Draft of Drafts

[lanman]

Ianman, with an offensive minded Left Back (or a Giggs type mid), you can still get the width desired without having to have a dedicated left-winger to complement Matthews...no?

We are probably going to have Best out on the right and Roberto Carlos playing on the left - unfortunately no room for Matthews.

[lanman]

I'm not keen on this selection. On the contrary I think he limits your team, makes them more linear. You're going to need one hell of a RB!!


I thought all the teams were going to have great right backs.

[Real Ray]

Team Re-cap after 6th Round:

Are we giving too little credit to the pre-60's greats?

7 Brasilian, 4 German, 4 Dutch, 3 Argentines, 3 French, 3 Italian, 2 Hungarian, 2 English, 1 N. Irish, 1 Portuguese.....player representation by one of the four multiple-WC winning countries is noticeably absent from this list.

In terms of club teams: AC Milan of 80's has 5 players -- almost half of one of its starting line-ups -- in the top 30! Are they then the best club team of all time by a wide margin? I don't think so.....

No goalies taken...only 1 Right Back.

I think the AC Milan bias was predictable-I would guess they are the one great side that everyone here has actually seen, no?

As far as the players from the pre-WWII era, we (well really me-I'm old, :) ) have put three into our selection process. At the end of the day, I think one will be picked, the other might be an acquired taste-but worth puttin' on the menu. There is one other player I mentioned as well, but at this point he's sort of out of a position on our team.

GK...we have a short list of eight. You couldn't really take points away from a team fielding any one of the eight. So, IMO there's no rush-well, Team A might think about doing something about stopping goals-that is part of the game you know :p

I like Matthews and pitched him in our debates. If they use Pele as Brasil did in 1970 vis-a-vis Tostao, dropping him back a bit and let Eusebio play as a natural centre-forward:

Eusebio

Pele

Didi--Rikjaard--Matthews

Moore

Not terrible, but you've got a lot of work to do in the back, with only four field players left to pick from. Your team I think has the toughest task in terms of building a balanced team. It will be interesting to see where Rikjaard winds up playing.

[argentine soccer fan]

So, IMO there's no rush-well, Team A might think about doing something about stopping goals-that is part of the game you know :p


Right, but once we get the ball, the only chance you'll get to see it up close is when you pick it up from the back of your net. :D

Seriously, though. I think we changed our blueprint a bit when we saw that Matthews was still available. We can talk formations all day, diamond, flat, 4-4-2, 4-3-3 etc. But it is the great players that make the systems succesful, and our offensive players are both very talented and very versatile.

Savant, I enjoyed the insightful analysis you posted in the recap thread, but your analysis of our team seems to contradict what you say in this thread about our last pick. The way I see it, Matthews fills a need we had, because he opens up the right side for us.

Actually, I thought team D was the obvious one to get SM, once they had their defensive base. But they passed on him twice. (I'm not saying Zico and Gullit aren't good picks, but I was sure one of those picks would be SM.)

Well, (unless we have a change of heart overnight), I think our next pick will begin to fill the puzzle, and it will also help clarify Rijkaard's role in the team.

[Dark Savante]

Savant, I enjoyed the insightful analysis you posted in the recap thread, but your analysis of our team seems to contradict what you say in this thread about our last pick.

Let me clarify. I personally am not keen on this selection because I think it creates defensive problems, however it is obvious why he was taken and offensively he adds an incredible outlet and problem for any opposing team trying to contain him.


The way I see it, Matthews fills a need we had, because he opens up the right side for us. .

he also opens it up the left lateral for a strong counter attack!



Actually, I thought team D was the obvious one to get SM, once they had their defensive base. But they passed on him twice. (I'm not saying Zico and Gullit aren't good picks, but I was sure one of those picks would be SM.)


I would have voted against him in any scenario but 2 out and out wingers and a flat midfield. I'd take Gullit over Matthews because Gullit has more strings to his bow...more versatile and also can actually win the ball back if he loses it.



Well, (unless we have a change of heart overnight), I think our next pick will begin to fill the puzzle, and it will also help clarify Rijkaard's role in the team.



This will be interesting! :)

[Dark Savante]

I thought all the teams were going to have great right backs.

It's the weakest position of the draft imo. 'Great' right backs for all could well be debateable.

