Ah, thought it was more of a B2B type
All Time Great Managers Draft
- Thread starter Synco
- Start date
Ah, thought it was more of a B2B type
Deep-lying playmaker next to a dedicated ball-winning midfielder with Mascherano.
One of the few Liverpool players that I've actually liked. Him, Barnes and... that's about it. Despite being a regular in that Spanish midfield, I think his international career (or, rather, being a fourth wheel in the perfect Xavi-Iniesta-Busquets triangle) plays against him, although it shouldn't. Definitely should get more appearances, very few had combined his positional sense and ability to control the game & create chances from midfield.
I will add another dynamic winger to my squad, nicknamed ‘The Baron‘, or simply as ‘Brazil’, Franco Causio. Loved for his technical brilliance and pure dribbling skill, Causio offers me further creativity, direct penetration and goals from the wing. An excellent crosser of the ball from either wing, Causio will be an explosive influence, cutting through tight defensive lines and running past tough markers. His positional sense and football brain also allowed him to operate as a central-regista. Moreover, Causio’s match engine and defensive workrate will contribute to our team’s tactical set-up wonderfully.
I will continue to complete my squad.
@crappycraperson
I will continue to complete my squad.
@crappycraperson
Probably his German stint with Vidal and Thiago next to him.
Quite clearly is, imo. Haven't watched him much in his specific role at Real, though.
I remember Xabi being a pretty classic ("lone") DLP for Pep, often dropping quite deep in buildup.
Yeah, I think he had moved deeper under Pep — perhaps an even more dominating (on the ball) version of Busquets, I think he had broke multiple BL records on passes per game and such stuff.
Khedira and Alonso yes, and they did pretty well in most games except Barca.
Jose of course moved to a midfield 3 for big games against Barcelona with Diarra/Pepe joining the DM role but that was just Jose and his way of setting up things after the 5-0 humiliation in his first classico where it was Khedira/Alonso/Ozil.
But in general, that double pivot worked well in most other games. The fact that he worked well without even a Mascherano like figure itself proves his defensive acumen.
Of course, his best usage till date was in Rafa's setup. Mascherano-Alonso-Gerrard is as perfect and balanced a midfield as it gets.
He was a really key cog from what I remember as it was no longer Iniesta playing in midfield alongside Xavi and Busquets.
They needed someone who would both be capable of providing a good defensive double pivot alongside Busquets while not compromising on the passing aspect of it and you couldn't ask for many better than Alonso.
The fact that Del Bosque never even considered the Barca midfield 3 as a base (like most would) is a testament to Alonso IMO.
And yes, one of the very few Liverpool players I love too (probably like most others).
I was also disappointed when Jim went for Czibor when the likes of Kempes and Rxxxxxxxxx were available who suit the Klopp setup a lot. Glad he picked him too later.
Thought his stock would improve after the 1978 WC final dead drafters reviews, but perhaps not yet. Fits quite a few other teams too.
Thought his stock would improve after the 1978 WC final dead drafters reviews, but perhaps not yet. Fits quite a few other teams too.
I thought of going for Kempes at the LWF spot, but IMO would have been too narrow for Happel inspired 4-3-3, compared to Nedved/Neymar for example.
He certainly does fit multiple teams, but would probably require the right environment to get the best of him.
His legs were mostly gone by then, and he wasn't very mobile anymore. I think dropping deep was mostly a protective measure, but he still got caught out occasionally when pressed. I don't think it was ideal for a Pep team. The blunder was to let Kroos go, who, like Xavi, could act as an almost unpressable distribution machine higher up the pitch.
(Another player who should feature from time to time.)
couldnt disagree more
Yeah, of course. But people seeing Barca and comparing it to the boring Spain version... Objectively, there's no doubt that Alonso and Silva being even considered as an option (let alone being guaranteed starters) shows their insane level of quality.
Yeah I'd say Xabi is the only Liverpool player I've really enjoyed watching.
I've picked him for many of the reasons mentioned above, but I'll highlight it more in the write ups.
Actually really happy with how this turned out.
I've picked him for many of the reasons mentioned above, but I'll highlight it more in the write ups.
Actually really happy with how this turned out.
I rate Godin a lot - one of the best current pure defenders. In a counter attacking setup with deeper line he's as good as it gets.
On VVD I don't really share that opinion yet. To me VVD has looked a bit off in games this year compared to last year and we're yet to see if he's to maintain that level for a longer period.
In Moby's team though he looks very good stilistically.
Why drag SlippyG into the equation unnecessarily?
That version of Liverpool where Stevie played a really advanced role was amazing.
He had an excellent chemistry with Torres (just watched the highlights of their 2007-08 season this week).
And then he escalated the midfield 3 to a different level.
That is as complete a role as it gets.
