TEAM INVICTUS/KM
Starting XI
DEFENSE
Ronnie Hellström forms the last line of defense. A very agile shootsopper, and a commanding presence in the box, he was voted European Goalkeeper of the Year 4 times in the 1970s, and will help nullify the threat of the opposition's forwards.
French legend Marius Trésor is the cornerstone of the defense. A very complete defender, he will help piece the defense together. On his left hand side isJürgen Kurbjuhn, a very good marker who offers the versatility to play at both left centerback and leftback positions.
The duo are flanked by arguably the greatest Spanish fullback of all time - José Camacho, who was a very complete defender - exceptional at both offensive and defensive phases of the game. And FC Basel legend Scott Chipperfield who was renowned for his relentless work ethic.
MIDFIELD
Ahead of them is a trio anchored by Uruguay and Peñarol icon, Néstor Gonçalvez - an excellent man marker and a central defensive monster, who was also good at playing simple passes to his more offensive team-mates.
And Nils Liedholm was no slouch defensively either. One of the most complete midfielders ever - he could play behind the striker, as an attacking midfielder, and as a central midfielder. And he is renowned for his workrate and team-ethic, to go with exceptional, pin point and expansive passing range. He is ideal for the deep lying playmaker role who will also contribute defensively.
Then there's the Golden Boy of Italian football - Ballon D'Or winner Gianni Rivera - one of the greatest creative playmakers of all time who will help control the tempo of the game and has the license to carry the ball forward from deeper areas - he will find a lot of joy as the finisher and builder of attacking moves in the final third.
FORWARDS
On the right flank we have Hungarian legend Ferenc Bene, a superlative goalscorer from wider areas who scored 300+ clubs goals, apart from being Euro top scorer, World Cup top scorer for Hungary, and Olympics top scorer - he will help supplement the goalscoring threat of our #9.
At his peak of his game (late 90s-very early 2000s), Christian Vieri was arguably the best target striker in football who blended sensational goalcoring ability with imposing physicality. He is the ideal front man for our setup.
To complete the trio, we have arguably the greatest left winger of all time after George Best - Francisco Gento - The Storm of the Cantabrian. A devastating winger, his speed is matched by few in the history of the game and he will challenge his marker time and again with the intention to cross to Vieri or score himself.
Defensive Line : Normal
1. We're not going to undermine the voters' intelligence by suggesting that our team is perfect - far from it, because doing so would be a disservice to the community. And by now, we don't really believe in selling players by resorting to BS arguments. Scott Chipperfield is a sheep, and our defense is probably not the greatest for this stage of the competition - which is a bit of a shame in hindsight because we made a genuine, conscious effort to build from the back throughout the draft, even in the reinforcement round. C'est la vie. But we believe we're putting him in a position where he can do the least amount of damage to our chances. Because Gento could dominate an entire flank by himself without needing a lot of help, which can ease Chipperfield's workload a tad.
2) With outrageous creative talents such as Rivera, Liedholm, Gento, and to a certain extent Bene - spearheaded by Vieri in his prime , it would be hard for any defense to keep them quiet. Vieri as the focal point means there is a clinical finisher/ battering ram at the end of the chances created, and it also manages to enhance the already impressive goalscoring nature of his fellow forwards. The Vieri-Gento-Bene-Rivera could be devastating with clear cut goal routes and linkup possibilities for each.
3) The Rivera-Liedholm-Gonçalvez partnership is is incredible in terms of balance. All of them are among the crème de la crème their position (and playing in their best roles) - and our entire front 6 has very defined tasks with little to no overlap - Vieri the target striker, Gento the wing wizard, Bene the goalscoring wide forward, Rivera the prime mover from midfield, Liedholm the architect, and Gonçalvez the destroyer who will help marshal that player (not stop him, because no one can - but try to limit his influence). We might not have an obvious, eyecatching *** dere GOAT type player, but the pieces are very compatible and complementary, and all of them in their best positions.
Individual arguments to be addressed in the thread.
Good luck @Stobzilla! You have a superb team - one worthy of reaching the finals of this draft.
Starting formation below. Switch when leading 19-8. Dixie Dean on for Robert Prosinecki.
TEAM STOBZILLA
Formation
Gone for an Ancelotti-esque take on 4-3-1-2/4-3-2-1 pace, quality and stamina all in abundance in key area's of the pitch. What we may cede in terms of being able to dominate through possession we more than make up for in the counter attacking phase.
Defence
Key feature of my side is it's full backs, Demyanenko and one of the consensus best right backs of all time Wim Suurbier, both have the aforementioned pace, stamina and quality to not only be able to shut down the wide areas whilst still providing an attacking threat. Suurbier is being asked more of offensively out of the two, Demyanenko can still get forward but his moments will be carefully selected. In the middle we have Soviet legend Albert Whatshisfacenevnyov, still a pain in the arse in terms of knowing how to spell his name but also an absolute wall defensively. To his left we have former Real Madrid captain, Multiple CL winner and general ball playing CB animal Fernando Hierro. They are backed up by one Michael Konsel a solid if unspectacular Austrian international and well thought of by Roma fans during his brief time in Italy.
Midfield
Always a key area and I will start with Steven Gerrard here I think it is important to indulge his all action style, we all know his ability/penchant for firing balls from deep, this will allow him to do some of that still but also he gets to be a genuine box to box threat, but this time with slightly more licence to get forward, To his right we have the ver reliable Peter Reid shielding and harrying in the midfield area and Mario Coluna, a perfect tactical fit for this side.
The One
Not much needs to be said regarding Diego Maradona given free licence in this set up he has players all around that can win the ball back and get it too him he has the ability to pass his way or dribble through the tightest of defences.
Attack
Robet Prosinecki starts in a more familiar advanced left hand side role, here his dribbling and passing can be put to it's best use, aiming for probably the best all around forward in the Premiership era of English Football Thierry Henry, his movement and pace along with the possible interchanges and advancing midfielders getting beyond the ball make for a nightmare scenario.
Good luck to Invictus and KM. Should be another good one.
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