50s Retro Football Fantasy Draft

[Nani Nana]

I pick Luis Arconada

 

[Nani Nana]

Six World Cup winners in my first 11. The rest including a EURO winner, a Real Madrid captain, an African player of the Century and Paul McGrath.

 

[antohan]

Nery Pumpido

Crustanoid picks the WC-winning GK

Jayvin: 1. SCIREA 2. FERNANDEZ 3. HODDLE 4. FORSTER 5. EDER 6. KRANKL 7. PROHASKA 8. DEMYANENKO 9. MCGRAIN 10. VAN BREUKELEN 11. BERTONI

Duffy: 1. ROBBO 2. KEEGAN 3. BLOKHIN 4. CABRINI 5. ANCELOTTI 6. NEAL 7. BRIO 8. LAWRENSON 9. HOUSEMAN 10. BATS 11. CHALANA

TDon69: 1. ZICO 2. TIGANA 3. TRESOR 4. DINAMITE 5. JUNIOR 6. BOCHINI 7. LEANDRO 8. ALDRIDGE 9. ZMUDA 10. SOUTHALL 11. MORAN

Gio: 1. PLATINI 2. SOUNESS 3. HANSEN 4. ELKJAER 5. REP 6. BRADY 7. CHA BUM KUN 8. PREUD'HOMME 9. BOSSIS 10. COELHO 11. NELINHO

antohan: 1. FALCAO 2. BONIEK 3. SCHUSTER 4. SIMONSEN 5. BRIEGEL 6. LERBY 7. GERETS 8. DASAYEV 9 . CHIVADZE 10. PEREYRA 11. MORENA

Interval Level: 1. PASSARELLA 2. ROSSI 3. BREITNER 4. CONTI 5. DORNER 6. MIGUELI 7. LATO 8. CUETO 9. PEZZEY 10. PFAFF 11. (PENDING)

Crustanoid: 1. SOCRATES 2. GENTILE 3. DALGLISH 4. STIELIKE 5. OSCAR 6. VALDANO 7. JUANITO 8. GORDILLO 9. BATTISTON 10. W. VAN DE KERKHOF 11. R. VAN DE KERKHOF 12. PUMPIDO

Nani Nana: 1. MCGRATH 2. TARDELLI 3. GIRESSE 4. ROGER MILLA 5. AUGENTHALER 6. COLLOVATI 7. HOENESS 8. SANTILLANA 9. ALTOBELLI 10. GALLEGO 11. MCILROY 12. ARCONADA

Brwned: 1. NEESKENS 2. HUGO SANCHEZ 3. VIERCHOWOD 4. ANTOGNONI 5. ARDILES 6. BETTEGA 7. KALTZ 8. TARANTINI 9. BUTCHER 10. FILLOL 11. DIRCEU 12. COPPELL

Polaroid: 1. RUMMENIGGE 2. KEMPES 3. CEREZO 4. CEULEMANS 5. SCHUMACHER 6. CAMACHO 7. BONHOF 8. SUSIC 9. BESSONOV 10. REINALDO 11. ONDRUS 12. MILLER

 

[antohan]

Sorry. Will re-pick

Two picks to be made now mate.

 

[antohan]

Six World Cup winners in my first 11. The rest including a EURO winner, a Real Madrid captain, an African player of the Century and Paul McGrath.

Not a single WC winner in mine.

11 Paul McGraths

 

[Brwned]

Sorry about the delay last night lads, was down in Dublin for the day. I've got three options in mind - 433, 4222 and 442. The 4222 fits every player into their best positions on paper, but in reality would push Dirceu and Antognoni out into wide positions a bit too frequently. The 433 creates something of an imbalance with Coppell being the only true wide player in the side, but again fits everyone into their correct nominal positions. The 442 sticks Antonogni (or perhaps Dirceu, given he's left footed) out into a nominal wide position, but we've seen the likes of Zidane do that at the top level and we've seen Modric do the same in more recent times. Hell, even Brazil '70 played that way. I've no doubt they'd all work, personally. Interested in what everyone else thinks though!

433

Spoiler

4222

Spoiler

442

Spoiler

 

[Brwned]

Groups

Group A

Duffy
Jayvin
antohan
Gio
Polaroid

Group B

Brwned
Crustanoid
Nani Nana
TDon69
Interval Level

Screenshot:

Spoiler

Fixtures

1st Round

Tuesday 17th
Jayvin v Polaroid
Crustanoid v Nani Nana

Wednesday 18th
Duffy v antohan
Brwned v Interval Level

2nd Round

Thursday 19th
Gio v Polaroid
TDon69 v Nani Nana

Friday 20th
antohan v Jayvin
Crustanoid v Interval Level

3rd Round

Saturday 21st
Duffy v Gio
Brwned v TDon69

Sunday 22nd
Polaroid v antohan
Nani Nana v Interval Level

4th Round

Monday 23rd
antohan v Gio
Crustanoid v TDon69

Tuesday 24th
Jayvin v Duffy
Brwned v Nani Nana

Wednesday 25th
Duffy v Polaroid
Jayvin v Gio
(both group A)

