70s Fantasy Draft - antohan v Brwned

[antohan]

How are Rivlado and Larsson supposed to be playing? Barcelona style forwards? Attacking midfielders?

Apparently Larsson is a right winger here so I assume Rivaldo is on the left wing. From a deeper position I would buy them drifting wide but as it stands it seems we have three strikers who will be called wingers if anyone questions width, so you end up with five upfront.

 

[antohan]

From what I can see, Brwned's new formation seems to have set Scholes utterly free. He'll wreak havoc - pinging balls all over the place.

Though Antohan also seems to have decided not to have a man on Rivaldo which is a mistake I think.

I've cut off the supply and am now clearly winning the ball in midfield. Valerón and Pirlo are out of the game, Davids will occasionally get a ball over to him but Rivaldo will be facing my stronger side (Zanetti + Nesta ) and Luis Enrique will be tracking back to support them.

There's not a lot of space anyway, as opposed to Zidane and Forlán being completely free to roam. Brwned has a lot more to be worried about there than I do.

 

[Brwned]

Eh? You listed everything that was good about Larsson as a CF and then put him down as a right wing player?

Everything I said applies to the role he's playing - a right-sided forward as he played for Barcelona and showed his goalscoring prowess despite being past his peak following a second major injury. He'll find space in between Candela and Montero, is what I meant.

 

[Zen]

Brwned clearly has more understanding of his team......Anto has put alot(far far too much) of effort into this....so I dunno.

Brwneds prolly already won one though whereas I'm kinda sure Anto might go on a mass murder if he doesn't win this. So I think I'll vote based on that.

Rio-Nesta together though......sweet jesus....Thuram-Cannavaro better be the other teams partnership otherwise it loses instantly.

 

[antohan]

Brwned clearly has more understanding of his team......Anto has put alot(far far too much) of effort into this....so I dunno.

Brwneds prolly already won one though whereas I'm kinda sure Anto might go on a mass murder if he doesn't win this. So I think I'll vote based on that.

Rio-Nesta together though......sweet jesus....Thuram-Cannavaro better be the other teams partnership otherwise it loses instantly.

I was gutted to miss on the 60s one and had to watch from the outside, so maybe I am a bit overexcited. It is only a game but I'm always game for sticking to my footballing principles (quality with mentality, not keen on quality alone) and getting across how good some of these players are.

Most of these are players I really enjoyed watching and I'm conscious many haven't, but I've stuck to them throughout. What I probably enjoyed most about this was Brwned taking the time to watch more of Luis Enrique and being pleasantly surprised. I'm sure some have also got a newfound appreciation or have dusted off memories of Guardiola the player, which is why I got so engrossed in Rood's matchthreads even if I had no skin in them!

Enjoy the banter as well, seems I come across as a bit of a cnut in your eyes, but I think all my rivals so far have enjoyed the challenge as much as I have. Sure makes for more interesting match threads!

 

[Snow]

He was European top scorer twice and World Cup joint top scorer with that "wasteful" approach. All goals count as far as I'm concerned and if he has the chance to let fly with a left-footed scorcher, I'm more than happy for him to give it a go.

I'm not discounting his goal scoring abilities here. You also don't have the record for his goal tally outside the box. I'm only saying what I see from every time he plays. It's different being a focal point than having Vieiri in front of you, and Zidane next to you. I can't name many big players besides Ronaldo who shoot as much from all these different positions. That's because they don't have that huge confidence and are very good with both feet. However, when Ronaldo shoots with his left and Forlán with his right it's a bit less efficient but to them it doesn't matter.

 

[Snow]

I didn't see Brwned's formation before the change but with his current one the margin shouldn't be this big. I like Anto's formation better before the change. It's still a draw for me. Very even ties. Think player preference will decide this.

Siorac and Rood both posted fair comparisons. Not much in it at all. I however do prefer Vieiri over Shearer but it doesn't matter really because Larsson really balances out Shearer. Perfect fit IMO. Same could be said for Forlán going along with Shearer and then pitching Zidane against Rivaldo where Zidane would take it but again, doesn't really matter. It's all even.

Anto's got the better keeper and Brwned the better defense. But yet again it's only marginal and not enough to put one team ahead of the other.

