Same gist as last time, vote for who you think is the better side.

 

BlueBeard:

 

 

Subs:

Mazzola

Brehme

 

Iker Casillas is an exceptional keeper, and will command respect and confidence from his team-mates. In front of him is captain John Charles, the 'Gentle Giant', hard as nails yet never booked or sent off throughout his career. Superb in the air, and can be utilised as centre-forward if necessary, where he is just as strong. His defensive partner is Albert Shesternyov, known as 'Ivan The Terrible' in his native Russia. A one-club man with CSKA Moscow, he's tough, strong, and an exceptional defender, and will be under instructions to destroy Puskas and wind up Stoichkov with a view to making him lose his temper and get a red card. Nice, eh?

On the right flank my side will benefit from the great stamina and toughness of Eric Gerets, who will be playing as a wing-back but using his discipline to defend strongly too. On the left, Paul Breitner will be doing a similar job, occasionally whacking a powerful long-range shot in, and generally terrorising the opposition with his afro hair style and moustache, a fearsome combination I think you'll agree.

 

Claude Makelele will obviously be playing in the defensive midfield role that now bears his name, protecting his defenders, breaking up play and providing a springboard for counter attack. Ruud Gullit will be playing alongside Maka, but as a box-to-box midfielder. His superb skill and versatility will play a large play in our success, both defending strongly but getting forward when necessary.

 

Any defender would dread having to play against George Best, and he will wreak havoc down the right with his superb ball skills, dribbling, passing and technique, and will definitely be among the goals. His ability to play through the middle, on the left and up front should be an invaluable asset. On the left, Dragan Dzagic's great pace and superb crossing will provide many goals for the side, his dribbling and passing causing the opposition right back to have to change his shorts at half-time. His ability at free-kicks will also be a huge bonus for us. Both Best and Dzajic have natural techique and stamina, as does Gianfranco Zola who will play just behind the striker. Zola's close control and immense skill will provide plenty of goals for both himself and Drogba. Drogs will dominate in the air, and his power and strength will intimidate any defence. Great in the air, and with superb skill for such a big man, Drogs will score many goals - some of which may be provided by the long throw-ins by Erik Gerets.

 

On the bench are Sandro Mazzola, a brilliant attacking midfield or inside-right. To have a substitute of his exceptional creative intincts, passing range and vision, combined with his prolific goalscoring will generate immense confidence in the side if we lose a player to injury or have to change tactics. Andreas Brehme is the more defensive sub, playing equally well at left-back, wing-back, or left midfield. A two-footed superb crosser of the ball and free-kick taker, he'd be an asset to any team.

 

My side will play aggressive, attacking football, using both flanks to our advantage. I'll employ tough tackling throughout the side, and any signs of a fairy nature like diving or feigning injury will lead to instant substitution - yes, Drogba, I'm talking to you! The side is physically strong, and I want that to be a large part of our style, which combined with the natural skill and flair throughout the side should prove to be an unbeatable combination.

 

 

Teritus:

 

 

Subs:

Kopa

Edwards

 

Right, now the way my team works.
In goals I have Rinat Dasayev, a very complete keeper. His long and accurate throws will be important for triggering counter attacks. At right back is the talismatic figure of Carlos Alberto, captain of the great Brazil side of the 70s. He is a fantastic defender but will also help Figo with his maurading runs up and down the right flank. My centre backs are Elias Figueroa and Franco Baresi, probably the best pair in the draft. Figueroa was very accomplished aerially, and will give Drogba a run for his money in that department. Schnellinger is my left back. He'll have a more disciplined role, rarely going forward and mainly marking Best out of the game. Will he completely shut him down? No chance. But he'll certainly do enough to limit his influence.
I have the defensive rock of Rijkaard in midfield, he'll be concentrating on Zola and will have no offensive duties.. Next to him is Ernst Ocwirk (pronounced Ochvirk), captain of the Austrian team of the 50s. He was a superb passer, both long and short, as well as a very hard worker and fierce tackler. Just ahead is my first round pick, the complete footballer before Cruyff ever kicked a ball, the heartbeat of Madrid's greatest ever assembled team, Alfredo Di Stefano. He will work hard both in midfield to help my pivot, as well as knitting together the triumvirate of Stoichkov, Figo and Puskas.

 

Figo and Stoichkov on the wings, both very comfortably dribbling with the ball and beating their man. They will be constantly switching wings and looking to exploit the channels between centre back and full back. Up front is Ferenc Puskas; this man scored - literally - a goal a game. A deadly one on one finisher blessed with technique which could defy belief, he is certainly one of the most clinical strikers the world has ever seen. One the bench I have Duncan Edwards, the best footballer that Bobby Charlton has ever witnessed, can fill in each pivot position with ease. Also there is Raymond Kopa, slight but agile with almost a phantom-like presence on the pitch. One of France's greatest players ever.

Why I will win:
Now, let's get straight to the chase. BlueBeard seems to have Gullit in midfield; that's his major area of weakness. Certainly he was a hard worker and capable of helping out defensively, but he was never an orthodox CM, no chance. That will matter a lot in this game. BlueBeard also says that he will have a box to box role, which means he'll probably leave Makelele (who Rijkaard alone is better than) all by himself to defend against by my attack, I certainly don't like those chances. Zola will also hardly contribute to the midfield battle, compared to Di Stefano who was just as likely to turn up at left back as he was centre forward. He would have been much better served to play Gullit behind Drogba and bring in a proper midfielder. Which brings me to another point.

