TEAM SJOR BEPO / PHYSIOCRAT
Tactics
With both Hoddle and especially (old) Scholes we will have the the majority of the possession. The aim will be to play a mixed passing style but with emphasis on risk and chance creation (the anti-LVG method). With Johnstone providing the width on the right and Holebas on the left we can stretch the play horizontally and also vertically with Law's intelligent movement. This will create space for Hoddle, Scholes and Johnstone to play in Law to finish - he was a complete striker who could score with his head, left and right foot.
Defence:
Every good defence starts with a gk so we will do the same. Between the sticks is seargent Bert Trautmann. FWA Footballer of the year in 56 - first gk and the first foreigner(outside UK) to ever win the award. The great Lev Yashin himself believed that Trautmann and himself were the "only ... two world-class goalkeepers".
In front of him we have two italian giants, Giuseppe Bergomi and Claudio Gentile. Gentile will play on the right next to Steve Finnan, CL winner and member of PFA Team of the Year in 01/02 season. Finnan will have no attacking duties and will be focused only on defence. On the left we decided for Bergomi as we think that he offers good protection for our flying fullback with his impeccable positioning and reading of the game. Next to him is Holebas, will run up and down all game. A lovechild of Kolarov and Bale. Fantastic athleticism, fast and strong with a great left peg.
Midfield:
We will have Jaime Pacheco in a Makelele role. He had good positional sense, good work rate and was also a very professional player in his approach to football and he played in the first league till his late 36 years of age. Was European champion for Porto in 87, played 25 times for national team and went to the Euro 1984 and the 1986 World Cup. On the ball was decent and could hold his own so in this system where his job would be to keep the ball and play a simple game he would be like a fish in the water.
In front of him we have the great Paul Scholes, we all know everything there is about our ginger genius. His football brain is second to none. We will use the "older" version of Scholes, deep-lying playmaker that controlled game with ease and we expect the same. His third midfield partner is Bernd Schneider. Proper team player, unselfish and always worked hard for the team even though for majority of his career he was the best player in his teams. Great use of the ball which is probably the reason why they called him White Brazilian. Him and Johnstone would have a great partnership. The plan is to isolate the latter one 1v1 against sheep Aranzabal as often as we could and with Scholes, Schneider and Hoddle in the team that wont be a problem.
On the left is Glen Hoddle, When the team is in possession he will have a free role, he can go where ever he wants but when we lose the ball we expect him to put a shift on which isnt going to be a problem as he played in midfield before where he wasnt allowed to be a passenger.
Attack:
Jimmy (Jinky) Johnstone, Celtic's greatest ever player, will own the right wing and torment his full-back all game with his incredible dribbling ability. Going inside and outside, he can do it all. So Johnstone will be able to play in Law either by cross or pass on a consistent basis. At his peak Law scored 81 league goals in 106 games for Utd; he also scored 9 goals in 7 European Cup matches one season. He was not only a poacher though he a had a great all-round game: an excellent first touch and quality short passing. He will be involved in the build up making him more difficult to mark, not just hanging on the shoulder of the last defender. There is absolutely no way Law will not score in this set-up
ORIGINAL FORMATION:
TEAM SNOW
Peter Schmeichel: It’s Schmeichel. It’s the great Dane, the legendary Manchester United goalkeeper who’s arguably the best there ever was. It’s really a matter of personal preference if he’s the best or not but what he did better than any other keeper was organizing his defense.
Francisco Arce: A solid right back who’s an excellent set pieces taker.
John Mensah: Nothing like a strong African in a tight shirt to put the fear into the opponent. He’d have a WC medal if not for a cheating cnut.
Aitor Larrazábal: A man with that Athletic Club fighting heart.
Massimo Bonini: Simply the best San Marinese player in the history of football. That’s not enough? He was a mainstay in Juventus’ legendary team. He took care of the midfield dirty work so other more creative players could do what they do best.
Mário Coluna: I know what you’re thinking but no, though he might be as cool this is not Lando Calrissian. Of Mozambique heritage this monster is a legend for Benfica and Portugal. 5 times European Cup finalist and 3rd place WC finalist. World XI weren’t complete without his name on the team sheet.
António Sousa: One of my many outlets for goals despite being a central midfielder. European Cup final goal? Check. WC goal? Check. Euro goal? Check. This fellow loves pressure.
Zibi Boniek: Used to playing with Platini he’ll have to make due with Laudrup instead (boohoo). A seriously impressive geezer on the pitch. One of the best players in the world for a period of time which he was recognize for.
Michael Laudrup: An elegant bastard. Played for both Real and Barca but hated by neither. His role is fairly free, occupying the advance midfielder/second striker role which he did so often for Barca, Real and Denmark he’s one of this attacks focal points.
Gareth Bale: Playing on the left is the most expensive player in the world. Hard working bugger who scores goal. Fits this team better than Real as he gets to play in his favorite role that’s normally occupied by Ronaldo. Fresh off a Euro qualifying campaign where he spearheaded Wales into the finals he’s got plenty of juice left to do the same here.
Gustavo Dezotti: Good enough to be spearheading a championship winning team in Argentina, good enough to be bought to the biggest league in the world and good enough to play in front of Maradona in the WC. Good enough for me. He only needs to press slow CBs and hang around them and sniff out goals.
Tactics: Because of my midfield being made up of players who are good at playing with the ball and hate being without it and to make up for a defense made up of solid but unspectacular defenders I’ve gone the Pep Guardiola route. Coluna will operate in the Alonso role, controlling play from the deep. Bonini will also drop back to open up for space in the middle for Laudrup and Sousa. The back 3 won’t be a typical defense. On each side there will be defenders that are comfortable on the ball in possession, someone who can break up play by getting the ball to the specific midfielders. Better teams than Sjor Bepo’s have succumbed to such tactics.
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