[minorthreat]

Team A
Members: Ombak, Skipshady, C-towner, Argentine Soccer Fan (C-towner replaced Motterman)

Round 7 (Week 7) Selection 1
31st overall pick

Player: Giuseppe Bergomi
Born: 22 December 1963, Milan, Italy
Position: Central Defender or Right Back
Career Span: 1980-1999
Nationality: Italian

Club Teams:
Inter Milan 1980-1999

Caps: 81

Career Highlights:
1 World Cup, 1982
3 UEFA Cups, 1992, 1994, 1998
1 Serie A championship, 1989
1 Coppa Italia, 1982

Giuseppe Bergomi was born in Milan and devoted his entire career to his beloved Internazionale. This central defender or right-back blossomed early and broke into the first team already during the 1980/81 season as a 17 year-old. He was soon acknowledged by national team coach Enzo Bearzot and was included in the 1982 World Cup squad having barely played 30 senior matches in the Italian league.

Bergomi started the tournament on the bench, but came on as a substitute against Brazil in the memorable 3-2 second phase win. He did a great job and was included in the starting line-up against Poland in the semifinal because Gentile was suspended. Everyone was impressed with how mature he played and Bearzot could not drop him for the final against West Germany. Bergomi was given the job of marking Rummenigge and completely took him out of the game. The German star was substituted in the second half as Italy ran out 3-1 winners. Giuseppe was a World Cup winner just over a year after making his first appearance in a senior match!

At clublevel, Bergomi and Inter were in the shadow of AC Milan for much of the time. Having won an Italian Cup title in 1982, it took seven more years until another title was won. This time the Serie A, Bergomi?s only league championship title in his nineteen seasons at Inter. He experienced more success in European competitions winning the UEFA Cup on three occasions.

Italy hosted the World Cup in 1990 and Bergomi captained his country and played in every game as the Azzurri captured bronzemedals. A painful semifinal defeat on penalties to Argentina was all that stood betweem them and the final. Giuseppe didn?t figure frequently in the Italian line-up as the 1990s progressed. In a Euro 92 qualifying game against Norway, he came on from the bench only to be sent off seconds later for a bad foul! He wasn?t wearing the blue shirt of the Azzurri again until he, against all odds, was called up for the 1998 World Cup by Cesare Maldini. He made three appearences in his fourth World Cup, took one more domestic season with Inter, before retiring at the age of 36.

This selection: Unanimous

[tpmazembe]

Team A
Members: Ombak, Skipshady, C-towner, Argentine Soccer Fan (C-towner replaced Motterman)

Round 7 (Week 7) Selection 1
31st overall pick

Player: Giuseppe Bergomi
Born: 22 December 1963, Milan, Italy
Position: Central Defender or Right Back
Career Span: 1980-1999
Nationality: Italian

Club Teams:
Inter Milan 1980-1999This selection: Unanimous
Definetely a solid performer -- though my man Ruminegge was not fully healthy in 1982 (believe it was hamstring related) -- and would give me comfort at the back. Wondering however if he is one of the greats at that spot......

Another one of those players whose longevity is remarkable, especially given the physical demands of the position.

Seems that all the Italian picks to date have been defensive.

[comme]

Undoubtedly a quality player, I'm a little surprised he has gone this early. Still a very solid player.

[Excape Goat]

Today, I was going to agrue with my team to take Giuseppe Bergomi this round.... well, this pick saved my time!!!

[Dark Savante]

Undoubtedly a quality player, I'm a little surprised he has gone this early. Still a very solid player.

Methinks this was a clever selection...With this pick they can play a pseudo 4man backline that is really a 3man system without flaunting any rules. As a guess I'd say they're going to make their team two different departments..attack & defence which'll free up the wingers to do what they do best... a clever pick.

[Bauser]

TEAM B:

Members: Bauser (c), Auriaprottu, Papa Bouba Diop

Round: 7 (Week 7)
Selection: 2
Total picks: 32

Player: Marcos Evangelista de Moraes "CAFU"

Position: Right back/Right midfield

Career Span: 1988-present day
Nationality: Brazilian
Born: 7th June 1970
Caps/goals: 122 / 5 (and counting)
Clubs: Sao Paulo (1988-95), Real Zaragoza (1995), Palmeiras (1995-97), Roma (1997-03), AC Milan (2003-present day)

Profile / Stats: [Brazil]: World Cup winner 1994 & 2002, Copa America winner 1997 & 1999. [Club level]: Intercontinental cup winner x 2, Copa Libertadores winner x 2, Brazilian champion x 1, Paulistao champion x 4, UEFA cup winner x 1, Italian champion x 1 (soon to be 2).

