Fantasy Euros 2012: Quarter Finals

Dempsey

The Quarter Finals start tonight!

Here is the team I've come up with at the moment, it could change.



Feedback would be great!

Anyone hedging their bets on France to beat Spain?

manual_man

Hart Cech
Abate Lescott Gebre-selassie Boateng Hummels
Ozil Ribery Pilar Busquets Diarra
Nani Postiga Gomez

for me

iroced

France has NO chance.
Even a Chelsea-like miracle seems unlikely as we don't have their character, their tactical discipline and their intelligence. Our only hope is Yohann Cabaye. He's awaited like a messiah in France but we're asking him too much IMO.

manual_man

iroced wrote: »

France has NO chance.
Even a Chelsea-like miracle seems unlikely as we don't have their character, their tactical discipline and their intelligence. Our only hope is Yohann Cabaye. He's awaited like a messiah in France but we're asking him too much IMO.

People are over-reacting a bit too much to one bad result if you ask me. France have been excellent under Blanc. Very impressed with their first two games. I wouldn't like to call a winner between the two. I don't think France will have a problem for getting motivated against Spain. Should be a cracker of a match

iroced

manual_man wrote: »

People are over-reacting a bit too much to one bad result if you ask me. France have been excellent under Blanc. Very impressed with their first two games. I wouldn't like to call a winner between the two. I don't think France will have a problem for getting motivated against Spain. Should be a cracker of a match

I see your point. But what we've seen against Sweden recalls old nightmares from the Domenech era...

Anyway, our main problem is the lack of playing and tactical intelligence of too many of our players (Nasri, Ribery, Evra, Mexes, even Ben Arfa and Menez). They all have great technical abilities but they're not using them very well as you wonder too often if they really understand the game. One player has made huge improvement on that aspect of the game, aided a lot by Mourinho, it's Benzema. Menez & Ben Arfa are progressing but are still far from consistent top level.

Nasri is the most over-rated of them all. He just doesn't know how to use his technique. He can't play first touch. He's always slowing down the game. He's no mental aptitude and can't take responsibilities. You've seen it this year. He preferred being David Silva's shoe-shine boy than being Arsenal playmaker. And last but not least he has a crap mentality (again see his comment to Arsenal after City's title in which he took a very very minor part, further back in time see his comment to Marseille when he moved to Arsenal etc...etc...).

Cabaye is the absolute opposite. So yes under Blanc, France progressed but we're still lacking a lot to build a real strong team. We have good keepers (Lloris, Mandanda, Carasso), good backs (Clichy & Mathieu - not present here - on the left ; Debuchy & Reveillere on the right), a good "number 8" with great potential (Cabaye), and 2 good forwards that should have been tried on the pitch together (world class Benzema and emerging new talent Giroud). Then we have some interesting wingers (Ribery, Menez, Ben Arfa) but they all need a good playmaker in midfield to shine. That's why Cabaye is so important.

So there's still a lot of room for improvement. But we were starting from almost zero after Domenech 6 years of French football destruction...


TL;DR: Avoid French players !

---

Anyway, back on topic. As many Germans and Spanish possible will be my tactic with cheap Czech guys that I'll try tonight...

BKC

Captaining Ronaldo tonight. Hoping he can grab a couple of goals.

spuddy90

nani should be good for a goal assit tonight!! couldnt afford ronaldo but portugal will make alot of points tonight id say

manual_man

Think i might be the only one without Ronaldo tonight. Let's hope best-new-player-of-the-tournament Gebre Selassie keeps him under wraps

manual_man

Teams in by the way

carlcon

iroced wrote: »

manual_man wrote: »

People are over-reacting a bit too much to one bad result if you ask me. France have been excellent under Blanc. Very impressed with their first two games. I wouldn't like to call a winner between the two. I don't think France will have a problem for getting motivated against Spain. Should be a cracker of a match

I see your point. But what we've seen against Sweden recalls old nightmares from the Domenech era...

Anyway, our main problem is the lack of playing and tactical intelligence of too many of our players (Nasri, Ribery, Evra, Mexes, even Ben Arfa and Menez). They all have great technical abilities but they're not using them very well as you wonder too often if they really understand the game. One player has made huge improvement on that aspect of the game, aided a lot by Mourinho, it's Benzema. Menez & Ben Arfa are progressing but are still far from consistent top level.

Nasri is the most over-rated of them all. He just doesn't know how to use his technique. He can't play first touch. He's always slowing down the game. He's no mental aptitude and can't take responsibilities. You've seen it this year. He preferred being David Silva's shoe-shine boy than being Arsenal playmaker. And last but not least he has a crap mentality (again see his comment to Arsenal after City's title in which he took a very very minor part, further back in time see his comment to Marseille when he moved to Arsenal etc...etc...).

