......................... Team NM ........................................................ Team MJJ .............................
Team NM
Tactics:
Defense: In goal, Courtois is an exceptional goalkeeper. In central defense, Dante is a key part of the Bayern Munich machine that has dominated Germany and won the Champions league. He is a great passer out of the back too. He will be able to find any of my midfielders easily when he has the ball, and will have the freedom to release the wingers/fullbacks as well. Alongside him is Subotic, who was part of the Dortmund side that dominated Germany with Dortmund. He is a strong, physical center back that will complement Dante well. My full backs are amongst the best in the draft - Ashley Cole and Maicon. Both have the ability to defend excellently while contributing to the attack. Neither of them have direct opponents here either. All of MJJ's players like to play centrally, which will make their life a lot easier, and let them contribute to the attack.
Midfield: All three of my midfielders cover a lot of ground, and can pretty much interchange as needed. Cambiasso is the designated defensive shield, sitting in front of the midfield. He also has an amazing passing range, and will always look to pick out Bale and Malouda on the wings. Alongside him, Strootman and Fletcher will serve as box to box midfielders. Helping the defense while going forward and joining in the attack. Three midfielders with excellent work rate will help negate MJJ's midfielders as Matic/Essien/Kaka/Pjanjic all love to play centrally, while even Cassano tends to drift in. They will try (and succeed IMO) in holding the center, or at least severely blunting the threat from there. If they do that, there isn't a threat from anywhere else IMO.
Attack: Bale will be Bale. He will dominate the right wing, cut inside, cross for Gomez, the works. Add that to Maicon behind him, and Baines is toast. Similarly, on the other flank, Malouda and Cole will give his fullback a good working over. There will be lots of opportunities for Gomez, and he will stick some away. Bale will attack the box, and so will Fletcher/Strootman. We all know Fletcher is excellent at getting on the end of attacks/crosses too, and Gomez is a natural finisher.
Why I think I'll win:
1. I think my midfield 3 is ideally set up (and is the right personnel) to stifle MJJ's threat. He doesn't really have a wide threat - if I stifle the midfield, I win the game.
2. Overload on the wings - Bale and Malouda are excellent wingers. Bale will roast Baines, and Maicon will just add insult to injury. On the other wing, Malouda and Cole is a proven partnership. It's a simple scenario. My fullbacks/wingers will dominate the flanks, resulting in opportunities galore. The only option MJJ has is to get Matic/Essien to help out, in which case I win the midfield easily.
3. The midfield battle - Cambiasso, Fletcher and Strootman won't give his boys an inch. Doesn't matter if he plays all of Kaka/Essien/Matic/Pjanjic there, they will fight and fight hard. They will limit his opportunities, and the quick outball to the wingers will result in Essien/Matic being dragged wide, which will create a much more even battle. The way I see it is the same as the last point, MJJ can decide to let himself be overwhelmed on the flanks, or lose any possible advantage in the middle. This will lead to Kaka being isolated, causing him big problems.
4. An attack build perfectly for my center forward - Gomez is a predator. He thrives on holding the ball up,laying it out wide for the winger and then getting on the end of a cross. The set up is perfect for him, as Bale, Malouda, Cole and Maicon will be crossing it all day. Additionally, he won't be isolated up top because Fletcher/Strootman will come up in support, and so will Bale/Malouda.
Tl;dr I genuinely believe I have the right tactical setup to really hurt MJJ.
Player Profiles:
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois Peak: 2011- Present. I don't need to talk much about him. Displaced Cech and one of the best around today.
LB: Ashley Cole. Peak: 2003-2012 Arguable Best left back in the world at his peak (only reason I put arguably is Maldini was around then too)
CB: Dante. Peak: 2011-2014. Excellent ball-playing center back, and a big defender who can deal with aerial balls well. Been excellent for Bayern
CB: Neven Subotic Peak: 2007-2013. Part of Dortmund's backline when they were at their best, Subotic is a combative center back who will complement Dante very well. He was brilliant at his peak, but injuries have blighted him recently. That shouldn't affect perceptions of his peak.
RB: Maicon Peak. 2006-2010. Simply the best all round RB in the world in his peak. His relentless tamina and running meant that he could single-handedly dominate the right flank in his peak. Only one winger ever beat him, and he's on my team! In all seriousness, Maicon's peak is usually underrated, but he could simply do it all. An all round excellent player.
DM: Esteban Cambiasso. Peak: 2007-2012. Cambiasso is a very intelligent footballer, who is great at shielding the defense, but also has an excellent passing range. His brilliant positioning and reading of the game make him an ideal defensive midfielder, while his passing allows him to start moves and join the attack if needed. At his prime, was one of the key players for Inter as they won everything in Italy, and the Champions league.
CM: Darren Fletcher. Peak: 2006/7 - 2010. I don't need to say much about Fletch, other than that he was a key part of one of our greatest teams. He is a tireless runner in midfield, able to track back and defend, while also joining the attack. The box to box midfielder we are missing right now
CM: Kevin Strootman. Peak: 2011-2014. The caf's wet dream. Strootman is a box-to-box midfielder that takes no prisoners. He can tackle, pass and control the midfield. Nicknamed the "Dutch Roy Keane" apparently.
RW: Gareth Bale. Peak: 2011- Current. Don't need to talk much about him. He tore the English league apart and settled in quickly in Spain. We all know what he's all about. I'm playing him where he typically plays for Madrid.
AM: James Rodriguez. Peak: 2011 - Current. The World cup's top scorer. James is a great playmaker with the ability to play in the center or on either wing. James will score goals and create them. He can beat a man with a dribble or a pass. An exciting player who will make things happen.
LW: Florent Malouda. Peak: 2005-2011. At his peak, Malouda was a vital cog of the Chelsea machine. He's a left winger who can beat a man, cross accurately, and play a good through ball as well. He also has a good work rate, and will have a great understanding with Ashley Cole, who he has played with before.
CF: Mario Gomez. Peak: 2006-2012. At his peak, Gomez was an excellent goalscoring target man. He can hold the ball up, bring others into play, and then finish moves. He is also an excellent header of the ball, and will get on the end of crosses from my wingers. Per Arsene Wenger, Gomez is "a great finisher who is often in the right place to finish off moves".
RW: Gareth Bale. Peak: 2011- Current. Don't need to talk much about him. He tore the English league apart and settled in quickly in Spain. We all know what he's all about. I'm playing him where he typically plays for Madrid.
LW: Florent Malouda. Peak: 2005-2011. At his peak, Malouda was a vital cog of the Chelsea machine. He's a left winger who can beat a man, cross accurately, and play a good through ball as well. He also has a good work rate, and will have a great understanding with Ashley Cole, who he has played with before.
CF: Mario Gomez. Peak: 2006-2012. At his peak, Gomez was an excellent goalscoring target man. He can hold the ball up, bring others into play, and then finish moves. He is also an excellent header of the ball, and will get on the end of crosses from my wingers. Per Arsene Wenger, Gomez is "a great finisher who is often in the right place to finish off moves".
Bench:
AM: James Rodriguez. Peak: 2011 - Current. The World cup's top scorer. James is a great playmaker with the ability to play in the center or on either wing. James will score goals and create them. He can beat a man with a dribble or a pass. An exciting player who will make things happen.
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It's suicidal