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Euro 2020 Draft - Match Thread - Group A
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21-06-2021 12:43PM#1
Euro 2020 Draft competition, chat thread and picks thread.
Group A
Dr.kenneth noisewater
Mr. Nice Guy
Ferris_Bueller
Vote for who you think should win the group.
Votes from people taking part will be counted without a post explaining their decision (but a post is appreciated all the same).
Votes from people not taking part will not be counted without a post explaining their decision. This is to ensure everyone voting understands the rules.
(Voting will be public so I can see who has voted which way and ensure it's valid).
Voting will close 24h after the the final team write up is posted.Cake, and grief counseling, will be available at the conclusion of the test
Who wins the group? 12 votes
Dr.kenneth noisewater0%Mr. Nice Guy8%
1 vote
Ferris_Bueller91%
![[Deleted User]](https://wd.vanillicon.com/v2/d9e9c6023fa9f32ea6583c87b5b1c6a5.svg)
11 votes
0
Comments
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Ferris_BuellerMy team:
1. Kylian Mbappe
2. Joshua Kimmich
3. Lucas Hernandez
4. Thierry Henry
5. Marquinhos
6. Thibaut Courtois
7. Benjamin Pavard
8. Presnel Kimpembe
9. Koke
10. Erling Haaland
11. Phil Foden
And how they'll line up:
My Attack
I believe this is the strongest part of my team. My first pick was Kylian Mbappe, one of the most sought after forwards in the sport, and I wanted him to lead a line that was all about pace and firepower. Alongside him, I was able to draft Thierry Henry in the legends round, one of the all-time great attacking players and someone Mbappe has been compared to in terms of style. My final pick for my attack was to acquire Erling Haaland in the non Euros players round. Haaland as we know is a goal machine and playing alongside Mbappe and Henry he will be a menace to defences on the break.
My Midfield
My central trio are big game players that have all won league titles. Joshua Kimmich has also won a Champions League, while Phil Foden and Koke have featured in CL finals. The role of my midfield three is straightforward: to complement the defence, and find the passes to unlock space for my front three in behind. Foden will have the most attacking license of the three, and there is tactical flexibility to shift to a 4-2-3-1 when the situation allows, letting him have more freedom near the edge of the box.
My Defence
A strong back line is important and I believe my defence will prove a tough nut to crack. I have 3/4 of the French backline, including Presnel Kimpembe's club partner at PSG, and one of the best CBs in the world, Marquinhos, who I picked up in the non-UEFA round. In the FB slots, I have Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard, two players that won the World Cup and have won numerous accolades at club level. I don't think this backline will be easy to break down, and the FBs will be able to contribute well in attack.
My Goalkeeper
In Thibaut Courtois, I have a goalkeeper that has won titles at every club he's every been with. One of the world's best number ones and someone that will be a strong last line of defence.
My opponents:dr.kenneth noisewater: Fabianski; Meunier, Beckenbauer, Ramos, Chilwell; Ramsey, Wijnaldum, de Jong; Lukaku, Muller, Sanchez.
A strong team with many players to admire, but I see some weaknesses. His full-backs are good but I don't believe Meunier is strong enough to stop Thierry Henry bombing down the left, and likewise I think Mbappe would cause loads of issues for Chilwell. His CBs are supremely tough, but if my attackers get joy out wide, as I believe they will, they will be stretched. I also question the goalkeeper pick. Fabianski for me isn't of the standard of other keepers in the draft, and I think he'd struggle to keep a clean sheet against my attack.
His midfield has a lot of clever players but I think mine would be able to contain them. Even if his midfield has more possession, I think my team on the counter would cause big damage.
I like his front three. They will ask questions but I believe my defence can prove a match and likely restrict Sanchez to some long range efforts that I'd be confident Courtois could deal with.
My view is this would be a tough game but I think I win 2-0.Ferris_Bueller:
Big fan of the midfield and attack that Ferris has formed, but I think there are weaknesses to exploit at the back.
Zhirkov stands out as an obvious area to target. He wasn't able to cut it in the Premier League and has spent the rest of his career in Russia. I just can't see him containing Mbappe down that side. Chiellini is a beast but I'd worry about Maguire alongside him. I like Maguire but it has to be acknowledged his overall career record is up and down. I think my forwards get joy here. Azpilicueta is very good but again I think Henry has the edge. De Gea at his prime was top quality but the overall career record has been hurt by dodgy showings, such as his errors at the World Cup.
His midfield will hold his own against mine, but while Kante's traditional strength is nullifying teams that like to keep it, remember that my tactic will be to try and get the forwards involved as quickly as possible. As soon as Koke, Foden or Kimmich get the ball, the plan will be to ping it to the front three. As a result, his midfield, impressive as it is, won't hugely affect my gameplan.
His attack will cause me problems but I believe my defence can be competitive. Cavani against his old PSG teammates would be an interesting one, and I believe my defensive duo will make life difficult. I think my World Cup winning full-backs will be stubborn.
My feeling on this game is that my team wins 2-1.
In summary, I think my team has a stronger balance than my opponents and for that reason would top the group.
