Topic: Semi-Finals, Mikey vs FlashGordon, Viva vs Trend

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Who goes through to the final?

Please no tactical fouls 



Mikey





FlashGordon





Viva Bobby





Trend

[Something Worse]

Trend and Viva make your cases, can't choose between them

[Trendisnotdestiny]

Trend and Viva make your cases, can't choose between them

Actually, I think Bobby's 4-5-1 might cause us a lot of problems on the counter.   I would be worried about our right side with overlapping runs by Stielike and Brietner fed by Deco.
Also, Rivera, Cruyff and Van Persie and their combination play, angled runs are a real problem for any team.  Their different skill sets poses a substantial pick your poison problem for my 3 CB's, even with outstanding wingbacks like we have in Schnellinger/Thuram.
I think the overall case to be made for Bobby is two fold:

1. Nice expression of a Dutch 4-3-3 formation, specific positioning to suit their strengths using German and Dutch players primarily with a few skill players who could play in any league in the world (Deco, Zubi) - at times it looks like a 4-2-4 and at others 4-3-3 (flexibility)
2. Johann Cruyff in a free role with talent all around him - makes everyone else better.

So, to get the to the finals, I would say we have a few "small" things to consider for team Trend. 

First, allow me to say that I am not familiar with his CB pairing specifics (other than a little name recognition) - never saw them play.  This does not mean much.  I do like our 3 strong CB's with very different leadership styles/skills/talent in the middle of defense pushing Albertini/Case into midfield pressure pockets from which to squeeze the opposition between them (rock) and our front three (a hard place) from which to counter. 

Second, I do like how our back 5 with wingbacks. They have the flexibility to control the defensive third of the pitch centrally and out wide -- especially with the doggedness of Case and Albertini covering centrally when Vogts or Ayala get pulled out.

Third, while I love Bobby's team shape - I like ours too.  The free reign that Bobby's top three have is similar to ours -- except both our teams want to attack different spaces - who has the most success in doing so, I cannot tell you.

Lastly, I am not sure I can make the specific case our team is better, blah blah blah ----> but I can say whomever gets to the final, I think has a great chance to win the whole kit and kaboodle.

Good luck Viva, outstanding team you got there mate.

[Something Worse]

Yeah I'm stuck. I think this is the real final too, Defacto has ruined this entire draft by not rigging it like UEFA do.

[vivabobbygraham]

6 German internationals, four of them schooled at Bayern, with Kaltz and Babbel able to alternate on the right and Steilike and Breitner similarly on the left without losing that German organisation and determination to keep clean sheets. All conditioned to play important finals for club and Country and a rock solid base for the front 4. Rivera and Cruyff in tandem would be something special; Deco has merit and say what you like about Van Persie but he knows where the net is...and he would get plenty of opportunities to prove that.

4231 could become 433 easily whilst 343 with Steilike moving into the midfield as he did so well for Madrid gives the team such flexibility. Dutch magic, with a hint of Portuguese and Italian spice, grounded in German resilience makes my team hard to beat....and then there's Cruyff...

EDIT: ...Not forgetting Zubizarreta in goal...

Regarding  this match up , I've already stated how much I love trend's front 3 who are all favourites of mine from yesteryear so would hope my German rearguard could cope with them. Organised and resilient, they would need to be along with his two wing backs who I would need to force back.  I have Breitner and Babbel to do that leavig Didi to get amongst the midfield and Deco is not afraid to put his foot in. But my attack has real potential against trends back 3. i also stated in an earlier round that I was unsure abut Smithy in a 3. If there's a weakness there, my word, Van Persie, Rivera and especially Cruyff, have the tools to exploit it. For example, Tommy was part of our defence that was put to the sword 5-1 in 1966 by Cruyff's brilliant Ajax fledglings.

Hope this helps...

[vivabobbygraham]

Actually, I think Bobby's 4-5-1 might cause us a lot of problems on the counter.   I would be worried about our right side with overlapping runs by Stielike and Brietner fed by Deco.
Also, Rivera, Cruyff and Van Persie and their combination play, angled runs are a real problem for any team.  Their different skill sets poses a substantial pick your poison problem for my 3 CB's, even with outstanding wingbacks like we have in Schnellinger/Thuram.
I think the overall case to be made for Bobby is two fold:

1. Nice expression of a Dutch 4-3-3 formation, specific positioning to suit their strengths using German and Dutch players primarily with a few skill players who could play in any league in the world (Deco, Zubi) - at times it looks like a 4-2-4 and at others 4-3-3 (flexibility)
2. Johann Cruyff in a free role with talent all around him - makes everyone else better.

