Roulette Draft - R1: Skizzo vs Team Beam

Who will win this match?


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Indnyc

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Skizzo Vs. Team Beam

Vs.


Tactics Team Skizzo


Line up/Formation - 433/4231

In goal is the legendary Italian Keeper, Gianluigi Buffon. Marshaling the defensive line ahead of him, consisting of Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck and Alan Hansen. The classic stopper/ball-playing defender here where the physical style of Schwarzenbeck is offset by the Scotsman Hansen, who could spring the team forward quickly with a ball to the front line as necessary.

Danny McGrain and Bixente Lizarazu take up the full back spots, and would look to overlap in attack where the opportunities arise, and without dedicated wingers in the opposition, could see chances to overload at times. As always though, defense first, and both were defensively sound, all round players who could contribute both ways.

Claude Makelele and Patrick Vieira rekindle their World Cup partnership in central midfield, looking to shield the back four. With the two of them helping with the defensive workload, France only conceded three goals in the World Cup as they went on to finish in second place. They create the base for Gunter Netzer to help link the back to the front, as he'd look to get on the ball and find the runs in behind of our front three. The movement, pace, and directness of our front three would create ample opportunities for Netzer to send them in behind. Netzer would thrive in the directness and quick tempo of our setup, especially with the players ahead of him. He could quite easily put in a MotM performance purely by feeding the organized chaos of the forwards on the counter.

The front three of Blokhin, Conti, and Henry is brimming with pace, trickery, hard work, and most importantly, goals. Henry playing through the center as a striker, putting him in where he did his best work. His ability to find the back of the net with clinical finishes in one on one situations, as well as his ability to score from outside the box and beat a man on the dribble, will be key to making the most of our chances on the counter. With his penchant for drifting along the front line and wide left, the fact he put up 23 assists in one season means we needed someone who could take advantage of his movement and vision. Step up Oleh Blokhin. Almost a 1 in 2 goal a game scorer at his peak, he would thrive on the space and movement offered by Henry, and the vision of Henry and Netzer. On the right side is Conti, who would offer his tremendous work rate out side, as well as a wide threat, giving our attack a versatile base in which to attack all sides.

On the counter, we offer too much of a threat to be shut out, and with distribution from deeper positions with Hansen, Vieira, and Netzer, we have too many outlets to be shut down in quick transitions.

Tactics Team Beam

The team is playing in a rare 4-3-2-1 formation, also known as Christmas tree formation with the intention of playing quick, direct, fluid and incisive football at all times and especially threatening on the counter when we gain possession.

The team can also control the game when needed through brilliant midfield minds of Pirlo and Modric who will be in the heart of every build up while having the likes of Schuster, Mazzola and Batistuta upfront who all have great movement and can provide sharp passing interchanges between them. Also, five players in central areas are sure to create a numerical advantage against their opponent and if the opponent press and try to deny space for two attacking midfielders that will leave the central midfielders with too much time, something you least want to do when you have players like Pirlo and Modric on the opposite side. This aspects will be key in the phases of the game when the opposition goes on the back foot and tries to defend.

When we get possession, we will play vertical football at great speed, with no more than few passes to get into or around the box and create the danger for the opposition as soon as possible. This will be allowed and provided through great passing ability throughout the team and players who have great movement and thrive in quick, direct football.

In the defensive phase, this formation will force opponent wide and they will struggle to build any kind of possession play centrally.
My team will play deeper so we can nullify the attacking threat of Skizzo's forwards who are brilliant but are best used when they have a space to operate which will struggle to find here. Mackay also has a key role in the defensive phase as he will be the defensive shield in front of defence while covering for Pirlo in the same way Gatusso used to do and on top of that there is also a brilliant engine of Luka Modric on the other side. At times and if necessary the two attacking midfielders can quickly slot in with the central midfielders, in a wide role, to create a midfield five and thus a 4-5-1, extremely hard to break.

