That's one thing I've noticed about your selection. You've got one of the strongest groups of players so far, but you've also got more flexibility in terms of formation than anyone else due to having Zanetti and Luis Enrique who are superb in a few positions and Vieri who is a match-winner either by himself or in a partnership up front. Gives you alot more scope for variety in terms of subsequent picks.
70s Retro Football Fantasy Championship - DRAFT THREAD
- Thread starter Cal?
- Start date
That's one thing I've noticed about your selection. You've got one of the strongest groups of players so far, but you've also got more flexibility in terms of formation than anyone else due to having Zanetti and Luis Enrique who are superb in a few positions and Vieri who is a match-winner either by himself or in a partnership up front. Gives you alot more scope for variety in terms of subsequent picks.
I creamed myself over him ever since he started coming through at River Plate, then he lost his way and never reached the heights I expected of him.
It's actually quite painful when you research for players and keep finding the impact injuries make. Some manage to reach a peak before, others played intermittently showing what may have been but you can't say for sure on the back of a few games, others you just have to wonder...
Take Ronaldo, phenomenal as he was, I wonder what his standing would be had he never suffered all those injuries... And got fat.
I've long weighed up Ronaldo's stature, potential and legacy. To be honest, I think we saw enough in spite of the injuries to judge him fairly. I don't think he'd have been much greater without the injuries, just had longer at the top and more seasons in which to look at and say how great he was in them. He won everything and tore it up doing it, so he's regarded as great for it and as great as Zidane, Platini, Zico and that tier of class, no? Beckenbauer and Cruyff are a level perhaps above and he doesn't seem out of place when being discussed with them, but I don't think he was as good as - or would ever have been - as great as Maradona. That's really not an insulting thing to say, because he was a class player. I think there's a romance to Ronaldo in that sense (like many players who get injured), but we saw enough of Ronaldo to judge him fairly I feel, a bit like Van Basten. Just my opinion and definitely one of the finest strikers ever.
Hmm... should have picked before I fell asleep...
