Soccer Forum Premier League Era Draft Game Thread

Frankie Lee

Blatter wrote: »

He was fantastic in his first couple of seasons, pretty close to his peak.

I revised my post a minute before you posted that to say he was slightly past his best.

SlickRic

Frankie Lee wrote: »

I revised my post a minute before you posted that to say he was slightly past his best.

Not in those first seasons. Not at all.

Blatter

Frankie Lee wrote: »

There is nothing stopping him being put on the right but when it comes to a match up the opponent is entitled to say that the Premier League Era Bale has only played a handful of games on the right side and is inexperienced there.

You could say he wouldn't be as effective there because of that but it doest make it true. Bale had cut in from the right onto his left foot (in a free role) and bent the ball into the far corner several times. It would be obvious enough to me that he'd be highly effective there.

DildoFaggins

I would assume Bale would be best played in a CF role as a free roamer behind the ST that's where his best season was and where he most effective and clinical on goal.

Liam O

Well isn't this something you skipped me there Frankie, sorry.

Skylinehead

Fantastic pick with Overmars there Liam, superb player.

Frankie Lee

Sorry about that, quick rethink needed.

Liam O

Frankie Lee wrote: »

Sorry about that, quick rethink needed.

Really unlucky for you we both had the same player in mind.

Donnielighto

Overmars was the winger I was talking about, think he's a level above pires, love the guy.

SlickRic

Donnielighto wrote: »

Overmars was the winger I was talking about, think he's a level above pires, love the guy.

I'm biased, but there is no way.

Overmars was brilliantly direct at his best, but Pirés was so much better rounded in terms of what he offers.

eagle eye

Pick made and pm sent.

Hyppia was just too obvious a pick for me there. He should have went at the same time as the other great centre backs imo.

Oranage2

redzerdrog wrote: »

There us inly ine pkayer un t draft that comes aoywhre close to keane aentral mudfield that can do it all andthat is Viera

Not here to argue with you and I wish you all the best, but it's a dm position he's not going to win you a game, Where would keane come on an English website or a European website, top ten Yes but definitely near the end.

Donnielighto

SlickRic wrote: »

I'm biased, but there is no way.

Overmars was brilliantly direct at his best, but Pirés was so much better rounded in terms of what he offers.

I get what you mean, pires definetly a better playmaker but christ overmars was unreal both sides, very good a final balls whether crosses or shots. He produced.

bucketybuck

Oranage2 wrote: »

Not here to argue with you and I wish you all the best, but it's a dm position he's not going to win you a game

This idea of Defensive and Attacking midfielders is a relatively new thing, people seem to have forgotten that there used to be "midfielders" that were able to do both.

Keane was not a DM, he was not Makalele and he didn't sit in front of the defense all day, he very much had influence on the attacking side of the game.

Donnielighto

bucketybuck wrote: »

This idea of Defensive and Attacking midfielders is a relatively new thing, people seem to have forgotten that there used to be "midfielders" that were able to do both.

Keane was not a DM, he was not Makalele and he didn't sit in front of the defense all day, he very much had influence on the attacking side of the game.

Even when his knees started to go he didnt just sit either.

SlickRic

It was Desailly or Masch for me this round.

Good pick from Lloyd.

Ferris_Bueller

Blatter gets in Neville, really liking the look of his team. I find it strange that Ivanovic and (to a lesser extent) Irwin were both selected before Neville who is undoubtedly the best right back to play in the league.

Donnielighto

Ferris_Bueller wrote: »

Blatter gets in Neville, really liking the look of his team. I find it strange that Ivanovic and (to a lesser extent) Irwin were both selected before Neville who is undoubtedly the best right back to play in the league.

Well irwin gives you the option to go for a lb or rb without any penalty really, best choice for guaranteeing quality fbs imo. Ivanovic while a good cb will not match up to the other cbs here.

Skylinehead

Ivanovic is a poor CB, undoubtedly better at RB.

Oranage2

bucketybuck wrote: »

This idea of Defensive and Attacking midfielders is a relatively new thing, people seem to have forgotten that there used to be "mindfielders" that were able to do both.

Keane was not a DM, he was not Makalele and he didn't sit in front of the defense all day, he very much had influence on the attacking side of the game.

It's not new at all really, calling it dm might be but Keane was always the defensively minded mid and scholes the more attacking cm. And I never said he just sat in front of the defense I called him a midfield general type player in my first post.

Excellent pick and I don't really want to argue, just I wouldn't pick him as second choice.

qwabercd

DildoFaggins closed his account looks like a reserve will have to step in.