Defence
No nonsense, hard-tackling defenders in Ruggeri and Burgnich will be the main defensive shield while Irwin and Cafu will provide both defensive cover and width when needed while the opposition tries to get hold off our midfield.

Irwin and Cafu will occasionally go forward and support the attack when opposition becomes very narrow with the intention to negate the central threat.

Midfield
In front of defence stands the Architect - Andrea Pirlo and there is no need for the special introduction of his genius and playmaking ability. He has the protection of one of the hardest tackling midfielders in Mackay who will not only provide extra energy in that midfield but is also excellent with the ball and can put an excellent pass on his own.

Modric is a fantastic player with a brilliant engine on top of supreme technical ability and will provide an extra option for controlling the tempo aside from Pirlo, while also having a licence to break through the opposition lines allowing the main idea of quick transition to work in this match.

Attack
In the attack, we have Batistuta with the support of Schuster and Mazzola as attacking midfielders. All three of them thrive in direct, fast and counter-attacking football while also having a great work-rate to help defensively.

Conclusion
Pirlo in the heart of everything, but supported with fantastic players around him has the perfect platform to perform. The idea was to put movement, athleticism, hard work and intelligence alongside him and these players compliment him perfectly to that general idea. Defend deep and hit the opponent directly and with purpose through skillful midfielders and pacy forwards which will be the key in breaking down the opposition defense.
 

Skizzo

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Just some opening thoughts.

  • Irwin was best with a winger ahead of him. He’s not one to be a primary source of width on a flank. Despite being mr. Consistency, against a Conti-Mcgrain flank he may struggle through this game.
  • Pirlo liked to play directly through the lines, and did well with Kaká making those vertical runs. With the central three ahead of him, as well as Makelele and vieira on our team (not to mention the back two), there wouldn’t be an abundance of space for him to exploit. Not that he can’t find a pass, but that space all being so congested really limits him. With him being the primary playmaker, it dulls the opposition threat.
 

Skizzo

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As mentioned in my OP, Netzer would be thrilled with the attacking trio ahead of him, purely from the sense of having the pace and directness they offer, to complement his direct passing style to attack swiftly. Pirlo wouldn’t be much of a hindrance to him, meaning Modric would need to focus more on covering that threat.

Joga’s excellent write up and analysis of his style.

Playing Style

Many seem to have a warped view of Netzer's gameplay (including me some time ago) and tend to classify him as a languid and phlegmatic #10, who was a static presence - in line with most classical #10s. That term itself carries with it several unfavourable connotations, which I feel do tends to plague Netzer more often than others. Slow, rigid, 'luxury player', ineffective on the counter, inadequate in the face of physicality, being marked out by any competent DM and worst of all, needing the midfield to spoon feed him the ball to work his magic.

Let me start of by saying, yes, Netzer was an elegant playmaker, class personified, relied on others to do the heavy lifting BUT he was explosive, vertical, powerful and sturdy as feck. He was not your average classical #10 who dilly dallied on the ball - a trait that even the best of playmakers tend to possess. Netzer wasn't positioned behind the striker but in central midfield as he loved to have the play in front of him so that he could ideally utilise his vision. He wasn't a playmaker who would have been peeved off at forwards individuality but rather someone who actively encouraged it. He wasn't your typical playmaker who loved to hog the ball, expecting, nay demanding everything should go through him, playing those one-twos ala Xavi etc. What Netzer really was about was pure directness and fiery football. Netzer was the anti-thesis of a ponderous playmaker, needing things to revolve around him, dictating play, but rather he was a high octane playmaker who let the play 'flow' through him and was more of a 'dispatcher' as opposed to a 'dictator'.

