La Liga/Serie A/BuLi Draft - QF Enigma_87/Snow vs Aldo/The Stain

[Moby]

I like Mendieta, but again I can see Schneider being more effective in our set up, given his abilities.

And that would be the most off the mark comment so far, sorry.

Mendieta fits this role like a hand in a glove, it's why we prioritised him over others, as he was just tailor made for both this setup and this role.

Schneider on the other hand has a much bigger task of contesting with Edgar Davids and he simply lacks the same amount of credentials and performances that elevated the whole team and drove Valencia to two Champions League finals with Mendieta being the talisman.

 

[Enigma_87]

Really? Mascherano himself has been lauded time and again for his physicality, both strength and pace. To say he cannot keep up with Kaka specially when he'll have time to assess the situation and act accordingly is a bit disingenuous. While not in his league performance, his tackle against Robben in the 2014 WC is one of the most memorable moments of the tournament and a testament to his physicality.

Mascherano has high response but he's no match for Kaka at full pelt or at speed. Sure, he'll tackle him some of the time, but he'll lose him as well.

 

[Moby]

doesn't need to push up or run with the ball.

He didn't do it because he needed to, it was his playing style and in fact he was constantly asked not to by the fans but still continued to.
Not to mention in critical European games as well. He had a careless time playing for Bayern, there's no doubt in that.

 

[Moby]

Why We Chose Mendieta ahead of Modric

Club
Valencia​

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1998​
• Copa del Rey: 1998–99​
• Supercopa de España: 1999​
• UEFA Champions League: Runner-up 1999–00, 2000–01​

Individual​

• UEFA Club Football Awards: Best Midfielder 1999–2000,[25] 2000–01[5]​
• ESM Team of the Year: 2000–01​

​

At a time when the league distributed its talent a little more evenly, Mendieta was part of a Valencia side which found itself in the Champions League final two seasons in a row.

Sadly these finals would come to epitomize the career of one of the most gifted midfielders to ever grace the Spanish game; as Valencia lost out to Real Madrid and then most heartbreakingly Bayern Munich on penalties, we were left wondering what could have been.

Born in Bilbao, Mendieta was a central midfielder who was blessed with a special kind of technique exemplified by some of the fabulous goals he has scored throughout his career.

For anyone not lucky enough to be born into a time when they could witness his genius I would recommend a quick Youtube search of some his finest goals. Before the global media was introduced to the Spanish midfield style which has dominated world football for the last few years, Mendieta was the original midfield general.

Donning the number six shirt for Valencia the midfielder was capable of organizing the game like no other, and also imbued with the ability to change the game with his scintillating passing range or a vicious strike at goal.

At the end of the 1998-99 season Gaizka scored in the Copa Del Rey final against Atletico Madrid, securing a 3-0 victory for Los Che at La Cartuja in Sevilla. This would be the closest to a major trophy which Mendieta would win with his Valencia side, though he did lead them to the Spanish Super Cup at the beginning of the following season.

After the aforementioned successive defeats in Champions League finals, Gaizka Mendieta was awarded the title of Best Midfielder in Europe by UEFA, attracting interest from many of the big clubs throughout Europe.

It was Lazio who came up with the necessary funds to prize the talented midfielder away from the Mestalla, throwing a hefty price tag on his head.

At the time of the transfer it seemed like a logical step in this nearly man’s career; he was to shed the tag and step into the limelight as one of the best midfielders in the world by filling the void of the departed Juan Sebastian Veron.

However, Gaizka’s time in Italy did not work out as many had hoped or even expected, ultimately lasting only one season with the BiancoCelesti. Speaking to BBC sport Mendieta stated that “Italy was difficult for me,” adding that he never felt as though he was given the chance to settle into a routine with the Italian outfit.

Mendieta came into a Lazio side which had just lost two valuable players and were looking for an instant road to success, this was a completely different environment for the man and after one season he found himself out on loan to Barcelona where he managed to recapture a bit of his form back in the comforts of La Liga.

