Aye, that was disingenuous. For what its worth, if I've calculated correctly EAP's three attackers scored a combined 21 goals in 33 total appearances in the CEIC/Euros, compared with 12 in 18 for Elkjaer, Rummenigge and Platini so the ratios are virtually identical.
Because he is between Deschamps and Matthaus? With Gullit's usual playing style of dropping into midfield, I don't see Matthaus going all out attack here. He'll stay compact, play short passes forward to Gullit and be in Platini's case denying him time and space all game. Even if Platini links with Suarez and get a through ball, they have Deschamps shielding the defence. Assuming you get past all that, you face Nesta/Blanc. He will give some through passes to your forwards but the chances of him getting on the scoresheet himself and more than once a la Euro is very small, I should think.
I'd say that it is an imposing midfield myself and I love the balance of it (it's more of your FBs/tactical coherence of your forward line that I have an issue with). In fact, I don't even think I've ever said a bad word about it throughout the game as it has Deschamps as the water-carrier, Matthäus as the defensive box to box and Masopust as the slaloming attacking b2b. It really is spot on both individually and tactically but in saying that, Platini and Suárez in their peak one-man Euro winning form is just too hot to handle. Esp, since they have the perfect platform both defensively, with Pluskal-Desailly and offensively, with a pair of ubiquitous juggernauts in Elkenigge ahead of them, all in addition to Brehme-Maldini (in tandem with Elkenigge) providing support from the flanks.
Come on, it's nowhere near over. We aren't even half way through the game and anything can happen.
Nah, this is gone. Tbh, I made a lot of mistakes in drafting. I never sold Masopust properly and it was just Puskas/Gullit who carried me this far. Despite making it to the finals, this was one of my least favourite teams I've ever drafted.
And ignored the advice of your assistant wherever possible.Nah, this is gone. Tbh, I made a lot of mistakes in drafting. I never sold Masopust properly and it was just Puskas/Gullit who carried me this far. Despite making it to the finals, this was one of my least favourite teams I've ever drafted.
I need to return to my basics. Build teams that make me go...
Tbh, the scoreline is ridiculously harsh. I would say you had two choices to more or less to 'tactically complete' your team as you already had some terrific individuals in it. A great midfield and a great but unbalanced attack. If say, you had replaced Puskas with Dzajic (a cracking replacement tactically but one that would be extremely hard to do as a manager) it would have instantly made your team formidable imo. You will then have a cracking attack with clearly well defined roles. Dzajic as the LW who provides wingsmanship and quality service for MvB-Gullit (they will feast on the incoming crosses) and he will also create a wide berth of space for MvB to work in, allowing Gullit to play his natural inside right role, off MvB - whereby Gullit has a choice to go on the right flanks whenever he deems necessary, instead of being predominantly required to do it to create space for MvB-Puskas. Also the left side of Dzajic-Breitner-Masopust would have been perfect in so many ways. Campbell might not be ideal in dealing with Elkenigge but I feel Dzajic would have added much more to your team on the whole as opposed to Nesta, who is still a great pick individually.Nah, this is gone. Tbh, I made a lot of mistakes in drafting. I never sold Masopust properly and it was just Puskas/Gullit who carried me this far. Despite making it to the finals, this was one of my least favourite teams I've ever drafted.
I need to return to my basics. Build teams that make me go...
What was your idea for the final reinforcement?
And now you'll get to ignore him all over again in the next one
Oh god, not that raving lunacy again. Remember how that finished?Nah, this is gone. Tbh, I made a lot of mistakes in drafting. I never sold Masopust properly and it was just Puskas/Gullit who carried me this far. Despite making it to the finals, this was one of my least favourite teams I've ever drafted.
I need to return to my basics. Build teams that make me go...
Ultimately, you drafted too many defenders pointlessly without there being a massive difference between them bar Blanc. That really hadicapped your ability to improve as you went along.Schuster, I also advised against hierro, kluivert, van basten and matthaus(wanted iniesta) although the draft was lost when you defeated harms. Our only hope of going through was a loss for you.
Nah, I wouldn't say so myself. harms had created a fantastic team but it was one with too many underrated gems and relatively unknown players. It all changed once he got Facchetti-Rijkaard though - gave him the massive boost in star appeal that his team really needed.
I meant in terms of reinforcements not as a slight to his side, from your team we could have taken desailly or bergomi which would have strengthened us a lot more.Nah, I wouldn't say so myself. harms had created a fantastic team but it was one with too many underrated gems and relatively unknown players. It all changed once he got Facchetti-Rijkaard though - gave him the massive boost in star appeal that his team really needed.