Do not get me wrong, he was the heartbeat of the team, at the center of everything and as stated before, he controlled the e̶b̶b̶ and flow of the game (ebb, what ebb? Netzer would probably ask) but his uber-direct play meant that he was a different beast to most other playmakers. Whilst most of his fellow playmaking contemporaries would thrive in a specialised and organised system, marshalling play, Günter Netzer actively revelled in utter chaos. Netzer was the epitome of the phrase 'Onwards and forwards'. His vision was unparalleled and given his direct and vertical gameplay, coupled with his stunning repertoire of passes, Netzer was absolutely relentless at driving his team forward. One can appreciate this insatiable drive in just about every facet of his game-play - his barnstorming rampages forward, incessant in between the line passing, his steady stream of sumptuous long-range forward balls and his vertical one-twos and mind-boggling combination plays.

That is not to say he was recklessly charging forward or trying to force forward passes which weren't on, Netzer himself acknowledged the need to stem play every now and then "Weisweiler wants no hold barred attacking football for 90 minutes. I think you should take the pace out of a game when it's called for". However, it's fair to say Netzer was an extremely forward oriented player but not to the extent that he was reckless.

How does one even deal with an eclectic playmaker who is hell-bent on driving his team forward? Someone with equal measures of pace and power, built like a tank, allied with brilliant ball control and deft touches, empowering him to go raging forward like a man possessed; capable of unlocking defenses with an effortless ball or wreaking havoc on the opposition by bypassing the entire midfield with his flawless between the line passing, or hoodwink befuddled markers with a deft turn or a dazzling one-two.

You can gauge the greatness of an exceptional playmaker just by the impact that they leave on their entire team's playing style and psyche, and it's fair to say that in the Gladbach and Germany 1972 sides, the inimitable qualities of Netzer were deeply ingrained - fluid, incisive and exhilarating. It's really hard to describe those phenomenal vintages, but the highest praise that I can give those teams is this - I never thought a side would come close to the ground-breaking football that Cruyff's Ajax & Netherlands played but Netzer's teams came closest to them. I'd go as far as saying they were even more euphoric.



0.04 (Passing & Goals)
12.39 (Dribbles & Rampages Forward)
18.27 (In Between the line passing)
21.25 (Spreading Play)
23.37 (Combination Plays - Basically an excuse to cram as much footage of the 1972 German vintage as possible)
29.47 (A little of his defensive work)

I've made a compilation video of Netzer to better portray his inimitable style, hope you guys enjoy it. There isn't much available of him (esp at his zenith) on the net, so I've decided to make it more comprehensive and in depth. I'm not good at this video editing malarkey so it's not as flashy as most other compilation videos but it should be worth a watch (watch it on mute if the fragmented audio annoys you, although it should be better after the first few minutes). I'd suggest downloading it or watching it asap, as I fear it will be taken down sooner or later for the inevitable copyright infringements.
 

Edgar Allan Pillow

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Good team from Skizzo, tactically and personnel are spot on.

Lovely build around Pirlo from Beam. Cafu > Modric > Mazzola is one tasty flank. Only Schuster looks like odd man out there. Someone like Laudrup would have been perfect.
 

Jim Beam

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Just some opening thoughts.

  • Irwin was best with a winger ahead of him. He’s not one to be a primary source of width on a flank. Despite being mr. Consistency, against a Conti-Mcgrain flank he may struggle through this game.
  • Pirlo liked to play directly through the lines, and did well with Kaká making those vertical runs. With the central three ahead of him, as well as Makelele and vieira on our team (not to mention the back two), there wouldn’t be an abundance of space for him to exploit. Not that he can’t find a pass, but that space all being so congested really limits him. With him being the primary playmaker, it dulls the opposition threat.
As for Irwin I even somewhat agree in a sense that he is the more conservative fullback here in regards to Cafu on the other side. Will provide necessery width when needed and when that side opens up linking with Schuster or providing a cross for Batistuta which he is certainly more than capable while Mackay offers him protection on such occasions.

As for Pirlo, this team is all about vertical runs and direct football. He has Schuster who thrived running directly with the ball or just bursting into space and Mazzola who played for Helenio Herrera which main guidance was:

In attack, all the players know what I wanted: vertical football at great speed, with no more than three passes to get to the opponent's box. If you lose the ball playing vertically, it's not a problem—but lose it laterally and you pay with a goal.
And on top of that Batistuta, who's quality is only matched by Schevchenko in terms of attackers.

