70s Fantasy Draft - Jayvin v Gio

[Brwned]

Important note: For the purpose of this competition, these players are considered at the level when they were in their prime.

Jayvin

Tactics/Playstyle:

Rock of a defence, beginning with Francesco Toldo - near unbeatable at his Euro 2000 peak - protected by Juve's legendary fullback pair of Pessotto and Torricelli and a fearsome central pairing of two players with sublime technique in de Boer and Ayala. My defence is equally comfortable adopting a no-nonsense approach or playing their way out of trouble.

Solid midfield base of Jeremies and Vieira, with the versatile Scholl as the attacking midfielder. Jeremies will operate as my main destroyer, allowing Vieira more license to bomb forward alongside Scholl. In tougher games Vieira can be more positionally disciplined, staying back and helping Jeremies. Which leaves Scholl to play with a free role where he can drift around and cause havoc.

Variety on the wings, with Giuly providing the trickery and dribbling and Gonzalez the more direct approach - surging forward with pace and putting his crossing ability to good affect.

Up top Miroslav Klose will lead the line, using his renowned heading ability to smash home crosses from Gonzalez, as well as holding up the ball and creating space for Scholl and Giuly to exploit.

Player Profiles:

Francesco Toldo:

Part of a generation of outstanding Italian goalkeepers including Pagliuca, Buffon and Peruzzi; Toldo was the best of the lot circa 2000. He performed brilliantly all season,winning the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award and capping it off by producing a series of outstanding displays for Italy as the Azzuri reached the final of Euro 2000.
As the longtime Goalkeeper for Fiorentina and Inter, Toldo won 5 Coppa Italia's and 5 Serie A titles, as well as the Champions League in 2010 (although he was only on the bench by this time).

Moreno Torricelli:

Juventus legend and part of the best defence in the world in the mid to late 90's. A player much loved by the fans for his guts and determination, Torricelli was able to play all accross the backline, but favoured right-back. Along with Pessotto, he appeared in 2 Champions League finals, winning in 1996. He also won Serie A 3 times, the Coppa Italia twice and the UEFA Cup.

Roberto Ayala:

One of the best defenders in Argentine history, the silky smooth Roberto Ayala played in 3 World Cups, winning 115 caps (63 as captain). He spent his best years at Valencia, where he helped them to reached the 2001 Champions League final and win the La Liga title on two occassions, as well as the 2004 UEFA Cup. An intelligent reader of the game, Ayala was cool, calm and collected regardless of the situation.

Frank de Boer:

A product of the famed Ajax youth academy, former Netherlands captain Frank de Boer was one of the best defenders of his generation. An influential, assured defender with exemplary distribution. de Boer possessed one of the finest left feet in football and was capable of pin-point passing up the flanks from deep inside his own half. He won 112 caps for the Netherlands, appeared in World Cup and European Championship semi-finals, was a European Champion with Ajax and won league titles in Holland and Spain.

Gianluca Pessotto:

Another legendary Juve fullback and versatile player, Pessotto could play either side (as well as in midfield) but favoured the left.
He was part of the Juve team that reached 3 consecutive Champions League finals (though he didn't feature in 1997) and his trophy haul includes 4 Serie A titles, 1 Coppa Italia and the Champions League. He was also a beaten finalist in the 2000 European Championships.

Patrick Vieira:

Legendary Arsenal midfielder, captain of the Invincibles team and French World Cup and European Championship winner. 107 caps for France, appearences in 2 World Cup finals, 4 FA Cup medals, title wins in Italy and England. There's not much more that needs to be said about this man.

Jens Jeremies:

Solid and dependable tough tackling German midfielder, won the Champions League with Bayern Munich as one of their most important players, along with 6 Bundesliga titles. Jeremies was also a member of the German team which reached the 2002 World Cup final, also representing the national team in the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 and 2004 European Championships.

Mehmet Scholl:

One of the most decorated players in German football history and a supremely gifted attacking midfielder, Scholl possessed pace, mesmeric dribbling skills and an eye for goal; as well as being handy at set pieces. He was a key part of Germany's Euro 96 winning team and an integral player at Bayern Munich; where he won 8 Bundesliga titles, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup.

