The Second RedCafe Sheep Draft

----------------Buffon------------------
-----Lucio---Tresor---Passarella------
Cafu----Souness---Gerson---Lizarazu
------Zico-----------Socrates----------
-------------Shevchenko---------------

Perhaps.
 
You would be mental not to. Was wondering if you were after passing on Cabrini.

I went for a personal and sentimental favorite there. I love Roberto Carlos far too much to turn him down.
 
I'd take Carlos for my team over Cabrini too.

You would, indeed. There's not much in it and largely down to individual preference but in a team with Platini, Tardelli and which was crying out for Scirea so that Pirlo could feck off, you would have thought there was a stronger case for Cabrini.

No, Anto has made it clear time and time again - You don't play Passarella next to an attacking full back

TBH, that makes my head in mostly when you play Passarella in a four. He was brilliant at pulling off being a libero in a four but you had to sacrifice the attacking iinstincts of the fullback for it. Here there's more cover, but I'm buggered if I know why you would want him to charge on the left next to Lizarazu and not through the middle.
 
Aye, would make sense with their team.

He was an option, but we didn't have anyone as a high priority beyond Marco. We literally had 9 players listed for second round and any of them would do. Then there were 3-4 which could be useful for random shit. There's 2-3 left, but we've long entered the zone where it is more about thinking what could be picked next than the relative importance of picking A or B now.
 
Tresor is a sweeper too, right?

He's a fine blend of both Stopper and Sweeper imo. Viva should play Passarella as the libero with Tresor and Lucio as CBs in a back 5. Problem solved to a certain extent.

BTW any particular reasons for going for Amoros over Cabrini initially?
 
He's a fine blend of both Stopper and Sweeper imo. Viva should play Passarella as the libero with Tresor and Lucio as CBs in a back 5. Problem solved to a certain extent.

BTW any particular reasons for going for Amoros over Cabrini initially?

I vaguely recalled reading somewhere that Tresor was a sweeper. My mistake. Yes, I was actually thinking that Boris should swap Passarella and Tresor in that formation.

On Amoros, just playing safe. Most teams have top wingers here and I did not want a defender who might be considered to prioritize attack. Would have moved to Irwin, but then stuck with Cabrini.
 
I vaguely recalled reading somewhere that Tresor was a sweeper. My mistake. Yes, I was actually thinking that Boris should swap Passarella and Tresor in that formation.

On Amoros, just playing safe. Most teams have top wingers here and I did not want a defender who might be considered to prioritize attack. Would have moved to Irwin, but then stuck with Cabrini.

Tresor did play as a sweeper for the 80s France but he can equally play a more conservative CB role, like an Augenthaler. Doesn't need to be played as a sweeper like Passarella imo.

Hmm, I'd rate Cabrini over Amoros from a defensive perspective. Anyway you should be pleased with how it played out in the end imo.
 
Teams:

KPS88
- 1. Dino Zoff, 2. Del Piero, 3. Bergomi, 4. Cannavaro, 5. Papin, 6. Carboni, 7. Redondo, 8. Gascoigne 9. Tigana 10. Donadoni 11. Sagnol 12. Eto'o 13. Garrincha

Joga Bonito - 1. Batteaux, 2. Hierro, 3. A.Cole, 4. Kohler, 5. Littbarski, 6. Schuster, 7. Luisito Suarez, 8. Mark Schwarzer 9. Czibor 10. Burgnich 11. Vieri 12. Mascherano 13. Brehme

Cutch - 1. Lobanovskiy, 2. Nilton Santos, 3. Bozsik, 4. B. Charlton, 5. J.Zanetti, 6. Gento, 7. Stanley Matthews, 8. Just Fontaine 9. Krol 10. Sadurni 11. Gamarra 12. Simeone 13. Nesta

Sajeev - 1. Capello, 2. Seedorf, 3. Davids, 4. R. Marquez, 5. Henry, 6. Canizares, 7. Paul McGrath, 8. Rivaldo 9. Bossis 10. Amoros 11. Kaka 12. Alaba 13. van Basten

