RealGM

Round 1
cgf 0:1 MountainDrew
poeman 7:2 truth18

Round 2
BUCKnation 9:3 poeman
truth18 4:7 cgf

Round 3
truth18 3:5 MountainDrew
BUCKnation 6:3 cgf

Round 4
cgf 0:1 poeman
MountainDrew 4:8 BUCKnation

Round 5
BUCKnation 5:2 truth18
poeman 5:2 MountainDrew

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Voting begins (Match kicks off) at 6PM CET every other day & lasts for 44 hours. Please submit lineups prior to kick-off.

Bony and Falcao are an interesting duo, both are more finishers than creators but both present very different threats stylistically and rather than combat that by bringing Sachi on to form a back three I figure we'll just starve them of service. Having Luiz charge forward to join Strootman and Schneiderlin in the battle for midfield is a very interesting dynamic, but with neither bony nor falcao being the greatest pressers my skilled back two and witsel should be able to play right around those two so that we can simply overwhelm that midfield. With Luiz charging out of position and James leaving the right flank open for Suarez to do what he wants through, Costa and Firmino will get to thrive overloading the CB who isn't trying to close down on El Vampire.

While we'll certainly give them some chances to break if our pressing isn't clicking, I don't think we'd actually give them to much hope other than long balls over the top, where my speedy backline should be able to keep MntDrew's not-particularly-blazing front two in check and under pressure enough for Leno to clean up anything that does get through.

http://lineupbuilder.com/2014/custom/?sk=411s

Obviously the strike force of Costa and Suarez will be very hard to stop, but due to the lack of width in cgf's team, I think he will have a hard time supplying them with crosses, and Strootman and Schneiderlin will break up play a lot and disturb the attacks through the middle. On attack, I will be looking to counter a lot with James and Navas with usually Strootman or Luiz playing the passes, or playing long balls to Bony or Falcao. For example Bony heads it down to Navas who crosses it to Falcao or cuts it back to Draxler or James for a long shot.

Of course Luiz will bomb forward occasionally, but my Cdms can provide great cover for him. With cgf's lack of width my 3 at the back should work quite well, and Cech should be able to stop any longshot Suarez or Costa may try if they can't get in close. If I give Suarez too much room I can always have Luiz or Strootman shadowing him.

Especially on the counter I think I will get plenty opportunity as his cb's will make mistakes on the ball and the pace of James and Navas will punish that, as both are also excellent passers and James a good distance shooter as well.

All James and Navas need to do defensively is follow after the fullbacks and I think he will have a hard time reaching his strikers. Good luck breaking through my back 3 + Strootman Schneiderlin and Cech.

Captain: Gigi Buffon

Bench
ST - Antonio Di Natale
CDM/CM - John Obi Mikel
CB - Simon Kjær
LB - Jordi Alba


First group match is against truth18...Tactically, my approach is to roll our primary formation of
4-3-3 (ST - RW/LW - CAM/CM/CM - LB/CB/CB/RB)

Big change in this lineup is going into this game with Bedimo (Rated Ligue 1's best leftback of the 2014 season) to contain truth18's best player Reus. In addition, I also have Pogba and Hernanes in the middle of the pitch who play a all-round game but Pogba will be playing more of a central defense role per the tactics to the left hand side and to manage Reus as a responsibility too.

Biggest strength is our overall speed and passing ability up front. The combination of Ribery + Sneijder + Pedro (who at times will roll into the box as a false 9) will be too cause high levels of possession on the wing. With the truth's defense backs on the wing there will be tough time to contain the offense...I believe Ribery and Pedro will have excellent games here. My midfield has the quickness and will play even with Pogba leaning more left to ensure a Reus does not get much possession.

On my defense, again speed, tackling, and high defense rate of this group will allow manage truth18's offense, Seamus can be sent on some counterattacking runs. And our captain, Buffon will be there to hold the fort.

If at all folks think we will fall behind then in the second half I would roll out Di Natale for Pedro and Alba for Bedimo.

