Draft of Drafts

[Real Ray]

The other point to think about is where a particular players rates in the larger history of the game. That's what makes the picks of Cafu and Roberto Carlos interesting. Roberto Carlos I think is underated as a defender and he truly is a wonder. But will he rate higher as a defender at the end of the day as Krol or another historic left back that is still on the board? Cafu, when I look at the two right backs left who were fixtures on big national sides, may turn out to be the better pick-that's my hunch. It will be intersting too how Thuram is rated 10 years from now. I do think though in the larger peer review that will take place after the teams are picked, you lose points having to dip into the lower part of the depth chart. There are other centrebacks out there who may be more physical, but how many are truly better players? And how many of them rate as all-time greats? Krol is an historic player who's versatitlity was so great, that I felt we could play him in a positon other than sweeper or leftback.

It will interesting to see the next pick. I have an idea who it might be. There are also some highly rated pre-WWII players on the board. If they don't get taken, I'd like to hear if all the teams put them in their debates and why they did not pick them.

[tpmazembe]

Efernandez9, maczebus, martin cutler, tpmazembe

Round 8 (week 8)
Selection 3
38th overall pick
Player: Zoltan Czibor

Born: August 23, 1929, Kaposvar, Hungria
Position: Winger / Forward
Career Span: 1945-1965
Nationality: Hungarian
Club Teams: Ferencvaros (1945 - 1949), Csepel (1949), Honved (1950 - 1956), Barcelona (1957 - 1963), Espanyol (1963 - 1965)
National Team: 43 caps / 17 goals

Career Highlights:
4 x Hungarian Champion (1949) Ferencvaros; (1952, 1954/55) Honved
2 X La Liga Champion (1959/60) Barcelona
2 x Copa del Rey (1959 e 1963) Barcelona
1 European Champions final (1961) Barcelona
1 Olympic Gold Medal (1952)
1 WC Runners-up (1954)

Combination of technique, dribbling ability and velocity.

Integral member of the Magic Magyars squad that lost 1 in 50 games from ’50-‘56, Czibor was the owner of the left offensive third of the pitch. Blessed with uncommon speed, which he honed on the althletic tracks in his home town, he was also known for his willingness to take on defenders with the dribble, and provide goal scoring opportunities to his illustrious teammates. He was also an accomplished finisher in his own right.

He went on to join Barcelona where his skills helped Barca win 2 Ligas and 2 Copas. Barcelona also reached their first European Cup final with him in 1961, but lost 3X2 to Benfica [Coincidentally, this loss occurred in the very stadium (Wakdorf, Bern, Switzerland) where he had lost the WC Final seven years prior….by the exact same score….with him having netted a goal in each of those games!].

Czibor was the Garrincha of the left flank, but could also be used in more advanced scoring roles (was Puskas’ sub at inside left when unavailable against Brazil in qtr. final), or on the other flank (played right wing in Budai’s absence in the final against Germany) such was his skill.

Our selection: Split decision

Our team so far: DiStefano, Garrincha, Platini, Facchetti, Mattaus, Ronaldo, Varela, Czibor
http://placar.abril.com.br/aberto/enciclopedia/craques/czibor.shtml (http://placar.abril.com.br/aberto/enciclopedia/craques/czibor.shtml)
http://futbolfactory.metropoliglobal.com/index.php?ff=historicos&idjugador=321 (http://futbolfactory.metropoliglobal.com/index.php?ff=historicos&idjugador=321)

[tpmazembe]

Team C now has unmatched width to create and complement the goal scoring acumen down the middle. With Garrincha and Czibor we plan on blunting the offensive capabilities of whatever adventurous Left/Right Back (that’s you Messr. Roberto Carlos, Maldini, etc.) with the fact that they will have to focus on their defense!


Team C was split evenly down the middle with this choice (of the two who deliberated this round); but it was more a matter of preference -- we agreed either player would complete our attack. IMO this player would provide more goal scoring punch with the same level of assists.

[lanman]

Excellent choice - I've heard it said that Czibor would have started as inside left (his favoured position) on just about every other side in the 50's, he just had the problem of playing for the same country as Puskas. He would often swap positions frequently with Puskas throughout games, adding further confusion to the opposition defences.

