New Fantasy Draft Completed Teams

[Cal?]

The Rules (well the relevant ones at this stage):

* The aim of the game is to select a team of 11 players from all the current footballers playing who are born on or after June 25, 1987.
* Players chosen will be judged on their careers so far, everything they have achieved, selection should not be based on how good you think they'd become.
* Come the knockout stage, if you win a match, you are allowed to choose one player from the losing side to replace one of your own.

Anyway, 16 of us (& some assistants) have been at it for a while, and here's a thread for everyone to post their finalised teams, tactics, etc...

Please do not post your comments on this thread until all the participants have had their say, thx.

Everybody's comments are welcome on the original picking thread:
https://www.redcafe.net/f7/new-fantasy-draft-325813/index20.html

The match order is as follows:

Round 1
Match 1 - GingerPrince11 vs phelan shorts
Match 2 - Cling Bak vs Desert Eagle
Match 3 - Minkaro vs IBleedRed
Match 4 - Walrus vs Solius
Match 5 - KM vs FortBoyard
Match 6 - Cal vs arjwiz
Match 7 - K Stand Knut vs DanNistelrooy
Match 8 - Mighty Boosh vs Danish Voice

Quarter Final
Match 9 - Winner of Match 5 vs Winner of Match 4
Match 10 - Winner of Match 8 vs Winner of Match 1
Match 11 - Winner of Match 7 vs Winner of Match 6
Match 12 - Winner of Match 2 vs Winner of Match 3

Semi Final
Match 13 - Winner of Match 11 vs Winner of Match 10
Match 14 - Winner of Match 12 vs Winner of Match 9

Final
Match 15 - Winner of Match 14 vs Winner of Match 13

 

[Cal?]

Okay, a little background on the players:

Sippel - Kaiserlautern keeper who has recently been called up to the German internationa squad
Uchida - Schalke & Japan regular, decent defensively and going forward, also great for marketing
Subotic - Dortmund and Serbia regular, one of the reasons why Dortmund ran away with the Bundesliga
Ranocchia - Signed by Inter during the Winter and a regular for them as they saved their season after the disaster of Rafa
Rojo - Won the Copa Libertadores with Estudiantes, then joined Spartak Moscow, recently called up for Argentina, has 3 caps.
Granero - El Pirata, a Real Madrid squad player who can do a bit of everything, Mourinho called him the hardest worker at RM.
Anderson - Guess there is no need to describe him...
Renato Augusto - One of the stars taking Leverkusen above Bayern and into a CL place, recently called up by Brazil and has 2 caps.
Jeffren - Barca squad player who has an eye for goal, scored the 5th in that 5-0 rout.
Mata - Regularly in the squad (11 caps) for the World and European champions, the star of the 3rd place La Liga side.
Chicharito - Little pea

 

[phelans shorts]

​

A bit of background.

Simon Mignolet- Belgian international and some impressive performances in the PL this season mean the Sunderland man's stock is high.

Adam Matthews- One of the jewells in Cardiff's crown this season is the young full back and already signed for Celtic whom he will join this summer, the Welshman has a bright future ahead.
Matteo Mussachio- There has been a meteoritic rise for the Argentine centre back who has gone from Villareal reserve to the heart of their defence in the last year, an international call up is surely just a matter of time away.
Ryan Shawcross- Former Manchester United man and heart of Stoke City's defence Ryan Shawcross could end the season with an FA cup medal and more importantly a potential Fantasy draft winners medal!
Roberto Canella- the stunning left back was hugely impressive for Spain's U19 side not long ago and looks set to be at one of Spain's biggest clubs before too long following some impressive performances for Sporting Gijon.

Nuri Sahin- The Turkish star has been a vital cog in Dortmunds runaway side this year, showing himself as a top quality playmaker at every opportunity.
Maroune Fellaini- The Everton man has proven lots in his time with England, including that 6ft 7in men with an afro can occasionally play football quite well, and of course his enormous height means he can always be seen as a threat from set pieces.

Marc Albrighton- The Villa man has broke out this season and prved himself as one of the top crossers of the ball in the country, an international call up is surely a matter of time away.
Marek Hamsik- The Slovakian may not be well known to Alan Shearer but the educated football world have known about his talents for a long time, with his performances being a large reason Napoli seem destined for Champions League qualification.
Lewis Holtby- The young English/German attacker is a player who has been hugely impressive this season, aiding Mainz in some great performances and breaking into the Germany side, a starring role for Schalke next season seems to await.

Alexandre Pato- The Brazil international and AC Milan star is a player that strikes fear into the hearts of many defences all over the world, and an appropriate man to lead the line for such a side.

 

[DanNistelrooy]

DanNistelrooy FC

Assistant Manager: ParkJiSy

The Players

Forster - Quick off his line, agile and above all, an absolute beast in goal, Forster has the potential to be a future England number one. Won promotion with Norwich last year, before looking likely to win the league with Celtic, he looks set for a bright future in the game

Schmelzer – Left back for the side that has just won the German league who also boast the tightest defensive in the division. Schmelzer has had a fantastic season on a personal note as well having made his breakthrough in the national side. Tough in the tackle and highly composed on the ball, Schmelzer is probably one of the most in form left backs currently.

Howedes – Vice captain for the surprise package in the champions league, Howedes is a commanding centre half. His absence in the recent tie against Man Utd was incredibly noticeable, and his organisational skills will be a great asset to our side.

Rodwell – Complementing Howedes will be young Jack Rodwell. Questions may be asked as to why centre half, but this is his natural position, and with a great ability to read, as well as distribute accurately means our two centre halves form a formidable partnership.

Elmohammedy – at right back comes a player who, on form, can be devastating down the right flank. Quick enough to get up and down, he easily turns defense into attack. Tailed off recently, but having already won 42 caps for his country his experience will be invaluable

Kuzmanovic – our holding midfielder, the ‘cog’ of our team. Everyone great side needs one; Kuzmanovic is our man. A great reader of the game and strong in the challenge, he allows our creative players to do their thing whilst shielding our back four expertly

Wilshere – Our box to box central midfielder. At the tender age of just 19, it speaks volume that Capello has already tried to build the national side around him. Pure class on the ball, terrier like in the midfield, I’m pretty sure Barcelona have been going after the wrong Arsenal centre midfielder..

Pjanic – our midfield playmaker. Dangerous on the ball, this man has an eye for goal as well as the ability to pick a killer through ball. He will also be our main set piece taker, and his deliveries are normally bang on the money.

Capel – an exciting wide player and Spanish international before injury. Capel offers an excellent delivery into the box, and has the trickery to beat his man to devastating effect. Another young man with plenty of experience. Capel will be the man to provide the team with width and together with Elmohamady will provide danger down right flank.

Jovetic – sound technically and great close control dribbling, Jovetic is the ideal man to have on the other flank of Capel. He offers something completely different, and with much more of a goal threat as well. Likes to beat his man and get his shot or cross off, his delivery is key to our target mans goal tally.

