Draft Semi-Final 1: Blatter vs Morzadec

Bounty Hunter

So we have reached the Semi Final stage and it's Blatter vs Morzadec first up.

As in previous round ill throw up a poll once both participants have done a write up and you can all then post and vote with regards which team you think would win if both sides faced off against each other with players picked considered in their prime when picked. Until they have posted these write ups we ask you don't post your opinions but once they do they would be really appreciated as would be your votes because as we have seen in previous match ups even 1 vote can make a massive difference and all votes are counted.

2nd Semi final wont be posted until after this one has concluded, then there will be a day or so gap before the final.

G'luck lads

Morzadec

Blatter

Cheers Bounty Hunter and good luck Blatter.

First of all, my team. I think most of the names speak for themselves and most following this have already read what I have to say about my team, so I'll spare you the detailed write-up.

Here's how we'll line out:



These are both two awesome footballing teams. I'd say this would be the match of the tournament as pretty much every player is comfortable on the ball, has excellent technique with many capable of moments of magic.

But anyway, onto why I think my team would edge it.

Falcao

With both teams chock-a-block of experienced winners, players who have excelled on the highest stage, players who have won World Cups, Champions Leagues and domestic leagues galore, Falcao stands out like a sore thumb.

The lone striker leading Blatter's line has never played in a Champions League nor a World Cup. Forget about winning either of these trophies - Falcao hasn't even played at the very highest level of club and International football.

In short, he's totally unproven at this very very high legends level.

I watch an awful lot of the player as I'm a regular at the Calderon and follow Atleti in general, and while he's a top striker he's not without his flaws. Me and my friends who go to the matches regularly use the term 'touch of a rapist' to describe his often failing first touch. The general consensus amongst us when the Suarez to Atleti rumours started was that Suarez would offer much more (and none of these people would be a fan of Suarez in the slightest).

Apart from Suarez, other current strikers that I would say are probably better are Cavani, RVP, Aguero, possibly Lewandowski too. Then you consider all the strikers of the past and Falcao looks a cut below in both ability and experience.

I honestly believe Costacurta and Thuram would have little problem dealing with him.

Lack of width and imbalance up front

It's been mentioned before, but with Rivaldo on the right and Zidane on the left, it's an awfully centralised attack. On the left he has Cole bombing forward which is a help and an outlet, but can Irwin do it on the right? I have my doubts.

I think Blatter has gone overkill on the number 10s. These are fantastic players to watch, but there's only a certain amount of space for all of them. he has 3 players probably considered number 10s - if you have Rivaldo on the left then no problem as he can be effective out here and provide width, and could play a different role. But playing him out right effectively renders him another creative central player. I don't like this balance along the attacking 3 midfielders - who's going to beat a fullback and get a cross into the box? When you match this with Falcao being the main man up front, whose main strength is positioning, heading, and a general 'fox in the box' style, thriving on balls from out wide, the whole balance of the attack looks suspect.

Defence

It's a decent defence but probably not the best I've faced. He has very good fullbacks, but I think I have unarguably the best in the draft. Lizarazu and Cole probably on a par, but Cafu on another level to Irwin.

Thiago Silva and McGrath - I wonder if McGrath would have been considered a candidate if this draft had been run in Spain or Italy (or even England for that matter). Possibly some green-tinted specs involved with McGrath who had some big performances in his career but who I'm not sure achieved all that much to be considered one of the really top defenders.

Van der Saar a top goalie of course, but Buffon obviously better.

Midfield

This is obviously where Blatter is strongest and is probably why he just about snuck through his previous 2 matches. However, I think he is finally up against a team who contains at least as much passing ability, technical ability, creativity and magic on the ball.

I'm going to get straight to the point that I had to address in the last match and which some view as a weakness of my team - the defensive ability of Alonso and Schweinstieger.

Like I said in the last match, just because these guys are great on the ball, that does not mean they are weak off it. I have no dedicated 'destroyer', a limited player who focuses his energy off the ball and does little on it. Some people think this is a weakness. However, I wanted a complete team who can play on the ball and perform well off it. Having a dedicated 'destroyer' is not really something teams of this ridiculously high standards need to employ - they need players who can do more in midfield.

Alonso and Scweinsteiger are very good off the ball, even if neither are a 'specialist'. Schweinsteiger averaged out 3.1 tackles per game last year and Alonso 3.2. That is a high average number. To get an idea, higher than the likes of Busquets, Khedira, Mascherano, Song, Dembele, Fellaini, Gerrard, Carrick to name just some big names in Europe who are either considered specialist defensive midfielders or are considered strong physical players.

Between them Alonso and Schweinsteiger would get through much more defensive work than one specialist 'destroyer' with a playmaking midfielder who doesn't like to tackle beside him.

