Soccer Draft

[BishopMVP]

My friend's participating in one over at BigSoccer, and it got me curious to see if there was any interest here. Current players, current form (so injuries matter), and I'd say probably 14 rounds, so you end up with a starting 11 and 3 subs, but I'm open to changing any rules. I'd be inclined to do a 2 hour limit, with a moratorium from 1am EST to 10am EST, but if we have Europeans participating that could also be changed.

ROUND 1
1.1 DaddyTorgo - Iker Casillas
1.2 katon - Lionel Messi
1.3 Big Fo - Cristiano Ronaldo
1.4 BishopMVP - Fernando Torres
1.5 RonnieDobbs2 - Steven Gerrard
1.6 bhlloy - Kaka
1.7 Golden Eagle - Samuel Eto'o

ROUND 2

2.8 Golden Eagle - Michael Essien
2.9 bhlloy - Javier Mascherano
2.10 RonnieDobbs2 - Franck Ribery
2.11 BishopMVP - Rio Ferdinand
2.12 Big Fo - Frank Lampard
2.13 Katon - Nemanja Vidic
2.14 Daddy Torgo - Zlatan Ibrahimovic

ROUND 3
3.15 DaddyTorgo - Xavi
3.16 katon - Dani Alves
3.17 Big Fo - David Villa
3.18 BishopMVP - Daniele De Rossi
3.19 RonnieDobbs2 - John Terry
3.20 bhlloy - Gianluigi Buffon
3.21 Golden Eagle - David Silva

ROUND 4

4.22 Golden Eagle - Wayne Rooney
4.23 bhlloy - Carlos Puyol
4.24 RonnieDobbs2 - Esteban Cambiasso
4.25 BishopMVP - Maicon
4.26 Big Fo - Patrice Evra
4.27 Katon - Arjen Robben
4.28 Daddy Torgo - Sergio Ramos

ROUND 5

5.29 DaddyTorgo - Marcos Senna
5.30 katon - Giorgio Chiellini
5.31 Big Fo - Lucio
5.32 BishopMVP - Sergio Aguero
5.33 RonnieDobbs2 - Thierry Henry
5.34 bhlloy - Phillip Lahm
5.35 Golden Eagle - Jamie Carragher

ROUND 6

6.36 Golden Eagle - Walter Samuel
6.37 bhlloy - Klaas Jan-Huntelaar
6.38 RonnieDobbs2 - Andres Iniesta
6.39 BishopMVP - Adrian Mutu
6.40 Big Fo - Karim Benzema
6.41 Katon - Ashley Cole
6.42 Daddy Torgo - Wesley Sneijder

ROUND 7

7.43 DaddyTorgo - Andrei Arshavin
7.44 katon - Xabi Alonso
7.45 Big Fo - Michael Carrick
7.46 BishopMVP - Yuri Zhirkov
7.47 RonnieDobbs2 - Bacary Sagna
7.48 bhlloy - Pepe
7.49 Golden Eagle - Andrea Pirlo

ROUND 8

8.50 Golden Eagle - Ryan Giggs
8.51 bhlloy - Didier Drogba
8.52 RonnieDobbs2 - Alexandre Pato
8.53 BishopMVP - Jeremy Toulalan
8.54 Big Fo - Ricardo Carvalho
8.55 Katon - Miroslav Klose
8.56 Daddy Torgo - Fabio Cannavaro

ROUND 9

9.57 DaddyTorgo - Phillippe Mexes
9.58 katon - Francesco Totti
9.59 Big Fo - Jose Bosingwa
9.60 BishopMVP - Vincent Kompany
9.61 RonnieDobbs2 - Gael Clichy
9.62 bhlloy - Michael Ballack
9.63 Golden Eagle - Javier Zanetti

ROUND 10

10.64 Golden Eagle - Diego Forlan
10.65 bhlloy - Martin Skrtel
10.66 RonnieDobbs2 - Emmanuel Adebayor
10.67 BishopMVP - Robinho
10.68 Big Fo - Maxi Rodriguez
10.69 Katon - Lassana Diarra
10.70 Daddy Torgo - Fabio Grosso

