The Doubles Draft - R1: mazhar vs Enigma

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

vs
....................................... TEAM MAZAHAR ................................................................................ TEAM ENIGMA ........................................

Subs: Lato - Hamrin - V. Andrade - Toninho Cerezo

TEAM mazhar

Key points:
- Team filled with athletic, determined, aggressive players
- Leaders all over the pitch
- Skilled footballers everywhere
- Proven goalscorers in abundance
- Pace in abundance
- Creativity combined with efficiency
- Strong set piece threats
- Aerial prowess as well as great set piece takers (Le Tissier, Pogba, Cristiano)

Approach/Style of play:
- Slightly higher defensive line to keep the pitch tight
- Crowd out the midfield and force opponents out wide, limiting their options going forward
- Vierchowod and Rosato will play more zonally to allow Sammer and Pirri to cover large areas of the pitch
- Zambrotta given freedom to play his natural game; Camacho will play his normal full back role to compensate
- Front 3 have free roles to interchange with each other and drag defences around
- Pogba given freedom to play his natural box-to-box game
- Also allowed to drift to the left flank to stretch the opponents
- Expand the pitch as much as possible in order to give the danger men space in the middle
- Pounce on opponents quickly and keep them under pressure
- Play forward quickly to exploit the gaps in the opposition
- Team will slow down the pace if needed to maintain possession and build up attacks

Why my team will win:
- Efficient, proven goalscorers against all sorts of opposition
- Multitude of goalscorers in the team
- Skilled, technically sound footballers who can keep the ball under pressure and in tight spaces and play it out of trouble
- Fighters on the pitch who will take on all comers with a never-say-die attitude
- Leaders on the pitch who will drive the team forward and play to win rather than to not lose
- HARDER, BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER

How my team will deal with the opposition:
- Solid middle core with no-nonsense players
- Lack of width from Enigma forces him to play through the congested middle space
- Look to exploit the spaces left behind by playing the ball forward quickly on the counter

Defence + Goalkeeper:
- Sweeper-keeper allows for a higher defensive line
- Can prevent the opposition from settling on the ball
- Back three: strong, aggressive defenders who are also positionally astute and great interceptors
- Complete defenders in Vierchowod, Rosato, and Sammer
- Vierchowod and Rosato can allow Sammer to push up and press higher up the pitch
- Back three are also comfortable on the ball
- Camacho: slightly more conservative to give more freedom to Zambrotta and Sammer
- Zambrotta given freedom to roam the wings and provide the width on the left side
- Camacho will be a more traditional full back than a wing back

Midfield:
- Pirri-Pogba full of energy, bite, athleticism, and creativity
- Pirri's defensive astuteness allows Pogba more freedom in his attacking game
- Sammer pushing up also allows midfield to push up higher
- Pirri: break up plays with defensive reading of the game, support attacks w/ late runs into the box
- Pogba: freedom to dictate the game, drift out to the left naturally to stretch opposition
- Pogba's balance, close control, vision, and passing accuracy will shine with support from Sammer and Pirri

Front 3:
- Sheva and Cristiano both comfortable out wide as well as through the middle
- Quick dribblers who can conjure up goals out of nothing
- Proven goalscorers against the best defenders around
- Cristiano: 487 goals in 673 club appearances
- Sheva: 321 goals in 648 club appearances (including Chelsea and beyond)
- Offensive threat from front 2 + wide threat from Zambrotta/Pogba as well as support from Sammer and Pirri will give Le Tissier space to weave his magic
- Lack of work rate made up for by front 2, midfield, and Sammer
- Still a threat with his close control, dribbling, long shots, and passing
- Opposition cannot afford to give him time and space, else he will take accurate long shots
- Le Tissier frequently came up with moments of magic even in some of his quieter performances
- Statistically, produced a good output
- 209 goals in 541 club appearances (as a support striker/attacking midfielder)

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

TEAM ENIGMA

Formation: 4-3-3 (lopsided)