Derdiyok – Tall, strong and powerful, Derdiyok was the ideal front man for us to lead the line. Excellent heading abilities so is deadly from set plays, his strong frame allows him to hold the ball up for our more creative influences to get involved. This ability is invaluable to our team.


The Team
Possession often influences the outcome of matches and I have built a side that would be capable of dominating possession of the ball against most teams. Kuzmanović, who will be the ball winner of the midfield, is also very comfortable on the ball. I then have two of the brightest young talents in Europe to run the show in midfield in the shape of Pjanić and Wilshere. With this trio keeping the ball and pulling the strings in midfield I cannot see the team losing any midfield battle.

Any winning team is dependent on having a strong core. And the trio mentioned above are joined by a strong central defensive partnership in Rodwell and Howedes. Like the best central defensive partnerships (your Rio/Vidic’s, Pallister/Bruce’s) I have a ball playing centre half in Rodwell, partnered by a destroyer in Howedes. Both are strong, quick, dominant in the air and can play with the ball at their feet.

Helping Wilshere and Pjanic to provide that creative edge to the team is Montenegrin star Stevan Jovetic. Scored an impressive 6 goals in just 13 appearances for Montenegro and will cause defences headaches in the free role I deploy him in.

Unlike many of the teams in this draft I feel my team has a real balance to it and this is even reflected in my fullbacks. On the right hand side I have Elmohamady who likes to get forward as much as possible partnered by the defensive minded Marcel Schmelzer who has been part of the Borussia Dortmund defence who boast the tightest defence in Germany. Providing further balance in midfield is winger Diego Capel. Who, unlike Jovetic on the left wing who would look to cut inside, will hug the by-line and with the support from Elmohamady will provide width to the team.

When playing alone upfront you need to be physical and I have Swiss internation Eren Derdiyok to play this role. The 6 foot 3’s job will be to hold up the play and occupy the opposition defenders, allowing his more creative team-mates more room to operate. Completing my team is a goalkeeper who you will most certainly have heard of if you follow Scottish football, its Fraser Forster who has more than filled the gap that Artur Boruc left as Celtic’s number one.

The beauty of this team is really its great balance and also we are not relying on one man for goals, our front 5 is capable of goals.


Tactics
The tactics I would deploy would be to keep hold of possession. Kuzmanović will play the ‘Makelele’ role allowing Pjanic and Wilshere to roam and good luck getting the ball off of these two! Capel would be instructed to keep his width. He is capable of beating his man and will also have support from Elmohamady who is an attacking minded fullback, who when does bomb forward will be covered by the deep-lying Kuzmanović.

On the left hand side, Jovetic will be given a free role. He is the man who alongside Pjanic and Wilshere will hold the key to creating chances. He provide support to Derdiyok, whose main role in the team is to hold up and lay off the ball and also to poach the chances that would surely come his way in a team full of creativity.

The team would be instructed to keep it tight in defence, with the help of Kuzmanović shielding them. Keep hold of the ball, and eventually you have to fancy one of Wilshere, Pjanic or Jovetic to provide that bit of magic that brings along a goal scoring opportunity.

 

[IBleedRed]

IBleedRed's Team

Assistant Manager: DS

Oliver Baumann:
Freiburg's go to keeper for this campaign, he has 28 games this season alone and 5 call ups to Germany's U20 and U21 squad through 2010-2011.

Mats Hummels:
Borussia Dortmunds's rock in central defense, he is an integral part of their first place defensive record in the Bundesliga. Hummels has already earned 4 caps as a full international and has 21 caps in Germany's U21 team. He has an especially impressive scoring record with 10 goals for Dortmund in 2009-2011 (scoring 5 in each season) and 5 goals while playing for the U21. With 30 plus games already this season and just as many in 09/10 he has a wealth of experience at the top level for a young defender.

Isaac Vorsah:
Partnering Hummels in the central defense is another defender more than happy to chip in with a goal now and then. Vorsah has 3 goals already this season and an impressive appearance record at Hoffenheim of 71 games total in the last 3 seasons (29+ in 10/11). Vorsah has also earned 15 call ups to Ghana's national team in recent years giving him experience from in and outside of Europe. At 6ft 5 (192cm) he is extremely imposing and not afraid to get physical.

Ivan Obradovic:
The Real Zaragoza and Serbian full back has 20 appearances this season for his club and an impressive 16 caps for Serbia scoring 1 goal. He has good pace and likes to play with his left foot.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos:
AC Milan's versatile defender slots in at rightback. As well as having a cool name he has been called up to the Greek national team 18 times and though only having played 5 times for Milan this season he has plenty of club experience at Genoa playing 51 times and scoring 2 goals from 2008-2010.

Sergio Busquets:
Despite a questionable personality and ethics its hard to take anything away from his abilities as a player. Since early 2008 Busquets has played 82+ matches for arguably the best club midfield of recent years. He has won every trophy possible including the Champions League and World Cup and has also amassed an impressive 28 caps for the world champions.

Thiago Alcântara:
Though he may not have the minutes/caps of his other team mates Alcantara makes up for it by experience at the very top of the game. 10 games for the first team this season show that he can fill the huge expectations of being a Barcelona midfielder. He also played a major role in Spain's 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship triumph and was again instrumental in Spain's 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship campaign.

Marko Marin:
An established German international Marin is one of the promising youngsters that were brought to the World Cup in South Africa. At only 22 He already can claim 16 caps for the elite international side. Marin currently plays for Budesliga side Werder Bremen and has an extremely impressive 89+ games from 2009-2011 scoring 12 goals and 24 assists.

Miralem Sulejmani:
Playing on the right wing is the Ajax and Serbian attacker. Another player with loads of experience Sulejmani has played 115+ times for Ajax over the past 3 seasons and has 13 goals in 2010/2011. He has been capped for Serbia 7 times as a full international. Sulejmani is an extremely versatile player able to play in most attacking positions.

Thomas Müller:
Another versatile attacking option, Müller was the top scorer at the 2010 WC in SA and one of Germany's most important players. He can boast an impressive 15 caps for Germany with 7 goals to his name. On the club side Müller has played for Bayern Munich over 98 times in the last two seasons scoring 19 last season and 19+ in 2011.

Marko Arnautović:
Spearheading the attack is the 192cm forward from Austria. Arnautović currently plays for Werder Bremen already has 31 appearances 4 goals and 4 assists for his club this season. For Austria he has 9 caps scoring 4 goals for his country.

The Team:
I took a gamble with no United or premier league players and tried to find players with large amounts of experience for top European sides and countries. My team has a strong German/Bundesliga backbone and multiple players that have existing chemistry from playing together regularly. They also have the advantage that most the players are fluent or at least familiar with the German language so communication will be significantly easier.

Tactics:
Attack Attack Attack! The team may seem a bit lopsided with so much offensive talent but its evened out by world class defensive players like Hummels and especially Busquets anchoring the midfield. Most of the attacking players are versatile and can switch positions when necessary to keep the opposition guessing. Muller will be assuming the role Rooney has been recently for United and will be the nexus of the offense.