Thursday 26th
Crustanoid v Brwned
TDon69 v Interval Level
(both Group B)

 

[antohan]

Since there's going to be just two teams going out in the groups and 8 going through, obviously we can't do two picks each. So if we do one pick from the groups, one pick from the QFs and one pick from the SFs that'll leave the two finalists with just 4 players in the bench rather than 5 - not a big deal but it was nice for the finalists to have a full squad of 16. The alternative is that we either get two picks at one of the knockout stages to make it a squad of 16.

Options:

a) Each team picks one player at the end of the groups, one at the end of the QFs and one at the end of the SFs and we simply leave it as a squad of 15 rather than 16.

b) Each team picks one player at the end of the groups, two at the end of the QFs and one at the end of the SFs and make it a squad of 16 (as in all previous drafts).

Thought we had agreed on 1-2-2.

It doesn't really matter if the squad ends up 15, 16 or 17. 1-2-2 ensures quality finalists, the best players not getting dropped on the way, without completely changing the sides from the original draft.

In my case, I would probably pick no more than 3 players to stregthen the first XI and the rest woud be options.

 

[Brwned]

Indeed, just seen that now! Fine by me.

 

[antohan]

I've no doubt they'd all work, personally. Interested in what everyone else thinks though!

I would argue they are all legitimate and the best option will be driven by who you are facing.

Would use Dirceu on the 4-4-2 LM role though.

Don't particularly like 4-2-2-2 but in the other two your ability to recover possession in midfield is somewhat limited. The oppo could just bypass you down the flanks though.

 

[Brwned]

I considered sticking Breitner there. But he scored quite a few from midfield once he started playing there. I can see him do the 1-2 punch, but this time with Rossi.

As far as Cueto, he was called the poet with the left foot. Played around the center and the ball stuck to his feet. Exquisite vision and pass. you can see these glimpses.

I've no doubt he was hugely talented, but in fairness I think you need to do a bit more than post a couple of youtube videos and write Wikipedia-esque stuff. I think the onus is certainly on the managers to let the voters know as much as possible about the more obscure players. I just can't rate players like Ondrus, Susic, Cueto, Dorner, Pezzey, Chalana, Coelho et al unless the managers give them a fair write-up and really show that they were up there with the best around beyond things like 'voted greatest PSG player of all-time' or 'expertly man-marked Cruyff in '76'. I'll not be able to give them the credit they deserve if the information's not there. I liked what I saw of Susic, Cueto and Pezzey but that's not enough.

I don't doubt Cueto was highly regarded and relatively well-known on an international stage but the fact is in the World Cup he hardly showed his best form and that's all the majority of people will have seen of him. They finished bottom of the second-round group with 0 points in '78 and bottom of the first-round group in 82, and in both tournaments they got taken apart by top sides. Regardless of the '78 conspiracies, in both games they showed complacency and naivety in abundance and Cueto was certainly a part of that, so even if you disregard the Argentina result the Poland result definitely raises some questions (particularly given they conceded two dubious 'offside' goals and Poland hit the bar twice along with those other 5 goals). Given he was the deepest player in the Peru midfield it doesn't say much about his defensive qualities...

Reinaldo, they said that if he and Careca had have been available for the 82 world cup, Brazil would not only have walked the tournament, but could have claimed the title of most talented Brazil tournament squad ever.

Didn't know much about him myself, but from what I've read he was very much revered. They even called him 'The King' which was also a play on the first three letters of his name being the word for king in Portuguese.

He looked just as much of a donkey in '78 as Serginho did in '82, IMO. Just a battering ram.

Or winners from 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's drafts in one a final tournament!

Should definitely do this.

 

[Interval]

Konrad Weise.

Ray Wilkins

 

[antohan]

In case I need three at the back, I pick a three times Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup winning captain

HUGO DE LEÓN

 

[Brwned]

Zico's got enough goals in him to allow you to get rid of a striker and for me you absolutely have to get another midfielder in there.

Still up - playing with a few formations.

Spoiler

Stielike as a libero, wing backs pushing forward with fluid attacking midfield

Spoiler

Magic square with Stielike and Van De Kerkhof providing the disciplined defensive base and Socrates and Juanito the magic (Dalglish would also weigh in)

Spoiler

For emergencies - 3 strong defenders would do the job of 4 allowing for the extra man attacking.

Spoiler

Old-style 4-3-3 with Gordillo playing like Evra does for us and Dalglish nominally the left most of the front three, but tucking in during attacks (his best area)

All four work for me, 4 and 1 the best. I probably like 4 the most given Battiston's not someone who's going to carry the attack on his own on that right side.