Starting Line Up

1. Bernd Leno - GK - fantastic shot stopper and one of the best keepers in modern days. PK specialist as well with a respective record of saving 1 of every 3 penos that goes his way. What makes him special among all other young up and coming keepers these days is his reflexes as they are up with the best in the game today - Neuer, DDG, etc. Still young of course, but has plenty of experience already capping more than 200 apps in Germany and CL/EL already. Where you can easily see him is in the highlight reels every week pulling some amazing saves:

2. Volodymyr Bezsonov(or Bessonov) - RB -Very agile and athletic full back who possessed a great pace work rate. His powerful shooting made him a potent attacking threat to his accomplished defensive prowess. One of the most capped players( 79 times ) for the Soviet Union. He was also very physical defender and loved to get stuck in.

3. Ze Roberto - LB -Another very athletic wide man in our team. He possessed flawless technique and was pretty versatile and tactically sound. He played as a winger, left back, defensive midfielder, holding midfielder, #8 and AM. His technique and crossing makes him useful addition getting forward while his pace, stamina and smart positional sense would help neutralizing Mazhar's wide forward. His ability to hold and pass the ball under pressure also comes in handy and bodes well in our technical midfield and forward line.

4. Elias Figueroa - CB -Ranked the best American player in 1974, 1975, 1976, one of the best defenders in football history and all-time best football player in Chile. Figueroa was noted for his elegant style of play, his calmness in the centre of defence and his ability to cut out opposition attacks and immediately launch counterattacks from the back. With a great positional sense and aerially dominant, he comes as the complete package at the back.

Some quotes from the greats:
I'm the European Figueroa (Beckenbauer)

Beckenbauer and Figueroa have been the only defenders who were better than I(Passarella)


I do not hesitate when saying Elías Figueroa was the best defender ever in World Football(Carlos Alberto Parreira)

5. Guiseppe Bergomi - CB - In 1988/89, Inter won the Scudetto. Bergomi played an instrumental role that season. He was a natural leader on the pitch, and those who have seen him play will recall how he made his presence felt on the pitch. Bergomi commanded great respect out of his players, while instilling fear into the rivals psyche. Loyal – a true one club man. Dependable – equally at ease playing as a right back and also as a center back, he was ever dependable. Consistent – two long decades of service. Efficient – his playing style was of the ‘old school’ Italian defenders, driven by pragmatism and physicality. Hard working – he strenuously marshaled his team mates as the leader on the pitch, which also sheds light on his motivational nature.

6. Jean Tigana - RMC -Integral part of one of the most reknown midfielder lines in history, Jean Tigana was important cog in carre magique. Tireless midfielder, solid defensively and also able to contribute going forward with his passing range and technique. He brings the combative element in our side, but also effectively take part in possession and cover for the right side of the pitch defensively. He's very quick and with his tenacious mentality he will cover a lot of ground.

7. Clarence Seedorf - MC - one of the most complete midfielders around. His versatility and creativity is highly appreciated. He will keep the ball link up with the attack but also participate in the defensive end. Quick feet and excellent vision added with a ferocious shot will make him an additional danger coming forward when breaking up Mazhar's defence.

8. Edgar Davids - LMC - the one man engine room completes the midfield. Davids will participate in both ends - both defensively and offensively, cover for Ze Roberto when the latter goes forward or is beaten on the flank but also participate in possession and carrying the ball forward. Quick mind and feet will help him along with Tigana and Seedorf to boss the midfield.

9. Luis Suarez - CF - The man that adds bite(hehe) to our attack. One of the most clinical strikers around, it takes a special player to displace Neymar and Messi as Barca's main man for the past 15/16 season. He turned himself into a brilliant footballer with a great work rate, whose overall contribution doesn't stop simply at that. He has vision and passing to match his movement and shooting.
Of every player in the top tiers of Spanish, French, German, English and Italian football, only Messi, Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria can match his 16 assists for the 2015/16 campaign.
To reiterate that and proving his doubters wrong in the business end of last season and the season before it was Suarez who upped his game and saved Barca's season.

