Our first matches are as follows:
Adz v deFacto
TrendChakan v Lovelycushionedheader
Vishwa v Claus
Max_Powers v Viva
MikeyLFC v Fuckingappalled
Teams below. Vote one team per game and let's see who gets first blood...
Adz...
A colossus at the back, 98/99 Treble Winner and UEFA Club Defender of the Year Jaap Stam is the linchpin of a decent back five. As well as the ball-playing Dutchman, it includes ‘The Fourmidables ()’ most important defender Aymeric Laporte, who like Stam made 51 appearances, as well as being included in the PFA Team of the Year during their respective club’s best ever seasons.
The performances of 08/09 Lass Diarra earned him a winter move to Real Madrid and the tenacious midfielder provides lots of energy, allowing the likes of Christian Eriksen license to get forward and do his best work. A creative playmaker with an eye for a goal and a pass, Eriksen also possesses a fantastic dead ball delivery.
Joint Golden Boot and Champions League Winner Sadio Mane is the heartbeat of the side, giving opposition defenders nightmares with his trickery and speed, as well as his deadly finishing. A lion on the field who always gives 110%, he consistently delivers the goods domestically, in Europe and at international level.
The front three all know where the back of the net is. Former Red Danny Ings is somebody, who like Mane, works his bollocks off and Arnautovic’s nuisance adds an element of snide into the team. A winner at all levels, Pedro is the perfect super sub - scores goals, has pace in abundance to run at tiring legs and provides big game nous to help see out a victory.
vs
DeFacto
- Write up: I have God in my side, what else do you need ?
TrendChakan
So you're saying there's a chance
1. Restarts Aerial Dominance
6'5" - Olsson
6'4" - Van Dijk
6'2" - Ablett
6'1" - Origi
6'1" - Rice
2. Pace
Wan-Bissaka
Martial
Redmond
3. Technicians
Modric
Mahrez
4. Ball Winners
Rice
Milivojevic (sub)
5. Penalties - Ederson in Goal
1 - Luka Modric
2 - Luka Milivojevic
3 - Virgil Van Dijk
4 - Antony Martial
5 - Riyad Mahrez
vs
Lovelycushionedheader
Two world class forwards to bring in plenty of goals, and everyone else playing in their preferred position. Torres was a revelation in his first season at Liverpool, scoring 33 goals in 46 appearances, whilst Aguero is just Aguero, scoring 32 goals in 44 matches last season.
Essien and Neves making up a strong base from which to build from, whilst Sigurdsson adds another goal threat, especially from distance. He scored 13 goals for a very average Everton team last season.
Deulofeu had his most effective season last season, becoming more of a forward and a goal threat, scoring 12 goals in 33 games.
The sub, Mesut Ozil, can replace any of the three midfielders as well as the two wide forwards if we need a bit of extra craft late on, or if we just need someone to come on and look half-arsed as we coast to victory.
Emerson is criminally under-rated as a left back and is much better defensively than Marcus Alonso, whilst Cedric earned himself a loan move to Inter Milan after four good years at Southampton.
Stuart Pearce is a psycho; Rudiger is the best CB in the league outside of Laporte and Van Dijk (and Gomez and Matip).
Matt Ryan is a very competant keeper, helping Brighton to the best defensive record out of the bottom six.
Plenty of set-piece specialists too with Neves, Cedric and Sigurdsson.
Vishwa
Pickford (GK),
Alexander-Arnold (RB) Irwin (98/99 CB) Dunk (CB) James Milner (LB)
Maddison (CM) Parker (08/09 CM)
Stiepermann(AM)
Damarai Gray (RW) Babel (LW)
Deeney (ST)
Oxlade-Chamberlain (Sub)
vs
Claus
My tactic is infallible. The ball comes to Brexit Frank, he winds up and shoots. The ball leaves his foot at speed, roughly 2mm off the ground. The rest of the team have piled into the box, creating, in effect, a pinball machine. The ball will deflect all over the shop, eventually landing in the net. This is tried, tested and true, as Lampard's entire career will attest.
In terms of defense, Roy Keane is an asshole and I've covered for De Gea's poor season by placing him behind the line, where his shot-stopping ability will be even better.
Max
vs
Viva
So, basically, in 08/09, Bale was playing left of midfield which was why he appealed, to give balance and cover the left side defensively while Van Aanholt got forward. He was not an out and out attacker back then. That came later.
Problem I have is Trend is very kindly doing all the technical stuff cos I'm an idiot when it comes it. I could use arrows and stuff. De Bruyne, as a right back can legitimately cover the right up and down such is his engine as Trent does for us. Again, that was the appeal whilst taking him out of the draft in his more favoured position.
Fernandinho is Fernandinho so is everywhere and anywhere there is danger.
Lanzini plays in between the lines and has two widemen to play to and off.
Mitrovic would play as an out and out CF for a spell. Good with his head. Holds the ball up well to bring my two wide men into the game and a good foil for Lanzini who is capable of defence splitting pases as well as having goal scoring instincts himself. Unlucky to get injured when he did at the beginning of last season when Liverpool, amongst others were in for him.
Mitrovic would lead the line well before being replaced by none other than Didier Drogba particularly if we went behind early. Who would want to see him coming off the bench, breathing fire after being left out the starting 11 for disciplinary reasons, namely, missing curfew (draft deadline). Hudson Odoi and Richarlison would think they'd died and gone to heaven playing around him. Two of the best young talents that broke through last season. Already England and Brazil internationals. Goals galore all over the pitch
Back 5 is solid and dependable with width and pace in the fullback areas and two excellent centre backs, physically strong and rugged.
MikeyLFC
Experience, technical-ability and fight. Attack with pace, work-rate and goals. Solid midfield with abundant creativity. Skillful full-backs. Well-balanced centre-backs. Quality Keeper and a great sub.
Suarez from one of the greatest individual seasons in history. (31 goals 17 assists 33 games).
Willian and Moura offer creativity splitting the opposition’s focus. (23 goals, 16 assists last season)
European Champion, Wijnaldum is a versatile and can turn creator/goal-scorer in this system.
Mascherano was the best DM in the world. Incredible at stopping attacks before they started.
Rodgers handed Ndidi defensive responsibilities, allowing Tielemans (22) freedom; (3 goals 5 assists 10 games, conceding 8 goals) This will happen next to Mascherano. Has 23 caps.
Chilwell was targeted before Andy Robbo and is showing that ability earning his spot as England's left back.
Montoya impressed in Barca’s 2013 title-winning season. Played every game for top 4 finishing Valencia. Best defensive record of the bottom 7 (tier 3) for Brighton.
Sanchez started the majority of games for Champions League Runner-Ups Spurs. His technical-ability and pace make him the perfect to partner Materazzi.
Materazzi stood out in England helping Everton concede less than most other teams. Later in his career he won the World Cup and European Cup/treble. Here he’d occupy the stopper role and lead to ensure organisation.
Patricio, European Championship Winner and least goals conceded by tier 2 goalkeeper.
Pogba offers creativity off the bench. Last season, 16 goals and 11 assists. World Cup winner in similar system when aided by a great DM.
vs
Fucking appalled