Soccer Draft

[DaddyTorgo]

no worries GE - I figured with a holiday weekend it'd be quiet for sure.

I was considering 'dinho strongly once we got into the "reserves" here I gotta tell you.

[bhlloy]

16.2 Darjo Srna MF Shakhtar Donetsk/Croatia

Another versatile midfielder, can also play wing back, dead ball specialist and national team captain. Chips in with a lot of goals also.

[DaddyTorgo]

*sings* 4 more picks till i get to go

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

16.3 Alex DC Chelsea

He's become a regular starter under Hiddink. Impressed me at PSV and has impressed me with the Blues as well. Solid defender off the bench, and has goalscoring abilities to replace Chivu if I'm down late in a game.

[DaddyTorgo]

nice. i looked at Alex earlier (when i took mexes)

[BishopMVP]

Finally addressing starting GK with 16.4 Tim Howard Everton/United States

[DaddyTorgo]

bah. i'm traveling tomorrow FYI, so I'll check the thread from my phone, but it might take a few extra minutes if i'm up while i'm in midair between NYC and Chicago

[Big Fo]

Round 16.5 - Luka Modrić, midfielder, Tottenham Hotspur

Modrić is capable of playing in the hole, as a left winger, or in the middle of the park. He has excellent technique and creativity. He was one of the standout performers at Euro 2008 and his recent form for Spurs has been a big part of their transformation from relegation battlers to Europa League contenders under Harry Redknapp.

[Katon]

Speaking of Tottenham's Croat contingent . . .

16.6 - Vedran Corluka, RB, Tottenham Hotspur

One of the best right-backs on show at Euro 2008 and also impressive in the Premiership, Corluka is also capable of playing in central defence or defensive midfield.

[DaddyTorgo]

yay!

[DaddyTorgo]

16.7 - Gonzalo Higuain, ST/AMR, Real Madrid
17.1 - Per Mertesacker, DC, Werder Bremen/Germany

[bhlloy]

eck... I wanted Mertesacker with my last pick, but figured he'd fall. Good value there.

[DaddyTorgo]

yeah - i agonized over him or another winger...but figured i needed another DC first.

and Merty has 55 caps for a top-3 fifa-ranked national team by the age of 24...not too shabby

[Katon]

17.2 - Dimitar Berbatov, ST, Manchester United

Hasn't always been at his best this season, but there aren't too many players out there who can come anywhere near him for talent.

[Big Fo]

Round 17.3 - Martín Demichelis, central defender/defensive midfielder, Bayern Munich

In a team with a lot of flair players I wanted to bring in another tough guy, plus his ability to contribute at two positions means he'll be good to have on the bench.

Since round 18 looks like it will be boring as hell with everyone taking a backup keeper, I'm suggesting that we all not bother and just stick a seventh outfield player on the bench...

[BishopMVP]

Round 17.4 - Santi Cazorla, winger Villareal/Spain

An ambidextrous winger who starts regularly for Spain? I'll take it.

As for Big Fo's suggestion, I'm agnostic. The original intent was for everyone to have a playable team, which would necessitate a backup keeper, but I can see the argument where it will be a boring round. If 3 more people agree with Big Fo before round 18 starts, we can switch it, otherwise I'd say keep to the original intent. Of course, you could always live dangerously and not include a backup keeper in your 7 subs - really, how often do they get injured or red-carded?

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I kind of prefer the original intent, but don't care too much either way.

17.5 Álvaro Arbeloa DL/DR Liverpool

My backup fullback. Is not a spectacular player, but is solid through and through, can play both sides, and has shown an ability to make things happen offensively this season. Also has started getting caps for the Euro champs.

[Katon]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Round 17.4 - Santi Cazorla, winger Villareal/Spain

An ambidextrous winger who starts regularly for Spain? I'll take it.

He's currently out for three months with a fractured bone in his right leg . . .

Good pick at this stage if you get him near peak value, though.