 

[antohan]

I'm not discounting his goal scoring abilities here. You also don't have the record for his goal tally outside the box. I'm only saying what I see from every time he plays. It's different being a focal point than having Vieiri in front of you, and Zidane next to you. I can't name many big players besides Ronaldo who shoot as much from all these different positions. That's because they don't have that huge confidence and are very good with both feet. However, when Ronaldo shoots with his left and Forlán with his right it's a bit less efficient but to them it doesn't matter.

I do get your point, I actually thought of Ronaldo as a comparison but remembered how frustrating it was when he tried for no good reason at all so kept it to myself

He is on the left and usually goes for left-footers from there unless he is on the edge of the box and cuts inside but I don't think he will fancy or get as much opportunity to do that against Rio.

I would like to think he will appreciate that Zidane and Vieri are there (and Luis Enrique, and Scholes arriving late...), as opposed to other teams where he hasn't had as much opportunity to link up with others. I still wouldn't want him to cut it off, it is deadly and there's no defending against it. At this level, with great defenders, it can make all the difference.

 

[antohan]

I like Anto's formation better before the change.

I liked it a lot as well, but couldn't resist Scholes being further up and retaining the freedom to dictate the game.

It was also a case of having apparently lost a lot of ground against the new formation (as it turns out it was only 1-1). Will see how this goes, I haven't taken Simeone off precisely to keep tabs and check whether I should revert to 4-2-3-1 again.

The most glaring mismatch right now is Scholes and Pirlo. Scholes will dominate the game, Pirlo will have a quiet one.

 

[Snow]

It sure can. It's a two edged sword for sure. Like that Villa goal against Madrid last year. Real were much better in the first half. Then Villa shoots from outside the box very late in the half and scores. First shot on goal for Barca. 2nd half was a domination because Real had to up their anti and that usually doesn't work for them against Barca.

That or you'll have good opportunities and he decides to shoot rather than to pass. That's the thing about Forlán. Don't know if he'll do it or not because in his goal scoring career he's usually been one of the two main outlets in attack. In your team he's 4th. I won't look at it as an overkill though because he's not bad at finding chances and there's Schole and Zidan there so he should really only be a positive thing really.

At 2nd look, your change does seem like a good one compared to Brwned's.

 

[Zen]

I don't know anyone here anywhere enough to think of them like Anto....I do think you've taken this mega serious(in comparison to others in it).....doesn't mean I think you are cnut or even remotely dislike you when i barely even know the e-you, crazy you even jump to that.

 

[Gio]

In view of the changes, Antohan's now got more graft whereas Brwned has more creativity and has upped his goal threat.

Scholes is on Pirlo, can do anything Pirlo can do but will also work ten times harder and scores goals. Luis Enrique is in a box-to-box role and will drag Davids all over the pitch with his pace and insane workrate. If Davids loses him, Brwned is in trouble, a very incisive player who scored 25 goals in 47 games as a CM under Bobby Robson, and held a 27 in 60 European record for Barca over his entire career there. Sparks will fly with those two.

You can't have two versions of Scholes on the park - a deep-lying, playmaking 2006/07 model and a 2002/03 attacking midfielder version. If he's doing what Pirlo's supposed to be doing from a deep area, his goal return will be reduced. If he's doing what he did for large parts of his earlier career, then he won't be orchestrating from deep.

 

[Snow]

I don't even know what a cnut really means on here. It's used for everything but it's also the biggest insult. Hard to draw the line without any facial expressions or tone in voice so I'm just hoping not to be offending anyone when I use it.

You're a cnut sounds to me like someone's being called a little squirrel.

 

[antohan]

I don't know anyone here anywhere enough to think of them like Anto....I do think you've taken this mega serious(in comparison to others in it).....doesn't mean I think you are cnut or even remotely dislike you when i barely even know the e-you, crazy you even jump to that.

If I were sure someone would go on a mass murder for not winning a fantasy game on the internet I would think he is a bit of a cnut myself

Not offended by any means as it is not the case, just explaining why I get engrossed. That and me doing a lot of work from home in a slow-moving project, I'm not even sure I will have the time to enter the next one. If it is World Cup oldies I'll probably enter a Uruguayan World and Olympic Champions team and crash out in the group stage after sticking up for them throughout.