ROUND 11

11.71 DaddyTorgo - Alessandro Del Piero
11.72 katon - Petr Cech
11.73 Big Fo - Antonio Cassano
11.74 BishopMVP - Ashley Young
11.75 RonnieDobbs2 - Edwin van der Sar
11.76 bhlloy - Emmanuel Eboue
11.77 Golden Eagle - Robin Van Persie

ROUND 12

12.78 Golden Eagle - Julio Cesar
12.79 bhlloy - Dejan Stankovic
12.80 RonnieDobbs2 - Christian Chivu
12.81 BishopMVP - Juninho
12.82 Big Fo - Pepe Reina
12.83 Katon - Antonio di Natale
12.84 Daddy Torgo - Juan Roman Riquelme

ROUND 13

13.85 DaddyTorgo - Gianlucca Zambrotta
13.86 katon - Diego
13.87 Big Fo - Mathieu Flamini
13.88 BishopMVP - Yaya Toure
13.89 RonnieDobbs2 - Samir Nasri
13.90 bhlloy - Gareth Barry
13.91 Golden Eagle - Davide Santon

ROUND 14

14.92 Golden Eagle - Cesc Fabregas
14.93 bhlloy - Mario Gomez
14.94 RonnieDobbs2 - Joaquin
14.95 BishopMVP - Heiko Westermann
14.96 Big Fo - Ivan Cordoba
14.97 Katon - Lucho Gonzalez
14.98 Daddy Torgo - Luca Toni

ROUND 15

15.099 DaddyTorgo - Bastian Schweinsteiger
15.100 katon - Rafa Marquez
15.101 Big Fo - Vagner Love
15.102 BishopMVP - Lisandro Lopez
15.103 RonnieDobbs2 - Fernando Gago
15.104 bhlloy - Torsten Frings
15.105 Golden Eagle - Johnny Evans

ROUND 16

16.106 Golden Eagle - Ronaldinho
16.107 bhlloy - Darjo Srna
16.108 RonnieDobbs2 - Alex
16.109 BishopMVP - Tim Howard
16.110 Big Fo - Luka Modric
16.111 Katon - Vedran Corluka
16.112 Daddy Torgo - Gonzalo Higuain

ROUND 17

17.113 DaddyTorgo - Per Mertesacker
17.114 katon - Dimitar Berbatov
17.115 Big Fo - Martin Dimechelis
17.116 BishopMVP - Santi Cazorla
17.117 RonnieDobbs2 -
17.118 bhlloy -
17.119 Golden Eagle -

ROUND 18

18.120 Golden Eagle -
18.121 bhlloy -
18.122 RonnieDobbs2 -
18.123 BishopMVP -
18.124 Big Fo -
18.125 Katon -
18.126 Daddy Torgo -

[DaddyTorgo]

IN

[Katon]

I'd be interested.

[GoldenEagle]

I started the original draft on Big Soccer. It was an idea I took here from FOFC.

[BishopMVP]

So we're up to 4. I'll cross post a thread on the off topic board, see if we can draw a few more converts.

[bhlloy]

Sounds good, although my knowledge of the game isn't what it used to be. I'm in.

[samifan24]

This is for an MLS fantasy league?

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

In, assuming this is an FOFC-style draft and not fantasy.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by samifan24

This is for an MLS fantasy league?

No, every player in the world, in a subjective best team. No fantasy, no objective quantification, just picking players (some of which we've never even seen play) and arguing about which is better.

[Big Fo]

Ah ok, I'm in. I thought this was like fantasy baseball or something initially.

[BishopMVP]

Random # generator gives me 26381754, so the order, assuming Sami and GE are in, is

DaddyTorgo
Samifan24
katon
Big Fo
BishopMVP
RonnieDobbs2
bhlloy
Golden Eagle

Round 2 being reverse-snake, and starting with Golden Eagle, round 3 DT etc.

Draft Officially begins Monday at 10am EST, but like the NFL Draft, picks can be made before then. Also, if anyone else wants to join before then, they'll be added to the end of the list. I'm keeping the 2 hour limit, because I feel like getting skipped over isn't that bad in this draft. Please PM the next drafter after you make your selection.