However, the Catalan outfit could only manage a sixth place finish that year and Mendieta was back on the road again, this time to Middlesbrough where many English fans would come to adore the Spanish midfielder now on the last legs of his career.

Under the tutelage of Steve McClaren who was at the time considered a young and talented coach Mendieta won the English Carling Cup and reached the Uefa Cup Final in what was to be one of the most successful spells in the Riverside club’s history.

Injuries however hampered the career of the Spanish midfielder and after the initial period of success he was unable to really catch his rhythm again, ultimately being forced into retirement.

A truly underappreciated genius in my books, the man will always be a legend of La Liga and for that he deserves all the respect he garners and more.

 

[Moby]

Mascherano has high response but he's no match for Kaka at full pelt or at speed. Sure, he'll tackle him some of the time, but he'll lose him as well.

Similarly with Marcelo against Littbarski, specially when Marcelo is asked to provide width.
A bigger mismatch, than Kaka against Mascherano, which is pretty close in itself.

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

It's a decent debate to be had another day, but from the games I've watched, I prefer the Napoli version. Absolute rock at the back, better leader, more athletic and would tire out world class attackers for fun.

Yet the Juve one gets the actual partnership with Montero and not hypothetically wonder about if they would

 

[Moby]

Names > Tactics. Draft 101.

 

[Enigma_87]

And that would be the most off the mark comment so far, sorry.

Mendieta fits this role like a hand in a glove, it's why we prioritised him over others, as he was just tailor made for both this setup and this role.

Schneider on the other hand has a much bigger task of contesting with Edgar Davids and he simply lacks the same amount of credentials and performances that elevated the whole team and drove Valencia to two Champions League finals with Mendieta being the talisman.

Again, Schneider is not up against Davids it's not a direct match up, we're defending and moving the ball into zones here, unless you are marking Schneider with Davids

Schneider provides with a higher work rate off and on the ball, while at the same time covers more ground. He's faster than Mendieta, better dribbler than Mendieta, and also IMO a tad more sound defensively. Not saying he's the better player overall but in this set up, apart from his versatility he offers more team work of what he's asked here and the possibility to cover more ground while in the same time offer combination for Cafu on the right.

It's better for our set up IMO as we need a tad more dynamic player. I'm not comparing them individually.

Cafu/Schneider vs Angloma (provided Littbarski not offering much cover defensively) is even bigger mismatch.

 

[Enigma_87]

He didn't do it because he needed to, it was his playing style and in fact he was constantly asked not to by the fans but still continued to.
Not to mention in critical European games as well. He had a careless time playing for Bayern, there's no doubt in that.

I'm sure Lucio is intelligent player not fecking idiot Balloteli style If he is instructed not to do so he won't do so. No wonder he's a leader on the pitch and captained some great sides.

 

[Moby]

Again, Schneider is not up against Davids it's not a direct match up,

Given the playing styles of the two, it's gonna end 1v1 in a lot of situation. Davids would peel wide as soon as Schneider drifts right, and more often than not end up winning the ball.
Similarly, as described in the OP, he'll be combining with Candela and Reus to provide ammunition down the left, where it's pretty much Schneider's job to contain him.

It won't happen.

 

[Moby]

I'm sure Lucio is intelligent player not fecking idiot Balloteli style

That's not what I recall from his time at Bayern.

Regardless, it's enough to prove that your back four is highly unbalanced, having three out of four players whose natural playing style is going forward at the first instant.

Now add that against a highly dangerous counter attacking setup with loads of pace, trickery, skill, one touch play, stamina.

 

[Enigma_87]

Given the playing styles of the two, it's gonna end 1v1 in a lot of situation. Davids would peel wide as soon as Schneider drifts right, and more often than not end up winning the ball.
Similarly, as described in the OP, he'll be combining with Candela and Reus to provide ammunition down the left, where it's pretty much Schneider's job to contain him.

It won't happen.