 

[Gio]

Davie Cooper

A wildcard for the left wing, the late great Davie Cooper. Here he is making typically light work of Celtic's defence.

Jayvin: 1. SCIREA 2. FERNANDEZ 3. HODDLE 4. FORSTER 5. EDER 6. KRANKL 7. PROHASKA 8. DEMYANENKO 9. MCGRAIN 10. VAN BREUKELEN 11. BERTONI

Duffy: 1. ROBBO 2. KEEGAN 3. BLOKHIN 4. CABRINI 5. ANCELOTTI 6. NEAL 7. BRIO 8. LAWRENSON 9. HOUSEMAN 10. BATS 11. CHALANA

TDon69: 1. ZICO 2. TIGANA 3. TRESOR 4. DINAMITE 5. JUNIOR 6. BOCHINI 7. LEANDRO 8. ALDRIDGE 9. ZMUDA 10. SOUTHALL 11. MORAN

Gio: 1. PLATINI 2. SOUNESS 3. HANSEN 4. ELKJAER 5. REP 6. BRADY 7. CHA BUM KUN 8. PREUD'HOMME 9. BOSSIS 10. COELHO 11. NELINHO 12. COOPER

antohan: 1. FALCAO 2. BONIEK 3. SCHUSTER 4. SIMONSEN 5. BRIEGEL 6. LERBY 7. GERETS 8. DASAYEV 9 . CHIVADZE 10. PEREYRA 11. MORENA 12. DE LEON

Interval Level: 1. PASSARELLA 2. ROSSI 3. BREITNER 4. CONTI 5. DORNER 6. MIGUELI 7. LATO 8. CUETO 9. PEZZEY 10. PFAFF 11. WEISE 12. WILKINS

Crustanoid: 1. SOCRATES 2. GENTILE 3. DALGLISH 4. STIELIKE 5. OSCAR 6. VALDANO 7. JUANITO 8. GORDILLO 9. BATTISTON 10. W. VAN DE KERKHOF 11. R. VAN DE KERKHOF 12. PUMPIDO

Nani Nana: 1. MCGRATH 2. TARDELLI 3. GIRESSE 4. ROGER MILLA 5. AUGENTHALER 6. COLLOVATI 7. HOENESS 8. SANTILLANA 9. ALTOBELLI 10. GALLEGO 11. MCILROY 12. ARCONADA

Brwned: 1. NEESKENS 2. HUGO SANCHEZ 3. VIERCHOWOD 4. ANTOGNONI 5. ARDILES 6. BETTEGA 7. KALTZ 8. TARANTINI 9. BUTCHER 10. FILLOL 11. DIRCEU 12. COPPELL

Polaroid: 1. RUMMENIGGE 2. KEMPES 3. CEREZO 4. CEULEMANS 5. SCHUMACHER 6. CAMACHO 7. BONHOF 8. SUSIC 9. BESSONOV 10. REINALDO 11. ONDRUS 12. MILLER

 

[The Don]

Taking on board the suggestions of Brwned and antohan, I'm going with another midfielder. (thanks for the advice lads)

Ricardo Gallego Redondo

A product of La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid's youth system, Gallego made a quick impression with the first team, appearing in 26 matches in his debut year, and being a midfield mainstay during the subsequent seasons as he totalled 250 first division matches, with the conquest of, among others, four leagues, two Spanish cups and back-to-back UEFA Cups (1985–86); blessed with physical and technical ability alike, he could operate with equal efficiency as sweeper.

 

[Duffy]

I'm going for Sporting Lisbon legend Rui Jordão.

 

[Brwned]

[U]Fixtures[/U]

[I][B]1st Round[/B][/I]

[B]Tuesday 17th[/B]
Jayvin v Polaroid
Crustanoid v Nani Nana

[B]Wednesday 18th[/B]
Duffy v antohan
Brwned v Interval Level

[I][B]2nd Round[/B][/I]

[B]Thursday 19th[/B]
Gio v Polaroid
TDon69 v Nani Nana

[B]Friday 20th[/B]
antohan v Jayvin
Crustanoid v Interval Level

[I][B]3rd Round[/B][/I]

[B]Saturday 21st[/B]
Duffy v Gio
Brwned v TDon69

[B]Sunday 22nd[/B]
Polaroid v antohan
Nani Nana v Interval Level

[I][B]4th Round[/B][/I]

[B]Monday 23rd[/B]
antohan v Gio
Crustanoid v TDon69

[B]Tuesday 24th[/B]
Jayvin v Duffy
Brwned v Nani Nana

[B][I]Final Round[/I][/B]

[B]Wednesday 25th[/B]
Duffy v Polaroid
Jayvin v Gio
(both group A)

[B]Thursday 26th[/B]
Crustanoid v Brwned
TDon69 v Interval Level
(both Group B)

 

[Gio]

First matchday off? All the more time for some 80s-style team bonding - we'll get Robbo and Mcgrath out with the lads for a proper night on the lash.

