The Red Viper
Pat_Mustard
The Red Viper Tactics
We will play a 5-3-2 formation which can transition into a 3-4-3 during games when needed, with Kopa as a right sided attacking midfielder and Kalle as a left wing forward/second striker. Sammer will have full license to make darting runs during the attacking phase and provide more nos in midfield.
The defense comprises of Zoff in goal with a back-5 of Kaltz, Förster, Sammer, Ferrara and Gordillo. Usually considered a top-3/at worst Top-5 goalkeepers of all time, Zoff will be in goal. A fantastic all rounded goal-keeper with great leadership and organizing ability. Kaltz and Gordillo will be the wing-backs in the team. Two excellent attacking full-backs with fantastic delivery from the flanks, especially Kaltz who is usually considered one of the greatest crossers ever. Sammer is one of the greatest sweepers ever. While he may not have had the longevity like a lot of great defenders, at his peak, in terms of impacting the game he was as good as any great defender. There's a reason he is one of the 3 defenders to have ever won Ballon D'or. Marshalled Germany to win UEFA Euros in 1996 and UEFA Champions League in 1997 with Dortmund. Partnering Sammer in the core of the central defense are Förster and Ferrara. Förster, one of the finest man-markers ever, could man-mark a top tier poacher like Hugo Sánchez as effectively as he could man-mark one of the greatest No 10s ever in Michel Platini, as he demonstrated during the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Ferrara's career was somewhat mared with injuries which stopped him from being considered amongst the all-time great defenders ever. But he still had enough sample size and performances to be rated a fantastic defender. A very complete defender who could play across the backline in a variety of roles. Be it as a sweeper, man-marker or as a full-back. He was quick, read the game really well, had great anticipation and could step out wide and defend one on one against fast tricky wide attackers. There's a reason why Giggs and Boniek, two of the best wide attackers in the 80s and 90s considered Ferrara the toughest defender they have faced.
In midfield we are rolling with a double-pivot of Tigana and Coluna. Two really complete midfielders who 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. Tigana was an excellent ball carrier with really smooth close control in tight spaces while Coluna was a more physical player who used his physique and technique for the incisive driving runs into the final third, and also possesed the passing range to feed the attackers. Coluna was a proper big game player as well. Scored in both of Benfica's European Cup wins in the Final.
In attack we have an attacking triumvirate of Gerd Müller, Rummenigge and Kopa. At No 10, we have the 1958 Ballon D'or Winner, Kopa who is one of the greatest playmakers to have graced the game of football. Kopa will feed our attack with his incisive passing and fantastic through-balls. The current record holder for the most assists in a FIFA World Cup tournament, Raymond Kopa is the perfect player to provide ammo for our attack to thrive. Along with dropping deep and providing through balls for Müller and Kalle, Kopa can also drift out wide and be a withdrawn wide attacking midfielder where he can link up with Kaltz and find him to put in his famous banana crosses for the strike-force. The two-time Ballon D'or winner in 1980 & 1981, Rummenigge would be playing in front of Kopa 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 Kaltz and Gordillo pumping in crosses from the flanks, Kalle and Kopa creating and playmaking from centrally along with Coluna and Sammer from deep, there will be plenty of service to feed arguably the greatest No 9 ever.
Pat_Mustard Tactics
Formation/Style of Play: A modern 4-2-2-2 akin to that deployed by RB Leipzig under Rangnick, Hasenhuttl, Nagelsmann and Rose. High defensive line with intense counter-pressing high up the pitch. Direct and vertical in attack, generally aiming to get the ball to the attacking four as quickly as possible in the build-up. FBs responsible for occupying the outside channels in possession, with the AMs and strikers situationally peeling out wide to create overloads.
Pat_Mustard
The Red Viper Tactics
We will play a 5-3-2 formation which can transition into a 3-4-3 during games when needed, with Kopa as a right sided attacking midfielder and Kalle as a left wing forward/second striker. Sammer will have full license to make darting runs during the attacking phase and provide more nos in midfield.
