Draft of Drafts

[comme]

I can accuse you of "stealing" our pick though. He was all lined up to be Team E's pick on Friday. Not my own personal choice but there you go.

Just one point as you point out Varela missed the semi in 54 (the first game Uruguay ever lost in the WC), but so did Puskas. That would have been a wonderful encounter.

[comme]

I am actually quite pleased that you picked Varela as is has saved me having to put togather a profile. Older players can be tough to get full information on.

[argentine soccer fan]

It is about time somebody picks a player from Uruguay.

Obdulio Varela is a legend in South America. Several books have been written about him, and he has inspired a number of short stories and even a play. At the centenaro stadium in Montevideo there is a bronze image of him.

Here's Varela's quote about the incident at the Maracana after Brazil scored:

The ball under my arm after we went down 1-0? A lot has been made of that. Rossi or Perucca would have done the same thing. The second half had just started, Friaca's goal had come, the stands were on fire, sparks were flying everywhere, and I had to do what I did. I had to delay putting the ball back into play as much as possible because, if we had started up again immediately, they would have scored five goals. I acheived my goal: They went from being happy to booing; they got nervous. We calmed down, and that's when I gave up the ball. I was close to being kicked out of the game, so I was lucky even then.

[Dark Savante]

A superb pick by team C. One pick I like alot for a number of reasons, but most of all for that leadership and total controlling of surroundings.

[Excape Goat]

I wanted Varela for my team. We were set to pick him last week, but we were choosing between Roberto Carlos and him. I predicted Roberto Carlos would be gone if we bypassed him. I did look at the roster of every team and tried to guess what position they need to fill before our turns are up. Only team C seemed to need a centerback urgently. But I thought.... they might look at someone else other than Varela.

I am very broken-hearted now. I really liked Varela. Maracana was a huge place.... he remained calm after losing one goal and had the guts to agrue with the ref when the entire stadium was booing him. That showed his toughness.... an important quality for a defender.

[Dark Savante]

TEAM D
Dark Savante - captain, Spartak, Real Ray, Mobile


Round: 7
Selection: 4
overall pick: 34th

Player: Johan Neeskens
Born: 15.09.1951 Heemstede, Holland
Position: DM + anywhere else in mid
Career Span: late 1960's - 1991!!!
Nationality: Dutch
Caps/Goals: 51/17

Club Teams:

Ajax Amsterdam (Netherland) 1969 ~ 1973
Barcelona (Spain) 1974 ~ 1979
New York Cosmos (USA) 1979 ~ 1984
FC Groningen 1984 ~ 85
Fort Lauderdale Sun (USA) 1986 ~ 87
FC Baar (Switzerland) 1988 ~ 90
FC Zug (Switzerland), 1990 ~ 91


Profile / Stats:

2 Netherland League Championships, Ajax (1972, 73)
2 Netherland League Cups, Ajax (1972, 73)
Spainish League Championship, Barcelona (1978)
North American Championship, Cosmos (1980)
European Cup Championship, Ajax (1971, 1972, 1973)
European Super Cup, Ajax(1972, 1973)
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands (1974, 1978)


Born in Heemstede, Johan Neeskens, began his career with local club RCH, but was soon transferred to Ajax where he blossomed into one of the best players in Europe. Nicknamed ‘Johan the second’ as his namesake Cruyff was the first, he was one of the most profiled members of the Total-Football team both at Ajax and for the national team. Neeskens made his debut for Holland in 1970 and occupied one of the midfield positions for the next decade and more. In 1974, he was instrumental as Holland outplayed every team that stood in their way until the final when West Germany won 2-1. Neeskens had a great World Cup scoring five goals including a brilliant chip against Brazil and that second-minute penalty in the final.

He left Ajax for Barcelona after the World Cup and had five good seasons in the Catalan capital winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup as the highlight. In 1978, Holland again reached the World Cup final. Neeskens was once again a key player although not as frequently on the scoresheet. He failed to score in his six games in Argentina, but his contribution in midfield set up many goals for Holland. The Dutch lost for a second successive time to the hosts in a World Cup final. This time to Argentina.