 

[Crustanoid]

Have you got your Big Ron Sheepskin ready Gio?

 

[antohan]

I'm going for Sporting Lisbon legend Rui Jordão.

One of the 6-7 players I had never ever heard of. Nothing wrong with that in itself, the bizarre thing here though is why pick a Portuguese league goal machine not called Fernando Gomes.

 

[Nani Nana]

First matchday off? All the more time for some 80s-style team bonding - we'll get Robbo and Mcgrath out with the lads for a proper night on the lash.

 

[Jayvin]

Gabriele Oriali

Jayvin: 1. SCIREA 2. FERNANDEZ 3. HODDLE 4. FORSTER 5. EDER 6. KRANKL 7. PROHASKA 8. DEMYANENKO 9. MCGRAIN 10. VAN BREUKELEN 11. BERTONI 12. ORIALI

Duffy: 1. ROBBO 2. KEEGAN 3. BLOKHIN 4. CABRINI 5. ANCELOTTI 6. NEAL 7. BRIO 8. LAWRENSON 9. HOUSEMAN 10. BATS 11. CHALANA 12. JORDAO

TDon69: 1. ZICO 2. TIGANA 3. TRESOR 4. DINAMITE 5. JUNIOR 6. BOCHINI 7. LEANDRO 8. ALDRIDGE 9. ZMUDA 10. SOUTHALL 11. MORAN 12. REDONDO

Gio: 1. PLATINI 2. SOUNESS 3. HANSEN 4. ELKJAER 5. REP 6. BRADY 7. CHA BUM KUN 8. PREUD'HOMME 9. BOSSIS 10. COELHO 11. NELINHO 12. COOPER

antohan: 1. FALCAO 2. BONIEK 3. SCHUSTER 4. SIMONSEN 5. BRIEGEL 6. LERBY 7. GERETS 8. DASAYEV 9 . CHIVADZE 10. PEREYRA 11. MORENA 12. DE LEON

Interval Level: 1. PASSARELLA 2. ROSSI 3. BREITNER 4. CONTI 5. DORNER 6. MIGUELI 7. LATO 8. CUETO 9. PEZZEY 10. PFAFF 11. WEISE 12. WILKINS

Crustanoid: 1. SOCRATES 2. GENTILE 3. DALGLISH 4. STIELIKE 5. OSCAR 6. VALDANO 7. JUANITO 8. GORDILLO 9. BATTISTON 10. W. VAN DE KERKHOF 11. R. VAN DE KERKHOF 12. PUMPIDO

Nani Nana: 1. MCGRATH 2. TARDELLI 3. GIRESSE 4. ROGER MILLA 5. AUGENTHALER 6. COLLOVATI 7. HOENESS 8. SANTILLANA 9. ALTOBELLI 10. GALLEGO 11. MCILROY 12. ARCONADA

Brwned: 1. NEESKENS 2. HUGO SANCHEZ 3. VIERCHOWOD 4. ANTOGNONI 5. ARDILES 6. BETTEGA 7. KALTZ 8. TARANTINI 9. BUTCHER 10. FILLOL 11. DIRCEU 12. COPPELL

Polaroid: 1. RUMMENIGGE 2. KEMPES 3. CEREZO 4. CEULEMANS 5. SCHUMACHER 6. CAMACHO 7. BONHOF 8. SUSIC 9. BESSONOV 10. REINALDO 11. ONDRUS 12. MILLER

 

[antohan]

Christ, you could probably field an entire XI with very good players that didn't make the cut. OK, at the back there isn't much left, but midfield and attack there are some very decent options.

I understand Brindisi and Alonso not making it due to them being South American - that said, marcosdeto would probably have a fit.

What mystifies me is Rocheteau. Does nobody rate him on here? I had no use for him, but even then was tempted to snatch him for the hell of it.

Magath as well, although with the wealth of players in that role it doesn't surprise me as much.

 

[Interval]

Christ, you could probably field an entire XI with very good players that didn't make the cut. OK, at the back there isn't much left, but midfield and attack there are some very decent options.

I understand Brindisi and Alonso not making it due to them being South American - that said, marcosdeto would probably have a fit.

What mystifies me is Rocheteau. Does nobody rate him on here? I had no use for him, but even then was tempted to snatch him for the hell of it.

Magath as well, although with the wealth of players in that role it doesn't surprise me as much.

There is a less known striker with an excellent record: Joachim Streich

 

[Brwned]

Christ, you could probably field an entire XI with very good players that didn't make the cut. OK, at the back there isn't much left, but midfield and attack there are some very decent options.

I understand Brindisi and Alonso not making it due to them being South American - that said, marcosdeto would probably have a fit.

