Behind the Curtain draft (Eastern Europe) | 1/8 | Enigma_87 vs prath92 11:1

[harms]

@Enigma_87 ______________________________________________________ @prath92

The draft thread with lots of additional information
Write-ups on specific players

Enigma_87

Tactical layout
Lopsided 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1
Normal, slightly higher defensive line, fast direct tempo. Pressing the opposition when off the ball.
Solid and technical defensive unit - Belodedici will move up when we're in possession link with midfield, Novak will play a balanced role and also distribute the ball from the left when in possession. Dzodzuashvili will join the attack with his bursting runs and pace and will combine with Kubala when in possession to give options in attack and stretch the play.
When Belodedici moves vertically Zakarias will drop back to an aggressive stopper role, just like he played for the Mighty Magyars.
Revaz moving to support the attack would set Novak to tuck in and form a back three all the time when in possession to cut the opponent options of starting a quick counter.

Midfield - Modric in his Real role - dictating the game from deep, distributing the ball looking for openings and linking up with Mostovoi and Kubala. Zakarias will play a holding role and take care of most of our defensive game in midfield. Mostovoi will be the AM/#10 role like in his Celta days linking up with Suker and also providing passes for Gadocha, Suker and Kubala, but also finishing chances himself or trying shots outside the box.

Mostovoi, Zakarias and Modric - all will participate in the defensive phase of the game pressing the opposition and getting the ball back.

Attack - versatile, mobile attack with a striker possessing great interplay, positional sense and finishing abilities. Suker will lead the line, look for openings and dragging defenders out of position to make space for Kubala and Mostovoi charging the box. Gadocha will be a pure outside winger that will stretch the play on the left, provide his excellent crosses and direct passes into the box. Kubala in his goalscoring mode as a free roaming attacker.

Focal point - Kubala in free role will look for openings, stretch the opposition on the right and finish off chances on his own. Suker, Mostovoi and Modric provide the perfect stage for him to shine. Very technical side that are on the same wavelength in attack.


Why we will win:

Defense - Very solid defence - some of the best full backs historically in the pool that are well rounded and balanced. Belodedici who is a pillar in 2 CL winning teams from Eastern Europe and all round defender and sweeper. Kaplychnyi - aggressive stopper and Zakarias with his ability to drop down in defence make a perfect cohesion in that defensive unit.

Familiar defence and keeper - Rudakov, Kapplychnyi and Dzodzuashvili have played together in that UEFA 72 European championship run - all three of them are very familiar with their style and have shut down some formidable opponents - the very best wingers/forwards in that era.

Exciting midfield and attack - Kubala and Suker are one of the very best forwards in the pool, complimented with Modric, Gadocha and Mostovoi they form a well oiled, technical unit that has many goals in them coupled with fantastic movement. I can't see prath holding on all of them nor outscoring us in the game.

Aggressive midfield with some of the best players on the ball - we can keep and move the ball with ease in midfield with some of the biggest names historically in the pool - Zakarias, Modric, Kubala, etc.

Spoiler: Player descriptions and profiles

Yevgeniy Rudakov - GK - one of the best in Soviet history, probably only Yashin and Dasaev come before him - More information about Rudakov


Ladislav Novák - LB - considered one of the best left backs of all time, he was left-back with good fighting spirit, fast, clever and had excellent header. He can go to overlap to join attack and give passing from left-side. One of the best of his generation and with most achievements from that era. - More information about Novak


Volodymyr Kaplitchnyi - CB - Very tough and physical d Aggressive stopper who was a solid presence in both CSKA and Soviet Union team - More information on Kaplitchnyi


Miodrag Belodedici - Sweeper/Complete defender - One of the classiest defenders you’ll see was Miodrag Belodedici. The Romanian won the European Cup with Steaua a few years earlier and was given the key role in Red Star’s defence. Belodedici played as the libero, sweeping up behind the other defenders, controlled the defence after his will and regularly stepped up with the ball to initiate attacks. - More information on Belodedici



Revaz Dzodzuashvili - RB - He's one(if not the best Georgian defenders of all time) and one of the best Soviet full backs. Dzodzuashvili started his career as striker, moving on to midfield and eventually ended up in defence. First as center back but than due to his great speed started to play as right back. He was excellent man marker, famous for completely shutting out from the game some of the best players in that era like - Best, Lubanski, Džajić and Heynckes. - More information on Dzodzuashvili


Jozsef Zakariás - holding midfielder - member of the great Mighty Magyars team he was the main operator in the defensive phase. Solid midfielder who was responsible of taking care of covering distance and getting the ball back but also being an auxiliary CB in that Hungary team playing as an aggressive stopper.


Luca Modric - complete midfielder - not much to say apart that he's the best Croatian player ever(along with Davor Suker) and the best midfielder in modern football. Great in both offensive and defensive game he's one of the most important players for Real in their 2 time CL winning teams



Alexandr Mostovoi - attacking midfielder - he was Celta's leader in the late 90's and although he was often accused of being highly temperamental and having a strong personality, the truth is that he changed the reality of that team forever. His boots exhaled magic, impossible passes and unthinkable goals. His intelligence on the pitch allowed him to read the game seconds before his opponents and he didn’t need to run a lot in order to dribble and to place the ball wherever he wanted. More information on Mostovoi



Laszlo Kubala - Free roaming forward - Awarded the best player in Barcelona's history, which goes without saying that he was one of the best in the world in his time. Undisputed leader he was the Barca's Alfredo Di Stefano and a player that left a great mark for the Catalan club.

“He was just unstoppable, he had so many moves opponents didn’t have a clue what to expect” reflected former Los Cules teammate Joan Sergarra on the official FIFA website.



“He’d go past one, two, three with style and ease, and then either put a chance on a plate or smash the ball home himself.”

More info on Kubala



Roberd Gadocha - left winger - Poland is a country notable of producing some great wingers, but the top three are undoubtedly Lato, Boniek and Gadocha. The latter was a probably Poland's best ever pure winger, and in the early 1970's was regarded as one of the world's best left wingers. More info on Gadocha.



Davor Suker - central forward - What made Šuker really special was not his blistering pace as he wasn't that type of forward. Instead he had one of the best shooting techniques, coupled with excellent positional sense and movement around and out of the box. Add to that his special skills on the ball and you have one of the most complete strikers that graced the 90's. More info on Suker.

prath92

In goal is Ivan Curkovic. He was a reliable and keeper of outstanding quality from the former Yugoslavia, who despite not being a regular in the National team (a mere 19 appearances), was a very able keeper at club level. He won the Yugoslavian League before moving too France to play for St Etienne, winning the league, French Cup and reached the European Cup in 1976. A very reliable keeper.

