70s Fantasy Draft - Team Brian v antohan

[Brwned]

Team Brian GB

I am playing a 4-5-1 derivative that can change to a flat 4-4-2, a 4 diamond 2 04 a 3-5-2 if necessary.

The defensive is playing in an orthodox manner with Sorin and Reiziger playing as full backs who like to go forward, they will be supported in that role by Stankovic on the left and Belletti on the right who can move out from the centre of midfield as necessary.

In order to increase the protection of the midfield, Makelele and Seedorf will be sitting deep, they will have Belletti and Stankovic ahead of them playing a more offensive role and Gudjohnsen further still whose job will be to link play through the centre to Drogba. If necessary, he can play alongside Drogba.

Sub: J.F.Hasselbaink

"THIS IS HOW THE GAME STARTED. TACTICS HAVE CHANGED SINCE AT 4-6, SEE BELOW"

Antohan

No major changes to tactics. I should be comfortable dealing with Team Brian's threat upfront. He crowds the midfield but there's no significant creativity or width there, so I'm happy being aggressive and having him on the backfoot. The best he has to offer is Seedorf and the best way to stop him from having an influence is keeping him busy defending.

Forlán and Luis Enrique provide creativity, link-up/one-two potential and goals, but also significant workrate and willingness to get stuck in and track back if needed.

If, for any reason, the midfield battle were getting difficult Luis Enrique can drop deeper and to the left, leaving him and Zanetti either side of Simeone. Both offering significant experience and threat down the flanks both in attack and defense. Zidane and Forlán should still keep Makelele and Seedorf very busy.

Whether it is through Forlán and Luis Enrique further up, or Luis Enrique and Zanetti from midfield, my side is better suited to exploit wide areas, which should keep TBGBs fullbacks conservative.

PLAYER PROFILES

As usual, I ask, WHICH SIDE WOULD YOU RATHER WATCH?

 

[antohan]

Bummer, I thought it was one a day. Give me a few minutes and I'll send a few tweaks and tactics that contemplate Brian instead of TR

 

[antohan]

Tactics update for this game

No major changes to tactics. I should be comfortable dealing with Team Brian's threat upfront. He crowds the midfield but there's no significant creativity or width there, so I'm happy being aggressive and having him on the backfoot. The best he has to offer is Seedorf and the best way to stop him from having an influence is keeping him busy defending.

Forlán and Luis Enrique provide creativity, link-up/one-two potential and goals, but also significant workrate and willingness to get stuck in and track back if needed.

If, for any reason, the midfield battle were getting difficult Luis Enrique can drop deeper and to the left, leaving him and Zanetti either side of Simeone. Both offering significant experience and threat down the flanks both in attack and defense. Zidane and Forlán should still keep Makelele and Seedorf very busy.

Whether it is through Forlán and Luis Enrique further up, or Luis Enrique and Zanetti from midfield, my side is better suited to exploit wide areas, which should keep TBGBs fullbacks conservative.

PLAYER PROFILES

As usual, I ask, WHICH SIDE WOULD YOU RATHER WATCH?

 

[Polaroid]

Brian to win the midfield battle and eke out a 1-0 win with a Drogba special. Won't be pretty but good enough for him to win.

 

[antohan]

Midfield battle:

Forlán or Gudjohnsen?
Zidane or Seedorf?
Luis Enrique or Stankovic?
Zanetti or Belletti?
Simeone or Makelele?

Bar Simeone and Makelele, it is no contest. My players are real quality top tier players, the only one who may not to be in the top bracket is Simeone, and he is better than half his midfield.

All five of them are/have been captains for club and/or country, which indicates there is leadership, commitent and football intelligence aplenty.

My midfield is significantly stronger, has more creativity, more width and more goals in it.

 

[antohan]

Bump

 

[Polaroid]

From your formation graphic, it looks to me that Forlan and Luis Enrique are playing ahead of Zidane and just behind Vieri, I consider those positions forwards rather than midfielders. Thought you would have been better off playing Luis Enrique and Zanetti either side of Simeone in a midfield three behind Zidane. That would have secured you the midfield battle and my vote.

 

[antohan]

From your formation graphic, it looks to me that Forlan and Luis Enrique are playing ahead of Zidane and just behind Vieri, I consider those positions forwards rather than midfielders. Thought you would have been better off playing Luis Enrique and Zanetti either side of Simeone in a midfield three behind Zidane. That would have secured you the midfield battle and my vote.