BorisDeLaFora - 1. Guttman, 2. Cafu, 3. Lucio, 4. Shevchenko, 5. Stoijkovic, 6. Lizarazu, 7. Souness, 8. Pires 9. Tresor 10. Gerson 11. Buffon 12. Socrates 13. Zico 14. Passarella

VivaJanuzaj - 1. Scholes, 2. Ferrara, 3. Kenwyne Jones, 4. Figo, 5. Nedved, 6. Peruzzi, 7. Keane, 8. Dunga 9. Vierchowod 10. Crespo 11. Zambrotta 12. Berthold 13. Breitner 14. Batistuta

NM - 1. Puskas, 2. Platini, 3. Tardelli, 4. Pirlo, 5. Ferdinand, 6. Hamrin, 7. Chilavert, 8. Argelico Fcuks 9. Carlos Alberto 10. Schwarzenbeck 11. Gattuso 12. Ze Roberto 13. Roberto Carlos 14. Scirea

Edgar Allan Pillow - 1. Rocco, 2. Ancelotti, 3. Pantsil, 4. Desailly, 5. Baresi, 6. R. Baggio, 7. Schmeichel, 8. Jairzinho 9. G. Müller 10. Djemba-Djemba 11. Montero 12. Thomas Müller 13. Cabrini 14. Gerets
 
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What's the abiding memory of the 1980 Euro Championships in Italy? England limping out? The tear gas? The low crowds? No. They were all rubbish. What really stood out was Bernd Schuster. What a player - it wasn't just the mop of blond hair that made him stand head and shoulders above the rest, it was the way he patrolled the midfield, starting off attack after attack with his classy range of passing.

A true midfield general, the talismanic German should be regarded as a rival to Zico, Platini, Boniek and Maradona for the tag of best footballer of the 80's. However, despite winning the European Championship and spending 13 successful years bossing games in La Liga for Spain's 3 big clubs, it's a crying shame that Schuster will be remembered almost as much for his controversial off field persona as for his footballing prowess.

Portrayed by the media as an early "enfant terrible" of European football, his disputes with various coaches and players led to transfers, seasons in the reserves, and, most famously, an early retirement from the German national team. Whilst this just seems to have added to the Schuster legend, few would argue that the "Blonde Angel" would have had a major impact on any of the international tournaments he subsequently missed.

It wasn't just the player who missed out on these tournaments, it was us, the fans, who were robbed of some genuine star quality.

Schuster should be mentioned in the same breath as other great playmakers such as Platini and Socrates, but the average fan doesn't know that much about him. Schuster returned to Germany in the latter years of his playing career, but will forever be associated with his time in Spain, and those arguments, that mop of blond hair, those thunderous 30 yard drives, and those defence-splitting, slide-rule passes. Legendary stuff.


Early Beginnings

In 1978, aged 19, Schuster had his breakthrough season at FC Köln. The coach at Koln was Hennes Weisweller, and he immediately gave Schuster a place in his midfield. So impressive was Schuster in his first year at Koln, that by 1979 he became the youngest player to play at international level for West Germany. Koln reached the German Cup final in 1980 and Schuster was starting to become something of a star. The fans nicknamed him "der Blonde Engel" (the Blond Angel), a reference to the mass of blonde hair and his graceful, elegant style. That summer saw him named in the 1980 European Championship squad for Italy.

Rise to International stardom

Germany, perhaps with the weight of expectation exerting too much on them, struggled to press their superiority into effect amid the imposing arena of the Stadio Olimpico, in their opener against Czechoslovakia. However, they managed to eek out a jammy 1-0 win.

After that match, Rummenigge was quick to try and alleviate any further pressure from the collective youthful shoulders of his teammates, noting

“It was an important match and a very good start to the tournament for us. We had a new, young team [who] weren’t favourites to win at all”
.

It would take just a further 65 minutes for the Germans to truly mark their arrival at the tournament; with a whirlwind first half display that would leave not even Rummenigge able to argue to the contrary. Noting the laborious manner of the opening game, Coach Jupp Derwall opted to remove Bernd Förster, replacing him with 20-year-old Bernd Schuster. Schuster would go on to garner a place in the team of the tournament.