Anyway, Ole Gunnar Solskjær
1 Antohan: 1. ZIDANE 2. LUIS ENRIQUE 3. ZANETTI 4. SIMEONE 5. VIERI
2 DanNistelrooy: 1. RONALDO 2. LUCIO 3. CAFU 4. GILBERTO SILVA 5. PERNAMBUCANO
3 Rood: 1. RIVALDO 2. GUARDIOLA 3. R. CARLOS 4. GALLAS 5. OWEN
4 TheReligion: 1. NESTA 2. PUYOL 3. RUI COSTA 4. VAN BOMMEL 5. ??
5 Cal? 1. KEANE 2. BECKHAM 3. PIRES 4. CRESPO 5. SOLSKJAER
6 Gio 1. DAVIDS 2. MENDIETA 3. VERON 4. AIMAR
7 Cling Bak 1. HENRY 2. RIQUELME 3. OVERMARS 4. CARVALHO
8 Jayvin 1. VIEIRA 2. AYALA 3. F. DE BOER 4. SCHOLL
9 kps88 1. SCHOLES 2. GATTUSO 3. CAMPBELL 4. LJUNGBERG
10 Ralaks 1. NEDVED, 2. CANNAVARO 3. COCU 4. BARAJA
11 Cold Boy 1. STAM, 2. BALLACK 3. SHEVCHENKO 4. LITMANEN
12 Zen 1. TOTTI, 2. THURAM 3. DECO 4. BUFFON
13 Crustanoid 1. RAÚL, 2. DEL PIERO, 3. VAN NISTELROOY 4. ALBERTINI
14 Brwned 1. PIRLO, 2. R.FERDINAND, 3. ZAMBROTTA 4. SHEARER
15 Team Brian 1. MAKELELE, 2. SEEDORF, 3. DROGBA 4. STANKOVIC
16 Snow 1. GIGGS, 2. FIGO, 3. LAMPARD, 4. PETIT
Anyway, Ole Gunnar Solskjær
1 Antohan: 1. ZIDANE 2. LUIS ENRIQUE 3. ZANETTI 4. SIMEONE 5. VIERI
2 DanNistelrooy: 1. RONALDO 2. LUCIO 3. CAFU 4. GILBERTO SILVA 5. PERNAMBUCANO
3 Rood: 1. RIVALDO 2. GUARDIOLA 3. R. CARLOS 4. GALLAS 5. OWEN
4 TheReligion: 1. NESTA 2. PUYOL 3. RUI COSTA 4. VAN BOMMEL 5. ??
5 Cal? 1. KEANE 2. BECKHAM 3. PIRES 4. CRESPO 5. SOLSKJAER
6 Gio 1. DAVIDS 2. MENDIETA 3. VERON 4. AIMAR
7 Cling Bak 1. HENRY 2. RIQUELME 3. OVERMARS 4. CARVALHO
8 Jayvin 1. VIEIRA 2. AYALA 3. F. DE BOER 4. SCHOLL
9 kps88 1. SCHOLES 2. GATTUSO 3. CAMPBELL 4. LJUNGBERG
10 Ralaks 1. NEDVED, 2. CANNAVARO 3. COCU 4. BARAJA
11 Cold Boy 1. STAM, 2. BALLACK 3. SHEVCHENKO 4. LITMANEN
12 Zen 1. TOTTI, 2. THURAM 3. DECO 4. BUFFON
13 Crustanoid 1. RAÚL, 2. DEL PIERO, 3. VAN NISTELROOY 4. ALBERTINI
14 Brwned 1. PIRLO, 2. R.FERDINAND, 3. ZAMBROTTA 4. SHEARER
15 Team Brian 1. MAKELELE, 2. SEEDORF, 3. DROGBA 4. STANKOVIC
16 Snow 1. GIGGS, 2. FIGO, 3. LAMPARD, 4. PETIT
David Trezeguet
I'll allow you a chance to change your mind. I'm sure others will agree.
Big Emile is available.
And Seth Johnson, if you're after w winger.
And Seth Johnson, if you're after w winger.
Funny you mention that as I'm just after reading Paul McGrath's autobiography. I remember the guy as the best centre back I've seen in my lifetime alongside Baresi, Kohler and Nesta, yet when you read how much every season he played was messed up by injuries and personal turmoil I do wonder how much greater his career could have been. Even Fergie ponders about it in that book.
Andreas Fortunato is another one that sometimes occurs to me. I was probably barely a teenager when I seen him play but I remember thinking he was going to be top class, he just stood out to me so much.. He disappeared off my radar and it was only years later that I realised he'd died. People could do alot worse than him for a left back actually!
Excellent post but I do disagree with your conclusion. Longevity means a hell of alot and if injuries hadn't prevented Ronaldo from replicating his 1996/97 Barca form elsewhere then he might well be seen as the greatest ever.
I can't disagree because longevity is important. I just feel he still hit great heights and wouldn't have been the best ever regardless (again, we won't know and this is my opinion).
Again, I can't disagree. Even assuming Ronaldo carried on his 1996/97 peak for maybe 5 years it would still probably come down to a stylistic preference between playmaker and goalscorer.
1 Antohan: 1. ZIDANE 2. LUIS ENRIQUE 3. ZANETTI 4. SIMEONE 5. VIERI
2 DanNistelrooy: 1. RONALDO 2. LUCIO 3. CAFU 4. GILBERTO SILVA 5. PERNAMBUCANO
3 Rood: 1. RIVALDO 2. GUARDIOLA 3. R. CARLOS 4. GALLAS 5. OWEN
4 TheReligion: 1. NESTA 2. PUYOL 3. RUI COSTA 4. VAN BOMMEL 5. TREZEGUET
5 Cal? 1. KEANE 2. BECKHAM 3. PIRES 4. CRESPO 5. SOLSKJAER
6 Gio 1. DAVIDS 2. MENDIETA 3. VERON 4. AIMAR
7 Cling Bak 1. HENRY 2. RIQUELME 3. OVERMARS 4. CARVALHO
8 Jayvin 1. VIEIRA 2. AYALA 3. F. DE BOER 4. SCHOLL