So, to get the to the finals, I would say we have a few "small" things to consider for team Trend. 

First, allow me to say that I am not familiar with his CB pairing specifics (other than a little name recognition) - never saw them play.  This does not mean much.  I do like our 3 strong CB's with very different leadership styles/skills/talent in the middle of defense pushing Albertini/Case into midfield pressure pockets from which to squeeze the opposition between them (rock) and our front three (a hard place) from which to counter. 

Second, I do like how our back 5 with wingbacks. They have the flexibility to control the defensive third of the pitch centrally and out wide -- especially with the doggedness of Case and Albertini covering centrally when Vogts or Ayala get pulled out.

Third, while I love Bobby's team shape - I like ours too.  The free reign that Bobby's top three have is similar to ours -- except both our teams want to attack different spaces - who has the most success in doing so, I cannot tell you.

Lastly, I am not sure I can make the specific case our team is better, blah blah blah ----> but I can say whomever gets to the final, I think has a great chance to win the whole kit and kaboodle.

Good luck Viva, outstanding team you got there mate.

Very fair, mate. All the very best

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Yeah I'm stuck. I think this is the real final too, Defacto has ruined this entire draft by not rigging it like UEFA do.

Should have rigged myself into the semis 

[vivabobbygraham]

Regarding the other semi, flash has had a remarkable run thus far but I fear it is about to end against mikey's impressive team. He knocked out my favourite, BB, far to readily for my liking, thus deserves his place in the final

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Regarding the other semi, flash has had a remarkable run thus far but I fear it is about to end against mikey's impressive team. He knocked out my favourite, BB, far to readily for my liking, thus deserves his place in the final

Flash has a good team, still bewildered how I lost but RAWK's magic continues 

[PoetryInMotion]

Flash has a good team, still bewildered how I lost but RAWK's magic continues 

I've been bewildered during the last 3 drafts btw

[deFacto please, you bastards]

I've been bewildered during the last 3 drafts btw

Tactical fou.... voting 

[vivabobbygraham]

Flash has a good team, still bewildered how I lost but RAWK's magic continues 

Very good team, I agree, as it had to be to beat yours. Both semi's are tight but  I make mikey slight favourite as it stands as I believe Rushy and KK, might just know their way around Nealy, Thommo and crazy horse. At the other end, that CB partnership is the best in the draft. It could only be bettered by adding my boy Schwartzenbeck who was The Kaisers sidekick for club and country for many years and  won a sackful of trophies together including 74 World Cup

[Something Worse]

Since I'm retired from drafting due to pro-nonce sentiment on RAWK, I'll tell you who I voted for without fearing repurcussions.

Flash - two very even teams, ended up coming down to loving Canizares and not really caring for Taffarel.

Trend - flipped a coin, no clue who to pick.

Lots of mancs around here, you fucks.

15 votes in one, 12 in the other. Brutal.

[FlashGordon]

Feel like it's slipping away from me to be honest. I was tempted to write up a reason why this shouldn't be the case but I'm off out to enjoy a few Guinness instead, seems like a better use of my time  Guinness is good for you 

[Trendisnotdestiny]

Hey lads, as things stand now it looks like Viva and Mikey in the final.  Two very good teams in my estimation.

If I were to rank the teams, I would have had the semis

Viva v Betty
Hazell/DeFacto v Mikey

I think DeFacto was hard done by and my team a bit overrated with my CM's good but not great. 

I would have been lucky to make the final. In terms of how these teams fallout, my final would have been

Viva v Hazell or DeFacto *** even though Mikey's team is very good too.

In the end, I would want to see the write ups and individual matchups - we'll see tomorrow though.

Its been good fun lads, well out to all of you.  Surprised we have not heard from Robbie or Lonestar here -- hope you guys are doing well and not disaffected by the results.

My energy (most of the time) is with the drafting construction of team building - hope we all do more and keep learning about this beautiful game!

Cheers

[Durlmints]

I think Trend's front line would get a fair bit of joy against Vivas back 4. I think it would turn in to a bit of a shooting contest between the attacks. Probably a 5+ goal game I'd say.

[PoetryInMotion]

Viva & Mikey's teams have been among the best for a long while now, so it has played out okay in the end,  even though I would've thought other teams could've fancied their chances to the semis. I think mine & DeFacto's teams were among those who could've got there, VAR says it wasn't a 'clear & obvious error', and so it has played out.

