Sjor Harmsopoly QF - Sjor vs GSTQ

With players at their listed peak, who would win? (only votes accompanied by a comment count)


  • Total voters
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Physiocrat

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Sjor

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GSTQ

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Sjor Tactics

"There are only two Christs; one plays for Barcelona, the other is in heaven"
four-goal_bulgarian_striker_hristo_stoichkov_was_a_key_member_of_johan_cruyff_s_dream_team_joined_by_the_likes_of_ronald_koeman_and_michael_laudrup_in_an_exciting_side.jpeg


GSTQ Tactics

In continuation with improving the WM of the first round and moving away with the kids based theme, this team is almost by default a kryptonite to Sjor's super impressive team.

Style of play -

1. Attack as a team, defend as a team. Press from the front, zonal defending. Quick transitions in attack. Overload the opposition defense.
2. Looking at the front 5 and back 5 individually, they are already great attacking and defensive units with perfect fits.
3. No overlaps in attacking zones of the front 5 and the defensive fit is as perfect as it gets.
4. But the real beauty of this team lies in how both the front 5 and back 5 inter work with each other to get that perfect balance and harmony in attack and defense.
5. All of Di Stefano, Schuster, Figo and Best offer great work rate off the ball. All of them were tenacious energetic footballers in addition to their obvious world class flair.
6. Having that sort of a shield ahead of an already godly Edwards/Bastian base is as good as it gets off the ball.
7. On the flip side, Edwards and Bastian were no mediocre players on the ball, imagine trying to contain and mark out that front 5 out of the game and Edwards/Bastian then crack open your defense from the deeper areas. Nightmare for even the best of defensive setups.

Advantages against the opponent's team -

In Defense -

1. The biggest advantage of the opponent in attack is his central core.
2. Having a back 3 against a 2 striker attack already gives a great defensive shape to build on.
3. The best way to punish a WM is on the flanks and I wouldn't consider either of Jusufi or Bossis as uber attacking. The opponent's team really deserves more attacking fullbacks.
4. We have enough workers off the ball both on the flanks and centrally to make sure no runner is untracked in the zonal system.

In Midfield -

1. The world class square in the middle of the opponent's team is matched by our own world class square in the middle of the park.
2. On the ball, our midfielders can match the opponents team with regards to flair/goals from midfield/build up from deep.
3. But where our midfield triumphs the opponent's is the work rate and energy off the ball.
4. Its fairly easy to argue that Di Stefano and a young Schuster offer a lot more energy and tenacity off the ball as compared to Zico/Iniesta.
5. The presence of Di Stefano in that midfield can't be understated. In a game where the midfield battle is that tight, having him work his socks off while Zico on the other side wouldn't offer anything in comparison off the ball is a huge plus. Almost a 4 vs 3 advantage by itself.
6. I'd even argue that Edwards and Bastian offer a lot more energy and tenacity off the ball as compared to Voronin and Falcao.

In Attack -

1. For starters, I truly believe the opponent's defense is not anywhere close to match my attack and keep them out. Its a no contest when u look at that attack vs that defense.
2. Don't see too much support for the fullbacks from the midfield who will have their hands full, so Best and Figo should have great games, especially with both Di Stefano and Schuster capable of overloading the attack on the flanks.
3. We of course will make sure to punish their fullbacks on the counters if they dare to leave their half way line mark.
4. With so many options and directions to create from, Romario is exactly the sort of striker a team needs to score for fun.
5. Lets also not forget that the great Brazilian WC team of 1982 despite all its flair lost to the so called boring defensive Italian team and conceded 3 goals in a game that ended 3-2.
6. In the words of Sir Alex Ferguson - ' Attack wins you games, defence wins you trophies'
 
@GodShaveTheQueen good luck

you said a lot of things and with some i agree but some i think its insane. Is the plan to defend wide areas the same as in R1?
 
Even without looking at the tactical side of the game, think my team has a major advantage as all players are at their very best which cant be said for his team.
 
Pretty sure it's mentioned in my OP

read it all for the third time, there is nothing. How you plan to defend wider areas? In the first game you decided to ignore it and defend it only once the ball goes inside, is that still the case?
 
read it all for the third time, there is nothing. How you plan to defend wider areas? In the first game you decided to ignore it and defend it only once the ball goes inside, is that still the case?