At Right Back, we have Karol Dobias, a versatile Slovakian who could also ably fill in at RW and DM when required to. Known for his ability to attack and defend, being fast and agile, he is perhaps known the most for scoring Czechoslovakia’s second goal in the European Championship Final in 1976. He was Czechoslovakian player of the year in 1970 and 1971 winning 67 caps and multiple titles with Spartak Trnava. At Left back, we have a modern Serbian Aleksander Kolarov, again capable of playing in the centre on forward on the left flank. He is known for his overlapping runs and ball-striking and crossing ability. Also an excellent set-piece taker, he was key in Manchester City’s Premier League success post the Arab takeover. He is also very good defensively and in his prime, was one of the best LBs in the league. In the middle, we have 2 pillars from their repective international era. Gyula Lorant was a key member of the Magical Magyars of the 50s that was arguably one of the best teams of that era. He was strong and skillful, expansive on the ball, and often was a one man defense in Sebes’ Hungary and pulled it off well. Alongside him is the Russian Sergei Baltacha, who was another Soviet regular, playing in the 1982 world cup. He was a hard tackler with great technical ability being the disciple of Valeriy Lobanovskyi, who many consider a foremost innovator of Total Football. He was a key member of Dynamo Kiev for almost 12 years before he became the first Soviet player to play for an English club (Ipswich in 1988).

In midfield we have, Joszef Bozsik who probably is one of the best Deep Lying playmaker and Defensive midfielder of his generation. Possessing good technique, tackling ability, flair, tactical nous, passing accuracy and creativity, he was excellent at controlling a game with ease. He however had a lack of pace which is negated by the energetic workhorse Sergei Aleinikov. He was again a midfielder with pace, stamina, defensive ability coupled with tactical awareness and great passing ability meaning he is going to play a box-to-box role but supporting Bozsik in midfield. To complete the midfield is the Czech Mozart Tomas Rosicky, who has been one of the most talented attacking midfielders in the 2000s. Described as being an all-round midfielder who brings balance, organisation and urgency to the team, he is known for his great technique, skill on the ball and sharp passing. He is also defensively aware and will put in a shift defensively

In the left wing, is Antonin Puc, a Czechoslovakian left winger, who is also the topscorer for the unified Czechoslovakian team. He was known for his skilful dribbling and his ability to shoot with great accuracy. In a false 9 position, we have Mathias Sindelar. He was incredibly talented and creative with tremendous ball control, finishing and dribbling. As the Right forward is the talented Bulgarian Hristo Bonev, known for his vision and technique. He is Bulgaria’s second highest goal scorer (behind Berbatov). He played as an attacking midfielder and an inside right/right winger during his career.

Strategy

Goalkeeping

Excellent shot stopper. Very reliable and was instrumental in St. Etienne reaching UEFA Cup Final in 76.

Spoiler: Ability

Defence

Lorant and Baltacha are a CB pairing with Baltacha being a destroyer, who Lobanovskyi claims, had very little errors in his game and Lorant who is quite capable of playing from the back in addition to his excellent defensive skills which ensured Sebes could commit more men forward in the magical magyars side. Dobias and Kolarov are quite balanced full backs capable of going forward and defend quite ably. People may have the tendency to think kolarov as an attacking full back with little defensive ability but as the video in the link shows, he is a very able defender, as able as fullbacks who attack can be. His timing of runs was instrumental in ensuring that he was barely caught off position and his pace meant he could recover quickly. Plus he has aleinikov and Lorant covering for him when he attacks. Lorant used to cover the entire defence with grosics for the Magyars so he would be fine to tackle a quick counter in that case

Midfield

Bozsik is a Deep Lying playmaker but he is an excellent tackler. His passing ability was phenomenal and will be the starting point of all attacks. His lack of pace is negated by a hardworking Aleinikov who has incredible stamina and tackling ability coupled with passing ablity. It's similar in some way to the gattuso pirlo duo which was a very effective combination for Milan in the 2000s. The difference though is that unlike pirlo, Bozsik is excellent defensively but for his pace. His tackling, interception and controlling the game from midfield makes him arguably the best in that position in this draft. Completing the midfield is Mozart of Czech Republic Tomas Rosicky whose vision and attacking ability will be key here in creating chances for the attack. He will join in the wing and his pace and crossing ability will help when bonev cuts inside, plus Dobias could also provide an overlap as RB. Kolarov is a very potent attacker and an able defender. aleinikov has been stationed in the left of the midfield so that he can cover when kolarov attacks on the other side as well.

Spoiler: Rosicky Defence

Forward

Sindelar is an all round forward who is good at finishing and creating chances. Here he will play in a false 9 role more of a totti mould. Puc is a wide forward and will play on the left with Bonev on the right. Both are very proven goalscorers so there would be no problem in finishing chances.

The front 3 would be a fluid 3 with each of the players able to drop into a CF role during attack. We have creativity from bozsik in the deep, rosicky and Sindelar from the deep and with the ball in their feet both Puc and Bonev were excellent in finding passes. Sindelar is probably the best forward in the draft after puskas and was adjudged so too.

 

[Enigma_87]

Thanks @harms for setting it up! Good luck @prath92 ! Will contribute in couple of hours. Voted myself to see the score you can do the same mate.

 

[prath92]

I can't see prath holding on all of them nor outscoring us in the game.

I don't agree with this.

1. We have Sindelar Puc and Bonev, three extremely potent goalscorers. Sindelar is a superior player to Suker and probably even Kubala. Sindelar is quite famous for dominating Sarosi in 1934 and would have gone on to reach the final if it was not for some extremely physical tactics by Italy (a WC still controversial regarding various aspects of Italy). Puc is Czechoslovakia's leading goalscorer, even with some excellent technique and would probably give Nedved a run for the money. In addition, Bonev is also quite adept at goalscoring himself and had an excellent crossing and aerial ability. He is also the second highest goalscorer for Bulgaria behind only Berbatov.

Bonev was always quite famous for his ability to be a play-maker from wider areas mate. Modern football sometimes has a tendency to pigeon hole certain players into extremely myopic roles, which doesn't do multi positional experts like Bonev any justice. And not just the left flank, he was quite adept on the right flank too.