 

[antohan]

You can't have two versions of Scholes on the park - a deep-lying, playmaking 2006/07 model and a 2002/03 attacking midfielder version. If he's doing what Pirlo's supposed to be doing from a deep area, his goal return will be reduced. If he's doing what he did for large parts of his earlier career, then he won't be orchestrating from deep.

Both look fairly central to me, not deep. I'm going for the central midfield orchestrator with a decent goal return (1 in 3), not the 2002-2003 one with 1 in 2 (in which case I would have to place him where Zidane is).

 

[antohan]

I don't even know what a cnut really means on here. It's used for everything but it's also the biggest insult. Hard to draw the line without any facial expressions or tone in voice so I'm just hoping not to be offending anyone when I use it.

You're a cnut sounds to me like someone's being called a little squirrel.

You should play for Liverpool, call everyone a cnut and then claim that in Iceland that is like saying little squirrel

Don't worry, don't think people take it as a major insult when exchanging posts here.

 

[antohan]

As said I'd take Barthez ahead of Rustu (who was a WC semi-finalist himself for what it's worth, not much IMO).

Just realised it was a disservice to call Barthez a semifinalist, I meant WC winner and finalist there.

 

[Brwned]

Not sure what's more disappointing, the result or the lack of votes!

 

[antohan]

Not sure what's more disappointing, the result or the lack of votes!

myself as well.

This seems to have gone completely off the boil, not even fellow managers are bothering.

Shame Aldo is still in the newbs, I'm actually exchanging more PMs with him than posts on here!

 

[antohan]

Gio

 

[Brwned]

Aldo will be promoted within the next week or so and he'll be taking part in the next fantasy game.

Gio

Sympathy vote, I'll take it!

 

[Cling Bak]

Tough, but I went for Brwned.

Both great sides, but I prefer his team shape and a few more individuals - Davids and Pirlo is immense and I was a big Valeron fan.

Still unsure about the formation antohan has with the players involved.

 

[antohan]

Aldo will be promoted within the next week or so and he'll be taking part in the next fantasy game.

Told me, sounds like a top bloke.

Sympathy vote, I'll take it!

Now it's two... Great, all I need is some overnight drunks like Rood got last time.

 

[Rood]

Not sure what's more disappointing, the result or the lack of votes!

The peak of this tournament was our quarter final - its all downhill from there

Lets hope the final can ignite some interest!

 

[antohan]

Tough, but I went for Brwned.

Both great sides, but I prefer his team shape and a few more individuals - Davids and Pirlo is immense and I was a big Valeron fan.

Still unsure about the formation antohan has with the players involved.

Forlán played there at the World Cup, got the Golden Ball and joint top scorer.

I posted a top goals vid that shows him operating in that space and scoring some scorchers.

Many posters on the caf have wondered over the years how good he would be in our more fluid attacking style post-RVN, not precisely as the spearhead but as a roaming AM/forward.

Half a zillion players linked with the club are said to be able to play on the flanks if needs be when they are central players, or centrally when they are wingers. Yet here we really question the ability of really top class, capable and intelligent players of playing even one inch away from where they usually do.

No one had an issue with it in any of the previous games and suddenly "he can't play there".

Cobblers.

 

[Cutch]

I opted out of this vote. Would have probably went for Antohan as he has the team i like the most in the competition, but it would have been a third time voting in a close call against Brwned i think, which would have been a bit unfair as he's had an excellent team throughout.

 

[antohan]

I opted out of this vote. Would have probably went for Antohan as he has the team i like the most in the competition, but it would have been a third time voting in a close call against Brwned i think, which would have been a bit unfair as he's had an excellent team throughout.

I've been there before, know what you mean. If I make the final I expect you to make amends

 

[Cutch]

I've been there before, know what you mean. If I make the final I expect you to make amends

 

[Gio]

Gio

One part sympathy vote because I think the margin of defeat for Brwned is harsh.