Read it 3 more times, you might find it.
 
Just in case anyone needs a refresher on how Zonal marking/defending works, a nice little explanation.

 
Sjor's 4-2-2-2 is close to perfect. His fullbacks are good going forward, but he also gets width from the likes of Stoichkov and Iniesta in particular as they like to drift out to the flanks. I could see that Bossis-Iniesta-Stoichkov tandem down the left creating some lovely combinations.
 
I think GSTQ team perfectly counters Sjor's, while his own lack of wide defending isn't really exploited.

Likely to be a tennis score game with GSTQ finishing with a W.

TBH a left flank of Bossis, Iniesta and Stoichkov is anything but lacking width..

@GodShaveTheQueen from what I understand you are using zonal off the ball and trying to push the opposition to the touchline with numbers when the ball is on the flank? Cause you will have regularly Stoichkov/Iniesta peeling wide..
 
Romario was a genius but he was also a lazy fecker, guy didnt move a muscle in the defensive part of the game and considering the team i built can keep the ball for ages, that would be an issue as you can carry one non runner in the team but not really in that position that became key in the defensive game. Others in that team are more then fine(no idea about pimple figo) in that regard but considering the quality on the ball it would be an issue. Also, in order to press the team and win the ball, that defence would need to push forward and that game doesnt suit Burgnich and specially Cannavaro.
Also, all footage from Zebec is showcasing him as a winger. Maybe he could have patch things up at some other positions but its fair to say that left wing was his main position.
 
@GodShaveTheQueen from what I understand you are using zonal off the ball and trying to push the opposition to the touchline with numbers when the ball is on the flank? Cause you will have regularly Stoichkov/Iniesta peeling wide..

Zonal marking doesn't try to push the opposition in any direction. The team as a unit follows the ball trying to maintain a compact structure.

Purely as an example - if the opposition attacks through 1 flank - this is how the team zonally defends. This is where having a front 4 of Best/Di Stefano/Schuster/Figo works as a charm

0ihzHKHb602f.png


Besides, if a team built with a magic square template sees its best advantages outwide, that is half the job done.
 
there was also never a team in history of football that didnt defend wide areas. In a back 3 you can do that in 2 ways and considering the personnel, tactics from R1 and lack of constructive response in this one there is no such a plan here which is a suicide. Lack of width comment is funny also considering i have probably best left forward of all time in the team(dont really consider late Real Ronaldo a wide forward) and someone like Law who played all over the place, often in wide areas and in today game he would most likely play from the wide in a front three.

left side was mentioned by others but right side isnt far off....considering Best(those two faced each other once in European Cup Semi Final and Partizan won 2:0) is there Jusufi would most likely stay back all the time and play a crucial role in controlling the possession which would then free up a bit Falcao who can have a bit more freedom to go up and join others in play as well as in the press.
 
considering the team i built can keep the ball for ages,

Having players with flair in the team doesn't equate to keeping the ball for ages for god sake :lol:

That Zico/Falcao/Socrates Brazil team was all about quick vertical movements in the middle of the park where they took the ball past you in a jiffy.



Maybe he could have patch things up at some other positions but its fair to say that left wing was his main position.

Its pretty well documented that in his late 20s, he transformed to a CB, a world class one at that.
 
Branislav "Branko" Zebec (17 May 1929 in Zagreb, Kingdom of Yugoslavia – 26 September 1988 in Zagreb, SFR Yugoslavia) is one of greatest players in Yugoslavian history and is one of the most completed and versatiled footballers of all-time, could play everywhere on the pitch, mostly perform as left-winger but reach world-class status in the late career as center-back.

In his heyday the player from FK Partizan and Red Star Belgrade fascinated the world with his performances at the World Cups in 1954 and 1958. With Partizan he won 3 Yugoslav Cups (1952, 1954, 1957). With Red Star Belgrade he won the national championship in 1960.

True leader, fast thinker, understood the game perfectly. A highly versatile player noted for his physical abilities and understanding of the game, Zebec was world class whether on the left wing or in the more defensive role of left fullback, although he was capable of playing almost every outfield position on the pitch. He was particularly well known for his pace, having been able to run 100m in 11s with football boots.

