70s Fantasy Draft - Rood v Snow

Who will win based on players in their prime, team tactics, balance & bench strength?


  • Total voters
    35
It is true that you having those wingers is limiting width from fullbacks (Carlos in particular) and thus Guardiola's passing options. Rivaldo would also obviously have a lot more joy in your Lampard position than in Rood's team. I do think your central midfield two is stronger as well, very strong in fact (rather irrelevant if bypassed though).

You are also right about Rood having a tough time defending against you here.

But I don't think Guardiola is going to be limited to 10m passes, rather the opposite. You will be putting him under pressure (you don't have a patient passing team, nor should you try to be one, directness, vertigo is what is going to get the most out of your attack) but will leave phenomenal amounts of space at the back as a result. Guardiola can and will put some wonder balls in there. It is not a matter of your players making mistakes, it's genius at work, genius that will look at playing on Rivaldo, Owen or Schneider (less so, as he is bound to be pretty tied up helping defend).

That's his only real outlet but a devastating one. My point is you would be infinitely more comfortable with a back three and having Neville on Rivaldo. That way you could focus on demolishing Rood knowing full well all bases for a counter are reasonably covered. As it stands you are giving him a significant outlet for him to take pressure off at the back and hit you. If he scores once he puts more pressure on you going forward, which exposes you more, and so on...

Neville is no Makelele, but just by being onto Rivaldo will make it all infinitely more difficult. What is he doing at right back other than faffing around waiting for the unlikely scenario of someone showing up there? Carlos is well busy (and Kuffour is adept at RB so could come out to cover or in the unlikely case Milito receives out wide), Baggio will be way too busy to venture forward, which leaves Rivaldo as the occasional visitor... why not just get stuck to him?
 
Back three isn't a viable option in my opinion. It's a fantasy tactic that's doesn't work in real life as you want it to be on paper. I don't believe in that tactic at all.

Besides, I have the best wing play in this competition. I'm playing like Manchester United. That's my aim. United didn't use a special player just to put on Rivaldo. That's not how Sir Alex Ferguson plays. And I try and emulate that. But since it's fantasy and players get picked before I get to choose I have to wing it. Kluivert is my Nistelrooy. Figo is my Ronaldo. Giggs is Giggs. Lampard is just Lampard and will be there instead of a young Rooney. Petit is Fletcher and Frings is Carrick. There's no Scholes because he is one of a kind. Fringe is however capable of long balls like Carrick is so that's why it was a must to get him really. In my mind it wouldn't have worked as well with a different player at the time of the pick.

I managed to get a pretty similar team going. What I need is about one change in defense and central midfield and I'm good. I'll get that if I get through.
 
Back three isn't a viable option in my opinion. It's a fantasy tactic that's doesn't work in real life as you want it to be on paper. I don't believe in that tactic at all.

Although it's fallen out of favour in the days of 4-2-3-1, there are a number of teams who can make a back three work (see Napoli, Chile) and many more did when these players were in their pomp (Brazil, Germany). I'm not convinced it would work in your situation though with Giggs and Figo high up on the flanks.
 
Yes Brazil did it in style with Carlos and Cafu. Germany barely made it work in a 1-0 kind of way, something which doesn't work in a game like this I reckon. Napoli does it but they won't be the best using it. Same with Chile.
 
Back three isn't a viable option in my opinion. It's a fantasy tactic that's doesn't work in real life as you want it to be on paper. I don't believe in that tactic at all.

You do write off a lot of tactics. Fair enough, your call, I just don't see what you have to commit four players for there though.

[quotes]Besides, I have the best wing play in this competition. I'm playing like Manchester United. That's my aim. [/quotes]

You will need to improve your fullbacks in fairness. They are solid defensively but not much more than that.

You mentioned Buffon was the player you would pick off Zen in the other thread, I think Thuram would be :drool:

United didn't use a special player just to put on Rivaldo. That's not how Sir Alex Ferguson plays. And I try and emulate that.

And he almost won that 3-3 CL tie for them as a result!!!!

But since it's fantasy and players get picked before I get to choose I have to wing it.

Sure, you will get to build on this anyway. It's a pretty damn good start!!! I would love to have Figo and Giggs myself, what is killing me is I don't see any decent wingers I could pick in my group. Probably got the dullest one to pick from :(
 
bloody hell antohan - talk about great minds, I was just going to write about what a mistake it was to let Rivaldo run free in that 3-3!

Both matches against Barca were mental that year - I was at the home tie
 
Almost. But he didn't. And that was against a 4-4-2, not a 4-5-1. I have an extra body in central midfield.
 
How long left of the poll is there? There's usually a little message below the polll but I can't see it
 
Would you agree, Rood, that it's been my winger vs you full backs and your strikers+Rivaldo vs my defense so far?

I for one wouldn't have done anything differently. I'm not a believer of targeting one man by himself, much like our very own SAF. He might not be able to do it all and therefor would be useless to counter other players. To counter two different dribblers you need an organized team. Not man on man.
 
Damn, was comparing the teams and I thought the decision was easy, until I got to Giggs and Figo..... :nervous:

Don't really know..
 
Damn, was comparing the teams and I thought the decision was easy, until I got to Giggs and Figo..... :nervous:

Don't really know..

Just imagine what Figo would like like on the wing with United and then you will have you answer:smirk:
 
wow - I was 2 down when I last looked - sqeeky bum time!

Would you agree, Rood, that it's been my winger vs you full backs and your strikers+Rivaldo vs my defense so far?

Not sure what exactly you mean?
Are you trying to say that it is a decision between whether my fullbacks can better deal with your wingers or your defence can better deal with my front 3?

