Moby
Dick
Team NM/EAP
Formation: A balanced 4-3-3.
Brief tactics :
The star of the defence is obviously Facchetti, the best LB of this draft. No further introduction needed. He is supported by Luis Pereira, one of the greatest Brazilian CBs and Bosquier a rock solid French defender. Anquilletti is known for his strength, positioning, marking ability, anticipation, and his ability to read the game; he also excelled in the air and was confident on the ball and at distributing it to team-mates.
Shielding them us Nobby Stiles, who also needs no introduction here. Genius in stuffing out attacks (and attacking players), he'll be the anchor of the midfield. Ahead of him operate Martin Peters, a WC winning midfielder and De Sisti whose tireless energy and engine would earn him the nickname ‘Picchio’ (‘Woodpecker’), a Roma Hall of Famer! Between these three we have the right balance of defence, attack and work rate to be successful.
The attack is led by Luigi Riva, arguably the greatest Italian striker of all time. Rombo di Tuono (Roar of Thunder)" and part of the Italian Euro 1968 winning team, scoring a goal in the final and included in the Team of the Tournament. Italy's record goalscorer and the greatest #9 the Italian National Team has ever had, Riva was voted the 6th, 2nd and 3rd best player in the world during '68, '69 and '70. Formerly a winger before moving up top, Riva was quick, with exceptional movement and finishing ability.
Supporting him on the left is one of the most successful Bulgarian player of all time, "the poet of football" Dimitar Yakimov. Versatile in playing IF or CMF , great dribbling skills, and incredible goal ratio for a deep lying player he'll link superbly with Facchetti for a lethal left flank!
On the right Jair repirises his famous role in Grande Inter, one of the best club teams of all time. With the ability to man the flank on his own, versatile to drift wide or cut in, he'll thrive off Riva and will more support from Anquilletti than he did with Burgnich in Inter.
Overall it's a finely balanced side without obvious flaws. It's a fine tuned machine that's incredibly hard to break defensively and has the flair and threat to win matches offensively!
TEAM NM/EAP
TEAM MARTY1968
Team Marty1968
My team is set up to play either as a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 in the same way that Brazil used to. A rock solid defence with one of the greatest keepers the game has ever seen, as well as the most underrated (possibly along with Ronnie Hellstrom). Jurgen Croy had excellent positioning, reflexes, was strong, athletic and very calm under pressure. Also wasn’t afraid to command his area. Had this guy been playing for ‘West’ instead of ‘East’ Germany, he may well have been ahead of Maier – he was that good.
In front of Croy, one of the best assembled defences in the draft. Two tough defenders in the middle with pace, awareness and strength, combined with Brazilian flair on both sides who excelled at getting forward as well as defending. My defence would make it tough for even the best strikers in the draft and won everything in the game between them.
Capello, Gerson, Geels, Grabowski and Cubilla provide everything I could want in a midfield. Hardworking, no nonsense stuff from Capello, pace on both wings. Grabowski renouned not for his trickery but for doing the basics extremely well. Cubilla on the other hand had bucket loads of flair, vision and skill.
Alongside Capello I have one of the best distributors the game has ever seen. Gerson is my king and the heartbeat of the team. In front of him I have real attacking threat from Geels and the man Pele himself said was better than him in the box – Coutinho.
Without the ball my team shapes up as a 4-2-3-1/4-5-1. With the ball it can very easily turn into a 4-3-3 or 4-2-4.
Why I would win.
Fantastic spine running through the team with an outstanding keeper, two great centre backs, two great centre-mids in Capello and Gerson and an outstanding striker in Coutinho.
Great width in my team with wonderful full backs (the best right back in the draft) and two wingers who loved to hug the touchline.
Rock solid defence with cover in front from Capello who could run all day long.
Multiple attacking options either through full backs, wingers, sublime creativity from Gerson or Geels and Coutinho up front, both of which had incredible records.