Transfer Muppet Fantasy

Yeah, he basically plays as a CF. Ibra drops deep a lot and Cavani always cuts in. Cavani almost never stays wide.
Isn't that exactly what Gandalf wants? Valencia stretches the play, Ibra drops deep and Cavani moves inside?
 
Yeah, he basically plays as a CF. Ibra drops deep a lot and Cavani always cuts in. Cavani almost never stays wide.

So Ronaldinho is a CF? He also never stays wide. I watch PSG week in week out and Cavani is a right winger who cuts inside. Why I call him a right winger and not an Inside right forward is because his starting position is all the way out right.

He starts from a much more wide position than someone like Hazard does, but Cavani drifts almost exclusively centrally though.

Zlatan doesn't always drop deep, when he doesn't Cavani stays out wide. When Zlatan takes a step down Cavani makes a surge towards goal.
 
No because Ronaldinho isn't a natural CF. Cavani is. Ibra always drops deep and creates for his teammates, he does that at every team he's played for. Cavani always tracks back and he does that from the right, but almost all of his play with the ball comes through the middle. With Ronaldinho at Barcelona it was him playing with the ball from the left and moving inside. Cavani touches the ball probably 30, 40 times a match even with PSG's possession.

He was billed as someone that was shoehorned in the team as a winger but his average position is always right down the middle, which shows how much he plays with the ball centrally. It's what makes VdW so useful offensively.

Cavani has a playstyle is not anything like a winger that cuts in, rather just another CF in the team. It was just the same at Napoli where he would always be running back and Hamsik would occupy central positions but whenever Cavani gets the ball its near the box
 
Ibrahimovic doesn't "always drop deep", he pushes and pulls even if he is more prone to drop deep than make runs out wide or forward.

Cavani plays well out wide and his game isn't based around touches but rather about off-the-ball runs. A low amount of touches from the winger but a lot of movement is bread and butter at PSG since Blanc came.

When Zlatan drops they instantly make a run centrally so Zlatan has someone to pass. When Zlatan stays at the front Cavani would either make a run behind the defense but remain wide or he'd wait for another chance.

There is no issues playing Cavani out wide, you get someone who makes great runs off the ball and works hard. If you don't think that type of winger is feasible then Guardiola wants to have a talk to you about Muller.

Of course Cavani is better centrally, but to say he is bad out wide is nonsense.
 
Ibra always drops deep, he's played with limited types for most of his career (Trez, Crespo, Cruz, Pato) and its what makes him one of the best playmakers in the world.

The problem with calling him a winger that cuts inside is that he really doesn't...Cavani's not really a dribbler and he doesn't use his left to get past opponents. Wingers that actually cut inside do it with the ball (i.e. Ribéry, Robben, Lavezzi, Vela, etc) but Cavani doesn't, he does it off-ball

He uses his runs to create opportunities, which makes him more of a CF. It's the same with Mueller who was called a "space user" or something along those lines because he's not a dribbler but he opens lanes with his movement. I don't really like Mueller anyways :D

I don't think I said anything about a problem with Cavani playing wide, just that he's much worse than when he plays central. In a false nine he's probably one of the best false wingers (is that a viable term?) to dart in and get the ball in the middle.

He's not bad but he's not at his best IMO. I just think it would make sense for Gandalf to play a diamond with Zidane-Ballack-Cambiasso-Carrick and Cavani-Ibra up front. Cavani compensates for little off ball work from Ibra and the midfield is pretty balanced.
 
Haha not really mate, should be a good game. You have some sure shot vote getters with that United core.

I don't mind going tomorrow.
Not sure if starting a game tomorrow makes a lot of sense with the United - Bayern game.
 
I'm willing to trade Drogba in a straight swap for another striker who can play with Inzaghi. Any willing takers?

@MJJ
@kps88
@rpitroda

I don't see what the problem is but maybe Cutch wants a more physical presence than Raúl? He knows people will say Raúl needs a partner. I suppose eventually he wants to get the CF and shift Raúl to another role. Not convinced that you improve, mind.
 
I was trying this before, but in a more narrow formation, but the ones I bounced it off were not that convinced!

-------------Drogba-------------
----Hazard--------Di Maria---
---------CM--------CM----------
--------------Pirlo---------------

Nothing wrong with that.
 
He does suit the team, but Nedved helped Crespo score a shitload of goals in 00/01, so he's clearly the better choice here imo. He played with Crespo, Simeone, Veron and Lopez at Lazio, you can't find a better fit for my team.

Aye, Nedved would be a no-brainer for you.
 
Alright, so I guess we'll see one big money bully at the next round :nervous:

I'll raise you that, one idea I had for the money element of my draft was winner takes all kitty from rival. Imagine Balu taking kps' 50M as well

:lol: (I worked out it was a terrible idea though because usually more kitty SHOULD mean worse team, so you get an easier tie and greater reward, which would be wrong)
 
Isn't that exactly what Gandalf wants? Valencia stretches the play, Ibra drops deep and Cavani moves inside?

Very much so. I think he is better off with the diamond though. The only reason I can see for playing wingers is covering the fullbacks and you know you are up shit creek when you start with such a negative mindset.
 
Is Gandalf playing? If not, has his team been taken over? Is till not, what to do with his team?

Neutrals: @Pat_Mustard @antohan

Like Balu says Gandlaf has already set out a really comprehensive set of tactics. I'm sure Anto and myself if we're around will chip in with some pro-Gandalf posts as he won't be around to defend his team. Its tended to work out in other matches that if one of the managers can't be online others do fight his corner a bit.
 
I don't think I said anything about a problem with Cavani playing wide, just that he's much worse than when he plays central. In a false nine he's probably one of the best false wingers (is that a viable term?) to dart in and get the ball in the middle.