But for this encounter, he was tormenter-in-chief, with a hand in each of his side’s three goals as the Dutch were swept aside. With a breath-taking level of exuberance, Schuster dominated the midfield, and it was his 20’ effort that cannoned off the from fully 25 yards, straight to Klaus Allofs to tuck in the rebound. While Germany somehow failed to extend their lead before the break, it took them just 15 minutes after it to double the advantage – Schuster playing Hansi Müller in along the right hand flank to tee-up Allofs for his second.

Five minutes later, the hat-trick was complete; as a weaving run from Schuster bewitched the Oranje rearguard, allowing him time to pull the ball back to Allofs to net from all of five yards out.



Group game number three offered a small reality-check, as a stuttering display that yielded a scoreless draw with Greece was heralded as the direct result of playing without Schuster. That such a young man should already be carrying such a weight of expectation and mantle in his homeland, was of concern to Derwall as he prepared for the final.

In a move that surprised literally nobody, Schuster was restored to the starting eleven.

Confidence back home was high, as the West German press began printing mock-up pictures of the team hoisting the trophy aloft, such was the restored level of belief held in the side to elevate themselves to the top of the European stage once more.

Yet no team had won the Henri Delaunay trophy on more than one occasion and – as with the opening game – the international commentators were quick to note an apparent nervousness amongst the players as they lined up for the pre-match ceremonials.

Cue Herr Schuster once more.

Just ten minutes of the game had passed, when the so-monikered ‘firebrand’ broke up a Belgian attack on the edge of his own area, before playing a quick one-two with Rummenigge, then arcing a wonderful chipped impossibly angled through-ball to Hrubesch. Known as the ‘heading monster’ for his dominance in the air (with 81 of his 136 Bundesliga goals coming with his head), Hrubesch evoked the adage of “good feet for a big man” as he took the pass on, and comfortably opened the scoring.

Germany eventually won the final 2-1 with the imperious Schuster at the helm once again. Having commandeered a full fledged German team (including K.H.Förster, Stielike, H.Müller, Kaltz, Briegel and Rummenigge) to an unprecedented 2nd European Championship and with a Ballon d'Or Silver Ball under the bag at 20 years old, Schuster was the hottest property in Europe.


Barcelona Years

In the autumn of 1980, after the European Championships had finished, Schuster was transferred to Barcelona, with the club's vice-president Nicolau Casaus instrumental in the move, claiming he had "fallen in love with his style and beauty".

He joined during a tricky period for the Catalan club, they were enduring a torrid season on and off the pitch, so the transfer of the talented German was expected to give everyone a lift. Not everyone agreed with the transfer though - Kubala, the coach at the time, stated that they didn't need Schuster, whilst Austrian forward Hans Krankl famously declared that the side couldn't be saved "even if they signed Pele".

It wasn't long before both were on their way out of the Nou Camp. With Danish legend Allan Simonsen befriending him and helping him out, Schuster's inspired performances lifted the club immediately and the results started to roll in. New coach Helenio Herrera understood the impact Schuster was having on the team's performances and results, and ensured he had the pivotal role in the side.

Such was the success that the Catalan media labelled him the "Rubio de Oro" (the Blond Gold). The team achieved great success despite the constant managerial turnover and the poisonous political atmosphere, with the team being built around eventual captain Bernd Schuster.

During his time at Catalonia, Schuster won 1 La Liga, 3 Copa del Reys, 1 European Cup Winners Cup, 1 Spanish Supercup and 2 League Cups.

His personal highlights at Barca include - 2 Ballon d'Or Bronze Balls, Don Balon POTY, a man of the match display in the Copa Del Rey final, leading Barça to their 2nd ever European Cup final after 26 years and singlehandedly winning them a La Liga after 11 years, when a Cruyff led Barca managed it.


Reborn at Real

Schuster signed a 3 year contract with Real before the 1988-89 season and with the move came a new nickname - the Blond Angel was now the White Field Marshall.

Schuster won the league and
cup double in his first season there as well as the Spanish super cup. The German was reborn, revelling in this new calmer environment, a weight obviously lifted from his shoulders following all the goings on at Barcelona. Winning week in and week out, and playing alongside quality such as Butragueno, Gordillo and Michel, obviously helped, but Schuster seemed genuinely at ease with the world.

