How am i lookin folks?
It's all out attack on that left wing!
All-Time Fantasy Draft
- Thread starter antohan
- Start date
It's all out attack on that left wing!
FAO Stobzilla
Would you be fine swapping with Brwned/Cutch for Thursday? Most likely a late start.
PS: clear your inbox!!!!
Would you be fine swapping with Brwned/Cutch for Thursday? Most likely a late start.
PS: clear your inbox!!!!
Can someone try PM'ing NM for me? The one i sent earlier isn't in my sent items and i can't get this one to send now either
It certainly is. Nilton will defend when he has to also but hopefully he'll not need to do much of that!
Zanetti would look good there
I wasn't totally convinced on Tigana-Edwards though, and as you say Redondo fits like a glove. Would have loved Zanetti but. Couldn't work out which order to take Zanetti/Figo before it came back round. Decided that Stobzilla would be more likely to take Figo than you were Zanetti. Ah well
On a more serious note. It's looking good. The two CMs will have their work cut out, but it's an excellent pair.
The two wingers won't contribute much of a shift but I like the fact you dropped them deeper rather than strand them up there. Asking Redondo and Edwards to hold the fort AND put some glory balls for some chaps lazying it upfront was too much to ask. Holding the fort and those two being close by to start the transition will work much better.
The two wingers won't contribute much of a shift but I like the fact you dropped them deeper rather than strand them up there. Asking Redondo and Edwards to hold the fort AND put some glory balls for some chaps lazying it upfront was too much to ask. Holding the fort and those two being close by to start the transition will work much better.
The left flank is exceptional, particularly supported by the vision and class of Hierro, Redondo and Baggio.
You were a bit fecked all along. Stobzilla would have surely taken Figo. In our case it wasn't as obvious a pick as admittedly our side wasn't crying out for him. But it was obvious you wanted him and had left the Argie slot for him.
With Aldo ranting and raving about getting Redondo before NM did, it sounded logical not to pick someone I didn't need but instead force you to pick him and screwing them in the process.
Sorry.
Of course, you can only get a superficial view of a player's greatness from watching them exclusively in World Cups and European Cups and that's why we all value those with first-knowledge of it all in one form or another, but ultimately that superficial view is all you're looking for in a draft like this.
The semi-final v Russia in '66 was one of the dirtiest finals I've seen and he relished the battle as his fierce competitiveness kicked in. I've no doubt granting him the freedom to stroll around as he pleased helped elevate his game but he showed in that game and countless others he wasn't averse to doing the dirty work when he needed to. And even then as the youngest player on the pitch at 20 years old he looked the best player on the pitch as Seeler was marked out of the game by Voronin. He was nearly half the age of Yashin when he struck that ball past him, and other than that Yashin had another typically flawless game. Man for the big occasion and that's what this is.
If we're saying Matthäus is the typical German footballer and Netzer is the least typical then Beckenbauer fits comfortably in between there. He's got more in common with the fierce competitor that Matthäus was than the free-spirited Netzer, IMO. Certainly the freedom that Beckenbauer and Netzer played with in the early 70s is entirely untypical of Germany which is partly why it only lasted for a couple of years and why it's never been repeated since. That side was not far off totaalvoetbal in my view. He showed he had that steely presence to go along with that though - in fact some might say he added the steely presence to Germany that was perhaps found lacking in Cruyff and Holland.
will ick now
Will they really have their work cut out? Both men know how to look after themselves, wingers might roam a bit to unleash the fullbacks, Baggio will probably like to drop deep to get the ball and Hierro will be bringing it out of defense attracting attention. Brwned has Keane sittin in front of the back 4, and 2 wingers that'll probably hug the touchline so its Falcao and Di Stefano. Both great players but hopefully Redondo and Edwards will match up not too bad.
Really like the contrast in styles between Redondo and Edwards actually, hopefully work well together.
Edit: i better leave this for the match thread
Anyone else think Best was better on the right and Figo on the left? You can obviously play them on either side to create certain partnerships so it makes perfect sense to swap them, just asking as a general question.
Agreed. Both Bayern/Germany and Ajax/Netherlands were at the heart of turning the game on its head. I've always held the opinion the main difference was that at the heart of it all, the Dutch genius was a "forward" and the German genius a "defender", and that in that final steel and organisation prevailed over creativity and flair. A preview to the much more poignant and extreme example in 1982.
Indeed. By work cut out I didn't mean it was beyond them, just that it will be a mighty battle and you dropping your wingers closer will help them no end.
Yep, wouldn't think about it twice if they were swapped and the fullback behind and in front of them may be more relevant to that decision than any impact on expected individual performance due to footedness and whatnot.
