Boards.ie Football forum draft; First Round Game 8; Cole Train vs bUILDER tHE bOB

Blatter

Presenting Game 8 of the Boards.ie soccer forum Football Draft.

Poll will stay up for 96 hours, anyone may vote, however only votes attached with reasoning on thread will be counted.

Cole Train and bUILDER tHE bOB submit your teams and counter argue and the very best of luck.

bUILDERtHEbOB

Probably won't be on until late tomorrow so I'll get this started anyway. My team be:



Howard is a solid keeper, no real weaknesses and one of the better keepers in England.

My defence is strong, solid and filled with good footballers. Kelly is a good athlete, has the pace and stamina to get up and down the flank and kept Ashley Young out of the game the last day, so id more than a match for any left wingers out there. Aurelio on the left hasn't been playing much lately, but injuries seemingly don't count for much in this, so I picked him, he's a good defender with great delivery. I think Kelly will have Kalou in his pocket and Aurelio would probably struggle a bit with Hulk, but Lucas will help him.

Cahill and Adams are a good combination at centre half, Cahill has made himself England's first choice defender w/o Terry and Ferdinand and is proven as a solid centre half in the premier league, being linked to big clubs constantly. Adams was just a fantastic player, good in the air, excellent reader of the game and a great leader. Both centre halves can also play and have the ability to carry the ball out of defence and have goals in them. Between them I think they have enough to cope fairly well with Carroll's aerial threat.

In midfield Lucas will be in the deep lying role, keeping it simple and providing cover for both full backs, particularly Aurelio because I think Hulk is on the opposition team, so if he try's to cut inside he'll run into Lucas. Yaya will bomb up and down the pitch with a bit more freedom than he currently has at City, making powerful runs late into the box and rocketing shots into the goal or somewhere else. Cleverley was absolutely fantastic before he got injured, he's got great technique and movement and is capable of creating chances. In midfield I think I have a massive edge in terms of fitness and pace, particularly with regard to VDV and Petrov, letting Yaya and Cleverley steamroll Keane, who while a fantastic player can't do it on his own.

In attack I have Sturride and Mata out wide, two players who are playing a major part in Chelsea's season. Sturridge has been in great form in front of goal this season, and Mata has arguably been Chelsea's best player so far. He links up the play, creates space and sets up and scores plenty. Cavani is one of the best strikers in the world, he can hold the ball up, is relatively quick and is a great finisher, but he can also create chances out of nothing for himself. I think I can get at the serious lack of pace in his defence, particularly down the left side, where Cavani could get in a lot down the channel between Huth and Salgado.

Right that's that, hopefully Cole Train doesn't completely change his tactics , I also hope that I haven't been talking about the completely wrong team.

ColeTrain

bUILDER tHE bOB

Alright. Let's do this.

Between the posts David DeGea is a fine talent who I would have plenty of confidence in.

Ashley Cole has been consistently one of the finest left backs in the world for a while now. I have no doubt that he would do a good job on Daniel Sturridge while assisting his Chelsea team mate Solmon Kalou with attacking the left flank.

Micele Salgado has played with one of the best teams in the world for years and can play right back with his eyes closed. His job would be to hold the line and not commit himself forward as much. Mainly he would be keeping a watchful eye on Mata.

In the centre of defence William Gallas and Robert Huth would be watching the dangerous Cavani. Neither have huge pace but they have strength, power and are generally solid. These attributes would cope with Cavani fine. Gallas has the experience of playing at the very top level and would organise that defence well. Huth cuts a commanding figure, I think they would pair up well generally.

--

Midfield is where it gets interesting in this contest.

First off Roy Keane is a man who needs no introduction. His mentality and influence gives my team an advantage in this battleground.

Stiliyan Petrov is captain of his club and country and is another solid holding player. Keane and Petrov give my team steel in the centre. Primarily their job would be to keep the ball ticking over and maintain possession.

Without the ball their job would be to sit in front of the defence and make sure none of BtB's central midfielders can make any dangerous runs in behind - especially Toure.
I would also advise Petrov to stay with Mata in the final third and help Salgado screen his runs.

Van Der Vaart is one of the best creative midfielders in the Premiership. He will play a little further up the park and will be asked to play the playmaker role. He would look to receive the ball off Keane and Petrov, turn and make a pass or even have a punt if it was on. His runs into the box also give me another attacking threat.

--

Up front Kalou and Hulk will play wide off Andy Caroll.

I believe Kalou would give Kelly a hard time, especially as Ashley Cole would be up and down the flank too. Kalou would look to make use of his overlapping runs.

On the otherside Hulk would be up against Aurelio. I really do feel he would get plenty of joy against him. Hulk is a powerful player with great skill and pace. I would give him a licence to cut inside and look to interchange with Van Der Vaart if need be, this would hopefully make it tougher for the likes of Lucas to mark up.

