Aldo/Prath
1. Complete defence - our defence is a complete defence. Two of the best defenders of their generation vidic and Hierro, vidic is a hard tackler with no major weakness. Hierro, while being defensively astute, is exceptionally good on the ball often playing out from the back. Srna is defensively sound balanced full back and montero is a hard full back to get past known for his hard tackling and defence. Julio Cesar also has been top draw sweeper keeper in his prime with no major weakness.
2. Strong midfield - Sousa is a top class DM with excellent ball playing skills, defensive ability and vision to play that role to perfection. Boban is a hardworking player who is defensively solid yet creatively excellent, a good choice to play as a deep lying playmaker, a role he often played with Milan as well. Deco plays the advanced midfielder of the 3 with excellent vision and stamina
3. Excellent attack - Rivaldo Totti Ljungberg play a fluid front 3, often interchanging positions (along with Deco as well). Ljungberg's natural tendency though will be to stay out wide but he can come in to chip in with goals (as he has done for Arsenal many times). Rivaldo will look to cut in but will also be able to provide crosses for totti. When Rivaldo goes central deco/Totti will drift out wide and totti will go deeper. Totti is the perfect player for a false 9 excellent at finishing chances (2nd highest scorer in serie a) and creativity. Also defensively solid if called upon. Srna would also support the attack from the wings and to some extent Montero as well.
Why we'll win.
1. Better defence - We admit opposition defence is a very good one however we have two of the best defenders of their time, Vidic and Hierro screening Julio Cesar, again one of the best in his prime, at the goal as a sweeper keeper. Srna is an adept balanced fullback who defensively sound (aerially as well). It's a well balanced unit with little joy down the right side thanks to the brilliance of paolo montero, a top defender of his era.
2. Balanced functioning midfield - Redondo is a top midfielder of course but we believe we have matched his qualities with Sousa to an extent. Boban has got the workrate to play as a midfielder (often employed as one at Milan, including a CL final) and Deco was a key midfielder in Mourinho's Porto and was voted best midfielder that year. Together, its a well oiled midfield with both workrate and attacking creativity all round
3. Fluid attack - Needless to say Figo is a great attacker but we have a fluid front 3 with Totti ljungberg and Rivaldo interchanging positions (with Deco in the mix as well). Ljungberg's tendency would be to stay wide but he is also someone who cuts in and scores goals when required like he did at Arsenal. Srna and Montero also supporting the flanks, with Srna's crossing accuracy and Boban's vision from deep will also be a big factor in attack. Hierro himself is a reliable scorer and can also start off attacks with his near perfect passing. Both ljungberg and totti are also defensively aware making valuable contributions on that front.
Player Name - Player Position - Player Role
Fernando Hierro - Centre Back - Ball Playing CB
Nemanja Vidic - Centre Back - Stopper
Darijo Srna - Right Back - Balanced
Paolo Montero - Left Back - Defensive
Paulo Sousa - Defensive Midfielder - Holding Midfielder
Zvominir Boban - Central Midfielder - All round playmaker
Deco - Attacking Midfielder - Creative AM
Freddie Ljungberg - Right Wing - Goalscoring Wide Player
Rivaldo - Left Wing - Wing Forward (Free Role)
Francesco Totti - Centre Forward - False 9
PatBepo
Formation: 4-3-3
Tactical Overview: Possession-based approach with a moderate-high defensive line
We’ve built our team towards executing a possession-based strategy, centred around our technically brilliant midfield trio of Redondo, Tugay and Gascoigne, and the legendary Luis Figo on the right wing. Redondo and Tugay, with their excellent passing games and near-total comfort in possession in tight spaces, should complement each other beautifully at the base of midfield. Gascoigne and Figo are well-capable of joining in the passing carousel, and will inject the impetus into our attacks with their dribbling and creativity.
Ahead of them, David Villa is a proven master at finding space and providing the cutting edge in possession-based systems. Henrik Larsson, a personal favourite of both Sjor and I, is Villa’s intelligent and clinical foil.
Our defence adopts a moderately high line to support our possession-based strategy and our players look well-suited to the tactic. Lloris is one of the foremost ‘sweeper keepers’ of this generation and is well-versed in this set up. We’re also not unduly concerned about Aldo/Prath’s pace in attack – Rivaldo was quick but not lightning, Totti wasn’t fast, and whilst Ljungberg was rapid we don’t rate his overall quality that highly in this company, and in any case Cole and Boli can live with him in terms of speed. Ferrara and Boli form a strong partnership at CB, with Boli’s pace, power and aggression serving as a nice foil to Ferrrara’s intelligence and organisational skills. Petrescu and Cole are a solid and well-balanced pair of full backs, and that Petrescu/Figo link up on our right wing will cause problems for the opposition.