I did specify in the tactics I was opting for Forlán and Luis Enrique keeping Makelele and Seedorf deep (i.e. attacking midfield cum forward roles, playing into space behind them, which should drag them deeper) as the best from of defence is attack. I suppose the correct way to portray it is slightly deeper (still ahead of Zidane) with short arrows pushing to where they are now, it's just the graphic from the last game that Brwned copied and I saw no need to change it (nor do I have arrows).

I also specified IF the midfield battle was in any way problematic Luis Enrique could drop back to that very midfield three you mention. Luis Enrique was a dynamic, intelligent player, he would switch effortlessly.

I could have included that alternative tactic but last time I tried to show how easily I could switch between two formations people found it confusing and demanded to be told which one I was playing!

I would much rather start being more positive as I think if Luis Enrique and Forlán peg Makelele and Seedorf back Simeone, Zanetti and Zidane would have no problem at all against Gudjohnsen, Stankovic and Belletti.

If they don't or his players are having a blinder (unlikely as it's an odd trio), then Luis Enrique pulls back to strengthen the defensive side and Zidane and Forlán are left on Makelele and Seedorf. I would just rather have Zidane where he is as it makes it a nightmare for him (if his DMs move onto Zidane they leave the space for the other two, if his CBs push forward to keep it tight they leave space for Vieri to run onto, and so on).

If I'm having the upper hand, keeping Seedorf and Makelele deep and only have very minor issues in midfield I would keep Luis Enrique where he is and switch Candela on Simeone's left to match up with Belletti (let's face it, not a big concern), Brown tucks in and I have a a back three on Drogba with both wide CBs being proficient fullbacks.

I really don't see how Brian is going to hurt me as it stands. What I stress here is my team has the versatility to adapt to the course the game may take, which is something any voter should bear in mind.

 

[Polaroid]

I did specify in the tactics I was opting for Forlán and Luis Enrique keeping Makelele and Seedorf deep (i.e. attacking midfield roles) as the best from of defence is attack.

I also specified IF the midfield battle was in any way problematic Luis Enrique could drop back to that very midfield three you mention. Luis Enrique was a dynamic, intelligent player, he would switch effortlessly.

I could have included that alternative tactic but last time I tried to show how easily I could switch between two formations people found it confusing and demanded to be told which one I was playing!

What I stress here is my team has the versatility to adapt to the course the game may take, which is something any voter should bear in mind.

I would much rather start being more positive as I think if Luis Enrique and Forlán peg Makelele and Seedorf back Simeone, Zanetti and Zidane would have no problem at all against Gudjohnsen, Stankovic and Belletti.

If they don't or his players are having a blinder (unlikely as it's an odd trio), then Luis Enrique pulls back to strengthen the defensive side and Zidane and Forlán are left on Makelele and Seedorf.

Then perhaps you should modify your formation graphic. Forlan and Luis Enrique look far more like forwards than midfielders, nearer to Vieri than Zidane and half a pitch away from Simeone and Zanetti.

 

[antohan]

Then perhaps you should modify your formation graphic. Forlan and Luis Enrique look far more like forwards than midfielders, nearer to Vieri than Zidane and half a pitch away from Simeone and Zanetti.

I was editing above as you posted it as I wasn't fully addressing a valid point.

"I suppose the correct way to portray it is slightly deeper (still ahead of Zidane) with short arrows pushing to where they are now, it's just the graphic from the last game that Brwned copied and I saw no need to change it (nor do I have arrows)."

I wouldn't read too much in space between lines (otherwise Brian's formation looks ridiculous as he has half his team operating in and around the centre mid circle ), what I do think is relevant is the layers and the layers are correct as the intention is to stretch that apparently congested midfield.

I have the passing and movement in my team to create and exploit space, so I'm setting out to do exactly that.

 

[antohan]

Mmmm, this has moved from 5-2 to 6-4. Clearly people have issues with the midfield battle.

So, with the score 6-4 up and about 15 minutes of the game to go, I switch to close it down and wrap up.

 

[Polaroid]

I was editing above as you posted it as I wasn't fully addressing a valid point.

"I suppose the correct way to portray it is slightly deeper (still ahead of Zidane) with short arrows pushing to where they are now, it's just the graphic from the last game that Brwned copied and I saw no need to change it (nor do I have arrows)."

I wouldn't read too much in space between lines (otherwise Brian's formation looks ridiculous as he has half his team operating in and around the centre mid circle ), what I do think is relevant is the layers and the layers are correct as the intention is to stretch that apparently congested midfield.

I have the passing and movement in my team to create and exploit space, so I'm setting out to do exactly that.