 

[Minkaro]

David De Gea: Last season was called up to replace Sergio Asenjo (international) and Roberto (injured) for Atletico Madrid, at the age of 18. Since then he has been a first choice keeper for Atletico, and was named in the provisional Spanish 30-man squad for the 2010 world cup.

Rafael Da Silva: Familar to Manchester United fans, this young Brazilian is known for his love of getting forwards and contributing to attacking moves.

Martin Kelly: Primarily playing for Liverpool as a right-back, even managing to force the more experienced Glen Johnson over to left-back position, I've drafted Kelly in as a centre-back due to his height (6'3") and heading ability.

Kyriakos Papadopoulos: Youngest ever player to play in the Greek League at 15 years and 283 days (thank you, Wikipedia). Papadopoulos now plays for Bundesliga side Schalke 04, having played in the Champion's League against Inter Milan and Manchester United.

Fabio Da Silva: Familar to Manchester United fans, this young Brazilian is known for his love of getting forwards and contributing to attacking moves.

Gylfi Sigurðsson: Having contributed to the Hoffenheim cause with an impressive eight goals in 27 games from midfield, this set-piece specialist also possesses great work rate and stamina.

Tom Cleverley: Another player that United fans will know. Cleverley was named Watford's player of the year in the 2009-2010 season for his instrumental role in securing the team's survival. Cleverley is now on loan at Wigan, where his skilful passing will surely have caught SAF's eye. (51 successful passes out of 53 attempted in the game against Blackpool is particularly noteworthy).

Gabriel Obertan: The first of two risky choices in my team. On his day Obertan can terrorise a defence with his pace and dribbling ability. Sadly his day seems to be the 29th of February.

Scott Sinclair: Having scored 23 goals in all competitions from the wing, Sinclair will certainly be a player to watch should Swansea secure promotion to the Premier League.

Moussa Dembele: This 36 time Belgian international has impressed me with his performances for Fulham, appearing to be most effective when he is allowed to come deep and join in with the midfield, hence his positioning in the formation above.

Chris Wood: Stop laughing. This 19 year old appeared for New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup, and has made 15 appearances for the Kiwis. His main strength is...his strength, actually. His height would make him a threat at set-pieces, and I imagine he'd do a fine job of holding the ball up for the more skilful players.

 

[Mighty Boosh]

Final XI



Manager: Might Boosh
Assistant Manager: The Taurean

The Players

Don't want to bore anyone with huge chunks of text but here's some basic information on my players and a brief overview on the tactics I plan to use.

David Ospina: Hugely talented Nice and Columbia shot stopper. At the age of 22 he has already established himself as first choice for club and country making over 200 senior appearances. He has excellent reflexes, controls his area well and is one of the main reasons his club OGC Nice have remained in the French top flight despite their limited resources. In Ospina I'm confident I have one of the best keepers in the draft.

Cesar Azpilicueta: A right wing back who narrowly missed out on the Spanish World Cup squad. Started his career at Osasuna making over 100 first team appearances before moving to Marseille this Summer where he established himself in the starting line up before suffering a bad knee injury. He's been capped at every youth level for Spain making 17 u-21 appearances and it's only a matter of time before he breaks into the senior team.

Jerome Boateng: A fast, tough tackling, physically strong and composed German centre back currently playing in the Premier League with Man City after joining them in a £10 million deal from Hamburg. Having made over 120 appearances at club level he has also established himself in the national side and was part of the German U-21 team that won the 2009 European Championships before representing the senior team at the 2010 World Cup earning 13 caps. I've selected him in his preferred position of centre back but he is equally adept at both right and left back. Since joining City he has been unlucky with injuries and the huge competition for places but he is certainly a player with a bright future.

Daniel Carrico: Sporting Lisbon's captain and leader he has been touted as the next Carvalho in his homeland. Linked with a £15 million move to City in January as a possible solution to their defensive problems it won’t be long before he moves to a top European side.

Erik Pieters: PSV and Holland left back who has been everpresent for the Dutch league leaders this season. Capped 5 times by the Dutch national team he also has plenty of European experience playing in the Europa League. Defensively he is very solid.

Javi Martinez: This man will boss my midfield, he's a teriffic player and was part of the Spanish World Cup winning squad. Atheltic Bilbao have been rewarded for splashing out nearly €6 million on a raw 17 year old who hadn't yet made a first team appearance. He has since played over 160 games for the scoring 18 goals and has become the heartbeat of the side. Standing at 6 foot 3 and weighing 86 kg he offers a physical presence in the midfield and is a player I think would thrive in England after being linked with joining us on a number of occasions.

Luiz Gustavo: Vastly experienced and will act as my midfield enforcer. He was an integral part of the Hoffenheim side that took the Bundesliga by storm a few years ago until he was sold to Bayern Munich in January which prompted current Schalke manager Ralf Rangnick to resign as Hoffenheim manager. He has made a very positive start to his career at Bayern playing 18 games many as a starter.

Willian: Pacy Brazilian Attacking Midfielder who has had an excellent season for Shakhtar Donetsk and is on the fringes of the Brazilian squad. He's been extremely productive this season playing in 38 games with 12 assists and 7 goals. He was particularly impressive in the Champions League for Shakhtar and scored a stunning goal against Roma to help them through to the quarter finals. A summer move looks likely as he is in the final year of his contract and there are many potential suitors including Chelsea and Arsenal.

Samir Nasri: Nasri long touted as the new Zidane has had a superb season with Arsenal, scoring 10 goals and was included in the PFA team of the season as well as being nominated for player of the year. Named Ligue 1's Young Player of the Year when playing for Marseille he soon joined the Gunners in a £15 million move. He has really stepped up to the plate in the absence of Fabregas this season and can play as a left attacking midfielder or in a withdrawn central role or tucked in behind a lone striker. His excellent vision and impressive passing ability make him an ideal playmaker for my team.

Mario Balotelli: The man everyone loves to hate. Balotelli is undoubtedly hugely talented and is finally starting to string a few games together with City. An impressive strike rate of 20 goals in 59 appearances for Inter earned him a big money move to City where he has scored 6 times in 16 games. Capped twice for Italy and a winner of the Golden Boy Award given to the top under-21 year old playing in Europe he has already achieved quite alot in a short career. Agile, quick and powerful he has the key attributes to be a top quality striker.

Abel Hernandez: This is the man Palermo looked to as a replacement for Edison Cavani and so far he has delivered. A player I have actually seen live when Uruguay came to Lansdowne Road for an internatonal friendly recently. At times he ran the Irish defence ragged and managed to get on the score sheet, his second goal in three caps for the senior side. A powerful runner with the ball and strong in the air he has appeared 45 times for Palermo in Serie A.

