Premier League Draft R1 - 2mufc0 vs Religion

[Šjor Bepo]

vs

Team 2mufc

Classic PL formation looking to play direct fast paced football, with pacey wingers and the greatest PL player of all time leading the line . Sheringham and Carrick provide the more calming creativity while Butt is the hard working midfielder adding steel to the midfield. The defence all have a strong PL pedigree making it tough to break through. All 11 of my players have won the PL and been selected in team of the seasons.

Player profiles

David Seaman - 2x PL , 4x FA Cup, 1x Team of the year. Dependable keeper part of the great Arsenal team of the late 90's early 00's.
Pablo Zabaleta - 2x PL, 1x FA cup, 1 x Team of the year. 333 appearances for a strong Man City team and played an important role in their rise and success.
Kolo Toure - 2x PL. 2x FA Cup,. Important part of the Arsenal invincible team that were extremely solid defensively .
Gary Cahill - 2 x PL, 2x FA cup, 1x CL, 2x EL, 3x Team of the year. One of the most decorated centre backs in PL history, formed a strong partnership with John Terry.
Denis Irwin - 7 x PL, 2x FA cup, 1x, CL, 3 x Team of the season, Team of the decade. IMO the best left back in the draft, dependable and didn't really have many weaknesses.
Michael Carrick - 5x PL, 1x FA Cup, 1x CL, 1x EL, 1x Team of the year. Criminally underrated, one of the best central midfielders in the PL and an integral part of United's success during that period.
Nicky Butt - 6x PL, 3x FA cup, 1x CL, 1x Team of the year. Before Scholes established his place Butt was Fergie's first choice and even when the Scholes-Keane partnership flourished he was a top class replacement.
Riyad Mahrez - 3x PL, 1x FA cup, 1x Team of the year, 1x PL player of the season. Was in scintillating form for that unlikely Leicester title win and was their best player, has gone on to have a successful career at City and one of the most skilful players the PL has seen.
Marc Overmars - 1x PL, 1x FA cup. One of the best PL wingers, had incredible pace but also technically brilliant and had a knack of scoring goals.
Teddy Sheringham - 3x PL, 1x FA cup, 1x CL, 1x PL golden boot, 1x Team of the year. Known for his technical ability and creativity but was also a good goal scorer.
Thierry Henry - 2x PL, 2x FA Cup, 6x Team of the year, 4x PL golden boot. Not much to say here, the GOAT PL player.




Team Religion

4-2-3-1


GK Lehmann (54 clean sheets, 1 assist)



LB Cancelo (8 PL goals, 3 assists, 31 CS)

CB Terry (41 PL goals, 214 CS)

CB Vertonghen (6 PL goals, 72 CS)

RB Trippier(4 PL goals, 18 assists, 29 CS)



CM Essien (17 PL goals, 10 assists)

CM Scholes (107 PL goals, 55 assists)

AM Eriksen (52 PL goals, 62 assists)



LW Sterling (103 PL goals, 52 assists)

CF van Persie (144 PL goals, 53 assists)

RW Ljundberg (48 PL goals, 29 assists)



471 goals, 261 assists (mid and attack)



Subs



CF Hasselbaink (127 PL goals, 58 assists)

AM Ozil (33 PL goals, 54 assists)



Overview

I have assembled a team with strength in every area of the pitch. It is built on a winning mentality, strong leadership and bags of team chemistry with more than a sprinkling of star quality. It also includes the following partnerships;

Terry/Essien

Vertonghen/Trippier/Eriksen

Cancelo/Sterling

Scholes/RvP

Lehmann/Lundjberg



Player Overview

Lehmann - One of the invincibles and a commanding, quality shot stopper. Boasted great distribution and brought the best from his team mates. European goalkeeper of the year whilst at Arsenal (and a World Cup All Star). Still holds the record of consecutive clean sheets in the Champions League and highest number of minutes without conceding a goal. A maverick and character yes but also very good.



Cancelo/Tripper - Both superb modern day full backs with fantastic technique along with the ability to interchange on either flank. Each has the pace to support attacks going forward and also to cover along side Terry and Vertonghen during defensive phases. Both comfortable on either foot.

Vertonghen - Arguably one of Spurs best and most reliable central defenders. Brilliant technique, positional awareness and ability to read the game. He is comfortable as the ball playing defender and the perfect foil for his partner.

