Boards.ie 2019 Draft Quarter Final Game 4 - Trigger vs SlickRic

IncognitoMan

Final match of the Quarter Finals

Trigger vs SlickRic

If you want to use a site to set your side out these are good:

https://this11.com/#!/editor/

https://www.buildlineup.com/

Each poster can go as in detail as you wish in your write-ups including set up for your own side. Once the two posters have set out their teams they are allowed one post each to explain their game-plan against their opposition (exposing the other team's weakness or to draw attention to a player they think doesn't work in the other team etc).

If one team does not set put their side/tactics inside a 24hr period they will automatically forfeit the tie.


Anyone can vote, but try to give at least one reason why you picked one side.

Do not cast a vote until both posters have submitted their teams.

Voting will close after 24 hours

Good luck to both posters.

Trigger

Goalkeeper

My Goalkeeper Ederson is probably a pick that will be contentious due to the amount of time he has played in the league, but he is a very good goalkeeper who has great shot-stopping ability and is comfortable under the high ball. He is also well able to command his area. My main reason for selecting him though is his use of the ball, and his ability to move the ball to anywhere on the pitch, quickly and accurately.

Defence

I used my first pick to select imo the best centre back to play in the Premier League, while everyone else was selecting Forwards and attackers, they are in abundance and I had my mind on the set up and style I wanted my team to play. Rio Ferdinand is fundamental to that set up. A player that is as good on the ball as he is in the air and his timing and positioning were unbelievable. He also has the pace to match or stay with any attacker. I also think that my second CB Per Mertasecker will compliment him greatly.

On either side of them we will see two fullbacks Gabriel Heinze and Paulo Zabaleta with the ability to attack quickly but also get back and defend when needed, they are both comfortable on the ball which will tie in with my style of play and good crossers also. Both fullbacks have great engines and will run for the entire game.

Midfield & Attack

I don’t think there is a better player since Roy Keane in his prime with the ability to break up play but also being able to dictate the flow of the game and link defence to attack than Fernadinho and he will be my main midfielder who will move the ball on to my attack and he will be flanked by my captain Denis Wise who is an old school defensive midfielder but also has the ability to pick a pass and recycle possession quickly and accurately to my front 4.

Ahead of them we will have Denis Bergkamp in the middle who will be the chief creator but has the ability to push up and play on the shoulders of the defence, when this happens my RAM Christian Erikksen will be able to take up the position in behind and allow for the fullback to push up. On the other side Harry Kewell is there to do what he does best, running at the fullback, he has the ability to go inside or outside the defenders which will keep them guessing and has a very good shot, so an alternative option there also. All three of these players are extremely comfortable on the ball and have now trouble passing the ball around in tight areas.

Which leaves me with the natural goalscorer in Andy Cole who is a player who can score with both feet, is good in the air and can counter attack at pace. He has an incredible knack of making space for himself which will benefit the players behind him also.





Style of play



My attacking play will focus on a possession based game and I think my team is well set up for this with technically gifted players throughout the field, Players like Ederson, Ferdinand and Fernadinho will allow for quick transitions to get the balls up to the front 4 who will be aided by overlapping fullbacks, the players also have the ability to pass around any pressing that the opposition may try. Wise will sit back and aid the centre backs and break up any counter attacks and the pace of Ferdinand will help here too. Eriksson while positioned in my lineup on the right will be playing the role he plays for spurs allowing Zabaleta to create the width and Bergkamp to push up.



Without the ball my team will set up like above with Erikksen becoming a third midfielder and a bank of three in front of my back 4 with the front three pressing when needed. My team has a lot of ball winners and This set up will ensure that the opposition cannot commit too many players forward as with pace of Cole and Kewell staying up high will leave them open to quick counter attacks especially with the passing ability behind them

SlickRic

So here is my team.



Thinking behind my picks:

Attack
I went with my gut when I was thrown into the draft, that I needed to get my spine right, first and foremost, starting with my attacking areas because there was still top tier talent available. Getting Aguero and Hazard together at the start gave me a platform to which I know from the off that I had goals, no matter what I did with much of the rest of my team.

Solidity
from there, it was about solidity down the centre of the team. Mascherano and Carvalho immediately provided that as two elite players in their positions. I want the team to be flexible in how it plays - able to press when needed, meaning you need energy, but also the tactical and technical nous to not only recover the ball quickly, but to keep the ball when you get it, so as to strangle the opposition. the likes of the aforementioned Mascherano, Dembele, Cazorla, Cole, and Aguero (as seen under Pep) allow that in abundance. But I also wanted a team with grit, and able to soak up pressure against teams that will no doubt be excellent in this draft. I feel Masch and the Carra/Carvalho partnership allow that, with Pearce at LB and Flowers in goal being solid as fúck.

On the Dembele pick, which some (I know) found slightly controversial. I took him early enough because there were very few players left at even that early stage at round 6, that have his skillset in being able to sit and provide bite, but also be able to keep the ball as well as anyone, and perhaps most importantly - dribble with the ball. break the lines. himself, Cazorla and Hazard are all adept at linking up and striking relationships with similarly talented players, but they can also take responsibility and run with the ball.

the other key thing about the midfield 3 is that they are all mobile, and that will be needed. With Petrescu (who I'll get to in a minute) and Pearce (to a slightly lesser extent) playing high at times, the role of those midfielders is to be able to shift across the pitch quickly and instictively when the opposition tries to hit their men directly on the counter. between them, they will fill those gaps left by the full backs, in order to keep the pressure on.

and if the opposition is able to beat them, Carvalho and Carragher are as good at one-on-one defending as you're likely to see. And Carvalho one of the great defensive readers of the game.

