Draft of Drafts

[tpmazembe]

I'd be extremly surprised if Djalma was not every teams first choice right back! A true lock for the position with no equal, imo of course. Our right side is now strong friends.

Certainly my top right back of all-time. So consistent for so many years, both on the offensive end and defensively. And, his through balls to Garrincha with the outside of the foot.....thing of beauty.

You can get good idea by viewing the 1962 complete game tapes.

There are good RBs left, but I think all are a slight notch below at the position. Interestingly, at the Left Back position I can see 3-4 at the same top level; either one of which I'd be equivalently happy to have.

Djalma Santos and Djalmina also have to be one of the best father and son combos ever.You know, I'll have to check that out. I've heard differing accounts as to whether they are father/son. I can think of only two other tandems quite that good -- one Italian and one Brasilian (can't mention because they might pop up as choices later on).

[tpmazembe]

Djalminha's father was not Santos, but Djalma Dias who was the starting center back during WC 1962 for Brasil, on through most of the late 60s. His glory was made with Palmeiras playing alongside D. Santos.

Sadly, he died before ever seeing Djalminha become a pro.

http://www.memoriadofutebol.com.br/vocesabia/190.jpg

Still, a great father/son tandem.

[comme]

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

Round 3 (week 3)
Selection 5
Overall 15th pick

George Best

Nation: Northern Ireland

Career span: 1960s,70s,80s

Clubs: Manchester United, Dunstable Town, Stockport County, Cork Celtic, LA Galaxy, Fulham, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Hibernian, San Jose Earthquakes, Bournemouth, Brisbane Lions

Major Honours: European Cup winner 1968, European Player of the year 1968, English titles 2 1965,67

International caps 37 goals 9

Lightening pace, mesmeric footwork, instant control, a fierce shot with either foot, deceptive stength and a strong tackle- George Best had it all. At his peak Best was perhaps the most gifted and charismatic entertainer that British football ever saw. It is only a pity that he was unable to play on the world stage and that through his own self-destruction his career did not reach the heights he was capable of.

Decision-majority

[comme]

I'm fairly surprised we had the chance to take Best, in Britain he is rarely outside the top 5 in lists of the greatest players ever. I'm not normally Best's biggest fan, I suppose it is because everyone else loves him so much, but I felt that we had to take him at this stage. The man rivals even Maradona for sheer talent and he brings a new element to our line up.

Team E so far- Beckenbauer, Puskas, Best.

[Mobile]

I'm fairly surprised we had the chance to take Best, in Britain he is rarely outside the top 5 in lists of the greatest players ever. I'm not normally Best's biggest fan, I suppose it is because everyone else loves him so much, but I felt that we had to take him at this stage. The man rivals even Maradona for sheer talent and he brings a new element to our line up.

Team E so far- Beckenbauer, Puskas, Best.

Great pick. I though Best might slip through the net - bear in mind, not that many of the posters involved in this are British, so he may not spring to mind for many.

[Dark Savante]

Great pick. I though Best might slip through the net - bear in mind, not that many of the posters involved in this are British, so he may not spring to mind for many.

Best wasn't forgotten. Alot of the picks have been tactical and the people who have been picked ahead of best had longer careers(not hard) and also were better all round players imo. Best's passing wasn't as good as the other creators, his individual skills were awesome, he's a tough call, he's outside the matrix. Better watch he doesn't retire mid game :p

[comme]

Well Best played for United for about 11 years, which isn't bad going. At his peak he was as good as any player ever, so I feel he is a good acquisition.

[Dark Savante]

Well Best played for United for about 11 years, which isn't bad going. At his peak he was as good as any player ever, so I feel he is a good acquisition.

There is one ting going against him for alot of people (not neccessarily yself) his world cup record, or lack of one. If he had played for a major nation his profile would be so much higher to the world at large then it is. He's always been on my all time squad bench as his talent is certainly unquestinable, but my question is, in a head to head with Puskas, Cruyff, Maradona and Pele would you put him ahead of any of those for playmaking?

Not belittling your choice as Best is an excellent player and one of my al time favs, just asking a general q.

[comme]

In terms of playmaking I would perhaps put him ahead of Puskas but not the others, no.

However, if his world cup record counts against him then so it must against Di Stefano and he was the third overall pick. Admittedly Best hasn't got the 5 European Cups of Alfredo but he didn't play for Real Madrid.

[Dark Savante]

5 euro cups in a row would give any player meteoric status. Also the longevity of Di Stefano's career holds him in a different stead to Best imo

[argentine soccer fan]

Best is a very good choice. Just from watching some highlights, the guy was a pleasure to watch. A great example of 'The beautiful Game' at its most entertaining. It is a shame that he didn't get the opportunity to show it in the eyes of the whole world.

I wouldn't say he slipped through the net. I think, looking at the other creative players who were picked ahead of him, his position in the draft is just about right. I wouldn't rank him ahead of players like Pele, Maradona, Garrincha, Eusebio etc. But he was the best and most exciting attacking player ever to come out of the British Isles, and he would be a great asset to any team. We can imagine that playing him as a winger next to Puskas would make for quite a lethal and unpredictable attacking force.