@crappycraperson on Puc

Crappy's infos about his pre-66 players, part1:

Spoiler

Antonin Puc - 6 goals in old Euros cup (3 in inaugural one when Czech finished join runner's up)

A crucial member of Czechoslovakia's 1934 World Cup final team, Antonín Puč enjoyed a prolific club career throughout the 1930s and scored more goals for the unified Czechoslovakian team than any other player. Usually playing on the left wing, he was known for his skilful dribbling and his ability to shoot early and with great accuracy, giving goalkeepers little chance to make a save.

Puč was born in the Jinonice district of Prague on 16 May 1907, and spent much of his childhood learning to play football in the streets of Prague. As a teenager, he played for the youth teams of SK Smíchov for several years before attracting the attention of Slavia Prague. When he was 18, Puč was offered the chance to move to Slavia and although his father did not want him to sign, he made the move in October 1925.

He was immediately brought into the first team. Having initially played as an inside left, it was in his early years at Slavia that Puč became a regular on the left wing. His first season of 1925-26 brought success in the Bohemian Cup, although the Slavia narrowly missed out on the league title as they finished one point behind rivals Sparta. In the summer of 1926, Puč was called into the national team for the first time at the age of just 19. He made his debut in a match against Yugoslavia in Zagreb, and managed to get on the scoresheet in a 6-2 Czechoslovakian win.

In the short 1927 league season, which was just seven games long, Puč scored 13 league goals to finish as the league's joint top scorer. Slavia however had to settle for second place again, just as they did in the following season of 1927-28, however Puč claimed two more cup winner's medals in those seasons. Title success finally came in 1928-29, with Slavia claiming the title by three clear points and Puč leading the league in goalscoring again.

Throughout the late 1920s, Puč found the net at international level with great regularity. He scored in six of his first eight international matches, and by the end of the decade he had managed 18 goals in 22 games. That total included three in the inaugural Central European International Cup where Czechoslovakia finished joint second, just a point behind champions Italy. Like many European players of his generation, he was denied the chance to play in the first World Cup in 1930 when his country chose not to travel to Uruguay.

At domestic level, success continued to come. Slavia retained their league title in 1930 with a 100% record, and completed a domestic double with a cup final victory over SK Kladno. Further titles followed in 1931, 1933 and 1934, and the disappointment of runners-up spot in 1932 was eased with yet another cup success. Later in 1934, Puč would finally get the opportunity to play on the greatest stage in the game as Czechoslovakia qualified for the World Cup finals in Italy.

The competition was a straight knockout, and in their first match it looked as though Czechoslovakia's involvement was going to be brief. They trailed 1-0 to Romania at half-time, but Puč found a crucial equalising goal shortly after half-time to drag his team back into contention. They went on to win 2-1, and gradually found their feet in the tournament. Edging past Switzerland 3-2 in the quarter-finals, they then eased through a semi-final against Germany to set up a final against the host nation.

In the final, Czechoslovakia and Italy both played positive, attacking football with Puč at the heart of most of his team's good work. With 20 minutes to go, the game was still goalless when Czechoslovakia won a corner. Puč took the kick himself, and when it was only half cleared he found himself with the ball again. With a characteristically powerful and accurate shot from a narrow angle, he beat Italian goalkeeper Gianpiero Combi to give his team the lead. Unfortunately for Puč, his team-mates missed some excellent chances to put the result beyond doubt and a late Italian equaliser forced extra-time. Italy went on to score again in the extra period, ending Czechoslovakia's hopes of becoming champions.

The disappointment of missing out on the world title was quickly overcome as Slavia won another league and cup double in 1934-35, and two years later another title gave Puč a seventh league title in just nine seasons. Entering his early 30s, Puč was still an important member of the national team and in 1938 got a chance to make up for the defeat of four years earlier when he travelled with the national team to France for his second World Cup.

The Czechoslovakian team of 1938 however was not comparable with that which had come so close to glory in 1934. After needing extra-time to get past the Netherlands in their first match, they drew with Brazil in the quarter-finals and the game went to a replay. Puč had played in each of the first two games but did not appear in the replay against Brazil, which his team lost. That would prove to be the end of his career with the Czechoslovakian team, although he did appear (and score) in one match for the 'Bohemia and Moravia' late in 1939. In all, he scored 35 goals in 61 international games - a record for Czechoslovakia and its successor states which stood until the early years of the 21st century when Jan Koller surpassed it playing for the Czech Republic.

As well as his last game for Czechoslovakia, 1938 also saw Puč leave Slavia after 13 years. In all, he scored 112 goals in 164 league games for the club, winning six Bohemian Cups and seven league titles. He spent a couple of years with Viktoria Žižkov and made a brief return to SK Smíchov before retiring from playing in 1941. After the Second World War, he had a brief managerial career with SK Nusle and Čechie Karlín before retiring from active involvement in football. Antonín Puč died in April 1988, a month before his 81st birthday.

In addition, we have Bozsik who is probably as good if not better than Modric and Rosicky who to be fair is better than Mostovoi. Kolarov would provide additional attacking option too and Aleinikov is regarded as good on the balll too. I dont think creating and finishing will be a problem for us. I could even say we have better finishers and just as good creators. I dont think Suker is as good as the attackers we have either.

 

[Raees]

Damn, really nice teams yet again. Just want to add something brief before I contribute later but Puc, after researching him via my research for Pesek/Nejedly is as reliable a goalscorer as it comes.

He was the main goalscorer during the pre 30s phase (late 20s) during all of Czechslovia's big games (good place to research this is 11v11.com), and the shining light along with Pesek in midfield where they were the dominant european side of the 20's and he remained influential during the world cups of the 30s and the Der Euro cups.

Really classy player and one of the standout players in this match IMO.

 

[prath92]

Spoiler: Bozsik

Jozsef Bozsik: the Conductor Par Excellance

The legendary József Bozsik - Hungary's all-time international player with 101 appearances, the greatest center-half in the world who was the metronome from 1947 to 1962.

Through a longtime player of impactful tenure the team achieved a state of great flow. Plumb in the middle of the field there was a player who put attack and defense into communicable order for a workable unity and whose potent reputation traveled wide. Of all the prominent players between 1947 and 1962, the great wing-half Jozsef Bozsik was driven by the most sophisticated awareness that contrived the balance which had produced the seeds of majesty in the Puskas and Kocsis touch. József Bozsik's prime and lasting aim was always being the mediating intercessor and magnificent technician in the inner-workings of the Hungarian team who liked both to defend and attack, who on one or two occasions threw himself into scoring situations with feeling to bring about goals from deep. His eyes attuned to nuance as the innate navigator who crafted matches' thorough answers, Jozsef Bozsik's thoughtful and technical ball placement was unimpeachable from his earliest youth days when he played alongside Puskás at Honvéd since 1943. Jozsef Bozsik is the center through which unnumbered lines of connection pass because his real effort is one of throwing midfield into shape and order with inexhaustible energies.


