BIG DUNK...........................................................................................................................Šjor Bepo & Gio
..........VS...........
Team BIG DUNK
PLAYING STYLE:
A counter attacking 4-3-3, built upon an assured defensive spine, creative heart and lethal attack. Compact and solid 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. A complete midfield trio, able to break up play, recycle possession and execute quick direct attacks given the game tempo or circumstance. A front three who will thrive playing ahead of my creative genius, Netzer, 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 midfield 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, adding more balance, power, shape and workrate. 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." My two fulbacks are solid defensively. At right back is Vladimir Bessonov, a complete fullback who dominated the right flank in the 1980s, whose endless stamina will be useful here. Bessonov showed excellent positioning and tackling throughout his career to match his passing and match engine, allowing him to play centrally too (in defence and midfield). Irwin was a very competent and consistent defender you could rely on to complete a marking job, compete against a quick winger or step up against a physical one-on-one. Luis Fernandez and Benetti's expert positioning and ferocious defensive cover allow both Bessonov and Irwin 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 Klinsmann, Heynckes and Bene), stretching play to the wings (Irwin and Bessonov), 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. Netzer will be called upon to execute inch perfect thoughballs to my two wingforwards Heynckes and Bene who'll be drifting off the wing, cutting into half spaces and running into the opponent's box. 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 Bessonov and Irwin. Irwin was a very valuable force on the left wing for Manchester United, dovetailing perfectly with his winger, central midfielders and strikers. Mr.Consistent will provide width, high workrate and accurate deliveries from the wing, overlapping Heynckes. Bessonov also provides accurate delivery from the wing, famous for his powerful charges, incisive runs and ability to play infield, which will complement both Benetti's and Bene's movement. Vladimir Bessonov was an attack-minded fullback whose complete attributes make him effective as a supporting player all along the flank (as fullback, wingback or winger).
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. Our prolific striker is Jürgen Klinsmann, a big-game clinical finisher who was a nightmare to mark as his goalscoring instincts made him always be in the right place at the right time. His technical finishing (with either foot or in the air) were truly worldclass. Klinsmann will undoubtedly benefit from the creative talents around him, while still being good on the ball and mobile himself, combining well with other strikers/forwards, always fighting/working across the whole attacking third. Klinsmann always finds a way! 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. Even my pair of fullbacks, Irwin and Bessonov, were known for their goalscoring ability. Irwin was not just clinical at setpieces, but when he found himself in the box he possessed the composure to finish, and from distance he could rifle in a crisp right-footed missile. Bessonov possessed a powerful shot that makes him yet another long-range threat. Heynckes, Klinsmann and Bene are three of the hardest players to mark, due to their excellent movement, intelligent positioning and predatory instinct. We hope to pull defenders out of position, wide and centrally, creating gaps and spaces for eachother and between the opponent's defensive line (and maximising Netzer's ability to bombard these spaces). 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 Šjor Bepo & Gio
DEFENCE
Led by Carlos Mozer who became the defensive bedrock for 3 of the best teams of the 1980s: the world-conquering Flamengo side, as well as serial European Cup finalists Benfica and Marseille. He will be the athletic ball-playing sweeper next to 'the wall' Jose Santamaria who is perhaps the most decorated and widely respected defender in the pool, proving his worth for the solid Uruguay side of the early 1950s and often a one-man band at the back for Europe-dominating Real Madrid. Behind him Walter Zenga completes a rock-solid core. With Mozer reprising his left-hand-side covering role from OM, fellow Brazilian Marcelo joins off the back of heavily influencing 4 Champions League titles. Supporting on the other flank is the all-rounder Willy Sagnol.
MIDFIELD
The midfield is built around Andrea Pirlo so pivotal as the creative force behind Milan, Juventus and Italy. His Europe and world-beating partnership with Gattuso gains an upgrade in the ultimate midfield dynamo and hound-dog in N'Golo Kante. Bringing goal threat, passing range, ball-carrying and loads of hustle is Paul Gascoigne who was simply unplayable for much of his peak 3-year period.
ATTACK
Nandor Hidegkuti is the centrepoint of the attack: injecting goals (39 in 69 for Hungary, over 300 in his career), creativity (bazillions of assists), and'intelligence 'fine technique and tactical guile' [Sebes]. Racing from the right is Kylian Mbappe whose 3-year peak is starting to look ridiculously stacked (a goals+assists to games ratio of 1:1 and rising in L1 and CL, and a World Cup capped off by that R9-esque demolition of Argentina). The attack is refined with the introduction of Thomas Muller on the left. His CR7-styled goalscoring and movement alongside his Bayern-honed presence and tactical intelligence should perfectly complement both Marcelo on his outside and Hidegkuti and Mpabbe inside him.
KEY POINTS
- Strong midfield trio with arguably the most effective deep-lying playmaker and ball-winner in the pool. Clearly defined roles for Pirlo and Hidegkuti that should bring the best out of both players.
- Robust resistance against Big Dunk's main threats. In midfield Netzer will face a tough time against Duracell bunny Kante and the Mattthaus-stopping Gascoigne. Up top Bergkamp's clever movement is potentially well read by the dual sweeper/stopper backgrounds of Santamaria and Mozer. Meanwhile, Sagnol has the pace to match up to Heynckes (having kept tabs on the winger version of Cristiano in the 2006 WC semi-final). A reinforced left flank should provide the complementary off-the-ball coverage through Muller and the sheer class on the ball expressed by Marcelo.
- Potent and fluid front three based around the original false 9 Hidegkuti, flanked by the full-back eviscerating Mpabbe and the raumdeuter Muller. Mpabbe's speed and trickery will pose plenty of problems while Muller's ghosting movement should be fed by Hidegkuti's selfless creativity. Both Pirlo and Gascoigne have the passing range and vision to release the trio early on the break.
Good luck @BIG DUNK @Šjor Bepo @Gio!