Breitner's colleague on the opposite side of Team B is the only player to have played in three World Cup Final matches and the only modern player with multiple World Cup titles to his name. Cafu is one of the most consistent performers in the world game today and always plays with a smile on his face. Excellent at going forward, excellent at defending. A model prefessional who leads by example. 20 years from now, his name will rank even higher on the list of great defenders. A true gentleman and fine ambassador for the game.

TEAM SO FAR: Maradona (M/F), Passarella (CD), G.Müller (F), Van Basten (F), Deschamps (DM), Breitner (L&RB/CM), Cafu (RB/RM).

[Dark Savante]

^ nice. Aggresive team you're creating there :)

[Pgcruz]

TEAM B:

Members: Bauser (c), Auriaprottu, Papa Bouba Diop

Round: 7 (Week 7)
Selection: 2
Total picks: 32

Player: Marcos Evangelista de Moraes "CAFU"

Position: Right back/Right midfield

Career Span: 1988-present day
Nationality: Brazilian
Born: 7th June 1970
Caps/goals: 122 / 5 (and counting)
Clubs: Sao Paulo (1988-95), Real Zaragoza (1995), Palmeiras (1995-97), Roma (1997-03), AC Milan (2003-present day)

Profile / Stats: [Brazil]: World Cup winner 1994 & 2002, Copa America winner 1997 & 1999. [Club level]: Intercontinental cup winner x 2, Copa Libertadores winner x 2, Brazilian champion x 1, Paulistao champion x 4, UEFA cup winner x 1, Italian champion x 1 (soon to be 2).

Breitner's colleague on the opposite side of Team B is the only player to have played in three World Cup Final matches and the only modern player with multiple World Cup titles to his name. Cafu is one of the most consistent performers in the world game today and always plays with a smile on his face. Excellent at going forward, excellent at defending. A model prefessional who leads by example. 20 years from now, his name will rank even higher on the list of great defenders. A true gentleman and fine ambassador for the game.

TEAM SO FAR: Maradona (M/F), Passarella (CD), G.Müller (F), Van Basten (F), Deschamps (DM), Breitner (L&RB/CM), Cafu (RB/RM).

i could be wrong but wasn't Cafu suspended for the final in 94. So technically he's only played in 2 finals. Im not 100% sure though

[Ombak]

i could be wrong but wasn't Cafu suspended for the final in 94. So technically he's only played in 2 finals. Im not 100% sure though

Jorginho was the starter in 94, he was injured 20 mins into the final and Cafu came on as a sub playing the rest of the game including overtime.

[comme]

Also Ronaldo is a modern two-time winner, he just didn't play at all in 94 in the same way as Pasarella is a two time winner. What these picks mean is that there are still great right backs left for the two teams. So I don't think we'll be rushing that department (although I'll probably be wrong).

[tpmazembe]

TEAM B:

Members: Bauser (c), Auriaprottu, Papa Bouba Diop

Round: 7 (Week 7)
Selection: 2
Total picks: 32

Player: Marcos Evangelista de Moraes "CAFU"

Position: Right back/Right midfieldTEAM SO FAR: Maradona (M/F), Passarella (CD), G.Müller (F), Van Basten (F), Deschamps (DM), Breitner (L&RB/CM), Cafu (RB/RM).
Nice pair of bookends.

I agree with you Bauser that his worth will go up once the totallity of his career will be viewed in the rearview mirror. His stamina is impressive, and his ability to support the attack remarkable. His defense has always been average, but teams that have used him compensate with either a d-mid to fill the gap, or have used him more as a mid himself on the wing.

Plus he has heart. I was at the Maracana for the Arg-Brasil friendly just weeks before the start of WC 1998. Argentina won 1-0 on a Claudio Lopez goal, so the crowd was generally in bad humour. Cafu was treated by the most humiliating display I've witnessed from a home crowd -- it seemed that for the whole second half, everytime he touched the ball the crowd shouted "Cafu, vai tomar no cu" ...literal translation "go take it up the a**", loosely translated as you wish. We can only imagine how his contrymen's reception made him feel as he's defending his country's colors. He went on to have a wonderful WC 1998, and eventually became the team's captain. A model professional indeed.

[argentine soccer fan]

Maradona, Pasarella, Muller, Van Basten, Deschamp, Breitner, Cafu. Very impressive!

I love Cafu's game. He is the kind of defensive lateral that always has his opponent's goal in mind. That is the kind of player I originally was hoping to have for our team, but ultimately he didn't figure at all in our discussion. I think the way our team is being built precluded us from looking at somebody like Cafu.

