forget that Mesut was one of the most consistent chance creators of the past decade — and arguably the most productive one. I think he had the talent to become a truly all-time great, but, much like Laudrup, with whom I see many similarities, he lacked killer’s mentality & sheer drive and also (unlike Laudrup) preferred to be a cog in a machine rather than the star player of the side. At his best, relieved of unnecessary pressure, he got to the level when he was called the best number 10 in the game by Mourinho and when he had won 5 German national team PotY in the World Cup-winning generation.
Mind-blowing video. I expected him to be near the top, but to beat Messi (he overcame him only when Özil’s graph reached his current age), Fabregas & everyone else is an incredible achievement.
Also this is an achievement in its own — obviously, before De Bruyne came, he was the record-holder. But mind you, Özil came to a very average Arsenal side!
Indy
Similar tactics to round 1.
Cruyff with a free role. Rivaldo comes in to the side in place of Rocastle and Eddie Gray moves nominally to the right
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