Ludovic Giuly:

Captain of the Monaco team that made it to the final of the Champions League in 2004 and winner of 2 La Liga titles and the CL with Barcelona. Able to play as a wide midfielder or as a second striker, Giuly possessed great pace, dribbling skills and an eye for goal; scoring 47 goals in 184 appearences for Monaco and 19 in 85 for Barcelona.

Kily Gonzalez:

Former Valencia and Inter winger who won over 50 caps for Argentina and appeared in two consecutive Champions League finals. Gonzalez was an expert crosser of the ball and a player gifted with explosive pace, a stinging shot and a tireless work rate.

Miroslav Klose:

The second highest goalscorer in World Cup finals history and a born finisher. Big, strong with a good touch, great leap and fantastic heading ability; all 5 of his WC 2002 goals were scored with his head. Klose has maintained a ratio of nearly 1 goal in every 2 games during his career, as well as smashing home 63 goals in 113 games for Germany, for whom he appeared in World Cup and European Championship finals.

Substitute:

Alen Boksic:

Technically gifted forward in the Dennis Bergkamp mould, able to play up front or as a second striker. Pacy, strong and a good finisher, Boksic was a part of Croatia's golden generation and Serie A winner with Juventus. He also finished as top scorer in France with Marseille, where he won the league and Champions League, earning him 4th place in the Ballon d'Or in 1993.
Gary Pallister said of Boksic, "He was so difficult to mark. I knew then what he could do and all the United players were speaking about him after the match [Juve 1 - 0 Utd, 1997]"

Gio

Tactics (4-2-3-1):

Approach:

Davids and Mendieta should win the midfield battle, allowing Veron to link up with fellow Argentines Aimar and Claudio Lopez. Collectively there is significant goal threat in midfield, while Jayvin's main source of goals in Klose is likely to be nullified by a back line where three of the four defenders are 6ft 1' or taller. The pace of Makaay and Lopez is likely to expose the somewhat pedestrian De Boer.

Gregory Coupet
Lyon legend who kept goal during seven consecutive title triumphs. With Coupet at the helm, Lyon's defensive record in 2004/05 was the second best in Ligue 1 history. Perhaps best known for this sensational double-save against Barcelona's Rivaldo.

Markus Babbel
Close to signing for Man Utd for £5m in 1996 which would have made him the most expensive defender in the country. Rock-solid right-back and superb man-marker, a lynchpin of the German side which won Euro 96.

Noureddine Naybet
Regarded by many as the greatest African defender of all-time, Naybet was the heart of Deportivo's defence for seven seasons which were the club's greatest years. Sir Alex Ferguson held him in similar regard, arranging a deal for the swashbuckling centre-back in 1999 which fell through due to ultimately unfounded fears over the Moroccan's knees. United's loss was Depor's gain as they went on to win La Liga the following season. John Toschak, former Real Madrid, Deportivo, Real Sociedad and Sporting manager, rates Naybet as the best defender under his management.

Carlos Gammara
Highly respected South American centre-half, Gamarra saved his best for Paraguay who he captained during three World Cups. Kept clean sheets against formidable Spanish and Bulgarian attacks before France squeezed past in extra time in the knockout stages. Physically imposing yet such a smooth operator that he didn't concede a single foul in the 1998 tournament.

Christian Ziege
Classy wing-back who was a dynamic and incisive weapon for Germany at Euro 96. Set-piece expert who was one of only four left-backs to be voted for the Ballon D'Or between 1991 and 2005 (the others being Maldini, Carlos and Lizarazu).

Edgar Davids
Tenacious central midfielder whose dominance of the centre of the park was the platform for the great Juventus and Holland sides of the late 1990s.

Juan Sebastian Veron
Technically immaculate playmaker whose height and muscular frame enabled him to showcase his exceptional vision from central midfield. Orchestrated domestic and European success for Parma and Lazio during his prime years. South American Player of the Year awards at 33 and 34 demonstrate his class despite the diminishing aspect of age.

