Luis Gustavo operated in that zone where he is at the moment and I'm looking more to fitting him into that zone negating the left side(Aldo's right side). Conte as depicted is a bit free in this case and he can operate more centrally where I think he's better so naturally he'll run into space and without designated AM I think that suits him best.Well that makes me feel marginally less guilty if I don't change my vote. Its not a huge issue but Conte was very good box to box and played as a wide midfielder too so it seems more logical to have Gustavo holding and Conte on the left.
La Liga/Serie A/BuLi Draft - QF Enigma_87/Snow vs Aldo/The Stain
- Thread starter Tuppet
- Start date
well either way it was a draw up until it was madeCloser to the 55 minute mark if my maths is correct.
Actually 11-10 in our favor, seeing DK comment
Bit surprised that you'd replace Henry. As marginal of a reinforcement as they come and it makes this match look completely even. Ability wise Kaka/Shevchenko/Villa are all better than both Reus and Makaay while I think Aldo/The Stains midfield is still slightly better. I am a big fan of Marcelo in a setup like this, he at times provides more of a winger threat for Real than Ronaldo does in terms of dribbling and getting past his man. Both defenses looks great and it seems pretty even in that regard. I think a draw would be the most likely outcome so I won't vote here.
I went with Aldo/TheStain for their better balance and excellent central defensive pair, but I agree with this completely - Reus looks like a very marginal upgrade to me which is a bit of a shame.
It's a tricky balancing act, forward-planning vs going for the obvious pick. We felt we needed a final worthy BuLi player so went for that rather than someone that might have made this match easier for us. We'll see if it pays off or not.
In terms of Reus vs Henry, Reus has a world-class season or two in the BuLi according to kicker (anyone know where that can be found?) and i'm not sure Henry reached that standard at Barca. It's obviously very close between them but we felt it was the right thing to do at the time.
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As I said in the first Aldo's match thread - brilliant team (and probably the strongest one in the first round) but it will be hard to upgrade it. You could've picked some real vote winner in place of Makaay but you filled your BL quota with striker position
Aye, it is tricky. It's interesting what the ideal select given the restrictions would look like. Normally EAP puts one forward with half a dozen of his own players in it.
I'm ill and bored so I made a list of all Bundesliga picks and tried judging which could be final-worthy. I've only whittled it down from 57 to 25 so far but Edgar comes off fairly well in terms of Bundesliga picks - Lizarazu is certainly final-worthy, and Boeteng and Sagnol wouldn't be in my very top tier for their positions but wouldn't be horribly out of place either. Balu/Joga came out of the first round well with Hassler and Dunga, and I'm happy with our Klinsmann and Moller picks (less so Ziege and Basler). Your Bundesliga picks are probably the most interesting of the bunch. Yeboah can be eliminated as final worthy, but I don't think Reuter, Bratseth and Thon could as easily be ruled out, although its hard to see them being an asset at that stage due to name-recognition as much as anything.
As for upgrades I haven't really considered that. But Reus clearly isn't any grand upgrade on Henry, if he's an upgrade at all, that much is clear.
It's only a possible criticism of their overall draft strategy, however, as I see it. It has no impact on the match beyond the players selected. So, if Reus is enough to win them this one, that's that. That he isn't upgrade of the month is potentially unfortunate in the long run, but has no bearing on the current match.
It's only a possible criticism of their overall draft strategy, however, as I see it. It has no impact on the match beyond the players selected. So, if Reus is enough to win them this one, that's that. That he isn't upgrade of the month is potentially unfortunate in the long run, but has no bearing on the current match.
Sagnol must be final worthy in the draft context. I'd rate Cafu & Zanetti above him but afterwards him and Reuter are pretty much the best ones imo, with Alves following. With him the only BuLi top class RB in it I'd say he's definitely a final worthy pick. Boateng is kind of the same although just a bit less than Sagnol.
I'd agree mostly with that. You'd be happy with any of those named in a final. In a select you'd have to factor in who'd miss out by fielding a Bundesliga player in that position. So for me Bratseth could be in a select XI, as there aren't any upgrades on him in his position within the pool, but Reuter wouldn't be as convincing in a perfect team because Cafu, Thuram and Zanetti are a wee notch above. Difference between a perfect XI and a final-worthy team obviously.
Balu/Joga came out of the first round well with Hassler and Dunga, and I'm happy with our Klinsmann and Moller picks (less so Ziege and Basler). Your Bundesliga picks are probably the most interesting of the bunch. Yeboah can be eliminated as final worthy, but I don't think Reuter, Bratseth and Thon could as easily be ruled out, although its hard to see them being an asset at that stage due to name-recognition as much as anything.
But sorry I digress... on with the mud-slinging.
Aye, maybe I came across a bit harsh on Sagnol there, but I was a little hesitant in calling him outright final worthy for the reason Gio states below. Chances are your opponent would sport either Cafu or Zanetti, then Dani Ales would be a better fit as an ultra-attacking option, and the likes of Angloma would run him close too. I'll leave out our man Mannini for now
. Basically, Sagnol wouldn't be a standout, although its hard to imagine him being an outright weakness in anything other than an all-time draft context.Aye, I'm with you on Bratseth unless anyone can make a convincing case to the contrary in your future matches. There's a bunch of very, very good centre backs but the large majority of the true standouts were blocked, so its a very good position to use a Bundesliga pick for. Also, alot of the other standout centre backs seem like potentially good foils for him.