I think my defence is stronger than yours - primarily because I have the best full back in the whole game whereas I think it is a mistake for you to pick Phil Nev at right back.

Then we have 2 areas to compare:

Guardiola/Schneider/Baggio vs Petit/Frings/Lampard

Rivaldo/Owen/Milito vs Figo/Giggs/Kluivert

I think good arguments can be made either way and it probably just goes down to personal preference which the close voting reflects
 
Snow is in a quandary - if his defense pushes up, they are vulnerable to Guardiola playing Owen in behind and Snow does not have a centreback who can keep pace with Owen. If his defense plays deep, that means more space for Rivaldo and that is just as dangerous.
 
wow - I was 2 down when I last looked - sqeeky bum time!



Not sure what exactly you mean?
Are you trying to say that it is a decision between whether my fullbacks can better deal with your wingers or your defence can better deal with my front 3?

I think my defence is stronger than yours - primarily because I have the best full back in the whole game whereas I think it is a mistake for you to pick Phil Nev at right back.

Then we have 2 areas to compare:

Guardiola/Schneider/Baggio vs Petit/Frings/Lampard

Rivaldo/Owen/Milito vs Figo/Giggs/Kluivert

I think good arguments can be made either way and it probably just goes down to personal preference which the close voting reflects

What the decisive factor was in the voters mind. It seem to be either these two particular areas that makes or breaks it.

For most it seems to be personal preferences. I know I've voted on one side rather than the other because of that.
 
I'm gonna make a substitution because what the hell. I'm in it to win it.

Anelka on >>>
Neville off <<<

337846_Iceland.jpg
 
Then we have 2 areas to compare:

Guardiola/Schneider/Baggio vs Petit/Frings/Lampard

Rivaldo/Owen/Milito vs Figo/Giggs/Kluivert

I'm not looking at it like that at all, which is why I find it odd Snow keeps going on about this 1v1 thing I apparently do.

I think you would spend most of the game effectively playing 7-1-2. As I said earlier, don't think Snow has a team made for passing the ball around patiently, it would be a waste of the talent there, it's not in their DNA. He would be barnstorming from the off, he WILL be all over you I think.

Can you hold on, sort of, not goalless for 90 no. But in that scenario there is huge amounts of space in his half, you've got Rivaldo roaming around with no one on, Owen with pace to burn and the right man for getting the perfect ball over to both.

I by no means see you dominating this game (which I think is what Snow bangs on about when quoting Mourinho on diamonds, yes, it will need phenomenal players to control a game), but I do have a lot of time for the simplicity and effectiveness of a clinical counter-attacking tactic and that's what you have.

His plan A requires him to get past your desperate defending (with some bloody good players), your Plan A is to soak up and find opportunities in the acres of space he will leave. Can Guardiola find them? Yes. Can Rivaldo and Owen capitalise on them? Yes.

You are bound to win. I find it rather simple really.
 
I'm gonna make a substitution because what the hell. I'm in it to win it.

Anelka on >>>
Neville off <<<

337846_Iceland.jpg

I thought three at the back was "a fantasy tactic that looks great on paper but doesn't work in practice"?

The throwing the kitchen sink tactic may lure you crucial votes but you are not lacking in goalscoring potential in my eyes, you just need to pick up Rivaldo proper.

Whether you think Neville couldn't have done that job is a different matter. I happen to think he would be infinitely better at it than not doing the job at all.
 
I'm gonna make a substitution because what the hell. I'm in it to win it.

Anelka on >>>
Neville off <<<

337846_Iceland.jpg

That just doesnt look right at all! Although you have removed your weak link I suppose.

anyway Im off for a 5side match so Im going to miss the full time whistle here - hopefully my boys can hold on without me barking from the touchline !
 
Phil > Heinze....when has Heinze ever marked the BPITW into his pocket like Phil has with Bale like 8 times.
 
Looks like Brwned forgot to set the clock, or it is not 24hs.

For the record, Rood is 19-16 up now.
 
Phil > Heinze....when has Heinze ever marked the BPITW into his pocket like Phil has with Bale like 8 times.

Heinze is the right one to keep if you go three at the back, nothing wrong there.
 
I thought three at the back was "a fantasy tactic that looks great on paper but doesn't work in practice"?

The throwing the kitchen sink tactic may lure you crucial votes but you are not lacking in goalscoring potential in my eyes, you just need to pick up Rivaldo proper.

Whether you think Neville couldn't have done that job is a different matter. I happen to think he would be infinitely better at it than not doing the job at all.

Rood had been picking up voted for hours so something wasn't working. And I was about to make a lovely dinner for the missus and enjoy some red wine on our 3 year anniversary so this was pretty much not on my mind anymore. All or nothing.
 
Rood had been picking up voted for hours so something wasn't working. And I was about to make a lovely dinner for the missus and enjoy some red wine on our 3 year anniversary so this was pretty much not on my mind anymore. All or nothing.

Happy anniversary mate.

Valentine's day wedding? What a cracking idea, kill two birds with one stone...

My bro should have thought about that one, had his anniversary dinner two nights ago and got told off today for arriving with no flowers :lol:
 
Happy anniversary mate.

Valentine's day wedding? What a cracking idea, kill two birds with one stone...

My bro should have thought about that one, had his anniversary dinner two nights ago and got told off today for arriving with no flowers :lol:

Nah it's not a wedding. We're bohemian like that. Cheers.
 
Looks like Brwned forgot to set the clock, or it is not 24hs.

For the record, Rood is 19-16 up now.

So is it over?

This win would make up for the shameful showing by my 5aside team tonight