1. Complete defence - our defence is a complete defence. Two of the best defenders of their generation vidic and Hierro, vidic is a hard tackler with no major weakness. Hierro, while being defensively astute, is exceptionally good on the ball often playing out from the back. Srna is defensively sound balanced full back and montero is a hard full back to get past known for his hard tackling and defence. Julio Cesar also has been top draw sweeper keeper in his prime with no major weakness.
2. Strong midfield - Sousa is a top class DM with excellent ball playing skills, defensive ability and vision to play that role to perfection. Boban is a hardworking player who is defensively solid yet creatively excellent, a good choice to play as a deep lying playmaker, a role he often played with Milan as well. Deco plays the advanced midfielder of the 3 with excellent vision and stamina
3. Excellent attack - Rivaldo Totti Ljungberg play a fluid front 3, often interchanging positions (along with Deco as well). Ljungberg's natural tendency though will be to stay out wide but he can come in to chip in with goals (as he has done for Arsenal many times). Rivaldo will look to cut in but will also be able to provide crosses for totti. When Rivaldo goes central deco/Totti will drift out wide and totti will go deeper. Totti is the perfect player for a false 9 excellent at finishing chances (2nd highest scorer in serie a) and creativity. Also defensively solid if called upon. Srna would also support the attack from the wings and to some extent Montero as well.
Why we'll win.
1. Better defence - We admit opposition defence is a very good one however we have two of the best defenders of their time, Vidic and Hierro screening Julio Cesar, again one of the best in his prime, at the goal as a sweeper keeper. Srna is an adept balanced fullback who defensively sound (aerially as well). It's a well balanced unit with little joy down the right side thanks to the brilliance of paolo montero, a top defender of his era.
2. Balanced functioning midfield - Redondo is a top midfielder of course but we believe we have matched his qualities with Sousa to an extent. Boban has got the workrate to play as a midfielder (often employed as one at Milan, including a CL final) and Deco was a key midfielder in Mourinho's Porto and was voted best midfielder that year. Together, its a well oiled midfield with both workrate and attacking creativity all round
3. Fluid attack - Needless to say Figo is a great attacker but we have a fluid front 3 with Totti ljungberg and Rivaldo interchanging positions (with Deco in the mix as well). Ljungberg's tendency would be to stay wide but he is also someone who cuts in and scores goals when required like he did at Arsenal. Srna and Montero also supporting the flanks, with Srna's crossing accuracy and Boban's vision from deep will also be a big factor in attack. Hierro himself is a reliable scorer and can also start off attacks with his near perfect passing. Both ljungberg and totti are also defensively aware making valuable contributions on that front.
Player Name - Player Position - Player Role
Fernando Hierro - Centre Back - Ball Playing CB
Nemanja Vidic - Centre Back - Stopper
Darijo Srna - Right Back - Balanced
Paolo Montero - Left Back - Defensive
Paulo Sousa - Defensive Midfielder - Holding Midfielder
Zvominir Boban - Central Midfielder - All round playmaker
Deco - Attacking Midfielder - Creative AM
Freddie Ljungberg - Right Wing - Goalscoring Wide Player
Rivaldo - Left Wing - Wing Forward (Free Role)
Francesco Totti - Centre Forward - False 9
PatBepo
Formation: 4-3-3
Tactical Overview: Possession-based approach with a moderate-high defensive line
We’ve built our team towards executing a possession-based strategy, centred around our technically brilliant midfield trio of Redondo, Tugay and Gascoigne, and the legendary Luis Figo on the right wing. Redondo and Tugay, with their excellent passing games and near-total comfort in possession in tight spaces, should complement each other beautifully at the base of midfield. Gascoigne and Figo are well-capable of joining in the passing carousel, and will inject the impetus into our attacks with their dribbling and creativity.
Ahead of them, David Villa is a proven master at finding space and providing the cutting edge in possession-based systems. Henrik Larsson, a personal favourite of both Sjor and I, is Villa’s intelligent and clinical foil.
Our defence adopts a moderately high line to support our possession-based strategy and our players look well-suited to the tactic. Lloris is one of the foremost ‘sweeper keepers’ of this generation and is well-versed in this set up. We’re also not unduly concerned about Aldo/Prath’s pace in attack – Rivaldo was quick but not lightning, Totti wasn’t fast, and whilst Ljungberg was rapid we don’t rate his overall quality that highly in this company, and in any case Cole and Boli can live with him in terms of speed. Ferrara and Boli form a strong partnership at CB, with Boli’s pace, power and aggression serving as a nice foil to Ferrrara’s intelligence and organisational skills. Petrescu and Cole are a solid and well-balanced pair of full backs, and that Petrescu/Figo link up on our right wing will cause problems for the opposition.
Last edited:
