RealGM

The Rules:

1. You will have 24 hours to PM your tactics to Baphomet before each round of polls open (this applies to the second round of fixtures and onwards, don't worry about it for the first polls, we already have the tactics in the thread). If you don't get your match day tactics sent to Baphomet in time, your default formation from the squads thread will be used.
2. Each voter will get 2 votes per poll, one for each matchup per round of polls. Yes, you are allowed to vote for yourself
3. As per standard group stage rules, you will get 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss.
4. Tiebreakers in the group stage are determined thusly in this order: Head-to-head vote differential > overall vote differential (think goal difference) > total votes
5. When the group phase is finished, we enter the last 8 knockout phase, where the winner of Group A will play the runner-up of group B, and vice versa. The winner of Group C will play the winner of Group D, and vice versa.

Group C: Matty, Baphomet, sleepyvato, MaliBrah

Match Day 1:
-Matty vs. Baphomet (1-6)
-sleepyvato vs. MaliBrah (3-3)

Match Day 2:
-Matty vs. sleepyvato - 2-5
-Baphomet vs. MaliBrah - DRAW (votes 1-3)

Match Day 3:
-Matty vs. MaliBrah - DRAW (votes 1-2)
-Baphomet vs. sleepyvato - DRAW (votes 0-2)

Vs. MaliBrah



Subs

Sandro Ramírez
Willian
Adrien Rabiot
Andreas Christensen

Tactics

As you can see, I proudly present an excellently balanced team with a good mix of youth as well as experience.

In goal I have Gianluigi Donnarumma, who despite only being 18 years old, is a player mature beyond his years and he was one of the best goalkeepers in Europe this past season. It is no coincidence that big clubs like Real Madrid and Juventus have shown some serious interest in him.

On defense, I have Laurent Koscielny playing the sweeper role, sweeping up balls from behind the defensive line with his great concentration and strong intercepting abilities. Right next to him will be Mats Hummels and his main job will be to stop the opposing attacker, win the ball without giving away a free kick and get it cleared safely up field in a no-nonsense manner. He’ll have a stopper duty, meaning that he’ll push ahead of the defensive line and close down players before they get to the area. Hummels paired with Koscielny in a stopper role will form one of the best CB pairings in this tournament. My full-backs, Benjamin Mendy and Antonio Valencia will focus on providing extra width on the midfield and looking to cross or put in a through ball whenever the opportunity for each arises. On defense, they will focus predominantly on their defensive duties. My FB's may not be the flashiest in this tournament but they are solid all around players that will get the job done on a consistent basis.

In midfield, I have both Moussa Dembélé and Arturo Vidal playing the roles of box to box midfielders, they will push up to support the attack, often surging late into the box to get on the end of crosses and pull backs as well as providing a threat from distance. On defense, their roles will shift to a somewhat related role, with the main function of closing down the opposition and winning the ball, while also helping keep possession. They will also cover my FB's positions if they decide to go up to support my offense. I also have David Silva playing as an advanced playmaker, he will aim to drop into holes between the opposition’s midfield and defense, gaining his ground and looking to spray passes to support my offense. On defense, Silva will provide more defensive security in the middle by tracking back to help the midfield, while also being quick and astute enough to start a counter-attack when he wins back possession.

In attack, my team shows a lot of quality starting with Neymar on the left wing, he will aim to beat his man on the outside, ready to surge into space. When going forward, he’ll try and run at the defense in the final third, causing panic and indecision prior to shooting or attempting to make a through ball/cross to a teammate. On defense, Neymar will aim to press the opposing full backs, win the ball high up the pitch and either hold it up for the rest of the team, drive to the byline or get in a quick cross or put in a through ball. On the opposite wing I have Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, he will aim to cut inside from the flanks with the options of shooting, passing or crossing as he moves into the final third. On defense, Carrasco will perform the same duties as Neymar. Last but certainly not least, I have Zlatan Ibrahimović up top, who will mainly focus on taking advantage of the opportunities provided to him by the rest of my team and he will have no defensive duties to worry about.

Set Pieces and winning/losing situation

Set piece taker: David Silva (except direct FK’s – Neymar).
Penalty kick taker: Zlatan Ibrahimović.

If winning by the 80th minute: Sub on Adrien Rabiot for David Silva and Willian for Carrasco then switch to a 4-3-3 formation.
If losing by the 80th minute: Sub on Sandro Ramirez for David Silva, Willian for Carrasco then switch to a 4-4-2 formation.