And Schneider will combine with Modric and Cafu who are excellent under pressure. All of our players are moving in like a unit. Sure there will be one on ones, you'll win some and we'll win others.

 

[Moby]

And Schneider will combine with Modric and Cafu who are excellent under pressure. All of our players are moving in like a unit. Sure there will be one on ones, you'll win some and we'll win others.

They all have their own men to contend with. Happy to see Modric leaving Mendieta in space, or Cafu for Reus.

They won't though and will rely on Schneider a lot of times to get the ball from Davids.

It won't happen.

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

Names > Tactics. Draft 101.

With scan voters surely. all 3 voters aren't participating so I doubt they read throughout the very long tactical explanations, these are more for the actual people who read through it and participate in these draft. Plenty of time and votes in it mate.

I think we should make an improvement for these writeups, maybe have two sections written by each manager - first will be a short tactical explanation which will be compiled of stuff like pressing idea, movement of players, possession/counter/neither and defensive line. These will be attached to the writeups in the first post to make it lighter for scan voters to read, and than a second post with the long explanations each manager can do as he pleases for the bored/interested ones to read through.

 

[Enigma_87]

That's not what I recall from his time at Bayern.

Regardless, it's enough to prove that your back four is highly unbalanced, having three out of four players whose natural playing style is going forward at the first instant.

Disagree with that. For what is worth Cafu is always considered a lot more defensive than R.Carlos. He's also the epitome of what you'd give 20 out of 20 for stamina football manager style. He'll run up and down the whole match.

I know it's not international peak, but that comment for unbalanced line seems quite off the mark. For unbalanced side which was captained by Lucio and Cafu at RB with even more attacking full back the other side R.Carlos Brazil won the WC in 2002 conceding 1 goal in elimination stage and 3 in the group stage. They haven't played together at club level but I'd say they will be fine pair. Now add Helmer who is pretty solid on the ground and in the air and you have a great set up.

Now add that against a highly dangerous counter attacking setup with loads of pace, trickery, skill, one touch play, stamina.

now what I still can't figure, are you guys playing counter attacking set up - hence conceding possession, or trying to dominate the middle. Cause from the sounds of it you're trying to do both which doesn't make sense.

Also wasn't Makaay a bit slower in his Bayern days?

 

[Moby]

Tactical Flaw #1
Cafu, Marcelo and Lucio in a back four? Three defenders who don't bat an eyelid when a chance to go forward arises. Very little balance, less so against a team that can hit them very, very easily on the counter, and will do.

Tactical Flaw #2
Playing a right midfielder as a central midfielder in a diamond, against one of the greatest box to box midfielders of all time who's precisely in the role and position he made his name in. Davids will not be stopped here, while Enigma;s build up play with take a huge hit encountering such a road block down the middle while playing a narrow formation.

Tactical Flaw #3
Playing a diamond formation against a team which has two CBs who are at ease stepping out wide as they are in the middle, and two CMs who are ate ease stepping out wide as they are in the middle. That's pretty much the entire zone of your build up play covered.

 

[Moby]

now what I still can't figure, are you guys playing counter attacking set up - hence conceding possession, or trying to dominate the middle.

We aren't set to go for either extreme from the outset.
Our plan is to move the ball quickly through the middle, which can be achieved pretty easily against your lightweight midfield, while using the wings to provide the creativity and skill as well as the service to the center forward. Bayern Munich 12-13 springs to mind.

Having said that, we aren't shy to hit you on the counter if you provide us space needlessly, which your defenders would at some point in the game.

 

[Enigma_87]

Tactical Flaw #1
Cafu, Marcelo and Lucio in a back four? Three defenders who don't bat an eyelid when a chance to go forward arises. Very little balance, less so against a team that can hit them very, very easily on the counter, and will do.

I think underrating Cafu won't win many voters. He's one of the best right backs of all time considered by many. Again Lucio is not instructed to go forward or go on a run. Both CB's will remain at shape during the whole game.