Caroll's job would be to stay rigidly in the centre and look to occupy Adams and Cahill for the full game. I feel he would be a massive threat in the air and in the box.

I think bUILDERtHEbOB's team is solid but I think my team has the experience and strength to overpower them. I think they would win most of the battles on the pitch. Set peices is another place where I feel my team would dominate. Caroll, Huth, Gallas, Hulk, Keane with Rafael VdV putting the balls in would be a serious threat.

whatawaster

I see this one as being very even. Both teams have decent defenses, solid midfields and very exciting attacks.

Goalkeepers: Howard's experience over De Gea's potential imo. BUILDERTHEBOB

Defenses: I can't choose between them. Bob has Adams, Coletrain has Ashley Cole. DRAW

Midfields: Coletrain shades this area - great balance in midfield, and Keane is head and shoulders the best player in either midfield. COLETRAIN

Forwards: Bob takes this one. Cavani is better than Carroll. Sturridge is better than Kalou and Hulk and Mata are fairly even imo. BUILDERTHEBOB

Overall, I'm gonna give it to BUILDERTHEBOB

redzerdrog

very evenly matched game and i think it might come down to adams/cahil being much better than gallas/huth.

bob the builder wins this one for me

bUILDERtHEbOB

This seems to be dying a little bit so I'll throw some **** down yo.

I disagree that ColeTrain has a better midfield than me, yeah Keane was a fantastic player, but as an overall package, VDV and Petrov simply do not have the pace to live with the quick one/two touch touch passing Toure and Cleverley as well as Mata coming in off the wing will bring to the table. I don't think you can say Keane was "head and shoulders" above Yaya Toure either, yes he won more, but Toure has still consistently been in the top 10 best midfielders for a number of years and achieved success at Barca. I'm not saying he's as good, but I don't think it's fair to say that there's a massive difference in quality.

The ability on the ball of my centre halves and striker will also help out the midfield, Cavani has a much better link up game that Carroll's who has shown at Liverpool so far to be fairly average with the ball on the deck. Adams and Cahill are two footballing centre halves and will be less inclined to hoof than the likes of Huth.

As for set pieces, I have six outfield players over 6 foot plus Lucas who heads a lot of balls away for Liverpool, so I think I'm fairly well equipped defensively and offensively in that department.

whatawaster

I disagree about Keane/Toure.

Toure is one of maybe the best 10 mids of the last 5 years.
Keane is one of the best midfield players ever.

There's a massive difference.

Still think you've a better team though.

G.K.

Looking at the teams.

BUILDER's team is full of 9 talented underrated players, Howard and Adams who both deserve the high regard they are held in. His midfield and forwards are among the best in the league.

ColeTrain has players who are overrated/past their prime/too young, only Keane, De Gea, Cole, Hulk, probably VdV and maybe Huth are right up there. Salgado is a huge weakness.

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Went for Bob. Think he has too much in attack for ColeTrain.

SlickRic

it's Bob for me.

too much youth, exuberance and talent, with a great balance around the team.

CSF

bUILDER tHE bOB

Going for ColeTrain based on an unbelievable defensive 5 (assuming we're referring to Salgado in his Real days). The 2 Liverpool full-backs would be the biggest weakness I could see in BUILDERTHEBOB's side. Just not upto the same level as the rest of both teams. Too close to call between the 2 front 3s.

Blatter

CSF wrote: »

Going for ColeTrain based on an unbelievable defensive 5 (assuming we're referring to Salgado in his Real days). The 2 Liverpool full-backs would be the biggest weakness I could see in BUILDERTHEBOB's side. Just not upto the same level as the rest of both teams. Too close to call between the 2 front 3s.

Salgado should have been judged on his current ability, which isn't great.

Martin Kelly can hardly be construed as a weakness, he's solid out.

Cavani is on a different level to Carroll and Mata + Sturridge >>> Hulk and Kalou as Kalou is a major weak link, so I don't have an iota where your coming from when you say their front three are close calls.

I think you need to watch more football, mate. And Maybe have a read of the rules before you vote next time, it would have avoided your false judgement of Salgado.

---

I went for Bob mainly because I don't like teams that play three at the back or I don't think Kolorav would cover himself in glory at CB. Cole Trains midfield is stronger with Keane in there but Bob's front three are comfortably better imo.

CSF

bUILDER tHE bOB

Blatter wrote: »

Salgado should have been judged on his current ability, which isn't great.

Martin Kelly can hardly be construed as a weakness, he's solid out.

Cavani is on a different level to Carroll and Mata + Sturridge >>> Hulk and Kalou as Kalou is a major weak link, so I don't have an iota where your coming from when you say their front three are close calls.

I think you need to watch more football, mate. And maybe have a read of the rules before you vote, it maybe would have avoided your false judgement of Salgado.

