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

[Moby]

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.

Already tagged @Balu once.
Let me dig up some footage, because obviously we are team liars, isn't it @KM?

 

[Enigma_87]

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.

So in every single game in 200 games or so in the BuLi Lucio charged forward in each one of them? Every single one?

 

[Tuppet]

Already tagged @Balu once.
Let me dig up some footage, because obviously we are team liars, isn't it @KM?

Didn't mean it that way at all mate. We all exaggerate when putting our team up, so after I couldn't find much just wanted to make sure there is some evidence of what you are suggesting.

 

[Enigma_87]

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.

So now Salgado didn't run up the pitch? CL final against Valencia - assisted Morientes goal near the byline, I can give you tons of examples where he ran forward. He was playing at possession based team.

 

[Enigma_87]

Already tagged @Balu once.
Let me dig up some footage, because obviously we are team liars, isn't it @KM?

Yeah put the whole matches. Cause a single youtube clip in 200 games career is something that would prove pretty much nothing.

 

[Moby]

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...

There's a lot of point of having tactical instructions, as long as they are in line with the players in question.
How are you not getting this? Once you've agreed to him being reckless at Bayern, which you have, there's really nothing you can say to counter that here.
The best you could have done is partner him with players who would cover that weakness, when in reality you've exposed it even more.
And there's no backup like having a midfielder who can drop into the space he vacates and guard against a counter.

 

[Moby]

Yeah put the whole matches. Cause a single youtube clip in 200 games career is something that would prove pretty much nothing.

What exactly are you contesting here?
That Lucio didn't have a tendency to charge forward at Bayern?
Or that it wouldn't happen in this game because you've instructed him not to even though he did that in his career?

I've seen both of those arguments put so far. All over the place, really, like Lucio.

 

[Enigma_87]

There's a lot of point of having tactical instructions, as long as they are in line with the players in question.
How are you not getting this? Once you've agreed to him being reckless at Bayern, which you have, there's really nothing you can say to counter that here.
The best you could have done is partner him with players who would cover that weakness, when in reality you've exposed it even more.
And there's no backup like having a midfielder who can drop into the space he vacates and guard against a counter.

So I have to put 3 defensive minded defenders just to have Lucio as a CB? I'm sorry but that's nonsense.

I can't believe we're talking about top professionals - one of the best in their respective positions incapable of following simple instructions..

 

[Boycott]

Enigma/Snow's team is more dynamic and multi-functional. Sheva/Villa together with intelligent movement in the central areas and running the channels would be a sight. I can see a lot of space for Kaka as a result.

 

[Enigma_87]

What exactly are you contesting here?
That Lucio didn't have a tendency to charge forward at Bayern?
Or that it wouldn't happen in this game because you've instructed him not to even though he did that in his career?

I've seen both of those arguments put so far. All over the place, really, like Lucio.

I'm not denying he went forward in games for Bayern, I'm telling you he has instructions not to do so in this particular game.

He was not a full back running up and down the pitch.

Baresi had the tendency to go up the pitch and also participate in attacks. I can't pair him with Cafu and R.Carlos in this case also?

 

[Moby]

So I have to put 3 defensive minded defenders just to have Lucio as a CB? I'm sorry but that's nonsense.

I can't believe we're talking about top professionals - one of the best in their respective positions incapable of following simple instructions..

Of course not, but you also cannot put two OFFENSIVE MINDED players next to him, that's suicide. Well, not all the time, but against a team that can counter with deadly force, it is.

I don;t really know how to explain this simple instructions thing to you. Okay, go back in draft archive and find games where Passarella was playing next to Roberto Carlos, or something like that. Again, unbalanced, no matter what you tell Passarella to do, and he's a far more intelligent defender than Lucio.

 

[Moby]

I'm not denying he went forward in games for Bayern, I'm telling you he has instructions not to do so in this particular game.

He was not a full back running up and down the pitch.

Baresi had the tendency to go up the pitch and also participate in attacks. I can't pair him with Cafu and R.Carlos in this case also?

Baresi was a far more responsible defender than Lucio, which is the problem here. What the likes of Baresi, Beckenbauer, etc did was tactical, and more importantly, they absolute knew when to do it and when not to, which is pretty the problem Lucio had at Bayern. He'd leave loads of spaces with little regards to the danger he was posing to the team.