The Team
I believe what truly sets my team apart from alot of others in this draft is experience. Each and every one of my team is a proven performer for their club and as the rules of the competition quite clearly state "players chosen will be judged on their careers so far, everything they have achieved" I believe my team has a huge advantage over others who have drafted reserve team players with major European clubs who have in fact hardly had any playing time. 7 players from my team have received International and the others; Carrico, Willian, Azpilicueta and Luiz Gustavo are all on the fringes of a call-up.

 

[KM]

Tactics

Walker and Alba are both naturally attacking and will leave gaps at the back, so Otamendi with his ability to play at right back and Boyata's pace will be reasonably comfortable in wide areas when covering their fullbacks. Boyata is dominant and Otamendi is very reliable, and Walker and Alba will provide a huge combined threat for the opposition as well as plenty of support for Lucas and Sanchez. The support for Lucas being especially prominent and important for Alba as Witsel and Lucas will naturally drift inside more often than Sanchez on the opposite wing.

Banega will hold from deep, controlling the play and providing an option for the defence, orchestrating the attacks from the centre circle. Witsel will naturally look to push forward from midfield, and given his ability to play in wide areas and his dribbling and close control he would drift out to the left, interchanging with Lucas as dribbling playmakers out wide. Sissoko will get up and down the pitch offering his presence, thrust and overpowering individual quality to push the attack forward and offer an option in defence.

Sanchez will look to provide the width at the beginning of the attacks, stretch the play and isolate his fullback but as the play evolves he will look to dart in between fullback and centre back with Caicedo occupying one centre back and Walker pushing forward on the overlap with anyone of the four deeper players - Lucas, Witsel, Sissoko and particularly Banega - looking to pick him out. He'll also offer himself during quick build-ups and one touch play with Witsel or Lucas. Lucas will start off slightly more withdrawn, acting as a floating playmaker and looking to exploit gaps centrally with his intelligence and clever passing or out wide with his sheer pace. Caicedo will play the lone front man, providing a target and offering his presence and pace to provide something of a one man attack at times. He will often drift out to the left with Lucas and Witsel so often drifting inside and his previous experience on the left wing with City, he can use his pace and powerful dribbling to exploit gaps.

The front three along with Sissoko offer tremendous capacity for counter-attacking, along with the two full-backs, and along with Witsel and Banega starting the attacks.

Szczesny- Despite being an Arrogant cnut, there should be no denial to Szczesny’s talent. At the age of 21(which is extremely young for a GK) he has gone on to become Arsenal’s No.1 after impressing at loan to Brentford and then impressing at Arsenal in some fringe matches. Definitely one of the best young GK’s in the world

Walker- Signed by Spurs from Sheffield United(where he became the youngest Blades player to play at Wembley), he has been a revelation at Aston Villa, so much so that he broke into the English Squad at the age of 21 but had to withdraw due to an injury. Naturally attacking right back but a solid defender also, he has been a shining light in Villa’s bad season so far.

Otamendi- Anyone who becomes a regular fixture in Argentinian National Team at the age of 23 deserves a lot of credit. The centre back who can also perform adequately at the right back is a defender in the Rio Ferdinand mould but with the added bonus of scoring goals. His record for Porto(5 goals in 16 matches) is really a phenomenal return for a central defender.

Boyata- Signed by Manchester City as a teenager, this defender has looked very good in the City defense so far, his most memorable performance came against United in the Carling Cup SF Last year. Like his partner Otamendi he can also play at right back and excelled against Chelsea playing in that position

Jordi Alba- An excellent dribbler with pace to burn, the energy to get up and down that wing all day and the ability to pick out an excellent cross. Versatile enough to play as a left back, winger or centre mid with the variety of qualities to play each to a strong level. A late developer without doubt, he got his chance in the Valencia first team following a number of injuries and he made an immediate impression with his energy, technique and willingness to get forward season. An attacking threat that any team should worry about, will not only provide terrific width but has genuine quality in that left foot.

Witsel- Blessed with an impressive physique, a very high technical level and an excellent driving mentality, he is extremely well rounded. A strong short passing game, excellent close control, good dribbling and plenty of flair. Along with this he's got a great engine (well combined with a smart pressing game), is quick across the ground, is physically imposing and strong in the air. Best used as the most adventurous in a midfield three, linking midfield and attack with his passing and intelligent movement, but very comfortable as an orthodox centre mid adding presence and composure in deep areas.

Moussa Sissoko- A midfielder in the Yaya Toure mould. His most used asset is his dribbling and strong running. His passing's extremely crisp, incisive and reliable, his stamina's excellent, his awareness is very good and his tackling is very formidable - alongside a creative holder like Banega, Carrick or Alonso he can flourish, allowing him the freedom to push forward while being able to pick him out in threatening areas with incisive passing. A feature of every France youth team, debuted for the full team last year in a friendly and will continue to establish himself further following a move to a larger European club.

Banega- The Creative hub of my team, Banega has become one of the best midfielders in Spain outside the Top two. On his top form, he is really amongst the most complete midfielders in the world, he won the League with Boca Juniors playing as a Holding Midfielder, however after coming in Spain, he has really transformed into a top creative player. Various Pundits have labelled Maradona’s decision not to include Banega in the WC as his worst decision of his controversial management.

Sanchez- The Jewel of Italian Football, the Chilean since from his teenage days has been labelled as the New Cristiano Ronaldo and for a change this label is somewhat quite accurate. Graduating from the excellent Colo-Colo football academy, he has always been a talented player but has really come into his own at Udinese this season. Moving him to the “in the hole” position by the Udinese manager has been a real masterstroke and his Partnership with Di Natale upfront has smashed all kinds of records.

Lucas- Need no more than a succinct description from his manager at u20 level: "Lucas gives the coach the option of changing the team during the game. He can be a second forward, a centralized playmaker, a winger, or even a deep lying midfielder. He plays in direction of the goal. Lucas uses his strength a lot and finishes well too". Added to that he has tremendous pace, a wonderfully low centre of gravity, excellent work rate and a very strong incisive short passing game. He is very impressive with his tackling, regularly winning the ball high up the pitch, and along with Sanchez, Witsel and Sissoko he will be involved in intense pressing.

Caicedo- I wouldn’t write anything about him, I would just quote what Sid Lowe wrote about him a month ago “. He has scored 11 goals this season from just 17 starts. No one else has more than four in the whole team. And it's not as if that's because he has been fed loads of chances, or because he shoots wildly and often. In fact, he has the best shots-per-goal ratio in the league. Sometimes asked to hold the ball up and bring others into play; more often asked to smash his way past defenders almost on his own. Quick, skillful, strong. And unaided.”

Manager: KM
Assistant Manager: Brwned

Player Profiles to Follow.....

 

[Danish Voice]

My team



Rui Patricio One of the best goalies around for this age class. First choice at Sporting Lissabon for the last couple of seasons. Has three caps for Portugal.

Mauricio Isla Extremely offensive right wing back. Has played over 100 Serie A games for Udinese. Started every game for Chile at the World Cup last summer.

Toby Alderweireld Central defender, hasn't looked back since replacing Vermaelen at Ajax in the summer of 2009. A Belgian international with a powerful shot. Has scored some absolutely cracking goals from distance this year.