Bounty Hunter

Sherlock & LuckyLoyd have great spines and Blatter has arguably the best in their position in each of his 4 picks thus far so they would be my favourites so far but things can easily and quickly change

IncognitoMan

I think 16 teams might have been too much. 10 or 12 would have been a better number and might have kept things moving along faster.

Oranage2

Bounty Hunter wrote: »

Sherlock & Luckyloyd have great spines and Blatter has arguably the best in their position in each of his 4 picks thus far so they would be my favourites so far but things can easily and quickly change

Loyd has a great team, but look at buckety, that's some team.

I think klinesmen is a great find too, it'll be interesting though how people take to him considering the amount of time he played in the Prem

LuckyLloyd

McManaman was my next pick, great value at this juncture.

bucketybuck

Oranage2 wrote: »

I think klinesmen is a great find too, it'll be interesting though how people take to him considering the amount of time he played in the Prem

You can't argue his quality and you can't argue his impact, I think he meets the criteria for this draft more than some of the picks before him. My only concern is that because he is from early in the PL some younger posters may not fully appreciate how good he was, but its hard to legislate for that too much.

GavRedKing

qwabercd wrote: »

DildoFaggins closed his account looks like a reserve will have to step in.

Failing that, you could just put th 3 players he picked, back into the draft pick for the start of the next round.

LuckyLloyd

qwabercd wrote: »

DildoFaggins closed his account looks like a reserve will have to step in.

Do you want it?

bucketybuck

GavRedKing wrote: »

Failing that, you could just put th 3 players he picked, back into the draft pick for the start of the next round.

Not sure I'd agree with that, whoever gets to go first in round five will get a player who should have been an automatic first round pick, same for who goes second. Seems very unfair.

If a reserve is available I would go that route.

GavRedKing

bucketybuck wrote: »

Not sure I'd agree with that, whoever gets to go first in round five will get a player who should have been an automatic first round pick, same for who goes second. Seems very unfair.

If a reserve is available I would go that route.

Or.....those 3 players are just left as is and his name is taking from the draft, if someone isnt willing to take on his team.

Frankie Lee

I PM'd Pudsy33 who is first reserve about taking over, if he doesn't want it then BountyHunter is next in line.

LuckyLloyd

Surprised Ince is still around tbh. I'd question how many elite central midfield players are left btw. I think some teams are going to be weak in the engine room.

Team beginning to take shape. I can still go a couple of different directions with the formation - the option to play a traditional 4 - 4 - 2 is there also:

---

X

---

X

---

Terry (C)---X

---

X

---

Mascherano

---

---

Ince

---

X

---

X

---

Silva

---

Van Nisteelroy

---

bucketybuck

Ince was my next choice, and I had hoped Gary McAllister might have slipped through the cracks. Two fantastic players.

Andersonisgod

I'm furiously working through formations in my mind. The current one is

X X X X

X, Fabregas

Gerrard

Anelka, X

Fowler

Defenders be damned.

bucketybuck

Andersonisgod wrote: »

I'm furiously working through formations in my mind. The current one is

X X X X

X, Fabregas

Gerrard

Anelka, X

Fowler

Defenders be damned.

In my humble opinion, Anelka is wasted anywhere but right up top.

LuckyLloyd

bucketybuck wrote: »

In my humble opinion, Anelka is wasted anywhere but right up top.

He can play the wide forward role - I remember him operating there to good affect against Ireland in the 2009 playoff, he is technically very good. But the best of him was as a center forward. As a center forward he's a high draft pick. As a wing forward he'd be more appropriate in a later round...

Andersonisgod

bucketybuck wrote: »

In my humble opinion, Anelka is wasted anywhere but right up top.

These things will take consideration. I'd hoped to pick up a couple of players who've already been picked so the plan is an ever changing, ever shape-shifting monster.

SlickRic

Carragher is a superb pick at this stage. i thought there was half a chance he'd slip through the cracks.

Liam O

Damn Sherlock, thought he'd have lasted another round or 2.

bucketybuck

Liam O wrote: »

Damn Sherlock, thought he'd have lasted another round or 2.

One of my favourite ever players, but I did think he would have lasted longer.

LuckyLloyd

bucketybuck wrote: »

One of my favourite ever players, but I did think he would have lasted longer.

I think the consideration needs to be about what type of winger you want. Kanchelskis was a devastating get to the byline type winger born to play in Utd's aggressive and attacking 4 - 4 - 2. I'd wager most teams are going to go with a 4 - 5 - 1 variant so 4 - 4 - 2 might be a difficult way to go (though Vieira might make it work mind). Would Kanchelskis work as part of a three in behind a center forward? Did he have the fluency and flexibility to come inside and make the intricate interchanges?

