Draft of Drafts

[comme]

Read it and weep fellas (or scratch your heads and say "who?" for some).

We have reunited perhaps the most lethal partnership in the history of the game.

This has to be the shock pick of the draft so far. Our awesome midfield is almost complete.

BTW it was a majority decision.

[tpmazembe]

Team E-comme (captain), Merengue, Excape Goat, lanman

Round 5(week 5)

Pick 5 (Overall pick 25)

Josef Bozsik
What did you have to promise to get your teammates to make this selection?...or is it payback for you agreeing to take Zidane?

Seriously, it was a surprise. When it comes to the great team of the Mighty Magyars...Puskas, Koscis, Czibor, Hidegkuti, even the goalie Grocis come to mind. I overlooked him. A quick on-line research validated your assessment of him. I learned something today.

The tunnel vision is now officially removed. Team A is considering a center-back from the Han Dynasty (2nd-3rd Century BC). :)
http://images.fifa.com/fifa/history/1.jpg

[argentine soccer fan]

Our manager Señor Herrera would like add his thoughts: :p

Senor Herrera dice:

Ziicoooo! Get back and help with the defense! :D

[argentine soccer fan]

Read it and weep fellas (or scratch your heads and say "who?" for some).

We have reunited perhaps the most lethal partnership in the history of the game.

This has to be the shock pick of the draft so far. Our awesome midfield is almost complete.

BTW it was a majority decision.

Yeah, it is a surprise. Bozcik's name never entered our discussion. Personally, I am a bit weak on my knowledge of the great Hungarian teams of the 50's, so I will let others comment on the claim to having 'the best defensive midfielder'. But it's nice that another player from that era was picked. Usually when magazines or websites do polls, people tend to forget players of that era, and it was a great time for football.

[skipshady]

Zico (Artur Antunes Coimbra)Japanese supporters protest this pick:D
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/hochi/soccer/feb/0222zico.jpg

[GersMan]

Those of you interested in gauging the best of the best teams TODAY, may be interested in this contest:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106270

[comme]

I didn't have to promise anything tp, remember I have lanman on my team who is an even bigger fan of the Hungarians than I am. He did the body of the profile as well.

It was sort of payback for Zidane I suppose.

We might well be taking a blast from the past on monday as well.

As for Zico he is obviously an excellent player, but how will he and Cruyff get on together?

[argentine soccer fan]

Japanese supporters protest this pick:D
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/hochi/soccer/feb/0222zico.jpg

What's the story with Zico, Skipshady? Did you guys lose to Korea again?

:D

[tpmazembe]

We might well be taking a blast from the past on monday as well.
You've inspired me to put forth a nominee to my team from the 40s.

Isn't it interesting how Round 5 saw the first defensive mid picked; is that an indication of the relative importance of that position that it took 16 picks to get to?

Then a whopping 4 out of 5 choices in the round were defensive mids. No previous round saw such a concentration by position.

[Spartak]

You've inspired me to put forth a nominee to my team from the 40s.

Isn't it interesting how Round 5 saw the first defensive mid picked; is that an indication of the relative importance of that position that it took 16 picks to get to?

Then a whopping 4 out of 5 choices in the round were defensive mids. No previous round saw such a concentration by position.
I think it really says that most teams just panicked and were afraid that one of the great D-mids wouldn't be left to them. But only 5 are going to be picked and there are a ton of great holding mids left. The difference from the 5th best and 1st best d-mid isn't all that great. But I'm glad you all panicked because it left us Zico. And perhaps another great attacker ;) ...

[skipshady]

What's the story with Zico, Skipshady? Did you guys lose to Korea again?

:D
Even worse than losing to Korea, Japan beat Oman and Singapore by one goal in World Cup qualifiers. Even worse than the scorelines were how unmotivated the players were, and I, like many Japanese fans, believe it's because of his poor team selection. I thought Zico might show his football IQ as manager, but that hasn't been the case.

