Steven Gerrard.
The Redcafe Champions League Draft
- Thread starter Theon
- Start date
Steven Gerrard.
Surprised Deschamps lasted that long to be honest, kept waiting for someone to nab him.
Not highly rated as far as I remember, I don't really think he's that great either in all honesty. There's a couple unpicked that I would rather have than him...
My next pick is Michael Ballack. German football legend and the most complete midfielder in Europe since 2000 in my view. An absolute monster in his prime, and totally dominant both physically and technically. One of the best two-footed players I've ever seen, he was as good defensively as he was offensively, and crucially, he falls nicely into the "non-winners" bracket.
Of course everyone is biased towards their own, but in the box-to-box/powerhouse/complete midfielder role, nobody holds a candle to him in this competition in my opinion.
Of course everyone is biased towards their own, but in the box-to-box/powerhouse/complete midfielder role, nobody holds a candle to him in this competition in my opinion.
Ballack was my dreampick for next pick..
My next pick is Michael Ballack. German football legend and the most complete midfielder in Europe since 2000 in my view. An absolute monster in his prime, and totally dominant both physically and technically. One of the best two-footed players I've ever seen, he was as good defensively as he was offensively, and crucially, he falls nicely into the "non-winners" bracket.
Of course everyone is biased towards their own, but in the box-to-box/powerhouse/complete midfielder role, nobody holds a candle to him in this competition in my opinion.
Quality player will be forgotten slightly because he was always a runner-up but at his peak the best complete midfielder in Europe, I was gutted when he went to Chelsea.
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In the space of 8 years he captained Marseille to winning the European Cup, won the European Cup with Juventus (and made another 2 finals) and captained France to winning the '98 World Cup and '00 Euros. 6 league titles. French Footballer of the Year 1996, despite being a defensive midfielder and in the era of Zidane, Desailly, Thuram, etc. Makelele was a terrific player and Deschamps kept him out of the French team.He also went in the 3rd round of the all-time draft, which was admittedly a stretch.
The Game: 1. Zidane 2. Seedorf 3. Shevchenko
JakeC: 1. Messi 2. Cantona 3. Buffon
kps88: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Kohler 3. Davids
Thisistheone: 1. Ronaldo 2. Desailly 3. Rui Costa
Ralaks: 1. Keane 2. Del Piero 3. Effenberg
nahealai: 1. Xavi 2. Raúl 3. van Nistelrooy 4. Ballack
Stobzilla: 1. Henry 2. Stam 3. Totti 4. Gerrard
Feeky: 1. Maldini 2. Scholes 3. Bergkamp 4. Deschamps
akash02: 1. Romario 2. Cannavaro 3. Hagi 4. Guardiola
Gio: 1. Rivaldo 2. Nedved 3. Ferdinand 4. Zanetti
Snow: 1. Ronaldinho 2. Kaka 3. Mendieta 4. Terry
Isotope: 1. Redondo 2. Ribery 3. Eto'o 4. Albertini
EDogen: 1. Nesta 2. Giggs 3. Hierro 4. Van Persie
Theon: 1. Iniesta 2. Pirlo 3. Cafu 4. Gattuso
Fergus'son: 1. Batistuta 2. Thuram 3. Ayala 4. Makelele
BD/NM: 1. Vieira 2. Figo 3. Vidic 4. Drogba
I'll PM Ralaks there now.
JakeC: 1. Messi 2. Cantona 3. Buffon
kps88: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Kohler 3. Davids
Thisistheone: 1. Ronaldo 2. Desailly 3. Rui Costa
Ralaks: 1. Keane 2. Del Piero 3. Effenberg
nahealai: 1. Xavi 2. Raúl 3. van Nistelrooy 4. Ballack
Stobzilla: 1. Henry 2. Stam 3. Totti 4. Gerrard
Feeky: 1. Maldini 2. Scholes 3. Bergkamp 4. Deschamps
akash02: 1. Romario 2. Cannavaro 3. Hagi 4. Guardiola
Gio: 1. Rivaldo 2. Nedved 3. Ferdinand 4. Zanetti
Snow: 1. Ronaldinho 2. Kaka 3. Mendieta 4. Terry
Isotope: 1. Redondo 2. Ribery 3. Eto'o 4. Albertini
EDogen: 1. Nesta 2. Giggs 3. Hierro 4. Van Persie
Theon: 1. Iniesta 2. Pirlo 3. Cafu 4. Gattuso
Fergus'son: 1. Batistuta 2. Thuram 3. Ayala 4. Makelele
BD/NM: 1. Vieira 2. Figo 3. Vidic 4. Drogba
I'll PM Ralaks there now.