[Big Fo]

Was Monday this Monday?

[DaddyTorgo]

uhhhh - was monday this monday? like today?

[DaddyTorgo]

Round 1 - Pick 1: Iker Casillas (GK - Real Madrid)

I debated a couple other players here (I'm sure you all can guess who), but the simple fact of the matter is that this is the hardest position to fill. And based on current form, nobody is better than Iker. Buffon is up there, but he's still recovering from his injury-layoff.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I reckon.

[DaddyTorgo]

Well I was totally unaware - I checked the forum but for whatever reason (maybe cuz it was an edited post by Bishop?) the post never popped to the top.

Anyways I just sent a PM to the other draft participants so that they know that it's on. I suggest we be a bit chill with the 2-hour deadline-thingy at least till everyone's made a first pick.

[DaddyTorgo]

hmmmphf - samifan just sent me a PM back to say he was out :-(

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I say we give him Titus Bramble.

[DaddyTorgo]

ooof

or hmmm...robinho? he's had a whale of a season at ManCity. lol

[Katon]

Bramble sounds like a good first pick to me; alternatively, Emile Heskey seems to be in fairly good form.

Am I up now, then?

[sovereignstar]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

ooof

or hmmm...robinho? he's had a whale of a season at ManCity. lol

Tied for 4th in premier league goals...

[BishopMVP]

Sorry about the confusion - I should have edited the thread title and sent PM's. We will do the first round with a 24-hour clock to give people a chance to check in. And I'm up for opinions on the time clock - I'm without internet many days until 7pm, so a 24-hour clock the whole draft would actually be beneficial to me - frankly I thought there would be a little more discussion, but I guess the soccer board just doesn't get much play. If Samifan is out, we're down to 7 (unless SovStar wants to join).

ROUND 1
1.1 DaddyTorgo - Iker Casillas, GK
1.2 katon
1.3 Big Fo
1.4 BishopMVP
1.5 RonnieDobbs2
1.6 bhlloy
1.7 Golden Eagle

ROUND 2

2.8 Golden Eagle
2.9 bhlloy
2.10 RonnieDobbsJr
2.11 BishopMVP
2.12 Big Fo
2.13 Katon
2.14 Daddy Torgo

That means that Katon is up. PM being sent.

[Big Fo]

Casillas is the man, him and a certain other keeper likely to be picked early are some distance ahead of the rest imo.

Robinho would be great if you could slip him something that would make him think every game he plays is at home.

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

frankly I thought there would be a little more discussion, but I guess the soccer board just doesn't get much play.

Segregation ftl

[Katon]

Round 1, Pick 2: Lionel Messi, FW, Barcelona

[Big Fo]

Round 1, Pick 3: Cristiano Ronaldo, Winger, Manchester United

edit to add description-

The reigning World Player of the Year, Ballon d'Or winner, two-time reigning PFA and WFA EPL player of the year and World, European, and English champion, Ronaldo scored an amazing 42 goals from the wing last season and is on pace to hit 20+ for the third straight season despite missing a month of the season with injuries. In addition to his lightning pace, wonderful dribbling skill, and the ability to score ridiculous 35 yard free kicks, he is also a tall, strong player who scores headers in the box and gets the stuffing kicked out of him in almost every match.

[DaddyTorgo]

Messi was my only other consideration for 1.1, but I figure there's more strikers than top-class keepers out there.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Big Fo

Segregation ftl

yeah. maybe arguing for segregation wasn't our best move ever...

[BishopMVP]

Round 1, Pick 4 - Fernando Torres, F Liverpool/Spain

I'm not a huge fan of selecting a forward here, but I really think Torres is a notch above the rest in the world (counting Messi as a 2nd striker or winger). Iker Casillas would have been under consideration here, but I think DT reached picking him 1.1 - Messi and Ronaldo have to be 1/2 right now imo.

I'm also editing the 1st post with the picks when I make mine.

RonnieDobbs is on the clock, PM sent.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Round 1, Pick 4 - Fernando Torres, F Liverpool/Spain

I'm not a huge fan of selecting a forward here, but I really think Torres is a notch above the rest in the world (counting Messi as a 2nd striker or winger). Iker Casillas would have been under consideration here, but I think DT reached picking him 1.1 - Messi and Ronaldo have to be 1/2 right now imo.