Emiliano Insua One of few Liverpool academy players to make it through to the first team. On loan at Galatasaray this season. Not the best defensively, but has some real attributes going forward.

Yann M'Vila Strong defensive midfielder who's excelled for his club Rennes for a couple of seasons now. Made his debut for France under Laurent Blanc last August. Probably going to a bigger club this summer, United apparently interested.

Ivan Rakitic The more offensive minded player in my central midfield. Left Schalke for Sevilla in January and has made a flying start in La Liga, being one of the stars of the second half of the season.

Pedro Broke into the Barcelona side after their Treble win in 2009, can play both left and right side of the attack. Expect him to be one of the top 10 players in the world in two years time.

Siem De Jong Graduate from Ajax' famous academy. Can both create and score goals. Can play just behind the striker or as a forward. Made his debut for Holland in 2010.

Kevin Grosskreutz One of the stars of the future of German football. An integral part of Dortmund's attack and a German international.

Gonzalo Higuain Not much to say about this guy. One of the very best finishers around.

 

[Solius]

Manager: Solius
Assistant: Aint Gota Kalou

Sergio Asenjo is regarded as one of the best young keepers around. A key part of Atletico Madrid's side til De Gea overtook him and he went on loan to Malaga.

Daniel Opare broke into the Ghana national team aged 17 and is a regular for Standard Liege. He is a very composed defender (converted from a midfielder and also has an excellent precise whipped cross in his locker when going forward.

Holger Badstuber is a regular centre-back for Bayern Munich having broken into the team in 2009. He can also play at left-back. A bonus with the very attacking Marcelo on the left side as he can cover if needed. He also plays for the German national team.

Breno is another Bayern Munich centre-back. Broke into the team in 2008 and has spent time on loan at Nuremberg as well as he learned his trade.

Marcelo is widely regarded as the best left-back in the world. His defensive abilities are underrated because his attacking ones are so good. A major threat going forward, can also play left-wing.

Steven Defour is the captain of Standard Liege, and is a central midfielder more in the Carrick mold than anyone else. He is a leader, and is known for his accurate passing and reading of the game. Fergie has kept an eye on him in the last few years.

Sotiris Ninis is a another player linked with United. The Greek attacking midfielder has all the tools in his locker and has made a heap of appearances for Panathinaikos at the age of 21. He has a brilliant change of pace and has become known for his superb vision and his rocket of a shot. Poses a different type of threat to many other players and can also play on the left.

Alan Dzagoev is an attacking midfielder who plays for CSKA Moscow and is a regular in the Russian national team. A very clever player with an eye for a killer pass. Compliments the other two midfielders perfectly as he is more relaxed and mentally astute. You may remember him scoring against United from a near impossible angle in the Champions League.

Douglas Costa is another player with a superb turn of pace. He can play on the right, the left or as an attacking midfielder. He can cut in from any side and provide a threat, and is very skilful. You may have seen some of his performances for Shaktar in this seasons Champions League.

Andrew Ayew plays for Marsielle so you've seen him this season. Broke into the team 4 years ago and is still only 21. Electric pace and known for his direct wing play and assists for his team. Can also play as a striker if needed.

Karim Benzema is hardly going to be unheard of on here. The Real Madrid star is one of the worlds top strikers.

Tactics:

I won't bore you with a wall of text. Marcelo will gang up with Ayew on the left side when possible. Ayew cuts inside a lot and Marcelo goes outside and vice versa, similar to how Evra links up with his winger, causes lots of problems. Costa, Ninis, and Dzagoev are all very versatile and can play all across the midfield. Ayew can also support the lone striker as he is adept in that position. The attack can interchange positions at will, similar to how United go forward. One out and out winger, with the one on the other side drifting into all sorts of space. Difficult to pick them all up with their movement.

 

[arjwiz]

The Players


Joe Lewis- 6 foot 6 goalkeeper who made an impression by first being called up to the full England squad 3 years ago, and being considered for a big move to a premiership club this summer.

Anthony Vanden Borre - Noone will consider Vanden Borre a youngster, having made his first team debut for Anderlecht 8 years ago, in a career that spanned Anderlecht, Fiorentina, Genoa, Portsmouth (when they were good), and Racing Genk. He has been a regular for Belgium for the last couple of years.

Nicolas N'Koulou - Another regular for Cameroon and Monaco, attracting interest from the likes of Athletico Madrid, Lyon, and Arsenal. Hard, strong tackler.

Ezequiel Munoz - Touted as one of the upcoming young stars in Italy, Munoz is a first choice center back for Palermo, and has represented them in the Europa League. He was called up to the Argentina national team two years ago. Intelligent player that shows leadership characteristics that bely his age.

Aly Cissokho - One of the key players in this team, Cissokho is a beast displaying strength, speed, and tackling abilities. He was part of the Porto team that won the double, and marked Cristiano Ronaldo efficiently in the CL 2 years ago. Played for France despite having the likes of Evra, Clichy, and Abidal ahead of him. Targeted by AC Milan and Real Madrid in the summer.

Giovani dos Santos - Runner up for the FIFA Young Player of the Tournament (World Cup 2010) to Muller. Has scored 3 goals for Barcelona. Tottenham player out on loan at Racing Santander. Mexico's most important player in their World Cup campaign. Quick and skilful player who provides pace and width.

Adem Ljajic - Attacking midfielder who has blossomed this season for Fiorentina, scoring 3 goals, earning him a call up to the Serbian squad. Attacking player who is going to dominate the center of the pitch.

Denilson - Captained Brazil at every junior level since U15. On the bench for the full team. 96 games for Arsenal. Holding player to support the attacks. Has had a very promising first 3 years to his Arsenal career.

Gareth Bale - PFA Player of the Year. "He killed him (Maicon)" - Van der Vaart. Fulcrum of the team who will keep bombing up and down the left flank for 90 minutes and whipping in those early crosses.

Federico Macheda - Helped United in their title bid in 2009 with his prodigal performances. First-teamer at Sampdoria on loan this season. Was ahead of Michael Owen in the pecking order last year. Fantastic technique and poaching abilities.

Andy Carroll - Most expensive British footballer in history. Injuries have kept him from showing his best for Liverpool this year, but has assured himself of being a starter for England and a talisman for Liverpool, helping in their good run this year. Classic no.9 with height, strength and heading ability. "Probably in the top 3 headers of a ball I have ever seen in football" - Keegan. "The best striker in the league" - Holloway.

The Team - A mix of creativity, pace, and strength

The strength of the defense lies in that - their strength. They are all physical players who do not shy away from making hard challenges. Vanden Borre will rarely venture forward, whereas Cissokho will provide a few overlaps for Bale. The team's balance is demonstrated by the abilities of the fullbacks.

The right side of midfield will see two of the brigtest prospects in Dos Santos and Ljajic swapping places. Dos Santos will provide pace and width, and will occasionally cut inside. Ljajic, equally adept at playing wide, will boss the midfield with his vision and creativity. Denilson will sit and provide support to the men ahead of him, rarely venturing forward.