Tactical Flaw #2
Playing a right midfielder as a central midfielder in a diamond, against one of the greatest box to box midfielders of all time who's precisely in the role and position he made his name in. Davids will not be stopped here, while Enigma;s build up play with take a huge hit encountering such a road block down the middle while playing a narrow formation.

Again Schneider doesn't look out of place. The reason we chose him is the option to provide width, which he does. You can see his playing style, how he fits in a line and formation and his tactical sense - he has them all.

Tactical Flaw #3
Playing a diamond formation against a team which has two CBs who are at ease stepping out wide as they are in the middle, and two CMs who are ate ease stepping out wide as they are in the middle. That's pretty much the entire zone of your build up play covered.

I think we have explained best how the midfielders and the CB's will move around the pitch and not in the way you explained.

 

[Moby]

Cafu is always considered a lot more defensive than R.Carlos.

Just, no. More defensive? Yes. A lot more? No chance. He was always regarded as an attacking fullback and between him, CAT and Santos, he's easily the most attack minded one.

But, don't you need him to provide width? Haven't you added his name in your attacking unit earlier in this thread? Do you want him to go forward or not?

Both simply mean he will, indeed, bomb forward, plenty of times, and you already of Lucio and Marcelo being weak positionally and leaving their posts.

You can't do that against a team such as ours, where the attacking threat is widespread through the middle and across the flanks and you can't camp in one area and defend, or you can't expect any one of your defenders to attack and see it go unpunished. Litti, Reus, Davids, Mendieta - all of them, in the slightest of space let alone the amount you are gifting us, will penetrate, with ease.

On the other hand, our central core doesn't remotely have any such tactical issues. In contrast, they are well suited to play against a diamond.

 

[Snow]

In short:

- Mascherano, Davids and Mendieta will cut off the service to the attack given their insane work rate, pressing, pace and tackling.

- Davids against Scheider is a mismatch, Davids is in his element here, defensively he's more than good enough to deal with someone like Schneider while going forward, Schneider doesn't have a hope of catching him once he's away. We have the midfield in our control, there's very little chance of you dominating that area of the park, something which a diamond is completely reliant on.

- If Cafu and Marcelo are constantly providing width, Reus and Littbarski with the support of Davids and Mendieta and Makaay darting through the middle, will hit you with one devastating counter after another. No amount of covering can save you against that. These are highly physically gifted players and allowing them that sort of space will just put you under more pressure.

Now, how do you plan to contain Reus and Littbarski with a midfield who would be chasing shadows more often than not, while you also have the weakest CB on the pitch in Helmer?

We have no hope of doing anything in midfield? That's rubbish mate. Davids and Mendieta aren't going to cover 3 people with help from Marcelo and Cafu. Littbarski and Reus might help out in defense but they're not defenders and I don't see you in your tactics sitting back with them. So are you going to spread your midfield pair wide to cover your bases? Is Mascherano on man mark duty or is he going to leave Kaka open to help out your CBs with 2 of the best goalscorers in the history of La Liga and Serie A?

I know you want to highlight the best CM pair in the draft but saying that those two won't allow any football to happen is a bit much because that's just not what they did, especially Mendieta who's really comparable to Modric in many ways. Your focus is on one supposed weakness and how he's dealing with a scenario that you're creating when playing against Davids. Frankly, both of those players aren't very static players so there won't be a 1v1 battle between those two. The competition will be a collective one. One where we have in the furthest part of the pitch Kaka-Villa-Shevchenko vs Reus-Makaay-Littbarski and out wide further behind them there's Marcelo-Cafu vs Candela-Angloma.

To advance in a game of such class you need that something special and whilst Mendieta and Davids are special there's just too much baggage on them. Mascherano is just a dud there compared to Conte who can actively take part in the game offensively.

 

[Enigma_87]

With scan voters surely. all 3 voters aren't participating so I doubt they read throughout the very long tactical explanations, these are more for the actual people who read through it and participate in these draft. Plenty of time and votes in it mate.