From the tender age of five or six from the days when they were literal next door neighbors in an apartment flat that overlooked the local football park for Kispest, Puskás and Jozsef Bozsik — the middle son of five boys — had been inseparable best friends as the game's allure spoke over their lives and early on developed a signaling system of wall knocks to indicate 'How about a soccer game?' Brought up with the roar of the Kispest crowd in his ears, both had risen through the youth, junior and senior levels at the local football club, Kispest, almost simultaneously and graduated to the varsity national team just a year and a half apart in 1945 and 1947 respectively. With Puskás at Honvéd (The Army sponsored 'Homeland Defenders'), there he joins men on a star-spangled team with Sándor Kocsis, keeper Grosics, defender Gyula Lóránt and wingers László Budai and Czibor already involved, and showed players manifesting greatness and speeded their stride to set up Honvéd as the world's best club side and on another level make Hungary the rainmaking footballing Avalon of a good part of the 1950s — which rejoiced in setting up a garden of explosively uniting paths that most everyone saw reaching a climax in the 1954 World Cup Final.

Joszef Bozsik singing autographs on the return trip from the 'Match of the Century'.

Bozsik's soulful studied play and often loud intensity was known more for a focused glowering intelligent playmaking than scoring goals that telepathically came into Puskas' game with an emphatic closeness since their first youth games almost twenty years before amid more hardscrabble times of the inter-war period. Puskas himself, who had played with and against the very elites of the game, described Jozsef Bozsik as "the greatest player I ever saw or knew", and Bozsik later became the most durably featured bona fide ironman and tailoring choreographer in Hungary's footballing history, going onto to captain Hungary after Puskas' departure up until 1962 with 101 made appearances, the country's most ever. Bozsik had been the authentic penetrating power who mentally tests out all possible versions in peppering the ball impeccably up and down the field and sweepingly side to side who was a major thread in the bright weave of the team whose reading of the game was at its highest level.


In leading Hungary to three World Cups in 1954, 1958, 1962, Jozsef Bozsik sifted, coordinated, and battens the squad by projecting numberless completions through defenses with scrupulous attention to detail and performed an enormous labor in helping compose sixty-seven victories in his career. Midfield's compass showing no slackening of vigor, Bozsik sedulously strikes out new paths in explaining matches penetratingly. He is the great equalizer of his age and land supplying what wants supplying and checks what wants checking, he is a seer, attack and defense corroborate themselves to him. People expect of Bozsik to indicate the path as an edifice in midfield to put a solid address on the match who perceives the beauty of the game well enough; and for fifteen years in his country's service Jozsef Bozsik was a veritable anthem for Hungarian football with a picture emerging of an "officer and gentleman" incredibly crowned.


With perhaps some seeing less than there was to Jozsef Bozsik since his playing on an team behind the Iron Curtain and on the cusp of the viability of television as one of the most underrated special players ever at the peak of his virtuous creative powers, the radius of influence of the great Jozsef Bozsik was very large on results and retired with lasting elegance as a truly charmed soul whose esteem remains robust.
==

@Gio on Lorant in the remake draft

Lorant had to be both sweeper and centre-half: he could not afford to simply be a sweeper as depicted by EAP. You could not hold a gung-ho, high-playing back-line together by simply operating as a sweeper. You also had to go out and be a stalwart rock as @Downcast's link describes Lorant. He had to both commanding and classy, capable of dropping off to snuff out danger and ready to attack the first ball. A complete defender: good on the ball, good off it, reads the game sharply and acts decisively as the last line of defence. And arguably the player closest to a sweeper was the keeper:

@Downcast 's link. The Bozsik info also taken from his post in that thread.

http://magicalmagyars.wikispaces.com/?responseToken=0e97dff09a65416c3178d812a0b6af2c0

Dobias was also a mainstay in the czech team of the late 60s early 70s, winning footballer of the year there in 70 and 71. he was also a mainstay in the squad that won th 76 European Championships. He is quite an excellent defender often also filling in as DM.

[QUOTE = "Valery Lobanovsky"]
He was a very reliable stopper. Every game we used to calculate errors made by the players and Baltacha used to be the one with the lowest errors
[/QUOTE]

 

[harms]

Bozsik is the best midfielder on the pitch (not by far though), but he should have someone like Zakarias next to him, not Aleinikov (or Rosicky) and I'd still prefer more dedicated DM next to him than Aleinikov

Like Enigma's defence better and I feel that his squad is more balanced. Kubala will be MotM, running into the space between Lorant and Kolarov, while Zakarias is a good tactical fit for Sindelar

 

[Enigma_87]

To kick it off with some of the points made:

I don't agree with this.

1. We have Sindelar Puc and Bonev, three extremely potent goalscorers. Sindelar is a superior player to Suker and probably even Kubala. Sindelar is quite famous for dominating Sarosi in 1934 and would have gone on to reach the final if it was not for some extremely physical tactics by Italy (a WC still controversial regarding various aspects of Italy). Puc is Czechoslovakia's leading goalscorer, even with some excellent technique and would probably give Nedved a run for the money. In addition, Bonev is also quite adept at goalscoring himself and had an excellent crossing and aerial ability. He is also the second highest goalscorer for Bulgaria behind only Berbatov.

I think we have a defence that is an excellent fit for your attack. Couple of points. Sindelar as you already mentioned didn't like physical defence against him and in this game we have a strong, physical marker in Kaplychnyi, who will be an aggressive type of marker and attack the first ball. In addition to that I think we have the perfect foil for a false nine of sorts in Zakarias who will follow Sindelar in his steps and also be on the wary of him when dropping in.

Belodedici will be mopping back for either Sinelar/Puc or Bonev breaking in.

@crappycraperson on Puc

In addition, we have Bozsik who is probably as good if not better than Modric and Rosicky who to be fair is better than Mostovoi. Kolarov would provide additional attacking option too and Aleinikov is regarded as good on the balll too. I dont think creating and finishing will be a problem for us. I could even say we have better finishers and just as good creators. I dont think Suker is as good as the attackers we have either.

To be honest that will be always be the case as we obviously rate the players differently and it shows in the picking order To me Kubala is after Puskas in terms of stature in this draft. Others might not agree but in the Di Stefano/Puskas era and at the time - were unarguably better than everyone else. Kubala did the same for Barca at the time as Di Stefano for Madrid.

