................. Team @Edgar Allan Pillow (Fabio Capello) ............................................................. Team @Jayvin (Carlo Ancelotti) ..........................................
Team Edgar Allan Pillow (Manager: Fabio Capello)
Defence:
Milan's defence under Capello (and Sacchi previously) is considered as one of the greatest defensive line-up's of all time. 3 of the fabled back 4 of Milan, Maldini, Costacurta and Panucci reprise their familiar legendary roles here with the only difference is that the play making skills of Baresi has been replaced with the defensive solidity of Desailly due to the presence of 2 of the worlds best creative (defensive) midfielders shielding them. This is a defence comprised of players who individually are GOAT's and have the history of being successful together.
Central Defensive Midfield (and so much more...)
El Principe, Redondo and the Metronomo, Albertini needs no introduction to anyone familiar with football. Though they are often labelled as Defensive Midfielder's, they are so much more than that tag might infer.
Two more complete midfielders you'll rarely see. Blessed with good mentality, excellent vision, tactical knowledge, ball control and a brilliant passing range, they are especially adept in reading the opposition play and making crucial interceptions, be it helping out in defence or in contributing to attack, both remained omnipresent. They compliment each other perfectly and the abundance of creativity between them will ensure a solid shield disrupting Jayvin's attack and start deadly counters.
Central Attacking Midfield:
Savićević, Nedved and Donadoni make up for a highly creative and flexible attacking midfield. All 3 players are capable of playing anywhere on the attacking midfield line and the constant switching between them will be a menace for Jayvin's defence constantly shirting the focus of attack well capable of overloading any potential opportunity to a goal certainty. Savićević attacking brilliance is complimented perfectly by the midfield work-rate of Nedved and Donadoni. It is quite impossible to forget Savićević's performance against Cryuff's Barcelona and he has a similar freedom to dominate here.
Attack:
Suker may not have had a long career like most others in the draft, but at his peak, he was one of the best in the world. Apart from his La Liga & Supercopa winning season (1996-97) under Capello, his time under Capello is smack down in the middle of his career peak (1996-98) as attested by UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 1996, ESM Team of the Year: 1996–97, 1998 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe, 1998 FIFA World Cup Silver Ball, FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998, Ballon d'Or (Runner-up): 1998, FIFA World Player of the Year (Bronze Award): 1998.
Advantages that will earn me the victory:
+ One of the best defensive line-up's in the draft. The back 4 players are all top of class and have played with each other successful making one of the tightest defensive units in their prime.
+ No offence to Alonso or Modric, but they are nowhere near the class of Redondo or Albertini when it comes to creativity or controlling the game from the middle. One of his finest moments for Redondo came in the Champions League triumph of 1998. Real Madrid came across Juventus, a team with a frighteningly gifted midfield of Deschamps-Davids-Zidane (Inzaghi and Del Piero leading the line) Despite the plethora of talent on display Fernando Redondo was named man of the match dominated the middle of the park with his uncanny knack of breaking opposition play. You can see the similarity the Alonso-Davids-Kaka here which will end with a similar result, imo. The additions of Modric vs Albertini also favours my team.
+ Two fold superiority in wide areas. Though Davids is a capable wide player, he is played in a more central role here. So Savićević and Donadoni will have a marked advantage in the flanks. Add the flexibility of Nedved to overload either of the flank, Alonso will be overwhelmed. Again due to the same reason mentioned, Jayvin will depend on fullback's to compliment on width and that is a two edged sword. Particularly in Savićević's case (vs Ashley Cole) it is a recipe for disaster for my opponents.
Team Jayvin (Manager: Carlo Ancelotti)
THE TEAM:
A young Buffon in goals in his 1996-1998 form that convinced Juventus to shatter the world record fee for a goalkeeper, during this time he was rated as one of the top 10 players in Serie A in consecutive seasons by Gazzetta dello Sport. Protecting him is a well-balanced partnership of Thiago Silva (circa 2013) – A year in which he was named in the European Team of the Season and hailed by his own manager as the best defender in the world - and Fabio Cannavaro; one of the finest defenders in Serie A during his spell at Parma.
At fullback, Ashley Cole and Antonio Benarrivo were both consistent and solid performers under Ancelotti, with the former voted Chelsea’s Player of the Year in 2010/11 and named in the Premier League team of the season, while Benarrivo was regarded as one of the best fullbacks in Italy during the 90’s. Their pace and stamina will allow them to get up and down the flanks and the protection from midfield means my team won't be easily punished if they are caught out of position.
Xabi Alonso will sit deep and orchestrate the play similarly to Pirlo under Ancelotti at Milan, while also being more adept defensively than the Italian. He is flanked by Edgar Davids in his imperious 1998-2000 Juventus form where he was rated as a top 5 player in Serie A by Gazzetta dello Sport and Luka Modric; one of the best midfielders in Europe last season as Ancelotti's Madrid won the Champions League.
In attack there is a dynamic partnership of Andriy Shevchenko - European Footballer of the Year in 2004 - and Didier Drogba - who enjoyed his most prolific season for Chelsea under Ancelotti - scoring 37 goals in 2009/10 en route to a League and Cup double. Supporting them will be Kaka - World Player of the Year under Ancelotti - who will play as a withdrawn forward in a free role, where he can drift between the lines and help to overload EAP’s central defenders.
TACTICS:
Lining up in Ancelotti's 4-3-1-2 (or diamond 4-4-2) which was used to great effect for Milan in the early 2000's, my team packs the central areas with creativity, explosiveness and strength in a bid to dominate the midfield and control the game; although they will be equally adept on the counter thanks to the pace and stamina of the fullbacks, Davids' ability to contribute to both phases of play and the devastating directness and pace up front of Kaka, Shevchenko and Drogba.
Alonso will be the primary playmaker, sitting deep in the Pirlo role where he can use his passing range to greatest effect, as well as being adept defensively; winning tackles and intercepting passes thanks to his impeccable positioning. The wily Luka Modric's creativity and movement from deep gives my team another option going forward, with his well-timed forward runs particularly useful in dragging players out of position.
Davids provides the energy in midfield, with his tireless running; explosiveness going forward and ability to break up the opposition play vital in giving Alonso and Modric a platform to control the game.
Up front Shevchenko can look to move wide and drop off in a bid to stretch EAP's defenders, dragging them out of position and creating space for Drogba and the onrushing Kaka, or cut in from the left himself and run at Panucci/Costacurta, causing havoc with his pace, dribbling and powerful shot.
Overall, the wide range of creative and attacking options will make my team difficult to defend against: Alonso dictating from deep supported by Modric, Davids' driving runs from midfield and Kaka drifting between the lines where he is most dangerous.
Further forward, there are yet more options, with Shevchenko's work rate, pace and ability to run the channels blended with Drogba's aerial threat and physical presence in the box.
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