I think we should make an improvement for these writeups, maybe have two sections written by each manager - first will be a short tactical explanation which will be compiled of stuff like pressing idea, movement of players, possession/counter/neither and defensive line. These will be attached to the writeups in the first post to make it lighter for scan voters to read, and than a second post with the long explanations each manager can do as he pleases for the bored/interested ones to read through.

I don't think having some bigger names should be punished. It's not like Kaka/Cafu/Sheva who are the biggest ones out there didn't play together and would be a question of whether they will fit in, as they are already proven partnership. Villa is pretty much very versatile forward and will be the highest quality foil Sheva ever had. I'm sure it's not a question he'll fit in as well there as Sheva played with all different kinds of forwards and excelled.

Then we have Conte/Modric/Schneider midfield which really compliments well each other with also being great on the ball and capable of turning in tight spaces.With Cafu as well in the RB spot gives us a huge upgrade and right balance between attack and defence.

 

[Enigma_87]

We aren't set to go for either extreme from the outset.
Our plan is to move the ball quickly through the middle, which can be achieved pretty easily against your lightweight midfield, while using the wings to provide the creativity and skill as well as the service to the center forward. Bayern Munich 12-13 springs to mind.

Having said that, we aren't shy to hit you on the counter if you provide us space needlessly, which your defenders would at some point in the game.

You can't have a team that dominates possession and plays on the counter. If you are playing counter attacking style, you have to concede possession first soak pressure and win the ball back, so which one is it? If you are playing counter attacking you are defending deeper, if not you are pushing up. I'm not sure your exact gameplan in accordance to comments.

 

[Moby]

Lucio is not instructed to go forward or go on a run.

I've repeated this already.

You talk as if the reason he was going forward was to support the attack, most of the times he did, there was no reason to do so. he was a lot more mature and disciplined at Inter and even then, he had that tendency, which was a lot greater at Bayern and you can have someone like @Balu confirm that.

His Bayern version doesn't add up with your instructions, so I can add another tactical flaw to the list.

 

[Enigma_87]

Just, no. More defensive? Yes. A lot more? No chance. He was always regarded as an attacking fullback and between him, CAT and Santos, he's easily the most attack minded one.

But, don't you need him to provide width? Haven't you added his name in your attacking unit earlier in this thread? Do you want him to go forward or not?

Both simply mean he will, indeed, bomb forward, plenty of times, and you already of Lucio and Marcelo being weak positionally and leaving their posts.

You can't do that against a team such as ours, where the attacking threat is widespread through the middle and across the flanks and you can't camp in one area and defend, or you can't expect any one of your defenders to attack and see it go unpunished. Litti, Reus, Davids, Mendieta - all of them, in the slightest of space let alone the amount you are gifting us, will penetrate, with ease.

On the other hand, our central core doesn't remotely have any such tactical issues. In contrast, they are well suited to play against a diamond.

I don't think Cafu should be punished for being excellent going forward. It's not like he can't recover position quickly. He did that all the time in his whole career. There's no other player that can match him for stamina. He will be running up and down the whole match and he'll be regaining position, it's what he does.

And really again for Lucio, he won't move forward, he won't carry the ball past the half line we don't need him to do that. He'll be instructed not to do that.

 

[Enigma_87]

I've repeated this already.

You talk as if the reason he was going forward was to support the attack, most of the times he did, there was no reason to do so. he was a lot more mature and disciplined at Inter and even then, he had that tendency, which was a lot greater at Bayern and you can have someone like @Balu confirm that.

His Bayern version doesn't add up with your instructions, so I can add another tactical flaw to the list.

So you can't have a player doing a job for a specific match is that what you are saying here? We're not looking at his whole career implemented into one game, we're looking at individual match and individual set up. Every player can do a job for a specific match. You don't see Carrick playing as CB but when he's instructed he does it.

 

[Moby]

If you are playing counter attacking style, you have to concede possession first soak pressure and win the ball back, so which one is it?