As many other stars in the seventies, Neeskens moved to America to play in the NASL towards the end of his career. His club was New York Cosmos and he stayed there for six seasons before he returned home. He retired in 1986 having experienced many of the finest hours in Dutch football, including three European Cup titles and a World Club Cup title with Ajax and two World Cup finals with Holland. Neeskens has had several coaching jobs in recent years also as assistant coach for the Dutch national team.

[tpmazembe]

TEAM D
Dark Savante - captain, Spartak, Real Ray, Mobile


Round: 7
Selection: 4
overall pick: 34th

Player: Johan Neeskens
Born: 15.09.1951 Heemstede, Holland
Position: DM + anywhere else in mid
Career Span: late 1960's - 1991!!!
Nationality: Dutch
Caps/Goals: 51/17Unlike Johan I, he came to play in Argentina '78.

Quality choice, and one we were considering to fill our last midfield spot.

Plus one of the best sideburns in the business :)

Just realized you re-united the two...oh my....

[lanman]

Neeskens was in serious consideration for one of our next two picks, it was only a matter of time before someone claimed him.

I've also seen various sources credit him with both 49 and 51 caps - any idea where this comes from, anyone?

[Dark Savante]

Unlike Johan I, he came to play in Argentina '78.

:) this really seems to be a bone of contention for ya regarding Dhr. Cruyff huh?


Quality choice, and one we were considering to fill our last midfield spot.

I'd be surpised if he wasn't the name on a number of teams lips... would anyone care to confirm or deny? It took muchos batering from myself to get him on this pick..I feel he's essential and offers so much to a team.


Plus one of the best sideburns in the business

Hehe the 70's has a wonderful set of sideburned players...Brietners always made me laugh.


Just realized you re-united the two...oh my....

We have 3 of the most creative dutchmen in history put together to mess with all youse guys's teams :D

[Dark Savante]

Neeskens was in serious consideration for one of our next two picks, it was only a matter of time before someone claimed him.

I've also seen various sources credit him with both 49 and 51 caps - any idea where this comes from, anyone?

I'm glad you confirmed he was nigh on close to being taken! it will appease some of my team mates who believed he'd slide thru until our next pick.

I was going to ask about the caps question myself.. I saw more for 51caps so I went with majority rule :confused:

[Excape Goat]

Actually, team D solved our problems.... I am high on Neekens too, but after you picked him, we are more clear on what we wanted to do. Even if we do not pick him, someone else would.

[comme]

Team E- comme, Merengue, Excape Goat, lanman

Round 7
Pick 5
Overall pick 35

Marcel Desailly

Nation France

Career span 1980s,90s,2000s

Clubs Nantes, Marseille, Milan, Chelsea

Major honours, World Cup winner 1998, European championship winner 2000, European Cup winner 1993,94, Italian titles 2

International caps 113 goals 3

Few players in the history of the game can rival the outstanding career enjoyed by Marcel Desailly. Since his rise to prominence at Marseille (winning the CL in his first season) he has become one of the most respected and feared opponents in the world game. He is one of only a handful of players to have won back to back European titles with different clubs and this season has the chance to match the feat of Clarence Seedorf as he strives to win a third with Chelsea. Equally comfortable at centre back and midfield he opens possiblities for the team. He is also a big game player, few will forget his performance against Cruyff's "dream team" in the 94 European cup final, and so will revel in the surroundings of this draft.