One of main ideas is precisely to congest midfield areas, but I think it makes much more harm to you. If you decide to close Mazzola and Schuster by your midfielders, you give free run for Pirlo and Modric to run the game. If you decide to close Pirlo or Modric and press them, you allow space for Mazzola and Schuster upfront. Not to mention, that I think your team will struggle to create anything through this area as you have 3 midfielders in the centre and 2 AM with great work-rate in front of them which will basically push most of your build up on the wings and cut of midfeld supply.
 

harms

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That midfield 5 doesn't look complimentary to me at all. Young Schuster and Modric are overlapping (and Schuster should be on the right) — and so do Mackay and Pirlo — to an extent. Add Davids-esque midfielder on the left and preferably someone more attacking/goalscoring instead of Schuster (or Modric — and move Schuster deeper) and it would look much better. Also I would prefer to have a sweeper with one of Ruggeri or Burgnich.

Skizzo's team is not significantly better when we're talking about the personnel but it's well-thought and perfectly balanced — I have to go with him.
 

Jim Beam

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Good team from Skizzo, tactically and personnel are spot on.

Lovely build around Pirlo from Beam. Cafu > Modric > Mazzola is one tasty flank. Only Schuster looks like odd man out there. Someone like Laudrup would have been perfect.
Yeah, thought that will be mentioned. I watched few of the matches of Barcelona - Real in the early 80's and he was more of an all-round attacking midfielder who had absolutely no problem receiving the ball or running from the left.

You can just notice in this highlight how most of his moves come excatly from the left side and than bursting into the penalty area. In fact, from 0:36 almost everything comes from that side, so I really don't think he would have any problems in this set-up, especially since he was practically two-footed.

 

Jim Beam

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That midfield 5 doesn't look complimentary to me at all. Young Schuster and Modric are overlapping (and Schuster should be on the right) — and so do Mackay and Pirlo — to an extent. Add Davids-esque midfielder on the left and preferably someone more attacking/goalscoring instead of Schuster (or Modric — and move Schuster deeper) and it would look much better. Also I would prefer to have a sweeper with one of Ruggeri or Burgnich.

Skizzo's team is not significantly better when we're talking about the personnel but it's well-thought and perfectly balanced — I have to go with him.
Can't agree with Modric suggestion at all, he was always best used a little deeper which allows him to break the first line and be more on the ball enabling the idea of quick transition and distribution to work.
 

Skizzo

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My first pick was Thierry Henry, and the goal was to put him up top, with creativity and pace around him, and let him thrive.

No stranger to single-handedly dragging Arsenal to a win, he was immense in their undefeated season, as well as coming up huge in European games throughout the years against Madrid at the Bernabeau, and Inter at the San Siro.

At his peak, he was arguably the best striker in the world, as well as the best Premier League striker we’ve seen.

With his penchant for liking to drift around, most noticeably to the left hand side, I wanted someone who could drive centrally to open space, which is what Blokhin would do. The goal threat remains, and also the pace of the two of them would cause nightmares down that flank.

Michel Platini said:
He’s got something that no French player has ever had. He can do everything: from scoring goals, to giving assists, crossing and creating space for other players, and he fights for every ball. I’ve never see a player in France like him.
Ronaldinho said:
Henry is a beautiful player and has got complete technique, I adore watching him. I respect him very much as a man and as a footballer. He reminds me of myself
Paul Scholes said:
On his day he was absolutely scintillating, a supreme athlete and a magnificent footballer. What amazed me was that he never seemed to get a sweat on. He could run 100 meters past five players and he wouldn’t even be breathing heavily.
Lilian Thuram said:
He’s a wizard with his feet and is blessed with a gift for scoring goals. His best quality is his speed while the ball is at his feet. He may be the fastest man ever to lace up a football boot. No defender in the world can keep up with him.
Jamie Carragher said:
I’ve used this analogy before and I make no apology for using it again. When he hit top gear and ran past you, it was like trying to chase after someone on a motorbike. When Arsenal were ‘The Invincibles’ in the period between 2003-2004, Henry rivalled Ronaldinho as the best in the world. A great goal-scorer, not to mention a scorer of great goals, he is the finest player I have seen in the Premier League. His game didn’t have a weakness.
Zinedine Zidane said:
Thierry Henry is probably technically the most gifted footballer ever to play the beautiful game
Arsène Wenger said:
It was embarrassing for the defenders. He just scored when he wanted.