It isn't, like I said the Bayern 12-13 is the closest I can think of.
We aren't going to hold on to the ball for ages, our gameplan is defined by our tempo, which will always be pretty high.
When we have the ball, we won't hold on to it for a long time, in fact we will move it as quickly as possible to make use of your faulty positioning at the back. Do you need to sit deep and soak pressure for that? No. We can win the ball in midfield and launch a counter from there, pretty easily. Dortmund did that time and again at their peak.
Similarly, off the ball, we will press you all over the pitch, from front to back. Litti and Reus will constantly press your fullbacks, so will Davids and Mendieta against your midfield.

High speed, high intensity, pressing game.

 

[Moby]

I don't think Cafu should be punished for being excellent going forward. It's not like he can't recover position quickly. He did that all the time in his whole career. There's no other player that can match him for stamina. He will be running up and down the whole match and he'll be regaining position, it's what he does.

And really again for Lucio, he won't move forward, he won't carry the ball past the half line we don't need him to do that. He'll be instructed not to do that.

It's not punishing him, it's punishing the rest of your team. He's absolutely fine going forward, but that doesn't add up when you have two other defenders doing the same. Specially Marcelo - who absolutely needs a defensive minded fullback on the other hand unless you wanna go gung-ho, which will leave you dead in seconds.

You could have still done that if you had someone in midfield who could drop as a CB and cover for them, which you don't.

In a back four, you will pairs like Evra and Brown/O'shea/Neville or Cafu and Maldini, etc.

You really can't argue against the lack of balance in your backline, specially against this amount of pace and tempo.

 

[Enigma_87]

It isn't, like I said the Bayern 12-13 is the closest I can think of.
We aren't going to hold on to the ball for ages, our gameplan is defined by our tempo, which will always be pretty high.
When we have the ball, we won't hold on to it for a long time, in fact we will move it as quickly as possible to make use of your faulty positioning at the back. Do you need to sit deep and soak pressure for that? No. We can win the ball in midfield and launch a counter from there, pretty easily. Dortmund did that time and again at their peak.
Similarly, off the ball, we will press you all over the pitch, from front to back. Litti and Reus will constantly press your fullbacks, so will Davids and Mendieta against your midfield.

High speed, high intensity, pressing game.

Usually that describes a bit more possession approach rather than counter attacking with higher defensive line.

Our defensive line will remain the same when we're off the ball. I'm really considering putting this in the OP not to repeat myself in every post and just link to there

 

[Moby]

So you can't have a player doing a job for a specific match is that what you are saying here? We're not looking at his whole career implemented into one game, we're looking at individual match and individual set up. Every player can do a job for a specific match. You don't see Carrick playing as CB but when he's instructed he does it.

Your instructions need to match with the said player's playing style.

In this case, they are contrasting.

 

[Moby]

Usually that describes a bit more possession approach rather than counter attacking with higher defensive line.

Our defensive line will remain the same when we're off the ball. I'm really considering putting this in the OP not to repeat myself in every post and just link to there

Well, repeating it doesn't change the fact that three our of your four defenders spent their respective league careers in an attack minded mode.

Sorry, it's a pretty obvious flaw which would be exploited very easily by my attack and midfield.

 

[Enigma_87]

It's not punishing him, it's punishing the rest of your team. He's absolutely fine going forward, but that doesn't add up when you have two other defenders doing the same. Specially Marcelo - who absolutely needs a defensive minded fullback on the other hand unless you wanna go gung-ho, which will leave you dead in seconds.

You could have still done that if you had someone in midfield who could drop as a CB and cover for them, which you don't.

In a back four, you will pairs like Evra and Brown/O'shea/Neville or Cafu and Maldini, etc.

You really can't argue against the lack of balance in your backline, specially against this amount of pace and tempo.

I didn't see any concern for our back line(apart from Marcelo going forward) now suddenly is lacking balance, especially in a set up where there's no dedicated AM which frees Conte a bit?