Although Figo played his best wide football on the right (and then latterly through the middle at Real), I wouldn't have any concerns with him on the left as he's perfectly capable going onto either foot, cutting inside or going outside.
Stobzilla - Matthaus, Xavi, Vidic
Antohan - Beckenbauer, Zanetti, Stoichkov
Brwned - Baresi, Eusébio, Krol
Cutch - Edwards, Figo, Redondo
NM - Figueroa, Maldini,
Thisistheone - Cruyff, Garrincha
KM - Breitner, Ronaldo
DanNistlerooy -Platini, Ferenc Puskás
Antohan - Beckenbauer, Zanetti, Stoichkov
Brwned - Baresi, Eusébio, Krol
Cutch - Edwards, Figo, Redondo
NM - Figueroa, Maldini,
Thisistheone - Cruyff, Garrincha
KM - Breitner, Ronaldo
DanNistlerooy -Platini, Ferenc Puskás
I think arrogance played a huge part in that final. It was all about humiliating the germans for Cruyff and his team after the first goal, not just about winning in style, which helped bringing the best out of a great german team and somehow took away the effectiveness of that dutch team. I don't think it's comparable to Brazil and France in 82. Cruyff knew how to win, he just forgot it for about 45 minutes and Germany took advantage in that first half.
There was an interview of a well known manager who said, that he always thought that german team in 72 were the first team that played totaal voetbal. I can't find it right now and can't remember who gave the interview. But yes, you're right with that statement, in my opinion.
Arrogance/hubris is a nasty thing. World Cup history is peppered with spectacular downfalls resulting from it: Brazil in 1950, Hungary in 1954 (more like over confidence), Netherlands 1974 and arguably France 2006. Netherlands 1978 wasn't far off either, the Argies made a good job of getting under their skins.
I didn't mean there was a similarity between the 90 minutes of that game and Brazil-Italy, the two sides were much closer in styles as well and Ajax vs. Bayern kept going either way (noticeably though, the trend was in Bayern's direction).
It's more a case that a creative man like Cruyff will have a much greater tendency to lose the plot than a natural organiser and cool calculating mind like Beckenbauer.
As said, in 1982 it was much more extreme, it was an entire side imbued with a creative and gung-ho philosophy which paid little attention to the minor matter of defending (not in an arrogant way, just DNA) vs. a side openly confident about the complete opposite being true (defend well and we can win just nicking a goal or two, and if they don't defend well we will just outscore them).
Good stuff, Balu.
I am surprised you haven't mentioned Szymaniak not being picked in the draft.
I am surprised you haven't mentioned Szymaniak not being picked in the draft.
It's been almost 9 hours mate and almost an hour since this post. Thought you guys already knew who you were going for?
How fitting if my game does end up tomorrow, and Big Dunc lining up in my all star team, 55 years to the day after Munich!
Varela
im sick and at work sorry
im sick and at work sorry
If anything, we will have the yearly "RIP Duncan Edwards" thread and that should help you no end.
Ah, we could fight about that game for years. That german team in 54 is unbelievable underappreciated and there's so much more to it than overconfidence by Hungary.
Ah okay, yes, that's probably true, especially along with the german mentality.
Thanks. Read so much great stuff during this draft, that I'm happy to bring a few things to the table.
Other than Jake picking Paul Janes, no german player pre-Beckenbauer was picked. Especially the heroes of 54 were completely overlooked. But if I start writing about them, I should take a few days off. Kuzorra and Szepan deserve being mentioned as well for bringing one-touch football to germany in the late twenties which lead to Schalke winning the german championship 6 times in 10 years.
Get well soon mate. I'll PM whoever is next, no worries.
Stobzilla - Matthaus, Xavi, Vidic
Antohan - Beckenbauer, Zanetti, Stoichkov
Brwned - Baresi, Eusébio, Krol
Cutch - Edwards, Figo, Redondo
NM - Figueroa, Maldini, Varela
Thisistheone - Cruyff, Garrincha
KM - Breitner, Ronaldo
DanNistlerooy - Platini, Ferenc Puskás
Antohan - Beckenbauer, Zanetti, Stoichkov
Brwned - Baresi, Eusébio, Krol
Cutch - Edwards, Figo, Redondo
NM - Figueroa, Maldini, Varela
Thisistheone - Cruyff, Garrincha
KM - Breitner, Ronaldo
DanNistlerooy - Platini, Ferenc Puskás
Changed my mind about 50 times but in the end: Dennis Irwin.
Better players available but taking a risk in that if I get past KM, Irwin's nationality and versatility will help quite a bit.