 

[Moby]

Sheva/Villa together with intelligent movement in the central areas and running the channels would be a sight.

Well, good thing I have two defenders absolutely at ease defending the channels. Both Montero and Ferrara are at home as LCB and RCB, and they have Mascherano dropping in to cover the space in the middle.

 

[Enigma_87]

Baresi was a far more responsible defender than Lucio, which is the problem here. What the likes of Baresi, Beckenbauer, etc did was tactical, and more importantly, they absolute knew when to do it and when not to, which is pretty the problem Lucio had at Bayern. He'd leave loads of spaces with little regards to the danger he was posing to the team.

So when a better defender does it is tactical, and while Lucio does it's liability Whatever suits your argument best eh?

If you can prove it to me that in every single game Lucio was incapable of staying back I'll agree with you, but having a tendency of going forward is one thing and doing it absolutely each time are not the same.

 

[Enigma_87]

Well, good thing I have two defenders absolutely at ease defending the channels. Both Montero and Ferrara are at home as LCB and RCB, and they have Mascherano dropping in to cover the space in the middle.

Yet Sheva has 6 goals in 8 games against Juve with partners much much inferior than either Kaka or Villa.

Also if you are using Napoli's Ferrara that is kinda spoiling your CB partnership.

 

[Boycott]

Well, good thing I have two defenders absolutely at ease defending the channels. Both Montero and Ferrara are at home as LCB and RCB, and they have Mascherano dropping in to cover the space in the middle.

I'm sure Sheva would have got the better of those two at his peak. He did it against the best.

 

[Enigma_87]

Kaka vs Masch



and fairly quick Messi trying to keep with Kaka.

 

[Moby]

So when a better defender does it is tactical, and while Lucio does it's liability Whatever suits your argument best eh?

That's not what I said. I focussed on the word responsible, and Lucio wasn't, at Bayern.

If you can prove it to me that in every single game Lucio was incapable of staying back I'll agree with you, but having a tendency of going forward is one thing and doing it absolutely each time are not the same.

He did it, obviously, especially in high profile games which is what I tend to remember quite clearly.

To give an example, and don't get angry on this, this is only an example.

What do you think happens if you instruct David Luiz not to charge forward? Obviously, Lucio was never THAT irresponsible, but irresponsible all the same.

You can't get away with that when you already have two very attacking fullbacks and are against a very dangerous counter attacking unit.

That's the last from me on this though, feel free to disagree or have someone else convince you. I'm talking purely out of my experience of watching him, I've made the same point previously when Lucio is used without adequate measures taken. Do you think it was a coincidence that his best came at Inter, when he was surrounded by highly defensive minded players? Anyway, I've made my point, enough times already.

 

[Moby]

I'm sure Sheva would have got the better of those two at his peak. He did it against the best.

Similarly, Davids outran, outmuscled and outplayed better central midfielders than Bernd Schneider.

Which is the bigger differential is what you need to ask.

 

[Boycott]

@Aldo

Out of interest why are you insisting on Lucio's weaknesses as a point of advantage, yet in the cricket draft when I and one or two others raised the point of Ian Bell's weaknesses you said it's fine as he only has to fulfill the role/instructions you gave him? Seem to have changed your tune...

 

[Boycott]

Similarly, Davids outran, outmuscled and outplayed better central midfielders than Bernd Schneider.

Which is the bigger differential is what you need to ask.

Fair point

 

[Moby]

@Aldo

Out of interest why are you insisting on Lucio's weaknesses as a point of advantage, yet in the cricket draft when I and one or two others raised the point of Ian Bell's weaknesses you said it's fine as he only has to fulfill the role/instructions you gave him? Seem to have changed your tune...

Hardly. He was surrounded by players who covered his weakness. And still, I never denied he was a weakness, simply that his failure wouldn't impact the overall team performance by a huge margin. Cricket is also a 1v1 sport, not a team one and one batsman not making runs is far less damaging than a central defender in football leaving his post against a highly counter attacking setup.

Honestly can't believe you've made this comparison.

 

[Enigma_87]

That's not what I said. I focussed on the word responsible, and Lucio wasn't, at Bayern.


He did it, obviously, especially in high profile games which is what I tend to remember quite clearly.

To give an example, and don't get angry on this, this is only an example.

What do you think happens if you instruct David Luiz not to charge forward? Obviously, Lucio was never THAT irresponsible, but irresponsible all the same.