If anything in this game is even more balanced.

Our approach is to grind it out in the midfield. If we're up with one(and IMO we have much better attack so it's pretty plausible), we'd be happy to sit deeper and launch counters, which if you have higher line will be pretty vulnerable on counter.

 

[Enigma_87]

Your instructions need to match with the said player's playing style.

In this case, they are contrasting.

You are looking at the players entire career fitting it to one game. If he's instructed not to do so in a single individual game - he won't do so. He's not a fecking idiot

 

[Moby]

I didn't see any concern for our back line(apart from Marcelo going forward) now suddenly is lacking balance

I don't know about suddenly, mate, this isn't the last game, you've added another attacking fullback when you have a uber attacking one on the other side, with an irresponsible CB in the middle. How does it have any balance?

Our approach is to grind it out in the midfield.

Well, good luck doing that against Davids, Mendieta and Mascherano, while having Schneider there. You are making Schneider sound like a gifted box to box midfielder here, which is what you need to counter someone like Davids.

 

[Moby]

You are looking at the players entire career fitting it to one game. If he's instructed not to do so in a single individual game - he won't do so. He's not a fecking idiot

He's irresponsible, I'm not sure if that translates to a fecking idiot, but he's positionally suspect at the back. Your instructions won't change a player's weakness.

 

[Enigma_87]

Well, repeating it doesn't change the fact that three our of your four defenders spent their respective league careers in an attack minded mode.

Sorry, it's a pretty obvious flaw which would be exploited very easily by my attack and midfield.

Again here we're talking about a single game. One match. Not entire career. You are saying that a player is incapable of doing simple instructions on a football pitch which IMO is way off the mark.

 

[Enigma_87]

I don't know about suddenly, mate, this isn't the last game, you've added another attacking fullback when you have a uber attacking one on the other side, with an irresponsible CB in the middle. How does it have any balance?

Cafu is easily better than Salgado in both ends. He's also quicker than him, having huge leap in stamina department and Salgado also ran forward and provided width for Real. I see it as a like to like replacement with a huge benefit.

Well, good luck doing that against Davids, Mendieta and Mascherano, while having Schneider there. You are making Schneider sound like a gifted box to box midfielder here, which is what you need to counter someone like Davids.

Schneider is playing in RCM position in a diamond - something and a zone that he occupied for most of his career. We're not asking him something out of his reach.

 

[Moby]

Again here we're talking about a single game. One match. Not entire career. You are saying that a player is incapable of doing simple instructions on a football pitch which IMO is way off the mark.

It doesnt make sense, dude.
You can't hide an obvious weakness with a simple instruction, no. It wasn't that he did it occasionally, the man was out of the blocks before you knew it, maybe him being a capable defensive midfielder led to that, but it happened, and would happen here.
Your instructions aren't suiting your player's style of play. Sure, you'd want him to stay at the back but positioning isn't an attribute that is present in every defender, and that's one of Lucio's weakness.

 

[Tuppet]

This draft sure is intense .

Anyway the Lucio being reckless point can settle this for me, IF there is anything to back it up. I tried basic Googling and couldn't find much on the topic. If he was reckless then along with Marcelo thats just too many liabilities. May be some neutral would shed light on this one.

 

[Enigma_87]

He's irresponsible, I'm not sure if that translates to a fecking idiot, but he's positionally suspect at the back. Your instructions won't change a player's weakness.

So why do we have managers then at all? If the players do whatever they want surely there's no point of having a manager at all There's no point of having tactical discussions or formations at all, just put them in a random formation and roll the dice...

 

[Moby]

Cafu is easily better than Salgado in both ends.

Now question about that. However, Salgado would stay at the back a lot more - and that would be bad for your formation as you need width there.

You can't have it both ways. And again, you have very little regards of what the player actually did when he played for the leagues you've chosen, and you somehow expect your players to change what they did for years? Sure, that's convenient. Not to mention, counter-productif.