Bale will do what he does best - simply bombing up and down the left flank again and again and again, whipping in those crosses at any time.

The most important piece in this jigsaw is Carroll. He is the perfect target man, using his strength and positioning to always be available for those knockdowns from crosses from Bale and Dos Santos. And who better to take them than a class finisher in Macheda. The Bale - Carroll partnership looks like one made in heaven, with cross after cross coming in for Carroll. Both Carroll and Macheda will provide height, pace, and strength for those aerial crosses.

The Formation - Classic 4-4-2

The old-school 4-4-2 is back with the philosophy to score more than their opposition. The 4-4-2 as opposed to the contemporary 4-5-1 is for Carroll to have somoene to latch onto his knockdowns, and to ensure enough height and strength and numbers in the box for those regular aerial crosses from the wings.

The Tactics - The Counter Attack

This team depends on its attack to provide it goals, while the defense rarely comes forth for support. The defense will stay narrow and deep, inviting the opposition. Their strength and positioning ability will ensure that they are able to pounce on the attackers and lay them off for the creative players.

The passing will be direct passing through the flanks. Denilson and the defense will look to spray the balls wide on the counter for Bale and Dos Santos, who with their blistering pace, are perfect for this tactic. The width will be provided primarily by these 2, since the fullbacks will stay narrow and deep. Hence, their performance is crucial.

Ljajic's creativity and intelligence are vital in dictating the pace of the game. He will also move into the channels, thus freeing up space in the centre for Carroll and Macheda.

As mentioned, the direct passing game will be complemented tremendously by Carroll's strength in the air, who will knock them down for Macheda to pounce on. Carroll's long range shooting will test the opposition, who will try and close him down, thereby creating even more space for Macheda to exhibit his finishing abilities.

All in all, a very balanced team with strength, pace, and creativity, who can be the perfect team for the 4-4-2 counter attack.

 

[Walrus]

Final XI

Manager: Walrus
Assistant Manager: sajeev

Player Description

Thomas Kraft - Great young keeper from the Bundesliga. Has competed for the #1 spot at Bayern Munich and if not for the politics going on in the club would have it penned down. Experienced at the highest level and in a competitive league.

Lorenzo de Silvestri - A familiar name for any FM fans, very promising Italian RB playing for the Fiorentina first team. Solid defensively and strong going forward, and with 100 caps under his belt already he again has loads of experience in a strong league and in Europe with Fiorentina.

Jonny Evans - One poor season does not a bad player make. Evans has proven himself in previous seasons at United, and if we went back merely a year, he was heralded as already being pretty much the finished product and one of the best CBs around. He still is. He has represented United alone nearly 100 times, and was heavily involved in our last 2 campaigns both domestically and in the Champions League. Bearing in mind that this draft is not done on potential but on experience, Evans is arguably the best CB in the draft - and certainly a long way ahead of players such as Smalling who have enjoyed a great season, but who werent even playing in the league system if you go back a few years.

Michael Mancienne - Another great young CB. Has had injury trouble which ruled him out for long spells, but still has experience in the CB. There is an obvious reason why Chelsea are hanging onto him, which is that he is a quality young defender and alongside Evans, an excellent pairing at the back.

Davide Santon - One of the best young FBs around. Able to play on the left or right, he has experience playing for Inter in Italy and in the CL. Great getting forward and also solid defensively, not a lot more needs to be said.


Alex Song - As shown against us last night, Song is quality and probably underrated on the caf. Ran the show against us, and a first team regular for Arsenal. Can play as a defensive midfielder to shackle the likes of Rooney or Ozil, but also capable of getting forward and being an attacking threat as well.

Darron Gibson - Controversial pick and all that, but putting United bias (or anti-bias in this case) aside he remains one of the best young midfielders around. Just because he doesnt have such an exotic name, and plays in a stronger team than others, if you put him into a lesser side and a lesser league like many of the midfielders in this draft, he would look every bit as good. With experience in the PL and Europe he is invaluable.

Adel Taarabt - The most attacking minded of the midfield trio, with Song behind providing the defensive counterbalance, Adel is freed to push forward and support the wingers and Aguero when going forward. He is captain of QPR and looks destined for a move to a bigger club this summer, as he has shown himself to be a cut above in the Championship.


Danny Welbeck - I think most of us already know about this lad, he is bound to start featuring in the Man United first team next season, and has impressed on loan with Sunderland despite not getting as many chances as he would in a bigger team. Can play centrally or out wide, he has shown himself as a natural goalscorer and with plenty of pace.

Iker Muniain - On the opposite flank to Welbeck, another inside forward. Both he and Welbeck will be cutting inside and supporting Aguero rather than crossing, as I built the team around pace and power rather than height and route-1 football. Continuing the overall theme of my team, he has plenty of experience at a high level of play.

Sergio Aguero - The pinpoint of the attack and a bloody great forward. Some 300 caps to his name already and he looks a world class player who would improve any team. Nuff said.




Team Tactics
Ill try not to "wall of text" you's but I believe its a strong all round team. Coming up against Solius, he is definitely one of the stronger teams around, but lacks balance and defensive capability for me. Defour is not what I would regard as a holding midfielder, and without a particularly prominent back line, the lines of Aguero and Welbeck should get plenty of opportunities and goals.
Meanwhile, with Song holding in midfield and a strong back four behind him, I have faith in my teams ability to hold off and defend well, whilst breaking with speed and pace on the counter.
A close game, but I feel my team has the better balance to it whereas Solius could be found out defensively.

I have specifically built the team and selected players with experience at the highest level of play, which I feel is vital here when coming up against the top young players in the world. Several of my players are either experienced in the premiership (or another very strong league) or known as standout players of lesser leagues.

 

[GingerPrince11]

Sven Ulriech- Starting goalkeeper for Stuttgart, the German has quick reflexes, agile and most importantly, a good shot-stopper.


Kyle Naughton- Probably more known during his days at Sheffield United, and his transfer to Tottenham. Naughton is quite quick, and able to defend with his positioning. He also has an eye for the goal, scoring five goals this season for Leiceister City and has been named to the PFA Championship’s Team of the year (his second time, also in 2008-09)

Simon Kjear- One of the most-sought after defender in the world, the Danish international has put in impressive performances both internationally and for his club, Wolfsburg.

Phil Jones- Another sought-after centre defender, besides being English. Does anything else really matter? Besides being versatile, Jones is a good reader of the game, good with the ball at his feet and a great tackler.

Daniel Schwaab- A relative unknown, the young german has represented the U-21s numerous times, winning the U-21 European Championship. Schwaab plies his trade with Bayern Leverkusen, his ability to defend is the reason why I picked him, as the majority of the other teams will contain more attack-minded players.


Sandro- The Brazilian defensive midfielder took his time to get settled when arriving in England, most recently put in a MoM performance against Milan and scoring a cracker at Stamford Bridge.