Funnily enough, I love Scholes (obviously) and Lampard (loved all Jose teams throughout that decade) more, but neither of them had as complete a role ever in their career as Gerrard did during that time.
Its a complete joke probably due to United tainted glasses that he doesn't make any appearances in our drafts considering all that he offers.
Infact, I would have loved it if 2mufc0 chose Gerrard in place of Schuster to fulfill Jose's dream of signing him. Would have won brownie points from me for sure.
Edit: Kuyt was a pretty likeable player too wasn't he
On Kuyt, on international stage I did support the Dutch that decade till Van Gaal, so its probably played a part too.
But otherwise as well, I never disliked him.
Wasn't a special player or anything, but definitely seemed very likeable to me.
By the standards of most club forums we are reasonably rational and particualrly dispassionate in here, but undoubtedly on a more neutral ground Gerrard would be routinely picked a lot earlier than what's normal on here.
That's one of the reasons why I rate Carvalho higher. Plonk him into any system, pair him up with any type of CB and he'll deliver. One of the few "complete" CBs in mold of Nesta and Rio. He doesn't come across as dominant as those two, but is effective nonetheless. Fast, intelligent to read the game and position himself well, good in air despite not being tall, tackles well...and has good ball skills and ability to bring ball out of defence quick. Very underrated.
There is huge stigma over Gerrard with regard to his positional indiscipline and 'me' persona that has blighted him as time has gone by. I wouldn't pick him due to that unless played at RM.
I think his star has been more tainted than a lot of others of that era in retirement.
I'm not sure, he is still widely regarded in the top tier of midfielders the Premier League saw.
Positional indiscipline was largely a product of playing in crap Liverpool sides where he had to do it all, and often did. And the only role where that would be a concern would be as a CM in a flat four-man midfield, and I don't think anyone has ever deployed him there. Place him in a top class midfield unit and he becomes one of the finest surging breakers from midfield the game has seen.
Yes, that may be so, but you're taking the risk others will see it that way, which is where the flashing blue light screams avoid for most people.
I always have him on my initial lists, but picking him instinctively becomes a last resort due to how he is perceived.
I don't think there's a bias in drafts against Gerrard. Lampard and Ballack don't get picked either. The kind of attacking box to box playmakers in central midfield is a niche position. The only ones I can think of who regularly gets picked in that mold are Coluna and Masopust.
But Gerrard is a really flexible and viable option who doesn't necessarily have to be played through the middle - he had solid seasons on the right and he can also be used as a hybrid CM/RM in a variety of systems that would utilise his energy and dynamism.
I think Lampard is waylaid by what he is, and Ballack is up against a lot of alternatives that will get snapped up in the first 5-6 rounds, thus rendering him immaterial. Opposed to those two, Gerrard can be shuffled around to fit, which should be an ace up his sleeve, yet I don't think it is because of who he is.
The problem more than anything like EAP said is that his roles are filled with plethora of options, who don't necessarily have the downside that he brings. I doubt he gets any love as a RM even though loads of Pool fans swear that being his best role. That brings us to either playing him as a RCM in a 3-man midfield or a #10/advanced #8 like he did under Rafa and there's almost always better/shinier options than going for him or Lampard. His problems are similar to someone like Pogba at United, who due to playing in unstable teams got shifted around from one role to another and rarely got a proper setup to show their best qualities consistently.
For what's it worth I rate Lampard over him and by a fair distance at that, scoring 20 goals a season from midfield season after season is a massive achievement, along with the whole workrate he brings in as well, and there's a reason he was a part of that much success at Chelsea. At the end of the day there's no greater impact on a match than scoring goals, and he did that at the highest level for years, especially with PL and Chelsea themselves dominating the CL as well during his peak years.
It's a lot more down to English/British names being less attractive really and even Scholes of all people gets rarely picked on a United forum before we even reach Lampard/Gerrard. When it comes to the high energy B2B roles the likes of Keane/Robbo/Souness get loads of love, but when it comes to the more attacking side of things people prefer other parts of the world, so it's less of a Liverpool and more of a the British workman-like stereotype.
Some good points there chaps.
Should have picked Czibor 1st, but more in the debate.
Aye, the defensive unit with Terry they formed was fantastic, but his body of work with Porto and in the NT was equally impressive. Nesta lite is actually very good description of him because he was equally good as as stopper and ball playing defender. I think that defensive unit and Makelele as a holder is generally a bit underrated around here(Terry obviously because is a bit of a cnut), but generally at that time Chelsea's defence was the hardest to break, even in CL where they produced some mighty fine results.
He's also "very tall" compared to my other two CB's, hence I had to go with him if I'm to face some aerial monster
Maybe he needs more prominent appearances of drafts as for example Voronin wasn't as appreciated couple of years ago, yet he keeps getting picked in very early rounds nowadays in all time drafts, whilst for example defenders like Santamaria went from 2nd,3rd round pick to very late 11th/12th round pick.