[comme]

If I was to provide one criticism of your pick it is that I think you lack a player to exploit the wonderful wingers that you posess. I think it is dificult to fault much of Ronaldo's game but one aspect which is lacking is his heading, will those crosses of Czibor and Garrincha be wasted?

Also due to your own 4 at the back rule we all know that you can't bring in a second forward who is better in the air, unless you intend to play Mattheus at C-back (I hope not, he was dreadful there).

Still a great pick but at this stage we must consider the tactical aspects of the game.

[Ombak]

If I was to provide one criticism of your pick it is that I think you lack a player to exploit the wonderful wingers that you posess. I think it is dificult to fault much of Ronaldo's game but one aspect which is lacking is his heading, will those crosses of Czibor and Garrincha be wasted?

Garrincha's crosses were rarely aimed at the head. For all I know Vavá didn't even have a head. :D

[argentine soccer fan]

If I was to provide one criticism of your pick it is that I think you lack a player to exploit the wonderful wingers that you posess. I think it is dificult to fault much of Ronaldo's game but one aspect which is lacking is his heading, will those crosses of Czibor and Garrincha be wasted?


I wouldn't worry about that so much. There are plenty of options on this team. The wingers can always look for DiStefano in the middle, or Varela, or Mattaus when he moves up. Or, they can play it back to Ronaldo at the top of the penalty area where he can do some damage.

Hmmm. This is a player who would have been perfect for our team (A), and yet we didn't even bring him up during our discussion. I think our Hungarian scout needs to be fired.:D

[tpmazembe]

Garrincha's crosses were rarely aimed at the head. For all I know Vavá didn't even have a head. :DExactly.

comme, we think that the two wingers, in addition to being able to go for goal themselves, have the smarts to understand they need to service our center forward chest-high or below, and in-stride. Plus we have the Blond Arrow making deep runs into the box to head stuff in.

It will be interesting to see Team A's choice...I suspect that they will be looking to pick the guy we didn't choose.

Edit: Must have been typing when ASF posted, he's spot on with our thinking...I am surprised that Czibor was not considered by Team A.

[Dark Savante]

Exactly.

comme, we think that the two wingers, in addition to being able to go for goal themselves, have the smarts to understand they need to service our center forward chest-high or below, and in-stride. Plus we have the Blond Arrow making deep runs into the box to head stuff in.

It will be interesting to see Team A's choice...I suspect that they will be looking to pick the guy we didn't choose.

Edit: Must have been typing when ASF posted, he's spot on with our thinking...I am surprised that Czibor was not considered by Team A.

As expected you picked one of the two I had in mind for your system, team A must surely pick the other guy....1?!?!

The second you picked Garrincha you were commited to a left winger as well and there only those who are on par with Czibor. I fully expected this pick as I know you favor the goalscoring type of winger to add perplexity to the oppositions defensive lines. Considering the route team C commited themselves towards this is a great choice.

You better get that defense right!!! :D

[Dark Savante]

With Garrincha and Czibor we plan on blunting the offensive capabilities of whatever adventurous Left/Right Back (that’s you Messr. Roberto Carlos, Maldini, etc.) with the fact that they will have to focus on their defense!

This is questionable. Totally depends on the wingbacks/centreback you get..

[tpmazembe]

This is questionable. Totally depends on the wingbacks/centreback you get..
With Garrincha on your flank, no way Maldini goes to town in our half of the field. Unless of course you assign Neeskens to that task of man marking the Little Bird; but then he lets go of Distefano.....decisions, decisions.......

With such flank play availaible to us -- Garrincha, Czibor -- our LB/RB will not be asked to do much but defend (they may not go over the half way line). There are plenty of those guys available (though Thuram would have been ideal).

[Dark Savante]

With Garrincha on your flank, no way Maldini goes to town in our half of the field. Unless of course you assign Neeskens to that task of man marking the Little Bird; but then he lets go of Distefano.....decisions, decisions.......

With such flank play availaible to us -- Garrincha, Czibor -- our LB/RB will not be asked to do much but defend (they may not go over the half way line). There are plenty of those guys available (though Thuram would have been ideal).

And if we decide to blitzcrieg you down the middle and let our WB's sit back and relax? Do you reckon Garrincha and Czibor are going to come infield and help out?