A legend for Arsenal, he transcends the rivalry and drew appreciation from fans of Arsenal and their opposition alike.

 

harms

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Can't agree with Modric suggestion at all, he was always best used a little deeper which allows him to break the first line and be more on the ball enabling the idea of quick transition and distribution to work.
What Modric suggestion?

someone more attacking/goalscoring instead of Schuster (or Modric — and move Schuster deeper)
The suggestion was to have someone more attacking instead of either Schuster or Modric (and move Schuster in his place if that's the case), not to move Modric higher.
 
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Jim Beam

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What Modric suggestion?


The suggestion was to have someone more attacking instead either Schuster or Modric (and move Schuster in his place if that's the case), not to move Modric higher.
Fair enough. Misunderstood you. I think Schuster can work fine in this role with his movement and direct running as I explained above. And someone like Modric who will provide not just extra ability on the ball, hard-work, but also contribute to quick transition seems to me like a great fit alongside Pirlo considering the general idea to surround Pirlo with movement and pace around him.
 

idmanager

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This looks better for me. Mazzola Jr played so many positions in the final third, you could literally use him in any formation, even as a winger at times.


 

Skizzo

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And on top of that Batistuta, who's quality is only matched by Schevchenko in terms of attackers.
I have to disagree there when Henry is lined up through the middle on the opposite side.

One of main ideas is precisely to congest midfield areas, but I think it makes much more harm to you. If you decide to close Mazzola and Schuster by your midfielders, you give free run for Pirlo and Modric to run the game. If you decide to close Pirlo or Modric and press them, you allow space for Mazzola and Schuster upfront. Not to mention, that I think your team will struggle to create anything through this area as you have 3 midfielders in the centre and 2 AM with great work-rate in front of them which will basically push most of your build up on the wings and cut of midfeld supply.
Obviously we’ll disagree here, but I don’t see how it would harm me more than you to congest the middle. All your threat is centrally oriented. Clogging that closes down your passing lanes. On the flip side, having players attack wider areas means there’s more movement and more pieces to unlock your defense. All of which would be ideal for Netzer to start threading balls through and I’m behind.
 

Jim Beam

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Obviously we’ll disagree here, but I don’t see how it would harm me more than you to congest the middle. All your threat is centrally oriented. Clogging that closes down your passing lanes. On the flip side, having players attack wider areas means there’s more movement and more pieces to unlock your defense. All of which would be ideal for Netzer to start threading balls through and I’m behind.
Because it would limit most of Netzer influence there (as much as I like him) and your two midfielders behind will also struggle to get hold on the game imo. As I said, you have a choice to close down Mazzola and Schuster, but than you allow Modric and Pirlo to have a free reign. Something Netzer will never have in this kind of formation. And Irwin and especially Cafu are capable of providing extra threat in wide areas when necessery.

As I have said, and generally, 4-3-2-1 with great pace and movement in midfield (and all of them aside of Pirlo have that) pretty much deny the other team to build any kind of possession play centrally. If you struggle with that, you will struggle to feed your attackers or wingers in such case.
 

Jim Beam

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This looks better for me. Mazzola Jr played so many positions in the final third, you could literally use him in any formation, even as a winger at times.


Yeah, it crossed my mind, but I really wanted to deny his midfield influence here which is more likely to have it this way imo. Not so sure about Mazzola there also, looks to me better positioned in this set-up and more familiar with his role in Inter.
 