Gaizka Mendieta
The hearbeat of the great Valencia team which reached consecutive Champions League finals. Mendieta won back-to-back UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Year awards which was testament to his stature in an era of great midfielders. At home in an inside-right or a central role, Mendieta married aggressive pressing and commitment in the tackle with penetrating attacking play and considerable goal threat.
Pablo Aimar
"You can see that he will be a great, great player. He has everything, everything to be a player that can make the difference in Europe. A new star." Johan Cruyff's eulogy following Aimar's debut for Valencia against United reflected the excitement the Argentine's arrival generated. Aimar's time at the top would be curtailed due to injury and illness, but at his best he was a mazy dribbler, elusive and slippery, who linked midfield with attack effortlessly.

Claudio Lopez
Electric forward who spent a number of excellent seasons at Valencia. Equally at home on the left wing or in attack, his 30 goals in 1998/99 were perhaps the statistical highlight but it was his leading role in the regular demolitions of reigning European champions Real Madrid (see the 6-0 hammering) and Barcelona which really caught the imagination.

Roy Makaay
Gifted forward who was both a great goalscorer and a scorer of great goals. 108 goals in just three seasons while at Deportivo and Bayern testify to his onion-bag-rattling ability. Normally deployed as the lone frontman in Irureta's 4-2-3-1, Makaay was excellent at finishing from range with both feet, while a 6ft 2' frame made him a potent threat in the air.

Sub:

Robbie Fowler
Precocious goalscorer who took the Premiership by storm during his emergence in the mid-1990s. His range of finishing was largely driven by a multi-faceted left foot that helped him to over 30 goals in three consecutive seasons

 

[antohan]

Bloody hell! This one is difficult, I've changed my mind about three times!

 

[FranklyVulgar]

It's a draw, i think the defensive side of both teams is stronger than their attacking threat. Saying that it could be a moment of magic and the most likely to provide that would be Veron... tough though, two even sides for me.

 

[antohan]

It's a draw, i think the defensive side of both teams is stronger than their attacking threat. Saying that it could be a moment of magic and the most likely to provide that would be Veron... tough though, two even sides for me.

I'm inclined to say the same. I've voted for Jayvin all along based on his strong midfield and rather boring but effective play.

Now I find a team that matches/beats him in midfield and is a lot more creative. Jayvin still looks better at the back, but the pizzazz in Gio's team earns my vote.

 

[antohan]

Interesting... As it stands, Gio goes through on vp. That would be quite a remarkable great escape job.

 

[Brwned]

Just realised that if I lose, I'll be relying on Gio to keep me in it! All the games are so tight that by tomorrow morning both games could swing completely the other way.

 

[Snow]

Jayvin's team is probably my favorite in this competition (besides my own of course). I'm a huge fan of Kily Gonzalez. He's got Klose up front which is nice. He's playing the same way I do but his central midfield is better than mine, his defense is better and his goalkeeper but my front 4 are vastly better and the difference between half the center mid and full backs isn't that much.

With all the great set pieces takers Gio has he doesn't have many to score from them. He has 6 players that weren't used to be inside the box during corners and his CB's have 39 goals between them in 744 games. On the other hand he has a lot of players to choose from taking a free kick. Got both feet available to him as well.

It's a tough one. I see the most likely goal option from Jayvin will be a cross to Klose. Kily was a great crosser. On the other hand Gio have players who exploit mistakes and they will need those mistakes to find openings.

 

[Snow]

I'm inclined to say the same. I've voted for Jayvin all along based on his strong midfield and rather boring but effective play.

Now I find a team that matches/beats him in midfield and is a lot more creative. Jayvin still looks better at the back, but the pizzazz in Gio's team earns my vote.

Why would you say his play would be boring?

 

[Gio]

I do think Jayvin's got a bloody good team. One of the areas where I think my squad is stronger is goal threat. If you look at how many goals the players in our midfield and attacks scored in their best seasons, Jayvin's total 81 goals while mine have 122 goals (50% more) through Davids 12, Mendieta 10, Veron, 10, Lopez 30, Aimar 13, Makaay 39.

 

[antohan]

Why would you say his play would be boring?