The defense comprises of Zoff in goal with a back-5 of Kaltz, Förster, Sammer, Ferrara and Gordillo. Usually considered a top-3/at worst Top-5 goalkeepers of all time, Zoff will be in goal. A fantastic all rounded goal-keeper with great leadership and organizing ability. Kaltz and Gordillo will be the wing-backs in the team. Two excellent attacking full-backs with fantastic delivery from the flanks, especially Kaltz who is usually considered one of the greatest crossers ever. Sammer is one of the greatest sweepers ever. While he may not have had the longevity like a lot of great defenders, at his peak, in terms of impacting the game he was as good as any great defender. There's a reason he is one of the 3 defenders to have ever won Ballon D'or. Marshalled Germany to win UEFA Euros in 1996 and UEFA Champions League in 1997 with Dortmund. Partnering Sammer in the core of the central defense are Förster and Ferrara. Förster, one of the finest man-markers ever, could man-mark a top tier poacher like Hugo Sánchez as effectively as he could man-mark one of the greatest No 10s ever in Michel Platini, as he demonstrated during the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Ferrara's career was somewhat mared with injuries which stopped him from being considered amongst the all-time great defenders ever. But he still had enough sample size and performances to be rated a fantastic defender. A very complete defender who could play across the backline in a variety of roles. Be it as a sweeper, man-marker or as a full-back. He was quick, read the game really well, had great anticipation and could step out wide and defend one on one against fast tricky wide attackers. There's a reason why Giggs and Boniek, two of the best wide attackers in the 80s and 90s considered Ferrara the toughest defender they have faced.
In midfield we are rolling with a double-pivot of Tigana and Coluna. Two really complete midfielders who 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. Tigana was an excellent ball carrier with really smooth close control in tight spaces while Coluna was a more physical player who used his physique and technique for the incisive driving runs into the final third, and also possesed the passing range to feed the attackers. Coluna was a proper big game player as well. Scored in both of Benfica's European Cup wins in the Final.
In attack we have an attacking triumvirate of Gerd Müller, Rummenigge and Kopa. At No 10, we have the 1958 Ballon D'or Winner, Kopa who is one of the greatest playmakers to have graced the game of football. Kopa will feed our attack with his incisive passing and fantastic through-balls. The current record holder for the most assists in a FIFA World Cup tournament, Raymond Kopa is the perfect player to provide ammo for our attack to thrive. Along with dropping deep and providing through balls for Müller and Kalle, Kopa can also drift out wide and be a withdrawn wide attacking midfielder where he can link up with Kaltz and find him to put in his famous banana crosses for the strike-force. The two-time Ballon D'or winner in 1980 & 1981, Rummenigge would be playing in front of Kopa 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 Kaltz and Gordillo pumping in crosses from the flanks, Kalle and Kopa creating and playmaking from centrally along with Coluna and Sammer from deep, there will be plenty of service to feed arguably the greatest No 9 ever.
Pat_Mustard Tactics
Formation/Style of Play: A modern 4-2-2-2 akin to that deployed by RB Leipzig under Rangnick, Hasenhuttl, Nagelsmann and Rose. High defensive line with intense counter-pressing high up the pitch. Direct and vertical in attack, generally aiming to get the ball to the attacking four as quickly as possible in the build-up. FBs responsible for occupying the outside channels in possession, with the AMs and strikers situationally peeling out wide to create overloads.
- A quality sweeper-keeper in VDS, with two CBS who are comfortable defending large spaces and dealing with long balls. Martinez is an expert at screening and covering, allowing Keane to harry and press.
- Kimmich is a quality creator from RB and proven in high-line pressing systems. Zebec is somewhat of an unknown quantity in that regard, but seems to have the speed, athleticism and tactical malleability to carry out the role.
- Keane's punchy, direct style of high-volume passing looks a good fit for this aggressive and direct system.
- High workrate was an essential criteria for the attackers, with Kempes and Suarez in particular boasting manic energy and determination. Reus' workrate was always good but improved yet further later in his career, and Kicker Magazine nicely summarised Hassler as "a successful blend of a tireless midfield worker, a playmaker and a tricky winger. A rare breed in that he was an individualist who was committed to teamplay."
- The direct, surging Kempes and and the collective-orientated playmaking and creativity of Hassler offer a nice contrast of styles in the AM positions. The initial plan was Reus in the left-midfield berth and Kempes as the second striker, but after looking into Reus' breakout season at Gladbach as a SS and subsequent form for Dortmund when played centrally I reversed it. The quality and selflessness of his off-the-ball movement, particularly into wider areas, will be key to pulling defenders out of position and creating space for the likes of Kempes to surge into.