He was tall (for '40s and '50s), tough and a little bit skinny, but with muscles. He began his senior career when he was only 16 years old. Almost immediately he got chance to play left winger for the first team (instead of much older and experienced players).

Player with great acceleration, speed and mobility. He could run 100m for 11s, in football boots (in the rank with the best Yugoslavian sprinters back in the late '40s and early '50s). Zebec played very good with his head and he was very calm in important moments (for example, when he was 19-20 years old, he scored 3 goals in decisive match for the title, two with his head). Beside the fact he was very, very fast, he was also very strong in duels and practically unstoppable on the left side. Zebec wasn't too sophisticated technical player, but he controlled ball very well with his left leg. In the game he was very brave and rational as well. Never made a move too much, used dribble only when it's necessary. For him, simplicity was a road to perfection (he achieved perfection in many, many games). Zebec really believed in his abilities on the court and he always gave his best in each and every game.

He occasionally played as a little bit defensive CF (very successfully). Against France he played as defensive CF, who had assignment to go back to defense, and guard Raymond Kopa (Real Madrid player at the time). He did that so successfully, that it seemed that Kopa didn't played at all. On the same game he also played very good in the attack, and journalists gave him 10, for his perfect game.

After all that, he was transformed into a CB (but he also continued to play as winger/attacker, wing half and full-back) and he was very good on that position. During the one of the most important games for the national team (qualifications for World Cup 1958), in which Yugoslavia played against Romania he played as CB. Many claim that this was his best game for national team at that position. Every high ball was his (very superior in the air), he won every 1 on 1 play against opposite attacker, also during the game he was in every place in the defense. In one word: Perfection! One of the coaches came to him after the game, grab his shoulder and said: "Are you a man or are you a beast? I've never seen anybody playing the whole 90 minutes so perfect and without any mistake!"

After his first game for national team in CB position (a few games before the one I mentioned before), many foreign journalists and football experts wrote that he's one of the greatest discoveries in CB and libero position (CWP) and that he played in those positions even better than on his original position. Many journalists, football experts, coaches and players, from 1950s, agree that Zebec was the best center-half during that era. Some of them even said, that he should be among Best 11 squad of all times.
 
Having players with flair in the team doesn't equate to keeping the ball for ages for god sake :lol:

That Zico/Falcao/Socrates Brazil team was all about quick vertical movements in the middle of the park where they took the ball past you in a jiffy.





Its pretty well documented that in his late 20s, he transformed to a CB, a world class one at that.


maybe you should read my post three times as i never ever mentioned the 82 team.....just because you take some or even best players from that team it doesnt mean you gonna keep playing like that.
 
considering Best(those two faced each other once in European Cup Semi Final and Partizan won 2:0)

Jusufi played as the RB and Best as the right winger, they didnt really face off. And Best was 19.

Christ, after moaning of lack of footage draft after draft, when gems like this are thrown out :lol:
 
Voting for Sjor. Can't see an overly attacking WM working well at this stage. The reasons Pep team can go a neo-WM in the attacking phase is the players are selected to be able to defend in different setups. Don't really see that here. Also not convinced on this selection suited to getting the most out of Di Stefano who couldn't have chemistry with Didi so not sure Best and Romario are good teammates for him.
 
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Branislav "Branko" Zebec (17 May 1929 in Zagreb, Kingdom of Yugoslavia – 26 September 1988 in Zagreb, SFR Yugoslavia) is one of greatest players in Yugoslavian history and is one of the most completed and versatiled footballers of all-time, could play everywhere on the pitch, mostly perform as left-winger but reach world-class status in the late career as center-back.

In his heyday the player from FK Partizan and Red Star Belgrade fascinated the world with his performances at the World Cups in 1954 and 1958. With Partizan he won 3 Yugoslav Cups (1952, 1954, 1957). With Red Star Belgrade he won the national championship in 1960.

True leader, fast thinker, understood the game perfectly. A highly versatile player noted for his physical abilities and understanding of the game, Zebec was world class whether on the left wing or in the more defensive role of left fullback, although he was capable of playing almost every outfield position on the pitch. He was particularly well known for his pace, having been able to run 100m in 11s with football boots.

