Šjor Bepo
Wout is love, Wout is life; all hail Wout!
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2011
- Messages
- 15,669
vs
Team Harms
Pat Jennings. 1973-1976. FWA Footballer of the Year 1972/73; PFA Player’s Player of the Year 1975/76; PFA First Division Team of the Year 1973/74, 1975/76; Ballon d’Or: 23th (1973), 27th (1975).
Bobby Moore. 1967-1970. Ballon d’Or: 2nd (1970), 22th (1968); World Soccer World XI 1968, 1969; UEFA Euro TotT 1968; West Ham Player of the Year: 1968, 1970.
Albert Shesternyov. 1967-1970. Ballon d’Or: 10th (1970), 11th (1969), 14th (1968); Soviet Footballer of the Year (1970, 3rd place – 1968, 1969); UEFA Euro TotT 1968.
John Greig. 1973-1976. Scottish Player of the Year 1975/76.
Paul Reaney. 1968-1971. // First Division 1968/69.
Nobby Stiles. 1965-1968. // World Cup 1966; European Cup 1967/68; First Division 1966/67.
Bobby Murdoch. 1966-1969. Scottish Player of the Year 1968/69 // European Cup 1966/67.
Zé Roberto. 2001-2004. Bundesliga Team of the Season 2001/02; kicker International class (2), In the wider circle (2)
Marcus Rashford. 2017-2020. Premier League Player of the Month Jan 2019; Europa League TotT 2019/20.
Andriy Shevchenko. 1998-2001. Ballon d’Or 3rd (1999, 2000), 8th (2001); CL Top-scorer 1999, 2001; Serie A Top-scorer 2000; Ukranian League Top-scorer 1999; Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year 2000; Ukranian Footballer of the Year 1999, 2000, 2001.
Denis Law. 1962-1965. Ballon d’Or 1st (1964), 4th (1963), 11th (1962, 1965) // First Division 1964/65
Bobby Moore. 1967-1970. Ballon d’Or: 2nd (1970), 22th (1968); World Soccer World XI 1968, 1969; UEFA Euro TotT 1968; West Ham Player of the Year: 1968, 1970.
Albert Shesternyov. 1967-1970. Ballon d’Or: 10th (1970), 11th (1969), 14th (1968); Soviet Footballer of the Year (1970, 3rd place – 1968, 1969); UEFA Euro TotT 1968.
John Greig. 1973-1976. Scottish Player of the Year 1975/76.
Paul Reaney. 1968-1971. // First Division 1968/69.
Nobby Stiles. 1965-1968. // World Cup 1966; European Cup 1967/68; First Division 1966/67.
Bobby Murdoch. 1966-1969. Scottish Player of the Year 1968/69 // European Cup 1966/67.
Zé Roberto. 2001-2004. Bundesliga Team of the Season 2001/02; kicker International class (2), In the wider circle (2)
Marcus Rashford. 2017-2020. Premier League Player of the Month Jan 2019; Europa League TotT 2019/20.
Andriy Shevchenko. 1998-2001. Ballon d’Or 3rd (1999, 2000), 8th (2001); CL Top-scorer 1999, 2001; Serie A Top-scorer 2000; Ukranian League Top-scorer 1999; Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year 2000; Ukranian Footballer of the Year 1999, 2000, 2001.
Denis Law. 1962-1965. Ballon d’Or 1st (1964), 4th (1963), 11th (1962, 1965) // First Division 1964/65
This is a pretty standard modern 4-3-3. In Denis Law I have one of the greatest line-leading strikers of all-time, whose work-rate and team-oriented mentality sets him apart even in this distinguished company. On either side of him we have the young prodigy Marcus Rashford and, of course, the one and only Andriy Shevchenko – Lobanovsky's ideal footballer with 127 goals in 208 Serie A games.
Midfield roles are as followed: Stiles is a ball-winning midfield destroyer, Murdoch is a playmaking box-to-box and Zé Roberto's role resembles one of Di Maria under Ancelotti – a ball-carrying semi-attacking midfielder in a hybrid wide/central role, for which he is basically tailor-made.
My defense is pretty straight-forward. Bobby Moore is partnered by a freak of nature Albert Shesternyov, tall as a tree, hard as a rock and an award-winning sprinter in his youth to boot (it's hard to find a better opponent for Ruud Gullit's unique set of qualities). Paul Reaney is very much an archetypical 4-3-3 fullback in this set up – balanced and well-capable on both sides on the pitch. In John Greig I have probably the most interesting tactical piece in this game – his partnership with Zé Roberto on the left is completely interchangeable & both can cut inside as well as stay out wide, which will cause some issues to Synco. Greig is also one of the most tactically astute players that I've seen (on the back of a very limited footage, mind), and I'm glad that this draft gave me an opportunity to take a closer look at the greatest ever Ranger.
Random compilation of the day:
In his 4th game in Serie A young Shevchenko had met his first proper challenge – Nesta-led Lazio side that will (spoilers!) win the title this season. And he didn't disappoint – in a jaw-dropping performance he had scored 3 goals and started the move for the 4th one. Peak Sheva
Team Synco
Recreating Ancelotti's famed CL-winning 4-3-3 / 4-4-2 hybrid, but this time with Darius Vassell instead of Cristiano!
Getting serious, this formation intends to put everyone in an ideal position to succeed. Obvious difference to the original is the main scorer being the CF, with the left-sided FW in a supporting role.
Player roles
Key player Di Maria reenacts his LCM/LW dual role from Real's 2014 side, offering either wide or central presence in cooperation with Vassell and Gemmell.
Gemmell as an attacking FB on the left wing.
Gullit has a right-sided free role, roaming between RW, AM, and CF positions, as it should be. Neville provides either offensive width or cover as needed.
Fernando Torres was one of the best strikers in the world at Liverpool, which is his three year peak for this game.
Gascoigne's style is in some ways different from Modric's, but he offers the creative/attacking box-to-box element needed in CM, in combination with his exceptional workrate.
Buchan and Nesta are pretty much a perfect match as a CB duo, with prime Mascherano (i.e. 2014 WC form) protecting the space in front of them. Buchans wide-ranging interceptor style will help securing the left side when Gemmell is in an attacking mood.
Defense
All attacking players are disciplined workers against the ball (second difference to the original), making this side a tough nut to crack. The team will defend in a 4-4-2, not too deep, with Di Maria and Gullit occupying the wide positions.
This team is a transition side, so the opposition is granted a bit of space in their own half. Then they will encounter a tight formation with aggressive pressure from the top. Once the ball is won, the front five (and possibly Gemmell) will try to overwhelm the opposition with pace, power, and skill.
Tactical battle
If harms sticks to his 4-4-2 and Rashford at LW, I see a potentially match-deciding advantage for me on that side, and by extension in the middle as well. But let's see what he's up to first.