Synco
The Red Viper
Synco Tactics
Approach
Aggressive transitions in both directions. Tight defensive 451/442, rapidly expanding when winning the ball, using the full width of the pitch. Primary targets are the wide spaces behind Alves & Brehme. Platini and Benzema will be the dual playmaking hub to send the wide forwards into duels, and provide a central goal threat in the follow-up.
Attack
Bergomi and Thuram vs Müller and Rummenigge
As great as the German duo is, Bergomi and Thuram are pretty much ideal defenders to confront them – fast & agile, yet physically dominant; quick in the head; great 1:1 defenders on the ground, tall enough to control them in the air. There can be no guarantees, but my CBs have a realistic fighting chance, which is about what you can ask for.
Numerical superiority in defense
The matchup ensures numerical superiority against Viper's offensive trio, but Mauro, Davids, Thuram, and Bergomi can also be trusted to defend each of them 1:1 if the situation calls for it. This frees up Cabrini or Amoros to join the attack in the right moment, and target Viper's lighter flanks, forcing Alves/Brehme back in the process. 4 of the back 6 will stay back at all times, Schumacher being proactive in coming off his line (yes, I know) in addition.
(All of this presumes Viper sticks to the 3412. If he changes formation, I'll post my adjustments in the discussion.)
The Red Viper Tactics
We will play a 4-3-3 formation. We will look to play a relatively deeper backline and look to attack Synco's team on the counters. Use our physicality in the central areas of the midfield and defense. Voronin as the defensive minded midfielder with Tigana as a box-to-box midfielder and Suárez as the playmaker who can drop deep to initiate the attacks as well as join the attack when needed. Müller will lead the line with Rummenigge and Rivaldo playing off him. Kalle will be in a more wing-forward role on the right while Rivaldo will be playing as a left sided second striker with license to roam and drift inside during phases of the game.
The defense comprises of Zoff in goal with a back-4 of Alves, Cannavaro, Stam and Brehme. Zoff who is usually considered a top-3/at worst Top-5 goalkeepers of all time, will be in goal. A fantastic all rounded goal-keeper with great leadership and organizing ability. Alves and Brehme will be the wing-backs in the team. Two of the best attacking full-backs ever with fantastic delivery and playmaking from the flanks. They will provide us with width and creativity down the flanks but at the same time were quite adept defensively as well. Cannavaro and Stam form the core of the central defense. An all-time great, Cannavaro at his peak was such a complete defender. He was fast but at the same time extremely strong and despite his relatively shorter height, was excellent in the air thanks to his leap. Alongside him is one of the fiercest and most complete CBs ever, Stam. Absolutely built like a tank who was a beast aerially but at the same time was quick enough to hang with tricky technical strikers.
In midfield we are rolling with a three man midfield of Voronin, Tigana and Luis Suárez. A proper midfield general, Valery Voronin is one of the Top-5 defensive midfielders ever. Voronin could stamp his authority on the game in a variety of ways. Technically gifted on the ball and a very smart passer who could break the lines and feed the attack with his passing. But make no mistake, while he was good at the attacking side of the game, where he made a name for himself was on the defensive side. His anticipation and positional awareness combined with excellent tackling and physicality made him a behemoth of a presence in midfield. Marking two Ballon D'or winners, Eusébio and Flórián Albert at their prime, out of the game and restricting their influence is no joke. Yet Voronin did it. Alongside Voronin in midfield is Jean Tigana. A cert complete central midfielders who impacted the game on both sides of the ball. Tigana possesed high energy and intensity in midfield and could win back the possession. But at the same time quite adept at creating and making plays in the attacking phase of the game thanks to his excellent ball carrying ability with really smooth close control in tight spaces. Playing alongside them is, Luis Suárez Miramontes, "El Arquitecto". A deep-lying playmaker extraordinaire, Suárez was the architecht of "La Grande Inter" side under Helenio Herrera. Suárez was a master at controlling the game but at the same time possessed some of the best passing range and vision amongst the footballers to have laced 'em up. His ability to swiftly transition from defense to attack with his pinpoint and precise passing will be vital in us initiating swift counter attacks from the back and also find the attacking trio in the final third. Suárez's with his long range passing and vision can switch flanks at ease and also put in lofted balls over the defenses for the likes of Müller, Rummenigge and Rivaldo to exploit when they run the channels.