Second part - breaking the team into three/four units Brwned edges it. His back four is marginally better albeit the difference is minor. His deepest midfield two in Davids and Pirlo are a stronger pair than Simeone and Scholes. Then there's little between the trios of Rivaldo, Valeron and Larsson against Zidane, Forlan and Luis Enrique. And Rivaldo is probably the likeliest player on the park to make the difference in an otherwise deadlocked game.

 

[Snow]

I'm not against voting for a draw. That would have been my vote. Sure it's easier to vote now given the difference but I don't see one team being better than the other.

 

[Cling Bak]

Forlán played there at the World Cup, got the Golden Ball and joint top scorer.

I posted a top goals vid that shows him operating in that space and scoring some scorchers.

Many posters on the caf have wondered over the years how good he would be in our more fluid attacking style post-RVN, not precisely as the spearhead but as a roaming AM/forward.

Half a zillion players linked with the club are said to be able to play on the flanks if needs be when they are central players, or centrally when they are wingers. Yet here we really question the ability of really top class, capable and intelligent players of playing even one inch away from where they usually do.

No one had an issue with it in any of the previous games and suddenly "he can't play there".

Cobblers.

I think you've talked yourself into one here.

My post didn't even mention Forlan.

I ultimately chose the team I preferred and thought I made that pretty clear.

 

[antohan]

Not sure about antohan's formation.

It looks primed for a diamond midfield but instead we've got Scholes sitting deep and Forlan wide of an attacking midfield trio.

Who are on both your benches?

It was all a bit clearer before Brwned switched his formation and my explanations stopped making any sense!

Will update that as soon as I can.

FORMATION CHANGED, Scholes no longer deep, looks a bit more like a diamond albeit with two tips, i.e. keeps Forlán in an inside left role.

Tough, but I went for Brwned.

Still unsure about the formation antohan has with the players involved.

I think you've talked yourself into one here.

My post didn't even mention Forlan.

No, the last one did not, but that was the only thing you pointed out earlier which remained. There is an element of jumping the gun though I admit, mainly because I have to go on the information given.

Why exactly are you still unsure about the formation with the players involved?

 

[antohan]

His deepest midfield two in Davids and Pirlo are a stronger pair than Simeone and Scholes. Then there's little between the trios of Rivaldo, Valeron and Larsson against Zidane, Forlan and Luis Enrique.

But I switched away from that formation, I now have a trio in the deepest midfield role guaranteeing possession for a duo further up.

 

[Cling Bak]

Why exactly are you still unsure about the formation with the players involved?

I prefer Scholes in his prime to be further forward. I also prefer Forlan centrally, though clearly both are good enough to go anywhere.

I'm talking about being about 95% with your team, whereas I'm 100% on Brwned's system. Someone else will probably think the opposite, was just my opinion. I really have so few faults with your team and like the individuals Brwned has assembled.

No sympathy votes, his team is class. Both are.

 

[antohan]

I prefer Scholes in his prime to be further forward. I also prefer Forlan centrally, though clearly both are good enough to go anywhere.

That was my point, you can prefer someone somewhere at his peak and ideally I would deploy them there, but in practice you have a certain squad and in this squad that's where they can contribute best. It is from that perspective that it should be assessed.

As said earlier, I'm aware Scholes won't be a 1 in 2 but a 1 in 3 player in that role, in his deeper role earlier not even that. But if it is for the best as far as how the team works, why not?

No sympathy votes, his team is class. Both are.

I didn't put yours down as sympathy, I just felt you were unfairly picking on Diego.

I knew him as a tennis-playing 13 year-old. Has gone a long way the lad. No chance I'm dropping him because people don't fancy him as much at inside left. Which is the reason I wouldn't pick Rivaldo, tempted as I would be (and probably to your advantage).

I just trust him to deliver, always has when it counted.

 

[Snow]

Getting Zidane doesn't look so bad now does it

 

[Makki]

I simply can't look beyond antohan's team.

 

[Red-Indian]

Bloody hell. Didn't think the voting would be so one-sided.

I wonder who Antohan will take. Don't think he needs Rivaldo really with the wealth of attacking choices he has. So its down to Davids and or Zambrotta to go up against Overmars who'll be on that flank.

 

[Snow]

Or Ferdinand and make Montero a left back.

 

[Brwned]

I think I'd personally team up Rivaldo with Zidane.