BIG DUNK.......................................................................................................................Edgar Allan Pillow
..........VS...........
Team BIG DUNK
PLAYING STYLE:
A counter attacking 4-3-3, built upon an assured defensive spine, creative heart and lethal attack. Compact when defending, but looking to the wings when we attack. Our wingforwards will cut in, allowing the fullbacks to overlap and provide additional width and attacking support. The midfield three and Bergkamp will form our very own magic square: able to break up play, recycle possession and execute quick direct attacks given the game tempo or circumstance. With positional specialists who work between the lines, with no fixed position and possessing creative geniuses in Netzer and Bergkamp whose perception of space is unrivalled, we will aim to stretch our opponent's back line, penetrate spaces and pull defenders out of position: our movement will encourage direct vertical attacks, overlapping, underlapping, shooting from range, cutting in from the wings and late runs in to the box.
DEFENDING (a solid tenacious platform to break up play and deny space):
In the heart of my defence is Roberto Perfumo, regarded as Argentina’s greatest pure defender. His partner in crime is my stopper-centreback Guido Buchwald, one of the toughest man-markers of his era and all-time. His most notable defensive performance being his efficient marking job of Diego Maradona in the 1990 FIFA World Cup final. At the base of my magic square is Luis Fernandez, a tactically superb defensive midfielder, while still possessing the technical skills of a playmaker, and the raw energy and bite of a box-to-box dynamo. Luis Fernandez brings a combative element to the team, added more balance, power, shape and workrate to the square. Alongside Benetti and Netzer, Luis Fernandez will boss the game. He will add steel to the back four: covering spaces from our attacking fullbacks, doubling up on attackers and breaking up play. His industry and bite made him a prototype DM, a model midfielder and a vital midfield general. He is crucial in freeing up space for Benetti and Netzer to move forward and work the space. My box-to-box midfield enforcer role belongs to Romeo Benetti. "Nicknamed Panzer (tank), El Tigre (the tiger), and the Roccia (rock), Benetti was a tenacious, mobile, athletic, and complete midfielder, who was known in particular for his physical strength, stamina, charisma, determination, consistency, and leadership as footballer. His hard-tackling style of play in this role epitomised the catenaccio tactics made famous by Italy during the 1970s." At right back is Jorginho, the highly skilled Brazilian right-back was one of the most respected two-way fullbacks of the 90s: possessing excellent technique, pace, solid defensively and offering high workrate. Gordillo will provide endless energy down the left flank, famous for his sharp and tough slide tackles, and impressive strength with and without the ball. Luis Fernandez and Benetti's expert positioning and ferocious defensive cover allow both Gordillo and Jorginho the licence to attack down their respective wings. In goal is the greatest goalkeeper of all time, Lev Yashin. The Ballon d’Or winner will be a vital piece in how I want my team to play. "Yashin revolutionised the role of goalkeeper like no other before him, by always being ready to act as an extra defender and by starting dangerous counter-attacks with his positioning and quick throws.”
PLAYMAKING (a team brimming with vision and creative outlets):
Günter Netzer is Germany's greatest ever playmaker, the ultimate creative weapon in this draft to find space for my attackers and fullbacks, "able to spray long, hard passes all over the pitch with devastating accuracy, causing panic in the opposition". Netzer can spring counter attacks from deep (finding both Bergkamp, Heynckes and Bene), stretching play to the wings (Gordillo and Jorginho), or help retain possession with his accurate ball distribution (aided by midfield enforcers Benetti and Luis Fernandez). Netzer's chemistry and telepathetic understanding with Heynckes' movement is deadly. Netzer's one-two's with Benetti and Luis Fernandez in the centre of the park will be a delight to watch too. Dennis Bergkamp is my technical genius, playing in a deep-lying forward role: linking up play, operating between the lines, able to hold the ball up for his wingforwards/attacking fullbacks/central midfielders, take on centrebacks with his worldclass control and dribbling skills, thread inch perfect thoughballs to my two wingforwards Heynckes and Bene, or being a clinical finisher himself from a direct counter attack or well-timed passing phase. Heynckes and Bene are not just prolific goalscorers, they were highly involved in build up play too. Bene will be encouraged to dribble. Luis Fernandez also possessed a delightful touch, accurate passing and a panoramic vision in reading the game, influential in connecting the defence to the attack. "Romeo Benetti possessed good technique and distribution, which enabled him to function as a deep-lying playmaker at times, and start attacking plays and create goalscoring opportunities after winning back the ball." Additional support and passing comes from the wings through our fullbacks Rafael Gordillo and Jorginho. One of the best attacking fullbacks/wingbacks from the 80s, Gordillo was a gifted footballer, enjoying great success in La Liga for Betis and Madrid, and with the Spanish national team. Very tough, yet so skillful, Gordillo will offer me plenty of width, endless workrate, penetrating runs and deliveries from the left flank, overlapping Heynckes. Jorginho provides accurate delivery from the wing. Such was Jorginho's ability on the ball, he enjoyed moving inside as a creative inverted wingback, which will complement both Benetti's and Bene's movement. "Jorginho was brilliant going forward, so dangerous and capable of scoring fantastic goals. He was the kind of player fans would pay to watch, but he was also solid in defence and played brilliantly against Italy in the 1994 World Cup Final. He never let anyone down.” "He's a proper attacking full-back – very solid defensively and extremely intelligent".