Tactics vs. Matty:



Subs:

CB: Tah
DM/CM: Biglia
AM: Tadic
ST: Stindl

My main strategy against a team with as much attacking talent as Matty's is simple: Stifle and harrass the midfield supply of Busquets/Fabregas, and use those balls won in midfield to attack quickly and efficiently. That responsibility falls largely to Strootman and Fabinho, excellent ball winners who can turn defence into attack instantly, but it's the job of the entire team to press whilst minimizing pockets of space opening up when not in possession of the ball. Press in numbers effectively and often, giving the midfield no time or space to find forward players.

My attacking personnel fits that M.O. to a T: Insigne, Bernardo Silva and the prolific Aguero (64 goals between them in 16/17), supplied by Isco playing a free role behind the striker, either to provide or to try to penetrate the back four with his crafty movement. Matty has a great goalkeeper and solid defence overall, so I believe my best chances will come when his defence isn't set. On the flipside, my own defence is very experienced at the highest level too with players like Pique and Azpilicueta.

Disciplined and patient without the ball, fast and ferocious with it.

Gonna keep this short for lack of time. On paper the talent on this squad overwhelms Baph's team.
My GK is is the undisputed No.1 in Germany, Stegen will probably take over that role in the future but has a long way to go.
My back 4 lineup is far more mentally and physically tougher. In addition you can always count on Ramos in set-piece situations to go for the risky headers.
Fabregas and Busquets are naturally fit to play together more than Strootman and Fabinho who fit the same descriptions as holding midfielders but players that can't move the ball up swiftly as Fabregas who racked 12 assists for 2nd in the PL in a very limited role I might add.
The fluidity between the Buquests - Fabregas - Dybala connection will allow players like Reus and Lucas to run through channels frequently and find Lukaku in the box

-------Suarez-------Mandzukic--------
--------Hamsik----------Khedira---
-----------------Rakitic ------------------
Guerreiro------------------------------Walker
-----Chiellini---Boateng----Rugani
------------------Cech-----------

Bench
Mahrez
Paredes
Dahoud
Coman

As you can see i've gone with a 3-5-2 formation with a highly energetic midfield and LWB with the skills to play midfield and a RWB that does not stop running and can provide attacking width. I feel that by outnumbering Sleepyvato's CM's I can gain an advantage in this match.My front two have incredible work rates and features a target man in Mandzukic and an all around threat in Suarez and I feel like they can play off each other well to create and score goals. I have a solid back 3 of CB's that can defend as well as play from out the back.

If i'm leading and want to close out the game I believe I can sub in one of my CM's off the bench in Dahoud and Paredes and take off a forward or take off a fatigued CM. If I need a goal I have Mahrez and Coman that can come in for a fullback and we can revert to 4-3-3 with Mandzukic playing off the left , Suarez in the middle , and Coman or Mahrez out wide. Mandzukic out left is very unconventional but it was pretty darn effective for Juventus and Allegri this season and he was pretty much a top 3 performer for Juve this season from there.

*will add more but I'm short for time right now*

sleepyvato vs. MaliBrah

Really tough matchup and one that I would personally love to see come to fruition whether it be in a simulation or real life.

I feel like this particular matchup will fall down on the play of the full-back/wingback as well as the intelligence of the attacking players. The midfield of both is so good, but they all like to cut in and occupy the middle positions so it could get congested in there, so it also comes down who is more intelligent in using the space. However I believe that a Khedira/Hamsik/Rakitic trio (with the help of Suarez, or even Boateng stepping up from defence) will outwork Silva/Vidal/Dembele (Ibra is talented but this midfield could get overrun).

Saying that, I think this matchup goes to MaliBrah for me. I trust his FBs to do a ton more damage and for Walker/Guerreiro to outduel Mendy/Valencia mainly because Walker/Guerreiro have sufficient cover should they bomb forward due to the 3-5-2 formation and you have two players (Chiellini and Rugiani) comfortable to go out wide and help out. Whereas I don't trust (with good reason) for Neymar/Carrasco to do the same (maybe Willian would help but then you forgo Carrasco's pace).

Winner: MaliBrah by a hair

Matty vs. Baphomet

I'm gonna have to give this one to Baph, just due to the simple notion of I trust Baphs defence much more than Mattys. Fair enough, Matty has Busquets covering and Ramos is terrific, but the rest is underwhelming. Especially when it comes to dealing with an attack with Aguero's all-around ability, as well as the creativity/nouse/pace of a Insigne/Isco/B. Silva trio. Also, if Baph's strategy is to stifle the trio of Cesc/Busquets/Dybala, I feel that he has the perfect midfielders to do it in Strootman/Fabinho/Isco who are also great passers/dribblers who can initiate a quick mini counter-attack after winning the ball. That constant pressure on Matty's back line I feel will eventually keel over.

Winner: Baphomet

Nice, our first verdicts. Appreciate the effort treiz. Looking forward to all of the judges' analysis.

I don't envy you guys, I remember doing this in 2015 and it was incredibly difficult to choose between some of these great teams.

