Topic: Football Circle Draft Fixtures 1 & 2

[Samie]

El Lobo



V

RobbieRedman




VBG



V

Tubby

[El Lobo]

Thats a fairly savage beating

Think this is defo a draft where the end results matters not....but I'll still say thats pretty crazy. Oddo defo a weak link but Maldini, Van Basten, Desailly, Carlos and Makelele are big vote winners.

[Betty Blue]

Thats a fairly savage beating

Think this is defo a draft where the end results matters not....but I'll still say thats pretty crazy. Oddo defo a weak link but Maldini, Van Basten, Desailly, Carlos and Makelele are big vote winners.

I haven't voted yet, but first thing I thought was Oddo vs Nedved would be a massacre. However, looking again, Rafa Marquez is a bit of a weak link for your side too. Think he got away with being in a very attack minded side in Rijkaard's Barca and was never much of a defender when it came down to it. Puyol covered his arse much of the time. So Van Basten and Ibra vs him would be it's own kind of massacre. Robbie has some huge RAWK favourite names in there as you say (and obviously all are greats too), so I can see why you might be on the receiving end. Tight one IMO though.

[Samie]

The winner of Fixture 1 will play you in the next round Betts. 

[vivabobbygraham]

I voted earlier. I just think Robbie's team is stronger in key positions. Diego could win a game on his own we've all seen that but apart from Samuel, who unfortunately gets little love on here, they'd be hard pressed to break Robbie's team down defensively as Makelele was a beast and would cover Oddo, where Lobo's team would get some joy. Like Betty, don't rate Marquez and Ferrera , who was boss, would struggle covering and would need Zanetti close with Van Basten and Ibra gun slinging, with Donadoni, who I thought was a brilliant player, providing the bullets. Good positioning putting Ciro there, like. Still a very good team but Robbie has some great options going forward and with that defence, Oddo aside, is gonna be hard to beat. I take no pleasure in you taking a pasting...

I like Tubby's team a lot and could go either way. Two boss midfields there

[Drinks Sangria]

Robbie and Tubby.

[Betty Blue]

The winner of Fixture 1 will play you in the next round Betts. 

Can I bow out now 

[Linudden]

Lobo's side is not bad but the Riquelme pick (albeit necessary) seriously clashes with Maradona. I really can't see him tucked out wide to the right. Didn't have the pace necessary for that. Márquez and Abidal is a bit of a weak link too, but not necessarily that big. 9-3 is a bit too much although I believe Robbie's side win those games narrowly unless Maradona has one of those days.

Pirlo-Kroos-Seedorf is a delightful midfield on paper, but I'm thinking that there's not enough balance in that midfield to outmanouevre the rest of Tubby's team. Bale, Ronaldo and Kaká behind Shevchenko is pretty savage after all. Combine that with attacking full backs and Essien providing cover in midfield, I think they nick it in extra time. Two really good teams that would deserve to go through either way.

[Hazell]

Both tricky games - went for Lobo in the first, I think he's strong all over, even including Riquelme and Oddo on the left for Robbie sticks out a bit. Tubby in the second, even though despite the big names in attack, I don't know if they'd work all that well together but I love the Essien/Alonso midfield and he does have Cafu, which is difference maker.

Tough call for both though.

[Drinks Sangria]

Surprisingly lopsided games.

I went Robbie in game 1 - Lobo’s midfield doesn’t appeal to me despite the lack of synergy in Robbie’s. Robbie’s defence is clearly better and whilst Maradona almost swayed it for me, Riquelme is shoehorned. I know that’s partly my fault for taking Walter Samuel who might have been a link to Maradona that sacrificed the midfield less. Really close though and even now I’m unsure if I got this one right. Eto’o is underrated.

Game two, I went Tubby. This one was also so, so close. Tubby’s forward three is tremendous and like Eto’o, Shevchenko probably doesn’t get enough love. Because we don’t like them we can forget what a ferocious pair Ronaldo and Bale were at their peaks. Kaka, Essien and Alonso is chef’s kiss but I’m not entirely sure I like VBG’s midfield or the mix of players in the front line. Certainly, Robben and Mbappe don’t fit well together given their individual propensity not to bring others into the play and Raul was never really a lone striker.

Four really good teams and as I said beforehand, no stand out winner for me. Could have easily been two draws.

[tubby]

I like Tubby's team a lot and could go either way. Two boss midfields there

You're a good man, Bob.

[vivabobbygraham]

You're a good man, Bob.

Well played tubs. Worthy winner