Team diarm
Tactics
SUB and CHANGE of formation at 2042:
OK so my daring ploy isn't going down too well it seems. As I mentioned earlier, I battled between two line ups and decided on this one largely because it is easier to tweak to a more conventional formation in match, and with the particular attributes of Voronin I can do so while still employing Koeman as a playmaker.
Valery Voronin comes in as a world class destroying defensive midfielder. He will add energy, power and tenacity to my midfield and importantly, was a very capable central defender in his own right. This ability will also him to step back and provide cover for Koeman as the dutchman carries the ball out of defence and looks to launch attacks from deep.
Bergomi moves out to the right as a limited fullback, strengthening our defence out wide while De Vecchi will be employed slightly more conservatively on the left, although he will still have occasional opportunities to push forward with and use his ability and speed with the ball at his feet.
Voronin's presence will allow Ocwirk greater licence to push forward and link with Zidane in building attacks, although he will still provide a valuable defensive presence - particularly from set pieces where his famed aerial ability (along with that of Bergomi and Ronaldo) will be important.
Finally, the beauty of having two wide attackers who could play on either flank allows me to circumvent the impossible and magnificent Ronaldo-defying talents of Ashley Cole. While I do prefer Ronaldinho on the left, he often did a fine job from the right hand side and will do well in this slightly more tucked in role, providing a very different and less direct challenge for Cole to deal with. Any downsides to switching him are relieved by Ronaldo, who I always preferred when employed on the left - particularly here with the mouthwatering prospect of him combinging with the speedy De Vecchi on the overlap against a fullback who, while capable as a right back, was predominantly known for his performances on the left.
Invictus/Theon sub: Jorginho.[/SPOILER]
Tactics
Team Diarm has been set up to best unleash the power of our front 3 along with the immense creative qualities of Koeman, Ocwirk and Zidane in launching attacks.
I recognise that although I have superb midfielders in Ocwirk, Valery Voronin and Zidane, two of them are not the most recognisable names and there is no point in me arguing that we will out-midfield our opponents superb trio. So I won't.
They will have plenty of the ball, there's no doubt about that. We will encourage them to do so, and by defending with a deep line, look to invite them onto us deep into our half.
I am confident in the strength of our defensive line to give just as good as it gets, even against such inevitably excellent attacks as this draft has thrown up. In Bergomi and Santamaria, we have two of the finest centre backs of all time. Both hard as nails, uncompromising and intelligent defenders. On either side we have quick and talented wing backs, both exceptional defenders first and foremost but both well capable of adding to our attack when appropriate.
And in the middle we have Koeman, an asset to the defence but free also in this role to provide the creative spark from deep. Koeman will have license to harry in a defensive midfield role as well as drop deeper, backing up the defensive line when necessary.
In front of this we have Ernst Ocwirk (or "Clockwork" as he was dubbed by the British media for his consistency), one of the very first holding midfielders or the very last of the great attacking centre halves. A man who excelled defensively but was best known for his ability to launch attacks from deep with superb long range passing and excellent decision making.
With all the attacking talent on display, it is the roles of these two men - Koeman and Ocwirk, which best illustrate how Team Diarm will play. Against such a fantastic midfield, we will look to bypass it completely by luring our opponent deep into our half and then using the vision and long range technical ability of these playmakers to punish them on the counter attack.
This strategy relies on being able to find Zidane, Ronaldinho, Cristiano and Batigol quickly and in space. For that I can hardly think of two better players to rely on. They will find them. And once those four have ball in space on the counter, we will score goals.
I'm not going to make up stories or invent criticisms for my opponents. It's a fine team and they will cause us problems everywere. They'll probably score. I just think we'll score more.
I recognise that although I have superb midfielders in Ocwirk, Valery Voronin and Zidane, two of them are not the most recognisable names and there is no point in me arguing that we will out-midfield our opponents superb trio. So I won't.
They will have plenty of the ball, there's no doubt about that. We will encourage them to do so, and by defending with a deep line, look to invite them onto us deep into our half.
I am confident in the strength of our defensive line to give just as good as it gets, even against such inevitably excellent attacks as this draft has thrown up. In Bergomi and Santamaria, we have two of the finest centre backs of all time. Both hard as nails, uncompromising and intelligent defenders. On either side we have quick and talented wing backs, both exceptional defenders first and foremost but both well capable of adding to our attack when appropriate.
And in the middle we have Koeman, an asset to the defence but free also in this role to provide the creative spark from deep. Koeman will have license to harry in a defensive midfield role as well as drop deeper, backing up the defensive line when necessary.
In front of this we have Ernst Ocwirk (or "Clockwork" as he was dubbed by the British media for his consistency), one of the very first holding midfielders or the very last of the great attacking centre halves. A man who excelled defensively but was best known for his ability to launch attacks from deep with superb long range passing and excellent decision making.
With all the attacking talent on display, it is the roles of these two men - Koeman and Ocwirk, which best illustrate how Team Diarm will play. Against such a fantastic midfield, we will look to bypass it completely by luring our opponent deep into our half and then using the vision and long range technical ability of these playmakers to punish them on the counter attack.
This strategy relies on being able to find Zidane, Ronaldinho, Cristiano and Batigol quickly and in space. For that I can hardly think of two better players to rely on. They will find them. And once those four have ball in space on the counter, we will score goals.
I'm not going to make up stories or invent criticisms for my opponents. It's a fine team and they will cause us problems everywere. They'll probably score. I just think we'll score more.
SUB and CHANGE of formation at 2042:
OK so my daring ploy isn't going down too well it seems. As I mentioned earlier, I battled between two line ups and decided on this one largely because it is easier to tweak to a more conventional formation in match, and with the particular attributes of Voronin I can do so while still employing Koeman as a playmaker.
Valery Voronin comes in as a world class destroying defensive midfielder. He will add energy, power and tenacity to my midfield and importantly, was a very capable central defender in his own right. This ability will also him to step back and provide cover for Koeman as the dutchman carries the ball out of defence and looks to launch attacks from deep.
Bergomi moves out to the right as a limited fullback, strengthening our defence out wide while De Vecchi will be employed slightly more conservatively on the left, although he will still have occasional opportunities to push forward with and use his ability and speed with the ball at his feet.
Voronin's presence will allow Ocwirk greater licence to push forward and link with Zidane in building attacks, although he will still provide a valuable defensive presence - particularly from set pieces where his famed aerial ability (along with that of Bergomi and Ronaldo) will be important.
Finally, the beauty of having two wide attackers who could play on either flank allows me to circumvent the impossible and magnificent Ronaldo-defying talents of Ashley Cole. While I do prefer Ronaldinho on the left, he often did a fine job from the right hand side and will do well in this slightly more tucked in role, providing a very different and less direct challenge for Cole to deal with. Any downsides to switching him are relieved by Ronaldo, who I always preferred when employed on the left - particularly here with the mouthwatering prospect of him combinging with the speedy De Vecchi on the overlap against a fullback who, while capable as a right back, was predominantly known for his performances on the left.
Invictus/Theon sub: Jorginho.[/SPOILER]
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