Baphomet wrote:Nice, our first verdicts. Appreciate the effort treiz. Looking forward to all of the judges' analysis.

I don't envy you guys, I remember doing this in 2015 and it was incredibly difficult to choose between some of these great teams.

I remember the dissertation-like essays I used to do, think I had more words on those ones than my actual dissertation

Hey guys apologies for the brevity here, I'm in Wales for the weekend herding sheep or something so internet is spotty. Ducking into a cafe to note that...

MaliBrah over sleepyvato

I know 3-5-2 is really in vogue now and can skew opinions, but there's no way two out and out wingers paired with Dembele/Vidal will be able to track two pacey, high workrate wingbacks. At least not IMO. I think this would be less of an issue if the 10 had a higher workrate or the 9 came back on defense a bit more, but you're gambling that you can win a 3-2 match with that kind of squad. Not to mention the defense is a bit shakey IMO with attacking minded outside backs. As for Mali, that defense is just too good. CBs are incredibly smart and the central players are good enough to funnel it to Suarez. It's a battle of styles and I think Mali wins.

Matty draws against Bapho

That CM triangle is nuts and they complement each other so well. Dybala is free to play an attacking role instead of lone striker and Lukaku provides that final outlet.

I really like Bapho's team and think that CB pairing is incredible, honestly this is a 50/50 matchup each time these two teams would play. In form Isco/Aguero is a potent partnership and while the Stroot/Fab pairing is great at stopping nearly any CM trio, I just think it would be tough to stop that chemistry the Spaniards already have while also having a wildcard like Dybala. That said neither team blows the other off the page and I recommend you be in for a lot of 1-1 draws.

Sorry this isn't super long fellas!

Matchday 1

Matty

Matty wrote:


Gonna keep this short for lack of time. On paper the talent on this squad overwhelms Baph's team.
My GK is is the undisputed No.1 in Germany, Stegen will probably take over that role in the future but has a long way to go.
My back 4 lineup is far more mentally and physically tougher. In addition you can always count on Ramos in set-piece situations to go for the risky headers.
Fabregas and Busquets are naturally fit to play together more than Strootman and Fabinho who fit the same descriptions as holding midfielders but players that can't move the ball up swiftly as Fabregas who racked 12 assists for 2nd in the PL in a very limited role I might add.
The fluidity between the Buquests - Fabregas - Dybala connection will allow players like Reus and Lucas to run through channels frequently and find Lukaku in the box

vs.

Baphomet

Baphomet wrote:Tactics vs. Matty:



Subs:

CB: Tah
DM/CM: Biglia
AM: Tadic
ST: Stindl

My main strategy against a team with as much attacking talent as Matty's is simple: Stifle and harrass the midfield supply of Busquets/Fabregas, and use those balls won in midfield to attack quickly and efficiently. That responsibility falls largely to Strootman and Fabinho, excellent ball winners who can turn defence into attack instantly, but it's the job of the entire team to press whilst minimizing pockets of space opening up when not in possession of the ball. Press in numbers effectively and often, giving the midfield no time or space to find forward players.

My attacking personnel fits that M.O. to a T: Insigne, Bernardo Silva and the prolific Aguero (64 goals between them in 16/17), supplied by Isco playing a free role behind the striker, either to provide or to try to penetrate the back four with his crafty movement. Matty has a great goalkeeper and solid defence overall, so I believe my best chances will come when his defence isn't set. On the flipside, my own defence is very experienced at the highest level too with players like Pique and Azpilicueta.

Disciplined and patient without the ball, fast and ferocious with it.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

sleepyvato

sleepyvato wrote:Vs. MaliBrah



Subs

Sandro Ramírez
Willian
Adrien Rabiot
Andreas Christensen

Tactics

As you can see, I proudly present an excellently balanced team with a good mix of youth as well as experience.

In goal I have Gianluigi Donnarumma, who despite only being 18 years old, is a player mature beyond his years and he was one of the best goalkeepers in Europe this past season. It is no coincidence that big clubs like Real Madrid and Juventus have shown some serious interest in him.

On defense, I have Laurent Koscielny playing the sweeper role, sweeping up balls from behind the defensive line with his great concentration and strong intercepting abilities. Right next to him will be Mats Hummels and his main job will be to stop the opposing attacker, win the ball without giving away a free kick and get it cleared safely up field in a no-nonsense manner. He’ll have a stopper duty, meaning that he’ll push ahead of the defensive line and close down players before they get to the area. Hummels paired with Koscielny in a stopper role will form one of the best CB pairings in this tournament. My full-backs, Benjamin Mendy and Antonio Valencia will focus on providing extra width on the midfield and looking to cross or put in a through ball whenever the opportunity for each arises. On defense, they will focus predominantly on their defensive duties. My FB's may not be the flashiest in this tournament but they are solid all around players that will get the job done on a consistent basis.

