............................ TEAM HARMS ................................................................................ TEAM 2MUFC0 ........................................
Team harms
Building a perfect 4-4-2 is a must for every drafter. The supposed simplicity of that formation highlights every little imperfection, and it becomes an incredibly entertaining challenge to get rid of all of them.
Francesco Toldo - Complete GK: pretty much the perfect modern goalkeeper, consistent with cat-like reflexes, also great with his feet due to playing outfield during the youth
Nilton Santos - Balanced FB: Tall, powerfully built, elegant and versatile, he was usually cool under pressure, turned quickly for such a big man, tackled firmly and was always ready to surge forward and make use of his strong left foot. In 1998 he was chosen as a left back for world team of the 20th century — enough said.
Paul McGrath - Complete CB: McGrath was one of those unique centre-backs whom you just didn't know how to classify. He was athletic, monstrous in the air and someone who relished the physical battle with the hustling centre-forwards, but his reading of the game was top notch, always putting out fires and his positioning impeccable - an immense blend of qualities from your archetypal ball playing centre-back and stopper. He was technically gifted and a really cultured player on the ball - esp his one-touch passes and keeping the play ticking - frequently playing as a DM for United and for Ireland in the Euros and the WC but he wasn't exactly overly domineering on the ball and tried his best to keep it simple.
John Charles - Physical CB: Before watching closely some of his games I was a bit suspicious of his "World class CF and CB" description. Now I don't — what I've seen was not a Shearer-esque brute, but a very intelligent player with great positioning, agility and reading of the game — paired, of course, with his gigant-ish stature and aerial dominance
Manfred Kaltz - Attacking right back: Very few right backs in history can rival Kaltz' offensive contribution, and probably none were as good as him at crossing in particular. He is well covered by Mcgrath and Deschamps, so he is free to express himself anyway he wants. Also reunited with Kevin Keegan, with whom they formed a fantastic unit in the late 70's.
Ryan Giggs - Rampaging LW: we all remember young Giggs - incredible pace and dribbling ability, one of those players that constantly kept you on the edge of your seat
Bryan Robson - Attacking B2B: one of the most complete midfielders of his time, he combined great technique and goalscoring with tactical intelligence and never-say-die attitude on and off the pitch. Captain. Joga has made some more compilations of him in the last few days, make sure to check them out if you have time, it's a pure pleasure for any United fan.
Didier Deschamps - Defensive midfielder: Watercarrier par excellence, a mainstay in Juventus midfield when they were probably the best team in the world and the captain and leader of an all-time great French defence that saw them winning 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship. He'll play his natural role of a midfield engine, plus he has an excellent experience of playing with another dominant box-to-box in Vieira, so they should do well with Robson.
Luis Figo - Playmaking RW: less incisive, more creative, Figo occupies his preferred right wing in a role that saw him winning Ballon D'Or and WPOTY when the likes of Ronaldo, Zidane were around.
Luigi Riva - Target striker: Italy's all-time top scorer, a battering ram with added dribbling and creativity. Make sure to check out the compilations I've made of his games that will be posted at the bottom. Fantastic player to watch and one of the best choices ever for this particular formation. Ballon D'Or shortlists in 1969 and 1970:
Kegin Keegan - Free-roaming forward: The more I watch him, the more I like with him (it helps that I mostly watch Hamburg games and not the scouser's). His workrate is really extensive, he is running like a young Rooney, helping out fullbacks, taking the ball from the keeper — and still finds time to end up at the end of a cross or to lure a defender to earn a penalty. Say what you want about the competition, the man won 2 Ballon D'Ors and finished runner up once, all in the space of three years. Plus the amount of penalties he has won after his trademark runs, and his surprising aerial prowess — he was one of those midgets with monstrous leap and positioning. Ballon D'Or shortlists 1977-1979 (take notice of Kaltz's inclusion in 1979):
Bench: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Thomas Müller, Dani Carvajal, Rafa Marquez, Diego Forlan, Joshua Kimmich
Tactical notes
Hard to find anything wrong with 2mufc team, at least if he'll line up like I predict. With that midfield he will naturally have the control of the game, which I'll gladly give him — my team is absolutely deadly on the counter. More so, I believe that my team have an upper hand mentally, and in terms of workrate (especially when we're comparing Riva/Keegan to Ruud). Jairzinho is quite different from most of the wingers, as he combines excellent tecnhique with a big and strong body. He is facing the best fullback on the pitch, but if the intelligence of Santos doesn't prevail all the time, Jairzinho will have to bit Charles - not only a fantastic player, but also an absolutely rock from the physical aspect. Ruud would be the main threat here and I actually expect McGrath to deal with him most of the time.