1989-90, a new season and another new manager for Schuster, John Toshack getting the honour of becoming the club's first Welsh gaffer. Toshack surprisingly moved Schuster to a libero role, and the results, and goals, flowed. The team ran away with the league, scoring a record setting 100+ goals, with Hugo Sanchez and Martin Vasquez on fire up front. Schuster was a big hit with the fans again, his position just behind the midfield giving him the freedom to direct the attacking moves as he liked.

Schuster won 2 la ligas, 1 Copa Del Rey and 2 Spanish Supercups in his 2 year stay at Real, before being controversially phased out of the Los Blancos to make way for new shiny toys in Hagi and Prosinecki. We all know how that went...

A poll by Marca actually revealed 92% of the fans wanted Schuster to stay. The fans were angered to find him leaving and considered it a huge blow to their title chances. No surprises then that Real, which had won 5 la ligas on the trot, took another 5 seasons to win the league again, with Schuster's next team immediately challenging Cruyff's Dream team for the title.
 
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Continued...

Jesus signs the Angel!

Who else but Schuster could move from Barcelona to Real, and then to Atletico?

Eccentric and quite frankly crazy Atletico's president Gil, initially ruled out Schuster on the premise of him being too expensive. However, his shambolic team and the team's recent underwhelming form made him eventually pull out all stops to get der Blonde Engel.

Run by larger than life president, Jesus Gil, the press thought the signing was purely an Atletico marketing gimmick - why would Schuster want to join a struggling team after 2 great seasons with Real, and why join a club with a president like Gil? Schuster and Gil at the same club !?! Surely this was some sort of Spanish tomfoolery!

It was 2 months into the new season when Schuster eventually joined and all of a sudden they became a club reborn. With the German pulling all the strings in midfield, and with quality players such as Paulo Futre and Manolo around him, Atletico came close to a sensational league title twice but lost out to the Barca Dream Team.

The Copa Del Rey was a happy hunting ground though, with Schuster winning 2 consecutive Copa Del Reys. The second against Real with Schuster scoring a trademark 30 yarder in a 2-1 win.

1992-93, Schuster's third and final season at the Vicente Calderon was one that started with high expectations. Following two seasons at the top end of La Liga, the fans were actually starting to believe that this could be their year. At the end of 1992 they were still in with a chance, but an injury to Schuster showed just how reliant they had become on him - with the German running midfield Atletico were capable of challenging, but without him they were ordinary.

His three month absence cost Atletico any chance they had of claiming the title. He once again controversially left Atletico (with 2 Copa Del Reys and another Don Balon POTY award in the bag) to Leverkusen where he played at an exceptional level before eventually retiring.



Too many to state. Fallen out with virtually every footballing individual he's ever met (Lattek, Breitner, Rummenigge, Gil, Veneables, Stielike, Migueli, Derwall etc - That's just the tip of the ice berg) .

Once spent a whole season in Barca reserves for leaving the stadium too early after being substituted in a CL final. Retired at 23 internationally after falling out with the DFB for missing a friendly to attend his wife's child birth.

Refused to go back to the national team despite the pleas by the German public and the DFB. Wife (agent) demanding 1m to play in 86 WC despite Beckenbauer's pleas. Etc...

Playing Style

Many recognise him as a talented playmaker but fail to acknowledge him for the monstrous complete package that he truly is.

Work rate/Defensive Nous

Schuster was a buzzing presence off the ball and had tremendous industry.

bossing the left side of the field, and the fast-moving Schuster seemed to be everywhere.

and with an hour gone Schuster robbed his opponent of the ball before turning and charging back into the opposition half.

but with the Dutch unable to get the ball ouf of their own penalty area it was seized upon by the almost ubiquitous Schuster. Charging at pace down the right towards the byline.

http://bundesligafanatic.com/classi...-vs-netherlands-1980-oranje-freshly-squeezed/

Excerpts such as these were regular occurrences in his game and integral to him being a complete and a versatile presence in the midfield engine room.