To give an example:

Schweinsteiger and Alonso (2 complete players) = 6.3 tackles per game.

Lucas (highest tackler in PL last year and a 'destroyer' specialist) and Wilshere (an excellent creative, passing midfielder but someone who wouldn't contribute that much defensively) = 6 tackles per game.

In short - you don't need specialist 'destroyer' who is excellent at winning the ball when you have two centre-mids who are very good at it

I think I'd match Blatter in the midfield stakes.

TLDR: Blatter has a fantastic midfield, but this is maybe the first time he is up against another excellent midfield. Up front I think I have more cutting edge (Blatter's attack being blunted by Falcao) - Van Nistelrooy with Maradona in behind is much more potent than Falcao with Bergkamp as number 10. There is also an argument that there is a lack of width and congestion with 3 players seemingly playing something similar to a 'number 10' creative central role and a striker who does not thrive on this type of creative service, a player much more suited to wide players who can get in crosses. And while Blatter's defence/goalkeeper is good, I think that, player for player, I edge this area too.

Blatter

Best of look to Morzadec.

Anyway, my side:



van der Sar: Not much needs to be said about him, everyone will know about him. Just an incredibly consistent goalkeeper with no real weaknesses.

Ashley Cole: The best left back in the world for as number of years in his prime. Quick, solid defender and very good going forward. He'll help give the team more natural width.

Thiago Silva: Again, most people would be aware of him today. IMO the best defender in the world over the last couple of years. Strong, fast, good in the air, intelligent and superb with the ball at his feet.

Paul McGrath: Ian Rush once said ''People talk about the lack of goals I scored against Man Utd and the reason for that was Paul McGrath, he was just too good.'' That's everything you need to know about the man.

Denis Irwin: As solid as a rock and two great feet. An outstanding fullback that is equally comfortable on either side.

Fernando Redondo: Excellent passer with incredible vision and very good in the tackle. His sense of positioning was as good as it comes. Deceptively quick and strong.

Johan Neeskens: One of the all time great central midfield players. His role in the great Dutch team of the 70s is very much appreciated. He is well regarded as a complete CM player, great both defensively and offensively. Miguel Delaney of the Independent rates him as the 19th greatest ever player.

Zidane: Three time world player of the year, he was just a magician. Not much needs to be said as most will know all about him.

Rivaldo: Apart from a right foot, Rivaldo had everything. His wiry strength allowed him to bounce off defenders, he was an outstanding dribbler, and he had a left foot that was both educated and thuggish, subtle and a sledgehammer.

Dennis Bergkamp: Think Dimitar Berbatov but just an awful lot better. A brilliant link up player and had one of the deftest touches the footballing world has ever seen.

Radamel Falcao: One of the greatest finishers I've ever seen. As most will know, he can score from almost any position and no matter how difficult it seems. One of the most prolific number 9s in the world over the last few years.




An overview: All of my defence has great technical ability and it is quite pacey overall, so this will enable them to play a high line. Irwin and Cole will provide good width.

Zidane will drift in from the left and be the instigator of the team. Rivaldo will mostly cut inside to use his wand of a left foot. Neeskens and Redondo will both provide very good protection to the back 4 as well as giving excellent supply to Zidane/Bergkamp/Rivaldo.

Bergkamp will link up with all those around him and run in behind Falcao on the odd occasion. Falcao himself will absolutely thrive on all the service as well as being able to link up very well himself.









With regards Morzadec's team: I think playing Laudrup on the right takes a lot away from him. He's the type of player that was more influential either in the centre or drifting from the left onto his strong foot. It'd be like playing Iniesta or Zidane on the right (something we rarely, if ever saw for a reason) He'd still be effective there but you're defintely not getting the best out of him in that role.

I also think van Nistelrooy, while a fantastic goalscorer, did struggle with his link up play at times in his career (a lot less so than Falcao imo) and this will break up the fluidity of Morzadec's attack to an extent.


I think Schweinsteiger and Alonso together in midfield would work, but like a lot of others, I don't think it's optimal. They do work best when playing beside a runner/defensive specialist. I do think Neeskens and Redondo would get the best out of the midfield.

With regards to narrowness in my team, I only see it as a problem if the players weren't consistent/good enough to open teams up through the centre. I don't think I'll have such problems with Zidane/Bergkamp/Rivaldo, especially up against Schweinsteigher and Alonso. I don't think they'll have near enough defensive capability to clog up the centre and shut that trio out to an extent that will win them the match.

I think the defenses are fairly evenly matched, I don't see a whole lot of weaknesses on either side there.