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Because it would limit most of Netzer influence there (as much as I like him) and your two midfielders behind will also struggle to get hold on the game imo. As I said, you have a choice to close down Mazzola and Schuster, but than you allow Modric and Pirlo to have a free reign. Something Netzer will never have in this kind of formation. And Irwin and especially Cafu are capable of providing extra threat in wide areas when necessery.

As I have said, and generally, 4-3-2-1 with great pace and movement in midfield (and all of them aside of Pirlo have that) pretty much deny the other team to build any kind of possession play centrally. If you struggle with that, you will struggle to feed your attackers or wingers in such case.
Possession play isn’t something we’re particularly interested in. Netzer wouldn’t want to hang on the ball, he’s he moving it forward quickly.

And with our threat out wide, as you stated we’d be looking for, you lose the influence of Cafu and Irwin getting to move up the field to provide the width you need to open the game.
 

Jim Beam

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Possession play isn’t something we’re particularly interested in. Netzer wouldn’t want to hang on the ball, he’s he moving it forward quickly.

And with our threat out wide, as you stated we’d be looking for, you lose the influence of Cafu and Irwin getting to move up the field to provide the width you need to open the game.
Yeah, me neither as I explained in the opening post. I'm not saying you'll lose the possession battle, I'm saying your supplying lines will be cut off much more than mine which is a big difference. I am not interested also in winning the possession battle. It's direct, fluid football at highest tempo possible, especially when we win the ball or on the counter as in the defensive phase my team will drop deep. The midfield players will also be asked to provide quick counter-press in the moments when we lose the ball forcing you to play sideways or to your backline allowing the rest of the team to get in shape.

As for Cafu and Irwing, they will join the attack at times when the gap opens and when we do have possession, but also playing directly by putting a cross, or providing a quick link-up with the attack and returning to the defence or in shape immediately. Something which will be allowed by that quick press from my midfield. They also won't be surging forward together or without cover.
It's quite simplistic imo to say I have Blokhin or Conti on that side, so my fullbacks won't move forward at all when that depends on the various situations during the match and for example overloading one side of the pitch and then hitting the pass on the other side for ongoing Cafu. Something which Pirlo will release at perfect time and with no one closing him down from what I can see so far.
 
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Physiocrat

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As for Cafu and Irwing, they will join the attack at times when the gap opens and when we do have possession, but also playing directly by putting a cross, or providing a quick link-up with the attack and returning to the defence or in shape immediately. Something which will be allowed by that quick press from my midfield. They also won't be surging forward together or without cover.
It's quite simplistic imo to say I have Blokhin or Conti on that side, so my fullbacks won't move forward at all when that depends on the various situations during the match and for example overloading one side of the pitch and then hitting the pass on the other side for ongoing Cafu. Something which Pirlo will release at perfect time and with no one closing him down from what I can see so far.
Nice.

On another question, how often did Henry play as a lone striker? @Skizzo
 

idmanager

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Yeah, it crossed my mind, but I really wanted to deny his midfield influence here which is more likely to have it this way imo. Not so sure about Mazzola there also, looks to me better positioned in this set-up and more familiar with his role in Inter.
The Mazzola at inter had to deal with balls being pinged to him at various places in the final third, so he wasnt that static.

And I would personally rather have him there instead of Schuster out of his element on the wrong side.
 

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Nice.

On another question, how often did Henry play as a lone striker? @Skizzo
Are you specifically asking about as two up top? Because Zidane would play behind him for France.



And for Arsenal Bergkamp would play Off him, but with Netzer and Blokhin in and around the attacking area, he’s not isolated or in a lone Target Man type role.
 

Jim Beam

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Damn... one of my all-time favorites also.

I’m just having visions of both teams leaving the ball somewhere on the pitch and refusing to take it :lol:
Yeah, Skizzo, I'm definitely taking that. :D

Or taking anything where Pirlo can have effect on the game. Just really curious what was your plan in the defensive phase. Defend deep and close down Mazzola and Schuster runs while letting Pirlo alongside Modric to have space and time on the ball?

