Semi Final 1 - Brwned v Duffy

[Brwned]

Team Brwned

Player Profiles

Spoiler

Ubaldo Fillol

Named best goalkeeper at the 1978 World Cup. Named IFFHS' 14th greatest goalkeeper in world football and 3rd best South American keeper. So revered in Argentina that the award for best goalkeeper in the Clausura is called the Ubaldo Fillol award. Magnificent reflexes, a commanding presence and very consistent (as shown by him starting 58 consecutive games for Argentina, the national record). His peak form was on display for everyone to see in the World Cup final.

Manfred Kaltz

Second most appearances in Bundesliga history. One of just two fullbacks to be named in the Ballon D'or top 5 between 1970-1985. A key part of the most successful Hamburg side in their history, including helping them get to two European Cup finals (winning one) and win consecutive league titles. An expert in penalties, the Hamburg fan-favourite scored 53 of his 76 goals from the spot, a record in the Bundesliga. An exceptional crosser. A mainstay in the German defence for over a decade too.

Vierchowod

Quote:
On Vierchowod, Maradona eulogised: “He was an animal, he had muscles to the eyelashes. It was easy to pass by him, but then when I raised my head, he was in front of me again. I would have to pass him two or three more times and then I would pass the ball because I couldn’t stand him anymore.”
Quote:
He famously said in 1999: “I used to be much quicker than everyone else – now I’m just as quick as them.”
Allied to this pace and power he was an exceptional man-marker and defensive reader.

Scirea

Greatest player to have played for Juventus and easily among the top 3 defenders of all time. World Cup, European Cup, 7 leagues and multiple other cups. Not one red card in his career. His position required a special kind of genius and he was that and more. "Gaetano? An extraordinary man and footballer. An example of style and class both on the field and off it." said Dino Zoff. He was one of the best players in the world but was too humble to say so or even to simple think so. said Marco Tardelli.

Demyanenko

Voted 3rd best player in the Ukrainain ‘Team of the Century’ behind legends of Ukrainian football, Oleh Blokhin and Andriy Shevchenko; 4th in the all time caps record for the USSR, playing in three World Cups and one European Championship (reaching the final); captain of 5-time league winners Dynamo Kyiv, a key part of the best and most successful team in Soviet league history.


Osvaldo Ardiles

Named in the Football League 100 along with a collection of truly brilliant players. Nicknamed Pitón because of his snake-like dribbling, a real midfield dynamo. The perfect all-round midfielder with excellent passing, dribbling, vision, stamina and tenacity and because of this he excelled for Argentina as the deepest midfielder and as an attacking midfielder for Spurs, he could play any midfield role.

Giancarlo Antognoni

An essential part of the World Cup winning Italy team in 1982, their sole creative force much of the time along with Conti. In the mould of Milan legend Gianni Rivera, an elegant schemer in the middle with lovely control, a fierce strike and (unlike many playmakers) plenty of energy and mobility. Also a set piece expert.

Johan Neeskens

Finished in the top 5 in the Ballon D'or in 1974. Nicknamed Johan the Second as Cruyff's second in command. The Dutch Roy Keane. A huge part of two of the greatest sides to play the game. Technically excellent, a great leader, a brilliant defensive player...really, if you don't know about Neeskens, just read up on him. A true great of the game and my captain.

Roberto Bettega

Nominated 4th in the Ballon D'or in consecutive seasons in '77 and '78. Named in 1978 World Cup team of the tournament. Exceptional in the air with a lovely touch, great passing and great dribbling. Very much in the mould of a Berbatov/Ibrahimovic in terms of style, vision and physique but with the added bonus of pace, mobility and versatility.

Hugo Sanchez

175 goals in 4 seasons at Madrid between 86-90. Named 26th greatest player in IFFHS century selections, Rummenigge's the closest striker to him available in this draft in 35th place. A sensational goalscorer, no more needs said.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

“I've come up against Zico and Maradona, and I now know who’s the best player in the world: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge," Matthaus declared in the 1980s.

Youtube. Took over the mantle from Beckenbauer as Germany and Europe's best player in the late 70s/early 80s ('78-'83). The complete forward, so much so that he began his career as a winger (playing in a EC final as one) before gradually moving to a more central role and taking his game up another level. Scored 155 goals in 217 appearances in the 5 seasons at his absolute peak, and in the two seasons during this time that he appeared in the European Cup he finished as top scorer and second top scorer. More than that he was a devastating dribbler with a tremendous low centre of gravity and as such he was just as adept at creating as he was at scoring, with his 2 assists in the Euro '80 final highlighting his great delivery from set pieces and his cameo in the famous '82 game against France highlights his all-round influence - creator and scorer but above all a leader.

Subs:

Terry Butcher

Archetypal English Lionheart.