Workrate from the wings and up front will help my two midfielders. Even if it was 2 against 11, I wouldn't bet on them losing, but with the whole team moving intact, I don't think that numeric advantage in midfield would matter much.
Video footage
1. You've all seen what I uploaded, so a bit of new footage from the brilliant @Joga Bonito, which is especially appropriate since they are playing against some fantasy team including Maradona, Platini, Elkjaer etc.
Paul McGrath against the World XI (make sure not to miss the appreciation thread)
Bryan Robson against the World XI
2. Manfred Kaltz + Kevin Keegan. A dynamite partnership — with Keegan's incredible mobility he often appeared next to Kaltz, proving his with a passing option — or found himself on the end of his crossing due to his immense leap and positioning.
I wanted to make a series, but was too busy. So you'll have to stuck with this:
In Kaltz own compilation from the game that Hamburg destroyed Real Madrid in CL semi-final, you can see how often Keegan #7 pops around. There is also a game when they dovetailed really well together, but I didn't have time to make a compilation, you can check the game's highlights on youtube, it's worth it.
3. Luigi Riva. Most probably know enough of him to judge him fairly — Italy's all-time goalscorer, his unique Serie A title with Cagliari. Incredible striker, big, strong, his shooting got him a nickname "Rombo di Tuono" (Roar of Thunder); and at the same time quite cultured on the bell with great dribbling — from years that he played as a left winger. Two classic performances from 1970 World Cup (including the best goal in "The Game of the Century"):
Luigi Riva against Mexico in 1970 World Cup quarter-final. Don't let the final score fool you - it was a very close game that was pretty much decided by Riva's individual genius.
Luigi Riva against West Germany in 1970 World Cup semi-final. This game is now known as the "Game of the Century". Riva had a tough competition — Müller and Seeler to outshine, Vogts, Beckenbauer, Schulz and Schnellinger to outwit in order to win this game for Italy — and he did stood out. His performance in the second half is sublime, Italy sat back to defend their lead and he was pretty much on his own against 4 all-time great German defenders, holding up the ball and providing the focal point for Italy's long balls forward. Scored the best goal of the game too.
Good luck!
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TEAM 2MUFC0
Formation 4-3-3.
Defensively I have 2 of the best central defenders of all time in Thuram and Hansen,Hansen being the ball playing defender and Thuram the stopper, both would work well together. At right back is the great Brazilian Carlos Alberto, a fantastic all round full back, world class going forward and in defense. At left back I have brought in Ruud Krol one of the best Dutch defenders of all time. In goal is the ever reliable Petr Cech, capable of making consistent game winning saves.
In front of the defence i have Redondo, a GOAT defensive/deep lying midfielder able to control the game from deep and run the show, Sir Alex once described him 'like he had magnets in his boots'. In front of him will be Falcao and Tardelli in box to box roles, these two will provide defensive solidity aswell as fantastic service for the front three. Tardelli will be the driving force in this midfield with his fantastic mentality and drive.
Upfront will be Ruud Van Nistelrooy, as we are on a United forum i shouldn't have to into detail regarding the great man, he only needs half a chance to get onto the score sheet, and in a tight game he can make the difference. He will be supported by Jairzinho and Keizer who can come centrally and combine with him or go wide and the get the crosses into him. Behind RVN he has 3 great midfielders with great passing ability to play him through on goal, whether it be from shorter through balls from Falcao and Tardelli or long balls from Redondo.
Overall i have threats through the middle and on both flanks i have proven successful real life parings, on the left Keizer/Krol 3 time European cup winners with Ajax and the beautiful partnership of Alberto/Jairzinho which won the WC in 1970, considered as one of the best teams of all time. Defensively, all of my defenders are GOAT level and have won the biggest prizes and the same applies to the midfield which has the personnel to take hold of the game and control it for most periods. On the wings are two great wingers which will be difficult to contain for even the best defenders. And upfront the lethal RVN who will relish playing with so many high quality players around him.
