Euro 2020 Draft - Match Thread - Final

Summary of my team from previous post:

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 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.




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.



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.




Best of luck to Slick.

I see this as being a close game decided by small margins and I feel it's in the wide areas that my team gets the win.

I like the De Ligt and Silva combo but I see vulnerabilities in the wide areas. Tierney is a player I rate but up against Mbappe I think he will struggle. Likewise Alexander-Arnold is going to find it tough going against Thierry Henry marauding down that left channel.

In midfield, I think it's a close contest. I feel I should respond to some comments on my previous match thread that I should have switched Koke and Kimmich. Playing Koke as the pivot is modelled on Simeone utilising him there this season, usually with Lemar and Llorente flanking him in more advanced positions. The BBC have an article on it here and Sid Lowe talks about it here:

https://twitter.com/sidlowe/status/1369931651980140545

Kimmich could play as the deeper player of course, but I liked him on the right so that he could link up with his Bayern teammate Pavard, and fill in as a makeshift RB on occasions when Pavard is more forward. I think it would be a great asset to have them both on the right side of the park. I hope that explains my thought process.

My main objective would be to get my midfield pinging balls into the space behind his FB areas, as I don't see them getting a lot of cover with his midfield three having two attack-minded players in KDB and Bernardo. Busquets is great, but it's asking a lot of him to help stop my pacy forwards.

Defensively, I think my back four will prove resolute. Hernandez kept Sancho quiet earlier in the season when Bayern won 3-2 away at Dortmund. I think Pavard matches up well with Perisic. Van Basten of course worries any defence, but I believe my CBs can make life difficult. I also think I have comfortably the better goalkeeper, which could prove a difference maker in a tight contest.

In summary, I think Henry and Mbappe get too much joy in this one and I believe that decides the game, with something like a 2-1 scoreline. Thanks for reading and may the best team win.

Slick for me Midfield is too strong and would smother any opposition. His defense is mean enough looking too.

Probably wouldn’t be the prettiest contest but see a 1-0 team Slick.

On the Koke dm point it must be noted that he played as a dm in front of 3 centre backs not 2 like here.

This is really close. I like MNG Back 5, i like his midfield individually maybe not as a 3, maybe Foden could have been a someone more experienced i dont think Pep has trusted him as part of 3 man midfield in the big games so far or if he has hasn't delivered from my memory anyway. Henry Haaland Mbappe is scary good on paper but all 3 want to end up in same spaces.

Slick probably bosses the midfield but MNG scary quick on counter. Think Henry would get in behind TAA at least once or twice.
Perisic & Sancho dont score as many goals as Henry & Mbappe but I'd reckon they would be better at tracking back.
Very close but going with MNG 2-1

Slick for me.

I think his team is way more balanced and with van Basten up top its always going to get goals.

Defences are probably equal, but Slick has the best midfield.

bot43 wrote: »

Is canvassing votes allowed btw?

Why?

MNG for me.

Although I like slicks team and it is well balanced i dont think perisic/Sancho come up with the goods often enough to win this one.

MNG is overall team is better and fairly well balanced aswell