You can't get away with that when you already have two very attacking fullbacks and are against a very dangerous counter attacking unit.

That's the last from me on this though, feel free to disagree or have someone else convince you. I'm talking purely out of my experience of watching him, I've made the same point previously when Lucio is used without adequate measures taken. Do you think it was a coincidence that his best came at Inter, when he was surrounded by highly defensive minded players? Anyway, I've made my point, enough times already.

I think it's up to the voters to judge if Lucio is intelligent enough to follow a simple instruction - don't go forward. I think both made our cases.

Having a tendency to go forward in your career is not the same as always doing that in every single game against your manager's instructions.

If it was like that there will be no point of managers, just players doing whatever they want on a football field.

Passarella and Baresi had tendency of going forward and are one of the best(if not the best) CB in the game. I'm sure they also followed instructions if they aren't supposed to do so. Lucio is one of the best CB's in the 00's and his resume speaks volumes. I don't see the point in having argument for tactics and formations if the players won't do so it's pretty much irrelevant then.

 

[Boycott]

Hardly. He was surrounded by players who covered his weakness. And still, I never denied he was a weakness, simply that his failure wouldn't impact the overall team performance by a huge margin. Cricket is also a 1v1 sport, not a team one and one batsman not making runs is far less damaging than a central defender in football leaving his post against a highly counter attacking setup.

Honestly can't believe you've made this comparison.

It's more due to the fact you were very defensive in response to the criticism of Bell yet pretty dismissive of Enigma's explanation behind Lucio.

 

[Enigma_87]

Similarly, Davids outran, outmuscled and outplayed better central midfielders than Bernd Schneider.

Which is the bigger differential is what you need to ask.

Schneider played on the highest level and was instrumental for both Bayer and Germany, I don't think this level is at all strange to him at all.

Similarly Kaka, Sheva and Villa scored against better defenders than Montero and Ferrara, if we are on the same topic.

 

[Moby]

Schneider played on the highest level and was instrumental for both Bayer and Germany, I don't think this level is at all strange to him at all.

As a box to box midfielder in a diamond?
If you are suggesting that he's gonna win the battle against Davids then I don't know what to say.

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

• I think Aldo is a bit going too hard on Lucio, it's not like he was making a mistakes on a match basis, I agree his Bundesliga time wasn't as good as the Inter time but he's not a terrible defender. On the flip side, I think Enigma/Snow are trying to make his allegations, which are fair although maybe a bit too concentrated, look ridicules and laughable which is wrong.
• I think Aldo definitely has a point that Marcelo might leave traces for counters to be exploited, and Littbarski can definitely take advantage of it. On the flip side, on the nature of the game as I see it, will be Aldo pretty much in control of the middle with his midfield's superiority in terms of hard work they will get the ball back quickly, leading to a higher line of defence which won't allow Marcelo to bomb too much forward, even if the arrow points forward. I think it will happen occasionally when he decides to bomb forward and that might be exploited by Littbarski, but I don't think he well get caught up too often because of the way this game will turn out he won't have too much time attacking.
  
• Kaka is crucial here. Yes, Mascherano is brilliant physically and I don't doubt his role like some in the previous match, but I'm not sure he's good enough to stop a prime Kaka in a setup created for players like him. When Aldo has the ball, which is most of the time as I see it, Mascherano will be an asset because he'll sweep so many of these long balls, but the few times Kaka will actually get them it might be havoc if that trio will do it properly.
  
• I'm one of the biggest Modric fans you'll find, I think his passing and vision is one of the best in recent years and I've picked him often in these drafts, but I think this role is a bit odd for him. I think you can get the best of him in two scenarios - either in a team that dominates possession and let him pull the strings like RM against most teams, or in a team that is playing direct and quick with him being used as the main outlet to start these attacks like Croatia NT. In this case, he's neither. He's too busy defending when the opponent has the ball, and with midfields so responsible like Davids and Mendieta you wouldn't want to waste time sending that ball forward and would probably trust Shevchenko/Kaka/Villa to get the ball in the air or with their speed, and in that way you kinda lose Modric. There's a reason Kaka thrived with Pirlo in Milan and not in Real Madrid, and that reason is Kaka is better with a pivot type midfielder to lead the way than with a CM who starts the attacks before he does, he wants someone from deep. It's not about diamond or not, it's about the players behind him. He needs someone working their ass off(at least one) and one deep creative player. You could still get the best of him in EnigmaSnow's setup, but it's not ideal for Modric and you get him doing too much defensive work and too little best of him.