Cabaye is the absolute opposite. So yes under Blanc, France progressed but we're still lacking a lot to build a real strong team. We have good keepers (Lloris, Mandanda, Carasso), good backs (Clichy & Mathieu - not present here - on the left ; Debuchy & Reveillere on the right), a good "number 8" with great potential (Cabaye), and 2 good forwards that should have been tried on the pitch together (world class Benzema and emerging new talent Giroud). Then we have some interesting wingers (Ribery, Menez, Ben Arfa) but they all need a good playmaker in midfield to shine. That's why Cabaye is so important.

So there's still a lot of room for improvement. But we were starting from almost zero after Domenech 6 years of French football destruction...


TL;DR: Avoid French players !

---

Anyway, back on topic. As many Germans and Spanish possible will be my tactic with cheap Czech guys that I'll try tonight...

Great little read. I'm on board with you here. 4 Spaniards and 0 French in my team. Can't see it biting me in the ass at all. Even on their great run of games, I was never really confident in them.

Cabaye is still a hero, though.

FatRat

I have 4 Portuguese and 4 Germans..... with one Spanish player. I'm living dangerously. I know Germany will win but I cant be sure of Portugal so if they do lose I'm left with 4 players who need transferring out :rolleyes: I'm not so sure about the Spanish tbh. It's probably a hunch but I don't trust having four of their players on my team despite them being the best team in the world. They never score many goals (except for the Ireland game obviously) and their defence isn't great if you go by their defensive players abilities, tis only because they always have the ball that they dont concede. The Germans are the only viable defensive options left in the tournament imo.

manual_man

God you can hate this game at times. Postiga off and Nani on a yellow

Dempsey

ronaldo, moutinho assist

KevIRL

24 points from tonight. Stick or twist on capt Ronaldo? Why couldnt one of the ones that hit the post just gone in and negated any tricky decision.

BKC

39 points from tonight... Happy with that.

12 from Captain Ronaldo isn't much. I don't like changing captains but I'm considering it. Tough at this stage though.

BKC

Dempsey wrote: »

ronaldo, pereira assist

It was Moutinho with the assist.

Dempsey

BKC wrote: »

It was Moutinho with the assist.

I was going by the haircut in the the replay

Dempsey

Anyone else having bother logging into see their scores?

Shane732

So do I leave Ronaldo as captain I'm leaning towards yes....

BKC

Shane732 wrote: »

So do I leave Ronaldo as captain I'm leaning towards yes....

I've no idea. My 3 other Portugal players all got more than him tonight.

Fancy Germany to keep a clean sheet tomorrow. Anyone think Neuer will make 3 saves or Hummels will get a recovered balls point?

Dempsey

Shane732 wrote: »

So do I leave Ronaldo as captain I'm leaning towards yes....

Same scenario as myself

Stick with Ronaldo or gamble on Gomez, Iniesta and last chance saloon with Pirlo.

Leaning towards sticking tbh

BKC wrote: »

I've no idea. My 3 other Portugal players all got more than him tonight.

Fancy Germany to keep a clean sheet tomorrow. Anyone think Neuer will make 3 saves or Hummels will get a recovered balls point?

Banking on Badstuber & Khedira for a CS and some recovered ball points, not captain material though!

Shane732

Dempsey wrote: »

Same scenario as myself

Stick with Ronaldo or gamble on Gomez, Iniesta and last chance saloon with Pirlo.

Leaning towards sticking tbh

Well I think it you're changing then you're hoping Germany are going to walk all over Greece and that Gomez/Ozil or whoever else you have is gong to be involved in the thumping.

If it doesn't come off then you're on to trying to find someone in the last two games.

The only option I have tomorrow would be Ozil or Boateng.

If I don't opt to change tomorrow then I don't see why I would for the other two games.

Ozil to come good?

Shane732

BKC wrote: »

I've no idea. My 3 other Portugal players all got more than him tonight.

Fancy Germany to keep a clean sheet tomorrow. Anyone think Neuer will make 3 saves or Hummels will get a recovered balls point?

Well I finished on 21 points with 3 players. If I keep that up I'll be pretty happy with the end score!

Dempsey

Shane732 wrote: »

Well I think it you're changing then you're hoping Germany are going to walk all over Greece and that Gomez/Ozil or whoever else you have is gong to be involved in the thumping.

If it doesn't come off then you're on to trying to find someone in the last two games.

The only option I have tomorrow would be Ozil or Boateng.

If I don't opt to change tomorrow then I don't see why I would for the other two games.