I will take Neymar
Don't think so.
Kuyt is free. For screen votes.
Nice cozy bench place beside Tassotti.
| Manager | Round 1 (GOATs) | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | Round 10 | Round 11 | Round 12 | Round 13 | Round 14 |
| Michael - V. Maslov | A. Di Stefano | E. Davids | F. Redondo | A. Demyanenko | A. Shevchenko | R. Bonhof | B. Hulshoff | V. Bezsonov | W. Rooney | R. Dasayev | C. Puyol | A. Spencer | J. Joya | |
| Himannv/Fortitude - SAF | L. Ronaldo | B. Schweinsteiger | L. Figo | M. Bossis | D. Alves | D.Dzajic | Marcelo | W. Overath | S. Mazzola | T. Finney | F. Hierro | R.Varane | E. Streltsov | |
| Enigma - E. Happel | M. Platini | P. Nedvěd | T. Henry | C. Alberto | F. Cannavaro | P. Vieira | T. Cerezo | L. Yashin | L. Junior | H. Chumpitaz | J. Johnstone | R. Carvalho | Neymar | |
| Raees - U. Lattek | F. Baresi | N. Santos | Romário | M. Tardelli | D. Edwards | J. Masopust | T. Burgnich | D. Godin | Rivelino | S. Matthews | G. Netzer | E. Francescoli | U. Fillol | |
| harms - V. Lobanovskyi | J. Cruyff | U. Seeler | P. Breitner | V. Voronin | M. Amoros | P. McGrath | H.P. Briegel | K. De Bruyne | C. Ferrara | S. Maier | S. Lerby | L. Brady | - | - |
| Kendrick - F. Capello | F. Beckenbauer | J. Bozsik | B. Vogts | A. Cabrini | Ronaldinho | C. Makelele | R. Giggs | N. Vidic | P. Schmeichel | K. Mbappe | S. Busquets | G. Lineker | - | - |
| 2mufc0 - J. Mourinho | L. Matthaus | R. Krol | J. Kohler | D. Santos | H. Stoichkov | S. Kocsis | G. Souness | B. Schuster | M. Tresor | G. Banks | K. Hamrin | J. Rep | A. Shesternyov | |
| P-Nut - C. Wilder | F. Rijkaard | D. Passarella | J. Zanetti | L. Suárez Miramontes | L. Modric | D. Law | D. Villa | S. Campbell | E. van der Sar | D. Alaba | S. Ramos | Kaka | X. Alonso | - |
| EAP - C. Ancelotti | G. Muller | R. Keane | A. Brehme | P. Scholes | R. Baggio | V. Vasovic | P. Evra | O. Ruggeri | R. Kopa | O. Kahn | B. Bremner | L. Kubala | Leandro | |
| Big D - N. Rocco | P. Maldini | G. Scirea | G. Bergomi | G. Batistuta | Z. Zidane | C. Gentile | B. Conti | A. Del Piero | G. Buffon | D. Deschamps | S. Bagni | R. Ferri | F. Causio | |
| Moby - A. Sacchi | E. Figueroa | B. Robson | Z. Boniek | Xavi | F. Gento | A. Iniesta | V. van Dijk | M. Kaltz | D. Beckham | E. Abidal | A. Zubizarreta | - | - | - |
| crappy - B. Guttmann | G. Best | B. Moore | L. Thuram | Didi | K.-H. Schnellinger | Rivaldo | A. Pirlo | R. van Nistelrooy | Jairzinho | J. L. Chilavert | Zito | D.McGrain | ||
| Gio - M. Lippi | C. Ronaldo | J. Neeskens | Falcao | K-H. Forster | L. Riva | E. Gerets | I. Netto | L. Suárez | M. Laudrup | D. Zoff | J. Santamaria | A. Benarrivo | J.A. Camacho | |
| Synco - L. Favre | M. Desailly | K.-H. Rummenigge | J. Tigana | A. Robben | M. Sammer | B. Lizarazu | T. Silva | K. Keegan | F. Ribery | Alisson | G. Zambrotta | M. Tassotti | L. Enrique | |
| Beam - J. Klopp | B. Charlton | R. Ferdinand | Cafu | R. Carlos | S. Eto'o | P. Vierchowod | J. Litmanen | A. Vidal | Z. Czibor | M. A. ter Stegen | N. Gonçalves | M. Kempes | ||
| Sjor - T. Ivic | R. Gullit | O. Blokhin | P. Lahm | J. Stam | A. Cole | Van Hanegem | A. Costacurta | M. Neuer | U. Stielike | T. Hässler | P. Elkjaer | H. Larsson |
Gonna pick a 14th player.
@Jim Beam
@crappycraperson
dragan dzajic
Oh crappy.