RealGM

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

Please select two teams to advance

Team 5DOM

Team BUCKnation.



4-3-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 depending on how I'm feeling.

Manager: Marcello Lippi

Free left role for Suarez, he can cut in or drop deeper to play 1-2s with Kagawa. Center forward in Chicharito because of his dangerous form currently. Kagawa will link midfield to attack and drop deep when possession is required. Verratti is my traditional midfielder and Martinez will pretty much shield the back 4, Cole & Navas have all the invitation to bomb forward and throw crosses into the box. Carvajal will at times overlap with Navas.

Bench:

Sahin (I can bring him on if I need a better grip on midfield and take Chicharito off, play Kagawa on the inside left and Suarez up top).
Ever Banega (Additional option for midfield or can play as a #9, cover for Kagawa, can throw away a defender in Godin and play Martinez as center back if need to chase a game.)
Gaitan as super sub option or play ahead of Navas or Kagawa, depending on form and fitness
Skrtel for defensive cover
Aaron Lennon another option for the right wing to open up a close game

Team Red Star



4-2-3-1

Can anybody vote?

Not yet. Once all the formations are posted, voting will be opened to all.

IMO this is definitely the strongest group and the only one I can't pick two winners from.

Voting is now open. This group is tough indeed. Hard to pick the top teams. Pretty close voting so far.

Bucksnation has the best defense in the group and Ronaldo+Balo upfront, with two playmakers in Cazorla and Blaszczykowski.

Bucks.

I like 5DOM's midfield and attack though. Good flow and work rate.

I choose Slava as first place. He's going through for sure. Perfect balance in every area of the field.

The other I can't choose tbh. Gonna take some time.

J-Mezzy wrote:I like 5DOM's midfield and attack though. Good flow and work rate.

It's really good, I'm a little concerned about the lack of width.

I'm a big fan of 4thQ's team.

Not a whole lot of weaknesses in that squad (other than maybe Höwedes who sometimes does stupid things).

bbms wrote:Bucksnation has the best defense in the group and Ronaldo+Balo upfront, with two playmakers in Cazorla and Blaszczykowski.

Bucks.

I appreciate the support.

Foye wrote:I'm a big fan of 4thQ's team.

Not a whole lot of weaknesses in that squad (other than maybe Höwedes who sometimes does stupid things).

Thanks Foye, love your team, I think you have one of the strongest teams in the tournament.

Voting is very close here. Wonder how long we should leave voting open, hopefully we don't get a tie.

I wonder why Slava's team isn't getting any more votes.

Lopez is one of the most in form keepers in the world. Ivanovic was one of the best CBs in the league this year, Godin is good too. Carvajal is IMO the best attacking right back in the world, and Cole is brilliant on that end too but he can hang back if cover is required. Martinez is the best CDM in the world, and he should be able to replicate the successful Bayern parternship he had with Bastian with the best young DLP in the world in Veratti.

Up front, he has pace in Navas and Chicarito, creativity in Suarez and Kagawa, and amazing technical ability and finishing all across the board.

This group is so good but he's the only one I can select to advance for sure.

ardee wrote:I wonder why Slava's team isn't getting any more votes.

Lopez is one of the most in form keepers in the world. Ivanovic was one of the best CBs in the league this year, Godin is good too. Carvajal is IMO the best attacking right back in the world, and Cole is brilliant on that end too but he can hang back if cover is required. Martinez is the best CDM in the world, and he should be able to replicate the successful Bayern parternship he had with Bastian with the best young DLP in the world in Veratti.

Up front, he has pace in Navas and Chicarito, creativity in Suarez and Kagawa, and amazing technical ability and finishing all across the board.

This group is so good but he's the only one I can select to advance for sure.

I feel a lot of hyperbole but I do like slava's team. Think that the holes you can exploit are much less than with 4thq and Bucknation, although all 3 were very close. 5dom IMO has the strongest team though. Will think more about how they specifically match up tomorrow and maybe change my vote

Yeah, the only weakness I thought of in my team was the inexperience of Verratti to orchestrate the offense but I thought Kagawa could drop deeper to link midfield and attack. I'm surprised by the slight gap in the results even though I expected all 4 teams to have close to the same votes.

This is a tough group.