As for Big Fo's suggestion, I would also lean towards the original intent. If I'd known from the beginning of the draft that there would only be seven keepers going throughout the draft, I might not have picked a keeper in round 11. This is the kind of rule that can potentially affect people's drafting strategies, so I vote for sticking to the version of the rules that we've been using so far.

[Big Fo]

I hadn't thought of that angle. Let's just continue on as normal...

[bhlloy]

I need another CB, so I'll go for an up and coming kid who will be a fixture in the Real team for years to come, playing very well for Santander on loan and just breaking into the Argentina national team.

17.6 Ezequiel Garay CB Racing Santander/Argentina

[Katon]

Originally Posted by Big Fo

I hadn't thought of that angle. Let's just continue on as normal...

And after the CL match, I think both of us might want second options at keeper .

[bhlloy]

considering everybody needs one though, do we really need to "waste" a round on them? If anything, I'd be in favor of doing a supplemental 19th round to fill that spot. I hadn't really planned on it, although it's nobodies fault but my own.

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by Katon

And after the CL match, I think both of us might want second options at keeper .

Chelsea - Liverpool spoilers following in case someone was taping for later-

Spoiler

Reina looked real bad on the first by Drogba and maybe should have kept Lampard's shot out but I dunno, that was pretty close-range. Alex's and Lampard's clincher were hard to fault him on imo.

Cech was pretty woeful, especially on the first one where, and I hate to use the phrase but "I would have saved that one." Not much he could do about the penalty or the deflection of Essien. He should have cut out the cross for Kuyt's goal. And what was he doing on that one play where he came out to the edge of his box and didn't come anywhere near the ball?

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

considering everybody needs one though, do we really need to "waste" a round on them? If anything, I'd be in favor of doing a supplemental 19th round to fill that spot. I hadn't really planned on it, although it's nobodies fault but my own.

What's different about that than doing 17 rounds and an 18th "supplemental one". I mean, we can keep drafting indefinitely, but I think 18 is a perfect cutoff because its the amount of subs allowed on the bench in a CL/PL/WC game.

Originally Posted by Katon

He's currently out for three months with a fractured bone in his right leg . . .

Good pick at this stage if you get him near peak value, though.

Oof... I set my list up before he got injured and didn't check closely enough. Saw Senna mentioned as being out vs. Arsenal but didn't read the article and see Cazorla too. Hopefully I have a Macheda in my reserves/youth system looking to make an impression.

[GoldenEagle]

17.7 - Florent Malauda - He will give me some wing depth and I believe he can also play an attacking midfield role.

18.1 - Nicolas Anelka - Yes, he is a head case. But it hard not to pick the leading goal scorer in the Premiership with this pick.

I really wanted to take an American, but just could not justify taking one.

[bhlloy]

18.2 Igor Akinfeev GK CSKA Moscow/Russia

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

18.3 Sébastien Frey Fiorentina

My backup keeper.

[Katon]

Originally Posted by GoldenEagle

17.7 - Florent Malauda - He will give me some wing depth and I believe he can also play an attacking midfield role.

18.1 - Nicolas Anelka - Yes, he is a head case. But it hard not to pick the leading goal scorer in the Premiership with this pick.

I really wanted to take an American, but just could not justify taking one.

No sub keeper?

Also, speaking as a Chelsea fan, I really don't think Malouda's worth taking in this draft. He's been average on his good days the last couple of years, and well below that most of the time. And between Silva and Giggs, it's not like you're short on left-sided wingers/AMs.

[DaddyTorgo]

is it time for my last pick of the draft yet?

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

18.2 Igor Akinfeev GK CSKA Moscow/Russia

fuck you!!! i was hoping he'd fall to me

[Big Fo]

Every Chelsea fan I know on other boards seems to despise Malouda. But he had a good game to knock Liverpool out of the Champions League so he gets a pass in my book.

[Katon]

Originally Posted by Big Fo

Every Chelsea fan I know on other boards seems to despise Malouda. But he had a good game to knock Liverpool out of the Champions League so he gets a pass in my book.