[tpmazembe]

Best is a very good choice......We can imagine that playing him as a winger next to Puskas would make for quite a lethal and unpredictable attacking force.
Is Best suited to play the support striker? Seems Team E has chosen two go-to guys up front. Not a bad choice at all, but I thought for sure that you would be taking a creative or midfield player. Seems Team E as well as ourselves (Team C) have gone with the 'best available' approach in the first 3 rounds.

Then again, you are picking next......

[tpmazembe]

1st-3rd Round Player Recap

Pele
Maradona
DiStefano
Cryuff
Beckenbauer
Puskas
Baresi
Garrincha
Passarella
Moore
Eusebio
Muller
Platini
Djalma Santos
Best
Team Re-cap:

TEAM A : Pele, Moore, Eusebio
TEAM B : Maradona, Passarella, G.Muller
TEAM C : DiStefano, Garrincha, Platini
TEAM D : Cryuff, Baresi, Dj.Santos
TEAM E : Beckenbauer, Puskas, Best

[comme]

I think that something that attracted us to Best was a certain flexibility in his play. Where we play him will depend on our future picks but I can assure you it won't be right up front. We certainly envisage him as a creator either from the flanks or the side of a midfield attacking three.

[comme]

Team E- comme, Merengue, Excape Goat, lanman

Round 4 (Week 4)
Selection 1
Overall selection 16


Zinedine Zidane

Nation: France

Career span: 1990s, 2000s

Clubs Cannes: Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid

Major honours: World Cup winner 1998, European Championship winner 2000, European Cup (CL) winner 2002, European cup finalist 1997,98 Italian titles 2, Spanish titles 1, world player of the year 1998, 2000, 2003, European player of the year 1998

International caps 87 goals 22

Zidane is considered by many to be the finest player of his generation. He joined Juventus when they were European Champions and in his first two years picked up two Serie A titles and went to consecutive Champions league finals losing both to Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid. In 98 Zidane had a somewhat dissapointing World cup including a sending off in the group stages, but came back to score two headed goals in the final to help France defeat the favourites Brazil 3-0. In 2000 Zidane was at his imperious best as France marched to glory in Belgium and Holland scoring a golden goal penalty to eliminate Portugal. After a couple of unsuccessful seasons (by Juve's standards) Zidane moved to Real Madrid for a world record £49m. In his first season he lifted the CL scoring Madrid's winner with one of the greatest goals ever seen in the history of the Champions League. He followed this with a Spanish title but real were surprisingly eliminated by his old team Juve in the CL semifinals. Despite this dissapoinment Zidane was named world Player of the year for a third time in 2003 becoming only the second man to achieve this after Ronaldo.

[bkn0528]

I expected him to be the first active player selected. He is the most talented player in the world right now with the ball at his feet - simply amazing to watch.

[comme]

Well then we have finally accepted the inevitable and taken Zidane. Some will know of my almost irrational dislike of Zidane, but there is no denying that he has been a top player and few can question his CV.

I think my dislike is based on the fact that i have seen more of Zidane than any player so far drafted (perhaps not Baresi) and he has perhaps not been the game-breaker that I have seen in the likes of Cruyff, Maradona et al.

I think he adds further versatility to our midfield.

[Dark Savante]

Team E- comme, Merengue, Excape Goat, lanman

Round 4 (Week 4)
Selection 1
Overall selection 16


Zinedine Zidane

Nation: France

Career span: 1990s, 2000s

Clubs Cannes: Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid

Major honours: World Cup winner 1998, European Championship winner 2000, European Cup (CL) winner 2002, European cup finalist 1997,98 Italian titles 2, Spanish titles 1, world player of the year 1998, 2000, 2003, European player of the year 1998

International caps 87 goals 22

Zidane is considered by many to be the finest player of his generation. He joined Juventus when they were European Champions and in his first two years picked up two Serie A titles and went to consecutive Champions league finals losing both to Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid. In 98 Zidane had a somewhat dissapointing World cup including a sending off in the group stages, but came back to score two headed goals in the final to help France defeat the favourites Brazil 3-0. In 2000 Zidane was at his imperious best as France marched to glory in Belgium and Holland scoring a golden goal penalty to eliminate Portugal. After a couple of unsuccessful seasons (by Juve's standards) Zidane moved to Real Madrid for a world record £49m. In his first season he lifted the CL scoring Madrid's winner with one of the greatest goals ever seen in the history of the Champions League. He followed this with a Spanish title but real were surprisingly eliminated by his old team Juve in the CL semifinals. Despite this dissapoinment Zidane was named world Player of the year for a third time in 2003 becoming only the second man to achieve this after Ronaldo.

lol, i bet you didn't write that! Would have busted your keyboard to celebrate someone you seem to hate :D

[comme]

Haha, I did actually, and minus a fewspelling mistakes it is a masterful piece of football writing.

[Dark Savante]

There is hope for us all! :D