Sven Bender- The unsung hero that is one of the reasons of Borussia Dortmund’s rise to the top. Besides having a joke of a name, Bender does all the dirty work, plugging the holes between the midfielder and defence, and maintain Dortmund’s pressing game.

Eden Hazard- The young Belgian winger has been a regular for Lille, collecting over 100 league appearances at the age 20, with the ability to change a game in a heartbeat, he has been compared to the likes of Messi and Ronaldo.

Shinji Kagawa- The young Japanese, was a relatively unknown few months ago, but has made some standout performances for Bundesliga Champions’ Borussia Dortmund and for Japan at the Asian Cup.

Neymar- The young Brazilian has been compared to other Brazilian Greats, the young starlet has already represented the Brazilian National Team, scoring two goals against Scotland and is one to watch at this year’s Copa America.


Tomas Necid- Tall, strong, and an eye for the goal are just some the qualities Tomas Necid possess, the Czech is a regular for both CSKA Moscow and his national team, where he has netted 6 times in 18 appearances.

 

[Desert Eagle]

Andrada: Argentinian U-20 goalkeeper who plays for Lanus. Has been linked with Barca and is widely tipped to have a great tournament in the U-20 world cup this summer.

Martin Olsson: Attacking full back who is a regular for Blackburn Rovers. Scored the winner against Bolton this past week. Also capped by Sweden three times, scoring two goals.

James Tomkins: Product of the West Ham youth system. A regular for the Hammers and has been capped at all youth levels for England. One of their more consistent players.

Ciaran Clark: Central defender who can also put in a shift in midfield. Has put in a great shift at Villa this year including scoring a last minute equalizer against chelsea. Captained england at youth level but has made his debut for the Irish national side.

Gregory van der Wiel: A regular for both the dutch national team and Ajax. Linked with a possible big money move this summer. Has pace, strength and a decent eye for goal for a full back.

Ángel di María: A star for Mourinho's madrid and the Argentinian national team. I think everyone knows who he is so I won't waste text on him.

Nacer Chadli: Has represented Belgium at international level. Star winger who has scored the winner away to PSV and has some great goals in this year's Champions League.

Aaron Ramsey: A box-to-box midfielder with a creative edge, we all know what he is capable of with his performance at the Emirates. Looks like he has recovered fully from his horrific injury and is already captain of his country's national team.

Mario Gotze: German footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga. Götze is considered to be an up-and-coming, potential world class player due to his speed, technical skill and creativity. German Football Association's technical director Matthias Sammer called him "one of the best talents that we've ever had." Already capped by Der Mannschaft.

Romelu Lukaku: We've all heard the new Drogba comparisions. A physical beast with a great eye for goal. Capped by the Belgian national team and linked with a host of big clubs.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel: a classic number 9 striker. Great eye for goal and can also drop deep and play in between the midfield and defense. Already has a cap for the Oranje to his name.

Tactics: With Olson and di Maria on the left and Van Der Weil and Chadli on the right the majority of my attacks will expose Cling's narrow formation. Gotze and Ramsey in the middle of the park can pick out passes, make runs and have great engines and an eye for goal. Lukaku and Van wolfswinkle provide the classic big man little man combination and with Richard's lack of awareness in a position he has been shown to be lacking in, should guarantee goals for my front two. Also Cling's main strengths are his pacy wingers. Bojan is also out of position in the middle of the three up top. With no aerial threat and pacy full backs of my own, they are very one dimensional. As opposed to my front six who can all score and create goals.

 

[FortBoyard]

Formation: 4-2-1-2-1 or 4-2-1-3-1 depending on your preference.

The team is based around a creative midfield with Canales, Ganso and Kroos (in a winger/playmaker role similar to Nasri at Arsenal deployed on the right hand side)

The Backline is solid and the striking option of Sturridge should operate well off the decent service, his spell at Bolton currently is underlining his potential as a goalscorer.


A little about the squad.

Sinan Bolat: Starting Goalkeeper for Standard Liege in Belgium for a few years now, has Champions League experience and his youthful ability has earned a call-up to the Turkish NT and seen him linked to the major clubs around europe.


Kieran Gibbs: When he gets his fitness back he will be starting ahead of Clichy, not much needs to be said on this player shown great potential as a young LB.

Chris Smalling: Well we all know how good this guy has been this season, the rock in my defensive line.


Raphael Varane: The young up-coming centre-back earmarked as the new great French defender may yet be a little unproven, but his performances in his fledgling career have been stellar eraning him links to clubs such as our good selves.

Dan Gosling: In picking a right-back I went for Dan Gosling because I needed to ensure stability on my right-hand flank as Kroos would be expected to roam, a talented player only injuries have hampered him from playing regularly for Newcastle this season.


Lee Cattermole: Perhaps an eyebrow raiser I did toy with the concept of putting someone like James McCarthy in this role, but the fact is that Cattermole is a destroyer, just what my team needs to allow the attacking elements to perform their duties. Shockingly experienced for his tender years.


Sergio Canales: Had a fantastic season at Santander last season, earning him a move to Madrid. I see him being able to play as a deep-lying playmaker. He is fecking Spanish.


Ganso: The future of Brazilian football along with Neymar. Attack Attack Attack I will implore.


Carlos Vela: Left attacking midfield role for the Mexican, getting bored now of writing superlatives you know the guy. Good loan in Spain, decent for Arsenal, good World Cup, good loan at WBA.


Toni Kroos: The Chief declared him the future greatest midfielder or something. Need more be said.

Daniel Sturridge: Scores goals. Interestingly my mate played for Arsenal up until he was about 15 and said he was the best player he ever came up against.

 

[Cling Bak]

Cilit Cling Bangers
Managed by Cling Bak​

Meet the team - They're on form and they've got the experience to back it up.


Tim Krul - This season: 22 apps. Total: 66 apps; 10 Netherlands U21 caps.
Recently taken the goalkeeping jersey from Harper at Newcastle, Manchester United fans will recall that including a clean sheet against their boys. 6ft2, 23 years of age, Krul is already proving he can play top level football.

Seamus Coleman - This season: 36 apps, 6 goals. Total: 115 apps; 14 Ireland U21 & Senior caps.
He can play as a right sided defender or midfielder, but the Irishman is set to play in his natural position at the back and make those marauding runs forward that has seen him nominated for PFA YPOY.
Micah Richards - This season: 25 apps, 3 goals. Total: 157, 9; 12 England caps, 1 goal.
Douglas - 87 Eredivisie apps, 6 goals; 2009/10 Eredivisie title. This season: All 540 minutes for Twente in Champions League.
Twente's assassin at the back. He completes a physically imposing central defensive pairing equipped with pace and power.
Armand Traore - This season: 11 apps (Juventus on loan). Total: 69 apps, 1 goal. 8 caps at U21 level for France.
Like Coleman, he'll be encouraged to push on at full-back and as a pair, get crosses in from the left and right back areas.