GOALSCORING (lethal one-on-one, intelligent movement, pace and space penetration):
Our three-pronged attack is potent, creative and fluid. On the left, one of the finest wing forwards of all time, Jupp Heynckes. 'Jupp' was a complete forward: versatile (able to play on either wing, central or in a withdrawn role, cut in from the flank, get in behind or work the channels), deadly on the counter (possessing pace and deadly one-on-one with a goalkeeper), predator in the box (his reactions, positioning and goalscoring instincts were world-class, matched by his excellent striking technique and ability with both feet and head), creative (enjoyed being part of the build up), his movement and workrate were highly valued (his intelligent movement on and off the ball made him a headache for defenders). Between 1972 and 1975 he recorded Gerd Muller-esque numbers, scoring 130 goals in 139 games. Prolific. A technically brilliant forward, Ferenc Bene was deadly on the right wing or centrally. A skilled dribbler who was just as likely to bamboozle a fullback with his feints, agile turns and tricks or lose his marker in the box with a perfectly timed run. A prolific goalscorer who was undoubtedly one of the most feared forwards/outside rights in the mid to late 60s and early 70s. I feel Bergkamp’s vision and passing will maximise both Heycknes’ and Bene’s relentless workrate, link up play, intelligent movement and clinical finishing in the last third. Despite being a predominately defensive-minded player, Romeo Benetti was also known for his goal-scoring ability from midfield, due to his powerful and accurate striking ability from distance. Netzer was gifted with superb dead-ball skills, he was a wonderful striker of the ball from distance and clinical in the box when finishing off a pass-and-move play. Gordillo also chips in from the left flank, with his screamers from the flank or his intelligent late runs into the box. Not utilising a natural #9/target man will draw our opponent's centrebacks out of their defensive line (high and wide) creating pockets of space for our attack/midfield to exploit, and help us to out-number our opponent in key areas out wide and in central areas. Moreover, our opponent’s fullbacks will need to second guess themselves when attacking higher up the field and leaving spaces behind on the flanks.
Team Edgar Allan Pillow
Formation:
Good ol' 4-4-2 mix from United, Lisbon Lions, a bit of Arsenal and some other teams sprinkled in.
Defence:
Ronnie Simpson kept the Lisbon Lions all the way to their success. With synergy of having McNeill ahead of him, he'll be the final guardian of the goal.
Balanced fullbacks in "Crazy Horse" Emlyn Hughes and Denis Irwin, solid defensively and able to provide attacking contribution too. Hughes brings a lot of playmaking from the deep. He has a cracking left foot volley/cross and able to get the ball to attack quickly.
Billy McNeill was captain and anchor for Lisbon Lions and Tony Adams was a standout defender for the Arsenal. Between them they'll provide a solid base for the team to be built on.
Midfield:
The great combo of right half Bobby Murdoch and left half Bertie Auld were the engine room of the legendary Lisbon Lions team. The relentless combativeness of Auld compliments well with the sublime play making of Murdoch. Both are capable of getting on the scoresheet themselves too. A change from the 4-2-4 of the lions will be the extra support they'll get from the wide men here.
David Beckham and Robert Pires, classic wingers who were brilliant for their respective team. Beckham's passing/crossing and Pires's playmaking in final third will complement each other well. Not just sticking by the sideline, they'll drift in and provide additional manpower to the middle too.
Attack:
Alan Shearer one of the greatest CFs in history of PL spearheads the attack. Typical English CF, physically strong and with fantastic heading ability, he'll blend well with Cantona in a one-two punch. On the receiving end of a Beckham cross to head in or hold the ball for Cantona to score, it's very complimentary and lethal partnership
Eric Cantona take his place as Second Striker playing behind Shearer. Nothing much to be said of him in this forum especially, but he brings, physicality, elegance and vision and a lot of playmaking to this team. A perfect link between midfield and attack.
Why I'll win:
+ Players proven in the tactics and formation.
+ Lots of synergy.
+ Workrate, creativity abundant all through and won't need any specific person to pull strings. Attack can originate from anywhere and so hard to defend against.
Good luck @BIG DUNK @Edgar Allan Pillow!