Well, he did pick a good time to impersonate a footballer . That said, I don't know many Chelsea fans who're remotely happy with any of our wing options apart from (the injured) Cole. It's just hard to think of any moment - the CL tie aside - when Malouda has remotely looked a threat against Big Four/CL-quality defenses. Given that most of the defenses in this draft should be at least that level . . .

[BishopMVP]

18.4 Andres Palop Spain/Sevilla

[Big Fo]

18.5 - Brad Friedel, goalkeeper, Aston Villa

USA USA USA

Nationalism aside he's still an effective player.

[Katon]

And would've been my backup keeper if you hadn't picked him.

18.6 - Rene Adler, GK, Bayer Leverkusen

The 2008 Bundesliga keeper of the year, he's a promising young player with very quick reactions.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

So... close.... DT.... where are you....

[DaddyTorgo]

oh i'm here

katon usually PM's me and i didn't see one so i didn't check.

i'll make my pick before i leave work in 40 mins

[DaddyTorgo]

18.7 - Stipe Pletikosa, GK, Spartak Moscow/Croatia

[Big Fo]

Well that wraps it up. Having never participated on one of these internet drafts before, is this the part where we all pimp our own team?

How does voting work? Do you rank the six teams other than yours in order with some kind of points system or just vote for the winner?

[DaddyTorgo]

i plan on pimping my team

[DaddyTorgo]

My Team (including players in multiple positions they can play) - NOTE - this is not my starting lineup, just a reference of all my choices

GK: Iker Casillas, Stipe Pletikosa
DR: Sergio Ramos, Gianluca Zambrotta
DL: Fabio Grosso, Gianluca Zambrotta
DC: Fabio Cannavaro, Philippe Mexes, Per Mertesacker, Sergio Ramos
ML: Wesley Sneijder, Gianluca Zambrotta, Bastien Schweinstager
MR: Andrei Arshavin, Gonzalo Higuain, Bastien Schweinstager
MC: Xavi, Marcos Senna, Juan Roman Riquelme, Wesley Sneijder, Bastien Schweinstager
ST: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andrei Arshavin, Alessandro Del Piero, Gonzalo Higuain, Luca Toni

I'm still toying with my formation but I can envision a formation where I start Zlatan, Arshavin and Higuain at ST/ST/MR, giving the MR (Arshavin/Higuain) the ability to switch-off freely with each other. perhaps in a 3-5-2 type formation employing ramos at DC as well, to allow me to maximize my use of my midfield talent...

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Adebayor/Pato
Henry                                Ribery
Iniesta       Gerrard
Cambiasso
Sagna     Terry     Chivu     Clichy
Van der Sar
Bench:  Pato/Adebayor, Nasri, Joaqin, Gago, Alex, Arbeloa, Frey

Very strong offensively. Lots of creative players able to keep the ball moving. Ability to show two different looks up top, with a big tall striker in Adebayor or a quick creative one in Pato able to exploit different defenses. Defense may not be the best out there, but with Terry and Cambiasso I have a feeling they won't be giving up too much. Lots of potential impact on the bench.

[DaddyTorgo]

If we weren't taking backup GK's I had an awesome pick for #18...Arda Turan.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

1. RonnieDobbs2

I win!

[Katon]

My squad'll mostly line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, as follows:

GK Cech
DR Alves
DC Chiellini
DC Vidic
DL Cole
MC Alonso
MC Diarra
OM Totti
LW Robben
RW Messi
ST Klose

Bench: Adler, Corluka, Marquez, Lucho Gonzales, Diego, Di Natale, Berbatov

If I need some extra bite in midfield, I can put Lucho Gonzales in for Alonso (staying in a 4-2-3-1) or Totti (going to a 4-3-3). This squad has a fearsome attack, especially down the right flank, plenty of pace up front, and a couple of first-rate passers in midfield to feed the attack.