In attack we have an attacking triumvirate of Gerd Müller, Rummenigge and Rivaldo. Rivaldo will be playing in a left sided second striker role with license to drift inside. The 1999 Ballon D'or winner is one of the greatest players of the modern era. Rivaldo was a magician with the ball at his feet. Renowned for his technique, flair, sick close-control and a thunder-bolt of a left foot, Rivaldo would play between the lines on that left sided zone where he can link with the likes of Müller and Kalle while providing creativity. Rivaldo will link up with Brehme who will be providing the width down that flank, where Rivaldo can utilize that exquisite left foot of his to pump in crosses for Müller and Kalle to attack. The two-time Ballon D'or winner in 1980 & 1981, Rummenigge would be playing in front of Rivaldo and off Gerd Müller in a second striker-ish/withdrawn forward role. Kalle was an athletic all-round forward, who could play across the front line be it as a wing-forward on both the sides, a second striker or upfront on his own, which made him as one of the most completed attackers the World has ever seen. His link-up play along with his incisive runs into the box from wide areas or deep will be a nightmare for opposition to defend. Rounding up the attack, up-front we have Gerd Müller, possibly the greatest goalscorer ever leading the line for us. With Alves and Brehme pumping in crosses from the flanks, Kalle, Rivaldo and Suárez creating and playmaking from centrally from deep, there will be plenty of service to feed arguably the greatest No 9 ever.
v/s Synco:- Synco has a really good team. However, I feel like I have a much better attack and a better central midfield. Alves has had experience dealing with pacy modern wing attackers and that would be helpful when he is up against Blokhin. Brehme's ambidextrous ability will be so vital dealing against Robben when he cuts inside. It is obviously not easy to stop Robben but having a guy like Brehme will help. With a rapid defender like Cannavaro covering at the back, the fullbacks will always have a guy behind them who is pacy enough to keep up fast attackers. Voronin will keep track of Platini along with help from Tigana. Suárez will look to initiate swift counter attacks from the back by feeding the likes of Müller, Rummenigge and Rivaldo on the break. Three outstanding attackers with a plethora of goals between them and can score all kinds of goals.
The Red Viper
Synco Tactics
Approach
Aggressive transitions in both directions. Tight defensive 451/442, rapidly expanding when winning the ball, using the full width of the pitch. Primary targets are the wide spaces behind Alves & Brehme. Platini and Benzema will be the dual playmaking hub to send the wide forwards into duels, and provide a central goal threat in the follow-up.
Attack
- As above: target the space behind the wingbacks, to make the defense move and force defenders into 1:1s against Robben and Blokhin.
- Create overloads on the left with Blokhin, Cabrini, and Benzema. Same on the right wing. The wide forward on the far side will stretch the pitch to threaten the lesser defended side. He can attack the box or get sent into a dribbling by Platini's long switches.
Bergomi and Thuram vs Müller and Rummenigge
As great as the German duo is, Bergomi and Thuram are pretty much ideal defenders to confront them – fast & agile, yet physically dominant; quick in the head; great 1:1 defenders on the ground, tall enough to control them in the air. There can be no guarantees, but my CBs have a realistic fighting chance, which is about what you can ask for.
Numerical superiority in defense
The matchup ensures numerical superiority against Viper's offensive trio, but Mauro, Davids, Thuram, and Bergomi can also be trusted to defend each of them 1:1 if the situation calls for it. This frees up Cabrini or Amoros to join the attack in the right moment, and target Viper's lighter flanks, forcing Alves/Brehme back in the process. 4 of the back 6 will stay back at all times, Schumacher being proactive in coming off his line (yes, I know) in addition.
(All of this presumes Viper sticks to the 3412. If he changes formation, I'll post my adjustments in the discussion.)
The Red Viper Tactics
We will play a 4-3-3 formation. We will look to play a relatively deeper backline and look to attack Synco's team on the counters. Use our physicality in the central areas of the midfield and defense. Voronin as the defensive minded midfielder with Tigana as a box-to-box midfielder and Suárez as the playmaker who can drop deep to initiate the attacks as well as join the attack when needed. Müller will lead the line with Rummenigge and Rivaldo playing off him. Kalle will be in a more wing-forward role on the right while Rivaldo will be playing as a left sided second striker with license to roam and drift inside during phases of the game.
