Premier League Draft R1 - Enigma vs EAP

[Šjor Bepo]

vs

Team Enigma

Tactics – Direct, Attacking
Formation – 442, easily merging into 4-3-3
Defensive Line - Balanced
Marking – Zonal

Defence:
Fairly bog standard setup of defensive line. Koscielny finally has solid partner next to him with Desailly being one of the best stoppers in the pool(and all time) playing alongside Clichy in balanced role, able to help in attack but also minding his flank when we're off the ball. Petrescu is in more attacking role, able to roam on the right flank and make it his own. In front of him Milner provides balance as he's able to tuck in and further strengthen the core of our midfield that protects the back four.

Midfield:
Son plays out wide as a left winger/left wide forward role where he can cut in and score, whilst also stretch the opposition defensive line on counter and use his pace to punish the opposition and catch them on the back foot. Fabinho replicates Gilberto's role next to Vieira who is in his natural B2B role. Milner, although not the most flashy name on the team sheet, brings balance to the midfield able to add numbers in the middle but also stretch the opposition defence and double on the flank alongside Petrescu.

Attack:
A familiar duo, Wright and Bergkamp scored combined 116 goals for the 3 seasons when they overlapped at Arsenal. Both are in their native roles with Bergkamp as main conductor of the team spreading up passes and looking to unleash Wright/Son through goal.


Team EAP

Formation: 4-5-1
Tactics: Normal line, control possession through the middle, quick and short passing attacking play.

Joe Hart [2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12] | PL Golden Glove: 200-10, 2010-11 | PFA Team of the Year: 2009-10, 2011-12
One of the best GKs in the world during his stated peak here. His drop after peak was startling and swift, but he was unquestionably solid during his peak.

Luke Shaw [2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21] | Manchester United Players' Player of the Year: 2018–19, 2020–21 | Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2018–19 | PFA Team of the Year 2020-21
Probably the second best Left Back in the league during his stated peak here. Matured as defender and consistent in attack. Solid one man flank.

Antonio Rudiger [2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22]
The best left sided CB in the league. Defensively stout, able to step out and tackle proactively, frequently moves up to eliminate threats, able to build up plan from the back.

Jaap Stam [1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01] | UEFA Club Best Defender of the Year: 1998–99, 1999–2000 | ESM Team of the Year: 1998–99 | PFA Team of the Year: 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01
One of the best of all time EPL CBs!

Nemanja Matic [2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17] | PFA Team of the Year: 2014–15
Unflappable in front of the defence and crucial in attacking play.
Mourinho says "He is not the kind of guy to play any square passes. He can do so and keep possession, but he can see the movement forward, look at the passing into space. He is very clean. He recovers a lot of balls in a clean way, he doesn't make fouls in dangerous positions.". Absolutely integral for Chelsea winning 2 PL and FA cup during his stated peak here.

Joao Moutinho & Ruben Neves [2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21]
Mourinho - "These two Portuguese boys, they are both the kind of player that likes to bite, that likes to short distance, to press, they don’t give long time for you to have the ball, to turn, one touch, two touches, you don’t have much of that."

David Silva [2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19] - PFA Team of the Year: 2017-18
Free role playmaker. One of the best in EPL history.

Juan Mata [2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14] - PFA Team of the Year: 2012-13
Free role playmaker. vision, creativity and useful goal scorer.

Fernando Torres [2007-18, 2008-19, 2009-10] - PFA Team of the Year: 2007-08, 2008-09
Complete all round forward. Near uncoverable during his peak. 56 goals in 79 EPL appearances during his stated peak. deadly finisher, lightning quick with good workrate to score himself and bring others into play.

 

[Šjor Bepo]

@Enigma_87 @Edgar Allan Pillow good luck

 

[Enigma_87]

Best of luck @Edgar Allan Pillow

Thanks for setting it up @Šjor Bepo !

 

[Enigma_87]

To kick it off. I'm not sure Joe Hart was ever one of the best keepers in the world even at his peak.

There was often a blunder in him and apart from his reflexes he didn't really have an outstanding feature in his game.

In terms of goalkeepers in the pool Schmeichel, VDS and Cech are a good level or two above the rest.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Best of luck @Edgar Allan Pillow

Thanks for setting it up @Šjor Bepo !

All the best to you too. Don't think my rag tag assembly would matter much though!

 

[Enigma_87]

All the best to you too. Don't think my rag tag assembly would matter much though!

Can you elaborate how you will work in attacking phase? Have to say Mata/Silva/Torres is pretty interesting set up but I thought you were bound to field a Christmas tree with Pedro on the rightish channel instead of Mata

 

[GodShaveTheQueen]

First impression is to vote for Enigma, but Edgar's team is much better than it would seem at first glance. The front 3 is spectacular, the midfield 3 is perfectly functional and the defense is not bad at all.

Enigma would have probably won my vote by now but I just don't like Milner in that Bergkamp team (I hate it to be honest).