[tpmazembe]

I think it really says that most teams just panicked and were afraid that one of the great D-mids wouldn't be left to them. But only 5 are going to be picked and there are a ton of great holding mids left. The difference from the 5th best and 1st best d-mid isn't all that great. But I'm glad you all panicked because it left us Zico. And perhaps another great attacker ;) ...A correction on my part: it wasn't until the 21st pick.

Only 5 D-mids? I thought you were a fan of catenaccio Spartak. You aren't going to line up with 3 DMs?

Team C had focused squarely on Rikjaard or Mattaus during the previous weekend, and Team A must have as well as they picked Monday. Team E could have waited until the last round and still gotten their man Boksic. Seems that in fact this was the round for whom the d-mid was meant. Seems that the domino theory may not have been in effect here. It may just be in fact the position's relative importance as judged by this subset of posters.

Zico was in the back of my mind, but with DiStefano and Platini I thought it might have been overkill...but there's always room for no. 10's isn't there? Hint, hint.....

[lanman]

You've inspired me to put forth a nominee to my team from the 40s.


There's a player from the 20's/30's that I would be very surprised to see ommitted from this draft and there's another few players from the 40's/early 50's I would consider and possibly one or two from the 30's.

[argentine soccer fan]

There's a player from the 20's/30's that I would be very surprised to see ommitted from this draft and there's another few players from the 40's/early 50's I would consider and possibly one or two from the 30's.

The problem is that, going back that far, we have to rely on oral tradition or written documentation from that era. I could make a strong argument about the greatness of some Argentines from the 30's, like for example Bernabe Ferreira, or Francisco Varallo. But who among us has actually watched them play? I can argue that they were great because I heard my uncles or other older fans talk wonders about them, or because I read of their greatness in some old soccer magazines.

But as much as it is fun to read and talk about it, football is a game that you have to be able to watch to really appreciate it. That is why I enjoy arguing for players that I have personally seen, either in person or on tape.

At least with the players from the 50's, like Puskas or Di Steffano, we are able to get some tape and watch their games. If I really wanted to argue with Comme about whether Bozcik rates as high as he claims, I am sure I could find some tapes of Hungary's WC matches. (And I probably will someday. I am interested in watching the great Hungarian team and all this talk about them helped raise my curiosity even more).

But how can I argue for a player whom none of us has ever seen or will ever see play? That is what makes it so difficult, at least for those of us who have not reach our golden years yet, to go back and talk about the pre-war era.

I suppose it comes down to either putting our trust in oral and written lore from previous generations, or else turning our back on an important epoch in the development of the game that we all love. And it is a tough call either way.

[lanman]

If I really wanted to argue with Comme about whether Bozcik rates as high as he claims, I am sure I could find some tapes of Hungary's WC matches. (And I probably will someday. I am interested in watching the great Hungarian team and all this talk about them helped raise my curiosity even more).

I would certainly recommend doing that - the football they played was a joy to behold, the movement of the forwards was on a par with anything I have ever seen. The 6-3 victory over England should be the easiest to get hold of along with the 54 World Cup.

I agree with you generally though, although the player whom I would be surprised if he went unpicked probably has a reputation greater than any pre-WWII player. (I can think of only a couple of others who could claim otherwise)

[minorthreat]

I agree with you generally though, although the player whom I would be surprised if he went unpicked probably has a reputation greater than any pre-WWII player. (I can think of only a couple of others who could claim otherwise)I think I know who you're talking about, and we'd better get him first. :D

[Pgcruz]

Been reading bigsoccer for awhile now just decided to start posting. Anyways these thread has been awesome. Other than Pele, Maradona, Cryuff, never really knew about the history of the game. THis thread has changed that. Thanks for educating me on the history of the beautiful game. Can't wait till the next picks.

[Excape Goat]

I think it really says that most teams just panicked and were afraid that one of the great D-mids wouldn't be left to them. But only 5 are going to be picked and there are a ton of great holding mids left. The difference from the 5th best and 1st best d-mid isn't all that great. But I'm glad you all panicked because it left us Zico. And perhaps another great attacker ;) ...

