Please remember that players should only be judged by their performances in their assigned leagues for this draft (not career peak)
Our 4-2-1-3 / 4-2-3-1 hypbrid is founded on a solid and hard-working defensive set-up combined with a creative and swashbuckling attack. The central defensive axis is rock solid harnessing the raw aggression and grizzle of Carles Puyol with the all-roundedness of one of the Bundesliga's greatest ever defenders in Rune Bratseth. Behind them is Jose Luis Chilavert whose shot-stopping ability, smoothness on the ball, and sweeper-keeping complement the pair in front of him. The axis is flanked byStefan Turbo Reuter on the right, a rapid and tidy defender but also a relentless overlapper, a quality shared by Spanish and Barcelona left wing-back Sergi who dominated many a flank throughout the 1990s.
Serial winner Didier Deschamps anchors the midfield in the same effective way he provided the platform for Juventus and France's dominance through the second half of the 1990s. He is paired withOlaf Thon, a versatile midfielder who shone first as an attacking midfielder, then a central midfielder and finally as a libero. Importantly he is strong on both sides of the ball and will offer positive transitions going forward and reliably astute positioning going back. Serie A Juan Sebastian Veron was a hell of a player, often overshadowing many of the other great playmakers of the late 1990s, and his light always burned brightest when partnered with solid workaholics (for Deschamps see Simeone or Dino Baggio) who were happy to let him get on showcasing his passing range and vision.
Veron renews a successful club partnership with the best player on the park in Pavel Nedved. He should keep Cafu pegged right back but will equally have the freedom and inclination to roam and hunt for shooting opportunities and gaps in the back line. On the right is a Real Madrid legend in Michel, a classic right midfielder whose 4th place in the Ballon D'Or is only bettered as a wide midfielder in this pool by Nedved. Together that wing partnership will stretch the defence, present a variety of attacking threats and work back in behind the ball when required. Getting on the end of it all will be the great Careca, an all-round centre-forward who tastily linked up play, penetrated behind back lines, and leapt like a salmon in the air.
WHY WE WILL WIN:
Team Isotope
The side executes a quasi 3-5-2 and 4-3-3, with the solid defensive and flexible attacking set-ups.
DEFENCE
The 1991 Best European Gk, 4 times Germany Gk of the Year, and 1990 World Cup winner Bodo Illgner was a god-like shot-stopper that’s guarding the goal. Standing in his front are the Real Madrid legend and captain Manuel 'Manolo' Sanchís, an energetic and aggressive CB. Partnering Manolo is the current Germany captain, the dashing Mats Hummels. Other than decent on air duel, Hummel’s famous for playmaking from the backline; capable of relieving pressure at backline, and even launching counter attack.
Defending on the side, while providing width outlet on attack are the arguably best right back of all-time Cafu, and the trickery hard-working Ze Roberto.
MIDFIELD AND ATTACK
World Cup winner, a workhorse with incredible stamina, tackling and leadership skills, Mauro Silva is capable of dropping deep to central defence, and helping midfield duel when needed.
Accompanying him in midfield are the Chilean playmaker David Pizarro and the powerful ex-Bayern captain Mark van Bommel. van Bommel was the first non-German captain in the history of Bayern Munich, and was voted Bayern Player of the Year in 2007. His FIFA World Cup profile describes him as "a tackling machine and expert ball-winner, but he also boasts a fine array of passes and a powerful shot,..". In 187 games for Munich, he contributed 16 goals and 20 assists playing mostly as defensive midfielder or box to box.
Under Luciato Spalletti at Roma, D. Pizarro contributed 11 goals and 35 assists in 129 games as central midfielder general controlling the game.
Main supplier to the attacking line is one of the Spain most technically gifted player, playmaker for the famous Super Depor of early to mid 2000’s: Juan Carlos Valeron. He's a prominent presence at Spain NT at that time. He, Claudio Lopez, and Roy Maakay where the three amigos behind Deportivo de la Coruna most successful period.
Leading the line is the skillful, creative, and powerful George Weah. Partnering him is the speedy Giuseppe "Beppe" Signori. Beppe was a 3 times Serie A top scorer, when the league was still peerless.
Team Gio
vs
Team Isotope
Team Gio
vs
Team Isotope
Our 4-2-1-3 / 4-2-3-1 hypbrid is founded on a solid and hard-working defensive set-up combined with a creative and swashbuckling attack. The central defensive axis is rock solid harnessing the raw aggression and grizzle of Carles Puyol with the all-roundedness of one of the Bundesliga's greatest ever defenders in Rune Bratseth. Behind them is Jose Luis Chilavert whose shot-stopping ability, smoothness on the ball, and sweeper-keeping complement the pair in front of him. The axis is flanked byStefan Turbo Reuter on the right, a rapid and tidy defender but also a relentless overlapper, a quality shared by Spanish and Barcelona left wing-back Sergi who dominated many a flank throughout the 1990s.
