Boards.ie Football Draft; Quarter final Game 1; redzerdrog v Mitch Connor

Blatter

Presenting Game 1 in the Quarter final 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.

redzerdrog and Mitch Connor, submit your teams and counter argue and the very best of luck.

Mitch Connor

Ugh....


In goals I have one of the keepers who has been amongst the most solid in the league for a long time - I don't think I need to go into much detail here, I don't think any real fault can be picked with him.

My back line has pace in the full back areas, with proven premiership quality - both full backs are strong defensively and offer a great threat going forward.

At centre back I have two big, strong central defenders who add leadership to my side. Hyppia is one of the best defenders teh premiership has seen and offers as much of a goal threat as any CB in the draft for me as well. Roger Johnson is a solid CB too, and will add to the commanding presence of my side.

Tiote is my midfield destroyer - no midfielder in the draft offers more bite than this lad, and should my team be a few goals down he'll smack one in from forty yards for me! A look at his passing stats show that he is a good user of the ball too. Not expansive , but rarely gives it away.

The three other midfielders are a bit changable. Valencia is possibly the most consistent winger in the premiership, stong going forward and defensively. Arteta has been one of the stronger midfielders in the league over the last number of years. Over his career he has shown himself to be a very intelligent user of the ball and very good from set pieces. He also doesn't mind putting his foot in and doing his share of defensive work. Bannan is one of the most promising midfielders in the league and a player I have had my eye on for a number of years. Supremely comfortable on the ball, silky technical skills and a great user of the ball. He can can play from the left side of midfield as well as centrally, which gives me good versatility as Arteta has been known to do the same, and Valencia has played centrally on many occasions for his international side.

My last two players.... Messi and Rooney - two of the very best in the world in the attacking 3rd, Messi the very best player in the world full stop, possibly ever. They will get me goals, and lots of them. No defence will be able to keep them out imo, especially messi. Their versatility is also key to how i can play, both can play as the front man (as false 10's). both can play from the wide area's too, using their pace and vision from deeper areas - which allows me to swap them around as the support player in a more traditional 442 and also allowing me to play 433.

ok, so that is my basic team and line up decided and explained a bit.... I'm not for one second gonna say this would be easy vs Redzer, who has one of the best sides in the game (including my own right up there though). Player for player we are rather even.

I actually do think that my back line is stronger overall, but it is close. In midfield, I would concede that Redzer has the edge here, I don't think it would be a blow out, but I do think his central 3 of De Jong, Barton and Iniesta would be very hard to stop. TO combat his midfield trio, I would look to play a more compact 4, bringing Valencia back to help out, though I would still be looking to him to be the most break-out of the players in my midfield.

Having conceded that my midfield could be weaker than Redzers, I would say my forward line is stronger. Rooney and Messi are, imo, the best forward line in this draft and two of the best forwards in the world - with Messi the best player ever, imo. If my midfield can keep in touch with Redzers, I would back my forward line to get me a few goals.

A very tough game, and I think I could edge it.

redzerdrog

Mitch Connor

I will just put up my general team for now

Pick 1 - Luis Suarez - with aguero and rooney gone he was an easy pick

Pick 2 - David luiz - wanted a quality CB and this guy oozes class

Pick 3 - Nigel De Jong - The best DM in the league and immense value in round 3

Pick 4 - Zola - didnt think he would make it past the 1st 5 pick let alone down to 15th great value for this round

Pick 5 - Jose enrique - One of the best lb last year and has kicked on this year prob the most in form lb in the league

Pick 6 - Jose Bosingwa - likewise prob the most in form RB in the league and great value in round 6 considering some of the rb picked ahead of him

Pick 7 - Joey Barton - fit perfect for my midfield can do everything from tackle to score

Pick 8 - Scott Dann - Powerfull defender and the perfect foil for luiz

Pick 9 - Andres Iniesta - never dreamed he would make it out of the top 3 so delighted to complete my midfield with the best midfielder in the world

Pick 10 - Gabriel Agbonlahor - The gamble paid off to wait for him, he is in terrific form this year and super value as a 10th round pick

Pick 11 - Tim Krul - Gamble to leave gk till last paid off and got the best young keeper in the league in great form this year also



Overall I feel my team is well balance, has pace, power, guile and guts in abundance aswell as undoubted ability throughout.

Defense is strong with luiz and dann the perfect partnership with luiz ball playing abilty and dann no nonsense 100% commitment defending. My two full back are prob the 2 most in form fb in the league this year they have pace and power and can defend well but also provide width in attack

midfield in anchored by DeJong who will provide ample protection for my back 4 particularly if either fb is attacking. Barton will play box to box and has the attribute to do what ever is called of him weather its provide protection to the defense or assists to the forwards. Iniesta will have a free role and will dictate the game he also has the licence to pop up on the wing or the edge of the box.