Surprised Gerard lasted this long to be honest.
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He also went in the 3rd round of the all-time draft, which was admittedly a stretch.
There was quite a lot of surprise at his third round pick in that draft. I'd say there's about 3-4 defensive midfielders on his level still to be picked. He's not a hugely sexy pick with voters, but Deschamps put a hell of a lot of fires out for Juventus and France, who ran the tightest ships in club and international football in their hey-day.
I always remembered him as an absolute pain in the arse to play against. I read one thread on another forum discussing the top 10 defensive midfielders of all-time, every single reply had him top 10, some top 3, even one nutter had him number 1.
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He also went in the 3rd round of the all-time draft, which was admittedly a stretch.
I'm aware of all that, and he is a good player, but there are other good players of his ilk that I would prefer and I wasn't surprised at all that he hadn't been picked until you picked him.
I know you thought the Redondo pick was strange so early but there's quite a gulf between him and someone like Deschamps IMO.
Your team looks great so far though...
I love how we go into such depth in here though. I voted on a couple before and my thought process was basically quick glance at the forwards and vote. 
Strange comment. I wouldn't have picked him if I thought he wasn't a superb player, would I? (when there were Pep, Deschamps and others available).
Pirlo is an excellent passer, and Makelele is an excellent tackler. You can't expect Albertini as your main playmaker ala Pirlo, nor a sole DM like Makelele. Albertini isn't on their levels for those attributes. But he's more well rounded player than those two. I feel he and Redondo would make a good partnership, that strong enough (in supporting defence and attack) to allow me to go 4-4-2 if necessary.
As on the thread where I posted those comments, I likened Strootman to Albertini. Which is what I see with Strootman as CM: not the best tackler, nor passer; but more of a well rounded midfielder.
Those posts did underrate him. You downplayed him hugely calling him a jack of all trades and saying "he's not even an excellent passer", completely mental comments IMO.
To reply to your edit - he tackling absolutely wasn't his game and he isn't on the level of Makelele, Gattuso or Davids in that respect, but passing was, he's not far off Pirlo at all.
To reply to your edit - he tackling absolutely wasn't his game and he isn't on the level of Makelele, Gattuso or Davids in that respect, but passing was, he's not far off Pirlo at all.
Picking David Beckham, sorry for the delays, I'm at a festival this weekend so I can't check all the time.. Tried to get an assistant but nobody wants me
does any1 have titos pick?
No worries at all Ralaks, you haven't been that slow at all so it's all good!
I'll be giving Tito's pick, just give me 2 mins.
OK, we'll take Laurent Blanc.
Why would I compare Strootman (the signing that I approve, if you read my other posts on his thread) to someone I didn't rate?
And tackling is absolutely one of his game in his Milan's day. Are we talking about the same Albertini? I'm getting confuse here.
I still maintain Albertini isn't an excellent passer (he's very good, though). If Albertini is "excellent", what would you say about Pirlo and Scholes? what level is above 'excellent'? Maybe I sound like underrating Albertini with those posts, but never thought he wasn't an outstanding player. I pick him in this draft (over other famous players) is a prove for that.
ANyway, I'm glad if you rate Albertini's passing that high. He's on my team, after all
Great pick, he is criminally underrated though.
Hope not! I think most people are aware of his qualities, one of the best in world in his prime, plus he's won some of the biggest trophies in the game – but not the Champions League.
Yup. He'd be my 1st CB pick. World class CB with no CL medal. Even rate him higher than most with medals.
