Michaelf7
Enigma
Michaelf7 Tactics
My team will play a 4-3-3 formation with George Best having the freedom to either cut inside or stay out wide on the left hand side with Park playing as a left hand side box-to-box midfielder who can choose to stay central or drift out wide particularly when Best cuts inside. I have made two changes to my starting line up from the semi final. Firstly, as looking t his squad Enigma is likely to play a 4-4-2, Park returns to the team in place of Stiles with Edwards playing as a defensive midfielder. Secondly, 1964 Ballon D'or winner Denis Law replaces Edinson Cavani to add more goalscoring prowess up front. For United, Law scored 237 goals in 404 games including in a 3 season period 29 goals in 44 games in 1962-63 (when United finished 19th), 46 in 42 in the 1963-64 season and 39 in 52 in the 1964-65 season. I will now go over some of the strengths that I feel I have in this match up before giving information on some of the less well known players in my team.
Strengths
Noel Cantwell - Noel Cantwell was an Irish LB who after signing for Manchester United in 1960 spent 7 years at the club winning 2 league titles and an FA Cup. When playing at West Ham prior to signing for Manchester United he was one of the three mentors that Bobby Moore had (Source). When referring to Cantwell Bobby Charlton stated that "...sometimes the quality of his playing ability was overlooked, but he was a defender of considerable class, strong on the left side and with a very nice touch" (Source). In a 2005 obituary, journalist Brian Glanville described Cantwell as follows:
Johnny Giles - Johnny Giles was an Irish midfielder who was a key part of the great Leeds team of the late 1960's and early 1970's and was chosen by the Republic of Ireland as it's golden player of the previous 50 years at the UEFA jubilee awards in 2004 (over the likes of Roy Keane, Paul McGrath, Denis Irwin and Liam Brady). Giles was included in the PFA 1st division team of the year in 1973/74 (the first season in which the PFA chose such teams). Giles formed a great partnership with Billy Bremner at Leeds with Giles being more of a creator and Bremner more of a ball winner but both were capable of doing the other task. Chris Kamara described Giles as follows:
Enigma Tactics
Formation: 4-4-2
Style: direct, balanced Fergie 90's style
Defence:
On goal we have Victor Valdes. He's someone who is very good with ball in his feed and his ability to launch a counter is the reason we picked him for this draft. In terms of accolades he might not be the most complete keeper but he was solid enough to win 6 La Liga titles and 3 CL playing for one of the greatest teams in history. Ahead of him we have Tony Dunne - United great and safely to say one of the finest defenders we ever had. Viv Anderson - another excellent and dependable English defender. For this draft we're counting on his Forest peak when he was a menace on the right and can work with Beckham putting a surging runs whilst also having the lungs to man his flank. At the heart of the defence we have Paul McGrath who will be the more aggressive stopper figure, whilst Rio Ferdinand will employ his natural Rolls Royce of a elegant defender role.
Midfield:
At the heart of midfield we have the German maestro at his peak Bayern/Germany days - Bastian Schweinsteiger. He will dictate the game and act as a two way box to box midfielder, having Casemiro cover for him in the defensive phase. Casemiro himself is the Real version who shields the back four and has a spectacular trophy cabinet to boot. The biggest upgrades are on the flanks. A very familiar duo - David Beckham and Ryan Giggs are on the right and left. They play their natural roles in the late 90's when they were at the height of their powers.
Attack:
Cristiano Ronaldo comes in to form a scary attacking line alongside Diego Forlan who found his form in La Liga after moving from his unsuccessful United stint leading the attack. Forlan will work with Cristiano, who will be in a free role. Diego style of play is something Cristiano would like as he compliments him well and will allow him to roam forward whilst also opening space for attacking the box.
Player peaks:
Victor Valdes - (2009 -2012) - won 4 Zamora trophies and 2 times elected La Liga best keeper.
Viv Anderson - (1977 - 1982) - pillar for a great Forest team that enjoyed European and domestic success.
Tony Dunne - (1965 - 1968) - United dependable left back who needs little introduction but the most famous one - winning the CL after rupturing his achilles in the QF.
Paul McGrath - (90 - 94) - marred with injuries at United his class was evident when fit. His best years probably came at Villa and in the 94 WC where he put up a colossal performance
Rio Ferdinand - (2005- 2007) - Comfortably our greatest defender ever. Fast, great reading of the game and doesn't even need to throw himself around to dispossess the attacker.
Ryan Giggs (1998-02) - one of the greatest and fastest wingers the PL ever saw.
David Beckham (1998-02) - A wide playmaker, the benchmark when it comes to crossing and finding a teammate in the box.
Bastian Schweinsteiger - (2010 -2014) - he needs little introduction but at his peak at Bayern he was one of the very elite when it comes to all action midfielders.
Casemiro - ( 2017-2022 ) - anchor and glue for one of the best Real teams in history.
Cristiano Ronaldo - (2013-2018) - Cristiano peak at Real Madrid, when he turned out to be one of the greatest goalscorers the game ever seeon.
Diego Forlan - ( 2007-2010 ) - I'll nick a description from @Physiocrat but the truth is after a negative stint at United he flourished for the NT and in La Liga, turning out to be one of the best strikers on his day:
Enigma
Michaelf7 Tactics
My team will play a 4-3-3 formation with George Best having the freedom to either cut inside or stay out wide on the left hand side with Park playing as a left hand side box-to-box midfielder who can choose to stay central or drift out wide particularly when Best cuts inside. I have made two changes to my starting line up from the semi final. Firstly, as looking t his squad Enigma is likely to play a 4-4-2, Park returns to the team in place of Stiles with Edwards playing as a defensive midfielder. Secondly, 1964 Ballon D'or winner Denis Law replaces Edinson Cavani to add more goalscoring prowess up front. For United, Law scored 237 goals in 404 games including in a 3 season period 29 goals in 44 games in 1962-63 (when United finished 19th), 46 in 42 in the 1963-64 season and 39 in 52 in the 1964-65 season. I will now go over some of the strengths that I feel I have in this match up before giving information on some of the less well known players in my team.
Strengths
- Firstly, I think I have a significant advantage offensively in wide area's with the presumed match ups of George Best vs. Viv Anderson and Stanley Matthews vs. Tony Dunne.
- Secondly, assuming Enigma lines up in the 4-4-2 which imo suits his squad the best, I will have a 3 on 2 numbers advantage in the central midfield battle where there is no significant gap in overall CM quality between the 2 teams. This can be mitigated by Beckham moving inside more but would be risky given that would then leave Anderson alone on my left wing/Enigma's right wing against George Best and sometimes Park Ji-sung.
Noel Cantwell - Noel Cantwell was an Irish LB who after signing for Manchester United in 1960 spent 7 years at the club winning 2 league titles and an FA Cup. When playing at West Ham prior to signing for Manchester United he was one of the three mentors that Bobby Moore had (Source). When referring to Cantwell Bobby Charlton stated that "...sometimes the quality of his playing ability was overlooked, but he was a defender of considerable class, strong on the left side and with a very nice touch" (Source). In a 2005 obituary, journalist Brian Glanville described Cantwell as follows:
Source
Johnny Giles - Johnny Giles was an Irish midfielder who was a key part of the great Leeds team of the late 1960's and early 1970's and was chosen by the Republic of Ireland as it's golden player of the previous 50 years at the UEFA jubilee awards in 2004 (over the likes of Roy Keane, Paul McGrath, Denis Irwin and Liam Brady). Giles was included in the PFA 1st division team of the year in 1973/74 (the first season in which the PFA chose such teams). Giles formed a great partnership with Billy Bremner at Leeds with Giles being more of a creator and Bremner more of a ball winner but both were capable of doing the other task. Chris Kamara described Giles as follows:
Source
Enigma Tactics
Formation: 4-4-2
Style: direct, balanced Fergie 90's style
Defence:
On goal we have Victor Valdes. He's someone who is very good with ball in his feed and his ability to launch a counter is the reason we picked him for this draft. In terms of accolades he might not be the most complete keeper but he was solid enough to win 6 La Liga titles and 3 CL playing for one of the greatest teams in history. Ahead of him we have Tony Dunne - United great and safely to say one of the finest defenders we ever had. Viv Anderson - another excellent and dependable English defender. For this draft we're counting on his Forest peak when he was a menace on the right and can work with Beckham putting a surging runs whilst also having the lungs to man his flank. At the heart of the defence we have Paul McGrath who will be the more aggressive stopper figure, whilst Rio Ferdinand will employ his natural Rolls Royce of a elegant defender role.
Midfield:
At the heart of midfield we have the German maestro at his peak Bayern/Germany days - Bastian Schweinsteiger. He will dictate the game and act as a two way box to box midfielder, having Casemiro cover for him in the defensive phase. Casemiro himself is the Real version who shields the back four and has a spectacular trophy cabinet to boot. The biggest upgrades are on the flanks. A very familiar duo - David Beckham and Ryan Giggs are on the right and left. They play their natural roles in the late 90's when they were at the height of their powers.
Attack:
Cristiano Ronaldo comes in to form a scary attacking line alongside Diego Forlan who found his form in La Liga after moving from his unsuccessful United stint leading the attack. Forlan will work with Cristiano, who will be in a free role. Diego style of play is something Cristiano would like as he compliments him well and will allow him to roam forward whilst also opening space for attacking the box.
Player peaks:
Victor Valdes - (2009 -2012) - won 4 Zamora trophies and 2 times elected La Liga best keeper.
Viv Anderson - (1977 - 1982) - pillar for a great Forest team that enjoyed European and domestic success.
Tony Dunne - (1965 - 1968) - United dependable left back who needs little introduction but the most famous one - winning the CL after rupturing his achilles in the QF.
Paul McGrath - (90 - 94) - marred with injuries at United his class was evident when fit. His best years probably came at Villa and in the 94 WC where he put up a colossal performance
Rio Ferdinand - (2005- 2007) - Comfortably our greatest defender ever. Fast, great reading of the game and doesn't even need to throw himself around to dispossess the attacker.
Ryan Giggs (1998-02) - one of the greatest and fastest wingers the PL ever saw.
David Beckham (1998-02) - A wide playmaker, the benchmark when it comes to crossing and finding a teammate in the box.
Bastian Schweinsteiger - (2010 -2014) - he needs little introduction but at his peak at Bayern he was one of the very elite when it comes to all action midfielders.
Casemiro - ( 2017-2022 ) - anchor and glue for one of the best Real teams in history.
Cristiano Ronaldo - (2013-2018) - Cristiano peak at Real Madrid, when he turned out to be one of the greatest goalscorers the game ever seeon.
Diego Forlan - ( 2007-2010 ) - I'll nick a description from @Physiocrat but the truth is after a negative stint at United he flourished for the NT and in La Liga, turning out to be one of the best strikers on his day:
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Agreed - golden goal style finish all the way.