Terry - Whatever you think of the man himself as a player he was one of the best PL defenders of all time (either him or Rio depending on the style you prefer). Five time FIFA world XI member, three time UEFA defender of the year and a World Cup All Star. People will view him as a stopper but he actually had much more to his game; nice passing range, natural leadership by example, goals, recovery pace and an ability to anticipate and read the game like no other. 214 clean sheets.. impressive. Completes the left foot, right foot CB partnership.



Scholes - I don’t believe I need to say much here but as my deep lying playmaker there’s no better in the draft, and in my view, the world. His role here allows him to dictate from deep, picking long or short passes to feed the forwards and linking in with Eriksen in the final third. Here he can arrive late in and around the 18 yard box and cause havoc as play progresses. He just didn’t give the ball away and even if you try you aren’t getting it off him. Period.

Essein - At his peak one of the best midfield players in the world and surely the most complete. Powerful defensively with his tough tackling, physicality and drive, he also had a superb engine allowing him to operate box to box and influence the game in the final third. A technically superb intelligent footballer and another natural leader. Here he is the primary defensive cog in the midfield and works well with Terry offering the team a solid and tough core.


Eriksen - My final third creator giving support to RvP and offering that last link in midfield to attack. Here he is operating in his most productive area of the pitch orchestrating attacking phases and using his intelligence to create and utilise space. With over 50 goals and 60 PL assists it’s hard to see how he doesn’t influence proceedings especially with the quality of Scholes and Essein behind him and the footballing intelligence of van Persie to link up with.

Sterling - His proven partnership with Cancelo on the left side simply adds to the threat here. He may divide some opinion but with over 100 PL goals already, and over 50 assists, his numbers don’t lie. A serious threat from wide areas, cutting inside and generally pulling and probing the defence across the pitch. Uses his blistering pace to isolate opponents and is comfortable playing with a lone CF as he does here. His versatility allows him to influence the game in all forward areas and interchange with Ljundberg in game.


Ljundberg - Another one of Arsenals invincibles and a key part of their success. A technically great dribbler with excellent movement on and off the ball. Scorer of goals, 48 PL ones in-fact, on the biggest occasions. A different challenge and threat to Sterling in the sense he can operate in deeper areas effectively.

Viera stated “he can then turn a match with one touch of the ball, either because he creates the goal or scores it himself. He is a match winner.”

“He likes playing deep and, because he is highly intelligent and reads the game so well, he is very difficult to mark.”

Comfortable on either wing or even more he sticks with the theme that all of my wide players can interchange and create serious problems for the defending team. Premier League player of the season 01/02 and member of the overseas team of the decade.



RvP - What. A. Player. Only Shearer and Henry with higher goal per game ratio in PL, 11/12 season scored 37/48 for Arsenal in all competitions then in 12/13 season arguably a best ever individual season performance with 34/35 including 15 PL assists. 25 CL goals at a rate of 0.42 per game. An absolute machine and for me the most classy, complete forward in the draft. He could do it all. Big game player with bags of intelligence and pedigree. Undoubtedly unstoppable at his peak.



Summary

I genuinely believe this team has it all and is perfectly balanced in each area; mentally and physically tough, hard to beat, impossible to play through and with a variety of different that’s all over the pitch. A complete nightmare to play against as with each avenue you close another opens up. You simply can’t keep this team quiet and the number of PL goals and assists highlight this emphatically.

 

[Šjor Bepo]

@2mufc0 @TheReligion good luck!

 

[TheReligion]

@2mufc0 @TheReligion good luck!

Thanks for setting up!

Good luck @2mufc0. I’ll let things settle and see where we stand!

 

[crappycraperson]

2 very strong teams, unfortunate match up. 2mufcO's front 4 is very tasty but I think Religion's midfield will dominate given Eriksen also being able to drop back. Very tough to decide since back 4 are also similar. Going with 2mufco just for Henry for now but will likely revisit this once.

 

[TheReligion]

2 very strong teams, unfortunate match up. 2mufcO's front 4 is very tasty but I think Religion's midfield will dominate given Eriksen also being able to drop back. Very tough to decide since back 4 are also similar. Going with 2mufco just for Henry for now but will likely revisit this once.

Appreciate you will revisit; what I will say is a feel like I have the stand out players in the key areas. Terry is by far the best defender on the pitch, Scholes the best midfielder and the Essien/Butt match up is a non contest.

