Rivals Draft R1 - Physiocrat vs Prolifik

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

vs

Team Physiocrat

Tactics – Direct/ Mixed
Formation – 433
Defensive Line – Balanced
Marking – Zonal

The back four is relatively well known apart from Tarantini. Tarantini played 179 times for Boca between 1973 and 1977 and one year later was part of the 1978 Argentina World Cup winning side; he was relatively quick and will get up and down the flank to support Simao. At Benfica Simao had a few seasons at a nearly 1 in 2 goalscoring rate from his favoured left-side.

The diminutive Nihat will provide good link up play with Simao and the tenacious Karpin who will operate as a more orthodox outside right. Possibly the most interesting part of the side is the marriage of the exceptional Liam Brady with the Olympiacos legend Vassilis Karapialis – hard working, good dribbler and creator.

Here are some of his best goals:



Team Prolifik

We will play a heavily possession-based game in which we leverage our high techincal quality all over the pitch to dictate the game and create chances.

From the Blanc-Dias CB pairing, through Rattín and Baxter in the engine room, to the attacking trio of Prosinečki, Titov, and Đorđević, we have highly skilled players who are comfortable on the ball. Tevez leads the line with his typical pace and tenacity.

Prosinečki will frequently drift infield to combine with Rattín and Baxter and bolster our short-passing game.

Blanc provides an additional route to goal, as he is not only a major threat from set pieces (a Đorđević speciality) but also has a knack for pushing forward in the run of play and getting on the end chances himself.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

@Physiocrat @prolifik all the best

 

[Physiocrat]

I can't see Prolifik's formation pic. Can anyone else?

@Edgar Allan Pillow

 

[Physiocrat]

Thanks for setting up @Edgar Allan Pillow

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

I can't see Prolifik's formation pic. Can anyone else?

@Edgar Allan Pillow

I can. Do you see it now?

 

[Physiocrat]

I can. Do you see it now?

Yes thanks

 

[Physiocrat]

I reckon this game is pretty even. Both defences are solid and have very good creativity in the centre. I think however have the edge out wide and will stretch the play more horizontally which will give Brady and VK more space to work their magic.

 

[prolifik]

I reckon this game is pretty even. Both defences are solid and have very good creativity in the centre. I think however have the edge out wide and will stretch the play more horizontally which will give Brady and VK more space to work their magic.

Think Tevez offers more of a threat in that #9 role than Nihat though.

 

[Demyanenko_square_jaw]

Karapialis looks an interesting player. There's also an all-goals olympiacos collection on youtube, it looks like that user has done them for many of their notable players.

That midfield with Prosinecki, Titov and Baxter would be great to watch on the ball.

Titov was a technically gifted, very intelligent player. Slow acceleration, but imo had the skills and strong enough other physical qualities to succeed at a high level in Spain/Italy/Germany. in most systems of the day(not so sure about England), however he was quite divisive in his prime. He became the last remaining midfield star of Romantsev's Spartak dynasty at a time when the club had already transitioned from the generally well liked/respected team of Soviet years, into a widely disliked, arrogant hegemon. Hype from Spartak biased media and fans comparing him to Voronin, Netto, Cherenkov very early , often saying he was already one of the best playmakers/attacking midfielders in Europe. This without having moved to a big league, understandably annoyed people and had its share of pushback. When Spartak/Romantsev came crashing down in spectacular fashion, with tactical trainwrecks like the 2002 World Cup and clubs collapse during the 2002, 2003 seasons, he was right at the centre of the criticism.

In retrospect, he was the main element still holding the club together and the 98/99 CL team with Tsymbalar and Tikhonov alongside him in midfield was their last good one. Should have moved circa 00-01, when hi reputation from strong performances in Europe was good, and the offers were there; instead he went down with the ship. The year long ban from the Euro 2004 playoffs bromantan scandal against Wales put the final nail in the coffin of transferring anywhere decent. Coming back from that, he took time to get back into sharpness, then played very well in taking the now shambolically run Spartak to a few 2nd place finishes. However you could see the ambition was faded (or just the peds, depending on your level of cynicism), even for domestic football - it was 2nd-gear stuff from a player nearing 30 now. He retired from the national team at the end of 06 after ony two qualifying appearances under Hiddink. Spartak career came to an unceremonious end for a one-club legend: essentially kicked out after a feud with manager Cherchesov (the eventual 2018 national team manager ).


Here's a grainy collection with most Spartak goals. Quite unusually for a player of his type, in many seasons he rarely took set-pieces, even if there weren't any specialists in the side. He was great at timing runs into the box for dourly efficient cut-back goals and had a good poachers instinct from set-pieces, but also scored his fair share of classier ones. The sneaky side-foot volley that takes the keeper completely by surprise at 2:07 is a favourite, unfortunately the quality of footage is crap. the chest control and volley at 4:38. The one touch to control a misplaced shot blasted at him and put himself into perfect position to finish at 6:39.