But as you say, we should probably let the managers resume slugging it out.
Alvesis better. He is close to cafu for me.
Attacking wise, they are on par. But on overall as fullback, Cafu is few levels above, imho. Have to say that Alves is final worthy in the right setup.
His defensive game is really under-rated imo. Dont remember any winger actually getting the better of him on a regular basis at his peak. its just that his role meant that he was focused more offensively than defensively.
Looks like you misunderstood my gif, wasn't intended to be sarcastic
. Me and Balu have Alves, so it was just a tongue in cheek thumbs up gif.Ahh, that reminded me I was going to vote for your team but the poll wasnt up. Love the fullbacksLooks like you misunderstood my gif, wasn't intended to be sarcastic
Some quotes from yesterday:
Don't know what else to say, really. I think we've covered why we should win, how our tactics are superior to the opposition and how our players are set up in a way to counter the oppositions biggest threats.
And yet you changed your tune to say you were a counter-attacking outfit to suit the argumentation earlier in our argumentation from earlier today?
I dunno.
Why sub him, then?
Has no bearing.
Same as when you said Cafu and Marcelo will be defending deep, you can instruct players with a task but to restrict their natural games is probably difficult. Lucio as i remember loved a burst forward any chance he got.
... why'd you take him off?
Gegen-pressing anyone? And why can't you have a mix of styles throughout a game? Surely that is something all top managers have in their tool-boxes.
Don't know what else to say, really. I think we've covered why we should win, how our tactics are superior to the opposition and how our players are set up in a way to counter the oppositions biggest threats.
T'is a shite feeling indeed when you feel you've had the better of the debate and the game is still slipping away from you.
Meh, arguable really. Better attacking but I don't think he's better at defending or even on par with Sagnol. I think it really depends on the setup, for our setup Alves would be really poor for example.
True, i really think we've argued better.Still time to turn this around! Voters see the shiny attackers but are neglecting the tactics, man!
Going to put it as one quote not to break up into it:
As far for counter attacking and possession, I already made my argumentation. In your previous match while I browsed through the thread you were more set up for a counter attacking football, so I expected something like that to happen in this game as well. That's why I asked you guys several times what is your game plan. Then after some time and when discussions went further it became clear it is somewhere in the middle and you guys will probably push up on Modric and so forth.
The only reason why to have Schneider in at the beginning was due to the provisional width that he gives and that you have set up in the previous game, with some comments there that you expect Mendieta/Davids to drift wide. After again the discussion went further it was more focused in the center so naturally I did that tactical change. It's same in the game really when you see how it is goes you adjust and make the necessary tactical/formation changes.
In the new one Luis Gustavo brings the right balance given the set up and the opposition also makes sense to have him on the left where your more dangerous flank is, while in the same time frees a bit Conte of that responsibility and gives him more central role.
I was contemplating of the change earlier but was pegged back with comments on work rate and defensive duties of each player. Even last night I tried to steer the debate into the creative role of your central pair and how we that will clash in more congested defence. So it's really natural change which came in the right moment imo, even we had a 1 vote advantage at the time.
I'm not sure @Tuppet received my alert so he can update it in the OP as well. Thanks mate.
We could easily went for Ballack in the reinforcement round making it an even battle in midfield, but without Sheva and a proven partnership we would lack that edge in attack. I think that move should really make the difference in a game like this, we have more players to give us that edge and to decide the match.
I'd say all has been pretty much discussed with the new formation and what Luis Gustavo will bring to the table in this case - steel to our midfield, we'd lose a bit creativity coming from Schneider, but we gain the balance needed after all has been said and done.
I'd say all has been pretty much discussed with the new formation and what Luis Gustavo will bring to the table in this case - steel to our midfield, we'd lose a bit creativity coming from Schneider, but we gain the balance needed after all has been said and done.
Can only see Enigmas team winning this one.
Also don't know how other guys feel about this, but is Reus really upgrade on Henry? Yes he wasn't the same Henry, but his second season I thought he was excellent and fit well in that role and as well in the first match. IMO he was still the better goalscorer of the two and although losing a bit of a step was more of a game changer. Sure off his peak but I'm not sure if it was an upgrade really.
I can understand the move tho, as the BuLi quota has to be filled and with Linke against our attack it would be a pretty lopsided score.
I see some mentioned him being a slight upgrade, but not sure if that is the case. (or I'm a bit biased towards Henry, that might be it as well)
I can understand the move tho, as the BuLi quota has to be filled and with Linke against our attack it would be a pretty lopsided score.
I see some mentioned him being a slight upgrade, but not sure if that is the case. (or I'm a bit biased towards Henry, that might be it as well)
So your team lacked balance earlier then? Couldn't have imagined that.
that was taken a bit out of the context
Given the way the game progressed it made more sense which is why I did it.Yeah, soon in the reinforcements it's also going to make sense partnering Lucio with a less gung ho FB. Watch it.
I think it's a bit early and like to concentrate in the game in hand, but if you mean Marcelo, there's really only one other full back that I'd replace him with and Joga/Balu have it.
I'm surprised you considered one of your picks as second best in his position. Can't you instruct him to be the best?
I know their limits mate
Take Marcelo, he'll have the best game of his life, otherwise I'll shave his head off.
Just got the alert, OP updated.
This is making our match versus Edgar look like a pillow fight between Graham Norton and Elton John.Which one are we?
Elton John I'm guessing, since Edgar chances of beating us so far have been like a candle in the wind?