---

I went for Bob mainly because I don't like teams that play three at the back or I don't think Kolorav would cover himself in glory at CB. Cole Trains midfield is stronger with Keane in there but Bob's front three are comfortably better imo.

Hahahaha opinions end folks, Blatter has spoken.

Blatter

CSF wrote: »

Hahahaha opinions end folks, Blatter has spoken.

Opinions can be good, but sometimes they are just wrong. I think yours was one of those times:D

CSF

bUILDER tHE bOB

Blatter wrote: »

Opinions can be good, but sometimes they are just wrong. I think yours was one of those times:D

Along with 31% of people who have voted so far. But really they should re-jig the percentages and change it to 0% v 100% given that the opinion of the almighty Blatter should be weighted at at least 1000 times higher than any other.

bUILDERtHEbOB

CSF wrote: »

Going for ColeTrain based on an unbelievable defensive 5 (assuming we're referring to Salgado in his Real days). The 2 Liverpool full-backs would be the biggest weakness I could see in BUILDERTHEBOB's side. Just not upto the same level as the rest of both teams. Too close to call between the 2 front 3s.

I'll give you Aurelio because of his injury record, but Kelly has proven himself to be one of the best right backs in the league over the past year and a lot of Liverpool fans will tell you he should be starting ahead of Johnson, who went a lot earlier in the draft.

CSF

bUILDER tHE bOB

bUILDERtHEbOB wrote: »

I'll give you Aurelio because of his injury record, but Kelly has proven himself to be one of the best right backs in the league over the past year and a lot of Liverpool fans will tell you he should be starting ahead of Johnson, who went a lot earlier in the draft.

Well I'd have to disagree with you there, while Kelly is probably a bit more solid than Johnson defensively, the modern day full-back is judged on far more than just that and there are few better than Johnson for pushing on and creating alot more for the team.

Blatter

CSF wrote: »

Along with 31% of people who have voted so far. But really they should re-jig the percentages and change it to 0% v 100% given that the opinion of the almighty Blatter should be weighted at at least 1000 times higher than any other.

Nope, I never said the opinion that Cole Train's team is better is wrong, that would be a reasonable opinion to hold, as although I'd disagree, I'd see where people are coming from.

I said your opinion that Martin Kelly is a weak link is wrong. Would you like to back up exactly why you think he's a weak link?

Would you also like to back up why you think a front three with Carroll, Kalou and Hulk(who is admittedly very good) in it is very close to a front three of Cavani, Sturridge and Mata?

Carroll is nowhere near the proven striker that Cavani is - fact.

Sturridge will (and does) start for Chelsea everyday of the week ahead of Kalou

Mata or Hulk? That's debatable. I could see why people would prefer one over the other. But there certainly isn't the gap in ability between those two in comparison to Cavani/Carroll and Sturridge/Kalou.

CSF

bUILDER tHE bOB

Blatter wrote: »

Nope, I never said the opinion that Cole Train's team is better is wrong, that would be a reasonable opinion to hold, as although I'd disagree, I'd see where people are coming from.

I said your opinion that Martin Kelly is a weak link is wrong. Would you like to back up exactly why you think he's a weak link?

Would you also like to back up why you think a front three with Carroll, Kalou and Hulk(who is admittedly very good) in it is very close to a front three of Cavani, Sturridge and Mata?

Carroll is nowhere near the proven striker that Cavani is - fact.

Sturridge will (and does) start for Chelsea everyday of the week ahead of Kalou

Mata or Hulk? That's debatable. I could see why people would prefer one over the other. But there certainly isn't the gap in ability between those two in comparison to Cavani/Carroll and Sturridge/Kalou.

Oh so now you actually want to debate reasonably as opposed to presenting opinions as fact? Has your account been hijacked?

Blatter

CSF wrote: »

Oh so now you actually want to debate reasonably as opposed to presenting opinions as fact? Has your account been hijacked?

Some opinions don't deserve to be reasonably debated imo, as they are so off the wall.

But I'll make an exception for you as I'm such a nice guy:)

CSF

bUILDER tHE bOB

Blatter wrote: »

Some opinions don't deserve to be reasonably debated imo, as they are so off the wall.

But I'll make an exception for you as I'm such a nice guy:)

Yeah you definitely appear to be mad sound.

bucketybuck

bUILDER tHE bOB

I am afraid Roy Keane makes the difference for me here. In most areas the two sides are evenly matched with some very similar players, so the very presence of the only all-time great involved in this match up has to be the clincher. Lucas and Toure may be a good pairing, but Keane in his prime was a true box to box midfielder and they will struggle to stop him.

I don't think there is anything particularly impressive about the remainder of either team, they are much of a muchness so to speak, so it is Cole Train and Roy Keane for the win.

ynwa_17

Gotta give it to Bob here. A very strong team with options all across the pitch.