 

[GodShaveTheQueen]

Also, not sure if recent past has had any decrement in his reputation but Matic is top 5 in my PL DMs list, maybe even higher. Where do others rank him?

 

[Enigma_87]

First impression is to vote for Enigma, but Edgar's team is much better than it would seem at first glance. The front 3 is spectacular, the midfield 3 is perfectly functional and the defense is not bad at all.

Enigma would have probably won my vote by now but I just don't like Milner in that Bergkamp team (I hate it to be honest).

Any particular reason why you don't like Milner out there? Think he brings a lot of balance to the team with the energy and ability to add numbers to the center. Also he's a great foil stilistically for Petrescu to bomb that right wing when in possession.

Had a lot of thought whether I'd go with Nasri or Milner, but the extra energy that the latter brings at the end tipped it for me.

 

[Šjor Bepo]

Also, not sure if recent past has had any decrement in his reputation but Matic is top 5 in my PL DMs list, maybe even higher. Where do others rank him?

you would have to define a DM first but yeah, not in my 5

 

[GodShaveTheQueen]

Any particular reason why you don't like Milner out there? Think he brings a lot of balance to the team with the energy and ability to add numbers to the center. Also he's a great foil stilistically for Petrescu to bomb that right wing when in possession.

Had a lot of thought whether I'd go with Nasri or Milner, but the extra energy that the latter brings at the end tipped it for me.

You get loads of creativity from deep and final third with Bergkamp. I'd really prefer the wide men to be full of flair, pace and attack minded who would be more interested in making runs into Dennis' passes rather than worry about balance. Besides, you already have Vieira and Fabinho, you can't ask for a better base, so the question of the team needing another balancing player doesn't arise IMO. I would have loved Nasri there to be honest.

Taking nothing away from the rest of your team though, like Himmanv's, its way too good for R1.

 

[Enigma_87]

You get loads of creativity from deep and final third with Bergkamp. I'd really prefer the wide men to be full of flair, pace and attack minded who would be more interested in making runs into Dennis' passes rather than worry about balance. Besides, you already have Vieira and Fabinho, you can't ask for a better base, so the question of the team needing another balancing player doesn't arise IMO. I would have loved Nasri there to be honest.

Taking nothing away from the rest of your team though, like Himmanv's, its way too good for R1.

Thanks for the input. Generally I had Milner in mind for this particular match as well as I expected Edgar to field 5 midfielders

Wondered if it has to do with Milner particularly, considering he played for City/Pool and not really a likeable character.



Watched some highlights of him at Villa/City before I picked him and he was very useful on either side of the wing whilst also providing creativity and work rate.

I'm not sure how rated he is around here, but generally when you look back he had a great career, winning 3 PL's, 1 CL and being an integral part of winning teams whilst amassing 800 games at club level and 60 caps for England.

 

[Righteous Steps]

Thanks for the input. Generally I had Milner in mind for this particular match as well as I expected Edgar to field 5 midfielders

Wondered if it has to do with Milner particularly, considering he played for City/Pool and not really a likeable character.



Watched some highlights of him at Villa/City before I picked him and he was very useful on either side of the wing whilst also providing creativity and work rate.

I'm not sure how rated he is around here, but generally when you look back he had a great career, winning 3 PL's, 1 CL and being an integral part of winning teams whilst amassing 800 games at club level and 60 caps for England.

Milner was great as a right winger in the early City sides I think you made the right choice for balance.

 

[Righteous Steps]

I don’t like the front three of Mata and Silva, two similar players with a lack of pace, think only one is needed ideally.

 

[General_Elegancia]

Edgar’s team remind me a lot of 2012/2013-2014/2015 Chelsea’s team. There are a lot similarities.

1. Both team(Chelsea and Edgar) don’t have super scorers that can put 25+ goals to the net.
2. Very solid in midfield
3. Very strong backline
4. Great shot stoppers in Joe Hart and Peter Cech
5. I never consider Torres as a super scorer due to a bit lack consistency in scoring ( even in his Liverpool’s days).

Oh and you have a lot of Chelsea’s players.

 

[General_Elegancia]

For Enigma, I really think Son and Bergman’s could make a super combo due to Bergkamp’s passing ability collaborate with Son’s speed and ability to beat multiple defenders. Sunday’s game against City was a good evidence.

 

[Isotope]

even with half-arsed effort, EAP still gather a good team. WTF.

Enigma's spine is superb. And later he can add Stam also.

Shite draft.

 

[Enigma_87]

Milner was great as a right winger in the early City sides I think you made the right choice for balance.

Cheers, mate.

 

[Enigma_87]

For Enigma, I really think Son and Bergman’s could make a super combo due to Bergkamp’s passing ability collaborate with Son’s speed and ability to beat multiple defenders. Sunday’s game against City was a good evidence.