Congrats Viva & Mikey.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Viva & Mikey's teams have been among the best for a long while now, so it has played out okay in the end,  even though I would've thought other teams could've fancied their chances to the semis. I think mine & DeFacto's teams were among those who could've got there, VAR says it wasn't a 'clear & obvious error', and so it has played out.

Congrats Viva & Mikey.

Well said 

Mikey seems to be heading to a back to back draft final, having won the last one as well, can he defend his crown? 

[Trendisnotdestiny]

Viva & Mikey's teams have been among the best for a long while now, so it has played out okay in the end,  even though I would've thought other teams could've fancied their chances to the semis. I think mine & DeFacto's teams were among those who could've got there, VAR says it wasn't a 'clear & obvious error', and so it has played out.

Congrats Viva & Mikey.

True PIM, sorry to leave you out if the above analysis (seems that I forgot all of the teams unfairly) - my aging forgetful mind.

[PoetryInMotion]

True PIM, sorry to leave you out if the above analysis (seems that I forgot all of the teams unfairly) - my aging forgetful mind.

Oh we had plenty of good teams here. I'll let you off with a handshake for now, but I'm preparing my gloves for the next draft 

[vivabobbygraham]

Viva & Mikey's teams have been among the best for a long while now, so it has played out okay in the end,  even though I would've thought other teams could've fancied their chances to the semis. I think mine & DeFacto's teams were among those who could've got there, VAR says it wasn't a 'clear & obvious error', and so it has played out.

Congrats Viva & Mikey.

Thank you, mate.

[vivabobbygraham]

Well said 

Mikey seems to be heading to a back to back draft final, having won the last one as well, can he defend his crown? 

Cheers, de

[vivabobbygraham]

Hey lads, as things stand now it looks like Viva and Mikey in the final.  Two very good teams in my estimation.

If I were to rank the teams, I would have had the semis

Viva v Betty
Hazell/DeFacto v Mikey

I think DeFacto was hard done by and my team a bit overrated with my CM's good but not great. 

I would have been lucky to make the final. In terms of how these teams fallout, my final would have been

Viva v Hazell or DeFacto *** even though Mikey's team is very good too.

In the end, I would want to see the write ups and individual matchups - we'll see tomorrow though.

Its been good fun lads, well out to all of you.  Surprised we have not heard from Robbie or Lonestar here -- hope you guys are doing well and not disaffected by the results.

My energy (most of the time) is with the drafting construction of team building - hope we all do more and keep learning about this beautiful game!

Cheers

Unlucky my friend. Your generosity of spirit and bonhomie is a credit to you and is one of the main reasons I draft; for what is drafting if not to partake in good rivalry, good humour and good fun...I was going to include good drafting but that would have excluded Samie who is another fine reason to be involved 

Good luck in the final, mikey. I hope it is played in good spirit like our first game...

[Samie]

Hey I draft, I draft real good.

Soon to be a 4x Draft Champion of Rawk and my wins have all come in footie drafts.

[Trendisnotdestiny]

Hey I draft, I draft real good.

Soon to be a 4x Draft Champion of Rawk and my wins have all come in footie drafts.

I noticed Samie! Congrats on the finals in the other draft, although Tubby still has a good chance. 

If you get to the finals, maybe you will eventually get a vote from me.  )))))

[mikey_LFC]

Hey I draft, I draft real good.

Soon to be a 4x Draft Champion of Rawk and my wins have all come in footie drafts.

Which are the four drafts?

[Samie]

I've won 3 so far. The fourth one will be the Kick Ass draft being run by Titi at the moment.

Fuck knows the names of them mate. One of them was the Tautogram draft or something like that.

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Congrats lads, final will be up tmrw

[Betty Blue]

I've won 3 so far. The fourth one will be the Kick Ass draft being run by Titi at the moment.

Fuck knows the names of them mate. One of them was the Tautogram draft or something like that.

AKA the luck draft 

The other one as I remember was when you drew Brazil in the Battle of the Nations draft. Not sure what the third one was.

[Samie]

Fuck off! Luck draft my left arse cheek. 

And hey isn't it apt that I someone who displays flair on these drafts was chosen by the football Gods and Pele to have Brazil? 

[PoetryInMotion]

Fuck off! Luck draft my left arse cheek. 

And hey isn't it apt that I someone who displays flair on these drafts was chosen by the football Gods and Pele to have Brazil? 

Ha ha ha. Wtf was that?