The Game: 1. Zidane 2. Seedorf 3. Shevchenko
JakeC: 1. Messi 2. Cantona 3. Buffon
kps88: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Kohler 3. Davids
Thisistheone: 1. Ronaldo 2. Desailly 3. Rui Costa 4. Blanc
Ralaks: 1. Keane 2. Del Piero 3. Effenberg 4. Beckham
nahealai: 1. Xavi 2. Raúl 3. van Nistelrooy 4. Ballack
Stobzilla: 1. Henry 2. Stam 3. Totti 4. Gerrard
Feeky: 1. Maldini 2. Scholes 3. Bergkamp 4. Deschamps
akash02: 1. Romario 2. Cannavaro 3. Hagi 4. Guardiola
Gio: 1. Rivaldo 2. Nedved 3. Ferdinand 4. Zanetti
Snow: 1. Ronaldinho 2. Kaka 3. Mendieta 4. Terry
Isotope: 1. Redondo 2. Ribery 3. Eto'o 4. Albertini
EDogen: 1. Nesta 2. Giggs 3. Hierro 4. Van Persie
Theon: 1. Iniesta 2. Pirlo 3. Cafu 4. Gattuso
Fergus'son: 1. Batistuta 2. Thuram 3. Ayala 4. Makelele
BD/NM: 1. Vieira 2. Figo 3. Vidic 4. Drogba
JakeC: 1. Messi 2. Cantona 3. Buffon
kps88: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Kohler 3. Davids
Thisistheone: 1. Ronaldo 2. Desailly 3. Rui Costa 4. Blanc
Ralaks: 1. Keane 2. Del Piero 3. Effenberg 4. Beckham
nahealai: 1. Xavi 2. Raúl 3. van Nistelrooy 4. Ballack
Stobzilla: 1. Henry 2. Stam 3. Totti 4. Gerrard
Feeky: 1. Maldini 2. Scholes 3. Bergkamp 4. Deschamps
akash02: 1. Romario 2. Cannavaro 3. Hagi 4. Guardiola
Gio: 1. Rivaldo 2. Nedved 3. Ferdinand 4. Zanetti
Snow: 1. Ronaldinho 2. Kaka 3. Mendieta 4. Terry
Isotope: 1. Redondo 2. Ribery 3. Eto'o 4. Albertini
EDogen: 1. Nesta 2. Giggs 3. Hierro 4. Van Persie
Theon: 1. Iniesta 2. Pirlo 3. Cafu 4. Gattuso
Fergus'son: 1. Batistuta 2. Thuram 3. Ayala 4. Makelele
BD/NM: 1. Vieira 2. Figo 3. Vidic 4. Drogba
I'm going with Christian Vieri
Potent team you're building Kps.
Thanks. Still early days.
Ralaks is destroying this draft.
U think? I think it is hard to pick one person currently 4 players is not enough after 7-8 we will get a better idea because some teams have players who play best in the same position or play best in a certain system you build your team around your best player but complimentary players are being snapped up all the time etc etc.. Have you guys ever though of allowing transfers between two willing parties or is that getting too complicated?
I think he meant that Ralaks is delaying the draft.
Opinions on my team?
It is definitely something I thought about but apparently it was tried in another draft and didn't work too well, which I can certainly imagine. Everyone tends to overrate their own players slightly so it would be hard to get an even trade.
trades are generally for picks aren't they? Of course that's not possible in this draft with squads of just 12
My experience of the drafts is that a solid midfield and wingers/wide attackers wins the drafts the majority of times. So Ralaks has picked brilliantly in that regard as people won't really care if your goalkeeper is slightly better or the defense is slightly better.
So I think he has a good head-start right now and as long as he doesn't go for a 4-4-2 which people seem to dislike right now - he has the greatest chance to win.
Of course like you say these drafts gets more and more interesting the further it goes and sometimes people pick someone in the last "bench-round" who ends up being a starter. So it is far from over.
No I meant like say someone has two attackers who play best behind the front man while someone has two no. 9's a trade could be arranged between the two.