To be crowned as Barca's best player of all time in 1999(sure those polls are nothing definite) given the plethora of stars that wore that shirt at the time as Cruyff, Maradona, Luis Suarez, etc is something really telling about his ability.

He was one of those players that were far ahead of the era and was appreciated in a time that coped with a lot of hardship off the pitch under the Franco regime.

I think the combination of Zakarias and Modric gives us our midfield the edge. Modric is similar to Bozsik (rate them both very high prefer Modric basically because I know his game inside out) but Zakarias provides a lot better support than Aleinikov to me.

Gadocha IMO will give Dobias a lot of problems, while I think Kubala will get lot of opportunities with Bozsik around him, who IMO is not the best fit deployed there, but rather a DM next to him taking care of Kubala and mopping around for him to give him the stage is a lot lot better.

A quote on Zakarias and Bozsik partnership during the golden years of Hungarian football:

Gusztáv Sebes, the national team manager, juggled with the lineup of players unpredictably. For example, Sándor was occasionally not included in the starting lineup both because Sebes didn’t expect him to make good passes to Kocsis and because Sebes’s wife amply used lipstick in an era of asceticism. Or Sebes replaced Kovács with Zakariás because the team needed a “workhorse” rather than a second playmaker in addition to Bozsik.

 

[Raees]

@Enigma_87 .. footage on Kubala by any chance, just to help visualize his performance here

 

[Enigma_87]

@Enigma_87 .. footage on Kubala by any chance, just to help visualize his performance here

Sure, mate - https://www.redcafe.net/threads/beh...raft-1-8-matches.425283/page-24#post-20342510

I've posted some videos in the general thread with description of him and also career highlights.



From the brief highlights you can notice immediately his top notch technique, but also his movement and deadly finishing in the box.

Edited compilation of goals and skills:



https://www.footbie.com/video/di-stefano-and-kubala-two-legends

^^^ also a compilation of Di Stefano and Kubala. Note some of the clips are repeated in those compilations but on some places the quality is better.

Also something to note from that time is that Kubala was pretty well built - you can see from the clips as well - it's not easy to knock him off the ball. And with the low center of gravity taking the ball away from him was a real nightmare.

and the poll as I mentioned:

At Barcelona's 100th anniversary in 1999, fans voted Kubala as the best player ever to play for the club. He beat players such as Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona to this honour. He was also chosen as the second-best player in Spain during the 20th century by sports journalists. Only Alfredo Di Stefano was judged a better player than him. Finally, he was awarded the Grand Cross of Sports by the Spanish government.

and a bit more:

'The greatest Barcelona player ever'

László Kubala was the greatest player in FC Barcelona's history according to a poll conducted in the club's centenary year.

Halcyon days
As well as inspiring the Catalans to unprecedented success in the 1950s, he was also credited with revolutionising the Spanish game. Kubala won four league titles, five Spanish Cups and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups in 11 seasons at Camp Nou.

Barcelona break
Legend has it that Kubala was blind drunk when the ex-Barcelona star turned agent put him on a train from Madrid to Barcelona to initiate his transfer in 1950. Though Kubala sobered up enough to sign on and make his debut in April that year - the first of 329 appearances yielding 256 goals.

'Equipo de las cinco copas'
His arrival coincided with a golden era. Blessed with strength, technique and power in his boots, Kubala was the ideal attacking complement to the 'equipo de las cinco copas'. The so-called 'team of the five cups' lifted five trophies between 1951 and 1953. The pity was that their domestic achievements would be overshadowed by Madrid's early dominance of the European Champion Clubs' Cup.

Mightiest of Magyars
For a decade, though, Kubala was the hero of a city. And even after Ferenc Puskás and other Hungarians followed him to the Primera División, Kubala remained Spain's original Magyar - with ball skills and devastating shooting to match.

Goals galore
Kubala liked to enjoy himself off the field too, and his taste for the high life was a source of conflict with the club's management. But he stayed long enough to become the Barcelona's second-top goalscorer behind the man who had brought him to the Ciudad Condal, Samitier.

An Espanyol swansong
Then, after an ill-fated interlude as Barça coach, he moved across the city to end his playing days with Espanyol, alongside his old Madrid nemesis Alfredo di Stefano.

Coaching credits
By the time he hung up his boots, Kubala had played 19 times for Spain, registering 11 goals. Yet it was as a coach that he served his adopted country with distinction. He trained the national team between 1969 and 1980. His other coaching credits include Barcelona (again), Espanyol, Real Murcia CF, Elche CF, Córdoba CF, Málaga CF and spells in Switzerland, Canada, Paraguay and Saudi Arabia.

 

[prath92]

I think we have a defence that is an excellent fit for your attack. Couple of points. Sindelar as you already mentioned didn't like physical defence against him and in this game we have a strong, physical marker in Kaplychnyi, who will be an aggressive type of marker and attack the first ball. In addition to that I think we have the perfect foil for a false nine of sorts in Zakarias who will follow Sindelar in his steps and also be on the wary of him when dropping in.

Belodedici will be mopping back for either Sinelar/Puc or Bonev breaking in.

The issue was not being a physical defender but harsh physical attacks that would now be fouls which weren't given (let's not get into conspiracy theories on Italy in WC34).

If those tactics are repeated the defender wouldn't last on the pitch.

Re your point about bozsik with a workhorse that's exactly what aleinikov is. He is someone who has played as a CB too. It's why I made reference to the gattuso pirlo combo. Bozsik only lacks pace. He is very adept at most other facets of the defence and this aleinikov will be effective here.

Kubala is a top player no doubt and I agree it could be debate able who is better. But Sindelar was 31 in the 34 World Cup and was arguably one of the best players there so it's possible he was a top player in his prime.

 

[Gio]

Bozsik is the best midfielder on the pitch (not by far though), but he should have someone like Zakarias next to him, not Aleinikov (or Rosicky).

Like Enigma's defence better and I feel that his squad is more balanced. Kubala will be MotM, running into the space between Lorant and Kolarov, while Zakarias is a good tactical fit for Sindelar

Agree on Bozsik, what's the issue with his partnership with Alenikov? Is he too box-to-boxy?

 

[Enigma_87]

The issue was not being a physical defender but harsh physical attacks that would now be fouls which weren't given (let's not get into conspiracy theories on Italy in WC34).

If those tactics are repeated the defender wouldn't last on the pitch.

Re your point about bozsik with a workhorse that's exactly what aleinikov is. He is someone who has played as a CB too. It's why I made reference to the gattuso pirlo combo. Bozsik only lacks pace. He is very adept at most other facets of the defence and this aleinikov will be effective here.

Kubala is a top player no doubt and I agree it could be debate able who is better. But Sindelar was 31 in the 34 World Cup and was arguably one of the best players there so it's possible he was a top player in his prime.

Obviously Sindelar is a top player mate I just see our defence a great fit for him - Zakarias and Kaplychnyi are well capable of depriving him of space and time on the ball and also play a physical game without getting send off. To top it off Belodedici has a great reading of the game and can sniff out a danger between the lines.

The other advantage is Kaplychnyi, Dzozhuashvili and Rudakov all have played in a defensive line that stopped some of the best forwards in the game so they are pretty well up for the occasion.

For Aleinikov he also lacks a bit of pace and generally I don't think he's the aggressive type of midfielder that would provide the same protection as Zakarias will. Of course he has the stamina, but IMO they are not the best fit together with Bozsik. From what I see of him he's more of a passer and positional player. If I have to give an example he's closer to Carrick than to Davids so to speak.


Just to finish off on Kubala's profile - there is a great article I'll post the link directly to anyone who is interested:

http://www.insidespanishfootball.com/83978/laszlo-kubala-the-eternal-playmaker/

A bit long but well worth the read.

 

[harms]

Agree on Bozsik, what's the issue with his partnership with Alenikov? Is he too box-to-boxy?

I misread him for Alenichev and was quite surprised Shame on me - and sorry @prath92
On Aleinikov - tactically it's an alright duo. I'm just not a fan. Played against Maradona and Platini, so can help out with Kubala, although both were off peak and I wouldn't say that he handled them flawlessly

 

[Gio]

I misread him for Alenichev and was quite surprised Shame on me - and sorry @prath92
On Aleinikov - tactically it's an alright duo. I'm just not a fan. Played against Maradona and Platini, so can help out with Kubala, although both were off peak and I wouldn't say that he handled them flawlessly

Yeah to be honest I think it works fine. Sure you'd want a world class DM in there keeping tabs on Kubala, but Aleinikov was no mug (Belarus Golden Player and all that) and is a decent enough fit IMO to partner Bozsik.

 

[Gio]

I like the Zakarias/Belodedici dynamic for Enigma, quite natural that.

 

[harms]

(Belarus Golden Player and all that)

Literally can't think of any other Belarus player in 20th century (Hleb, obviously, aside). A decent player though, but never liked him

edit - after a little detour on wiki I remembered a few but Christ they were an uninspiring bunch

 

[prath92]

Bozsik is the best midfielder on the pitch (not by far though), but he should have someone like Zakarias next to him, not Aleinikov (or Rosicky) and I'd still prefer more dedicated DM next to him than Aleinikov

Like Enigma's defence better and I feel that his squad is more balanced. Kubala will be MotM, running into the space between Lorant and Kolarov, while Zakarias is a good tactical fit for Sindelar

There wouldn't be a space between Kolarov and Lorant. Kolarov was very good as a fullback. He isn't someone like Alberto Moreno getting off position. The link in the writeup shows he is actually quite good as a defender too. Plus he has aleinikov covering for him even when he attacks too and with Dobias tucking in as well, I don't really believe there will be a space there.

I think aleinikov will work though. He was key in Euro 1988 when they reached the final. Here his job is to be the gattuso to the pirlo in Bozsik. Who himself was very good in most aspects of defence.

Not to mention Lorant and Bozsik have a good understanding from their Hungary days and baltacha aleinikov from their soviet days.

 

[harms]

There wouldn't be a space between Kolarov and Lorant. Kolarov was very good as a fullback. He isn't someone like Alberto Moreno getting off position. The link in the writeup shows he is actually quite good as a defender too. Plus he has aleinikov covering for him even when he attacks too and with Dobias tucking in as well, I don't really believe there will be a space there.

I think aleinikov will work though. He was key in Euro 1988 when they reached the final. Here his job is to be the gattuso to the pirlo in Bozsik. Who himself was very good in most aspects of defence.

Yeah, my criticism is over the top as I confused him with other player. Wouldn't call him a key player for 1988 though - Mikhailitchenko, Zavarov, Demyanenko, Dasaev, Kuznetsov were all more important and it's still the most vulnerable point in your defence

 

[prath92]

Yeah, my criticism is over the top as I confused him with other player. Wouldn't call him a key player for 1988 though - Mikhailitchenko, Zavarov, Demyanenko, Dasaev, Kuznetsov were all more important and it's still the most vulnerable point in your defence

i simply meant that he started every game in that tournament bar the first game. Even scoring in the game vs England with prime Robson Lineker John Barnes among others and playing vs an italian side that was very strong with mancini and vialli too. He played a good part in their road to final.

i agree that its the vulnerable which is why there is someone like lorant covering. plus I think Bozsik with his tactical awareness could take care of mostovoi too. like a superior version to what carrick does for united now. i think we have enough cover even if we assume kolarov will get caught out

 

[Enigma_87]

I misread him for Alenichev and was quite surprised Shame on me - and sorry @prath92
On Aleinikov - tactically it's an alright duo. I'm just not a fan. Played against Maradona and Platini, so can help out with Kubala, although both were off peak and I wouldn't say that he handled them flawlessly

I had to double check couple of times when going through prath's rooster before the game. Both easily confusing as both have been picked I think.

 

[Ecstatic]

Enigma has built an harmonious team:a gentle deep-lying playmaker, a devil attacking midfielder, a whimsical winger and a brilliant free-role attacking player...

Nothing wrong regarding the tactical system of prath92 despite the fact I think the positioning of players like Bonev is not 'optimal'. However, some great players here like Bozcik considered as one the greatest defensive midfielders or Sindelar.

 

[Raees]

Sure, mate - https://www.redcafe.net/threads/beh...raft-1-8-matches.425283/page-24#post-20342510

I've posted some videos in the general thread with description of him and also career highlights.



From the brief highlights you can notice immediately his top notch technique, but also his movement and deadly finishing in the box.

Edited compilation of goals and skills:



https://www.footbie.com/video/di-stefano-and-kubala-two-legends

^^^ also a compilation of Di Stefano and Kubala. Note some of the clips are repeated in those compilations but on some places the quality is better.

Also something to note from that time is that Kubala was pretty well built - you can see from the clips as well - it's not easy to knock him off the ball. And with the low center of gravity taking the ball away from him was a real nightmare.

and the poll as I mentioned:


and a bit more:

Thanks for this mate. Strangely enough he doesn't really blow me away with his technical skills although that scoop lob was a thing of beauty. More of a battler with his dribbling rather than graceful.

Most greats you can envisage doing really well in the modern game but I find it difficult to see his style of ball carrying being effective in the modern game or am I being harsh?

 

[Joga Bonito]

Thanks for this mate. Strangely enough he doesn't really blow me away with his technical skills although that scoop lob was a thing of beauty. More of a battler with his dribbling rather than graceful.

Most greats you can envisage doing really well in the modern game but I find it difficult to see his style of ball carrying being effective in the modern game or am I being harsh?

Being harsh imo, I'd say his style of dribbling was fairly unorthodox but it was an extremely physical era and given Kubala's background as a boxer, it's only natural that he'd utilise some of his physicality (esp when it comes to shielding, turning/shrugging off close markers etc). Funnily enough, you can see a wee bit of resemblance in Coluna's (another boxer) gait and his dribbling style too, with his physicality featuring fairly heavily in his dribbling style.

Btw, I'd say those videos don't necessarily do justice to Kubala and he was one of the better players in the 1961 European Cup final against Benfica, and that too being in the twilight of his career. Played as an outside right before moving onto a free roaming role and he was a really well-rounded tricky and a creative player with a great goalscoring threat to boot - think he hit the bar in that encounter too and was one of the key influences (alongside Suarez) in their late surge for an equaliser in that game (one of the most frantic last 15-20 minutes in a European Cup final).

Also can't quite recall Kubala's performance from this game but this is a must watch

http://footballia.net/matches/france-spain

Suarez as usual was brilliant, as too was Fontaine with his intriguing playing style, but more than anything Gento, Suarez, di Stefano, Kubala, Kopa and Fontaine being on the same pitch .

 

[Enigma_87]

Thanks for this mate. Strangely enough he doesn't really blow me away with his technical skills although that scoop lob was a thing of beauty. More of a battler with his dribbling rather than graceful.

Most greats you can envisage doing really well in the modern game but I find it difficult to see his style of ball carrying being effective in the modern game or am I being harsh?

I think he will do pretty fine in modern game to be honest mate. In contrast to some older players he has the core value - vision, technical ability, reading of the game - but also he has the physical game to back it up, which I mentioned in the thread earlier.

When in comes to technical game - he's right up there with the best - there was a documentary couple of years ago - about Real and Barca how the rivalry began etc - around hour or so where there were loads of videos on Kubala. Unfortunately I can't find it anywhere . You have to also take into consideration the pitches at the time, the boots and the other details to appreciate his talent to the fullest.

I mean just look at them:

A bit like Garrincha his style was not as a result of drills and aesthetically the same as Ronaldo's and Messi as it was more natural and as all journos from the time mention - something that was a sight to see - I mean - Barca couldn't build a stadium big enough to welcome all his supporters.

As for battler - there's also the physical aspect of that era and compared to this one, and for example I'd say the transition will be a bit smoother compared to send CRon there hacking him down every time he gets the ball with no foul.

 

[Šjor Bepo]

Thanks for this mate. Strangely enough he doesn't really blow me away with his technical skills although that scoop lob was a thing of beauty. More of a battler with his dribbling rather than graceful.

Most greats you can envisage doing really well in the modern game but I find it difficult to see his style of ball carrying being effective in the modern game or am I being harsh?

Same, and dont agree that it was because of the pitches as there are others from that same era that look special and much better in that segment even though they played with the same boots and on the same pitches.

 

[harms]

To be fair the comparison to Di Stefano is in order (which was very common when they both played), who also doesn't look like a magical juggler from a first sight, but you'll hardly find anyone better in the whole history of the game

 

[Enigma_87]

Same, and dont agree that it was because of the pitches as there are others from that same era that look special and much better in that segment even though they played with the same boots and on the same pitches.

Who do you have in mind during that time mate?

 

[Šjor Bepo]

Who do you have in mind during that time mate?

Nobody specific tbf but you had Puskas, Di Stefano, Hidegkuti, Bozsik who looked special and their technical skill was in league of their own compared to others, watching Kubala you dont get the same impression, at least i dont.

 

[Raees]

Being harsh imo, I'd say his style of dribbling was fairly unorthodox but it was an extremely physical era and given Kubala's background as a boxer, it's only natural that he'd utilise some of his physicality (esp when it comes to shielding, turning/shrugging off close markers etc). Funnily enough, you can see a wee bit of resemblance in Coluna's (another boxer) gait and his dribbling style too, with his physicality featuring fairly heavily in his dribbling style.

Btw, I'd say those videos don't necessarily do justice to Kubala and he was one of the better players in the 1961 European Cup final against Benfica, and that too being in the twilight of his career. Played as an outside right before moving onto a free roaming role and he was a really well-rounded tricky and a creative player with a great goalscoring threat to boot - think he hit the bar in that encounter too and was one of the key influences (alongside Suarez) in their late surge for an equaliser in that game (one of the most frantic last 15-20 minutes in a European Cup final).

Also can't quite recall Kubala's performance from this game but this is a must watch

http://footballia.net/matches/france-spain

Suarez as usual was brilliant, as too was Fontaine with his intriguing playing style, but more than anything Gento, Suarez, di Stefano, Kubala, Kopa and Fontaine being on the same pitch .

What a game. Yeah I was being harsh.. he's a good little player, though I do think Barcelona player of the century material he isn't based on what I saw based on that game. Talented player though. He reminds me of modern day Luis Suarez but an attacking mid version, very rugged very direct.. sort of player who wouldn't look that great to someone watching back in 30 years because he doesn't have that grace throughout 90 minutes but clearly has unpredictable skill and has a killer instinct.

Fontaine wow Jean Vincent looks a player and what can you say about Suarez and Di Stefano - sheer class.

 

[Enigma_87]

Nobody specific tbf but you had Puskas, Di Stefano, Hidegkuti, Bozsik who looked special and their technical skill was in league of their own compared to others, watching Kubala you dont get the same impression, at least i dont.

To be honest I don't see Kubala inferior in terms of technical skill to any of them.



I'm trying to get more highlights from that game he (around the 1:00 min mark and then for the last goal) was directly responsible for three of them and the ones he created were down the right wing dribbling through one opponent for the first and 2 for the second (unfortunately the clip is cut only to the goal)



around 1:50 mark good first touch to tame the ball and send it in the bottom corner.

https://www.youtube.com/user/mesqueunclub1899/videos

in this channel there are plenty of clips of him where you can see glimpses of touch, finishing and some of his runs.