Suarez's role and why it's key for the game - Suarez will do what he does best for Barca. Be the most up the field player for our side, looking for openings, engaging defenders and leaving space
for Pele and Rivaldo. He will drift wide to the right to make space for Pele or Rivaldo coming in to the box, participate in the build up and of course - at the end of finishing off chances.

10. Pele #10(and a half) - Best player on the park. He'll be in his favorite zone, playing off Suarez, in a free role, pulling the strings. I'll be using prime Pele here and taking advantage of both his scoring ability and playmaking. Not much to say that it's not already been said, but he's the complete footballer, with no real weakness - technique, amazing first touch, work rate, heading, jump, scoring - the man got it all. But the biggest part of it - he's a big game player and always up for the occasion even from teenage age.

11. Rivaldo - LWF - Rivaldo was one of the best players in the late 90's - top notch technique, creativity and scoring abilities. He's fluent operating wide, off the striker or as a #10. In this game he'll be on the left side of the attack complimenting the front three with Pele and Suares. He'll play off the main striker and make runs in the box.

Key points:

Pele aerial threat in the box - Neither Sammer, Vierchowod or Rosato can neutralize him in that aspect.

Goals in our side - Apart from our obvious sources - Pele, Rivaldo and Suarez, Seedorf has a terrific shot on him outside the box and Bergomi/Figueroa are threat in the box on set pieces. Rivaldo and Pele are also very handy as FK specialists given that I expect to be fouled a lot around the box.

Midfield wall - Mazhar is up against a very hard working, technical and also creative midfield three, that are well capable of operating wide if needed - either to cover or move the ball forward. We intend to get hold of possession and control the tempo. Most likely Mazhar will start with a midfield two or three, depending on whether Le Tissier will be played as a number 10 or a second striker.

Work rate and pace - we have a highly mobile midfield three along with 2 wing backs that have endless amount of energy, stamina and pace to boot, which comes in handy defending counter attacks, as we have the wide players as well as Tigana and Davids to cover for openings in our side.

CB pair - Figueroa/Bergomi are the best CB's on the pitch combining both the physical but also technical aspect of the game.

Focal points of attack:

1. Through the middle - with Suarez opening space for both Rivaldo and Pele to come into the box. Seedorf, Pele, Rivaldo shooting outside the box. Possible advantage on set pieces with our taller CB pair.

2. Left side - Ze Roberto, Davids, Rivaldo. Ze Roberto provides additional width and threat going forward with his excellent crosses, pace and trickery. Davids can also spring forward occasionally providing support and create openings. Rivaldo is always dangerous on the left either by looking to pass/cross it in the box or finishing the move just outside it as well.

2. Right side - Bessonov, Tigana, Suarez - Suarez would drift wide occasionally dragging one of the CB's out of position. Bessonov can support the attack as well as Tigana who did it quite often sometimes playing at the bottom right side(of the square) for France.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Good luck @mazhar13 @Enigma_87

@Rado_N Usual poll please. Thanks in advance!

 

[Enigma_87]

Thanks
@Edgar Allan Pillow for setting it up and good luck @mazhar13 !

 

[Rado_N]

Poll'd

 

[Deleted member 101472]

I'm going to be controversial here and vote for Mazhar based on Enigma taking the easy way out with the youth player being the GK. Mazhars task is that much harder to incorporate his youth player which I feel he has done very well with pogba.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

I'm going to be controversial here and vote for Mazhar based on Enigma taking the easy way out with the youth player being the GK.

Choosing a youth GK is still within the rules of this draft and a manager can't be penalized for it tbh.

Surely there are other factors at play here. Figueroa/Bergomi is a droolworthy CB pairing in front of Leno. Davids/Tigana ahead also excellent defensively!

 

[Enigma_87]

I'm going to be controversial here and vote for Mazhar based on Enigma taking the easy way out with the youth player being the GK. Mazhars task is that much harder to incorporate his youth player which I feel he has done very well with pogba.

Your call and opinion. The pool was open and I think half of the managers at the end picked a youth keeper. Leno is one of the top keepers around and it's not like I've picked an obscure nobody to put on goal.