[Ombak]

Team E- comme, Merengue, Excape Goat, lanman

Round 7
Pick 5
Overall pick 35

Marcel Desailly

Nation France

Career span 1980s,90s,2000s

Clubs Nantes, Marseille, Milan, Chelsea

Major honours, World Cup winner 1998, European championship winner 2000, European Cup winner 1993,94, Italian titles 2

International caps 113 goals 3

Few players in the history of the game can rival the outstanding career enjoyed by Marcel Desailly. Since his rise to prominence at Marseille (winning the CL in his first season) he has become one of the most respected and feared opponents in the world game. He is one of only a handful of players to have won back to back European titles with different clubs and this season has the chance to match the feat of Clarence Seedorf as he strives to win a third with Chelsea. Equally comfortable at centre back and midfield he opens possiblities for the team. He is also a big game player, few will forget his performance against Cruyff's "dream team" in the 94 European cup final, and so will revel in the surroundings of this draft.

An average pick at this stage IMHO. Desailly had outstanding years but I doubt I'd put him in a tiop ten all time of central defenders.

[argentine soccer fan]

I like Desailly, and he is an important player because he is the type of player who will link defense and attack. What we call 'volante de enganche' in Argentina. But if you were debating between him and Neeskens, my opinion is that you got the lesser of the two. I don't mean this in a demeaning way because they both are very able to fill the role.

[Merengue]

Desailly is one of the best "big game" players around and as he showed in the 98 World Cup he is a top notch centerback in addition to what he showed in midfield during his Milan days. I'd take Desailly to mark out the opposing teams' forwards. Your forwarsds won't be able to match his strength or speed.

[lanman]

An average pick at this stage IMHO. Desailly had outstanding years but I doubt I'd put him in a tiop ten all time of central defenders.

I agree here - unfortunately I was in the minority. I said on our team thread that I view him as a very good player, but not a great one. Much will depend on where and how we play him.

[comme]

Well that is your opinion Ombak, but personally I'm a huge fan of Desailly. Part of that is inevitably a Milan bias, but neverthless he is a magnificent player and someone who's reputation has suffered in the last year and a half at Chelsea.

I would place Desailly in the top 4 CBs of all time and in many ways would choose him along side Baresi in my all time XI.

Personally I think that many of the old school defenders would have an absolute nightmare in dealing with the likes of Ronaldo. Desailly has pace, strength and brains. He will dominate players.

While Moore and Bergomi are both great defenders they are going to get raped if they come up against any one with pace

[lanman]

Desailly has pace, strength and brains. He will dominate players.


I'm going to have to dispute the last of those three attributes - most defenders (especially those on this list) improve with age as their reading of a game improves - Desailly's game has gone downhill more than any other player in this draft so far, and watching him for Chelsea I find his positioning and anticipation to be sorely lacking. Whether this is down to diminished skills or a lack of motivation it has lowered his stock in my opinion.
At his peak he was an excellent player, I just don't think the length of his peak years compares with others selected.

[lanman]

While Moore and Bergomi are both great defenders they are going to get raped if they come up against any one with pace

There has always been pace in the game and these two coped just fine for a lengthy period of time.

[tpmazembe]

Whether he is top 10 or not is debateable, but I don't think Desailly is an outlandish pick by any means. His performances in the biggest games -- as Merengue points out -- have been huge for the most part. From the 92-93 Eurocup final for Marseille over Milan, then for Milan where he was moved to D-mid, and his displays at WC 1998 are text book.Here's a verbatim excerpt from http://www.soccer-europe.com/Profiles/Desailly.html

"Desailly was expected to fill the role vacated by the legendary Dutch midfielder [Rikjaard]. Desailly quickly established himself in the first team and his crowning moment came in Milan's incredible 4-0 European Cup final victory over Barcelona. He single handedly destroyed one of the most potent midfields in European football with a chilling display of power and aggressive tackling. He capped off a marvelous performance by scoring Milan's fourth goal, running through a traumatised Barcelona defence before expertly curling the ball past Zubizaeretta. Dubbed 'The Rock' by the media soon after."

The tail end of his career, which we are witnessing now at Chelsea, shouldn't count against him. Plus, many like to pair-up a highly technical CB (Beckenbauer) with a more physical CB...and they don't come any more physical than him.

Ombak, do you think Desailly is not in the Bergomi's class?