GIO:
THE RELIGION:
GIO TACTICS:
MAVERICK - KAZI DEYNA
Deyna was an impressive goalscorer from midfield, averaging just under a goal every two games at both club (602 games, 267 goals) and country (97 games, 41 goals). As such the attack is structured with maximum width in Matthews and Czibor to stretch and create gaps in the opposition defence. In the middle is Hidegkuti who will operate as a selfless false 9, allowing both Deyna and Boniek to surge on, with the classy one-touch play to be a neat partner for Deyna.
Although the team is themed very much as a 1950s tribute in its personnel, style and tactics, I've diverged so slightly from the theme by partnering Deyna with fellow Pole Boniek in the attacking midfield spots. Their peaks didn't quite collide for Poland, but their influence ensured the national team were at the forefront of the international game for over a decade. They should be a complementary partnership - Boniek's high-octane vertical style contrasting with Deyna's close control and adeptness in tight spaces.
Other player choices are about trying to get the best out of Deyna. Reflecting on the fine '74 World Cup team, Matthews is chosen as a touchline-hugging winger in the mould of Gadocha. Bozsik and Mackay in midfield are a solid platform (not dissimilar to Mackay/Blanchflower) and can get onto Deyna's technical wavelength. Bozsik obviously shining in the same system for Hungary, constantly feeding Puskas, Hidegkuti and Czibor ahead.
LIABILITY - JOSE SANTAMARIA
Santamaria is in familiar surroundings here, playing much the same system he shone in for Uruguay at the 1954 World Cup (part of the all-star team) and then on to European Cup dominance with Real Madrid. It's a familiar back 3, with Djalma - also in the 1954 WC All-Star team - taking up his RCB from the tournament and offering impeccable defensive covering. On Santamaria's left is his international compatriot Victor Andrade, regarded as the best half-back in the world at the time, playing off both flanks during his World Cup career. The best goalkeeper in the world during the 1950s, Vladimir Beara, backs them up. Individually it's strong and everyone is in familiar surroundings.
THE RELIGION TACTICS:
Formation: Christmas Tree. The buccaneering full-backs Eyzaguirre and Alba provide the width, while the imperious Pirlo orchestrates the deeper build-up, flanked by two elite midfield B2Bers in Vieira and Kante. The maverick Hagi is our creator-in-chief in the final third, with Kane providing both top-notch approach play and a lethal cutting edge, and Luis Enrique weighing in with a potent goal threat as well.
The Liability: Luis Eyzaguirre
An unusually attacking full-back for his era, Eyzaguirre was sufficiently highly-regarded to be included in the England vs Rest of the World Match in 1963, sharing the pitch with no less than seven Ballon d'Or winners, and the likes of Seeler and Puskas on top of that. He's given a meaty role here as the main width provider on the right wing, maximising his opportunities to highlight his nimble footwork and pacey, aggressive ball-carrying. Here is skipping past none other than Bobby Moore:
His reputation as a defender is less than great in the draft forum, but this has been mitigated by having the rapid, mobile Chumpitaz as the right-sided CB, and the voracious, intelligent ball-winner Kante at RCM. When the opposition wingers do get their crosses in, the imperious Vidic seems to have the beating of any of the opposition attackers in aerial duels.
The Maverick: Gheorghe Hagi
Possessor of one of the most cultured and versatile left pegs around, it says something about Hagi's creativity that in his final season at Galatasary, aged 36 and far past his prime athletically, he was still able to rack up 16 assists in 25 league matches. Throw in his adroit dribbling and his impressive goalscoring record (over 300 career goals, including a stunning portfolio of long-range screamers) and you have a formidable package as a No. 10. While his club career in western Europe was patchy, his stunning WC 94, several deep runs in the European Cup for Steaua Bucharest, and UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup wins for Galatasary speak well to his overall level.
The Christmas Tree gives him complete creative freedom here. Andrea Pirlo, who has provided such elegant and effective service to advanced playmakers such as Baggio, Totti, Kaka and Rui Costa, orchestrates the deeper build up. Combined with the abundance of energy and defensive nous provided by the likes of Kante, Vieira and Luis Enrique, Hagi should enjoy plenty of periods of meaningful midfield control in which to work his magic. He has wide runners in Alba and Eyzaguirre to pick out, a terrific goalscorer in Kane ahead of him who should be on his wavelength technically, and an AM partner in Lucho who won't tread on his toes in terms of ball-dominance but will rather give him another passing option.