Serial winner Didier Deschamps anchors the midfield in the same effective way he provided the platform for Juventus and France's dominance through the second half of the 1990s. He is paired withOlaf Thon, a versatile midfielder who shone first as an attacking midfielder, then a central midfielder and finally as a libero. Importantly he is strong on both sides of the ball and will offer positive transitions going forward and reliably astute positioning going back. Serie A Juan Sebastian Veron was a hell of a player, often overshadowing many of the other great playmakers of the late 1990s, and his light always burned brightest when partnered with solid workaholics (for Deschamps see Simeone or Dino Baggio) who were happy to let him get on showcasing his passing range and vision.
Veron renews a successful club partnership with the best player on the park in Pavel Nedved. He should keep Cafu pegged right back but will equally have the freedom and inclination to roam and hunt for shooting opportunities and gaps in the back line. On the right is a Real Madrid legend in Michel, a classic right midfielder whose 4th place in the Ballon D'Or is only bettered as a wide midfielder in this pool by Nedved. Together that wing partnership will stretch the defence, present a variety of attacking threats and work back in behind the ball when required. Getting on the end of it all will be the great Careca, an all-round centre-forward who tastily linked up play, penetrated behind back lines, and leapt like a salmon in the air.
WHY WE WILL WIN:
- Range of attacking threats from wide areas and through the middle. Nedved, Veron and Michel could all conjure something out of nothing. If any of that three is shut out, then either of the other two are well placed to make the difference. We should be especially strong the flanks with the support from Sergi and Reuter available.
- Stronger defensive and midfield spine. Puyol and Bratseth are effectively La Liga and Bundesliga upgrades on Sanchis and Hummels. Not that there are huge margins there, but the individual recognition each of those players has received is testament to a quality gap. It's the same in midfield with Deschamps, Veron and Thon against Pizarro, Mauro Silva, Van Bommel and Valeron. While I'm a big fan of Mauro Silva and Valeron, I'd wager we have a small but critical quality advantage in there.
- By contrast, team Isotope will be heavily reliant on Valeron to create something out of nothing. In the absence of any genuine wide threat in the midfield or attack, Isotope's full-backs have to get forward. But given the calibre of our own wide threats, that is a risky business and in practice I can see both full-backs pegged back. Obviously we will need to keep an eye on Cafu and in that respect Nedved's work rate and defensive application will be important.
Team Isotope
The side executes a quasi 3-5-2 and 4-3-3, with the solid defensive and flexible attacking set-ups.
DEFENCE
The 1991 Best European Gk, 4 times Germany Gk of the Year, and 1990 World Cup winner Bodo Illgner was a god-like shot-stopper that’s guarding the goal. Standing in his front are the Real Madrid legend and captain Manuel 'Manolo' Sanchís, an energetic and aggressive CB. Partnering Manolo is the current Germany captain, the dashing Mats Hummels. Other than decent on air duel, Hummel’s famous for playmaking from the backline; capable of relieving pressure at backline, and even launching counter attack.
Defending on the side, while providing width outlet on attack are the arguably best right back of all-time Cafu, and the trickery hard-working Ze Roberto.
MIDFIELD AND ATTACK
World Cup winner, a workhorse with incredible stamina, tackling and leadership skills, Mauro Silva is capable of dropping deep to central defence, and helping midfield duel when needed.
Accompanying him in midfield are the Chilean playmaker David Pizarro and the powerful ex-Bayern captain Mark van Bommel. van Bommel was the first non-German captain in the history of Bayern Munich, and was voted Bayern Player of the Year in 2007. His FIFA World Cup profile describes him as "a tackling machine and expert ball-winner, but he also boasts a fine array of passes and a powerful shot,..". In 187 games for Munich, he contributed 16 goals and 20 assists playing mostly as defensive midfielder or box to box.
Under Luciato Spalletti at Roma, D. Pizarro contributed 11 goals and 35 assists in 129 games as central midfielder general controlling the game.
Main supplier to the attacking line is one of the Spain most technically gifted player, playmaker for the famous Super Depor of early to mid 2000’s: Juan Carlos Valeron. He's a prominent presence at Spain NT at that time. He, Claudio Lopez, and Roy Maakay where the three amigos behind Deportivo de la Coruna most successful period.
Leading the line is the skillful, creative, and powerful George Weah. Partnering him is the speedy Giuseppe "Beppe" Signori. Beppe was a 3 times Serie A top scorer, when the league was still peerless.
) to be the team's main mouthpiece during the game, as I'm as soft as wet tofu attacking such an otherwise fine team.
It looks very fetching on the team sheet, and I can see that unit working very well in practice. Its hard to find much fault with your team really. A solid defence, good width from the full backs and wingers, and well set up to control a game with that midfield trio and the contribution of Nedved and Michel. The only slight criticism is that it doesn't look absolutely prolific in terms of scoring threat, but that threat is nicely spread out between Careca, Nedved, Michel and what I'm assuming is the younger incarnation of Thon. And with that rich seam of creativity throughout the side, there'll be plenty of chances created. Incidentally, any time I look at their records Nedved is invariably a little less prolific and Michel much more prolific than I remember.