What mystifies me is Rocheteau. Does nobody rate him on here? I had no use for him, but even then was tempted to snatch him for the hell of it.

Magath as well, although with the wealth of players in that role it doesn't surprise me as much.

Rocheteau was the one I was thinking of as well, better than some of the forwards picked in 8th place for my money.

 

[Cling Bak]

Christ, you could probably field an entire XI with very good players that didn't make the cut. OK, at the back there isn't much left, but midfield and attack there are some very decent options.

I understand Brindisi and Alonso not making it due to them being South American - that said, marcosdeto would probably have a fit.

What mystifies me is Rocheteau. Does nobody rate him on here? I had no use for him, but even then was tempted to snatch him for the hell of it.

Magath as well, although with the wealth of players in that role it doesn't surprise me as much.

I would've probably picked Rocheteau, Ricky Villa, Genghini, Magath and Samson. Possibly Grobbelaar, too. I also would've considered Olarticoechea.

In fact, I'd wager I could get through the first round picking up 'the rest'! But that's not an offer.

That's tongue in cheek as I simply can't criticise some of the choices out there to be fair, because I know nothing about many. Some are just names to me. Whether that's a reason to go for the better known players or not, I don't know; but votes count!

 

[Crustanoid]

McQueen. Rochetau, McGath and Arnesen were all on my list but I left them for other players more conducive to my system. I also had Didier Six, Dirceu, Coppel, John Robertson, Joe Jordan, Baltacha, Muhren, McDermott, Vandenbergh and Archibald

Edit: I see some of those got picked in the final round yesterday

 

[antohan]

McQueen. Rochetau, McGath and Arnesen were all on my list but I left them for other players more conducive to my system. I also had Didier Six, Dirceu, Coppel, John Robertson, Joe Jordan, Baltacha, Muhren, McDermott, Vandenbergh and Archibald

Edit: I see some of those got picked in the final round yesterday

Yeah, had most of those too, same for Genghini and Olarticoechea but the pitch was getting tight

I understand the point on your system, I had a similar issue myself with Brindisi who I really would have loved to pick but didn't fit at all. Probably the sort of player worth adjusting a system for but he wasn't going to get any votes to begin with

 

[antohan]

Team Antohan

RINAT DASAYEV
The second best keeper in Russian history behind Yashin and arguably the best on here. Considering my team’s style, the best fit once you account for the speed, distance and accuracy of his throws (see video from 2:28).



HANS-PETER BRIEGEL
The steamroller from Palatinate. Physically a beast, mentally as German as they come, Briegel was quite simply the best left-back from this era.

DANIEL ALBERTO PASSARELLA
A formidable defender, the type not even the bravest forwards liked to come up against. But it was not just strikers who feared him: with his deadly left foot, a leap any basketball player would be proud of and a fierce header, he was the most prolific centre-back the game had ever seen.

His ability to play libero and help build up play from deep, as well as join as an extra attacker earned him the nickname "El Kaiser". As Maradona puts it: “He’s the best defender I’ve ever seen, and the best header of a ball too – in attack as well as defence”.

PAUL McGRATH
No introduction needed. A beast of a centre-half and a legend for club and country. When you think he struggled with alcohol and chronic knee problems, it makes you wonder how much better he could have been... only to realise it's just not possible to be "too much better".

The Italians call him "The Green Wall" after this performance, aged 34. Immense.



ERIC GERETS
As good or better than any other RB at his defensive duties, his knack for attacking football and overlapping runs make him the best suited for this side.

Along with Ceulemans, he was a mainstay in Belgium’s most successful decade. They never won anything, but were always a force to be reckoned with and the Rekem Lion was a big part of that.

PAUL BREITNER
One of the outstanding midfield enforcers of this generation. Breitner was a true box-to-box player, strong on the tackle, irrepressible when bombing forward and unstoppable when he let fly with a long range screamer.

At 22 he had already won the Bundesliga, the European Cup, the Euros and the World Cup, all that as a free-roaming left-back. As he moved to midfield, he brought his defensive ability, his roaming, and as he got closer to goal... a 1 in 2 record for Bayern from midfield (35 in 59 games in 1980-82). A testament to his leadership is the fact that when he retired he immediately became Bayern's President in 1983.

PAULO ROBERTO FALCAO
Falcao was one of the most talented midfielders ever, let alone in this era. He was a complete midfielder, classy, with amazing touch and vision, two good feet, a great header, but who also knew how to defend. He was pure genius and the key player for Roma to consistently challenge Juventus’ dominance.

It goes without saying he will be the midfield brain conducting the orchestra.

MICHEL PLATINI
The standout player in the draft. Platini led Juventus and France to unprecedented heights. Three-time consecutive Ballon D'Or winner, three times Serie A top scorer and Euro 84 top scorer with 9 goals in 5 games.