THE RELIGION:
GIO TACTICS:
MAVERICK - KAZI DEYNA
Deyna was an impressive goalscorer from midfield, averaging just under a goal every two games at both club (602 games, 267 goals) and country (97 games, 41 goals). As such the attack is structured with maximum width in Matthews and Czibor to stretch and create gaps in the opposition defence. In the middle is Hidegkuti who will operate as a selfless false 9, allowing both Deyna and Boniek to surge on, with the classy one-touch play to be a neat partner for Deyna.
Although the team is themed very much as a 1950s tribute in its personnel, style and tactics, I've diverged so slightly from the theme by partnering Deyna with fellow Pole Boniek in the attacking midfield spots. Their peaks didn't quite collide for Poland, but their influence ensured the national team were at the forefront of the international game for over a decade. They should be a complementary partnership - Boniek's high-octane vertical style contrasting with Deyna's close control and adeptness in tight spaces.
Other player choices are about trying to get the best out of Deyna. Reflecting on the fine '74 World Cup team, Matthews is chosen as a touchline-hugging winger in the mould of Gadocha. Bozsik and Mackay in midfield are a solid platform (not dissimilar to Mackay/Blanchflower) and can get onto Deyna's technical wavelength. Bozsik obviously shining in the same system for Hungary, constantly feeding Puskas, Hidegkuti and Czibor ahead.
LIABILITY - JOSE SANTAMARIA
Santamaria is in familiar surroundings here, playing much the same system he shone in for Uruguay at the 1954 World Cup (part of the all-star team) and then on to European Cup dominance with Real Madrid. It's a familiar back 3, with Djalma - also in the 1954 WC All-Star team - taking up his RCB from the tournament and offering impeccable defensive covering. On Santamaria's left is his international compatriot Victor Andrade, regarded as the best half-back in the world at the time, playing off both flanks during his World Cup career. The best goalkeeper in the world during the 1950s, Vladimir Beara, backs them up. Individually it's strong and everyone is in familiar surroundings.
THE RELIGION TACTICS:
Formation: Christmas Tree. The buccaneering full-backs Eyzaguirre and Alba provide the width, while the imperious Pirlo orchestrates the deeper build-up, flanked by two elite midfield B2Bers in Vieira and Kante. The maverick Hagi is our creator-in-chief in the final third, with Kane providing both top-notch approach play and a lethal cutting edge, and Luis Enrique weighing in with a potent goal threat as well.
The Liability: Luis Eyzaguirre
An unusually attacking full-back for his era, Eyzaguirre was sufficiently highly-regarded to be included in the England vs Rest of the World Match in 1963, sharing the pitch with no less than seven Ballon d'Or winners, and the likes of Seeler and Puskas on top of that. He's given a meaty role here as the main width provider on the right wing, maximising his opportunities to highlight his nimble footwork and pacey, aggressive ball-carrying. Here is skipping past none other than Bobby Moore:
His reputation as a defender is less than great in the draft forum, but this has been mitigated by having the rapid, mobile Chumpitaz as the right-sided CB, and the voracious, intelligent ball-winner Kante at RCM. When the opposition wingers do get their crosses in, the imperious Vidic seems to have the beating of any of the opposition attackers in aerial duels.
The Maverick: Gheorghe Hagi
Possessor of one of the most cultured and versatile left pegs around, it says something about Hagi's creativity that in his final season at Galatasary, aged 36 and far past his prime athletically, he was still able to rack up 16 assists in 25 league matches. Throw in his adroit dribbling and his impressive goalscoring record (over 300 career goals, including a stunning portfolio of long-range screamers) and you have a formidable package as a No. 10. While his club career in western Europe was patchy, his stunning WC 94, several deep runs in the European Cup for Steaua Bucharest, and UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup wins for Galatasary speak well to his overall level.
The Christmas Tree gives him complete creative freedom here. Andrea Pirlo, who has provided such elegant and effective service to advanced playmakers such as Baggio, Totti, Kaka and Rui Costa, orchestrates the deeper build up. Combined with the abundance of energy and defensive nous provided by the likes of Kante, Vieira and Luis Enrique, Hagi should enjoy plenty of periods of meaningful midfield control in which to work his magic. He has wide runners in Alba and Eyzaguirre to pick out, a terrific goalscorer in Kane ahead of him who should be on his wavelength technically, and an AM partner in Lucho who won't tread on his toes in terms of ball-dominance but will rather give him another passing option.
That too, obviously.