The aim of this poll is to decide the winner in this fantasy game contested between two sides assembled through the method of drafting. For the purpose of this game, all players would be considered as being at their respective peaks. I invite all posters to go through the formations, tactics and arguments that will follow in the thread and kindly leave their vote. Thanks.
Hello Aldo, appreciate your help to update my OP with the following elaboration, thanks!
The team lines up in a modern and balanced 4-2-3-1 formation, rock-solid in defence, cohesive in transitions and deadly in attack (creativity, width, pace and goals).
The back five is a dream, Rio-Cannavaro-Thuram-Lahm-Neuer, formidable defensive titans from the very top tier of their generation, with proven class in standing up to the world’s best attackers. There is also the added bonus from Thuram-Cannavaro renewing the telepathic understanding in their Parma-Juve partnership.
My defensive setup is perfectly match-made to best limit TITO's attack - his relatively narrower attack means defensively my team can be more compact, tightening the defence, constricting space that is imperative to openings. Thuram-Cannavaro-Rio-Lahm-Neuer with protection from Redondo-Busquets will be nigh on impenetrable if there is not enough width to strecth opponents and create space. Space is critical to opening of gaps, if space is constricted, both passing lanes and dribbling channels are easier to block, opportunities are correspondingly diminished. Allowing top quality opposition the luxury of defending compactly and the difficulty in scoring is doubled.
The telepathic understanding between Thuram and Cannavaro establisbed from their Parma-Juve partnership will help tremendously in limiting the threat from Stoickhov. Lahm has impressed me with his spell in midfield, his intelligence, reading and positioning is top-notch, earning no higher praise than Guardiola labelling him as the most intelligent player he has ever worked with. Lahm will receive no better support and cover than Rio Ferdinand, that immaculate reading, prescient anticipation, that incredibly smooth change of gear accelerating to lightning speed, he is like Bobby Moore with a Roll-Royce engine. And as if that is not enough, add twin towers to the defensive fortress - Redondo and Busquets with their tactical awareness and impeccable positioning marshalling the defensive zone, shielding, intercepting and tackling.
The importance of stretching the opponents to create space and openings, particularly against top class defenders & midfielders, if overlooked, doubles the challenge of finding gaps and halves the chances of scoring
Zidane-Redondo-Busquets is an orgasmic midfield trio oozing with pure class, complementing each other for the perfect balance of creativity and industry, flair and control. Busquets is the perfect foil for Redondo defensively and offensively. Busquets’ tactical awareness, astute positioning and ball-winning prowess affords greater freedom for Redondo to impose his quality on the game. More than that, in the attacking buildup, Busquets’ intelligence, ability on the ball and supreme one-touch pass-n-move will sync perfectly with Redondo, enabling them to play one-touch tangos to waltz past opponents and attack the space behind. Redondo can break forward with the assurance of Busquets covering, linking up with Zidane for a dual axis to create openings and exploit gaps as Eto’o-Laudrup-Bale stretch the opposition vertically and horizontally with their pace and movement. Bale has the blistering pace and boundless stamina to run all game. Laudrup is blessed with rare gifts, infusing pace and trickery with vision and creativity. Both are sublime crossers of the ball, delivering the most delicious balls in for Eto’o to feast on. Gilt-edged opportunities or half-chances, they will all be snapped up by the deadly goalscorer extraordinaire that is Eto’o.
Makele will be preoccupied with Zidane, aggravated by the occassions of Redondo getting past his opponent to link up with Zidane for a dual creative axis. Makelele will be too overloaded to help out his fullbacks. Once Laudrup gets the better of Pessotto, Montero is forced to go wide, leaving Eto'o one on one vs Ferrara in the centre. This is the converse example of how my team's width create more space and openings for passing lanes, dribbling channels and goalscoring opportunities
This game will be tight and as in all tight games, the ones that are most efficient and the least wasteful in capitalizing on every goalscoring opportunity will have the decisive edge. And you do not get a much more deadly big game goalscorer than Eto'o. Trust the goalscorer extraordinaire Eto’o with his natural instincts, razor sharp movement and clinical finishing to deliver the goods on the biggest stage, he just loves scoring against the biggest teams. Creating one-on-one opportunities for him in the centre with his big game ability to make every chance count and a compact defensive unit of Redondo-Busquets-Thuram-Cannavaro-Rio-Lahm-Neuer killing space at the other. That is the best shot at the game-winning ticket
TEAM POLAROID
TEAM THISISTHEONE
TEAM THISISTHEONE
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Those were the days. Unfortunately no one trusts me any more so people ignore me even when I have a point which leads to me getting fed up with it all. Mind you, I had a good point on both Eyzaguirre and Nordahl, such an unwarranted reputation