You shouldn't. The Cnut had me at 10th below multiple teams with sheep. Not that it would have helped me in catching bestie and sammer but it is the principle
In terms of future Sheep Drafts, I'm hoping to run another All Time version from around March and am considering another current player draft later this year (covering the period between Euro 2012 and Brazil 2014). Much will depend on work, but this is the plan.
Nice. Count me in for that one. In the mean time, we could have a normal draft around December or January. That "One Player Per Nation" sounded quite good.
Although you had great defenders, I didn't think they were best suited for a 3 man line, especially with Baresi 94 in his mid 30s a bit past his prime, and Stam 98 a beast but not the most mobile players, plus your wingbacks being more attack oriented than defensive help. Ramirez 94 I wasn't too impressed with, and Batistuta 94, while he had a decent WC, dissapeared when Argentina needed him the most. Add it all up and given the general parity and all the other teams also having excellent players, your ranking went down to 16th.
Page 3 Team: billyireland Overview - The vast majority of these players were at their best in the World Cup in question; possibly all 11 were close to it. Expect Forlan to be involved as much playing others in as he is taking his own shots on goal. Abalo is given a role that doesn't require anything special and may just be a good safety net for the 5 ahead of him to rely on and go out and play freely - he isn't expected to be top class nevertheless. Talking points - The managers mind games with the opposition have begun with the glorification of Abalo. Maybe a psychological strategy to get the best from his player or maybe he was out late and had a few pints of Guiness before the statement. On the field: experts are divided on whether Dirceu spending more time coming in from the right than the left will get the best out of him, but there is generally enthisiasm about the midfield and judging by his form in 1978 he'll likely be something of a star whatever positions he finds on the field. Likely stars - Lato 74, Lizarazu 98. Key partnership - Dirceu 78 & Rivelino 70. Young superstar but will he fade at a key moment? - Ballack 02. Past his very best or due a glorious swansong? - McGrath 94. Odds - 27/1. Top scorer odds - Lato 74 (20/1), Forlan 10 (40/1). Prospects/verdict - 14th favourites - they'll show something special at times with all the on form players and could cause upsets if Abalo lives up to his managers faith and Lato is set free often enough. Team: Breitner's Wig Overview - It was looking a good team; maybe even a very good team even at this high level of competition....but then the key moment....the drafting of Eusebio in the final round - even Alesandro Altobelli stood up to applaud his manager before glancing down at the team sheet and realising he wouldn't now play. The manourverability of Eusebio's team-mates in attack should match well with him and all 3 can create for each other as well as be the finisher - expect Eusebio to be prolific though; he also has Sekularac's unpredictable creativity and Ocwirk's passing to take advantage of. Pluskal and the spine of the defence including the goalkeeper will need to be on their guard though as both full-backs will look to join the attack at every opportunity most likely. Talking points - How was Eusebio not blocked? Bribes, free tickets to see Heaven 17, Pulp and the Human League or just plain luck? Likely stars - Eusebio 66, Rossi 78. Key partnership - Ocwirk 54 & Sekularac 62. Young superstar but will he fade at a key moment? - Caniggia 90. Past his very best or due a glorious swansong? - Roberto Carlos 02. Odds - 6/1. Top scorer odds - Eusebio 66 (11/4 favourite), Rossi 78 (18/1). Prospects/verdict - 4th favourites - expect them to stick around for most of the tournament - can they win it?....potentially they could.
Oh, I know why my team was ranked low, it was the one person who ranked Sammer low, that confused me. Im ready to go, after my worst draft ever. Im so ready...
Sammer’s Hammer Bestie Breitner’sWig Peru FC La-Maquina PDG1978 cr7trossi argentine soccer fan Vasu babaorum Excape Goat Triton Twenty26Six benni…& SyedZada billyireland Michaelf7777777 Polemarch AudereEstFacere And I'd probably put my team somewhere after 14 but before 17, probably between 15 and 16. Initially, it was obvious with Shammer up top. Then I looked more at Bestie and really liked the Zito, Didi, Kopa, Ronaldo, with Cruyff on the left combo. But ultimately I put "der Hammers" up top as I just can't see anybody defending Pele, Puskas, and Maradona (even the 1990 version). But what really put him over the top was the addition of Kohler in round 10. To me, Wig was a very good team, perhaps a Korea in 2002, but the addition of Eusebio made it top notch, the best of the rest. But that is not saying much as there was little difference, to me, in 3 thru 8. 9 thru 13 were also close. Vasu actually got the nod as I think Klose in 2006 was better than in 2010. And the rest of us. Truly, I really liked Sealand, and if he had the DM that I was sorely looking for, I think he might have been a good 5-8 spots higher. That said, I ranked him lower due to the sheep, though he might have made it past benni…& SyedZada.
Page 4 Team:cr7torossi Overview - The Brazilian attack that lit up the World Cup in 1958 is ready to do the same in the All-Time version. Pele's mercurial skills and eye for goal are likely to come to the fore when you least expect it....and probably when you most expect it too. There should be a good understanding in attack, and the manager is trusting that he can line the players up in a simple system and let their own brains and skills produce the creativity required. A high quality side all the way back to legendary goalkeeper Yashin. Talking points - Rivera was left out of the final line-up. It's not known for sure whether when all the players had been drafted the manager felt he should go for more simplicity and balance in the system than he could with Rivera in there, or whether he'd finally decided that though the Italian's World Cup performances including at key moments in 1970 were good and involved creating many chances as per his style, he was never at his true best or the fulcrum of the side in the World Cup. Likely stars - Pele 58, Masopust 62. Key partnership - Garrincha 58 & Pele 58. Young superstar but will he fade at a key moment? - Garrincha 58 (Pele is younger but judging by 1958 though he didn't necessarily take over games as he later would, he was not prone to fade and indeed finds his most inspired moments on the biggest stage). Past his very best or due a glorious swansong? - Yashin 66. Odds - 4/1. Top scorer odds - Pele 58 (3/1), Vava 58 (16/1). Prospects/verdict - 3rd favourites - Everything says they can go all the way but does the side have the capability to match Bestie's for quality or at least find a way to beat them? Team: Excape Goat Overview - The attack contains legendary skillful footballers, but none of them were really at their peak in the World Cups they have been taken from. Nevertheless, the capabilities are still there and they have the platform to make their magic count with a strong defence behind them. Zidane needs to shine as much as he did in the 98 Final from the first match this time if he can. Talking points - Did Zidane and Gentile have an altercation in a recent training session that involved repeated fouls followed by a chest-butt? Other than that rumour, none. Likely stars - Cannavaro 06, Zidane 98. Key partnership - Schweinsteiger 10 & Zidane 98. Young superstar but will he fade at a key moment? - Baggio 90. Past his very best or due a glorious swansong? - Figo 06. * Tostao 70 is both a young-ish superstar and arguably past his best as a goalscorer after his eye injury, but showed in 1970 how useful he can be at bringing players into the game. Odds - 14/1. Top scorer odds - Tostao 70 (30/1), Baggio 90 (33/1). Prospects/verdict - 9th favourites - if Baggio gets into the game often enough and Figo's legs stay fresh they have a chance.
Page 5 Team: La-Maquina Overview - A largely German and Dutch combination with a strong Frenchman and a cultured Chilean minding the defence. Expect Muller to get enough of the chances he craves to be able to be finding the net with regularity - the wide attackers will look to supply him as well as going for goal on occasions when cutting infield, and Rensenbrink should show his ability to pick out his colleague (often Muller probably) after some snake-like dribbling when the moment calls for it. Walter, with his sure touch and vision, should also be a good fit for all 3 attackers and could supply Muller directly with some useful passes. Talking points - Will the manager adapt well to his new team after his greatly heralded creation of an all Serie A team in a similar tournament? Will he enjoy the World Cup competition that has forced him to pick a (slightly) more varied team in terms of where the players ply their trade? Likely stars - Rensenbrink 78, Muller 70. Key partnership - Thuram 06 & Figueroa 74. Young superstar but will he fade at a key moment? - Rahn 54. Past his very best or due a glorious swansong? - Walter 54. Odds - 10/1. Top scorer odds - Muller 70 (5/1), Rahn 54 (40/1), Rensenbrink 78 (40/1). Prospects/verdict - 7th favourites - unlikely to be easily beaten and have the capability to come back from a deficit though they will prefer to lead from the start....if they are taken to penalties will be favoured to progress with so many Germans plus Rob Rensenbrink too! Team: Michael7777777 Overview - Capable defensively although maybe lacking a touch of pace in the centre as well as wide with the ageing Nilton Santos who is wilier than ever as a defender probably but might turn a little slower, and the forced inclusion of the Chilean at right back. The solidity is increased with the midfield pairing who will not let opponents pass if they can help it. Balakov is free to try and open up chances for the forward trio and the manager hopes that English and Austrian commentators alike will be getting excited about Krankl's goals on more than one occasion. Talking points - Will the manager be able to curb Monti's tendency to break people's legs and Cristiano Ronaldo's tendency to be a winker and go for the world record for step-overs? If so, could one or both or those players shine enough to make the all-star tournament team? Likely stars - Balakov 94, Krankl 78. Key partnership - Monti 34 & Deschamps 98. Young superstar but will he fade at a key moment? - C.Ronaldo 06. Past his very best or due a glorious swansong? - Nilton Santos 62. Odds - 50/1. Top scorer odds - Krankl 78 (35/1). Prospects/verdict - 17th favourites - will give most teams a tight and close match probably but are among the outsiders to take home the trophy.
Page 6 Team: PDG1978 Overview - As the manager often does, he's picked a team with more emphasis on what the team can do with the ball than how they can restrict the opposition. As well as young Albert, manager's favourite Michael Laudrup will hope to have a more decisive effect in the knock-out stages this time should the team with him to the fore play their way through the opening group. Another regular in the manager's teams Ruud Krol, does make up a quality central defensive partnership with captain Bobby Moore however so Laudrup and his fellow midfielders and forwards will believe their back door can be classily closed often enough. The English trio including Moore comprises two World Cup winners and a World Cup top scorer and each will be delighted if those achievments can be repeated, though the competition is much more capable in those areas this time. Talking points - Allegations that this preview contains some sort of propaganda in favour of this great team....erm sorry, of this team. They are ridiculous though (the allegations, not the players!). Likely stars - Moore 66, Charlton 66. Key partnership - Laudrup 86 & Lineker 86. Young superstar but will he fade at a key moment? - Albert 62. Past his very best or due a glorious swansong? - Suurbier 78. Odds - 7/2 (betting suspended pending investigation). Top scorer odds - Lineker 86 (6/1), Albert 62 (25/1). Prospects/verdict - 2nd favourites (if PDG bookmakers are allowed to offer the odds) - the manager insists they will play their way into the back of the opponents net often and we have faith in him although we feel that Bestie's team would be favoured over them for the Cup and get the impression he might agree with that. Good odds are available from other bookmakers down back-streets of towns and also in the Peruvian jungle - think about going each-way and don't put your house on them. Don't porn your TV either as you'll miss all their goals (don't hold us responsible if they are shut out in every game and go home in the group stage though). Team: Peru FC Overview - The manager is going back to the future, rekindling the verve of the Brazil team that used to play in white shirts. Confidence is increased by the knowledge that there aren't a team of Uruguayans to stop them and in fact the Uruguay captain from that day, Varela, is in the heart of this team himself. The free-playing South American theme is added to with a couple of stars from early 70's World Cups who should fit in well in the team. There is a small smattering of Europeans in the team too including the goalkeeper who hopes to watch attacks develop from afar mostly but will be ready with his capable defenders when danger arises. Talking points - The lack of scouting material on Ademir, Zizinho and co although it's widely noted how many goals (and they are available) the former scored in the 1950 World Cup, and how big the reputation of that team and those two stars in particular was before the Maracana setback. Likely stars - Cubillas 70, Ademir 50. Key partnership - Varela 50 & Zizinho 50. Young superstar but will he fade at a key moment? - Houseman 74. Past his very best or due a glorious swansong? - Forster 86. Odds - 22/1. Top scorer odds - Ademir 50 (10/1), Cubillas 70 (25/1). Prospects/verdict - 12th favourites - but don't count out them shocking the world and Bestie with a vibrant surge to the Final and a Maracana redeeming win - we just think that they may be going home before that stage this time though.
Page 7 Team: Polemarch Overview - The manager hopes to get Paolo Rossi into the swing as soon as possible so he can attempt to poach the team to glory as he did for Italy in 1982. He didn't manage to draft any of the main expected stars but did pick up some midfielders who can skillfully keep hold of the ball and he hopes that with the company of Matthaus they can give Rossi the chance to do his thing. Germans in the opposition will likely have nightmares of Letchkov's head meeting the ball in 1994 so don't count out this team upsetting La Maquina's should they meet at any stage. Talking points - Zlatan Ibrahimovic was outraged by being left out of the team at the last minute. The manager tried to point out to him that he would upset the balance of the team as he would not be running up and down the flank like his replacement will, and wouldn't be doing much in terms of tracking back against teams that managed to draft some All-Time superstars. Zlatan just responded that he'd been practicing back flicking the ball into the goal from the edge of the box all week, and that people would like to see him do it in the World Cup itself. Likely stars - Cafu 02, Rossi 82. Key partnership - Letchkov 94, Riquelme 06. Young superstar but will he fade at a key moment? - Robben 06. Past his very best or due a glorious swansong? - Rossi 82 (as mentioned, a repeat of the goals in 1982 will be perfect). Odds - 60/1. Top scorer odds - Rossi 82 (22/1). Prospects/verdict - 18th favourites - reportedly had a more thorough preperation than AudereEstFacere's team so may be the outsider of choice among punters. Team: Sammer's Hammer Overview - The world waits to see what happens when a team includes both Pele and Maradona (with Puskas to keep them company). The manager feels Puskas's injury problems in 1954 were just bad luck but Maradona's fitness is more decisively not perfect. The team isn't set up to bunker but does have 5 defenders and a pair of Dutch midfielders who will start in deep positions then look to support the legends when they can. We feel that a younger Pele and Maradona could thrive in this setup with no problem but have question marks due to the fact the versions drafted don't have the same ability to take the ball forwards themselves as they used to have. Still, it's a high class team and does contain two wing-backs who can do plenty going forwards and a great libero sweeping up and starting moves by bringing the ball out. Also, was Pele just warming up in 1970 for this tournament i.e is he going to score from halfway and sell the goalkeeper a wonder dummy before actually scoring this time? If Maradona comes up with the sort of assist he did against Brazil in 1990 and can find Puskas often enough then clearly this team is dangerous. Talking points - Another controversy surrounding an omitted player - Messi went to see Sammer's Hammer to convey his disappointment and was told that his form in 2010 wasn't up to the standards of the season before. The little Argentinian was making the case that he can do some yoga before the tournament and that if he's played in a more advanced role he can still shine as for Barcelona. when the manager took out his evil looking hammer and Messi backed down before trudging off muttering something about the All-Time Champions League being the true test of greatness anyway. Oh yeah, and Pele and Maradona are in the same team - a poll discovered that 73% of people were talking about this most in regard to this team with the majority of the rest talking about Messi. Likely stars - Pele 70, Puskas 54. Key partnership - Pele 70 & Puskas 54. Young superstar but will he fade at a key moment? - Zanetti 98. Past his very best or due a glorious swansong? - To be confirmed in final edition (Maradona and Pele are currently arguing about it in public casting some doubts on how they will combine on the pitch). Odds - 8/1. Top scorer odds - Puskas 54 (4/1), Pele 70 (18/1). Prospects/verdict - 5th favourites - a lot of people think Pele and Maradona can put any differences behind them and unite to bring out the best in each other. If that happens they have to be among the top contenders.
Page 8 Team: soccernutter Overview - Largely inspired by Italia 90, this team will also employ a similar formation to that which took Bobby Robson's England to the semi-final in that tournament with a back 5 and two attacking central midfield players. The fact that Platini was starting to run on empty a bit by the time of the 1986 World Cup (and is carrying a bit of a knock into the tournament) doesn't help and if he'd been a younger and slightly more sprightly version of himself that had starred for Juventus and France in the preceeding years then the team would be viewed with higher expectations probably. Young Gascoigne could be inspired but if he and his team get to the semis this time it could be tears of joy that are shed. The manager hopes Roger Milla can have a similar effect over 90 minutes that he had over shorter bursts as a sub, and that Hong Myung Bo and his South Korean colleague can perform well in a defence that contains two well-suited wing-backs. Talking points - Many previews state that the team is missing an anchor in midfield and the manager points out the effort made in securing one but hopes that the Gascoigne-Platini duo can run the show and silence any critics anyway. Likely stars - Cafu 98, Milla 90. Key partnership - Platini 86 & Gascoigne 90. Young superstar but will he fade at a key moment? - Gascoigne 90. Past his very best or due a glorious swansong? - Platini 86. Odds - 40/1. Top scorer odds - Voller 90 (30/1), Milla 90 (33/1). Prospects/verdict - 16th favourites - don't need a miracle but do need most things to go their way if they are to have an epic tournament. Team: Triton Overview - Could be exciting if the front players in the 4-2-3-1 formation all hit top form together. Much wil hinge on Maradona who will try to make the best of a free role that should suit his talents; if he can keep his emotions in a good state in the big games then the team have a much better chance than if he can't. He hopes that the refereeing in this tournament will be stricter on fouls than it was in 1982 and it should be. Talking points - Can the manager deter drug dealers from hanging around and trying to sell to his star player? Likely stars - Maradona 82, Stoichkov 94. Key partnership - Conti 82 & Schillaci 90. Young superstar but will he fade at a key moment? - Maradona 82. Past his very best or due a glorious swansong? - Coluna 66. Odds - 28/1. Top scorer odds - Stoichkov 94 (20/1), Schillaci 90 (22/1). Prospects/verdict - 15th favourites - with a reasonable rather than magnificent defence the hopes hinge on Maradona flying and Toto firing at least as much as he did in 1990, but don't rule them out just yet.
I even thought of using the Yahoo/fantasy point system to calculate the winner. If we do it early, we can have players who actually do not make it to Brazil and they would be liked sheep picks. PS: I don't want to organize it.... I am too lazy.
No, I squezed 3 onto page 1 so you'll be with Twenty26Six on the final page. If you agree we can have your guide to the drafting ups and downs on the back cover though!
Great idea, I can also publish lanman's own performance stats (how many sheep he managed to herd out of us) and a comparison of the sheepishness of SD4 and this one. Will have to do that tomorrow though!
Cool. Don't feel you have to do anything extra, cos I was just meaning what you'd already shown at the end of the drafting.....but you can if you want of course and I know we all like seeing the analysis! Maybe it'd have to go in the middle (since the fixtures are undecided at time of publishing anyway so we don't need those in the centre)