He was tall (for '40s and '50s), tough and a little bit skinny, but with muscles. He began his senior career when he was only 16 years old. Almost immediately he got chance to play left winger for the first team (instead of much older and experienced players).

Player with great acceleration, speed and mobility. He could run 100m for 11s, in football boots (in the rank with the best Yugoslavian sprinters back in the late '40s and early '50s). Zebec played very good with his head and he was very calm in important moments (for example, when he was 19-20 years old, he scored 3 goals in decisive match for the title, two with his head). Beside the fact he was very, very fast, he was also very strong in duels and practically unstoppable on the left side. Zebec wasn't too sophisticated technical player, but he controlled ball very well with his left leg. In the game he was very brave and rational as well. Never made a move too much, used dribble only when it's necessary. For him, simplicity was a road to perfection (he achieved perfection in many, many games). Zebec really believed in his abilities on the court and he always gave his best in each and every game.

He occasionally played as a little bit defensive CF (very successfully). Against France he played as defensive CF, who had assignment to go back to defense, and guard Raymond Kopa (Real Madrid player at the time). He did that so successfully, that it seemed that Kopa didn't played at all. On the same game he also played very good in the attack, and journalists gave him 10, for his perfect game.

After all that, he was transformed into a CB (but he also continued to play as winger/attacker, wing half and full-back) and he was very good on that position. During the one of the most important games for the national team (qualifications for World Cup 1958), in which Yugoslavia played against Romania he played as CB. Many claim that this was his best game for national team at that position. Every high ball was his (very superior in the air), he won every 1 on 1 play against opposite attacker, also during the game he was in every place in the defense. In one word: Perfection! One of the coaches came to him after the game, grab his shoulder and said: "Are you a man or are you a beast? I've never seen anybody playing the whole 90 minutes so perfect and without any mistake!"

After his first game for national team in CB position (a few games before the one I mentioned before), many foreign journalists and football experts wrote that he's one of the greatest discoveries in CB and libero position (CWP) and that he played in those positions even better than on his original position. Many journalists, football experts, coaches and players, from 1950s, agree that Zebec was the best center-half during that era. Some of them even said, that he should be among Best 11 squad of all times.

good old pre footage player reports where every single player sounds the same - superhuman.
 
maybe you should read my post three times as i never ever mentioned the 82 team.....just because you take some or even best players from that team it doesnt mean you gonna keep playing like that.

You dont really have an OP mate, and you have the exact shape as Brazil 1982, with the exact same template choice of midfielders wise. Either ways Zico was hardly a player to build a team set to dominate possession IMO.
 
Jusufi played as the RB and Best as the right winger, they didnt really face off. And Best was 19.

Christ, after moaning of lack of footage draft after draft, when gems like this are thrown out :lol:

and you know this how considering there is no footage of the game? Looking at lineups, he could have easily be playing on the left as Connelly was more of an outside right....
 
You dont really have an OP mate, and you have the exact shape as Brazil 1982, with the exact same template choice of midfielders wise. Either ways Zico was hardly a player to build a team set to dominate possession IMO.

you do yet we have the same amount information about how we gonna play
 
seriously though, brazil 82 is not the only magic square team ever nor i have to play as any of those teams.....team was built to keep possession, be patient with the ball until you get into the final third where the creative freedom kicks in. In every possession based team you need one or two direct players that will make the possession count and in this team those are Zico and Stoichkov.
 
Sjor will have a decent amount of possession but I don't see it being more than 55 to 45%. I really think GSTQ should go 4411 in the organised defensive phase with Edwards at CB and flat four with Best, Figo, Schuster and Bastian. It optimises his strengths whilst giving defensive solidity,
 
Its the formation he played in his whole life, but sure, maybe you meant in someother way.

I edited my op. For Di Stefano it's not the formation but can't see him gelling well with Best and Romario
 
Sjor will have a decent amount of possession but I don't see it being more than 55 to 45%. I really think GSTQ should go 4411 in the organised defensive phase with Edwards at CB and flat four with Best, Figo, Schuster and Bastian. It optimises his strengths whilst giving defensive solidity,

winning the possession battle isnt just keeping the ball, if anything thats just icing on the cake as defensive side is even more important and what makes Pep team special is that most often then not he builds best defensive teams in the world.
 