 

[Raees]

To be fair the comparison to Di Stefano is in order (which was very common when they both played), who also doesn't look like a magical juggler from a first sight, but you'll hardly find anyone better in the whole history of the game

I don't buy that argument, Di Stefano reminds me a lot of Zidane but it is clear to see Di Stefano is superior, the positions he takes up both in CDM and attack.. his stamina is pretty apparent and technically he's like a god to me even with modern eyes. Puskas is beautiful to watch, timeless player technically.. Matthews even. Kubala does look more rugged than them but no one gets rated that highly in that era of players if he wasn't good.. so the explanation I have is that he must have been one of those players who is like a modern day Luis Suarez or a Rooney. I do think he would be fine in the modern game after seeing him in a full match, thanks @Joga Bonito

 

[Šjor Bepo]

@Enigma_87 cheers for the links, will watch them tomorrow. As for my comment, it has nothing to do with player quality just want to make that clear.

 

[Enigma_87]

I don't buy that argument, Di Stefano reminds me a lot of Zidane but it is clear to see Di Stefano is superior, the positions he takes up both in CDM and attack.. his stamina is pretty apparent and technically he's like a god to me even with modern eyes. Puskas is beautiful to watch, timeless player technically.. Matthews even. Kubala does look more rugged than them but no one gets rated that highly in that era of players if he wasn't good.. so the explanation I have is that he must have been one of those players who is like a modern day Luis Suarez or a Rooney.

There are lots of quotes from players, journos and peers that put Kubala above Di Stefano in terms of technique, here are some words of his own:

His technique was more sophisticated than Di Stefano. He said: "If it was a demonstration of the ball, then did not call Alfredo, they called me.
Strong legs, broad-shouldered, bosomy, super technician, a great man. Academics football. All he had done in the game to high purity. Without exaggeration, the supreme pleasure, to art.

After fled Czechoslovakia, I was in Italy. The Pro Patria. And they were all fascinated with my juggling. A ball one afternoon I was just listening. She is mine and mine alone. The entire workout I just turned the ball. Club president, obviously gambler, a millionaire strokes, came to me and says: Kubala, I give you a watch, if you hit the ball 400 times and that it is none upon the earth. I laughed. He thought I was joking. I took the ball and beat the feet , head, knees exactly 400 times and that she fell to the lawn. And the watch was mine.

@Enigma_87 cheers for the links, will watch them tomorrow. As for my comment, it has nothing to do with player quality just want to make that clear.

Cheers mate. There are loads of highlights of Cruyff, Neeskens, Maradona and from games spanning around 7 decades. Interesting channel

 

[Theon]

I like the look of prath's front three and the use of Sindelar in particular. From my limited knowledge Aleinikov looks a fine fit to partner Bozsik, but I agree with harms on Rosicky and the false #9 system would possibly have worked even better with another indistrious all-rounder on the other side of Bozsik. That said, I still think it works well.

 

[Enigma_87]

Also @Raees here's another good read describing his style and from peers at the time:

It's from Sid Lowe's book: Fear and Loathing in La Liga: Barcelona, Real Madrid, and the World's greatest rivalry

 

[Raees]

@Enigma_87 appreciate the quotes mate, and the footage you've provided. Sometimes you just don't feel it sometimes with a player - we disagree on modern players all the time on the caf so whilst we are in universal agreement most of the time on the greats - not a surprise when sometimes one of us sees different. It's what keeps it interesting - hope I didn't cause offence.

I'm glad his physical power is being mentioned because I'd been under the impression he was this small fleet footed magician type but the boxing background his strength it paints a picture of a powerhouse footballer abit like a modern day Shaqiri in terms of build but one with very quick feet when he needed to get past someone, great vision and a clearly great feel for putting the ball in the back of the net. A dynamo.

 

[Enigma_87]

@Enigma_87 appreciate the quotes mate, and the footage you've provided. Sometimes you just don't feel it sometimes with a player - we disagree on modern players all the time on the caf so whilst we are in universal agreement most of the time on the greats - not a surprise when sometimes one of us sees different. It's what keeps it interesting - hope I didn't cause offence.

Nah none taken mate. Don't worry about it. Everyone sticks to his own and I value your or sjor's views even though we don't agree some times. I just want to present Kubala as he is rather under appreciate compared to his peers, while IMO he was one of the standouts of an era that - as demagogic it might sound -it's kinda true - it revolutionized football.

Besides it's what the draft games are and if the quotes and videos are appreciated by even a couple of visitors to the thread it's worth it, as he himself is a centerpiece in the history of one of the biggest clubs in the world so he deserves some attention and of course shed some light on why the hell he has been chosen as the best player for the club and 2nd in Spain in the 20th century.

It's easy to sell Modric/Suker/Mostovoi etc players that we saw week in and week out whilst growing up but with past greats not so as you know pretty well.

 

[Joga Bonito]

I do think he would be fine in the modern game after seeing him in a full match, thanks @Joga Bonito

Sure thing, a really entertaining game, has to be said.

Also Fontaine has to be one of the more underrated strikers imo, and I've yet to watch a poor game of Suarez's

 

[Raees]

Sure thing, a really entertaining game, has to be said.

Also Fontaine has to be one of the more underrated strikers imo, and I've yet to watch a poor game of Suarez's

Suarez is just a wonderful wonderful footballer and proven as it gets to boot, win win.

Fontaine, its funny but reading his profile you just always assume he was this goal predator extraordinaire.. but watching that match, he spends most of his time out of the box and he's brilliant at linking up play.

Not only did he break new ground with his incredible 13 goals at the 1958 FIFA World Cup Sweden, but former France legend Just Fontaine still holds the record 50 years on, making his the longest-surviving benchmark in sport. The instinctive finisher fired 165 goals in 200 top-flight games, giving him an average of 0.825 strikes per match. He also topped the French scoring charts in both 1958 and 1960, coming second in 1957 and 1959. At the root of his prolific scoring rate was an ability to score from any angle, with both feet and his head. "I jump so high to head the ball that when I come down again I have snow in my hair," he joked. Fontaine 'had it all; he was two-footed, great in the air and had speed to burn'.

 

[Enigma_87]

Good game @prath92 . I think it was unfortunate to come up against a defence that was a good fit for your excellent attack that you crafted and happy to see Bonev, Puc and Dobias getting picked and featuring in the draft.