On paper a star studded attack featuring Platini, Laudrup, Garrincha and Puskas looks virtually unstoppable, right? Upon further inspection from a holistic and tactical perspective, it wouldn't appear to be the case though. Imho, this is a classical case of shoehorning too many star names at the criminal cost of a cohesive team, which in turn, results in the said star names each not performing at their expected 100%. Let me make my case.
When you have a glorious match winner, you'd ideally wish to cater to their strengths, provide them with the tactical freedom and the right system to flourish. Which was what was done for the likes of Platini, Puskas and Garrincha in their respective teams. As much as they were sole match winners, they were also fairly difficult and rigid tactically, absolutely needing the right system and personnel around them to flourish (a worthy compromise).
Platini had the brilliant Juve and France team built around him to give him the utmost freedom to do whatever the feck he wanted. He could pop up wherever he wanted, play one-twos, drop deep etc and dictate play with the lion's share of possession. He had selfless runners and tactically intelligent players ala Boniek/Rocheatau/Six/Rossi etc around him stretching play and linking up with him, allowing him to do what he did best with the lion's share of possession.
Garrincha is a magnificent player but a tactically flawed one. If you manage to circumvent those flaws and get him on the ball, then you have a top 3 GOAT single-handedly winning you matches. He never tracked back, never made runs off the ball and did zilch without the ball, expecting the ball to be spoonfed to him. On the ball, he was the epitome of individualism, dribbling past the same player thrice and hogging the ball to no ends. Is he someone whom Puskas & Platini are going to relish playing alongside? In one word, No.
With those 2 clamouring for the lion's share of the ball, the mighty magyar, Puskas throws his name into the hat. Puskas was anything but a spearhead mould of striker, despite what his goal record might indicate. He loved to drop deep and get on the ball, exhibitng his exquisite technique, vision and those insane left pegged long rangers. His team wasn't crying out for a creative ball playing-drop deep forward but rather a spearhead centre forward like a Müller/Kocsis/van Basten etc.
For instance, I went with van Basten over Puskas and Muller in reinforcements, despite the latter 2 being better individuals. Why? The last thing I needed was a creative-drop deep forward with the likes of Schuster-Suárez-Czibor-Litti in the team but rather a complete spearhead who could primarily occupy the CBs, provide a complete goal threat for my multi faceted attack and then secondarily being a good technician/dribbler on the ball.
So this isn't me just critiquing his balance for the sake of it, I genuinely believe what I'm stating here.
All this is not to say one needs 9 Parks/Welbecks around these players, doing the donkey work for them to thrive. What i mean is tactically suitable players without compromising on individual quality.
For instance, I can see Platini working wonders alongside a Boniek, Conti, Figo, Czibor, Nedved etc not a Cruyff, Garrincha. The same way I see Garrincha performing at his best alongside a Charlton, Eusebio, Laudrup, Schuster etc and not a Platini, Maradona, Cruyff. Add Puskas to this and it only enhances my point.
I'm certain Di Stefano-Puskas (*ahem* Kopa *ahem*) and Pele-Garrincha will be brought up. However, Di Stefano was a complete and a versatile player who couldn't be more unlike the tactically rigid playmaking Platini. The 58/62 Pele (not the 1970 No 10 version) was a more direct SS/CF type direct player and once again a different kettle of fish to Platini.
Simply put, you can't have 3 ball hoggers who all want the lion's share of possession, in close vicinity and expect them all to shine. It just leads to a fractured and disjointed attack. Don't even get me started on them without the ball (more on that later
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Tbf I can see Laudrup functioning well, being an excellent team player on the ball capable of playing second fiddle. Even then he isn't in his prime here, which was him playing as a false 9/central No 10 for Barca and Real.
I beseech you all to look at his attack from a holistic and a tactical perspective, whilst also addressing the intricacies of the tactical system, instead of just taking the reductionist and individualistic view. If you still believe it would function flawlessly, then fair enough. I concede that it is a contentious point which I hope will bring forth some good discussions.