I edited my op. For Di Stefano it's not the formation but can't see him gelling well with Best and Romario

Thanks for clarifying but that is even more non sensical an argument

Didi occupied the same central attacking midfield areas as Di Stefano. Same reason why Kopa was moved out wide too. He didn't like overlaps in his preferred central zones

Best and Romario play out in the wings and up front.

Di Stefano played successfully with Gento and Puskas all through his goat years.
 
Sjor will have a decent amount of possession but I don't see it being more than 55 to 45%. I really think GSTQ should go 4411 in the organised defensive phase with Edwards at CB and flat four with Best, Figo, Schuster and Bastian. It optimises his strengths whilst giving defensive solidity,

I did have the formation in mind, but not for this game. I couldnt think of a better opponent to play the 3223 against.

Clearly has a divided audience, but I liked it.
 
got bored so played around with that @GodShaveTheQueen picture of his defensive shape....
there are zillions of possibilities but here are two just to showcase how vulnerable that tactic is and why we never saw something like that!

a) Isolating Stoichkov
a.png


  • there are just not enough bodies in scrappy team so to stay compact and close they would have to give space somewhere and most likely that would be far wide which creates a problem on the switch as if there is someone you dont want to face 1v1 in a bit of space its a man who can only be stopped with a gun. I know its a zonal marking game, everyone in world football plays the zone but offensive players dictate where you gonna be. Schweini cant let Iniesta have a lot of space otherwise you face him centrally going at you. Edwards first and foremost must hold the zone as if you give that you gonna look like current United defending middle of the park - he would also have big decision on what to do with Falcao when he makes his run. Cannavaro and Burgnich are tied with Law/Zico(can see them interchanging in their roles) which isolates Stoichkov.
  • if he doesnt stay compact then you have masters of tight space and dribbling in a fairly open space where they gonna kill you
  • Didnt mention Schuster as he would MUST step up to close down Voronin otherwise there is absolutely no chance they ever gonna get the ball and if we keep it for a long period those superstars of scrappy wont be happy.
  • If Zebec helps out Cannavaro a bit so Burgnich can keep an eye on Hristo that leaves Zico/Law on the right in free space, letting them get the ball freely and attack you which isnt good, you pretty much get the iso without switch of play.
  • also, not to mention Cannavaro would struggle in this setup, he wasnt some elite reader of the game(eve those would struggle!) but he played on his instincts and here you would want a calm calculated head.
b) third man running
third-man.jpg


  • This time Stoichkov ties Burgnich and Cannavaro who also has to deal with Zico who was great with back towards the goal interchanging with teammates. Law is drifting out wide while Falcao is making a third man run in which he will get the ball from Zico or will just open space for Iniesta to pick up the ball centrally.
  • Again scrappy with lack of bodies: Zebec is 1v1 but can make a decision, stay close to Law(which you want for a third man run) or keep the shape which then opens up Law to face him 1v1.
  • Di Stefano and Edwards again in problems, Edwards cant really leave the zone and must to anything to stop a pass towards Zico but will Di Stefano track back that deep? How often will he do it? Is it a waste to have your best player doing that work? If he doesnt and Edwards does it, Schweini can help out with Iniesta but if he goes to far Zico gets to many pockets of space he can pick up the ball. Again, problem with lack of bodies.
  • Also you will notice that most battles end up 1v1 because of guess what? Lack of bodies.
  • Scrappy has 10(lets give it to Figo as it doesnt really matter) hard working players which is more then fine but problem is how they are set up, That back three can be destroyed and streched in so many ways so even if players in there were perfect tactical fits(and they are far from it) they would most likely struggle as its impossible to defend like this.
 
1. Attack as a team, defend as a team. Press from the front, zonal defending. Quick transitions in attack. Overload the opposition defense.
@GodShaveTheQueen this is a real mishmash of different setups and philosophies. Attacking as a team and defending as a team with a press from the front approach is a bit different to Zonal defending, which is what I think you're going for here.

Following on from our short discussion in the previous round, I think your idea is that this team generally holds it's shape in the defensive phase with one of the midfielders sometimes dropping into defense when required. Which is fine as a tactic from what I can see. Mixing in more modern ideas like an organized press and overloads is where I can see some disconnect.
 
Attacking as a team and defending as a team with a press from the front approach is a bit different to Zonal defending, which is what I think you're going for here.