ZBIGNIEW BONIEK
Platini's partner in crime. What a wonderful player. He could head, pass or shoot with both feet, had great technique and determination, and a big game player to boot. He was a tireless runner who could play anywhere across the frontline. His marvelous engine and workrate allowed him to extend his career playing in midfield, as a sweeper and even as a defender.

But his most remarkable asset was his incisive mazy running. Devastating stuff. Imagine Giggs keeping his early pace and dribbling skills until well after he had added the experience

For once I find a youtube clip on one of my outfield players that isn’t just about goals. Enjoy.



ALLAN SIMONSEN
If your right back is in trouble, what about your left back? In the late 70s and early 80s, Simonsen terrorised defenders across Europe with his pace and dribbling. An outstanding goalscorer as well, he is the only player to have scored in a European Cup, UEFA Cupa and Cup Winners Cup final. When the Danes can’t make up their minds on whether they preferred him or Michael Laudrup you know this is a special player.



PREBEN ELKJAER
Formed with Michael Laudrup comfortably the best striking partnership in international football during the mid-1980s - no better encapsulated by their mutual destruction of Copa America holders Uruguay, with Elkjaer providing three goals and two assists in a 6-1 victory.

His 69 caps brought 38 goals for a Danish team whose uninhibited attacking football thrilled the world. Domestically he achieved the Maradona-esque feat of leading little Verona to their first and only Serie A title in 1985. The complete centre-forward: ruthless finisher with either foot, hard-working, strong in the air and a devastating change of pace.



SUBS:

HUGO DE LEÓN
A three times Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup winning captain. The lynchpin and organiser of Nacional’s and Gremio’s defence in the 80s. De León was physically imposing and rough on the tackle, yet calm and collected once in possession.

His confidence and nerves of steel made all the difference when Nacional found itself 3-1 down in the penalty shootout against PSV. He took the fifth one.

DARÍO PEREYRA
A strong and positionally sound marker with an exceptional reading of the game, Pereyra’s football brain and technique makes him an ideal outlet for my team to build up play from the back.

Aged 19 he was club and national team captain as a midfield playmaker, by 23 he had been turned into the best CB in the Brazilian league (3 x Bola de Prata winner). “If he were Brazilian he would be the best defender in our history just behind Domingos da Guia” – Tele Santana.

ALEKSANDR CHIVADZE
A key player and captain of the USSR in their 1980s WC campaigns. Chivadze was strong, determined, efficient and effective. He organised the defence and got the job done without much fanfare, yet managed to be Soviet Player of the Year (a rarity for defenders) while Blokhin was in his pomp. Chivadze will come in as a sweeper if that tactical option is needed.

SOREN LERBY
An influential box-to-box dynamo, Lerby was a product of the 70s Ajax Youth Academy. He was the midfield engine in a fabulous Danish side, trusted by Bayern as Breitner's successor and by Hiddink to hold together PSVs midfield.

For my team, he will be the enforcer providing a platform for Falcao and Schuster, while chipping in with some unstoppable long range screamers.

BERND SCHUSTER
A true midfield general, Bernd Schuster was Barça’s driving force throughout the 80s and one of the best footballers of that decade. His refusal to play a friendly with his wife about to deliver put an early end to his international career and may well have cost Germany two World Cups.

A complete player, he had the attributes to do a Guardiola pinging balls across the pitch, or play as an advanced playmaker joining the attack and letting fly with a thunderous drive. His eye for defence-splitting slide-rule pass will give Boniek, Simonsen and Morena a lot of joy.

FERNANDO MORENA
The only player ever to have been so good and so sorely missed the fans themselves raised the -transfer record- money required to bring him back from Valencia after one season (in which he was the top scorer, not Kempes).

An absolute goal machine I’ve described at length elsewhere. All time top scorer in Uruguay with 230 goals in 244 league games, second highest scorer in Copa Libertadores history. Over his career he averaged 0.85 goals per game and was top scorer at his club every season between 1969 and 1983: be it River, Peñarol, Rayo or Valencia.

The distinctive thing to highlight here is he always invariably knew where the goal was, where the keeper was, where the ball would end up, and was thus ready to put the finishing touch leaving the keeper with no chance. This killer instinct also meant he was first to any rebound, like a shot. Not purely a poacher, you would see him score different kinds of goals all the time, but his reaction and aggressiveness inside the box will be very fruitful with Boniek, Simonsen, Schuster and Falcao getting the opposition defence tied up in knots.

Not many quality clips around other than specific key goals. Putting some here for those interested anyway:

About 10mins of goals from the 70s (black and white), from 2:45 to the end are the 36 goals he scored in 21 league games in 1978


All his league goals after his return late in 1981. Includes his goals and some misses from the 1982 Libertadores campaign.