Better players available but taking a risk in that if I get past KM, Irwin's nationality and versatility will help quite a bit.
Eric Gerets.
They had been pissing on every side in sight for years. They had just won the "Match of the Century" against the only side unbeaten in World Cups and which they expected to be the biggest test for them. They had won 8-3 during the group stage...
Over-confidence, tiredness after a gruelling ET win, and thus relaxing and taking their eye of the ball to some extent.
There's huge merit in Germany coming back for more after that 8-3 and succeeding, but don't underestimate how much the Magyars switched off.
Start with Fritz Walter. My grandad raved about him when telling me about the '54 World Cup Final (he was there) but I was too upset about our loss to Hungary to even care.
Can you believe at 2-2 and before ET Schiaffino placed a ball past the oncoming keeper and it was so muddy it lost its momentum and stopped bang on the goal-line? fecking ancient balls, that would never happen with a Jabulani.
Stobzilla - Matthaus, Xavi, Vidic
Antohan - Beckenbauer, Zanetti, Stoichkov
Brwned - Baresi, Eusébio, Krol
Cutch - Edwards, Figo, Redondo
NM - Figueroa, Maldini, Varela
Thisistheone - Cruyff, Garrincha, Irwin
KM - Breitner, Ronaldo, Gerets
DanNistlerooy - Platini, Ferenc Puskás
Antohan - Beckenbauer, Zanetti, Stoichkov
Brwned - Baresi, Eusébio, Krol
Cutch - Edwards, Figo, Redondo
NM - Figueroa, Maldini, Varela
Thisistheone - Cruyff, Garrincha, Irwin
KM - Breitner, Ronaldo, Gerets
DanNistlerooy - Platini, Ferenc Puskás
Can you believe at 2-2 and before ET Schiaffino placed a ball past the oncoming keeper and it was so muddy it lost its momentum and stopped bang on the goal-line? fecking ancient balls, that would never happen with a Jabulani.
On that note:
Makes you wonder how much joy the likes of Eusébio, Puskás and Charlton would have with the balls today.
thoughts on my picks? Varela and Maldini?
Can you believe at 2-2 and before ET Schiaffino placed a ball past the oncoming keeper and it was so muddy it lost its momentum and stopped bang on the goal-line? fecking ancient balls, that would never happen with a Jabulani.
Yeah, I remember that, but I have only seen highlights of that game. Though the mud probably helped your team the same way the weather helped Germany in the final? There's a reason why drenching rain is called Fritz-Walter-weather in Germany. Don't think someone would have beaten Hungary on a modern pitch.
Did you know, Germany in 54 is still the only world cup winner without playing a team from a different continent? They played only european teams because of those weird group stage rules. After Turkey winning against South Korea and loosing to Germany, Germany knew they had to play Turkey again if they lost the game to Hungary. So they played a reserve team in that 8-3 loss (that's why you shouldn't read to much into that result) and concentrated on the second game against Turkey. They won 7-2. Strange to call it a group, when Hungary and South Korea only played two games while Germany and Turkey had to play 3times and each other twice.
Shit, Was banking on Varela or Redondo making it back round...
Happy with my front four of Platini, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Puskas but wanted a defensive midfielder in behind them (now Makelele is ruled out), guess my other option is Davids, which would mean Seedorf to the bench (didn't get the best reception out of the voters anyway) who would be partnered with Yaya Toure. Thoughts?
Happy with my front four of Platini, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Puskas but wanted a defensive midfielder in behind them (now Makelele is ruled out), guess my other option is Davids, which would mean Seedorf to the bench (didn't get the best reception out of the voters anyway) who would be partnered with Yaya Toure. Thoughts?
Can't say I like it to be honest, two box to box midfielders flanked by two of the least defensively minded wingers in the draft.
I'd go with Voronin, unbelievable sense of positioning that neither David's or Toure have.
Davids always struck me as a defensive minded midfield player rather than box-to-box, more than capable to play the holding role. Also during Toure's Barca days he was immense in the holding role. I'm just not sure if Vorinin will be recognised by the voters
But then, the keepers have also got better as a result of having to deal with lighter/quicker/trickier balls. I wouldn't read much into it, unless you are talking about them facing the same goalkeepers with modern balls.
One thing that really annoyed my grandad was players who actively avoided heading the ball as a result of that groggy effect that came with it.
Yeah, fair enough.Cunning. Get the easier draw, rest your players and avoid injuries and give the oppo a false sense of superiority. Brilliant.
And yes, the fixtures were fecked up. The whole thing about 1950 being a quadrangular to determine the champion is rubbish as well.