RealGM Forum Draft 2015 KNOCKOUT PHASE (Semi Finals)

[Baphomet]

The smell of squeaky bums in the air and these high quality graphics can only mean one thing: It's time for the knockout phase! Our teams have had to contend with the foul machinations of Football Manager 2015 and our honourary arbiter treiz to get this far. Now they have to contend with them again, and then some. Who will win the GMgoran Cup?



Semis are decided in a best of 5 format! 3 judge votes, and if necessary, 2 simulations via FM2015.

[J-Mezzy]

Will each match up have its own thread?

[cgf]

We'll be using a back three against Cavani and Bacca with Biscuits sitting in front to stiffle Isco, Alaba and Vierinha running around in front of him going to war with Pogba and Vidal. Suarez and Dybala will back off the CBs in pressing and focus on disrupting their buildup when it reaches Koke by cutting off his options to play the ball into Pogba/Vidal and pressuring him into hopeful long balls, balls to the wings and back passes.

In attack we will counter at speed. If we are chasing the match but doing well in midfield Eriksen comes on for Busquets to keep the back three to check Cavani-Bacca.



If we are chasing the match and struggling in midfield Dominguez comes off for Eriksen so we can match their numbers in the middle while pressing our advantage at FB.

[Baphomet]

Will each match up have its own thread?

I don't think there's any need, to be honest. I don't see things moving fast enough that we'd lose track of matchups. Plus, it reduces the amount of clutter on the forum. I can update this thread and OP as we proceed through each round. I might make a new thread for the final if there's enough demand for that.

[ILC]

I'll post my tactics later...

[truth18]

I'll post the sims as tactics are posted/my time allows.

Keep in mind you can customize anything including captains, penalty takers, etc, so if there is something specific for this match up that you want, please specify.

[ILC]

I'm going with 4-2-3-1 @truth...

Sirigu, Piszczek, Howedes, Benatia, Rojo; Pogba, Vidal; Candreva, Isco, Konoplyanka; Cavani.

Barzagli, Koke and Bacca on the bench.

You can sim our games right away...

[BUCKnation]

This is my A lineup.

Have 90+ goals from the front 3. Top 5 assister (real word?) in the world in Payet. Destroyer in Krychowiak and box to box in Matuidi. The backline comprises of top players at each position, with the last man a top 3 BL keeper.

Toulalan and Glik add defense off the bench, while all three guys front three are versatile enough to where I can switch to a more defensive set up if needed by going with a 2 striker set up. I have a lot of pace and skill and the stats speak for themselves. Wijnaldium can backup anyone coming off a great year at Ajax where he was a top player in the league.

Offense shouldn't be a problem and the defense is more than solid.

[truth18]

I was about to run the sim, but saw CGF is talking about Bacca. Bacca is coming off the bench...

Edit: he pmed me the real tactics. Will sim shortly, and then the other games as they come in

[cgf]

My bad guys, I could've sworn Capitano was using Cavani and Bacca up top (thus the back 3)...maybe I was thinking of his post in the group stage thread. If Bacca's on the bench we'd use the 4-3-1-2 option.

EDIT:
But I dunno if it's kosher for me to change my lineup after seeing his since I posted first. If Capitano tweaked his shape to matchup better against the shape I picked to matchup better against him, that's fair play. If I adapted mine to adapt to his adaptation, then I couldn't really tell him not to adapt his shape again, you know? One of us has to get the last change or we'll never set the rosters.

So I'm ok with just running it as is with me using the wrong shape in the first leg if that's what y'all decide...though I would change my shape for the second leg; and second half of the first leg if we don't have a big lead to sit on.

[ILC]

That was before I changed my tactic and Bacca was in front with Cavani. I changed it because of his changes. If he changes again, I'm changing also...

EDIT:

[cgf]

That was before I changed my tactic and Bacca was in front with Cavani. I changed it because of his changes. If he changes again, I'm changing also...

I thought this might be the case. So how about you get last change in one leg and I get it in the other? First leg I'll use my 3-5-2 and you can use the 4-2-3-1 you changed to. Then in the second leg you pick first and I'll adapt to whichever shape you pick.

Does that sound like a reasonable resolution?

[Fury]

Truth, run with what I have. Ain't fixing what's working. Muller stays up front, as long as we've been using the first formation.

CF: Muller
LW: Shaqiri CAM: Ozil RW: Navas
CM: Parejo
CDM: Matic
LB: Gaya CB: Laporte CB: Godin RB: De Marcos
GK: Lloris

Sub in Pjanic for Ozil late in game if he's mad tired
Sub in Higuain for Navas if we're trailing after halftime, move Ozil to RW and play Higuain behind Muller
Don't think we'll need Paco

[ILC]

That was before I changed my tactic and Bacca was in front with Cavani. I changed it because of his changes. If he changes again, I'm changing also...

I thought this might be the case. So how about you get last change in one leg and I get it in the other? First leg I'll use my 3-5-2 and you can use the 4-2-3-1 you changed to. Then in the second leg you pick first and I'll adapt to whichever shape you pick.

Does that sound like a reasonable resolution?

How about we both pm him with final changes and let that be it?

[cgf]

That was before I changed my tactic and Bacca was in front with Cavani. I changed it because of his changes. If he changes again, I'm changing also...

I thought this might be the case. So how about you get last change in one leg and I get it in the other? First leg I'll use my 3-5-2 and you can use the 4-2-3-1 you changed to. Then in the second leg you pick first and I'll adapt to whichever shape you pick.

Does that sound like a reasonable resolution?

How about we both pm him with final changes and let that be it?

That works for me to.

[truth18]

Well, Howedes really **** you IlCapitano

I admit, I was rooting for you, my Celtics brother, but the first leg was brutal. 4-1 Nathan/CGF. Everything looked fine until Howedes cleared the ball poorly and Suarez got his head on it. Suarez then ran down the field, somehow beat whoever was running after it on your defense, Sirigu ran out too far, and the goal was inevitable. Howedes just hung his head and walked towards the goal. After that the team just seemed to mentally fall apart, and again, Howedes made a huge mistake with his foul leading to a penalty.

Rough game, man, sorry.

You got your Suarez goals, CGF. Smh. This game loves your team.

Second leg was also crazy! After going up 2-0, IlCapitano's team had an offensive barrage unleashed by Suarez, who was stripped of the ball in the box at key moments/had several key shots blocked. IC's defense proved the difference maker, putting up a valiant effort in the final four minutes.

Photo is from a crazy pass from Kono to Cavani (it was on sides don't worry )

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4-1, LNGF

2-1, IC

[truth18]

Should I do a third simulation?

[El Turco]

isnt treiz still judging? let him break the tie imo

[truth18]

isnt treiz still judging? let him break the tie imo

Sounds good.

[Andi Obst]

Damn, looks like that loss in the second game was really unnecessary

Thanks for doing this, truth! Fun stuff.