Well, that's how I was trying to use him last time out, precisely, since the width came from Brehme and not him.

You did say he was crappy for Uruguay, which isn't quite right. He certainly hasn't been used in what works best for HIM but for the TEAM. The very fact he can be used in such a tactically refined and disciplined job (switching the system from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 as and when the game calls for it) is a testament to his -very relevant- non-footballing qualities and team ethic. Sure, doesn't score anywhere near as much as you would want him to as a result, but still has 20 in 60 starts for the NT.

Anyhow, re: Gandalf. No, I've no interest in this part of the draft. I'd suggest the game is played last and one of the eliminated managers takes over if they want another pop?

@Polaroid
 
The draw at it's full:
VivaJ vs MJJ
NoPace vs PaceMe
Pol/Theon vs Fergus
Aldo vs rpitroda
Cutch vs Crappy
Edgar vs Annah
kps88 vs Balu
Pippa vs Gandalf


Anyone ready to make a prediction?
 
Gandalf wanted me to post this, he's away but tries to participate with his phone:

Hey.

Thanks for finishing off my transfers with Carrick and Rafinha. So I got Pippa? There's a chance of going through, then.

Good defence, but limited attacking threat.

-----------------------Cesar---------------------------
---Salgado-----Ayala-------Silva----------Cole-------
-----------------------Albelda-------------------------
---------------Albertini------Baraja-------------------
---Figo----------------------------------Pires----------
--------------------Adriano-----------------------------

Adriano up top is extremely unreliable. What good is unrealized potential? He's never proven it on the big stage against quality defenders, so I can exploit that. He might have been promising at his best - but he's definitely the least threatening striker in this draft.

Albelda is limited to tackling and defensive duties. He's not someone worth losing sleep over, and will probably stick to Ballack. No lone DM can stop an on song Ballack, so no worries there.

I am baffled why Pippa went for Baraja. How far can the he-played-with-Albelda-for-Valencia argument carry you? He's like a less imposing version of Vidal or Gundogan or Cambiasso. (Cambiasso>>>>Baraja, I hope the majority agree with that). Jack of all trades, master of none. I'll see how Pippa deploys him, then plan accordingly. No issues there, either.

Albertini will probably be in a Pirlo-like role, punting the ball out wide to Figo and Pires. He's good at it - no denying that. That's worry number one. Figo and Pires are two and three respectively. I have to dispossess Albertini quickly.

Basically, can I conclude that Pippa's midfield is very weak on its own, and exists to supply Figo and Pires? If I can cut off Figo and Pires, their attacking game's effectively over. That's a big if, though.

Coming to the defence, Pippa's got an adrenaline-pumped-trigger-happy Right Back, and a LB who's offensively shite but defensively very good.

But that central defence is really strong, now that I look at it - a bit over enthusiastic with the tackle perhaps, but strong. Ayala's few weaknesses were that he was slow, (average pace, at best), and got beaten too easily. Pippa might have overrated Thiago, but there's no doubt he's very good. Both of them excel at man marking, so I might have to give Zlatan a free role upfront so that he keeps both of them occupied.

Could you post this in the thread Balu, and see what people think of Pippa's team? What are your thoughts?
 
@kps88 I can't play on Friday, other than that I'm available. Feel free to pick a day :). I would prefer to avoid the days when United plays Bayern though (tomorrow and Wednesday next week).
 
Goddamit .. another hard draw. Every fecking time.

@Cutch has got a great team. Best of luck mate.

I am travelling through from 3rd to 7th though. Can only do a game after 7th or before 3rd!

@Polaroid
 
@kps88 I can't play on Friday, other than that I'm available. Feel free to pick a day :). I would prefer to avoid the days when United plays Bayern though (tomorrow and Wednesday next week).

I'm fine with any of those days. Should be easy enough. Maybe we should let the folks with restrictions get their days booked first.
 
Baraja and Albelda were the early-2000s version of Xavi and Iniesta...really. If you don't know Spanish, translate the big quote. That's the extent to how they were on the pitch together. To say that Baraja is less imposing than one-season-wonder Gündogan is absurd

75ab4b379e266ff521c23c1b96322910.png
 
Goddamit .. another hard draw. Every fecking time.

@Cutch has got a great team. Best of luck mate.

I am travelling through from 3rd to 7th though. Can only do a game after 7th or before 3rd!

@Polaroid

Good luck to you aswell mate. Crackin side you got also, should be a close one.

I could maybe try to get something wrote up for Wednesday. Out on site for a few weeks so difficult for me to be on here during the day but maybe Gio will be around.

I see Riquelme's still got it! This was his free kick last night, more of the same against you I hope :D

 
Baraja and Albelda were the early-2000s version of Xavi and Iniesta...really. If you don't know Spanish, translate the big quote. That's the extent to how they were on the pitch together. To say that Baraja is less imposing than one-season-wonder Gündogan is absurd

75ab4b379e266ff521c23c1b96322910.png

Baraja was a transfer forum favourite for a while here.
 
Baraja and Albelda were the early-2000s version of Xavi and Iniesta...really. If you don't know Spanish, translate the big quote. That's the extent to how they were on the pitch together. To say that Baraja is less imposing than one-season-wonder Gündogan is absurd

75ab4b379e266ff521c23c1b96322910.png
Ah finally someone else on the forum who'll back up my view that Baraja had no peers in the central midfield department around 2002-2004ish. He was a classic box-to-box all-rounder and shits over Gundogan at this point.
 
Ah finally someone else on the forum who'll back up my view that Baraja had no peers in the central midfield department around 2002-2004ish. He was a classic box-to-box all-rounder and shits over Gundogan at this point.
I won't say that he had no peers in that era but he most definitely shits on Gundogan at this point.