Will post shortly after work today

I just don't see that backline and midfield holding up against our pressing, meaning long balls to bony/Falcao are the only route for you. As for my attack width you're not getting the roles of my front 3. Firmino flourished this year drifting all over the attack third looking for gaps to charge through, with Suarez and costa starting off of the outside shoulder of your outside centerbacks and no wing backs to track back well we have all of the width we need while also being able to outnumber you through the middle. This would be a fun game, but I'm pretty sure my boys would win 3-1 or 4-2.

Neither one of your centerbacks are particularly strong in the air, Bony and Falcao would dominate that. And when we take over possesion we will have enough pace to counter.

Even if Bony and Falcao aren't the most active in the pressing, they're not just going to allow your defenders to get right past them like you're suggesting. They will make mistakes, and I have the means with Draxler, Navas and James to punish that.

MountainDrew wrote:Neither one of your centerbacks are particularly strong in the air, Bony and Falcao would dominate that. And when we take over possesion we will have enough pace to counter.

Even if Bony and Falcao aren't the most active in the pressing, they're not just going to allow your defenders to get right past them like you're suggesting. They will make mistakes, and I have the means with Draxler, Navas and James to punish that.

Well Schär is actually great in the air but you're right about tongs giving ground there, that's why I thought about bringing Sachi on and going with a back three since he like Schär is a great athlete who's excellent in the air, but with Witsel dropping deep that triangle should have minimal issues moving past bony and Falcao, especially since none of James, Julian or Jesus are particularly renowned hounds behind them. So we should be able to swarm the midfield and dominate there cause I just don't see how your set up would let you press use effectively, whereas I love the way we match up when you try to build.

That's why I expect your team to have to fall deep and counter, where my quick backline should do well to contain your counters, and I just don't see your D managing to sustain too much steady pressure. You'd catch us out on the break a couple times and probably get at least one set piece goal where one of bony or Falcao can isolate on tongs, but I feel very comfortable about my guys putting 3 or more into your net and giving us the W via a hockey-score.

Gonna vote once we have truth's lineup.

Ted Lasso wrote:Gonna vote once we have truth's lineup.

Is there some way a mod can let some of us re-vote? I had thought I could make my second selection once truth posted so voted on my match and the last time I checked the vote tallies showed that I wasn't alone.

cgf wrote:

Ted Lasso wrote:Gonna vote once we have truth's lineup.

Is there some way a mod can let some of us re-vote? I had thought I could make my second selection once truth posted so voted on my match and the last time I checked the vote tallies showed that I wasn't alone.

I assumed people would be against re-votes. That's why i left the option off. I can turn it on for all the threads right now. Hope it doesn't reset the results though.

Edit: Done. I've made my selection for the first match-up. There are five of us waiting for truth18 now.

Cool beans. And I really should get back to bed and stop watching firmino videos on my phone or I'll end up finding a way that I can play him and Volland together in my next match...plus I'll get griped at when I get to bed, but that's much less of a concern

30 mins left - We need a tie-breaking vote.

I will incorporate a run-off into the next poll to decide between a cgf win and a MountainDrew win.

poeman has defeated truth18.

I think the difference in this game will come down to the CBs.

He has some very good fullbacks so working the wings will really only happen on the counter, since both like to push up the field. This leaves opportunities for Ibra and Aguero to be one on one. Also, none of his MFs have the best defensive workrates so I will definitely take advantage on the counter when the opportunity is there.

If we need more help centrally, I can use Lallana.

If I get a lead I can throw on Perez or Basa and play defensively since almost everyone on my squad can have a good defensive workrate if I want to go a little defensive to hold the lead.

I think I can help contain his offense by utilizing my great centerbacks and Toulalan to kill any play up the middle and on the wings, I think combined with the fullbacks defensive ability, both outside MFs have solid defensive play as well.

Overall, I think I can win based on the strikers vs. the center backs.