Sure there are better keepers, but having in mind some of his performances against Barca, Bayern, Atletico Madrid with a much inferior defence in front of him I don't think he can be considered liability. He's a great shot stopper and can make the frame look small. When it comes to reflexes and top saves he's up with the best.

He hasn't matured to be one of the best of his time, but that doesn't mean he hasn't got the potential to be so.

We have to take into consideration the set up here, not only the names on the team sheet. Would a not so solid defensive pair expose the keeper in another game ? Possibly. Would Leno be even more relaxed and better with two of the best CB pair in the game instead of conceding around 8 shots per game in Bayer's defence? I think so.

I don't think my set up has left the keeper exposed. Surely if I had more inexperienced defensive line a more experienced and commanding keeper would make sense but both Bergomi and Figueroa are leaders of their own who can keep the line and organize the defence.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

I really like mazhar's team here. Sammer in his Balon d'Or winning role (albeit against Pele). Two cracking CB's to counter for opponents individual brilliant players. Sheva being a perfect target foil for both Le Tiss and CR, Attacking fullbacks, great midfield duo...It all fits together perfectly.

Enigma's team is a bit hard to read. I thought it would be far better if Pele was operating as a False 9 of sort, but as a proper #10, it somehow doesn't gel naturally. Love the rest of his team though!

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Think that's harsh (the Leno thing, I mean).

For me, both the youth and legacy players should be assessed quality and suitability wise, like any other player on the pitch, not treated as special categories.

If you think Leno is out of his depth - fair enough. But punishing Enigma for picking him - as a draft strategic move on his part - is unreasonable for my money. If he's good enough it shouldn't matter that it's the easy way out (a debatable contention to begin with - he always ran the risk of people focusing on Leno, as shown by the debates in the main thread).

You could say that mazhar is playing a bit of a draft tactical game here too - by picking a player who is more popular than he's ever been on the Caf as his youth choice. That shouldn't matter either - whether Pogba is good enough, and a good enough fit for the system, should be the only consideration.

 

[Šjor Bepo]

@Enigma_87 whats the story with your fullbacks, in the write you called them FB but on the formation picture they are insanely high up the pitch with arrows forward so i dont know what to think. Are they fullbacks or wingbacks?

 

[harms]

Again with the "voting for those who had it tougher" routine

 

[Deleted member 101472]

it is harsh but it will be reflected in other votes in matches.

 

[Deleted member 101472]

Again with the "voting for those who had it tougher" routine

I can't wait to tear your choice of kante apart

 

[Enigma_87]

I really like mazhar's team here. Sammer in his Balon d'Or winning role (albeit against Pele). Two cracking CB's to counter for opponents individual brilliant players. Sheva being a perfect target foil for both Le Tiss and CR, Attacking fullbacks, great midfield duo...It all fits together perfectly.

Enigma's team is a bit hard to read. I thought it would be far better if Pele was operating as a False 9 of sort, but as a proper #10, it somehow doesn't gel naturally. Love the rest of his team though!

To be fair initially I had another idea of using Pele, but building the team around him made more sense, especially for the first round.

Pele's role is not a classic #10, he's a bit in a free role to roam around, get the ball(it's not like you can see him not wanting it anyway) and looks for an openings but also get into the box. Pele always worked best off another striker/forward. Even in 1970 he had Tostao, who, albeit not a target man but even an AM was usually the furthest man forward. By withdrawing him a yard back he gets into a little less crowded space - allowing him to receive the ball and move it around. Suarez is really the perfect foil for him in a sense that he can create openings, withdraw CB's off position, which is essential for this game, as I thought Mazhar will go with more crowded defensive line, either Sammer as a DM or as a sweeper.

If we take a look at his 1970 position on the pitch:

it's pretty much accurate zone that he'll be occupying.

Suarez will create him the space by either withdrawing back or - like he does more often for Barca dropping wide.

My reasoning behind not playing Pele as a 9 is because I think playing off a CF is getting the best of him.

Note: I'm not trying to replicate Brazil 1970 of course, just describing Pele's role

 

[Deleted member 101472]

another problem with enigmas team, and the reason i would have voted mazhar anyway, is i can see mazhar team countering a lot, and with his fullbacks pushed on, ronaldo and shevchenko are going to have a lot of time one-on-one with the centre backs.

 

[Enigma_87]

@Enigma_87 whats the story with your fullbacks, in the write you called them FB but on the formation picture they are insanely high up the pitch with arrows forward so i dont know what to think. Are they fullbacks or wingbacks?

Well I've put them as wing backs initially, then reverted to full backs The idea is that the formation is 4-3-3 and usually depicting it they are more of a full backs rather than wing backs.

In this game I think we will control possession, hence they will be further on the pitch usually. The arrows are due to both of them participating in the attacking and and giving additional width.

When they are in attack Tigana and Davids will be covering on either side. If caught out of possession(and the reason why I went with Bessonov as a RB/WB) they have plenty of pace to regain position.

 

[Enigma_87]

another problem with enigmas team, and the reason i would have voted mazhar anyway, is i can see mazhar team countering a lot, and with his fullbacks pushed on, ronaldo and shevchenko are going to have a lot of time one-on-one with the centre backs.

Tigana and Davids are both providing support to the full backs.

Out of the whole pool I don't think I could've got a better pair on each flank providing such defensive cover. Both Davids and Tigana have great engine and are really fast and agile. They can cover a lot of ground and they are in the best position to do so - Tigana is known to either cover the DM or right box to box role, while Davids is in his bread and butter role.

Bessonov and Ze Roberto are also pretty fast, especially Bessonov and can track back.

 

[Raees]

I'm going to be controversial here and vote for Mazhar based on Enigma taking the easy way out with the youth player being the GK. Mazhars task is that much harder to incorporate his youth player which I feel he has done very well with pogba.

That is abit ridiculous mate, it is within the rules of the draft and unless the draftmaster didn't anticipate and make it explicit such a move would be against the spirit of the draft.. I do not see the issue here. It is not like he has picked a youth team keeper like Sam Johnstone.

 

[Deleted member 101472]

Tigana and Davids are both providing support to the full backs.

Out of the whole pool I don't think I could've got a better pair on each flank providing such defensive cover. Both Davids and Tigana have great engine and are really fast and agile. They can cover a lot of ground.

Bessonov and Ze Roberto are also pretty fast, especially Bessonov and can track back.

Peak Ronaldo and Peak Shevchenko are going to have a lot of joy, particularly Ronaldo if he drifts to the left and with Bessonov a bit further up field CR is the main man in this game, more so than Pele ( and believe me, I rate Pele WAY higher )

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

If we take a look at his 1970 position on the pitch:

it's pretty much accurate zone that he'll be occupying.

That works when you have just Gerson/Clodoaldo or Davids/Tigana on the pitch. Now with Seedorf moving up it puts him right on the same area as Pele, doesn't it?

 

[Deleted member 101472]

That is abit ridiculous mate, it is within the rules of the draft and unless the draftmaster didn't anticipate and make it explicit such a move would be against the spirit of the draft.. I do not see the issue here. It is not like he has picked a youth team keeper like Sam Johnstone.

Aye it's within the rules but I just don't like it, There's no doubt that its an easier way out than picking an outfield youth keeper. I could have had Tassotti at right back and gone for Perrin in goals ( a great young keeper) but I didnt want to take that route. I get the controversy but I just dont like it.

FWIW i would have gone with mazhar anyway

 

[Enigma_87]

That works when you have just Gerson/Clodoaldo or Davids/Tigana on the pitch. Now with Seedorf moving up it puts him right on the same area as Pele, doesn't it?

Seedorf will be operating in a bit deeper zone. He will only push up when Pele goes in the box or drifts outside position to fill the gap. Seedorf will be occupying the center of the pitch as I need his playmaking ability and the ability to control the game from the middle. His role is more in possession, linking up with the defence or out wide and get the ball to Pele/Rivaldo in front of him.

He will also provide defensive cover as I'd need one of Tigana/Davids out wide when defending most probably.

 

[Raees]

Aye it's within the rules but I just don't like it, There's no doubt that its an easier way out than picking an outfield youth keeper. I could have had Tassotti at right back and gone for Perrin in goals ( a great young keeper) but I didnt want to take that route. I get the controversy but I just dont like it.

FWIW i would have gone with mazhar anyway

Perrin plays for Genoa, Leno plays at Leverkusen and has featured at European level of football. It is a different kettle of fish.

If you have played at european level of football and you are a young player and held your own, that makes you a good candidate as a youth player.

I got criticism for Rico, but he has european titles to his name, has starred against Madrid/Barca.. making terrific saves against suarez, Neymar, Bale etc and he is second only to DDG in the spanish side. Surely that makes him more proven than some of the outfield youngsters who I could have picked like Luke Shaw for example?

 

[harms]

I can't wait to tear your choice of kante apart

I genuinely don't understand what's going on in your head when you make decisions like this. There are rules - and they are strict ones. You must have a youth player in your set-up and it can be anyone - midfielder, striker, goalie.

Many have chosen young and relatively unproven goalkeepers and Leno is one of them although he has 200+ senior appearances to his name, so it's not like he is a PSG reserve keeper or anything. It's totally understandable and it's an easiest strategy, granted, but it's the strategy that is perfectly legal.

If you would've said that you think Pogba is a better player than Leno (which is true) and thus Mazhar has an advantage, it would've been absolutely reasonable argument. But when you say "he picked a keeper so I'm voting against him" it's laughable, really.

Should all the plane tickets that were sold with discount be revoked because it's unfair to those passengers who paid the full price?
Should we ban McDonalds because they took the easy way out and make more money than Harry's Bar?

 

[Deleted member 101472]

Perrin plays for Genoa, Leno plays at Leverkusen and has featured at European level of football. It is a different kettle of fish.

If you have played at european level of football and you are a young player and held your own, that makes you a good candidate as a youth player.

I got criticism for Rico, but he has european titles to his name and he is second only to DDG in the spanish side. Surely that makes him more proven than some of the outfield youngsters who I could have picked like Luke Shaw for example?

Unless we call something the goalkeeper draft , a lot of the time they are going to get overlooked . You could put Harry Kane in goals and still have enough people convinced you would win with pele in your team . I genuinely feel it's an unfair advantage in the game as it requires zero thought beyond " he's playing in goals "

 

[Enigma_87]

Peak Ronaldo and Peak Shevchenko are going to have a lot of joy, particularly Ronaldo if he drifts to the left and with Bessonov a bit further up field CR is the main man in this game, more so than Pele ( and believe me, I rate Pele WAY higher )

As I've said, most likely on counter we will have numbers at the back not to leave our CB exposed. If you scrap Bessonov off the picture, Tigana and Bergomi would cover for Ronaldo. And Tigana is very intelligent midfielder that can slow him down until Bessonov tracks back or even dispossess him.

I'm not saying that Bessonov will keep Ronaldo at bay this game, far from it. However in this set up I have Tigana, Bergomi operating in this zone as well. And they are one of the best in their roles.

 

[Deleted member 101472]

As I've said, most likely on counter we will have numbers at the back not to leave our CB exposed. If you scrap Bessonov off the picture, Tigana and Bergomi would cover for Ronaldo. And Tigana is very intelligent midfielder that can slow him down until Bessonov tracks back or even dispossess him.

I'm not saying that Bessonov will keep Ronaldo at bay this game, far from it. However in this set up I have Tigana, Bergomi operating in this zone as well. And they are one of the best in their roles.

With pogba advancing into that space , and le tissier floating though , on the counter it's going to be a bit chaotic for you to deal with .

 

[Enigma_87]

Unless we call something the goalkeeper draft , a lot of the time they are going to get overlooked . You could put Harry Kane in goals and still have enough people convinced you would win with pele in your team . I genuinely feel it's an unfair advantage in the game as it requires zero thought beyond " he's playing in goals "

It was a fair pool mate. Auction in fact. It's not like I've snake picked him just to get an advantage over the others. You and every other manager could've bid over me to get either Leno or Oblak for the matter or someone else.