Zola and agbonlahor provide a great mix of pace and power with guile and vision they both have licence to pop up anywhere in the forward line. Suarez will in general lead the line and this guy can do the lot he is a class act and wont give the opposition a moments rest.

my team has many leaders but the captain will be zola who will be a great leader.

frees/corner: iniesta/barton
pens:Zola

redzerdrog

Mitch Connor

ok going by mitchs comment he prodominently going with his 1st formation of 442

I think most people look at messi and rooney and not see the rest of the team while it is very good and a team i pinpointed from the start i still think I will win this game

In nets on current ability I feel i edge it with krul excellent all year and jussi getting on in age he hasnt been his old self

I defence I feel my full backs of bosingwa and enrique are far better than rafeal and figueroa. I feel the CB pairings are fairly even but I think mine complement eachother skillset slighly better. But hyypia was a class act.

I feel I win the midfield battle and mitch has already conceaded as much. We all know the midfield battle is key to many games and I feel this is were I can win this match. I feel my midfield can dominate and boss the posession in this match.

Up front obsiously messi and rooney are awsome but I feel my forward line of agbonlahor ( In great form this year) Zola ( one of the best prem players ever) and suarez ( In great form and current copa america player of the tournament that included the likes of messi and aguero) is going by as very underestimated in this draft and only second to mitchs in the draft.

overall I feel that this would be a very close game between two very strong teams. I do feel I would edge it due to having more quality and balance throughout the side. Messi and rooney are good but they cant do much if they dont have the ball and my midfield is perfect for this particularly with De Jong protecting the back 4 I feel I can stop the ball getting to the front pair.

best of luck to Mitch and may the best team win

curry-muff

Mitch Connor

This is one hell of a match up :pac:

redzerdrog

Mitch Connor

I'd just like to say that its great people are actually voting but unless they write in the thread the vote wont count unfortunetly

G.K.

Mitch Connor

I'm going to writeup later, don't worry.

machiavellianme

Mitch Connor

Went with redzerdrog.

I think Mitch has the 2 best strikers in Rooney and Messi but Valencia, Bannan and Arteta blow hot and cold a lot. Not sure if Ronney and Messi arent too similar and would end up in each others way.

Zola, Agbonlahor and Suarez would create mayhem up front for any defence and one boasting Figeroa and Rafael mightnt be up to dealing with it.

Defensively redzer is way in front for me. A great shot stopper and two decent footballing centre backs. The FBs are dependable but also attack minded. With Iniesta to pull the strings in midfield, I think this can only go one way, especially after Tiote's inevitable booking...

Big Pussy Bonpensiero

Mitch. Why? Messi and Rooney.

G.K.

Mitch Connor

Messi and rooney will get in each other's way, the other players, as mach said, are tempermental.

Red's attack will dominate that defence and those defensive players are easily capable of dominating Mitch's team, imo. Best defense in the draft.

curry-muff

Mitch Connor

Extremely hard to vote against a team with Messi and Rooney, but Redzers team is just solid all round, one of the best defences in the game a midfield that would compete with any and a quality forward trio. I'll be surprised if he doesn't win this thing. Sad to see him get drawn against Mitch this early, both teams deserve to be in the final

Mitch Connor

G.K. wrote: »

Messi and rooney will get in each other's way, the other players, as mach said, are tempermental.

Red's attack will dominate that defence and those defensive players are easily capable of dominating Mitch's team, imo. Best defense in the draft.

I'm looking very likely to lose this, but I can't let this slide...

Rooney and Tevez didn't get in each others way. Rooney and Ronaldo didn't get in each others way. Messi and Iniesta don't, Messi and Villa don't, Messi and Eto'o didn't, Messi and Ibrahimovic didn't, Messi and Ronaldinho didn't, Messi and Henry didn't.

The idea that two of the best players in the world, and two of the most adaptable players around, couldn't play together and work well together - particularly these two - is almost offensive.

G.K.

Mitch Connor

I never said they would totally block each other all the time. Messi and Rooney both like to drop into midfield, and I feel they would occupy lots of the same space. Just my opinion.

VW 1

If the argument against Mitch is that his midfield isnt strong enough to cope with Redzers, and there is another argument that his two forwards who are two of the three best players in the world right now, like to drop deep to pick up the ball/help out, I dont see where the problems lie.

Although I feel Redzer would have a slightly stronger defence, I think that Mitch would edge this one overall, with Rooney and Messi being the difference. Two of the best teams in the draft but with the two up top Mitch has, I feel this will be the difference.

redzerdrog

Mitch Connor

VW 1 wrote: »

If the argument against Mitch is that his midfield isnt strong enough to cope with Redzers, and there is another argument that his two forwards who are two of the three best players in the world right now, like to drop deep to pick up the ball/help out, I dont see where the problems lie.

If they are dropping into midfield to get the ball that will leave the other isolated upfront on there own or even worse again both drop deep and have nobady to pass it to then.