Captain: Gigi Buffon

Bench
CAM - Wesley Sneijder
CDM/CM - John Obi Mikel
CB - Simon Kjær
LB - Jordi Alba

Second group match is against Buck...Tactically, my approach is to roll a different formation of
4-4-2 (2) (ST/ST - RM/LM - CDM/CDM - LB/CB/CB/RB)

Buck mentions the difference in this game will come down to the CB's. Sure, but the full difference-maker between us is my backline against his attack.

Key tactic for my match is: Defensive Versatility
I mention this because my core strengths of my defense are three features: 1) Speed 2) Tackling 3) Heading

I have rolled out versatile midfielders in Pogba + Hernanes as CDMs here who can actually run the wide depth or manage the middle which will be their goal in this game.
Howedes + Sokratis + Pogba + Hernanes will have a core defensive box system in the middle to handle the middle attack of Buck's team. Ah, then there is Captain Buffon, our leader and rock of the team.

Now, where I will stand out vs. Buck is in the area of BALANCE. The problem is players like Candreva, Oscar, Schurrle, Aguero are small in height and can be pushed off the ball. Once that occurs there is very little help on the DEEP WIDE to contain Ribery or Pedro...He has Toulalan, but he cannot defensively manage the whole midfield running deep wide left to right for a large part of the game.

My subs are key...If needed to I can sub out Di Natale for Obi Mikel if I have the lead to contain and close out the win and shift to (4-1-4-1) OR bring in Snejider for Di Natale and Alba for Bedimo and shift to 4-3-3 if I am down in the game.

Goal scoring wise...Having his defense contain Mandzukic + Di Natale (Both top 3 goal scorers of their leagues) will be tough as both are intelligent. Mandzukic and Di Natale are the perfect Dynamic. One is Finesse and the other is Power, and with my balanced approach we can score a couple against the aggressor team and shut it down rest of the way.

Will post my squad in about two hours when I'll have time to sit down and go through the draft thread to try to figure out who all is on truth's team to guess at how they'd play though I'm thinking I may bring Sachi on for Firmino toforce them to dictate the play and not give them room to counter.

cgf wrote:Will post my squad in about two hours when I'll have time to sit down and go through the draft thread to try to figure out who all is on truth's team to guess at how they'd play though I'm thinking I may bring Sachi on for Firmino toforce them to dictate the play and not give them room to counter.

Look at the squad thread...he posted his squad and players there, should be on this or the next page

Yeah but there he said he was planning on using a different strategy and not all of his subs are listed. Still though, looking at his squad I'm planning to sit back and let him carry the play. Reus is amazing, Sturridge is a very good striker up the middle and the bender/khedira pairing are tough to deal with.behind the young and exciting coutinho...but his attack is one catered to working at full speed and countering through space, Reus can make magic happen even if he doesn't have space to just fly past everyone, but on the right and the liverpool duo love to work in space.

If we drop deep and force him to build patiently I'm feeling pretty good about forcing some misplaced passes from Sven/Dante/Skrtel as they work around Suarez/Costa, especially going to be targetting Sven, who's not very secure on the ball and if modric or nainggolan are breaking on him every time he gets the ball he will make mistakes with it if he's touching it a lot. So we're bringing on sachi to go with a back three that lets the two outside guys help their wing backs contain reus when he's on their flank while the other cheats in on sturridge up the middle, I'm okay with nani or HBA going one on one with either WB, even though Ben Arfa can pull things out of his ass that are really extraordinary if he's feeling like it and not-hungover. Sticking with the midfield trio in lieu of a third out and out attacker, though modric will be free to charge up into the attack and nainggolan's workrate will bring him forward as well.

If we're struggling to break the deadlock one of Firmino, Volland or Dzagoev will come on for Nainggolan to push up off the front two, with modric dropping back a bit to join witsel in a double pivot in front of the back 5.

Sorry about the first round guys! I didn't have internet access all day yesterday. Ill post my stuff for this round very soon. My fault again