Thanks for reading and good luck to my opponents.0 -
My team
Front 3
Cavani is a great man to lead the line and will provide a handful for any defence, I was probably a person who underrated him for a large part of his career as I rarely got to see him play for Napoli, but the man is an incredible centre forward who works so hard for the team, can score all types of goals and is both physical and skillful. He has almost a 3 in 4 strike rate between his ten years at Napoli and PSG and while there are better strikers in the draft, he will occupy even the best centre back pairings. My two wingers are electric and potential game winning players, they like to cut in, make runs between the centre back and full back, they have great numbers on both goals and assists and can go by players with ease.
Midfield
I like to think I've one of the most balanced midfields in the draft, largely due to picking Kante as my first pick. He is by a distance the best holding midfielder in the draft and his work rate, tenacity, reading of the game is unparalleled. This will allow the other two to focus more on playing with the ball and it could be argued that there has never been a better passer than Xavi. Eriksen will provide more guile and incisive passing/linking with the front players as he will have a bit more freedom to get into advanced positions.
Backline and keeper
Chiellini is one of the great defenders of the past twenty years, he is a leader who loves defending and does not make mistakes. Alongside him I've Maguire who is one of the first names on the teamsheet for United and England and is a strong defender who likes to carry the ball out in a team that has a lot of the ball (which I think I will). Azpilicueta an unbelievably reliable full back who never seems to get caught out defensively, he will also have a lot of joy whipping balls into Cavani. Zhirkov is the weaklink in my team but at his peak in Euro 2008 he was a great attacking wing back which will give the team a good option out wide left if Sterling is cutting inside. De Gea at his peak is one of the best goalkeepers of my lifetime.
Opponents
Mr.Nice Guy He has a really good team, no doubt about it, but I think on paper it may seem stronger than if they were to actually line out together. I would argue he has three centre forwards up top, Mbappe also playing on his weaker side where he has not played much since 2018. Their pace will cause problems for any team in the world but will they have the supply from the midfield? Foden a superstar in the making but has really only had a top class 6 months or so, also has not played from a central midfield position much. Koke a very good midfielder but not world class. Kimmich is a player I love, but has generally been used more in the right back role. No real dedicated holding midfielder here either - I think I would win the possession battle. His backline and GK are solid with no real weakness but no undoubted world class defender either, I think my front three would have success against them and they would struggle to deal with the physicality of Cavani.
Overall I think Mr. Nice Guys team has too many players playing in slightly un natural positions and while he has picked some great players, I would question if they make the best team.
dr.kennethnoisewater - Not entirely sure what way he is going to line up as it seems like his front 3 of Muller, Lukaku and Sanchez is very imbalanced and I fail to see how they would form a coherent front 3. I think his midfield is weak enough by the drafts high standards, 3 good players but in Kante and Xavi they are up against two of the best ever in their positions. His centre backs are unbelievable and I do reckon they would keep Cavani quiet, but I think the nature of how Robben and Sterling attack would cause issues for Chilwell and Meunier. Keeper is very questionable too and not up to the standard of most in the draft IMO.
Best of luck to the two lads in my group, definitely not a handy group!0 -
Mr. Nice GuyHow I see my team lining up below
Defence
I think I have the strongest CB pairing in the draft, both legends of the game and excellent leaders. Chilwell is also an excellent LB winning the CL this season while Meunier provides a great attacking outlet and his pace will help against the opponents in this draft. Fabianski is a proven PL performer, my last pick as I think my CB's will give him enough protection so its a position I was least worried about.
Midfield
As this competition has shown the combination of De Jong and Wijnaldum works brilliantly together, Ramsey at his best is another excellent box to box midfielder. I think this trio can dominate most games with their passing and energy. My Dutch pair will also provide additional protection to allow Meunier to join the attack.
Attack
Lukaku doesnt need much promotion, best player in Serie A last year and having a great Euros. His workrate will lead the press from the front and he'll enjoy attacking crosses from my full backs. Muller is a very clever player who will really cause issues in attack and will have a floating role on the right with Ramsey and/or Wijnaldum pushing on from CM and Sanchez cutting in from the left.
Opponents
Ferris Bueller
Really solid team with an obvious weakness at LB in Zhirkov. Either of my CB could deal with Cavani which leaves the other to provide support where needed. Kante is a the best in his position but I think Muller will keep him very busy and allow space for Ramsey to push into. Xavi is an excellent midfielder but think he is a bit suspect in defence and I think my midfield can control possession and tire him out. Think the CB pairing are both good but lacking pace which will give changes to Lukaku and Sanchez in behind.
Mr.Nice Guy
Really strong team with one of the top 2 attacks in the draft. Midfield I'm unsure on though, Foden has shown this tournament he struggles outside the City system and I dont think he works best in a midfield trio. Koke and Kimmich are good players but theres not enough there to dominate a game and create enough for the front 3. I think mydefence can cope with that front 3 with help from De Jong and Wijnaldum. His defence is solid but Ive always had doubts over both CB especially Marquinhos so I think they can be got at.
Good luck to you both!0 -
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