Btw. I can see you maybe winning in some ways here, but there is no way Netzer is going to have close to a MoTM performance (like you mentioned in OP) considering everything. Can't press much or close down in the defensive phase and limit Pirlo influence while being outnumbered and pressed with the ball.
 

Jim Beam

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Are you specifically asking about as two up top? Because Zidane would play behind him for France.



And for Arsenal Bergkamp would play Off him, but with Netzer and Blokhin in and around the attacking area, he’s not isolated or in a lone Target Man type role.
He had Vieira, Makelele in midfield like here, with Zidane (not bad to replace Netzer) and Ribery on the wing. And you also don't want to take the ball!
 

Jim Beam

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The Mazzola at inter had to deal with balls being pinged to him at various places in the final third, so he wasnt that static.

And I would personally rather have him there instead of Schuster out of his element on the wrong side.
The general idea is for them to interchange and move at all times with Batistuta. Got lost somewhere in translation I guess.
 

Physiocrat

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Are you specifically asking about as two up top? Because Zidane would play behind him for France.



And for Arsenal Bergkamp would play Off him, but with Netzer and Blokhin in and around the attacking area, he’s not isolated or in a lone Target Man type role.
I thought he played there for a time for France but IIRC he didn't replicate his club form for France although that's not necessarily due to being one up front. I get Blokhin being positionally similar to Pores but as you point out Better was really more of an 8.5 than a 10 so at least won't start as close to Henry as did Bergkamp. Better I think is Netzer as an upgrade for fit for Henry than Zidane as Henry got annoyed at Zidane for not releasing the ball early enough, something Netzer is unlikely to do.

I'm generally happy with players in different positions but Henry is a very particular type of player. Starts centrally but drifts leftward a lot. My preference would for him always to be in a front two.
 
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Skizzo

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I thought he played there for a time for France but IIRC he didn't replicate his club form for France although that's not necessarily due to being one up front. I get Blokhin being positionally similar to Pores but as you point out Better was really more of an 8.5 than a 10 so at least won't start as close to Henry as did Bergkamp. Better I think is Netzer as an upgrade for fit for Henry than Zidane as Henry got annoyed at Zidane for not releasing the ball early enough, something Netzer is unlikely to do.

I'm generally happy with players in different positions but Henry is a very particular type of player. Starts centrally but drifts leftward a lot. My preference would for him always to be in a front two.
His goal record for France during that 3 year period around the 06 World Cup was about 1 in 2, but no, I don’t think he ever quite hit his Arsenal form for Les Bleus.

I did consider going with Daglish instead of Netzer, and maybe more of a hybrid 442/4231 with Daglish dropping into the hole and the wingers pushing up and back as appropriate, but I really enjoyed the thought of Netzer here sending balls through for the front 3.
 

oneniltothearsenal

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I thought he played there for a time for France but IIRC he didn't replicate his club form for France although that's not necessarily due to being one up front. I get Blokhin being positionally similar to Pores but as you point out Better was really more of an 8.5 than a 10 so at least won't start as close to Henry as did Bergkamp. Better I think is Netzer as an upgrade for fit for Henry than Zidane as Henry got annoyed at Zidane for not releasing the ball early enough, something Netzer is unlikely to do.

I'm generally happy with players in different positions but Henry is a very particular type of player. Starts centrally but drifts leftward a lot. My preference would for him always to be in a front two.
I don't think its a different position or role. Just a different starting formation. During the 2006 Champions League finalist run, when Bergkamp wasn't used much at age 37, Henry played up front in different variations of formation in the best European run of that side. Usually Ljungberg was played instead of Dennis but sometimes you'd see more of a 4411 with Hleb behind Henry leading the line or even Ljungberg starting to the left of Henry. It doesn't prevent Henry from getting into dangerous positions even in his favored zone.

