Moby
Dick
Cutch's Tactics
Formation: 4-4-2 Diamond
Personnel
A tribute to AC Milan and Italy, with a great dane between the sticks.
Not much to say that isn't already glaringly obvious. The best defence in the draft with 4 of the 5 being all time greats. The midfield consists of an AC Milan diamond, while the attack is made up of arguably the 2 greatest Italians of all time, both Balon D’or winners and World Cup legends.
Every player will be playing their usual game in a setup that suits them with personnel around them that they're familiar with.
- Panucci and Maldini will bomb up and down the pitch and provide what is usually the main issue a diamond has, which is the lack of width.
- Albertini will do a job similar to Andrea Pirlo, pulling the strings in midfield infront of the back 4, and has the hard working Gattuso and classy Seedorf around him to enable him to shine.
- Kaka will play at the tip of the diamond and sometimes come in from the left hand side as he likes to do so.
- Upfront are 2 very mobile strikers which is again important for a diamond to be fully functional. Roberto Baggio will be the classic no.10 and Paulo Rossi the classic no.9.
Tactics
Width
With both sides set up quite narrow, Panucci and Maldini will have a big part to play in getting forward to provide width in attacking areas. Seedorf comes into the side at the expense of Ambrosini and he will give the side more flexibility, being able to operate wide and in the middle. He will also offer more in the attacking third, linking up with the attack and looking to unleash his rocket of a shot.
In attack Kaka and Roberto Baggio will both look to link up and start attacks coming in from wide areas on both sides, with the former trying to evade the attentions of Rijkaard and the latter preferred to Crespo for his lower centre of gravity against Desailly and his ability to commit players and try and break the deadlock in what is expected to be a game of few goals. If my side went a goal up and remained that way until an hour in, Pirlo and Cafu would come on to tighten things up and remain in control of the game with Roberto Baggio having to reluctantly make way due to the TP restrictions.
Defending
Typically the defence will consist of 7 back and 3 up when Isotopes side is attacking. The back 4 will generally be compact, with the main threat from Savicevic and Del Piero/Villa tucking in rather than hugging the touchline. Seedorf and Gattuso in particular will be tenacious in winning the ball back and Albertini with his wonderful range of passing will be the man to start attacks, aiming for the feet of Roberto Baggio and Kaka, or set the 2 fullbacks off on runs forward.
The team will be wary of the threat some of Isotopes team offer shooting from distance so the defending will be on the front foot and certainly not backing off.
Crossing
With Desailly in the opposition likely to dominate aerially with his strength, and Crespo not playing for this very reason, crosses will be kept low with the predator Rossi using his movement and instincts to find space in the box to get on the end of them.
Overall
Isotope has a very good team, but all round I think mine has an edge in overall quality with club and international performers of the very highest pedigree. If my side can break the deadlock with Kaka and Baggio the 2 star creators on the pitch at the same time, and 1 of the best poachers of all time in Paulo Rossi ahead of them, i think the team is good enough to hold on (with the changes outlined above) to win this one 1-0.
TEAM CUTCH
Subs:
Cafu ↑ ↓ Panucci
Andrea Pirlo ↑ ↓ Albertini
Massimo Ambrosini
Hernan Crespo ↑ ↓ Baggio
TEAM ISOTOPE
Subs:
Cafu ↑ ↓ Panucci
Andrea Pirlo ↑ ↓ Albertini
Massimo Ambrosini
Hernan Crespo ↑ ↓ Baggio
TEAM ISOTOPE
Isotope's Tactics
The team has a balance of mean defence, powerful midfield, and creative skillful attack.
On defence, Baresi and Hierro are simply better than Cannavaro-Nesta. Just in terms of longevity at the very top level, and always recognized as the best. Compared them to Cannavaro, which his WOPTY award had a fingerprint of Sepp Blatter work, to big up his FIFA World Cup. They are sided by Benarrivo and Thuram, two of the best attacking fullbacks around.
To nullify Kaka, is the perfect DM of all-time in Desailly. This will surely circumcise 80% of their attack supply. Also when even Pirlo can be nullified by Ji Sung Park, of course Rijkaard can at least do the same work. That will guarantee a complete control of the game by Savicevic and Ballack to feed Papin and Del Piero. One is a legendary Serie A forward who have scored the most goals in Juventus history, and another is just a Ballon D'or winner.
Savicevic
Del Piero,
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