By the way Rooney is quality but he is not in the top 3 players in the world right now not a chance.

flahavaj

Voted for Mitch. I don't think Redzer's defence could cope with Messi and Rooney. Simple as. The notion that two such talented, versatile players who have shown that they can play several different positions on the pitch couldn't co-exist is ludicrous. Imagine if Rooney played for Barca FFS, they'd be invincible.

redzerdrog

Mitch Connor

flahavaj wrote: »

Voted for Mitch. I don't think Redzer's defence could cope with Messi and Rooney. Simple as. The notion that two such talented, versatile players who have shown that they can play several different positions on the pitch couldn't co-exist is ludicrous. Imagine if Rooney played for Barca FFS, they'd be invincible.

The question of mitchs team isnt really will rooney and messi perform it more to do with his team losing the midfield battle and messi and rooney can do f all if they dont have the ball.

I think my team is well capable of doing this also my team is stronger and better balanced all over the pitch with my forward line no slouches either

flahavaj

redzerdrog wrote: »

The question of mitchs team isnt really will rooney and messi perform it more to do with his team losing the midfield battle and messi and rooney can do f all if they dont have the ball.

I think my team is well capable of doing this also my team is stronger and better balanced all over the pitch with my forward line no slouches either

I think you have the better midfild alright - but i also think that if you have 2 of the top three forwards in the world up front (who are both equally as creative as they are at finishing) then they can still provide a serious goal return even with less possession. I certainly do't fancy Davis Luiz's chances of doing much to stop them.

Mr. Guappa

Mitch Connor

I voted for redzer. Rooney and Messi is obviously a lethal combination but Suarez and Zola is not exactly shocking either. IMO redzer has a massive advantage in midfield and also in the FB positions. I don't like Hyypia and Johnson as a pairing.

Mitch Connor

redzerdrog wrote: »

The question of mitchs team isnt really will rooney and messi perform it more to do with his team losing the midfield battle and messi and rooney can do f all if they dont have the ball.

I think my team is well capable of doing this also my team is stronger and better balanced all over the pitch with my forward line no slouches either

To be fair, while I concede your midfield is stronger than mine, I don't think mine is particularly weak, not so weak that your side would dominate mine. Just look at United over recent seasons - we have had a weaker midfield than most but have still been able to compete (and win) due to the overall quality of the side. Again, I'm not saying my midfield is better than yours, but I do think my midfield would give you a game and would not leave Rooney/Messi isolated as you suggest - and when I do get them the ball, particularly Messi, he has the ability to either take on your defence or maintain possesion as the rest of my team come to support him.

redzerdrog

Mitch Connor

There is more to a team than just two players and people are highlighting these two players as they are the only part of mitchs team that is stronger than mine even though my forward line would be not far behind add that they will most likely get more chances and against a weaker defence I think it nearly balances itself out.

I then win out in every other area of the pitch
Mine V Mitchs
GK >> GK
Defence >> Defence
Midfield >>>>> Midfield
Attack < Attack

flahavaj

redzerdrog wrote: »

There is more to a team than just two players and people are highlighting these two players as they are the only part of mitchs team that is stronger than mine even though my forward line would be not far behind add that they will most likely get more chances and against a weaker defence I think it nearly balances itself out.

I then win out in every other area of the pitch
Mine V Mitchs
GK >> GK
Defence >> Defence
Midfield >>>>> Midfield
Attack < Attack

Whats more pertinent is how well your defence would cope with his attack though surely and vice versa....

redzerdrog

Mitch Connor

flahavaj wrote: »

redzerdrog wrote: »

There is more to a team than just two players and people are highlighting these two players as they are the only part of mitchs team that is stronger than mine even though my forward line would be not far behind add that they will most likely get more chances and against a weaker defence I think it nearly balances itself out.

I then win out in every other area of the pitch
Mine V Mitchs
GK >> GK
Defence >> Defence
Midfield >>>>> Midfield
Attack < Attack

Whats more pertinent is how well your defence would cope with his attack though surely and vice versa....

In that situation we have the best defence in the draft against the best attack in the draft
or an average defence against the second best attack in the draft

I still win out here imo

VW 1

redzerdrog wrote: »

There is more to a team than just two players and people are highlighting these two players as they are the only part of mitchs team that is stronger than mine even though my forward line would be not far behind add that they will most likely get more chances and against a weaker defence I think it nearly balances itself out.

I then win out in every other area of the pitch
Mine V Mitchs
GK >> GK
Defence >> Defence
Midfield >>>>> Midfield
Attack < Attack

I do find it amusing that your GK deserves two symbols to show how much better than Mitch's it is, as well as your defence. Your midfield requires 5 yet his attack only warrants one. It is streets ahead of yours, backed up by a competent defence and a very good solid midfield that will be helped by two players up front who have fantastic workrates, are versatile and are great at dropping back in to help, win and maintain possession.

G.K.

Mitch Connor

That's because Iniesta, Zola, Agbonlahor and Suarez aren't streets behind Messi, Rooney, Valenica and Bannan. Duh.

The defense and midfield of Red's team are far superior, imo.

redzerdrog

Mitch Connor

I count that I narrowly win this 5-4

Such a shame that so few people voted but delighted to win all the same maybe people didnt vote as they couldnt decide who would win?