The defense comprises of Zoff in goal with a back-4 of Alves, Cannavaro, Stam and Brehme. Zoff who is usually considered a top-3/at worst Top-5 goalkeepers of all time, will be in goal. A fantastic all rounded goal-keeper with great leadership and organizing ability. Alves and Brehme will be the wing-backs in the team. Two of the best attacking full-backs ever with fantastic delivery and playmaking from the flanks. They will provide us with width and creativity down the flanks but at the same time were quite adept defensively as well. Cannavaro and Stam form the core of the central defense. An all-time great, Cannavaro at his peak was such a complete defender. He was fast but at the same time extremely strong and despite his relatively shorter height, was excellent in the air thanks to his leap. Alongside him is one of the fiercest and most complete CBs ever, Stam. Absolutely built like a tank who was a beast aerially but at the same time was quick enough to hang with tricky technical strikers.
In midfield we are rolling with a three man midfield of Voronin, Tigana and Luis Suárez. A proper midfield general, Valery Voronin is one of the Top-5 defensive midfielders ever. Voronin could stamp his authority on the game in a variety of ways. Technically gifted on the ball and a very smart passer who could break the lines and feed the attack with his passing. But make no mistake, while he was good at the attacking side of the game, where he made a name for himself was on the defensive side. His anticipation and positional awareness combined with excellent tackling and physicality made him a behemoth of a presence in midfield. Marking two Ballon D'or winners, Eusébio and Flórián Albert at their prime, out of the game and restricting their influence is no joke. Yet Voronin did it. Alongside Voronin in midfield is Jean Tigana. A cert complete central midfielders who impacted the game on both sides of the ball. Tigana possesed high energy and intensity in midfield and could win back the possession. But at the same time quite adept at creating and making plays in the attacking phase of the game thanks to his excellent ball carrying ability with really smooth close control in tight spaces. Playing alongside them is, Luis Suárez Miramontes, "El Arquitecto". A deep-lying playmaker extraordinaire, Suárez was the architecht of "La Grande Inter" side under Helenio Herrera. Suárez was a master at controlling the game but at the same time possessed some of the best passing range and vision amongst the footballers to have laced 'em up. His ability to swiftly transition from defense to attack with his pinpoint and precise passing will be vital in us initiating swift counter attacks from the back and also find the attacking trio in the final third. Suárez's with his long range passing and vision can switch flanks at ease and also put in lofted balls over the defenses for the likes of Müller, Rummenigge and Rivaldo to exploit when they run the channels.
In attack we have an attacking triumvirate of Gerd Müller, Rummenigge and Rivaldo. Rivaldo will be playing in a left sided second striker role with license to drift inside. The 1999 Ballon D'or winner is one of the greatest players of the modern era. Rivaldo was a magician with the ball at his feet. Renowned for his technique, flair, sick close-control and a thunder-bolt of a left foot, Rivaldo would play between the lines on that left sided zone where he can link with the likes of Müller and Kalle while providing creativity. Rivaldo will link up with Brehme who will be providing the width down that flank, where Rivaldo can utilize that exquisite left foot of his to pump in crosses for Müller and Kalle to attack. The two-time Ballon D'or winner in 1980 & 1981, Rummenigge would be playing in front of Rivaldo and off Gerd Müller in a second striker-ish/withdrawn forward role. Kalle was an athletic all-round forward, who could play across the front line be it as a wing-forward on both the sides, a second striker or upfront on his own, which made him as one of the most completed attackers the World has ever seen. His link-up play along with his incisive runs into the box from wide areas or deep will be a nightmare for opposition to defend. Rounding up the attack, up-front we have Gerd Müller, possibly the greatest goalscorer ever leading the line for us. With Alves and Brehme pumping in crosses from the flanks, Kalle, Rivaldo and Suárez creating and playmaking from centrally from deep, there will be plenty of service to feed arguably the greatest No 9 ever.
v/s Synco:- Synco has a really good team. However, I feel like I have a much better attack and a better central midfield. Alves has had experience dealing with pacy modern wing attackers and that would be helpful when he is up against Blokhin. Brehme's ambidextrous ability will be so vital dealing against Robben when he cuts inside. It is obviously not easy to stop Robben but having a guy like Brehme will help. With a rapid defender like Cannavaro covering at the back, the fullbacks will always have a guy behind them who is pacy enough to keep up fast attackers. Voronin will keep track of Platini along with help from Tigana. Suárez will look to initiate swift counter attacks from the back by feeding the likes of Müller, Rummenigge and Rivaldo on the break. Three outstanding attackers with a plethora of goals between them and can score all kinds of goals.
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