Full backs
Petrescu was also a key nab for my team. He was a modern full back before the term existed. He will be needed to provide the width to allow Cole to do a lot of his work on the inside right channel. He can run, cross and see a pass. Pearce, at 30 years old, can do the same on the other, as well as being a dead ball specialist.

Creativity
In Hazard, Aguero, J.Cole and Cazorla, i have some of the most creative collection of talents you could hope for. while i've spoken about the hard work and tactical discipline, at the end of the day, they are there to create and score. I should have no problem doing that.

In conclusion
I hope you will all see that the team is balanced, solid, creative and potent. i don't believe they are too many chinks to speak of, with every player having a specific skillset that is essential to the overall function of the team.

P.S.
Some of the criticisms of my team have been fair. No team is perfect. But some are non-nonsensical. the idea that Dembele is a bad passer, or doesn't dribble through the lines is fanciful. As is the idea that Joe Cole or Cazorla don't track back. Cole in particular was a key cog in Mourinho's Chelsea heyday for goodness sake.

SlickRic

a tough matchup.

I think I win this in midfield, and with the explosiveness of Hazard and Aguero in particular.

Mertesacker will be targeted. I know Fernandinho is great and all, but he can't cover that, and Wise isn't the greatest DM to help. Cazorla and Dembele would do enough to get control and get the ball to who we need to get to.

As my team's hallmark, Masch will lead my teams ability to recover the ball and keep the pressure on. the midfield is mobile and tenacious enough to snuff out counters, and my pace and precision at the other end will do the job.

and don't forget Carvalho cleaning up the scraps...

I think Heinze also has a nightmare on the other side with Cole, Petrescu, and one of the marauding Cazorla and Hazard at times. Kewell isn't going to do enough.

Lucas Hood

Slick for me.

Mixture of Hazard, Cole & Aguero to run the BFG ragged.

redzerdrog

Interesting match up this. Very tight game to call

dr.kenneth noisewater

another tight one here. Think Mert is a real weak spot for Trigger even with Ferdinand there. Would be worried about how much defending Bergkamp and Kewell would do as well but rest of the team is solid. Wise liable to get sent off, could see him clashing with Dembele and Masch in CM. I like the Carvalho pick and he's needed alongside Carragher but think the defence is only ok overall.

Think Trigger edges it with the better defence in an evenly matched game

Morzadec

Goals for both teams in this match I think, some question marks over both defences and some superb creative attacking players on show.

I think Slick might have slightly better balance in midfield, and I just see Mertesacker as a big weakness especially up against Aguero and Hazard, so I'll go for Slick though it could be a tight one

Iused2likebusts

Marginally favour slick in this one. Wouldnt be mad on eriksen in that position and I think aguero would do serious damage against mertesacker .

martyos121

The trickery and pace in Slick’s frontline here looks like a nightmare to defend against, especially for Mertesacker who doesn’t match up well against teams who play the ball mainly along the ground like I imagine Slick’s team would. On the other hand, Trigger has put a lot of thought into how he’ll get the most out of the players he has and his game plan looks pretty effective, so credit is given for that.

Overall, I have to go for Slick here. Peak Joe Cole and Hazard are pretty much unplayable, even for defensively solid fullbacks like Zab and Heinze. The midfield battle looks close and both defences have their weak points, so it’s coming down to attacking quality for me and that’s where Slick has the edge.

redzerdrog

Back 4 even enough
Midfield even enough
Aguero and hazard just nick this for slick Imo

Mr.Nice Guy

I think the midfield battle would be a close run thing. I feel Heinze could hold his own against Cole pretty well, especially with Ferdinand to help out. On the other flank I think Slick gets more joy.

At the other end Bergkamp would cause problems for anyone but Carvalho and Carragher are good enough to limit much of the damage. I reckon the peak Kewell that was at Leeds has the beating of Petrescu.

Ultimately for me the Hazard/Aguero connection would prove the difference in the contest and I'd see Slick winning out 2-1.

Trigger

I think it's safe to concede this one, well done Slick, thought it would have been a bit closer.

bucketybuck

I can't shake this feeling that to be effective, Dave's side needs to have possession high up the field, to let the likes of Erikson and Bergkamp probe, for Wise to be bustling around and Fernandinho to sit in the middle. The problem then is when they have to play defensive, as in a game like this, and how it affects their chances of scoring enough to win.

They can't let Mertesacker be dragged out by Hazard and Aguero, they need the two midfielders and both full backs to stay deep to cover for him, but in doing so I think they will struggle to transition back into attack.

I picture Slick being on the front foot more, playing their own game rather than adapting to meet threats, and so he gets my vote.

IncognitoMan

7-1, I count it to SlickRic.

SlickRic

Never a 7-1. Fortunate to get through that smoothly.