Now we all love Drogba for everything he did for us, but is he really good enough to play at this level? Not for me. No doubt he will relish on Best and Dzajic's service, but he was never really a 'clinical' striker for us, not really. If Drogba is being marked then who else has BlueBeard to rely on for goals? None of his other players were renowned goalscorers, while I at least have Di Stefano and Stoichkov. I really thought he should have gotten Romario, no Brazilians in his team and by far the best striker available. I genuinely think that his wingers are the only players that he has better than me, I have him (or at least tie him) in every other position.

Edited April 7, 201312 yr by Teritus

And I hope that was BlueBeard himself with the first vote!

And some videos of the more obscure players in my team:

 

 

A display of Ocwirk's passing at about 0:53.

 

 

And an amazing backs-to-the-wall display from Figueroa against Germany.

And I hope that was BlueBeard himself with the first vote!

 

 

Why? Was that you with yours?  

Yes!

Not me, my vote made it 2-2!

 

Don't believe the propaganda, people, Teritus says Drogba is the only proven goalscorer in my side?!? I'm pretty sure that George Best, Dragan Dzajic and Gianfranco Zola are all well capable of scoring plenty of goals, as is Ruud Gullit should he be called upon to get forward more. And as the dastardly aforementioned Teritus has seen fit to try and boost his votes by posting vids of his players, here are a couple of mine...

 

Dragan Dzajic

 

George Best

 

Naturally I'm assuming that most of you already know how brilliant Gullit, Zola, Makelele and Drogba are

Naturally I'm assuming that most of you already know how brilliant Gullit, Zola, Makelele and Drogba are

 

All you needed was Joey Jones and it was open and shut.

Not me, my vote made it 2-2!

 

Don't believe the propaganda, people, Teritus says Drogba is the only proven goalscorer in my side?!? I'm pretty sure that George Best, Dragan Dzajic and Gianfranco Zola are all well capable of scoring plenty of goals, as is Ruud Gullit should he be called upon to get forward more. And as the dastardly aforementioned Teritus has seen fit to try and boost his votes by posting vids of his players, here are a couple of mine...

 

Dragan Dzajic

 

George Best

 

Naturally I'm assuming that most of you already know how brilliant Gullit, Zola, Makelele and Drogba are

 

I should have mentioned Dzajic there, my fault, he has a slightly higher ratio than Stoichkov but no one else certainly compares to Di Stefano or Puskas.

Edited April 7, 201312 yr by Teritus

All you needed was Joey Jones and it was open and shut.

 

I know, I know, but alas I already had my allocation of Welshmen in John Charles

tough one can i choose a draw?? bluebeard edges it by the skin of a nats ballbag.

I see Bluebeard's tactics... put Chelsea players in your team to get the votes of the Chelsea fans!

 

 

Teritus' team for me, looks more solid at the back and as much as I love Zola and Didier, they just don't compare to Di Stefano and Puskas. Best and Dzajic are fantastic, but Stoichkov and Figo are no mugs either.

I see Bluebeard's tactics... put Chelsea players in your team to get the votes of the Chelsea fans!

 

I didn't even think about that when picking my side, but I can see why you might think that. At least I picked world class Chelsea players, I could have selected Del Horno, Fleck, Jokanovic and Zenden!

I didn't even think about that when picking my side, but I can see why you might think that. At least I picked world class Chelsea players, I could have selected Del Horno, Fleck, Jokanovic and Zenden!

 

Zenden isn't world class? I defy you to name 5 superior towel-holders in the history of the sport. 

Just voted. Interesting line up and tactics.

Time for a change. Edwards on for Ocwirk. If BlueBeard's midfield wasn't getting completely overrun it certainly is now.

 

Dasayev

 

C. Alberto - Baresi - Figueroa - Schnellinger

 

Edwards - Rijkaard

 

Figo - Di Stefano - Stoichkov

 

Puskas

Time for a change. Edwards on for Ocwirk. If BlueBeard's midfield wasn't getting completely overrun it certainly is now.

 

Dasayev

 

C. Alberto - Baresi - Figueroa - Schnellinger

 

Edwards - Rijkaard

 

Figo - Di Stefano - Stoichkov

 

Puskas

 

Aha, the old 20th hour substitution tactic!

 

Right, I shall counter that by playing Ruud Gullit as a hard tackling defensive midfielder rather than box-to-box, and instructing my full-backs not to charge forward so much. Ideally I'd have brought Breitner into the middle and brought on Brehme for Gullit, but I can't because of the nationality rule.

I probably shouldn't be mentioning this, but someone else would bring it up anyway. You're allowed to bring on a player of the same nationality as a sub, just not to start off with.

Just as well for you cause I really don't see Gullit in any way, shape or form functioning as a 'hard tackling defensive midfelder'.

Me either, though Ruud is a big fella. OK then, it's Breitner into the hard tackling defensive midfield role alongside Maka, with Brehme taking over at left back and Ruud making way for him. Thanks for letting me know

Makelele still the weakest link, but certainly better than what it was.

The fact that he's a big fella has little to do with his defensive abilities.

I remember Ruud Gullit playing as sweeper quite a few times, he did a great job there, though obviously his best position at the height of his career was further forward.

Yep, mainly off of van Basten.

Just under 24 hours left now, I hope that I can make some sort of comeback.

I guess someone changed their vote?