In midfield, I have both Moussa Dembélé and Arturo Vidal playing the roles of box to box midfielders, they will push up to support the attack, often surging late into the box to get on the end of crosses and pull backs as well as providing a threat from distance. On defense, their roles will shift to a somewhat related role, with the main function of closing down the opposition and winning the ball, while also helping keep possession. They will also cover my FB's positions if they decide to go up to support my offense. I also have David Silva playing as an advanced playmaker, he will aim to drop into holes between the opposition’s midfield and defense, gaining his ground and looking to spray passes to support my offense. On defense, Silva will provide more defensive security in the middle by tracking back to help the midfield, while also being quick and astute enough to start a counter-attack when he wins back possession.

In attack, my team shows a lot of quality starting with Neymar on the left wing, he will aim to beat his man on the outside, ready to surge into space. When going forward, he’ll try and run at the defense in the final third, causing panic and indecision prior to shooting or attempting to make a through ball/cross to a teammate. On defense, Neymar will aim to press the opposing full backs, win the ball high up the pitch and either hold it up for the rest of the team, drive to the byline or get in a quick cross or put in a through ball. On the opposite wing I have Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, he will aim to cut inside from the flanks with the options of shooting, passing or crossing as he moves into the final third. On defense, Carrasco will perform the same duties as Neymar. Last but certainly not least, I have Zlatan Ibrahimović up top, who will mainly focus on taking advantage of the opportunities provided to him by the rest of my team and he will have no defensive duties to worry about.

Set Pieces and winning/losing situation

Set piece taker: David Silva (except direct FK’s – Neymar).
Penalty kick taker: Zlatan Ibrahimović.

If winning by the 80th minute: Sub on Adrien Rabiot for David Silva and Willian for Carrasco then switch to a 4-3-3 formation.
If losing by the 80th minute: Sub on Sandro Ramirez for David Silva, Willian for Carrasco then switch to a 4-4-2 formation.

vs.

MaliBrah

MaliBrah wrote:-------Suarez-------Mandzukic--------
--------Hamsik----------Khedira---
-----------------Rakitic ------------------
Guerreiro------------------------------Walker
-----Chiellini---Boateng----Rugani
------------------Cech-----------

Bench
Mahrez
Paredes
Dahoud
Coman

As you can see i've gone with a 3-5-2 formation with a highly energetic midfield and LWB with the skills to play midfield and a RWB that does not stop running and can provide attacking width. I feel that by outnumbering Sleepyvato's CM's I can gain an advantage in this match.My front two have incredible work rates and features a target man in Mandzukic and an all around threat in Suarez and I feel like they can play off each other well to create and score goals. I have a solid back 3 of CB's that can defend as well as play from out the back.

If i'm leading and want to close out the game I believe I can sub in one of my CM's off the bench in Dahoud and Paredes and take off a forward or take off a fatigued CM. If I need a goal I have Mahrez and Coman that can come in for a fullback and we can revert to 4-3-3 with Mandzukic playing off the left , Suarez in the middle , and Coman or Mahrez out wide. Mandzukic out left is very unconventional but it was pretty darn effective for Juventus and Allegri this season and he was pretty much a top 3 performer for Juve this season from there.

*will add more but I'm short for time right now*

Matchday 2

Matty



Subs:

Tim Werner
Son Heung-Min
Mattias Ginter
Theo Hernandez

vs.

sleepyvato



Subs

Sandro Ramírez
Willian
Adrien Rabiot
Andreas Christensen

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Baphomet



Subs:

Jonathan Tah
Lucas Biglia
Dusan Tadic
Lars Stindl

vs.

MaliBrah

----------Suarez-------Mandzukic--------
--------Hamsik----------Khedira---
-----------------Rakitic ------------------
Guerreiro------------------------------Walker
-----Chiellini---Boateng----Rugani
----------------Cech-----------

Bench
Mahrez
Paredes
Dahoud
Coman

Matchday 3

Matty



Subs:

Tim Werner
Son Heung-Min
Mattias Ginter
Theo Hernandez

vs.

MaliBrah

----------Suarez-------Mandzukic--------
--------Hamsik----------Khedira---
-----------------Rakitic ------------------
Guerreiro------------------------------Walker
-----Chiellini---Boateng----Rugani
----------------Cech-----------

Bench
Mahrez
Paredes
Dahoud
Coman

------------------------------------------------------------

Baphomet



Subs:

Jonathan Tah
Lucas Biglia
Dusan Tadic
Lars Stindl

vs.

sleepyvato



Subs

Sandro Ramírez
Willian
Adrien Rabiot
Andreas Christensen