Toshack - libero Schuster's Real manager said:
Schuster still reads a game as well as anyone, can still hit those beautiful long-range passes and looks sheer class. He also possesses that streak of ruthlessness which coaches look for in a last-line defender.

Barca Manager Venables said:
He operated on the basis that there were two ways to get possession - from your own team-mates or by winning it from the opposition.... He would attract the ball and when he got it, he could deliver the killing pass

Julio Salinas said:
He is the most complete midfielder I have ever seen, physical, technical and tactically perfect. The conductor with a powerful character and also he was a dangerous scorer. I was face to face with him in some matches and I discovered that the full team followed him with higher faith.

Teammate R.Bonhof said:
He will be a great footballer, he is strong like a Neeskens with the quality of a Cruyff.

Beckenbauer said:
He will be the big leader in the World Cup 1982. In midfield he is great and in the Libero position he could be a good successor of mine

B.Vogts said:
It is pleasant to watch Bernd playing, conducting, managing...Since Beckenbauer, German football has not seen a player like this, only Schuster

H.Weisweiler said:
Bernd is a very good player, he has got quality and intelligence. I'm sure he could be the successor of Franz Beckenbauer

Goalscoring/Shooting

Schuster had an impressive 106 goals in 295 games for Barca from midfield. When given the freedom he was more than capable of scoring after a slaloming run or getting on the end of things in the box.

He was a legitimate threat from outside the box as well. If you thought Bergkamp finishing in all top 3 spots for a goal of the month award was impressive, consider this. Schuster managed the same unprecedented feat in German Goal of the Year awards, with the first being voted the goal of the decade. He made thunderous 30 yarders his trademark.

Mentality

Always a fierce competitor, Schuster never backed away from a challenge and was an omnipresent powerful presence on the pitch.

This anecdote perfectly illustrates Schuster's mentality and his fierce nature.

Barcelona midfielder Bernd Schuster knew that he was going to be facing Andoni Goikotxea.

This man tore his ACL just two season before, causing him to miss nine months of the 1981-82 season. Back in those days, an ACL injury was as serious as they came. A Barca doctor even signed a medical document stating that Schuster won't be able to play football again but Schuster eventually made it.

Most mere mortals would have been cowering at the sight of the Butcher of Bilbao, one of footballs most notorious hard men, esp considering that hed'd rendered a near career ending tackle on you previously.

Not Bernd Schuster.

He actively seeked him out and gave him a taste of his own medicine. Unfortunately it would not end well for a certain Diego.

Barcelona romped over Athletic Blibao by two goals and Andoni Goikoetxea looked for revenge against the blaugrana after Bernd Schuster came after the Basque hardman. Barça went up 3-0 and things looked secure for the culés.

Unfortunately, the young Argentine star would be caught in the crossfire. Maradona would tell the Bilbao hardman to calm down, and the latter would take offense to El Pibe´s comment. Goiko knew that something had to be done in order to get back at Schuster for a previous challenge that the German international gave him. Maradona´s comment changed the target.

He saw the Argentine star running towards a ball and Goikoetxea simply went after Maradona´s ankle. He would end up with virtually a state of shock, after all three main ankle ligaments were torn.
 
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Contnd... Dedicated to spam fan @Skizzo

Legends (Maradona, Platini, Netzer, Der Kaiser, Matthäus etc) on Schuster

Platini : "There is only one player whom I can say impressed me much. He is the German Bernd Schuster. He was really a top one. I had the chance to play face to face with him, I remember we have played a friendship game in Barcelona in 1982 (UNICEF game) and his movements, his football scoop, his skills... he was a master"

Maradona : "The 'Blond' is the only player who could help me in my difficult time in Barcelona, either in and out the field. We have enough quality to understand each other on the field. He is a master. I was trying to shoot like him, to imitate him...We were sometimes together shooting after the training was over. Out of the stadium he is charming, valiant and sincere, he will be forever my friend as he said always what he thinks and he never tried to hide his character in the harder moments. I am grateful for his support and his words"

Maradona : I am very happy here in Italy. Here the stars are protected, not persecuted. Bernd Schuster should come to play in Italy. I would pay money to bring him here, to play with Bernd here in the same team altogether again

Franz Beckenbauer : "As a player he was an absolute master, I have to say. Not many players have such quality and performance."