As I've said in the main thread as well - by picking him I'm at disadvantage in the keeper spot, while gaining advantage in another area. My goal in building the team is to cover the whole park and not have clear weaknesses in the team.

Not every great teams had great keepers, but their set up ensured they can be very well covered and reduce the risk of conceding goals.

If I've fielded two stoppers(although very good in historic sense) who can't organize the defence Leno would be on scrutiny. Bergomi is a world champion at the age of 19 operating in one of the best defensive lines in the game. He has a 20 years career span playing against the best forwards in the game. He's an absolute leader and his organizational skills are well noted and appreciated during that time. He's tactically sound and also the old school Italian defender so you can rely on him doing a job here.

Figueroa is one of the best defenders in the game, can play the ball off the back and is also dominant in the air.


a highlight reel of him.

 

[Deleted member 101472]

It was a fair pool mate. Auction in fact. It's not like I've snake picked him just to get an advantage over the others. You and every other manager could've bid over me to get either Leno or Oblak for the matter or someone else.

As I've said in the main thread as well - by picking him I'm at disadvantage in the keeper spot, while gaining advantage in another area. My goal in building the team is to cover the whole park and not have clear weaknesses in the team.

Not every great teams had great keepers, but their set up ensured they can be very well covered and reduce the risk of conceding goals.

If I've fielded two stoppers(although very good in historic sense) who can't organize the defence Leno would be on scrutiny. Bergomi is a world champion at the age of 19 operating in one of the best defensive lines in the game. He has a 20 years career span playing against the best forwards in the game. He's an absolute leader and his organizational skills are well noted and appreciated during that time. He's tactically sound and also the old school Italian defender so you can rely on him doing a job here.

Figueroa is one of the best defenders in the game, can play the ball off the back and is also dominant in the air.


a highlight reel of him.

Has a goalkeeper decision ever decided a draft game ?

 

[Enigma_87]

With pogba advancing into that space , and le tissier floating though , on the counter it's going to be a bit chaotic for you to deal with .

Well we can agree to disagree then. If Pogba makes a run forward that would leave the midfield pretty open. I can't see Le Tiss tracking back and Pirri was not the fastest midfielder around. Pirri and Sammer would have an awful lot of ground to cover for Pogba, not to mention if Sammer goes in to help the midfield that would free Pele with Suarez/Rivaldo as options forward. And the latter don't need that many to score.

Has a goalkeeper decision ever decided a draft game ?

Can't speak for all draft games, but yeah I've seen people voting for Schmikes for example.

 

[harms]

Someone voted against Shay Given iirc

 

[Gio]

Interesting set-up @Enigma_87. I thought with Bergomi, Ze Roberto and Victor Andrade along with a relatively narrow attack it was crying out for a 3-4-2-1 (Bergomi and Andrade flanking Figueroa, Seedorf not required as you should win the midfield with that duo regardless). That said, your defence and midfield look great, and the attack is very nice.

 

[Deleted member 101472]

So not commonly then .

 

[Enigma_87]

Interesting set-up @Enigma_87. I thought with Bergomi, Ze Roberto and Victor Andrade along with a relatively narrow attack it was crying out for a 3-4-2-1 (Bergomi and Andrade flanking Figueroa, Seedorf not required as you should win the midfield with that duo regardless). That said, your defence and midfield look great, and the attack is very nice.

I don't have Andrade at my disposal mate

Bessonov provides more attacking threat than Sagnol and I need Seedorf in the middle to link with the attack. I expected Mazhar to go with three at the back and concede possession which made it IMO a bit inecessary to go with 3 at the back as well, rather than have 3 in the middle - 2 of them able to cover out wide and cover a lot of ground.

So not commonly then .

I think if something sticks out it's always discussed in these threads. Pogba is also a hot commodity right now and everybody wants him so he's a potential vote puller as well.