9 kps88 1. SCHOLES 2. GATTUSO 3. CAMPBELL 4. LJUNGBERG
10 Ralaks 1. NEDVED, 2. CANNAVARO 3. COCU 4. BARAJA
11 Cold Boy 1. STAM, 2. BALLACK 3. SHEVCHENKO 4. LITMANEN
12 Zen 1. TOTTI, 2. THURAM 3. DECO 4. BUFFON
13 Crustanoid 1. RAÚL, 2. DEL PIERO, 3. VAN NISTELROOY 4. ALBERTINI
14 Brwned 1. PIRLO, 2. R.FERDINAND, 3. ZAMBROTTA 4. SHEARER
15 Team Brian 1. MAKELELE, 2. SEEDORF, 3. DROGBA 4. STANKOVIC
16 Snow 1. GIGGS, 2. FIGO, 3. LAMPARD, 4. PETIT
2 DanNistelrooy: 1. RONALDO 2. LUCIO 3. CAFU 4. GILBERTO SILVA 5. PERNAMBUCANO
3 Rood: 1. RIVALDO 2. GUARDIOLA 3. R. CARLOS 4. GALLAS 5. OWEN
4 TheReligion: 1. NESTA 2. PUYOL 3. RUI COSTA 4. VAN BOMMEL 5. TREZEGUET
5 Cal? 1. KEANE 2. BECKHAM 3. PIRES 4. CRESPO 5. SOLSKJAER
6 Gio 1. DAVIDS 2. MENDIETA 3. VERON 4. AIMAR
7 Cling Bak 1. HENRY 2. RIQUELME 3. OVERMARS 4. CARVALHO
8 Jayvin 1. VIEIRA 2. AYALA 3. F. DE BOER 4. SCHOLL
9 kps88 1. SCHOLES 2. GATTUSO 3. CAMPBELL 4. LJUNGBERG
10 Ralaks 1. NEDVED, 2. CANNAVARO 3. COCU 4. BARAJA
11 Cold Boy 1. STAM, 2. BALLACK 3. SHEVCHENKO 4. LITMANEN
12 Zen 1. TOTTI, 2. THURAM 3. DECO 4. BUFFON
13 Crustanoid 1. RAÚL, 2. DEL PIERO, 3. VAN NISTELROOY 4. ALBERTINI
14 Brwned 1. PIRLO, 2. R.FERDINAND, 3. ZAMBROTTA 4. SHEARER
15 Team Brian 1. MAKELELE, 2. SEEDORF, 3. DROGBA 4. STANKOVIC
16 Snow 1. GIGGS, 2. FIGO, 3. LAMPARD, 4. PETIT
I reckon to offset the issue of being at the bottom of the draw, for one turn only on the next round through we get to pick two players seeing as we will be pretty much half way through.
I can't help but notice you didn't feel so strongly about the issue when the draw looked like this:
In a blaze of publicity, all 16 managers are introduced under the glare of flashing lights in a massive press conference.
This is the drafting sequence using RANDOM.ORG - True Random Number Service
DanNistelrooy
IBleedRed
Polaroid
Team Brian GB
K Stand Knut
Ralaks
Enigma 87
Cal?
TheHorse'sMouth
KM
Desert Eagle
Crustanoid
Nani Nana
Snow
Gio
kps88
DanNistelrooy can start off the draft pick now
I see that the 70s tournament has started in earnest
Based on the first 4 picks, the teams of Rood, Cal, Gio, Cling Bak, Zen and Snow look pretty good. Cal has gone for the United vote with his 5th pick in Solskjaer, it could pay off handsomely or it could backfire and cost him later
Based on the first 4 picks, the teams of Rood, Cal, Gio, Cling Bak, Zen and Snow look pretty good. Cal has gone for the United vote with his 5th pick in Solskjaer, it could pay off handsomely or it could backfire and cost him later
Claudio Lopez
An option on the left or up top.
An option on the left or up top.
Brwned and I were 14th and 16th last time around and it didn't do us any harm.
We're getting very short on quality CBs, i reckon there's only a couple of really great ones left.
Attacking midfielders are in short supply as well. Can't wait to see the next round of picks.
Attacking midfielders are in short supply as well. Can't wait to see the next round of picks.
Cunning mind game by the guy who already has 2 CBs...
Personally I think we're running low on strikers.
Yes, gambled on one of Vieri and Crespo still being available. Also hadn't noticed that Drogba had gone - all three could have performed the lone striker role very well. Still feel there's quite a bit of quality left though.
I don't think there's any major vote-winners left amongst the remaining centre-halves. There are still a number of very decent ones.
I dedicate this next pick to my first born; baby Georgia who arrived at 10.05 GMT this morning! Its been a long night.
OK, now onto serious business. A lack of real quality goalkeepers forces my hand here, so its an important pick...
Edwin Van der Sar
OK, now onto serious business. A lack of real quality goalkeepers forces my hand here, so its an important pick...
Edwin Van der Sar
Wow congratulations Cling Bak!
That's some commitment still not missing your turn.
That's some commitment still not missing your turn.
Congratulations Cling Bak.