I'm also editing the 1st post with the picks when I make mine.

RonnieDobbs is on the clock, PM sent.

I disagree that I reached. There are fewer #1 GK's than there are #1 forwards in the world. I am perfectly confident that I will be able to address my strike-force later in the draft, whereas if I had waited I might have been stuck picking some GK who wasn't up to snuff. There's also the fact that the GK is essentially like the pitcher in baseball. In some sense his results are independent of the rest of the team (okay you can say the defense helps, just like it does in baseball - I recognize that). But Torres can be marked out of a game, or can get poor service, and then he dissapears. When someone is bearing down on goal, they know that they have to put the ball through Casillas to get a goal.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

1.5 - Steven Gerrard, M Liverpool

Close to a five-tool player as you'll get in football. He'll be my captain, engine, free kick taker and ball-winner. His current form is scintillating. Plus, this way I'll get Zizou's vote for sure.

[Big Fo]

I'm shocked that a certain superstar player hasn't been chosen yet.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I know you're a big ManU fan but I think this is a bit early for Darren Fletcher.

[GoldenEagle]

Are we drafting for the best team for right now or more for the future?

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I'd say since Bishop emphasized current form (with injuries included) we are drafting for the best team RIGHT NOW.

[Big Fo]

Yeah, either for right now or for this season was my interpretation. Future seasons don't mean anything so feel free to take veterans.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Big Fo

I'm shocked that a certain superstar player hasn't been chosen yet.

well your turn is coming up. and there's so many leagues and so many players - everyone can't have been taken already.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I pm'd bhlloy right after making my pick, FWIW.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I know that I was seriously debating between Gerrard and one other player, though we'll see if that's who you were thinking off.

[bhlloy]

Pick 1.6 - Kaka, AM/FW AC Milan/Brazil

I really want a DM general here but I'm not sure I can get value yet. Kaka seems to be the consensus "best player available" that I can think of.

[sovereignstar]

Jesus drafted Kaka long ago. I think that pick is invalid...

[Big Fo]

That's the one. I thought Kaka/Messi/Ronaldo would be the first three, I just wasn't sure on the order.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Has Kaka's form this year really been all THAT great? I mean, he was in my thought process, but...

Is he even best on his own team right now?

[GoldenEagle]

1.7 - Samuel Eto'o - Hard to argue with 25 goals, even if he is loaded with talent around him. Plus he is rumored to be unhappy so he might not even be on top form.

2.1 - Michael Essisen - It might be a little early for him, but IMO he really drives Chelsea and would do that with any club. Just look at the turn around after he came back. Plus he is flexible and can fill a number of positions for my squad.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I like the picks - was considering both for 2.3

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

Has Kaka's form this year really been all THAT great? I mean, he was in my thought process, but...

Is he even best on his own team right now?

+1 not IMHO

Originally Posted by GoldenEagle

1.7 - Samuel Eto'o - Hard to argue with 25 goals, even if he is loaded with talent around him. Plus he is rumored to be unhappy so he might not even be on top form.

2.1 - Michael Essisen - It might be a little early for him, but IMO he really drives Chelsea and would do that with any club. Just look at the turn around after he came back. Plus he is flexible and can fill a number of positions for my squad.

bah - good picks. I <3 Essien.

[bhlloy]

Damn, I was sure Essien would be available for me here. With that in mind, I'll take Javier Mascherano, DM, Liverpool/Argentina Excellent in the games I've seen him in so far this year, captain of the Argentinian national team and he plays the most important position on the field IMO...

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

That leaves me to take the man I considered at 1.5, possibly with the (second) best form in the world at the moment.

2.3 Frank Ribery M Bayern Munich

[Big Fo]

Ribery is nice value at #10 overall. Great player.

[BishopMVP]

Ribery and Essien were two others I was looking at with pick 11, but with them off the board it's easy to select

Rio Ferdinand, DC, Man U/England

GE - Current ability. There's gonna be enough arguments about which team/players are better, no need to start arguments about which player will be better in 5 years.