Wowza! Crackin' side
@VivaJanuzaj, wasn't expecting that switch to 4-4-2 at all.
I have no time to read up, but I can imagine the scoreline reflects people going on about our '99 vintage not winning enough, being too gung-ho, etc.
To which I reply:
- Batistuta + Crespo is a brilliant pair, better than Cole-Yorke (even including mutual understanding) and as a joint threat a much bigger headache than Fontaine, without a shadow of a doubt. It screams goals.
- Both Nedved and Figo are improvements on Beckham and Giggs,
CRUCIALLY, in that they would be far more adept at controlling the game, its tempo and not letting it fall into the manic to and fro that United '99 was.
- The midfield isn't overpowered by virtue of having two men there, I very much see it as a Nedved-Keane-Scholes trio where Nedved gives Bozsik a torrid time and Keane does his best against Sir Bobby.
- Both defences look brilliant although I never got the Passarella pick. Actually, it would have been better for Cutch that Passarella faced Batistuta and Nesta was left to deal with Crespo. As it is, Nesta will be the one dragged out of the box to close down Batistuta and Passarella the one having to stick to Crespo, when both are at their best in the opposite role.
- I simply don't buy Gento and Matthews having a significant impact here. I think they have had a good run, but this is as far as it goes, leaving all the onus on Sir Bobby and Fontaine against Vierchowod and Franco feckin' Baresi. Two awesome defences, but one attack is missing Edson's blue pills.
- Knowing Cutch's love for millenium players, I would bet good money that he would be voting VivaJ here if he were a neutral.