RealGM

Winner of this group faces the runner-up in Group A
Runner-up in this group faces the winner of Group A

Please select two teams to advance

Versatile 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree formation, with two center backs (Vertonghen and Koscielny) who can play fullback on their respective sides. Can also switch to a 3-5-1-1 by moving Srna (or bringing in Pereira for him on other side) to midfield to target specific weaknesses in opponents' defense, based on the substitutions available on my bench.

Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Bench: Jonny Evans, Aleksandar Kolarov, Samir Nasri, Lukas Podolski, Alvaro Negredo

All play through Carrick/Pirlo/Rooney in the center of the pitch. Spread it out wide to Rodriguez/Ramires with the wingbacks providing overlapping runs. Benteke in there for his finishing and physicality in the box. Center backs that are both extremely comfortable on the ball and overall a very attack-minded team. Ramires can drop back into midfield at times compensate for Dani Alves getting forward, which allows Rooney/Rodriguez more space to roam up top. Pellegrini's used 4-2-3-1 with success in the past so lots of familiarity there.

Subs would be dependent on matchup, but in tight situations with a 1 goal lead I could look to Jonny Evans over one of the wingbacks (likely taking Dani Alves out and moving Ramos to RB). Nasri offers more mobility in midfield and can play alongside one of Carrick/Pirlo or anywhere in behind the striker. Ramires has the versatility to drop back alongside one of Carrick/Pirlo also if the matchup requires it, so I could insert Nasri/Podolski in one of those 3 spots behind the striker. Negredo offers a target man off the bench (direct replacement for Benteke) while Kolarov is really just there as a left-footed set piece threat if we need one.

Boognish:

http://lineupbuilder.com/?sk=p8v

Subs: Dzeko, Mangala, Strootman, Vd Vaart, Munain

Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld

would be nice if somebody can post it as an image

lol i couldn't do it either.

Thanks Turco

Voting is now open.

Pretty tight race for 2nd place here.

Batu and bryant for me. Loving the Rooney-Carrick-Pirlo midfield wish that could happen in real life . Not a lot of weaknesses in Batu's team, he has the best player in the world, best RB in the world and keeper with some solid picks in Baines, Subotic, Gustovo, Bender. I also find Boognish's team underrated, midfield looks strong, not a big fan of Mandzukic though.

I like Batu's team the most but with the rest I do have some significant concerns. I like a lot of Bryant's players, but don't like how you're using them. If you took benteke off for a winger, played Rooney up top and let Ramires run for Pirlo and carrick I'd like your team more than Batu's but a Rooney-Carrick-Pirlo midfield lacks a lot of mobility and dynamism for my tastes. With boognish it's the defense that bothers me cause that midfield would be nasty together, especially with Manzo running wild up top, but schmelzer's an obvious weakness to exploit, and both Papa and Bads are prone to bad mistakes that'll leave handanovic out to dry. I think I'm going with Boogs and batu, but that probably wouldn't be the case if you lined up differently.

I liked Boognish & Bryant08's teams but a pretty tight group overall. For Kdawg's team, I'd consider Honda for Xelcuk in the starting line up.

SlavaMedvedenko wrote:I'd consider Honda for Xelcuk in the starting line up.

say again...

The balance in Batu's team leads this group, I actually have that along with nmabdi's team as the favourite to win this

Boog's team seems pretty similar.

My problem with Bryant's team is that there's not much mobility in the midfield, and the one that has some mobility is stuck in right wing, apart from Ramos too I'm not fully convinced with that defence.

I like kdawg's team mainly because of that Hazard-Bale-Higuain up top, but if I had to do a match-up between that team and Boog's team I'd have to take Boogs