Matthäus : "Bernd Schuster is a master, it was impressive to play this game today against him. Bayer Leverkusen has won FC Bayern today just because they have a player called Bernd Schuster. He is the difference. He is the best of the world, he has played a top game today".

Rinus Michels : "I have arrived to FC Koeln too late. It is a big hit to me to find a team without Bernd Schuster. The president told me it was a necessary loss. I know he will be a big star. He can be a great midfielder or a great libero. It will be impossible for me to find a good replacement for him here in FC Koeln

Rainor Bonhof : "It is a pity what has happened to Bernd. The situation was in the very edge between him and the trainer Heddergott. He will be a great footballer, he is strong like a Neeskens with the quality of Cruyff.

Effenberg : "If Bernd can mantain the level, I will loose my job in the German National Team, every thing he does is top, his passes to Kirsten and Thon are extremely dangerous"

Hierro : Atletico Madrid has got a perfect conductor for the team. If Bernd is motivated they will reach a great level. I hope the best for Schuster...except when he plays against us"

Bild : "Schuster is a genius, he ruled Matthäus and the rest. We need the Blond Angel to be World Champions"

Kicker : Schuster is a winner, he showed us he still is a genius managing football, he is the big master of the football school"

Vogts : "I was not interested to introduce new payers into the National Team becasue we are planning the World Cup 1994 the next summer... But if Bernd Schuster can mantain this level, it is a must to call him. It is pleasant to watch Bernd playing, conducting, managing... Since Beckenbauer, German football has not seen a player like this, only Schuster"

Jose Luis Nunez, FC Barcelona president : "Bernd Schuster is the best player I have ever seen during my time as a president. I bought him and I thought he was expensive for a 20 year old teenager...but he was really cheap. The cheapest in the history of the club. His performance is without any doubt and I cannot assume the time of the 1980's in the club if we decided against buying him

Luis Aragonés : "He's one of the best players I've ever coached. He is a step over the rest. Due to his winner's character and his quality level. In training he worked as the best and on the field he was very intelligent. I was always a big fan of him and he knows it. I have nothing to explain to him related to football. He knows all about it, he knows what I want every time during the game, in a kind of mental link! He always chose the best option in the game. It is a privilege to have such a player managing the midfield and managing the team. I felt real confidence in having such a master to trust in"

Pundits and journalists on Schuster


Thomas Guasch : "Zidane's a big one in the History? Please! Have you ever seen Bernd Schuster live? If they could play together, Bernd should be the master and Zidane could only help him with the baggages in the hotels!

Juan Manuel Gonzalo : "This is a message for the young football fans. You were unlucky if you were born late and could not see Bernd Schuster playing live: he is a master in a way no other, there are no more players like him and I appologise, I cannot compare him to any other current player: no Redondo, Zidane or Beckham. It should be not fair. This kind of footballer seems to be dissapeared...unfortunaltely!"

Alfredo Relaño : "When he conducts the ball forward, the Earth kneels down at his feet and nobody can stop him!"

SER Radio : Bernd Schuster is the only one player you can build a good team with ten dogs around!".

T.Klement : "Please, please, please, Mr. Vogts, call Schuster for the national team again!"

Jose. M Garcia : "What the Real Madrid fans are being shown every week in the stadium is a privilege. To have such a play maker is an absolute luxury. He is the Von Karajan of the orchestra, the Mozart inventing the opus...a wonderful taste for football lovers
 
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Loving your selling of Schuster @Joga Bonito, deserves all the praise he gets and more, yet I sure as hell never got voters to give him the credit he was due in 2 or 3 outings :(

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Loving your selling of Schuster @Joga Bonito, deserves all the praise he gets and more, yet I sure as hell never got voters to give him the credit he was due in 2 or 3 outings :(

worship.gif

Well even if he doesn't get the credit he deserves as a match winner, I just hope cafites at least recognise what he offers as a whole tactically and is hopefully, not just viewed as a 'limited' luxury playmaker.