Brwned
Have you ever been in love before?
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2008
- Messages
- 50,937
Team Snow
Zen
Sub: Elber
I'm going for a very solid 4-2-3-1 formation that should be able to deal with any variation of 4-4-2. It's the Manchester United Europe playing style. That's how I roll.
If you have average full backs then you'll not want to play me. Threat from outside the box is as much as inside it. Lampard and Frings are both quite capable of shooting with great power. Even Petit has that ability.
My defense is composed of great veterans in both Champions and domestic league with their respected clubs as well as on the international stage.
Dida: Solid goalkeeper in his prime (which is all that matters) and voted the best goalkeeper in Europe when AC Milan won them CL in 2005. Highly successful in Brazil before he came to Europe and added to his trophy cabinet.
Phil Neville: Reliable player and was our very own John O'Shea before John O'Shea became John O'Shea. I use him at right back where I feel he's at his best. Did well at United and has become the captain of Everton.
Samuel Kuffour: Played many years in the heart of the Bayern Munchen defense along with Thomas Linke. They made up the best defensive pair in the Bundesliga and won the CL shortly after the famous final in '99. 2 times African player of the year (runner up) and the Ashford & Simpson song solid could well be a description for his defensive capabilities
Jens Nowotny: Leverkusen were a European powerhouse for two years with the likes of Nowotny and Ramelow in defense, Ballack and Ze Roberto in midfield. They're the reason for the teams almost success in every stage. Masters of runner-upery but that was not the defenses fault. Only player in my team who's not won a major trophy
Gabriel Heinze: He was purchased to United for being good at football. He certainly showed that and was voted our best player in the 04/05 season. A fan favorite before he became 2nd fiddle after a long term injury. But he moved on an went on to Real Madrid and then Marseille, picking up some trophies along the way. A veteran of every stage of football like his other defensive members.
Emmanuel Petit: He paired up with Vieira and won the WC and PL but before that he captained Monaco to a league title. His midfield prowess were rivaled only by his partner and our own midfield at the time and made for heated battles.
Torsten Frings: With Frings I've got a player with great vision and passing, hard tackling and a great shooter. He's like a mix between Pirlo and a regular German defensive midfielder. Sporting the hair, shooting and passing of Pirlo with the tackling, work rate and nationality of a German. Great fit next to Petit.
Luis Figo: I can't describe him properly without filling the page. Best player in the world in 2001 and one of the best almost his whole career. Not many have more trophies than him and he's achieved it with 3 different clubs. Simply a great great great player.
Frank Lampard: We love to hate him because he's just so damn good at scoring goals. Can't think of many midfielders that rival him in that aspect. An intelligent player who's a model of consistency. He plays in his favorite spot where I'll get the most out of him.
Ryan Giggs: It's Ryan fecking Giggs. Great now at age 38 but remember him in his prime? I certainly do
Patrick Kluivert: At birth him and Ruud decided to share their careers fairly. Patrick burst on to the scene with Ajax, who with their golden generation won it all. In his prime he played alone up front at Barcelona with Rivaldo behind him and that is the role he plays for me. In that role he managed to become the 4th ever top goal scorer for the Catalans (now 6th after Messi and Eto'o) and is still the top goal scorer for the Netherlands. He won the golden boot at Euro 2000 where the Dutch lost in penalties to Italy.
Substitute: Nicholas Anelka
A footballer who's been in an endless search to find himself. On his way he's won a number of league titles in different countries and a CL medal as well. Golden boot winner whilst at Chelsea he's a sub that can come on for any one of players really. Gives me the option of changing into a 4-4-2 with Frings, Petit or Ballack out. I could even play a three man defense and take out Neville if drastic measures are needed. Great bench option.
Footnote:
My team has 50 league medals, 9 CL medals, 1 EC winner and 2 WC winners, 1 Copa America and Libertadores winner and 96 different cup medals which include the Cup Winners Cup, FA Cup, various Super Cups etc.
Player honors they've got plenty of as well.
Zen
Sub: Elber
For the first game, gonna go with Totti in the false 9 position as Rood doesn't seem to use wingers, so it's going to be a midfield game so I want Sousa and Senna holding with Deco roaming about the middle dictating it all, Totti dropping back will allow both Kewell and Etxeberria to cut inside and both are more than capable of scoring doing as well as being consistent creators for Totti.
Think Thuram and Marquez are more than capable of dealing with his forwards with Kaladze also capable of moving into the centre to help with Rivaldos prowess, where the most danger comes from for me, thus why I've crowded that area with both Sousa and Senna, who aren't shy to getting a foot in.
Elber as sub.
Buffon - Probably the goalie of his generation despite the lack of a CL medal, although still winner of a best goalie in the CL, along with his World Cup Yashin Award and numerous Serie A and IFFHS goalie awards.
Salgado - A very important cog in two of Reals three CL wins of recent times. Tireless right back with a bit of aggression to the team. Spanish regular etc etc
Thuram - Again, one of the best of the generation in defence, a rock even when out of position by his own admission at right back, capable of adapting quickly and shutting out anyone. World cup winner and a superb performance in 2006 without Desailly, Blanc, Lebeouf with him that time.
Marquez - Not as great defensively as Thuram, but still a top class defender capable of coming forward and playing out of danger. One of Mexicans all time best, as proven by some brilliant performances in two world cups, once against his mate, Messi. CL winner of course.
Kaladze - A strong defender, consistent and versatile. Two time CL winner with Milan and once runner up, and proved with Genoa that he still has plenty to offer as one of the better defenders in Seria A last year.
Senna - The midfielders SAF wanted back in 2006, and has since gone to show the world exactly why Fergie wanted him, in the team of Euro 2008 and many pundits and fans claimed him as best player allowing Xavi the full freedom to be the best he's ever been imo, in my team that will be Deco, strong, can break up play, composed and take over playmaking duties if needed.
Sousa - Similar to Senna in that he can pass his way out of trouble as well being a composed DM in the tackle, back to back starter in CL finals, of which he ended up on the winning side both times with different teams. Injuries dogged him, but still a great talent with many deserved accolades to his name.
Deco - The man that made Joses Porto to click, who then went on to do the same for Rikjaards Barca winning CL's both times. Twice UEFA Midfielder of the year, and once Ballon d'Or runner up. Runner up in the Euros....although he faded quickly at Chelsea, for the first few months, showed his talent in the Premiership also.
Kewell - Once Young Player of the year in the Premiership and immense talent before injuries and eventual inconsistency dogged him after leaving Leeds. Both a creators and consistent scorer from anywhere in midfield or off a striker....and well....also a CL winner. YEAH!
Etxeberria - Only player in my team to win anything major, but don't let that fool you, an top talent and ultra loyal to Bilbao, even playing for free for a year pretty much. A consistent performance for both club and country, great attitude, and a solid scoring record too.
Totti - Living legend in Rome and deservedly so, World Cup winner, Euros Runner Up, Serie A Winner, Once italian top scorer playing as a false 9 pretty much...for a forward, has it all, movement, creativity, intelligence and scoring ability.
Elber - consistent 1 in 2 scorer, and fine striker, being instrumental in some of Bayerns late 90's to early 2000's success including goals home and away knocking out holders Madrid when they went on to win the CL in 2001. As with all in my team when it comes to the forwards, is capable of creating for others also, and not just being a selfish striker.