Morzadec

Blatter

Blatter wrote: »

I think playing Laudrup on the right takes a lot away from him. He's the type of player that was more influential either in the centre or drifting from the left onto his strong foot. It'd be like playing Iniesta or Zidane on the right (something we rarely, if ever saw for a reason) He'd still be effective there but you're defintely not getting the best out of him in that role.

Just on this point, as I didn't really mention how my team will set up and play in my first post, I'll copy and paste a description from my other games on how my attacking midfield will function:

Laudrup will have the freedom to drift infield and join up with Alonso and Shweinsteiger. He can play deadly throughballs from this area, or otherwise go wide and take on his man one on one, or look for Cafu's overlapping runs.

Maradona will be given freedom to do what he wants as this is what he does best. I imagine he will drift right quite a lot as he likes to do, in which case Laudrup can come central, an area he is very adept at functioning in. I want Laudrup, Maradona and Pires to be really fluid and all of them should be able to interchange positions without problems.

In other words, Laudrup will find himself central a lot as Maradona inevitably drifts out right as he loves to do, and also Pires and Laudrup can switch sides no problem if needs be, particularly if I feel I need more width with Pires out right.

As a final point, if you look at any Laadrup video you'll see him causing damage basically everywhere on the pitch - on the left, on the right, through the centre, from deeper positions with through balls or in advanced positions beating his man.

Morzadec

Blatter

This could probably do with a bump

Iused2likebusts

Blatter

Tight one but I voted morzadec. All his picks bar pires(although he has a lot of goals in him) are excellent and there is a great balance to his team. Two of the best full backs Ive seen and then laudrup and maradona to create chance after chance for van nistelroy.

Morte

Blatter

I voted for Morzadec. A much better balance to his side for me, especially the attacking midfield three. I think Blatter's would get in each other's way too much. Also, I don't think Irwin would be up to providing width on the right really. He was good at getting forward in support of a winger in front of him, I don't think he was comparable to Cafu or Alves in that respect which is what's asked of him. I think it would suit Morzadec to just have to defend centrally rather than being stretched. I prefer Blatter's midfield duo but they won't be enough to swing it. Looking at it man for man I think Morzadec just a lot of the positions. Blatter's good but I Morzadec's slightly better.

Rikand

blatter for me

Donnielighto

Blatter for me, while falcao might be a weak spot I think that alonso and basti will be too occupied with the roving 3 ams on blatters side to marshall them effectively.

Plenty of speed and strength in blatters defence which will be under the kosh from maradonna though pires against irwin is where i think morzadec would do best.

Close but Blatter on the ball would be amazing, zidane and rivaldo tucking in and cole/irwin coming forward if needed.

Seaneh

Blatter

I picked Morzadec.

I think Morzadec's back 5 ****s on Blatter's from a height, it's not even close in my opinion.

He has the archetypical modern left back and right back in Lizarazu and Cafu, who for my money are two of the best in their positions for the last 30 years. Lizarazu is second only to Maldini as the best left back of his generation and there is no shame in being beaten out for the title as best of your generation by the player who is, for me, the best defender of all time!

Cafu is the blueprint for the modern fullback, he was at the top of his game for well over a decade and won everything there was to win. Add that to Alessandro Costacurta whose 488 games for Milan and 59 caps for Italy over 2 decades mark him out as one of the great modern centre backs along side Lilian Thuram who is pretty much THE blueprint for the modern defender (fast, strong, tall, great ball control) and just as comfortable playing centre back as he was playing as a right wing back and a player who won EVERYTHING there was to win and you have a back 5 that is, in every position, better than blatters, who only really competes in one of the CB positions in that Thiago Silva is just as good as Thuram and Costacurta. Cole, Irwin and McGrath all fall short of his opposition's defence.

And I won't even bother pointing out the fact that Buffon is infinitely better than Van Der Sar.
One was a very good goal keeper.

The other is, statistically, the best keeper of all time, and easily the best I have ever seen.

Van Der Sar doesn't stand a chance in a matchup between the two.

I think the front 6 for each team is pretty much even but I think Morz's defence nicks it for me.

Morzadec

Blatter

Good game Blatter - hard to know which way it's going to go with relatively few comments, and with the sunny weather over the weekend I thought it might end up something like 5-3 to one of us!

In the end quite a few voted which is good as I thought people might be losing interest.

Big Knox

Blatter

Close one but Morzadec has a fantastic core to his team which I think would be too much for Blatters side over 90 minutes. Falcao while a world class striker has a lot of limitations which would be evident against a team of this quality.

Morzadec for me!

Blatter

Morzadec wrote: »

Good game Blatter - hard to know which way it's going to go with relatively few comments, and with the sunny weather over the weekend I thought it might end up something like 5-3 to one of us!

In the end quite a few voted which is good as I thought people might be losing interest.

Sorry for the late response, haven't been around the last few days but congrats Morzadec!