Yeah Son is someone I won’t replace in this setup as he compliments Bergkamp well but also is a hardworking player that can be very versatile in different setups. On top of that he always seems to do well in big games and is very likeable chap.

even with half-arsed effort, EAP still gather a good team. WTF.

Enigma's spine is superb. And later he can add Stam also.

Shite draft.

Yeah kudos to Edgar, considering all the missed picks he bagged some absolute quality players in later stages.

 

[sherrinford]

I don’t like the front three of Mata and Silva, two similar players with a lack of pace, think only one is needed ideally.

Torres stretches the play so it's perfectly balanced to have a player who comes towards the ball on either side of him, in isolation. The issue, for me, comes in conjunction with the midfield. Ideally, you would have someone comfortable moving into wider areas and offering some penetrative running in at least one of the inside left/ right midfield roles, and even in a more regular setup with attackers who provide the width/ verticality Neves would look well out of place in that position.

I thought it was going to be a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1. Not keen on David Luiz but it's preferable to Matic and Neves both being in the side, and more naturally accomodates Silva and Mata in the roles they are playing here.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Ideally, you would have someone comfortable moving into wider areas and offering some penetrative running in at least one of the inside left/ right midfield roles

Objective is for have 2 AMs who start wide and cut in. Attack the space between FB and CB. Also have them positionally flexible so they can drift in free role and intelligently contribute to attack. esp with both Moutinho and Neves quite good at arriving late into the box and scoring, it creates enough width and Torres is quite brilliant in pace and movement to make a couple of goals off it.

This is all of David Silva heat map (Link) He's all about drifting between CB and LB and making his runs between them.

Here's Juan Mata vs Liverpool (Link)

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Anyway GG @Enigma_87 sorry I couldn't be more active this draft.

 

[sherrinford]

Objective is for have 2 AMs who start wide and cut in. Attack the space between FB and CB. Also have them positionally flexible so they can drift in free role and intelligently contribute to attack. esp with both Moutinho and Neves quite good at arriving late into the box and scoring, it creates enough width and Torres is quite brilliant in pace and movement to make a couple of goals off it.

This is all of David Silva heat map (Link) He's all about drifting between CB and LB and making his runs between them.

Here's Juan Mata vs Liverpool (Link)

That doesn't quite ring true though - both predominantly look to move horizontally into little pockets of space or come towards the ball to receive it to feet. Which can be fantastic for those positions with them operating in areas which can be very awkward for opposition full backs and centre mids to track - with the requisite provision of width and running power to balance it. With Moutinho, Neves and Matic though, that's too many midfielders converging on the ball - you would need Cafu and Roberto Carlos at full back for this to click.

Also, not sure if recent past has had any decrement in his reputation but Matic is top 5 in my PL DMs list, maybe even higher. Where do others rank him?

Not higher. Keane the best, probably followed by Fernandinho - who are quite similar to Matic in that they are relatively complete, all-action no.6s. Then after that Xabi Alonso and Makelele, who are stylistically very different from Matic, and each other, but ultimately play the same position and were of a slightly higher calibre. Maybe 5th? Gilberto?

 

[Šjor Bepo]

Gilberto, Fernandinho, Fabinho, Carrick, Makelele all better then Matic.

 

[Gio]

Also, not sure if recent past has had any decrement in his reputation but Matic is top 5 in my PL DMs list, maybe even higher. Where do others rank him?

Depends - how would you define the role? Would you include the 4-4-2 defensively minded CMs (eg Batty, Ince), those who can play as both the no6 and the no8 (eg Henderson), the DLPs (Alonso, Jorginho etc)?

 

[Enigma_87]

Anyway GG @Enigma_87 sorry I couldn't be more active this draft.

Cheers mate. Unfortunate that you didn't have time to finish it off as the base was excellent to begin with.

 

[Himannv]

Gilberto, Fernandinho, Fabinho, Carrick, Makelele all better then Matic.

I thought you hated Gilberto (or was that someone else?)

 

[Šjor Bepo]

I thought you hated Gilberto (or was that someone else?)

someone else
though cant blame you for thinking that as i hate a lot of players

 

[Pat_Mustard]

Edgar did well to put together such a strong team after missing all those picks. Torres is a great choice up top to complement that David Silva/Mata duo. I agree with @sherrinford that the midfield is where it falls short. It's slim pickings trying to find unpicked players who would improve things, but someone like Lee Bowyer would fit the bill imo - powerful runner, goal threat, and comfortable out wide.

 

[Šjor Bepo]

if he had McAllister who went unpicked instead of the fraud Neves he would have my vote here, regardless of that turd on the leftback spot.

PS: love the Moutinho pick

 

[Himannv]

that turd on the leftback spot.

Pffft, that's the best fullback on the pitch IMO.

 

[Šjor Bepo]

Pffft, that's the best fullback on the pitch IMO.

sad but true

 

[Šjor Bepo]

though the way edgar is using him he then turns into a worse player then the turd on the opposite side.....cant think of a worse player to be a "one man flank"