1 Antohan: 1. ZIDANE 2. LUIS ENRIQUE 3. ZANETTI 4. SIMEONE 5. VIERI
2 DanNistelrooy: 1. RONALDO 2. LUCIO 3. CAFU 4. GILBERTO SILVA 5. PERNAMBUCANO
3 Rood: 1. RIVALDO 2. GUARDIOLA 3. R. CARLOS 4. GALLAS 5. OWEN
4 TheReligion: 1. NESTA 2. PUYOL 3. RUI COSTA 4. VAN BOMMEL 5. TREZEGUET
5 Cal? 1. KEANE 2. BECKHAM 3. PIRES 4. CRESPO 5. SOLSKJAER
6 Gio 1. DAVIDS 2. MENDIETA 3. VERON 4. AIMAR 5. C LOPEZ
7 Cling Bak 1. HENRY 2. RIQUELME 3. OVERMARS 4. CARVALHO 5. VDS
8 Jayvin 1. VIEIRA 2. AYALA 3. F. DE BOER 4. SCHOLL
9 kps88 1. SCHOLES 2. GATTUSO 3. CAMPBELL 4. LJUNGBERG
10 Ralaks 1. NEDVED, 2. CANNAVARO 3. COCU 4. BARAJA
11 Cold Boy 1. STAM, 2. BALLACK 3. SHEVCHENKO 4. LITMANEN
12 Zen 1. TOTTI, 2. THURAM 3. DECO 4. BUFFON
13 Crustanoid 1. RAÚL, 2. DEL PIERO, 3. VAN NISTELROOY 4. ALBERTINI
14 Brwned 1. PIRLO, 2. R.FERDINAND, 3. ZAMBROTTA 4. SHEARER
15 Team Brian 1. MAKELELE, 2. SEEDORF, 3. DROGBA 4. STANKOVIC
16 Snow 1. GIGGS, 2. FIGO, 3. LAMPARD, 4. PETIT
2 DanNistelrooy: 1. RONALDO 2. LUCIO 3. CAFU 4. GILBERTO SILVA 5. PERNAMBUCANO
3 Rood: 1. RIVALDO 2. GUARDIOLA 3. R. CARLOS 4. GALLAS 5. OWEN
4 TheReligion: 1. NESTA 2. PUYOL 3. RUI COSTA 4. VAN BOMMEL 5. TREZEGUET
5 Cal? 1. KEANE 2. BECKHAM 3. PIRES 4. CRESPO 5. SOLSKJAER
6 Gio 1. DAVIDS 2. MENDIETA 3. VERON 4. AIMAR 5. C LOPEZ
7 Cling Bak 1. HENRY 2. RIQUELME 3. OVERMARS 4. CARVALHO 5. VDS
8 Jayvin 1. VIEIRA 2. AYALA 3. F. DE BOER 4. SCHOLL
9 kps88 1. SCHOLES 2. GATTUSO 3. CAMPBELL 4. LJUNGBERG
10 Ralaks 1. NEDVED, 2. CANNAVARO 3. COCU 4. BARAJA
11 Cold Boy 1. STAM, 2. BALLACK 3. SHEVCHENKO 4. LITMANEN
12 Zen 1. TOTTI, 2. THURAM 3. DECO 4. BUFFON
13 Crustanoid 1. RAÚL, 2. DEL PIERO, 3. VAN NISTELROOY 4. ALBERTINI
14 Brwned 1. PIRLO, 2. R.FERDINAND, 3. ZAMBROTTA 4. SHEARER
15 Team Brian 1. MAKELELE, 2. SEEDORF, 3. DROGBA 4. STANKOVIC
16 Snow 1. GIGGS, 2. FIGO, 3. LAMPARD, 4. PETIT
Congratulations Cling Bak!
My next pick is Jens Jeremies.
My next pick is Jens Jeremies.
Congrats Cling. And good luck!
Aye I think it makes little difference in the long run, if you're in the top two or three then there are going to be a couple of players that stand above the rest so that might help a bit, but it all evens it out really.
Aye I think it makes little difference in the long run, if you're in the top two or three then there are going to be a couple of players that stand above the rest so that might help a bit, but it all evens it out really.