Ozil to come good?

I dont expect a thrashing as this is tournament football, if Germany get comfortable they will sit on the ball and see the game out.

Skippy44

Shane732 wrote: »

So do I leave Ronaldo as captain I'm leaning towards yes....

I gambled unsuccessfully in the last round. Took captaincy off Cassano for Benzema. Another goal/ assist for Ronaldo would've convinced me not to change this round but I will have a punt again on either Muller or Ozil. Which one tho

alchemist33

Shane732 wrote: »

So do I leave Ronaldo as captain I'm leaning towards yes....

I have 4 Germans. Even against Greece, that's enough gambling for me. Ronnie keeps the armband.

manual_man

9 from 3 players. Beat that b*tches :cool:

Phoenix Park

I had Ronaldo as captain and i'm sticking. If people are thinking Gomez he'd have to get two (more or less, depending on assists etc) tonight and while i think Germany will win i don't think it will be a rout. I also have Torres but can't see him getting two, and fair chance he'll come off after 60 mins anyway. Take the 12 points with Ronaldo and hold on i say!

beglee

Yeah i think I'm sticking too. If I went for Gomez, I'm essentially hoping he scores 2 goals, which would only gain me a net 4 points over sticking with Ronaldo. It's not worth the risk for me (even with 2 further captain chances afterwards)

Also sticking with Cech(3), not risking Sifakis against Germany

Ronaldo(c), Moutinho & Pereira got me good points last night, with a smattering of 3 pointers from my Czech players. Could be a good gameweek/matchday!

Dempsey

The German papers are all saying that Podolski, Gomez & Muller will be dropped for tonights game, what a kick in the teeth if that happens!

manual_man

Dempsey wrote: »

The German papers are all saying that Podolski, Gomez & Muller will be dropped for tonights game, what a kick in the teeth if that happens!

I'll believe that when i see it!

Cantona's Collars

manual_man wrote: »

I'll believe that when i see it!

I'm being trolled for the quarter finals,Thiago Motta & Schweinsteger doubtful & now just turned on SSN & they had a German reporter telling us about the changes to the German team-the coach wants more speed in attack against Greece.

Skippy44

Dempsey wrote: »

The German papers are all saying that Podolski, Gomez & Muller will be dropped for tonights game, what a kick in the teeth if that happens!

Good shout. Schurrle, Klose & Reus start.

Dempsey

manual_man wrote: »

I'll believe that when i see it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NQIPVqLMUg

:pac:

manual_man

Dempsey wrote: »

manual_man wrote: »

I'll believe that when i see it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NQIPVqLMUg

:pac:

What. a song

Dempsey

Lahm, Ozil assist

Dempsey

Samaras, Salpangidis assist

and

Khedira, Boateng assist

Dempsey

Klose, Ozil assist

Dempsey

Reus, Klose assist?

carlcon

Captain Ozil served me well so far. Won't be changing him out now. 2 assists will do fine.

Dempsey

Only a madman hell bent on losing would flip captaincy off Ozil

Dempsey

manual man, what did I tell you about having 3 german defenders!

BKC

Salpingidis! Haha, a goal and an assist!

:pac:

alchemist33

Salpingy, you da man!

48 points with 4 to play. Time to bring in the Spaniards.

Cantona's Collars

FUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!! There I was smugly watching Ozil doing the biz then checked my team only to realise I swapped him for Schweinsteiger.

BKC

zerks wrote: »

FUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!! There I was smugly watching Ozil doing the biz then checked my team only to realise I swapped him for Schweinsteiger.

I did the same because I needed to free up funds!

Skippy44

Dempsey wrote: »

Only a madman hell bent on losing would flip captaincy off Ozil

Already taken it off Ronaldo for Ozil. Will be sticking with Mesut. Any more changes may be a gamble too far.

Cantona's Collars

Stuck mine on Torres seeing as Gomez got all of 10 minutes tonight,had he started he'd have gotten a hat trick against the Greeks.

Mr. Guappa

A miserable 8 point return from my 4 German players. Just Jordi Alba and Busquets playing tonight, Alba will be getting the armband.

Cantona's Collars

Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Fabregas, Iniesta. Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Pedro, Torres, Negredo, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina.

France: Lloris, Reveillere, Rami, Koscielny, Clichy, M'Vila, Debuchy, Cabaye, Malouda, Ribery, Benzema. Subs: Mandanda, Evra, Valbuena, Giroud, Nasri, Matuidi, Menez, Diarra, Martin, Ben Arfa, Carrasso.

Damn you Del Bosque & your 'no striker' formation.

Dempsey

Big scores from Alba, Iniesta & Busquets plz!