You definitely have the players, it is just a question of utilising them optimally.
Having one more midfielder alongside Simeone and Zanetti to relieve Zidane of defensive legwork and win the ball for him to do what he does best, Zidane can pull the strings for your side like he did for France against Brazil at WC 2006. Add to that Luis Enrique attacking from deep, you would be harder to defend against.

 

[antohan]

You definitely have the players, it is just a question of utilising them optimally.
Having one more midfielder alongside Simeone and Zanetti to relieve Zidane of defensive legwork and win the ball for him to do what he does best, Zidane can pull the strings for your side like he did for France against Brazil at WC 2006. Add to that Luis Enrique attacking from deep, you would be harder to defend against.

I agree, Luis Enrique in a box-to-box role would be a real handful for Brian. I didn't want to stretch it though as I'm unsure how familiar people are with him (I've no idea of average ages on here).

Had Brian had his personnel in the "right places" I probably would have started more conservative. I just really wanted to keep Seedorf on the backfoot as it was his only real creative outlet as far as I was concerned. Bizarre positioning there, he would be infinitely better than Gudjohnsen yet he is playing in some sort of double Makelele role. Felt it was more important to keep him busy than worry about the other three midfielders. Zanetti and Simeone alone have more defensive nous and workrate in them than Belletti, Stankovic and Gudjohnsen together.

But that is my opinion and we tend to have rose-tinted glasses with our team

 

[Polaroid]

Mmmm, this has moved from 5-2 to 6-4. Clearly people have issues with the midfield battle.

So, with the score 6-4 up and about 15 minutes of the game to go, I switch to close it down and wrap up.

Yes that was the formation I was talking about
From 6-4 to 10-4, the message from the voters seems to be clear

I agree, Luis Enrique in a box-to-box role would be a real handful for Brian. I didn't want to stretch it though as I'm unsure how familiar people are with him (I've no idea of average ages on here).

Had Brian had his personnel in the "right places" I probably would have started more conservative. I just really wanted to keep Seedorf on the backfoot as it was his only real creative outlet as far as I was concerned. Bizarre positioning there, he would be infinitely better than Gudjohnsen yet he is playing in some sort of double Makelele role. Felt it was more important to keep him busy than worry about the other three midfielders. Zanetti and Simeone alone have more defensive nous and workrate in them than Belletti, Stankovic and Gudjohnsen together.

But that is my opinion and we tend to have rose-tinted glasses with our team

I do not have an issue with Seedorf's position - I interpreted it as the playmaker position alongside a ball-winner (Makelele) in a double pivot.
Gudjohnsen is rather under-rated, an intelligent footballer who reads space cleverly and combines well with teammates, good technique and all-round attacking ability, whether it is releasing a weighted through ball or applying the finishing touch. He has played the attacking midfield position to good effect in the past so again no issue there.
However, if from the start, you had Luis Enrique in midfield to win the battle for possession and provide Zidane with the platform and freedom to orchestrate play, my vote would have gone to you.

 

[antohan]

Yes that was the formation I was talking about
From 6-4 to 10-4, the message from the voters seems to be clear

That much is clear, but you do see how Seedorf is somewhat less accounted for here. Before I had Seedorf and Makelele sandwiched between Zidane and the other two behind them. In possession I would have them running around like headless chicken. When possession is lost there's pressing from both sides on the man that worried me most. I either didn't convey that clearly or people don't buy it or they just didn't think Seedorf was as much of an issue as I made him out to be (the latter being quite likely).

I do not have an issue with Seedorf's position - I interpreted it as the playmaker position alongside a ball-winner (Makelele) in a double pivot.

I did as well , but it was more convenient to portray him as what I wanted to turn him into: a second (poor man's) Makelele chasing Zidane/Forlán/the ball as they pass it between them.

Gudjohnsen is rather under-rated, an intelligent footballer who reads space cleverly and combines well with teammates, good technique and all-round attacking ability, whether it is releasing a weighted through ball or applying the finishing touch. He has played the attacking midfield position to good effect in the past so again no issue there.

He is not bad, but nowhere near top-tier with the level of midfield playmakers and link-up men in this game. I would have been more concerned with Seedorf there and Gudjohnsen/Hasselbaink alongside Drogba. Brian had a lot of rather average (by this draft standard) players crowding the midfield and held back some serious firepower in that team.

However, if from the start, you had Luis Enrique in midfield to win the battle for possession and provide Zidane with the platform and freedom to orchestrate play, my vote would have gone to you.

Fair point, safety/possession first seems to be a clear priority. Appreciate the feedback!

 

[Gio]

I like the tightness of Brian's shape, but he's hamstrung going forward by the class differential between Belletti, Gudjohnson, Stankovic when set against Enrique, Zidane and Forlan.