Since Viva is off I will reply to some points -
Wing backs vs Sagnol/Lizarazu - Yes, both Boniek and Conti won't track their wing backs. That is a risk we have CHOSEN to take for tactical advantage. We are backing Sagnol and Lizrazru to deal with Zanetti/Bhehme 1 v 1. Will they one an odd occassion skin past them, perhaps.. but that always happen in football matches, does not necessarily mean they will end up in a scoring position or create a goal scoring chance at that every moment. Klinsmann would still be well marshalled, Lothar and Redondo would still be guarding the CMs.
What is more likely is that at some point the attack will break down and the ball is played to someone like Boniek who has stayed upfront with no one on the wing, gets a free run which forces Sammer wide. Now he either tries to skin him or he crosses, passes it to Van Basten. VB would still have 2 CBs so he may or may not score
Our whole argument is that Boniek/Conti are more likely to tackle Sammer in an unfamiliar position out wide to create something for Van Basten or score themselves than Zanetti/Brehme doing the same on the other end.
Annah says he plans to play CA tactic. I fail to see how. Wingbacks trying to go past full backs is not a CA tactic. Maradona trying to find a way open in tight central area is not CA either. What is he doing with 4 CMs on the park if he wants to just CA?
Again I want to point out that I am using CM's who are comfortable moving out wide - that is where my wide threat comes from. Zanetti or Brehme won't alone be asked to skin past your full-backs, the flexibility and dynamic of Enrique moving out left and doubling up is where the threat comes from. A threat you can only handle by having your wingers doing a deep defensive work which you have told them not to.
The same goes on the other side where Mendieta can explode out right and suddenly link up with Brehme, this is all not taking in to account that Maradona will be around the pitch - constantly near the ball acting as my playmaker and orchestrator here. As soon as Brehme has the ball Maradona will be there, and I rate him to find Brehme and Mendieta on their runs with Klinsmann making runs inside the box.
You have too few players committed defensively, with 4 players not involved in the deeper part of defending in Boniek, Conti, Riquelme and van Basten.
My team is a counter-attacking set-up like Argentinas was. Maradona doesn't counter-attack with blistering pace, it is with incredible dribbling, holding the ball and then playmaking in to the space of the defender he just got to try and take the ball from him. This requires box to box runs, which will be provided by the two best wing-backs possible for the role in Zanetti and Brehme as well as Mendieta and Enrique who are flexible and can bomb out wide and let Zanetti or Brehme cover centrally if there is space to receive a pass out tehre.
My team has an incredible defensive triangle centrally with a proven Deschamps-Ferrara and Vierchowod partnership, together with Sammer sweeping up anything that gets past and intercepting passes. All of Vierchowod, Sammer, Zanetti and Brehme has the passing range to instantly start a counter as they intercept or get the ball. That is why my team is perfect for a counter-attacking set-up through Maradona.
A nearly impenetrable defense with the ability to instantly start the counter the other way. I always leave Vierchowod-Sammer-Ferrara back in the defense, even if I am attacking - which means you can never get a counter attack against anything less than three world-class defenders. More realistically I will of course have Deschamps back before or at the same time as Riquelme and if there are any wing-backs who could do a job offensively and defensively all day long it is Brehme and Zanetti.
Stamina, pace, acceleration and technical top class ability allows them to participate in both sides of the game. Brehme and Zanetti won't be found by the corner flag at the same time at any period of this game so more often than not at least one of them will be back in the second wave together with Deschamps.
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