I didn't go for a keeper just to scrap the issue with the youth player. I had options and to be fair my initial idea was to get Carvajal. That's why I picked Bergomi at the first place as I wanted a great CB capable of operating at a RCB spot in either 4 or 5 man defence.

So yeah I had options and didn't put all of my chips on a young GK.

You can also put is a personal favorite pick as well, because I like him and Oblak. If we lose DDG I'd like some of those two to replace him. (Happily it looks like we would have Dave for long time of course).

 

[Gio]

I don't have Andrade at my disposal mate

Bessonov provides more attacking threat than Sagnol and I need Seedorf in the middle to link with the attack. I expected Mazhar to go with three at the back and concede possession which made it IMO a bit inecessary to go with 3 at the back as well, rather than have 3 in the middle - 2 of them able to cover out wide and cover a lot of ground.

Right enough - it's quite confusing how those subs are laid out in the OP. I suppose the point stands with Willi Schulz and Bergomi would be golden at shutting out Ronaldo in the RCB role. Agree with the Bessonov call, lovely full back.

 

[Ecstatic]

@Enigma_87

I know your intention was not to replicate a specific team but - imho - your team looks like the Brazil WC winner in 2002: I mean 7 defensive players + a fantastic trio (Ronaldinho-Rivaldo-Ronaldo).

Pelé-Rivaldo-Luis Suarez are so talented that the trio is unpredictable: no need to attribute specific roles like 'support striker', '#10' or 'striker' because they will swap between them.

A nightmare for any defence.

Think that's harsh (the Leno thing, I mean).

For me, both the youth and legacy players should be assessed quality and suitability wise, like any other player on the pitch, not treated as special categories.

After due reflection, you're right to say the youth player should be assessed quality & suitability wise only because he has been chosen.

Regarding the 'legacy player', I would be more indulgent.

 

[Annahnomoss]

Mazhars team looks really solid. Le Tissier, Cristiano and Shevchenko is a pretty creative choice and would work really well and one shouldn't underrate the importance of a great keeper.

But damn. What a great team Enigma has, one of my favorites I've ever seen in these drafts. Big fan of Pele and Rivaldo together and Suarez would add some grit to that front line while fitting in well too. And that is just the icing on the cake with a midfield of Seedorf, Davids and Tigana and a central defense of Figueroa and Bergomi.

Ze Roberto and Bessonov aren't the best available full backs but suit this team and adds a lot to the front three. Great job.

 

[Enigma_87]

Right enough - it's quite confusing how those subs are laid out in the OP. I suppose the point stands with Willi Schulz and Bergomi would be golden at shutting out Ronaldo in the RCB role. Agree with the Bessonov call, lovely full back.

yeah I forgot to put my subs in the post I think only mazhar did.

And yeah it was exactly what I was thinking with picking Schulz - that was my other option with him as a sweeper, flanked by Figueroa and Bergomi.

Mazhars team looks really solid. Le Tissier, Cristiano and Shevchenko is a pretty creative choice and would work really well and one shouldn't underrate the importance of a great keeper.

But damn. What a great team Enigma has, one of my favorites I've ever seen in these drafts. Big fan of Pele and Rivaldo together and Suarez would add some grit to that front line while fitting in well too. And that is just the icing on the cake with a midfield of Seedorf, Davids and Tigana and a central defense of Figueroa and Bergomi.

Ze Roberto and Bessonov aren't the best available full backs but suit this team and adds a lot to the front three. Great job.

Thanks mate. Ze Roberto I thought would be perfect to work in that channel with Rivaldo. To be fair I really like that most about my team - Ze Roberto, Davids, Rivaldo operating in that area.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Regarding the 'legacy player', I would be more indulgent.

To an extent I do agree with this: The Legacy player not being drafted/bought as a matter of choice is one thing - but it's also random which position he is most suited to play in. So, yes, to an extent some leniency might be in order there.

Then again, part of the challenge is to come up with a plan which accomodates the Legacy player (and the youth player, for that matter) in the best way possible. You do have a choice when it comes to what system you go for - and to what degree the Legacy man ends up exposed (or burdened with a too important task).