Basically Wenger liked Henry starting sometimes to the right at this time and then making the runs into the left channel in a scissor like movement, exchanging with Ljungberg and playing 1-2s to open up space. So the starting formation doesn't really depict the key movements if that makes sense.


https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2005/matches/round=2203/match=1105604/index.html

https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2005/matches/round=2204/match=1107458/index.html



That said though, I'm not sure how I feel about Netzer in this tactic.
 
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Gio

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That midfield 5 doesn't look complimentary to me at all. Young Schuster and Modric are overlapping (and Schuster should be on the right) — and so do Mackay and Pirlo — to an extent. Add Davids-esque midfielder on the left and preferably someone more attacking/goalscoring instead of Schuster (or Modric — and move Schuster deeper) and it would look much better. Also I would prefer to have a sweeper with one of Ruggeri or Burgnich.

Skizzo's team is not significantly better when we're talking about the personnel but it's well-thought and perfectly balanced — I have to go with him.
Mackay is very Davids-esque though, in that he shared the same combativeness, energy and graft, as well as playing as a left-half. But otherwise agree with the overall shape - it would look a lot more natural as idm has set it out below:

This looks better for me. Mazzola Jr played so many positions in the final third, you could literally use him in any formation, even as a winger at times.


 

Jim Beam

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Since there is less than half an hour to close will put my thoughts a bit more objectively.

I don't like my pair of CB's at all. :lol:
It's probably the only thing I agree with @harms (which is a progress as I think it's the first thing we agreed in these debates). I mean I like them individually as I wouldn't pick them otherwise, but there should be a sweeper between them. Ruggeri is great, but not the fastest defender out there and Henry with Blokhin cutting in would make trouble realistically. It also forces my team to play a bit deeper than I would ideally like as there is no way to leave them on an open space against Skizzo's attack. So, a pair of CB's who operated regularly in back 4 and one faster than Ruggeri would be much better. Or ideally, a sweeper as mentioned, but I gambled on getting one late and lost out, so my mistake.

For the rest of the midfield, I stand by my points, especially considering that Pirlo operated in 4-3-2-1 regularly under Ancelloti and Modric with Mackay compliment him perfectly imo. Mazzola is in his place, Batistuta also, so that leaves Schuster which I knew will be a probable issue. He played centrally and liked to drift right, that's correct. He was also two-footed and knew to show up all over midfield with many from his goals or assists coming with him drifting from the left as shown from those highlights. And he plays here in a primarily central position, so I personally don't see such an issue, but each to his own of course. I realized during this and previous draft that I have a fetish for creative midfielders (blame United solely for this though).

All that said, don't think Skizzo would get much if any joy in those central areas leaving and not pressing Pirlo and Modric at all. It would be a barrage of attempts from deep positions from the likes of Schuster, Mazzola, Batistuta or even Pirlo. There would be multiple freekicks in dangerous areas and there would be constant pressure with Batistuta on the end of providing passes/crosses with Mazolla and Schuster coming behind. Count in there, the fact that the team is capable of making quick counter-press to recover the ball or just block normal and quick build up from the midfield allowing the rest of the team to come back in shape and there are serious issues for him to deal also imo.
 
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Skizzo

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So, now that I eased my soul...:D Well deserved Skizzo and all the best for the rest of the draft mate.
Cheers mate. Enjoyed the discussions :)

As I said earlier, was nice to see a slightly different take on a Pirlo side. I still think he’s under appreciated, but still wasn’t looking forward to facing him and Modric after his World Cup exploits.
 

Jim Beam

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Cheers mate. Enjoyed the discussions :)

As I said earlier, was nice to see a slightly different take on a Pirlo side. I still think he’s under appreciated, but still wasn’t looking forward to facing him and Modric after his World Cup exploits.
Aye, he definitely is, but I also made some mistakes during drafting tbf to let him fully shine.

Massive fan of Blokhin and Netzer so looking forward how will you upgrade. :)