Boring/efficient German 1-0 type game

Tell me one player there who will excite you, who will pull off something extraordinary...

Don't get me wrong, he has a very solid side, I've voted for him in every previous game and probably would here if I looked at it coldly in a cerebral way, but I'm not, I'm going for what Gio's magicians may come up with.

If Jayvin goes through, a couple of players will turn him into a formidable team. Probably the best from this group.

 

[Snow]

I didn't think pulling something extra ordinary is the means you have to pull to not be boring. How has Manchester United played the last three years? We don't have that many special players. It's a pretty conventional team that we've got and I don't think many people rate Man Utd in Europe as anything other than boring because we play for results.

Kily excites me. Great crossing. Speed and shooting. If Antonio Valencia excites you then Kily should as well.

 

[antohan]

I didn't think pulling something extra ordinary is the means you have to pull to not be boring.

There was that thing about football being a game were 22 men chased the ball for 90 minutes and then the Germans won. It is the inevitability of the result being ground out which is boring. I would expect Jayvin to go about that sort of game and Gio to rely on his men being inspired. As far as entertainent goes, I'll take Aimar in inspired form over anything Jayvin has to offer.

How has Manchester United played the last three years?

Hit and miss.

We don't have that many special players. It's a pretty conventional team that we've got and I don't think many people rate Man Utd in Europe as anything other than boring because we play for results.

And people always moan on here at how boring we get in Europe, particularly trying to play the whole away goal shit.

I disagree on the special players though. Giggs and Scholes have provided as much magic as ever, Rooney has had stormers, so has Nani. Our early season form was ***worthy... But they rarely turn it on at the same time or consistently enough.

Kily excites me. Great crossing. Speed and shooting. If Antonio Valencia excites you then Kily should as well.

He is the most exciting player in Jayvin's team and the one that made me think twice before writing that, Scholl somewhat behind. I rate Kily and was hoping he would keep slipping through until I picked my sub. What a pointless sub, doubt Almeyda is going to get even a minute on the pitch. Should have given it to him today against Dan.

 

[Jayvin]

Quite surprised how the voting is going at the moment. The way i see it, in terms of midfield and attack the teams are pretty even, with Gio maybe edging it slightly. It's in defence where the big difference lies. I don't think Gio's attack would get much joy from de Boer and Ayala at all.

 

[Jayvin]

Another thing, my team may not have quite as much creativity as Gio's, but it gets the job done. In any case, my far superior defence should counter the slight increase in attacking threat that Gio's side possesses. I see my side as one of the most naturally balanced in the competition, no players have been shoehorned in and they are players of real pedigree - all bar Toldo and Vieira have appeared in Champions League finals.

Tell me one player there who will excite you, who will pull off something extraordinary...

Mehmet Scholl. A sublime player, well capable of pulling off something extrodinary. I'd also argue that both Kily Gonzalez and Ludovic Giuly were very exciting players, as well as incredibly effective.

 

[Gio]

In fairness there's not a lot of difference, if any, between the defences. At the back, Pessotto and Torricelli were decent full-backs without ever establishing themselves on the international stage (32 caps between them) to anywhere near the same extent as Ziege and Babbel (123 caps). Ayala is undoubtedly an excellent defender – as was Naybet (the two of them being the standout La Liga defenders of their generation, trumping anything the big two had to offer) but De Boer’s lack of pace and mobility could be a problem against the quickness of Makaay and Lopez. For me, De Boer is much the same level as Gamarra who probably edges him as a pure defender but has less ability on the ball. Frank obviously had a great left foot which was good for possession-dominating teams such as Barcelona and Holland.

 

[Jayvin]

In fairness there's not a lot of difference, if any, between the defences. At the back, Pessotto and Torricelli were decent full-backs without ever establishing themselves on the international stage (32 caps between them) to anywhere near the same extent as Ziege and Babbel (123 caps).

Mendieta, Makaay and Aimar never really had much success in international football either, it doesn't stop them being good players. Pessotto and Torricelli are Juventus legends and were a part of a Champions League winning defence, arguably the best in the world at the time. You can't say the same for Ziege and Babbel.