Alberto Tarantini

Like his compatriot Fillol, part of the '78 World Cup team of the tournament largely thanks to a very respectable run of almost 450 minutes without conceding a goal. Full of tenacity in defence and energy going forward, and like all fullbacks playing on the 'wrong' side very technically accomplished.

Steve Coppell

Almost a carbon-copy of our newest #7 and fan-favourite Tony V but with more goals. The archetypal right winger with pace, direct running and devastating crossing. Widely acknowledged as a winger before his time because of his (pioneering) defensive contribution and work rate. You need only ask United fans of that era to see how highly thought of he is, with many still mourning the loss of this great #7 to a career-ending injury at just 28 years old.


Dirceu

Bronze ball winner at World Cup 1978, the only creative outlet in a lacklustre Brazil side but he relished the role. A very elegant playmaker in the mould of Brazil great Rivelino; always moving, always probing. An excellent passer, effortlessly glided with the ball and - as he displayed so wonderfully in this World Cup - packed a mean shot. Interestingly, it's been widely reported that he was set to play in that Brazil midfield in '82 but injury rule him out of the first game and he couldn't work his way back into the team.

A free-flowing front three; Bettega equally comfortable acting as a targetman using his phenomenal aerial prowess or dropping deeper almost into a midfield role probing and creating, Rummenigge equally comfortable running at the defence from deep and causing havoc or pushing right up top and getting on the end of anything played into the box and both very influential in the build-up. The predatory instincts of Hugo Sanchez combined with the vision and aerial power of Bettega and the pace and dribbling of Rummenigge create an unstoppable attack.

With Neeskens in midfield the team will never lack energy, bite, intelligence or goal threat (in '74 he scored 5 goals in 7 games in the WC and 15 in 31 league games for Ajax, and later 7 in 10 in the Uefa Cup for Barcelona in '76). Add in even more energy, intelligence and some silky dribbling skills from Ossie Ardiles and it makes a formidable midfield. Antognoni adds in that extra bit of class on top with a ferocious strike, marvellous technique, wonderful vision and a genuine set piece threat.

The defence is made up of Demyanenko, key player of the great USSR and Dynamo Kyiv sides of the 80s that reached the Euro '80 final and won 5 league titles in a decade (more than any other team in Soviet history) respectively; Vierchowod, Champions League winner with Juventus as he marked Kluivert out of the game in the final and CL finalist with Sampdoria as he formed the heart of their most successful side in history; Scirea, one of the greatest defenders and classiest players to play the game; and Kaltz, one of just two fullbacks to be named in the Ballon D'or top 5 between 1970-1985 and a key part of Hamburg's most successful side ever (which won a European Cup final against a Juventus side made up of over half the WC-winning Italy team just a year earlier)

Team Duffy

GOALKEEPER
In between the sticks is Bats, his description speaks for itself, European Championship winner with France. He is this teams "Guardian".

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DEFENCE
It's no conincidence that my defence is made up of 2 half, both half have won the European Cup together. The right hand side of Liverpools 1984 European Cup winning defence, Phil Neal and Mark Lawrenson, and the left hand side of Juventus' 1985 European cup winning Defence, Sergio Brio and Antonio Cabrini.

The stability of Lawrenson and Brio in the centre allows Neal and Cabrini the room to get forward and support the wingers. The one thing my defence has that no other defense in the competition can boast it a proven understanding. Lawrenson and Neal played together for Liverpool in 4 league winning seasons and as mentioned a European Cup winning campaign.
This is mirrored in Brio and Cabrini (also a World Cup winning left back) who also won 4 League titles in Italy together in addiction to a European Cup.
Overall the defence boasts a total of 23 League Titles, 7 European Cups and a World Cup, thats before getting into National cups, Uefa Cups and Cup Winners Cups.

A Defence Built on Understanding, Stability and Success.

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MIDFIELD
Captain Marvel and Captain Couragous (Robson and Ceulemans) as they were known are joined by Jean Tigana in a side full of legs. All 3 men provide the driving force for the teams, such as represented for their clubs and countries for years. Even the most energetic and determined midfield would find Robson, Tigana & Ceulemans difficult to deal with.

The work of Tigana and Robson in winning possession deep in the midfield, gives Ceulemans in particular room to play - giving him the chance to feed the front 3. The supremely talented French man Tigana joins in to make a midfield Trio that has everything you could ever want - determination, drive, desire, tough tacking, skillfullness and an eye for a pass.

All men are full of energy and will be able to support in both attack and defence.

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FORWARDS
Former 2 time European Footballer of the Year Kevin Keegan leads the line, with over 250 career goals behind him. Keegan showed throughout his career how adapt he can be at latching onto through balls and finishing a chance.

