Sheep draft QF - Edgar Allan Pillow vs kps88

[Balu]

Team Edgar Allan Pillow​

Formation:
4-2-3-1

Defence:

+ A super-strong core marshalled by the great Franco Baresi and supported by the uncompromising Paolo Montero. This is a right mix of class, finesse intelligence coupled with strength and uncompromising tenacity.
+ They are protected by brick wall Marcel Desailly. A man who marked out van Basten to earn a transfer to Milan. Strength, Pace, Timing, he has it all. A proven combo with Baresi adds to my advantage.
+ Support on the flanks by Antonio Cabrini and Eric Gerets who comfortably are in the GOAT class themselves. Right mix of offence and defence giving ability to stretch play.

Tactics:
+ The defence will be playing a normal line. Cabrini is intelligent enough to balance his attacking instincts with supporting defence against Garrincha. Montero behind him adds solidity in that flank.
+ Ability of Desailly to drop into the defence would free up my full backs much more without compromising on defensive solidity.

Attack:

+ Ancelotti is in his favourite position from where he can pull strings from the middle. Chosen by none other than great Sacchi for the role and with good defensive cover, he will keep the game ticking in my favour.
+ Muller - Baggio - Jairzinho take care of the attacking threat. Three midfielders who have uncanny knack for finding the back of the net consistently. Muller a specialist in finding space will repeatedly draft into lethal positions.
+ Gerd Muller - One of the best goal scorers of all time. Absolutely lethal in the box. Half, a chance, quarter a chance...it's all that is needed.

Tactics:
This is a very fluid that that will be hard to defend against. Though underrated, Ancelotti was one of the best midfielders of his generation. The movement of Thomas Muller and Baggio will be a nightmare for any defence. Baggio and Muller can swap positions, Baggio moves to attach with MUller taking up the AM role, Muller cuts in from the flank with Baggio orchestrating play, the dynamics are ever changing designed to put the defence under constant pressure.

Other Points to Note:

+ Garrincha is more talented, but Jairzinho is a more complete attacking threat. Not just with a higher goals per match ratio, but also has flexibility in having operated as a striker.

Career for Brazil:
Garrincha - 12 goals in 50 matches. 0.24 goals per match
Jairzinho - 33 goals in 84 matches. 0.39 goals per match - significantly higher threat.​

early tactical change in EAP's team:

Spoiler: starting formation

vs
​

Team kps88​

Defense: Providing the defensive base for my team is the world class Italian trio of Cannavaro, Bergomi and Zoff. All three are defensive legends of the game with unrivalled leadership qualities and experience. Between the three of them, they should be able to deal with any type of striker they come up against. On either side of the trio are Carboni and Sagnol, who are equally adept at supporting the attack as they are defending. Both have come up against world class wingers in the past and passed the test with flying colours.

Midfield and Attack: The job of Redondo - Tigana is to gain control of midfield, provide cover to the defense and pass it to the wealth of attacking and creative talent ahead of them.

Having no traditional target man makes Laudrup’s creative threat all the more menacing, with plenty of guile and movement ahead of him. Garrincha will provide traditional width while Del Piero will be starting from his favourite inside left role to enable some classic curlers. The front four are all exceptionally technical and creative players who will naturally not just be restricted to their starting positions. They are equally capable of controlling a long pinged pass from Redondo as they are coming deep to collect the ball in a tight spot. I trust them to drift wide/in field accordingly to find pockets of space and produce some mouth-watering combination play.

Having a striker like Eto’o leading the line means the opposition is forced to sit deep to negate his pace. This in turn, leads to more space for the creative players behind him to operate in. I’m confident with so many creative players combining he will either get chances himself or create space for others to score.

Good luck @Edgar Allan Pillow and @kps88

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

I don't think Ancelotti will do much string pulling here as EAP's tactics suggests. Laudrup-Redondo-Tigana is a midfield which will dominate pretty much any matchup. I don't see Carlo doing much here and I think he'll be pretty invisible throughout the match. Kps' defense is pretty amazing too. Great team.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

I don't think Ancelotti will do much string pulling here as EAP's tactics suggests. Laudrup-Redondo-Tigana is a midfield which will dominate pretty much any matchup. I don't see Carlo doing much here and I think he'll be pretty invisible throughout the match. Kps' defense is pretty amazing too. Great team.

Seriously? You are talking about one of the best midfielders of his generation. A man who won 2 Scudetti and 2 European cups in a 5 year spell. Hand picked by Sacchi. He may be a bit underwhelming when compared to his team mates, but you just can't hold your place in a stellar team if you are a doofus. And who'll be pressurizing Ancelotti here?

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

We seem to have similar tactics

Good Luck @kps88

 

[iammemphis]

I was about to vote for team kps88 after reading all of the tactics and stuff. But before i clicked cast vote i saw Schmeichel in goal could never vote against my favourite ever footballer.

 

[Gio]

I was about to vote for team kps88 after reading all of the tactics and stuff. But before i clicked cast vote i saw Schmeichel in goal could never vote against my favourite ever footballer.

Finally! Remember the day when it happened folks, when a goalkeeper contributed towards a draft.

 

[NM]

KPs team is just ROCK solid. Holy feck.

 

[NM]

Finally! Remember the day when it happened folks, when a goalkeeper contributed towards a draft.

Zoff vs schmeichel shouldn't be that much of a difference though!

 

[Balu]

Finally! Remember the day when it happened folks, when a goalkeeper contributed towards a draft.

Pretty harsh on kps though. After all, he has one of the few goalkeepers you could consider as better than Schmeichel.

 

[antohan]

Finally! Remember the day when it happened folks, when a goalkeeper contributed towards a draft.

Makes up for EAP losing sajeev's vote in a semi for having Shay Given in goal. I suppose that's what he had in mind.

 

[iammemphis]

Finally! Remember the day when it happened folks, when a goalkeeper contributed towards a draft.

My first time ever in voting in a fanatasy draft thing too just put the great dane in and you've got my vote, simple.

 

[antohan]

Pillow, I think you missed a trick there with your formation. It may look nice and symmmetric but it isn't the best use of your resources and your midfield will struggle to get any traction on this game. It also is very obvious you are trying to hide the midfield weaknesses merging it with the defence, but splitting the team in half in the process (at least aesthetically).

Personally, I would have played MülllerLite centrally, pulled back/right a bit so he balances out Desailly's defensive tendencies/arrow, then Baggio as a second striker pulled back in the inside left channel. Leave the left flank to Cabrini, nobody will think Müller is doing anything like a winger job out there anyway and you need him far more supporting the midfield.

 

[Gio]

In terms of balance, Kps continues to look very good. Less so with Edgar whose Desailly instruction is understandable, but does leave Ancelotti somewhat marooned in midfield with only a phlegmatic Baggio strolling about within a 30-yard radius.

 

[MJJ]

Am I the only one who thinks eap is really going to struggle to get the ball to his attackers? neither ancelotti or desailly were exceptional passers of the ball and wouldnt be expecting baggio to drop deep to make up for it.

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

Seriously? You are talking about one of the best midfielders of his generation. A man who won 2 Scudetti and 2 European cups in a 5 year spell. Hand picked by Sacchi. He may be a bit underwhelming when compared to his team mates, but you just can't hold your place in a stellar team if you are a doofus. And who'll be pressurizing Ancelotti here?

Well Laudrup isn't the hardest presser, but he won't be standing there doing nothing, I don't think your team will see plenty of the ball and when they will I guess they'll want to pass it to Baresi to send it forward to Baggio-Mullers-Jairzinho, not start playing possession and building up slow attacks, that's why I think Ancelotti will be invisible here.
And yes, seriously. He's easily the weakest midfielder in this match, and with kps' amazing midfield, he'll go missing imo.

 

[Gio]

Am I the only one who thinks eap is really going to struggle to get the ball to his attackers? neither ancelotti or desailly were exceptional passers of the ball and wouldnt be expecting baggio to drop deep to make up for it.

For EAP it's mainly going to be about the Desailly/Ancelotti/Baresi/Montero square recovering possession, then feeding it wide into the wing-backs to push on up the flanks. Almost a case of conceding the area where Redondo and Tigana will fanny about, but reducing the space for anything to happen in their own half, before countering down the flanks. That's my take on it.

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

Am I the only one who thinks eap is really going to struggle to get the ball to his attackers? neither ancelotti or desailly were exceptional passers of the ball and wouldnt be expecting baggio to drop deep to make up for it.

Yes but no. He won't find it too easy sending men forward, but the players who are supposed to do it are Baresi and Ancelotti, not Desailly.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

That was my initial idea to play Muller centre, but after some comments, decided to go with the flow. Will change back now...

 

[Balu]

That was my initial idea to play Muller centre, but after some comments, decided to go with the flow. Will change back now...

You have 3 minutes until I leave, if you want me to edit the op. Hurry up mate

 

[antohan]

Am I the only one who thinks eap is really going to struggle to get the ball to his attackers? neither ancelotti or desailly were exceptional passers of the ball and wouldnt be expecting baggio to drop deep to make up for it.

Same here, that's why I find it odd Thomas Müller is playing wide left so "he can keep interchanging with Baggio". Why do people make such a big deal out of players swapping positions and stuff? It's occasionally very effective when well executed, but in no way more important than beefing up a midfield that is crying out for help.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Am I the only one who thinks eap is really going to struggle to get the ball to his attackers? neither ancelotti or desailly were exceptional passers of the ball and wouldnt be expecting baggio to drop deep to make up for it.

he was competent defensively, and he also possessed excellent technical ability, tactical intelligence, vision, and passing range, as well as a powerful and accurate shot. He is regarded as having been the mentor and predecessor of Albertini and Pirlo in the deep-lying playmaking role at Milan.

He certainly has the passing ability to do the job here. I'm not expecting him go around dominating the midfield here, just keep the ball moving forward where my superior attack can do the damage.

 

[Raees]

Am I the only one who thinks eap is really going to struggle to get the ball to his attackers? neither ancelotti or desailly were exceptional passers of the ball and wouldnt be expecting baggio to drop deep to make up for it.

I think they're both very solid passers tbh. More than capable of keeping the game ticking over.. Watch Desailly against Barcelona in 94 and he is more than match for them with a huge variety of passes, short.. long, switches of play and all very accurate. Ancelotti was neat and tidy, pretty technical. In fact I found Chesterlestreets hatchet job on him quite harsh in the last round.

That said, Carlo is out of his depth here.. but it is a very close match up. I for one don't rate Del Piero as highly as some on here.. I think Muller could be more effective in this game but he needs to be dropped deeper.

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

By the way, if I were EAP I'd play a much more defensive formation trying to get a counter going via Baggio-Muller and sending most men besides them to defend. I think Montero is a great fit to mark someone like Eto'o, and Baresi & Desailly in a very tight defense could've made Laudrup lose influence on the match.

@Edgar Allan Pillow how about starting a very narrow defensive formation and try to hit him on the break?

 

[antohan]

That was my initial idea to play Muller centre, but after some comments, decided to go with the flow. Will change back now...

Serves you right for not using Anto Consulting.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

You have 3 minutes until I leave, if you want me to edit the op. Hurry up mate

PM'd you already!

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

OK, Formation changed.

 

[antohan]

By the way, if I were EAP I'd play a much more defensive formation trying to get a counter going via Baggio-Muller and sending most men besides them to defend. I think Montero is a great fit to mark someone like Eto'o, and Baresi & Desailly in a very tight defense could've made Laudrup lose influence on the match.

@Edgar Allan Pillow how about starting a very narrow defensive formation and try to hit him on the break?

I would expect him to primarily have Cabrini's covering detail with Garrincha there! And, however much I love him, he is not the sort of defender you want against Mané. He would be sent off before half time.

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

I would expect him to primarily have Cabrini's covering detail with Garrincha there! And, however much I love him, he is not the sort of defender you want against Mané. He would be sent off before half time.

Yeah didn't think about Garrincha there. I think Montero's physical abilities are great against someone like Eto'o, and assuming he'll get sent off isn't the way to go imo.

@Edgar Allan Pillow I love the new formation. Taking back my vote for the time being.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Personally I think my front 3 is really better. Not underrating Carboni, but I expect Jairzinho to get the better overall. This would definitely need support of CB's and that is something you don't want with Der Bomber, the best striker on the pitch there.

Ancelotti is a good passer of the ball and Muller is drifting in the middle and will exploit space repeatedly. Add in cutting in Baggio, it will definitely result in goals for me.

 

[antohan]

Yeah didn't think about Garrincha there. I think Montero's physical abilities are great against someone like Eto'o, and assuming he'll get sent off isn't the way to go imo.

@Edgar Allan Pillow I love the new formation. Taking back my vote for the time being.

I meant Garrincha. The last thing you want against Garrincha is a defender with a tendency to be rash. That plays into Mané's hands. I know there are no sending offs in this, but he would have a torrid time covering against him.

 

[MJJ]

That said, Carlo is out of his depth here.. but it is a very close match up. I for one don't rate Del Piero as highly as some on here.. I think Muller could be more effective in this game but he needs to be dropped deeper.[/QUOTE]

For EAP it's mainly going to be about the Desailly/Ancelotti/Baresi/Montero square recovering possession, then feeding it wide into the wing-backs to push on up the flanks. Almost a case of conceding the area where Redondo and Tigana will fanny about, but reducing the space for anything to happen in their own half, before countering down the flanks. That's my take on it.

Ahh forgot about desailly pushing deep and his formation effectively being a 3-4-3-1. That can work as it would be foolish to try and challenge kps down the middle.

Yes but no. He won't find it too easy sending men forward, but the players who are supposed to do it are Baresi and Ancelotti, not Desailly.

He certainly has the passing ability to do the job here. I'm not expecting him go around dominating the midfield here, just keep the ball moving forward where my superior attack can do the damage.

I think they're both very solid passers tbh. More than capable of keeping the game ticking over.. Watch Desailly against Barcelona in 94 and he is more than match for them with a huge variety of passes, short.. long, switches of play and all very accurate. Ancelotti was neat and tidy, pretty technical. In fact I found Chesterlestreets hatchet job on him quite harsh in the last round.

While normally they would be okay but against a side of kps quality I cna see it being an issue although as viva pointed out baresi will share the playmaking workload so eap should get the ball to his attackers. The question is, will it be enouch to hurt kps?

 

[kps88]

Ffs Anto. Thanks for drawing him up a new detailed formation before I got a word in!

I think I have a clear edge in midfield. There's too much resting on Ancelotti to get things going for me. T. Muller isn't a proper number ten either, which is what is ideally needed here to be the link up man and help Ancelotti out.

Going forward, I think EAP's left hand side is weaker defensively and I'm not sure what the plan is to deal with Garrincha, particularly when Sagnol and Eto'o provide support. Ancelotti and Montero on the cover against them is a complete mismatch for me.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

The question is, will it be enouch to hurt kps?

Definitely. I have a better attack and will make opportunities count more.

 

[MDFC Manager]

EAPs attack is better but there will be huge spaces behind them. If kps can play Garrincha slightly deeper, I expect him to absolutely run riot, running from deep, every time he picks the ball (which will be a lot of times). EAP you're playing a very dangerous game IMO! Worth considering adding another body in midfield

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Going forward, I think EAP's left hand side is weaker defensively and I'm not sure what the plan is to deal with Garrincha, particularly when Sagnol and Eto'o provide support. Ancelotti and Montero on the cover against them is a complete mismatch for me.

Well, since I don't have Maldini, don't think anyone on the field could 'deal with Garrincha' I give you that. Same can be said of Jairzinho who will definitely get the better of Carboni. And Sagnol moving up will leave oodles of space for Baggio to exploit on the counter.

 

[antohan]

Ahh forgot about desailly pushing deep and his formation effectively being a 3-4-3-1. That can work as it would be foolish to try and challenge kps down the middle.

That's cheating, surely.

 

[MDFC Manager]

@kps88 What's the idea behind not playing Donadoni?

 

[kps88]

Well, since I don't have Maldini, don't think anyone on the field could 'deal with Garrincha' I give you that. Same can be said of Jairzinho who will definitely get the better of Carboni. And Sagnol moving up will leave oodles of space for Baggio to exploit on the counter.

Yeah but I think Redondo on the cover will contribute a lot more defensively compared to Ancelotti.

 

[VivaJanuzaj]

@kps88 What's the idea behind not playing Donadoni?

Having Garrincha I guess.

 

[kps88]

@kps88 What's the idea behind not playing Donadoni?

Garrincha's better! I guess he could have played wide left but I love Del Piero too much for that.