And I think all managers should calm down a bit. These draft matches became fist fights lately.

 

[Moby]

It's more due to the fact you were very defensive in response to the criticism of Bell yet pretty dismissive of Enigma's explanation behind Lucio.

It's a completely different scenario and explanations, like I explained. If you can find me doing something similar in a football draft, feel free to point out.

He already has two attack minded defenders. In addition he has Lucio leaving spaces in behind for my attack to exploit.

Lucio is also positioned on the left, next to Marcelo: That's a massive area of space left behind if we are to go by what we have seen these players do.

 

[Enigma_87]

As a box to box midfielder in a diamond?
If you are suggesting that he's gonna win the battle against Davids then I don't know what to say.

Leverkusen played in a different formation just as players in your team played in a different formation for their respective clubs. I don't see issue with Schneider's role at all. Are you saying he's incapable of following his instructions as well?

Again I'm not suggesting he'll get the better of Davids. We're not going one on one in midfield, we're defending in a zone. He might come against Davids, he will lose some of the battles, win some of the battles, same all round the pitch. It's not straight man mark mission, not at all.

Schneider is completely versatile midfielder, that's why we picked him as well, suggesting he can't play in this role IMO is kinda off the mark as well.

 

[Moby]

Leverkusen played in a different formation just as players in your team played in a different formation for their respective clubs. I don't see issue with Schneider's role at all. Are you saying he's incapable of following his instructions as well?

Again I'm not suggesting he'll get the better of Davids. We're not going one on one in midfield, we're defending in a zone. He might come against Davids, he will lose some of the battles, win some of the battles, same all round the pitch. It's not straight man mark mission, not at all.

Schneider is completely versatile midfielder, that's why we picked him as well, suggesting he can't play in this role IMO is kinda off the mark as well.

I'm not suggesting that, but if you are to bring up world class performances, you should do that when there's some similarity between the tactical setups. Di Maria was world class in that trophy winning season as a LCM sorts of role, so if someone is playing him as a RW and suddenly says oh look he was world class, there's no point in it. I'm exaggerating and I'm hoping you get the point. Not to mention, you are posting World Cup videos in a league based draft.

And I said on the first page I bought his role in the last game, because he had no such expectations that he does in this game. He's against an absolutely phenomenal player. Lippi didn't call him a one man engine for no reason. He's a level above Schneider as a player, and in this case, far more suited to the battle than Schneider is. He'll comfortable win it, not to mention that is the area where your buildup needs to happen.

 

[Enigma_87]

It's a completely different scenario and explanations, like I explained. If you can find me doing something similar in a football draft, feel free to point out.

He already has two attack minded defenders. In addition he has Lucio leaving spaces in behind for my attack to exploit.

Lucio is also positioned on the left, next to Marcelo: That's a massive area of space left behind if we are to go by what we have seen these players do.

I'm really putting it up for the last time as I'm getting a bit tired of running into circles.

Lucio will be instructed to stay in defensive shape and not go forward.

@Tuppet can you please put it in the OP somewhere mate, thanks.

 

[Boycott]

It's a completely different scenario and explanations, like I explained. If you can find me doing something similar in a football draft, feel free to point out.

He already has two attack minded defenders. In addition he has Lucio leaving spaces in behind for my attack to exploit.

Lucio is also positioned on the left, next to Marcelo: That's a massive area of space left behind if we are to go by what we have seen these players do.

Football is far more tactically influenced than others. How many times have inferior teams overcome stronger teams as a result of specific tactics? Lucio is not an idiot who won't understand the simple instruction of being disciplined. If anything precise tactics can cover a weak spot far more in football drafts than any other as it's the collective that counts, rather than the individual.

 

[Enigma_87]

I'm not suggesting that, but if you are to bring up world class performances, you should do that when there's some similarity between the tactical setups. Di Maria was world class in that trophy winning season as a LCM sorts of role, so if someone is playing him as a RW and suddenly says oh look he was world class, there's no point in it. I'm exaggerating and I'm hoping you get the point. Not to mention, you are posting World Cup videos in a league based draft.