Behing him are 2 of the greatest footballers of not only their generation but also of all time - Blokhin and Zico. The Ukranian and Brazillian will be the main outlet for the team, drifting wide to pick up the ball, but being instructed to not only take defenders on the outside but also cut inside and create a 3 pronged attack. The 3 front men are so supremely talented that they can chop and change their positions reguarly to keep the defence on their toes.

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SUBS:
Ancelotti and Houseman drop to the bench from the previous game.

Houseman can be used for width if needed, being given a chance to run at defenders that have already had to deal with the Blokhin-Zico-Keegan attck for over an hour.

Ancelotti will be brought in if winning, to control the pace of the game and keep things ticking over in midfield.

Jordao is ready to come in if the side needed goals and his positioning, strength and alertness makes him a great target man.

Chalana is another great option to be able to deploy. His pace will trouble any defender who will be already tired from having played 60+ minutes.

 

[Brwned]

This game will hinge on the midfield battle yet again I feel. Tigana, Robson and Ceulemans form a really competitive, well-rounded midfield and if they decide to take on my midfield three head to head then they are in with a real chance of bettering it...but it leaves Brio, Lawrenson and Cabrini to take on Rummenigge and Sanchez which I'd suggest is asking for trouble. Whereas at the opposite end I can feel comfortable leaving Scirea and Vierchowod up against anyone.

 

[Jayvin]

Demyanenko-Kaltz is a superb fullback pairing and overall, I think Brwned's side is a bit more balanced.

Sorry Duffy.

 

[antohan]

Duffy edges the midfield battle. The attack is a toss up really, both have their merits and the personnel is outstanding on both sides. The defences make all the difference to me.

I can't see Brio and Lawrenson coping with Sanchez and Rummenigge. Not at all.

 

[Gio]

I prefer Duffy's front six, but at this level the absence of a top banana centre-half could be telling.

 

[Theon]

Duffys midfield three is outstanding and I think would win the battle in the middle, up front it's fairly even and would be splitting hairs to pick one over the other. Zico the stand out individual but Brwned probably with the better overall three.. maybe. Definitely close.

In defence it is a no contest, two outstanding CB's and equally good fullbacks. They will cope with Duffys front three better than Duffy will cope with Brwned's, so although it's close and would be an amazing game.. Brwned edges it for me.

 

[Theon]

Whoever wins this will have an amazing team, if Duffy gets Brwned two CB's that team would be awesome.

 

[antohan]

Whoever wins this will have an amazing team, if Duffy gets Brwned two CB's that team would be awesome.

Indeed, I also prefer Duffy's front six but the defence clinched it. Duffy would come out stronger but Brwned picking Zico and Robbo won't do badly at all!

 

[Theon]

Yeah they are both amazing players, Robbo for Antognoni and Zico for Bettega I reckon?

 

[Brwned]

Going into the last 10 minutes of the game with a comeback still on, can Duffy pull it off?

 

[Duffy]

Think the only thing I can do here is go all out attack. Play Zico, Blokhin and Keegan as a front 3 and get the ball into their feet, and aim at Blokhin in the air.

Got to go with the "we'll score 1 more than you approach" as it seems my defence is letting me down. Come on people - a vote for Duffy is a vote for a crazy 6-5 scoreline!! Everybody loves 6-5 scorelines!!

 

[Gio]

I'll give you a sympathy vote. That front six would be bound to pull a goal back, even when the game is already dead-and-buried.

 

[antohan]

Think the only thing I can do here is go all out attack. Play Zico, Blokhin and Keegan as a front 3 and get the ball into their feet, and aim at Blokhin in the air.

I thought you were doing that already?

Well done Duffy anyway. During the first round Brwned was saying he would prefer playing you in QF as you were "one of the two weakest sides in it". You've run him close and could argue in the last round -with no Scirea/Demyanenko- the outcome may have been different!

 

[Duffy]

Well I gave it a go! I think my descision to go for Tigana ahead of Tresor as my 2nd QF draft cost me, but I had a good run!

Well done Brwned and good luck in the final!!

 

[antohan]

Well I gave it a go! I think my descision to go for Tigana ahead of Tresor as my 2nd QF draft cost me, but I had a good run!

Well done Brwned and good luck in the final!!

I did think Tresor was your man until I saw your midfield with Tigana in it. Not sure Ancelotti would have made it look so much stronger than Brwned's. It may have been a case of neither your defence nor your midfield looking stronger.

Maybe should have emphasised the two partnerships in defence more. Funny how everyone raved about their established partnerships in the first round and then that disappeared altogether.

I've never subscribed to that approach though, except when a pair was known to be formidable together (e.g. Junior-Leandro, Breitner-Rummenigge, Zico-Falcao, Platini-Boniek, etc.).