Scoring the winner in the last minute of the Libertadores final (despite the defender pushing him and throwing him off balance)


5:25 to 9:20 all his league goals from 1982


Goals against Nacional and 1983 Libertadores


His brief return after injury: 0:28 to 2:48
Short collection of goals at the end: 4:55 to 6:15

 

[The Don]

Another striker missing from the draft is Bernard Lacombe. Second highest scorer of all time in the french league. Amazing finisher, absolute goal machine. I was gonna take him as my 12th pick before the advice of Brwned and antohan.

 

[antohan]

Another striker missing from the draft is Bernard Lacombe. Second highest scorer of all time in the french league. Amazing finisher, absolute goal machine. I was gonna take him as my 12th pick before the advice of Brwned and antohan.

Yeah, had that one down as well. You really are better off with Gallego though (hadn't noticed his second surname was Redondo, nice misleading strategy ). Must be noted it was Jayvin and not you entering him as Redondo though.

No doubt about that. You also had two centreforwards and Lacombe would have been your third. No point having THREE centreforwards with Zico and Bochini behind. If anything, you could have done with Rocheteau, Isidoro or Paz ahead of Moran, but not Lacombe.

 

[antohan]

I forgot another fun fact about Morena: he played a league game on the day of his wedding, scoring the winner in a 2-1 win.

 

[Gio]

McQueen. Rochetau, McGath and Arnesen were all on my list but I left them for other players more conducive to my system. I also had Didier Six, Dirceu, Coppel, John Robertson, Joe Jordan, Baltacha, Muhren, McDermott, Vandenbergh and Archibald

Edit: I see some of those got picked in the final round yesterday

Yeah I was mulling over him to bolster the French connection down my left flank. But in the end plumped for a player I can talk with some authority on.

 

[Crustanoid]

Who's going to make the threads for tomorrow's games? I'll post my tactics / team when its made (don't think I can make polls)

 

[Gio]

Team Gio

Michel Preud'Homme
Following Rinat Dasayev's best years and before the rise of Peter Schmeichel, the Belgian was the best in the world. Married the agility and sharp reflexes of many modern goalkeepers with old-fashioned handling ability (check this catch out at 0.41). Swept the global keeper awards in 1994 (IFFHS Goalkeeper of the Year, Yashin Award, UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year).

Maxime Bossis
Only Bixente Lizarazu can challenge Bossis as the greatest left-back in France's history. Voted Nantes greatest ever player where he won three Ligue Un titles (five times runners-up) and enjoyed international success with France in 1984. Two-footed, technically gifted and capable of playing across the back-line: few full-backs ever have the composure and intelligence to play at libero which Bossis often did for France towards the end of his career.

Alan Hansen
Consummate defender who oozed quality irrespective of the calibre of attacking talent he came up against. His understanding with the midfield anchor Souness will further protect Preud'homme's goal.

Claudio Gentile
Fearless man-marker whose aggressive tackling and perfect positioning was fundamental in both Juventus and Italy's European and World success during the early-to-mid 1980s.

Humberto Coelho
Imperious centre-half rated as the finest in Portuguese history. Not just a battering ram, he excelled on the deck with intelligent passing (often moving into midfield to initiate moves), a genuine goal threat (66 goals during his career) and a leader on and off the pitch (Eriksson highlights him as the best captain he's worked with). Won 8 league titles at Benfica, conceding just 11 league goals in 1977/78.

Nelinho
A nightmare for the opposition to deal with. Started many of Brazil moves from deeper areas and within 35 yards of the opposition goal was a danger on either foot. Solid in the air and central to Brazil's run in 1978 when they were essentially cheated out of a final against Holland. Outstanding from a dead ball and scorer of perhaps the most quintessentially Brazilian goal of all time.

Graeme Souness
The complete midfielder: combative, commanding and classy. His passing range, aggression and ability to score from distance was the bedrock of Liverpool's domestic and European success.

‘Souey’ had everything. You don’t see many players who can put their foot in and also dictate a game the way he could. It’s not just about tackling, it’s also about passing too. Obviously Steven Gerrard is a great player and maybe in years to come he can compare to Souness, but I’ve seen videos of Graeme and he was probably more like Roy Keane and Glenn Hoddle rolled into one."

Liam Brady
Visionary midfielder whose wand of a left peg was a potent weapon in cutting open opposition defences. Arsenal's player of the year three times running which he followed up with two Scudetto-winning seasons at Juventus.

Marco Tardelli
One of the greatest engine room midfielders of all time. A tenacious, warrior-like presence in the middle who was capable of scoring goals when it mattered most.

Michel Platini
The standout player in the draft: a souped-up Paul Scholes who led Juventus and France to unprecedented heights. Three-time conseutive Ballon D'Or winner - a feat only matched by Lionel Messi. His nine goals in a mere five games from midfield at Euro 1984 remains one of the greatest major tournament performances, surpassed perhaps only by Maradona in 1986.