Donnielighto

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

I think the consideration needs to be about what type of winger you want. Kanchelskis was a devastating get to the byline type winger born to play in Utd's aggressive and attacking 4 - 4 - 2. I'd wager most teams are going to go with a 4 - 5 - 1 variant so 4 - 4 - 2 might be a difficult way to go (though Vieira might make it work mind). Would Kanchelskis work as part of a three in behind a center forward? Did he have the fluency and flexibility to come inside and make the intricate interchanges?

Old style winger, I think the direct wingers are better than the newer type

qwabercd

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Do you want it?

Wouldn't be online enough this week I'm afraid.

LuckyLloyd

Donnielighto wrote: »

Old style winger, I think the direct wingers are better than the newer type

Are they? Can you live off getting to the byline when we're going to have an elevated standard of center halves in play / the pick of fullbacks in league history and more specialised defensive midfielders coming back to clear the second ball, etc. Would City or Chelsea be better teams if they're fluid step inside wide attackers were more 'chalk on their boots' types? I don't believe so.

Remember that Hazard can get down the byline too if you show him the outside...

Liam O

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

I think the consideration needs to be about what type of winger you want. Kanchelskis was a devastating get to the byline type winger born to play in Utd's aggressive and attacking 4 - 4 - 2. I'd wager most teams are going to go with a 4 - 5 - 1 variant so 4 - 4 - 2 might be a difficult way to go (though Vieira might make it work mind). Would Kanchelskis work as part of a three in behind a center forward? Did he have the fluency and flexibility to come inside and make the intricate interchanges?

I don't know, I think the most similar winger to him I've seen recently is
Błaszczykowski and he has always looked comfortable in that role. I think the best way to go is having one quick winger to beat his man and get a cross from out wide and one more technical one adept at cutting inside.

Happy to get Bruce at this stage but still unsure if I could have left him for a different player.

SherlockWatson

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Are they? Can you live off getting to the byline when we're going to have an elevated standard of center halves in play / the pick of fullbacks in league history and more specialised defensive midfielders coming back to clear the second ball, etc. Would City or Chelsea be better teams if they're fluid step inside wide attackers were more 'chalk on their boots' types? I don't believe so.


Remember that Hazard can get down the byline too if you show him the outside...

Well I'll have didier drogba battling for headers in that case, so not too worried there.. I also think you are underestimating him a bit, he was well able to play football and scored a ton of goals in the 94-95 season (I think)... Something like 1 goal every 2 games which is a great record for a winger.

Donnielighto

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Are they? Can you live off getting to the byline when we're going to have an elevated standard of center halves in play / the pick of fullbacks in league history and more specialised defensive midfielders coming back to clear the second ball, etc. Would City or Chelsea be better teams if they're fluid step inside wide attackers were more 'chalk on their boots' types? I don't believe so.

Remember that Hazard can get down the byline too if you show him the outside...

Sorry wasnt fully clear, I meant compared to the guys who dont work the byline and just come in the whole time. If it's either or then I'd have the direct winger with good delivery. Obviously a combination is better.

Lovely Bloke

Lloyd, Kanchelskis was a bit more than just a chalk-on-the-boots-get-it-across winger, he also chipped in with his fair share of goals.

Although, in this particular thread, where you have to attempt to downplay your rival's picks, it's understandable that you are practicing anti-hyperbole in relation to players you've not picked.

LuckyLloyd

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Lloyd, Kanchelskis was a bit more than just a chalk-on-the-boots-get-it-across winger, he also chipped in with his fair share of goals.

Although, in this particular thread, where you have to attempt to downplay your rival's picks, it's understandable that you are practicing anti-hyperbole in relation to players you've not picked.

:rolleyes:

I find the topic interesting actually - it would be boring if we just kept saying 'great player' to everyone that was picked.

So in the Premier League he scored as follows:

1992 / 3: 3 goals
1993 / 4: 6 goals
1994 / 5: 14 goals
1995 / 6: 16 goals
1996 (half season): 4 goals

I actually didn't realise he was that prolific and having actually dug up the numbers my initial point was off - he definitely had that flexibility. Infact, those goalscoring totals probably indicate he should have gone sooner...

That being said, I can definitely think of a few wingers from the early years of the premiership that would be blunted in the modern game.

bucketybuck

Its hard to know if Kanchelskis could have played a more technical game because for the majority of his United career he simply didn't have to, he did the job he was required to. United were a very powerful team at that stage and it suited them to have Andrei powering up and down the right at speed as opposed to anything tiki taki style.

I'd love to have taken him in my team, but I don't think I could have tried to suggest him as a tricky winger. His results and best form came from a powerful, fast, direct style, you really have to acknowledge that in this draft.