[DaddyTorgo]

i'll try to writeup a campaign for my squad tomorrow, but it prolly will be after the workday and at night

[bhlloy]

Here is how we lineup:

GK: Buffon
RCB: Pepe
CB: Skrtel
LCB: Puyol
RWB: Eboue
LWB: Lahm
CM: Mascherano
CM: Ballack/Stankovic
AM: Kaka
ST: Huntelaar
ST: Drogba

Bench: Ballack/Stankovic, Barry, Gomez, Srna, Garay, Frings, Akinfeev

I think this team will score a bunch of goals, Drogba is back in form and Huntelaar has been banging them in all season. He should be even better playing in the space that Drogba creates. Kaka is one of the best playmakers in the world who will also score 15+ a season and both wing backs love to get forward.

Defensively, Pepe and Puyol are very comfortable on the ball, quick & great distributors and Skrtel is the rock in the middle who can intimidate even the best target men in the world. I see the three of them working very well together. Mascherano and whoever his MF partner is (Ballack, Stankovic or even Frings) are very solid ballwinners and should be able to help the back three out because the wing backs aren't going to be asked to do all that much defending. Buffon is the second best goalie in the world and will be a calming influence.

UGH - guess my formation didn't work. Too lazy to do figure out whatever Ronnie Dobbs did to get it to work You will just have to visualize it yourselves...

[Big Fo]

             Benzema      Villa                  

Cassano                                 Ronaldo
            Carrick         Lampard

Evra                                    Bosingwa
          R. Carvalho     Lucio

                       Reina

An attack minded team that will pour in goals from all angles and distances. The attack starts from the back, both centerbacks are comfortable on the ball and the fullbacks both love getting forward and have the speed to make it back to defense in time. Even Reina contributes to the attack with his booming punts and goal-kicks, up to Benzema and Ronaldo who are both good in the air. Carvalho is a very intelligent defender while Lucio is very athletic. Both of them (plus Evra) are experienced players who have won the biggest trophies in the sport. Reina is very quick and one of the best shot stoppers.

The central midfield partnership has too excellent passers who are comfortable on the ball and work their socks off. Carrick is very effective defensively with a good positional sense and Lampard puts in his share even if we all know he's no Gattuso. Carrick will sit back while Lampard goes forward where he is scores a ton of goals for a central midfielder. Cassano is another player with superb technique who scores goals. Ronaldo is simply a beast with his speed, dribbling, shooting, and heading. On his day nobody is better and despite not reaching last season's 42 goal heights he's still scoring a lot of goals for a winger, some of them huge ones (v. Villa, Porto) while his team was not at it's best. Nominally he's the right winger but we'll play a very fluid style and he'll pop up on the left or up front at various times in the game. Few are as dangerous as him from corner kicks as well.

Up front you have two of the most coveted players in Europe in Villa and Benzema. Villa is fast, has great control, is a great finisher and will be given all the service a striker could want from that midfield. Benzema is a great all-rounder with strength, technique, and a cannon of a right foot. Both will fit in with the fluid style.

When a more defensive outlook is needed Flamini replaces Benzema and we go with a 4-2-3-1 with Lampard playing more advanced in the middle. Maxi can play on the right in place of Cassano with Ronaldo out left if we want to keep the 4-4-2 but with a little more bite.

Depth chart:

GK: Reina, Friedel
DR: Bosingwa, Cordoba
DL: Evra, Cordoba
DC: Lucio, R. Carvalho, Cordoba, Demichelis
DM: Carrick, Flamini, Demichelis
MC: Lampard, Carrick, Flamini, M. Rodriguez, Modric
AM: Lampard, Modric, Cassano, Love, M. Rodriguez
RW: Ronaldo, M. Rodriguez, Benzema
LW: Ronaldo, Cassano, Modric
ST: Villa, Benzema, Cassano, Love

[bhlloy]

So now what? We vote?

[Big Fo]

I am not sure how the voting works.