Cha Bum Kun
"He was unstoppable," gushed Alex Ferguson after Cha had helped Hamburg knock Aberdeen out of the UEFA Cup. Turbo-charged, jet-heeled and deadly in the air, the winger-cum-striker scored an impressive 55 goals in 121 games for South Korea. But it was in Germany where his reputation as the greatest Asian player of all-time was established. Jurgen Klinsmann - world class striker in his pomp - stated: "I am considered an accomplished footballer, but I am not at the level of Cha."

Johnny Rep
In a country blessed by the striking talents of Van Basten, Bergkamp and Cruyff, it is Rep who remains the nation's top goalscorer in World Cups. His seven goals in 1974 and 1978 made him one of the most feared elements of Michels' and Happels' side where from the right wing his dribbling posed a threat both on the outside of full-backs or cutting inside to sometimes devastating effect. Renews his St Etienne partnership with Platini.

Preben Elkjaer
Formed with Michael Laudrup comfortably the best striking partnership in international football during the mid-1980s - no better encapsulated by their mutual destruction of a decent Uruguay team with Elkjaer providing three goals and two assists in a 6-1 victory. His 69 caps brought 38 goals for a Danish team whose uninhibited attacking football thrilled the world. Domestically he achieved the Maradona-esque feat of leading little Verona to their first and only Serie A title in 1985. The complete centre-forward: ruthless finisher with either foot, hard-working, strong in the air and a devastating change of pace.

Mario Kempes
Star of the 1978 World Cup as he brought the ultimate prize to Argentina, which capped a sensational season for the Valencia striker scoring 45 goals for club and country. Exceptional goalscorer, in the air, inside or outside the box with his powerful left foot. Inventive dribbler and difficult to shackle when bursting from deep positions.

Sub:
Davie Cooper
Gifted left-winger who combined nimble dribbling with a delightful left foot. Converted the late penalty which sent Scotland to the World Cup ahead of Wales in 1985 and amply demonstrated his balls of steel. Classic lazy genius, the Alvaro Recoba of the 1980s.

I played against him in the European Cup when he was with Glasgow Rangers and he was a really skilful player. Unbelievably skilful. He didn’t have much pace but he was a good dribbler who set up plenty of chances for team-mates as well as scoring some great goals himself.

 

[Brwned]

I'll be creating the threads.

Good write-up there Gio, I still haven't a clue how to rate Coelho though. Perhaps one more thing you could say about Bossis - he's a two-time winner of French POTY, something only Giresse (3) bettered in the 30 years of it being a Ligue Un-only award (Henry being the only one to win it more times thereafter). Only one other defender won it as many times throughout it's 47-year history.

 

[Duffy]

Will post my full team, details and tactics tomorrow evening ready for my first game on Wednesday.

 

[Brwned]

McQueen. Rochetau, McGath and Arnesen were all on my list but I left them for other players more conducive to my system. I also had Didier Six, Dirceu, Coppel, John Robertson, Joe Jordan, Baltacha, Muhren, McDermott, Vandenbergh and Archibald

Edit: I see some of those got picked in the final round yesterday

Was Coppell much better than Robertson? Was mulling over the two and Robertson was impressive in the European Cup finals but that's the only time I saw him. Would've given my front line more flexibility. Clough's quote on him is good:

John Robertson was a very unattractive young man. If one day, I felt a bit off colour, I would sit next to him. I was bloody Errol Flynn in comparison. But give him a ball and a yard of grass, and he was an artist, the Picasso of our game." [1] In his autobiography Clough noted that "Rarely could there have been a more unlikely looking professional athlete... [He was a] scruffy, unfit, uninterested waste of time...but something told me he was worth persevering with." but that "[He] became one of the finest deliverers of a football I have ever seen - in Britain or anywhere else in the world - as fine as the Brazilians or the supremely gifted Italians."

 

[Gio]

I'll be creating the threads.

Good write-up there Gio, I still haven't a clue how to rate Coelho though. Perhaps one more thing you could say about Bossis - he's a two-time winner of French POTY, something only Giresse (3) bettered in the 30 years of it being a Ligue Un-only award (Henry being the only one to win it more times thereafter). Only one other defender won it as many times throughout it's 47-year history.

I've seen Coelho described as a Portuguese Beckenbaeur which while it reflects his all-round qualities perhaps isn't the most helpful positional description. From what I've seen - largely from a selection of Benfica's European matches in the 1970s and 1980s - he was more a conventional, albeit ball-playing, centre-half than libero / midfield schemer. There's Portuguese posters on here who might be able to shed a bit more light. That he's likely to feature in most people's Benfica and Portugal's all-time XIs is a reasonable testament to his ability given the calibre of some of the competition - Couto, Carvalho, Andrade, Pepe, Germano, etc.