On team B it looks like he will have the room he needs to move up. He becomes another great attacking partner to Maradona. On the other hand, I think a lot is being put on Deschamps when it comes to covering for attacking defenders like Cafu and Pasarella. This defense reminds me of Argentina 78, and I think they will need a very strong defender to complement Pasarella and Deschamps. Still, all things considered a very positive pick for team B.

[tpmazembe]

Efernandez9, maczebus, martin cutler, tpmazembe

Round 7 (week 7)
Selection 3
33rd overall pick


Player: Obdulio Jacinto Varela, aka “Jefe Negro”
Born: Sept 20, 1917, Paysandy, Uruguay….died 1995
Position: Center Back
Career Span: 1936-1955
Nationality: Uruguayan
Club Teams: Juventud (1936-1938), Wanderers (1938-1942), Peñarol (1943-1955)
National Team: 52 Caps / 8 goals (some sources have 53/10)

Career Highlights:
6 Uruguayan League Titles – 1944,45,49,51,53,54
1 Copa America - 1942
1 World Cup - 1950

Skill, strength and personality.

Starting off his career at left midfield and moving to center back, the Black Chief was a leader his whole life. His most famous exhibition was in the final game of the WC 1950 playing at a packed Maracana – 200,000 people strong -- on July 17th, 1950 against favorites Brasil who had demolished the opposition on their way to the final game. Varela was the man who deadened the ball – by placing under his arms for over 2 minutes – after Brasil scored first, to allow his teammates to recover from the pandemonium occurring around them. Not allowing them to be intimidated by the circumstances and surrounding, Varela coaxed, shouted and encouraged his teammates on through to respond with, first, the equalizer and then the go-ahead goal.
Football pundits the world over have often declared that never has a WC victory been so directly linked to one player as Obdulio Jacinto Varela and the “Maracanazo.”

He was a centerback not afraid to join the attack, as his goal per game for the Celeste attests. His goal against Spain in WC 1950 (to draw 2-2) actually proved crucial as the tie break against Brasil (for that WC the final was a 4 team round-robin). Had it not been for that point Uruguay would have lost the World Cup to Brazil on goal difference.

At the age of 37 Varela again captained Uruguay in its defense of its title in Switzerland 1954. He was then the oldest ever player to have appeared in a World Cup. Czechoslovakia and Scotland were beaten comfortably in the first round. Then Uruguay beat England 4-2 in the quarterfinal when Varela scored a goal but also picked up a leg injury. There were no substitutions back then so he had to play the full 90 minutes heavily bandaged.

Not being fit to play, Varela and two other key players did not suit up for the semifinal against Hungary which Uruguay lost 4-2 in extra time (2-2 in regulation). Many believe a full strength Uruguay team would have beaten the magic Hungarians. Whether they would have or not is conjecture, but they would have faired better with their inspirational leader.
Our selection: Majority

Our team so far: DiStefano, Garrincha, Platini, Facchetti, Mattaus, Ronaldo, Varela

http://www.planetworldcup.com/LEGENDS/varela.html (http://www.planetworldcup.com/LEGENDS/varela.html)
http://mundial2002.terra.es/bases/futbol/stat/esp/bio/5/5238.html (http://mundial2002.terra.es/bases/futbol/stat/esp/bio/5/5238.html)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2002/world_cup/hof/varela/ (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2002/world_cup/hof/varela/)

[tpmazembe]

Two anecdotes I found interesting about the man, amongst many:

After the victory in the Maracana, Varela went out on the town and commiserated with the inhabitants of Rio at several local watering holes in Copacabana. Being mulatto, he passed as a Carioca and was not recognized (remember live TV coverage was not common). His leadership in that game made him a living legend in Uruguay and symbol of their fighting spirit, but he remarked in his twilight years that had he understood the impact the loss would have had to the Brasilian people, he would have scored an own goal to alleviate their suffering. Obviously at in his competitive youth he never would have done so, but it illustrates the impact of that victory/loss on both nations.

In the mid-50’s Penarol agreed to an endorsement agreement to place a corporate brand on their famous shirt. Each player would receive renumeration for this as well. On the day of the game, 10 players took the field with the new uniforms, but the 11th, the captain Varela, stood out with the one “untouched” shirt. He would not disgrace his beloved Penarol with such a commercial act. Keep in mind that this is a man who never was wealthy by any means, and died in poverty. Character.

http://placar.abril.com.br/aberto/enciclopedia/craques/obdulio.shtml (http://placar.abril.com.br/aberto/enciclopedia/craques/obdulio.shtml)

comme, you can't accuse Team C of not having any "steel" anymore :)