Suppose we decide to stifle your DM/CM and cut his manuevrability in half? These wingers need supply and you have 2 guys outside of your defense who are actually going to work at getting the ball back... and if DiStefano is 'back there' he's not in a position to convert off a cross from either winger...He's the only guy in you're attack who is a reputable cross-convertor imo. The Dutch trio were all aggresive ball getters and your central guys will need help..now, either your WB's come forwards or your wingers go back... Maldini and Djalma are not going to get done for speed by either of their opponents so if your wingers move back our WB's can move forward. Decisions, decisions indeed :p all hypothetical of course.

I still think the success of your wingers would be determined by what backline you go with and the classic confrontation of a wing vs. diamond midfield can then commence.

[comme]

I think alot of teams will be playing counter attack against Team C. Wait until they give the ball away and then destroy them. One thing I would say is certain is that you need at leat one proper defender from your last 3 picks. Fachetti is attacking and Varela is seen by many as a midfielder rather than a centre back. Even your D-mid was at his best going forward.


If you are not careful you will be exploited on the break.

[comme]

BTW I'm not trying to bitch, but at this stage everone is trying to prove why their own system will work best and expose the flaws of every other team.

[tpmazembe]

Great...the smack has begun!

Counterattacking will be the choice against us, cause we have the players to dictate ball posession and tempo. We aren't afraid.

Our d-mid may have evolved into an attacking force, but his days at BMgladbach and intro into the NTs he was the best d-mid man marker in the biz. As for Varela, don't let his flexibility obscure the fact that his best playing days were spent in the back line. Don't hate us because our mid and defensive players have flexibility...we can adapt to any offensive scheme.

But we're still three picks away from complete teams, so I'll save the good stuff for later ....the full dissection -- with emphasis on the dis -- of our worthy opponents. :)

[comme]

And our team lacks flexibility?

So far only Puskas and Carlos are one position men, and Carlos covers so much ground that is is as if he plays in 3.

[Bauser]

TEAM B:

Members: Bauser, Auriaprottu

Round: 8 (Week 8)
Selection: 4
Total picks: 39

Player: Marco Tardelli

Position: Midfield (all over)

Career Span: 1972-88
Nationality: Italian
Born: 24th September 1954
Caps/goals: 81 / 6
Clubs: Pisa (1972-74), Como (1974-75), Juventus (1975-85), Internazionale (1985-87), San Gallo (1987-88).

Profile / Stats: : World Cup winner 1982 [Club level]: European Champions Cup x 1, Cupwinners Cup x 1, UEFA Cup x 1, European Super Cup x 1, Serie A x 5, Coppa Italia x 2.

Marco Tardelli - one of very few players who have won all three European club tournaments - was the engine in midfield for both Italy and Juventus for a full decade during many of the most successful years Italian football has ever seen. This elegant workhorse combined the best of both worlds in midfield: Creative [i]and destructive when needed. Tardelli's lung capacity was enormous much thanks to his parallel career as a middle-distance runner in his youth years, but he chose football when he was forced to make a decision. Italian football benefitted a lot from that decision. Many people feel Tardelli has never been fully replaced for the Azzurri. He scored important goals for Italy on their way to the World Cup title in 1982. His goal against West Germany in the final set new standards for passionate goal celebrations. That goal was Tardelli to a T: Energetic, passionate, hard-working with a winning mentality. In our view Tardelli is an ideal player for Team B to help Deschamps with defensive duties and to give Maradona an extra option in attack with some surging runs from behind to support. The all-in-one midfielder: Marco Tardelli.

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

[comme]

I think that rivals Bozsik and Deschamps as the shock pick of the draft.

[argentine soccer fan]

What is this? Somebody picked an Italian who is not a defender? :D

This is a surprise pick and a very shrewd one in my view. I think I see team B's thinking. This is Maradona's team, and Tardelli will complement him very well.

I love Tardelli as a player. He was a class act and always a winner. He was a huge factor in Italy winning it all in 82.

I remember watching Italy-France 86, as France was easily knocking out the defending champions 2-0. I was watching in disbelief as Italy was playing without any passion and Tardelli was being wasted sitting on the bench. I never understood why they didn't bring him into that game. His absence underscored how valuable he was.

[Bauser]

I don't think Tardelli was a shock pick. He has his fair share of admirers and was voted in at 37th on UEFAs internet poll of best European players of all time recently. In my opinion, the only pick so far in the whole draft that has been remotely close to shocking was when Djalma Santos was picked as early as #14.