And I said on the first page I bought his role in the last game, because he had no such expectations that he does in this game. He's against an absolutely phenomenal player. Lippi didn't call him a one man engine for no reason. He's a level above Schneider as a player, and in this case, far more suited to the battle than Schneider is. He'll comfortable win it, not to mention that is the area where your buildup needs to happen.

I haven't put Schneider in a role that he hasn't played or doesn't have the qualities to cover and also do his job. The video was just as an example of his overall game, as there aren't many highlights of him in a complete games rather than compilations. It's just for posters who don't know him that good to see his game and how he moved along the pitch, that's all.

And I don't understand the sudden attack on Lucio incapable of following a simple instruction. Look the sides he captained. Managers didn't give him the armband for nothing. I'm sure a leader on the pitch, that Lucio was is perfectly capable of following simple instructions. Especially since he captained such great sides.

 

[Moby]

I haven't put Schneider in a role that he hasn't played or doesn't have the qualities to cover and also do his job. The video was just as an example of his overall game, as there aren't many highlights of him in a complete games rather than compilations. It's just for posters who don't know him that good to see his game and how he moved along the pitch, that's all.

I wouldn't allow that, if I was the draft master. No point in stressing on league form if we are going to evaluate players based on other competitions. You don't see me putting videos of Litti starring in World Cups for Germany, do you? While you are displaying his style of play, you are showing the wrong form, as well.

Lucio is not an idiot who won't understand the simple instruction of being disciplined.

Out of curiosity, what do you think was the reason behind him being positionally weak at Bayern?

 

[Pat_Mustard]

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.

Not that I was watching him week in week out, but I do recall joining the attack as being a very prominent part of Lucio's game. There's some good examples in this video, at 3:10 for example



He was exciting to watch and genuinely effective in the attacking phase, but it does leave gaps, and Marcelo isn't really the one to fill them.

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

• I think Aldo is a bit going too hard on Lucio, it's not like he was making a mistakes on a match basis, I agree his Bundesliga time wasn't as good as the Inter time but he's not a terrible defender. On the flip side, I think Enigma/Snow are trying to make his allegations, which are fair although maybe a bit too concentrated, look ridicules and laughable which is wrong.
• I think Aldo definitely has a point that Marcelo might leave traces for counters to be exploited, and Littbarski can definitely take advantage of it. On the flip side, on the nature of the game as I see it, will be Aldo pretty much in control of the middle with his midfield's superiority in terms of hard work they will get the ball back quickly, leading to a higher line of defence which won't allow Marcelo to bomb too much forward, even if the arrow points forward. I think it will happen occasionally when he decides to bomb forward and that might be exploited by Littbarski, but I don't think he well get caught up too often because of the way this game will turn out he won't have too much time attacking.
  
• Kaka is crucial here. Yes, Mascherano is brilliant physically and I don't doubt his role like some in the previous match, but I'm not sure he's good enough to stop a prime Kaka in a setup created for players like him. When Aldo has the ball, which is most of the time as I see it, Mascherano will be an asset because he'll sweep so many of these long balls, but the few times Kaka will actually get them it might be havoc if that trio will do it properly.
  
• I'm one of the biggest Modric fans you'll find, I think his passing and vision is one of the best in recent years and I've picked him often in these drafts, but I think this role is a bit odd for him. I think you can get the best of him in two scenarios - either in a team that dominates possession and let him pull the strings like RM against most teams, or in a team that is playing direct and quick with him being used as the main outlet to start these attacks like Croatia NT. In this case, he's neither. He's too busy defending when the opponent has the ball, and with midfields so responsible like Davids and Mendieta you wouldn't want to waste time sending that ball forward and would probably trust Shevchenko/Kaka/Villa to get the ball in the air or with their speed, and in that way you kinda lose Modric. There's a reason Kaka thrived with Pirlo in Milan and not in Real Madrid, and that reason is Kaka is better with a pivot type midfielder to lead the way than with a CM who starts the attacks before he does, he wants someone from deep. It's not about diamond or not, it's about the players behind him. He needs someone working their ass off(at least one) and one deep creative player. You could still get the best of him in EnigmaSnow's setup, but it's not ideal for Modric and you get him doing too much defensive work and too little best of him.

And I think all managers should calm down a bit. These draft matches became fist fights lately.

@Aldo @Enigma_87 @Snow care to comment on any of those or do you want to keep fighting each other to the death?