Jordan Henderson - This season: 36 apps, 3 goals. Total: 89, 6.
Two full seasons of PL football under his belt (33 PL apps 09/10) the 20 year old made his England debut in November in this deep lying midfield role and that's also where he's excelled for Sunderland.
Fabrice Muamba - This season: 34 PL apps, 1 goal. Total: 179 league apps; 30 England U21 caps.
His further experience is going to be vital. A quick and mobile pairing we have here, both lads can put their foot into a tackle and deliver a pass, breaking up play and pulling the strings from deep.
Mesut Ozil - 22 German caps, 3 goals; This season: 48 apps, 10 goals and 20 assists for Real Madrid. Werder Bremen 2008-10: 91 apps, 14 goals and 41 assists.

Theo Walcott - This season: 34 apps, 12 goals, 11 assists. Total: 193 apps, 35 goals, 30 assists; 13 England caps, 3 goals.
"One of the most dangerous players I have ever played against." - Lionel Messi, 2010.
Adam Johnson - This season: 29 apps, 8 goals. Total: 185 apps, 29 goals; 6 England caps, 2 goals.
Two attacking wingers who will contribute and compliment in attack with pace, skill and a direct eye for goal.
Bojan - This season: 36 apps, 6 goals. Total: 161 apps, 40 goals.
At just 20 years old, he's one of my youngest players but one of the most talented. Anyone getting over 30 appearances for this Barca side is a threat. Playing centrally, he'll thrive on the support from wide and Ozil in a deep position.

Club career appearances*: 1,492.
International caps**: 213
Total: 1,705.

Can this experience be matched?



* Douglas and Muamba's totals only include leage games so will be more
** Includes U21 level

 

[K Stand Knut]

The Players -
Nikolay MIHAYLOV (GK) - a proven international for Bulgaria and number one choice for current Dutch Champions and league leaders, FC Twente. Never given a chance at Liverpool despite having a safe pair of hands, being excellent in the air and commanding his area.

Sime VRSALJKO (RB) - an athletic defender who is equally comfortable anywhere across the back four as he is playing right back for my XI. Has the ability to be an outstanding defender whilst offering more than an added number to the attacking lines. Loves to get forward and provide assists for any forwards. Likely to be called up to the Croatia national team in the near future despite being only 19 years old.

Dejan LOVREN (RCB) - another young, exciting prospect from Croatia. At his strongest at centre back but more than comfortable at right back as well should he be pulled out there. Established himself as a first choice regular at Dinamo Zagreb before a move to Olympique Lyonnais in January 2010. Strong in the air, comfortable on the ball and fit as a fiddle.

Mamadou SAKHO (LCB) - an absolute beast of a centre back, who will compliment LOVREN perfectly. Established himself in the PSG first XI over the past few seasons having made nearly 100 appearances for them at the age of 21, and has recently pushed his way in to the international set up with France. Formidable in the air and will dominate most forwards whether in the air or on the floor.

Fabio COENTRAO (LB) - quite simply an outstanding full-back. Will spend most of his time pinning any wingers and full-backs in their own half as they worry about his attacking prowess. Established as first choice left back for both his club, Benfica and his national team, Portugal. Previous winner of Breakthrough Player of the Year and likened to Figo despite being a full-back. Has 12 caps and 4 assists for Portugal as well as 20 goals and 15 assists at club level. Phenomenal shot from distance and likes to test the keeper whenever possible.


Kwadwo ASAMOAH (MC) - a key man in the middle of my team with the attributes to influence all areas of the game. Solid defensively, comfortable on the ball and creative to boot. Will perform a Carrick (against Schalke) style role for the team whereby he will be responsible for breaking up opposition attacks, retaining possession and being the fulcrum for starting our own attacks. Has established himself as the lynchpin in the midfield of both Udinese and the Ghana and was voted most promising player of Ghana in 2010.

Christian ERIKSEN (MC) - six weeks younger than Wilshere and already established in a starting berth for a very promising Ajax team as well as having double figure caps for his native Denmark. Youngest player at the 2010 World Cup and named Danish Talent of the Year 2010. Will be used in a slightly more creative role than Asamoah but is more than capable to offer support in the defensive duties. A genuine all-round midfielder. Another great hitter of long shots to trouble the keeper.

Javier PASTORE (AMC) - the undoubted standout talent of my team and a star in the making. A prodigious talent who not assists goals as well as contributing his fair share - 24 goals and 14 assists in 103 appearances so far at the tender age of 21. Will play just behind my front-man but will pop up all over the pitch as tries to unlock the defences. Can also hit a mean shot from distance AND hit the target.

Eduardo SALVIO (AMR) - currently on loan at Benfica from Atlectico Madrid. An excellent strike ratio of 25 goals in 105 senior appearances so far. Will provide width and creativity for the team as well as providing support up front and will undoubtedly cause any defenders problems with his close dribbling skills and low centre of gravity. Will aim to pin full-backs in their own half as well as running at them at any given opportunity.

Carlos Eduardo (AML) - another flamboyant but exceptional wide player capable of clever footwork, rapid turns and dangerous crosses from the left wing. Starred in the 2007 Copa Libertadores where he reached the Final with Gremio and earned himself a move to Hoffenheim. After scoring 18 goals in 80 games in Germany, Rubin Kazan spotted his precocious talent and stumped up €20m for his services.

Nicklas BENDTNER (ST) - my lone striker but with one of the best shots to goals ratios in Europe, a deserved member of the team. With the creativity behind him and the amount of chances my players will put on a plate for him, he will score goals. Has played nearly 40 times for Denmark scoring 12 goals. He has also hit over 50 goals during his club career despite being limited to a bit part player for Arsenal. Strong in the air and equally so with the ball at his feet will allow BENDTNER to be an ideal target man who can more than capably hold the ball up.

The Tactics -
My team will be set up as a solid unit. ASAMOAH and ERIKSEN will provide support in front of the back four where they will help to break up attacks and be the focal point for building my attacks. COENTRAO and VRSALJKO will be solid at the back but also provide over-laps and support in attacking areas when we have the ball.

Defending will be done from the front, where the front 5 players legs and stamina will be used to close the opposition down in their own defensive third. ASAMOAH and ERIKSEN will be relied upon to secure the ball and retain possession before allowing PASTORE, SALVIO and EDUARDO the chance to take the ball on, run at defenders and unlock defences.

Our midfield has an excellent blend of pace, power and creativity, which coupled with the added width from two phenomenal full-backs will allow Eriksen and the star of our team, Pastore, to weave their magic in the final third.

I also genuinely believe that there is no bette back 4 in the draft at this stage, which, coupled with the two all-round midfielders I have, will give me a very secure and solid basis for my team, making it very difficult for anyone to break me down and score.

 

[Solius]

Our team now with added new player, pic for Dr Dwayne to add to next match.

 

[Walrus]

Instantly looks quite a lot stronger with a proper holding midfielder in there

 

[Cal?]

Actually, I was thinking we'd have a new thread for all the teams who make the 2nd round to have another "press conference" thing...