Andy Cole
I had forgot about Cole myself
Still, think you have missed out on a better CF
Still, think you have missed out on a better CF
1 Antohan: 1. ZIDANE 2. LUIS ENRIQUE 3. ZANETTI 4. SIMEONE 5. VIERI
2 DanNistelrooy: 1. RONALDO 2. LUCIO 3. CAFU 4. GILBERTO SILVA 5. PERNAMBUCANO
3 Rood: 1. RIVALDO 2. GUARDIOLA 3. R. CARLOS 4. GALLAS 5. OWEN
4 TheReligion: 1. NESTA 2. PUYOL 3. RUI COSTA 4. VAN BOMMEL 5. TREZEGUET
5 Cal? 1. KEANE 2. BECKHAM 3. PIRES 4. CRESPO 5. SOLSKJAER
6 Gio 1. DAVIDS 2. MENDIETA 3. VERON 4. AIMAR 5. C LOPEZ
7 Cling Bak 1. HENRY 2. RIQUELME 3. OVERMARS 4. CARVALHO 5. VDS
8 Jayvin 1. VIEIRA 2. AYALA 3. F. DE BOER 4. SCHOLL 5. JEREMIES
9 kps88 1. SCHOLES 2. GATTUSO 3. CAMPBELL 4. LJUNGBERG 5. ANDY COLE
10 Ralaks 1. NEDVED, 2. CANNAVARO 3. COCU 4. BARAJA
11 Cold Boy 1. STAM, 2. BALLACK 3. SHEVCHENKO 4. LITMANEN
12 Zen 1. TOTTI, 2. THURAM 3. DECO 4. BUFFON
13 Crustanoid 1. RAÚL, 2. DEL PIERO, 3. VAN NISTELROOY 4. ALBERTINI
14 Brwned 1. PIRLO, 2. R.FERDINAND, 3. ZAMBROTTA 4. SHEARER
15 Team Brian 1. MAKELELE, 2. SEEDORF, 3. DROGBA 4. STANKOVIC
16 Snow 1. GIGGS, 2. FIGO, 3. LAMPARD, 4. PETIT
2 DanNistelrooy: 1. RONALDO 2. LUCIO 3. CAFU 4. GILBERTO SILVA 5. PERNAMBUCANO
3 Rood: 1. RIVALDO 2. GUARDIOLA 3. R. CARLOS 4. GALLAS 5. OWEN
4 TheReligion: 1. NESTA 2. PUYOL 3. RUI COSTA 4. VAN BOMMEL 5. TREZEGUET
5 Cal? 1. KEANE 2. BECKHAM 3. PIRES 4. CRESPO 5. SOLSKJAER
6 Gio 1. DAVIDS 2. MENDIETA 3. VERON 4. AIMAR 5. C LOPEZ
7 Cling Bak 1. HENRY 2. RIQUELME 3. OVERMARS 4. CARVALHO 5. VDS
8 Jayvin 1. VIEIRA 2. AYALA 3. F. DE BOER 4. SCHOLL 5. JEREMIES
9 kps88 1. SCHOLES 2. GATTUSO 3. CAMPBELL 4. LJUNGBERG 5. ANDY COLE
10 Ralaks 1. NEDVED, 2. CANNAVARO 3. COCU 4. BARAJA
11 Cold Boy 1. STAM, 2. BALLACK 3. SHEVCHENKO 4. LITMANEN
12 Zen 1. TOTTI, 2. THURAM 3. DECO 4. BUFFON
13 Crustanoid 1. RAÚL, 2. DEL PIERO, 3. VAN NISTELROOY 4. ALBERTINI
14 Brwned 1. PIRLO, 2. R.FERDINAND, 3. ZAMBROTTA 4. SHEARER
15 Team Brian 1. MAKELELE, 2. SEEDORF, 3. DROGBA 4. STANKOVIC
16 Snow 1. GIGGS, 2. FIGO, 3. LAMPARD, 4. PETIT
TheReligion is my favourite halfway in
Congratulations Cling Bak!
My next pick is Jens Jeremies.
That's a gritty, no-nonsense core you've got - Ayala, Vieira and Jeremies - with Scholl chipping in as well.
lol
Having a hard time deciding between two strikers, give me a minute or two
If my Mrs had had the slightest inkling I was more concerned with an internet game with a bunch of strangers, when she had just given birth I think she would be slightly miffed. Congrats though!
I've changed my mind countless times, but going to pick Inzaghi before I change my mind again.
Didi Hamann
Played for Scouse but one of their best midfielders of the last 2 decades. Very reliable and under-rated. Not the most cuntiest of players as well.
Deedee!!
Played for Scouse but one of their best midfielders of the last 2 decades. Very reliable and under-rated. Not the most cuntiest of players as well.
Deedee!!
She knew. We've been in hospital since Wednesday and there's been hours (days) of waiting around for stuff whilst they induce. Even early hours of this morning, she had contractions but then went to sleep for 4 hours right before doing the important stuff. I admit this was an extreme case, but I also assume you haven't been through it?! Thanks anyway, it passed some long hours quite well.
Didi Hamann
Played for Scouse but one of their best midfielders of the last 2 decades. Very reliable and under-rated. Not the most cuntiest of players as well.
Deedee!!
Been through it 4 times! (Varying levels of labour time / complications)-probably still browsed the caf at some point though!