Sacchi was the one who introduced attacking/defending/pressing as a team with zonal marking to modern football through his famous Milan side.

Forgive me if I rate his insights higher than yours :)

On the 3 man defense against narrow 2 striker systems in real world modern football, Van Gaal moved to a 3 man defense from a 4 man defense in his legendary Ajax mid 90s system as it made sense to him to not waste bodies dedicated to flanks against narrow attacks that were prevalent during that era. Of course, you can always argue now that the midfield is cluttered we will attack through the wings, but that is not what the team was trained to do when its built through a narrow central midfield core of 6 attackers all primarily with central strengths.

He did make sure his midfielders were capable of drifting wide and defending and we have done the same with not just the midfielders but wingers as well.

Not a team I'd always expect to do well in a draft game due to the unenthusiasm in drafts of moving away from the time tested same old formations draft after draft, but I genuinely felt it was something that would work beyond the 50's as well.

To be fair Sjor has debated well and I have no qualms about whatever score we end with, I will still stick to my guts that it is a really strong winnable tactic even in a real world scenario if built with the right players.
 
I edited my op. For Di Stefano it's not the formation but can't see him gelling well with Best and Romario

This vote though deserves a pin of shame.

Clear case of trying to find ways (and hilariously failing on 2 attempts) to vote against someone for them voting against you and knocking you out in a close game.

At least put in a slightly valid reason to not make it so obvious. Edit it a 3rd time and blame the wings this time maybe, might be more digestible.

Di Stefano not working in 3-2-2-3 for fecks sake :lol:
 
Forgive me if I rate his insights higher than yours :)
Sounds like my post rubbed you the wrong way? Apologies if it did, I'm happy to be educated.

Sacchi was the one who introduced attacking/defending/pressing as a team with zonal marking to modern football through his famous Milan side.

On the 3 man defense against narrow 2 striker systems in real world modern football, Van Gaal moved to a 3 man defense from a 4 man defense in his legendary Ajax mid 90s system as it made sense to him to not waste bodies dedicated to flanks against narrow attacks that were prevalent during that era. Of course, you can always argue now that the midfield is cluttered we will attack through the wings, but that is not what the team was trained to do when its built through a narrow central midfield core of 6 attackers all primarily with central strengths.

He did make sure his midfielders were capable of drifting wide and defending and we have done the same with not just the midfielders but wingers as well.

Not a team I'd always expect to do well in a draft game due to the unenthusiasm in drafts of moving away from the time tested same old formations draft after draft, but I genuinely felt it was something that would work beyond the 50's as well.

To be fair Sjor has debated well and I have no qualms about whatever score we end with, I will still stick to my guts that it is a really strong winnable tactic even in a real world scenario if built with the right players.

I don't have a problem with the three man defense and zonal marking in general. I just don't understand how you plan to create overloads and press together as a team in addition to holding your shape for most part. Probably you have a plan on how you want to achieve this and I'm too dim to see it. Does this operate the same way Sacchi's Milan does? How high is your defensive line?
 
This vote though deserves a pin of shame.

Clear case of trying to find ways (and hilariously failing on 2 attempts) to vote against someone for them voting against you and knocking you out in a close game.

At least put in a slightly valid reason to not make it so obvious. Edit it a 3rd time and blame the wings this time maybe, might be more digestible.

Di Stefano not working in 3-2-2-3 for fecks sake :lol:

im against you and i cant see it :D
 
Sounds like my post rubbed you the wrong way? Apologies if it did, I'm happy to be educated.

Nah not really, its not an unknown tactic as u make it sound is what I meant

I don't have a problem with the three man defense and zonal marking in general. I just don't understand how you plan to create overloads and press together as a team in addition to holding your shape for most part. Probably you have a plan on how you want to achieve this and I'm too dim to see it. Does this operate the same way Sacchi's Milan does? How high is your defensive line?

High press is not the same as pressing together zonally. High press did not exist 15-20 years ago.

Teams did press zonally before that as well in groups without all 10 outfield players being involved, A few pressed and a few repositioned themselves based on where the play was

im against you and i cant see it :D

You are a bastard at times to debate against but that is acceptable. These revenge voting shenanigans are not, am sorry.