He had a tremendous back-line and a great attack where every one of his forward was THE star of their Euros and in general were great players. His midfield, apart from Schuster, with Voronin-van Moer didn't look that great, in line with the rest of his team. I think he would have been well-set for the final (against either of us) if he just got a top-notch CB (a back line with Rijkaard in a similar role to Desailly in this game) or a CM to complete his team and he had drafted really well, with the nationalities and pre 68 players restrictions in mind, which naturally gave him plenty of options. Thought he was a shoo in for the final from the outset alongside Raees/Gio's team imo.
Something like this where Rijkaard plays a DM-CB role which gives Facchetti and Brehme, the full freedom to bomb forward.
Sarosi drops back a bit into an AM-CF role for two reasons. One, he can influence the midfield battle and it makes use of his multi-faceted game more. Secondly and more importantly, Dzajic doesn't seem to be in the way of Facchetti as a LW but seems to complement him more as a LWF who can drop into the flanks when needed and cut inside, as per Facchetti's movements. Also it gives Rijkaard more liberty with his DM-CB movement.
Not sure if I can use Voronin as a CM as opposed to DM but he did seem impressive for the Soviets in the 1964 final and is a creative defensive b2b midfielder who should be at ease in that role. That does look like an imposing team with the right amount of firepower, defensive solidity, a good midfield and some insane width.
How were you planning on approaching the final reinforcement @harms ?
Oh fair enough, misunderstood you.
Nah, I wouldn't say so myself. harms had created a fantastic team but it was one with too many underrated gems and relatively unknown players. It all changed once he got Facchetti-Rijkaard though - gave him the massive boost in star appeal that his team really needed.
He had a tremendous back-line and a great attack where every one of his forward was THE star of their Euros and in general were great players. His midfield, apart from Schuster, with Voronin-van Moer didn't look that great, in line with the rest of his team. I think he would have been well-set for the final (against either of us) if he just got a top-notch CB (a back line with Rijkaard in a similar role to Desailly in this game) or a CM to complete his team and he had drafted really well, with the nationalities and pre 68 players restrictions in mind, which naturally gave him plenty of options. Thought he was a shoo in for the final from the outset alongside Raees/Gio's team imo.
Something like this where Rijkaard plays a DM-CB role which gives Facchetti and Brehme, the full freedom to bomb forward.
Sarosi drops back a bit into an AM-CF role for two reasons. One, he can influence the midfield battle and it makes use of his multi-faceted game more. Secondly and more importantly, Dzajic doesn't seem to be in the way of Facchetti as a LW but seems to complement him more as a LWF who can drop into the flanks when needed and cut inside, as per Facchetti's movements. Also it gives Rijkaard more liberty with his DM-CB movement.
Not sure if I can use Voronin as a CM as opposed to DM but he did seem impressive for the Soviets in the 1964 final and is a creative defensive b2b midfielder who should be at ease in that role. That does look like an imposing team with the right amount of firepower, defensive solidity, a good midfield and some insane width.
How were you planning on approaching the final reinforcement @harms ?
And congrats joga! One of you or @harms really deserved to win this one given the amount of work you put into it.
Yeah, probably Thuram or Desailly to move Rijkaard higher since I didn't like any CM here (really, really poor CM pool in this draft, I have to say). I had my eyes on Thuram since the very beginning, to make this usual loopsided "italian" formation, but since I picked Meazza and Dzajic, it wasn't an option before I was ready to change my approach to 5-man in defence.
Aye, sorry Raees but, as much as that defence is such a ridiculous brick wall, I might've slung for the back four version there.
Yeah you're both probably right.. just didn't know how to make it into a viable 433
Cheers. Great game @MJJ @Edgar Allan Pillow @coolredwine . You guys assembled a cracking team and the scoreline isn't fair at all. Should have been much closer and I hope I wasn't too harsh on your team.
Great draft from you too.
The attack just happened. It was never planned or intended to be. Before drafting began, I set myself a target on what I want to do and here it was a 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree. Puskas leadin with Gullit and maybe one more goal scoring right AM behind him. When the universal feedback was meh on Puskas leading, and it being hard to pass van Basten and yeah, unbalanced the whole side.
Yup. My 1st of many mistakes in this draft. Had a choice between Brehme and Breitner for the pick and picked wrong tactically.
You plonker. I still maintain that if not for pm-gate, you would have snatched a 1 or 2 vote victory. It was even and Aldo voted for you right at the end. I did not have any hopes of winning and even told MJJ/crw that we were going out. The Penos levelled the field.
That could have changed a lot, Brehme was perfect for you.
Well, all those that went out in the first round and didn't get picked would have to be ignored.