Henry is of course fantastic but in the match up with RvP there’s no as big a drop off as with other areas I’ve just mentioned.

Obviously this is me looking at it 1v1 but tactically I will dominate the midfield and I can’t see the back 4 handling the creativity, pace and intelligence of my forwards.

 

[Šjor Bepo]

two great sides, shame one has to go out....early days but for now prefer the 2mufc side

 

[Himannv]

Slightly leaning towards TheReligion at the moment because I prefer the midfield. Henry is the player that makes me hesitant to just go ahead and vote though - if there’s ever a draft where he’s absolutely a top tier pick it’s this one.

 

[2mufc0]

Tough match up as strong team by @TheReligion. However, I think I have the better attack that will tip things into my favour, soemone like Henry would make the difference, plus JT himself said he struggled against Henry and was his most difficult opponent.

As for the midfield I think it's pretty close, in defence Terry is the best CB, but I feel I have a big advantage with the full backs, imo mine are a tier above on PL pedigree. I feel we can do a lot of damage down those wings esp down Trppier's side who hasn't really played his best football in the PL.

As for Cancelo, yes a very good player but a relatively short peak so far. Furthermore, he really isn't a traditional full back, more of a hybrid who likes to drift into the centre and play make. Personally I don't see him suited to this formation which requires a more traditional full back. He also, for the majority of the time plays as right back, only really plays left back as a last resort.

I think these small details can make a difference.

 

[TheReligion]

Feels like Henry is a bit of a cheat code for some here. Great player. I’d ask you look at the team as a whole though objectively as if you do you’ll find each battle on the pitch is lost against my XI.

The defence is much stronger with the one of the all time great CB at the heart of it and two quality modern day full backs.

The midfield is perfectly balanced and undoubtedly bosses the game. Eriksen dropping in even gives a numerical advantage and opens up more passing lanes for Scholes or space for Essien to drive into.

Sterling and Ljundberg give goals and assists on each flank and vary enough to create a defensive headache. Perfect blend of direct raw pace in with movement and driving from deep. Then van Persie is there to cap it all off.

The side just oozes intelligent footballers and the perfect blend of complimentary skill sets!

 

[GodShaveTheQueen]

Great teams for R1 but no contest IMO. For me Essien is almost top tier in PL midfielders list, I don't know where others rate him, but for me has has always been amongst the best of the PL era. Club that with Scholes and they will have Butt and Carrick for breakfast.

Obviously you have to give due credits to Henry and a well built team around him but for me the opposition front 4 would have better chemistry.

Religion wins my vote.

 

[TheReligion]

On a side note, RvP will have Toure and Cahill for breakfast;

He scored 4 in 7 against Toure (one being an international match) and 5 in 9 against Cahill (one being an international match)

 

[TheReligion]

As for Cancelo, yes a very good player but a relatively short peak so far. Furthermore, he really isn't a traditional full back, more of a hybrid who likes to drift into the centre and play make. Personally I don't see him suited to this formation which requires a more traditional full back. He also, for the majority of the time plays as right back, only really plays left back as a last resort.

I think these small details can make a difference.

I’m going to challenge this view as Cancelo has 110 appearances for City with 47 at left back. A pretty even split and certainly not a last resort. If anything his more recent form has come from Pep transforming him to play on the left side.

Also Overmars only played about 130 games for Arsenal in total so if you want to talk about short peaks….

With regards to the Terry comments it’s worth people noting Terry-led Chelsea defences (feat in part Big M.Essien by the way) limited Henry to 5 goals in 14 appearances, with Terry actually scoring 4 goals in those 14 matches himself!

The real question here is how do Gary Cahill, calamity Kolo, Nicky Butt and Mikey Carrick hold up against Scholes, Essien, Eriksen and van Persie? My guess isn’t very well.

They concede possession and drop deeper and deeper into their own half. This not only places them under immense pressure from the intelligent probing of Scholes and Eriksen but also allows the likes of Ljundberg to play from deep dragging Irwin out to him and Sterling and Cancelo to isolate Zabletta.

At this point there’s holes everywhere and RvP is in wonderland whilst Sheringham and Henry are in no man’s land at the opposite end of the pitch.

There’s simply too much to do for Butt and Carrick here (who are out numbered anyway) and not enough creativity from deep to escape the pressure.