That was exactly how I felt about the position. I was happy with any of the top 10 defensive midfielders. my team selected Bozsik.... frankly, he was not on my top 5 before the draft, but I was for this pick. Deschamps was not on mine either. That showed how deep the position really is. I am interested which other defensive midfielders will be selected.

Meanhwhile, for my team, we had Beckenbauer.... I wanted a defensive midfielder who can switch position with Beckenbauer or attack together with him.

[DavidPablo]

Excellent thread! I went through every page. Let me congratulate the participants. I am amazed by the geographical and historical balance, which I think is a result of the diversity and expertise of the posters of BigSoccer. I think that if FIFA itself would pick a pannel of experts for a similar exercise they would not do a better job.

Now let me humbly offer my scouting report, without giving names, of course:

TEAM A: Pele, Moore, Eusebio, Didi, Rijkaard

Strengths: An overabundance of offensive talent, skill, and creativity. With Didi and Pele, this team will own the ball, and will be a pleasure to watch.

Concerns: Can there be such thing as too much talent? There is a need for speed, players who play wide and open up the field, wingers or attacking backs. Defense is still a question mark. Moore brings leadership and smarts, but lacks pace, which must be compensated for. Rijkaard will help, but there is still need for another versatile defensive player.

TEAM B: Maradona, Pasarella, Muller, Van Basten, Deschamp

Strengths: Lethal attack. Maradona will have a field day playing with two strikers like Van Basten and Muller.

Concerns: Right now too much depends on Maradona. Oponents will do anything to take him out, and the team needs another creative midfielder. Defense still under construction, but must get help for Pasarella so he can have the freedom to join the attack when he gets opportunities. Could have done better than Deschamp.

TEAM C: Di Steffano, Garrincha, Platini, Fachetti, Mattaus

Strengths: Great Balance and a strong midfield. Players with high football IQ.

Concerns: Needs help at forward for the unpredictable Garrincha. Defense remains to be seen but the versatility of Fachetti and Mattaus is a great start. And considering the wealth of goalscorers still available, this team's potential to fill its holes looks excellent

TEAM D: Cryuff, Baressi, DJSantos, Maldini, Zico

Strengths: This team was built from the back, as it should be. I find it hard to imagine that any of the other teams will be able to match this defense. Santos and Maldini can join the attack, and Cryuff/Zico is an interesting mesh of creative talent.

Concerns: Can they match the offensive power of the other teams?

TEAM E: Beckenbauer, Puskas, Best, Zidane, Boszic

Strengths: Great versatility in midfield and a great leader in Beckenbauer. It is nice to see Puskas reunited with Boszic. Best on the wing will complement Puskas well. There are lots of options here.

Concerns: What will they do defensively? In midfield, Zidane is a good option as playmaker, but I am not sure if he is comparable to the likes of Maradona, DiSteffano or Cruyff.

I think if I have to pick at the halfway point I like team C. Great balance geographically, historically and strategically. I will try to be back when the teams are finished to give you my final opinion. Good luck to all!

[comme]

Team E comme, Excape Goat, Merengue, lanman

Week 6

Pick 1 (Overall pick 26)

Roberto Carlos

Nation Brazil

Career Span 1990s,2000s

Clubs Palmeiras, Internazionale, Real Madrid

Major Honours, World cup winner 2002, World Cup finalist 1998, Copa America winner 1997,99, European cup winner, 1998, 2000, 2002, Spanish titles 3, Brazilian titles 2, UEFA defender of the year 2002, 2003, Onze mundial team of the year member 97,98,99,00,01,02,03

International caps 100 goals 8

Known as the canonball kid, Roberto Carlos is amongst the most feared players in the world today. He exploded onto the world scene in the 1997 tournoi with a freekick which seemed to defy the laws of physics. Despite this he had been a full international since 1992 and had won 30 caps at the time. Carlos has been an integral part of the great Real Madrid team of the late 90s and early 00s, winning 3 Champions leagues whilst at the Bernabeu. Carlos' pace and phenomenal athleticism at first made up for his at times careless defending but he has greatly improved with age.He has been a consistently superb performer for both club and country and will bolster both our defence and attack.