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

Not that I was watching him week in week out, but I do recall joining the attack as being a very prominent part of Lucio's game. There's some good examples in this video, at 3:10 for example



He was exciting to watch and genuinely effective in the attacking phase, but it does leave gaps, and Marcelo isn't really the one to fill them.

that's actually quite a crazy goal! Was it in Bayern?

 

[Moby]

@Aldo @Enigma_87 @Snow care to comment on any of those or do you want to keep fighting each other to the death?

Fight to the death!

A pretty fair analysis, the first thing I'll say is the emphasis for us not on 'keeping the ball', rather 'moving the ball' and we have the players with the required amount of physicality, technicality and versatility to make that happen.

More so against a gung-ho defense.

 

[Boycott]

I wouldn't allow that, if I was the draft master. No point in stressing on league form if we are going to evaluate players based on other competitions. You don't see me putting videos of Litti starring in World Cups for Germany, do you? While you are displaying his style of play, you are showing the wrong form, as well.


Out of curiosity, what do you think was the reason behind him being positionally weak at Bayern?

Well he was encouraged to go forward as he had good attacking qualities. As a defender first he was good too as seen in Bayer's CL run. Hardly David Luiz.

 

[Enigma_87]

• I think Aldo is a bit going too hard on Lucio, it's not like he was making a mistakes on a match basis, I agree his Bundesliga time wasn't as good as the Inter time but he's not a terrible defender. On the flip side, I think Enigma/Snow are trying to make his allegations, which are fair although maybe a bit too concentrated, look ridicules and laughable which is wrong.
• I think Aldo definitely has a point that Marcelo might leave traces for counters to be exploited, and Littbarski can definitely take advantage of it. On the flip side, on the nature of the game as I see it, will be Aldo pretty much in control of the middle with his midfield's superiority in terms of hard work they will get the ball back quickly, leading to a higher line of defence which won't allow Marcelo to bomb too much forward, even if the arrow points forward. I think it will happen occasionally when he decides to bomb forward and that might be exploited by Littbarski, but I don't think he well get caught up too often because of the way this game will turn out he won't have too much time attacking.
  
• Kaka is crucial here. Yes, Mascherano is brilliant physically and I don't doubt his role like some in the previous match, but I'm not sure he's good enough to stop a prime Kaka in a setup created for players like him. When Aldo has the ball, which is most of the time as I see it, Mascherano will be an asset because he'll sweep so many of these long balls, but the few times Kaka will actually get them it might be havoc if that trio will do it properly.
  
• I'm one of the biggest Modric fans you'll find, I think his passing and vision is one of the best in recent years and I've picked him often in these drafts, but I think this role is a bit odd for him. I think you can get the best of him in two scenarios - either in a team that dominates possession and let him pull the strings like RM against most teams, or in a team that is playing direct and quick with him being used as the main outlet to start these attacks like Croatia NT. In this case, he's neither. He's too busy defending when the opponent has the ball, and with midfields so responsible like Davids and Mendieta you wouldn't want to waste time sending that ball forward and would probably trust Shevchenko/Kaka/Villa to get the ball in the air or with their speed, and in that way you kinda lose Modric. There's a reason Kaka thrived with Pirlo in Milan and not in Real Madrid, and that reason is Kaka is better with a pivot type midfielder to lead the way than with a CM who starts the attacks before he does, he wants someone from deep. It's not about diamond or not, it's about the players behind him. He needs someone working their ass off(at least one) and one deep creative player. You could still get the best of him in EnigmaSnow's setup, but it's not ideal for Modric and you get him doing too much defensive work and too little best of him.

And I think all managers should calm down a bit. These draft matches became fist fights lately.

This is a nice feedback mate, thanks. I can see a lot of valid points. On Modric I think the key on why we picked him is his effectiveness in both attack and defence with also the ability to keep possession. What is really unique in Modric is that he's a special and rare talent in todays game which makes it pretty crucial for Real, and his injury last year was sorely missed when they were playing great with him and quite on high note. Then everything broke apart.

I know Modric will be pressed but he really thrived on that. If anything Modric is perfectly capable of creating space if he evades Davids who is the most combative and explosive midfielder. If he does so and I think that's his game, that can open quite some space for the counter.

With his low gravity and ball skills not in question I think he has become even stronger and more agile at Real so it is harder to push him off the ball without fouling him.

A nice compilation of him: