Hels The Ronin
Premier League
- 15 November 2019
- Celta de Vigo / Barcelona
Hello Evo-Web fellas. In this dire days were football games go through such bad times, we gotta keep entertained somehow, so I propose you some game.
The idea is to post here your Dream Team of all time. Not dream eleven, that's way too usual, but rather, I want to go further away.
We will say formation it would play, style of play, and pick 22 players, one titular and one bench in each position, and then, coach and second coach.
This way we will be focusing not only on giving names but also kinda make sense for the kind of play we want. Still, obviously big names will come to the table, but might have to make us think which players we play depending on formation and playstyle.
I will start myself.
My formation would be a 4-3-3 with offensive fullbacks on both sides, that would pass the wingers on the attacking phase and help on the build up on equal sides. Wingers would be playing sometimes as full wingers, sometimes as second strikers, and others helping on the build up as offensife/organizing midfielders. The team would play possession game, something between total football and tiki-taka.
GK: Main: Victor Valdes. Bench: Iker Casillas.
Left Fullbacks: Main: Roberto Carlos. Bench: Marcelo.
Centerbacks: Mains: Puyol and Beckenbauer. Bench: Maldini and Koeman.
Right Back: Main: Cafú. Bench: Dani Alves.
Defensive Midfielder: Main: Sergio Busquets. Bench: Pep Guardiola.
Organizer Midfielder: Main: Pedri. Bench: Xavi Hernández.
Offensive midfielder: Main: Zinedine Zidane. Bench: Andrés Iniesta.
Left Winger: Main: Ronaldinho Gaucho. Bench:Johan Cruyff
Striker. Main: Ronaldo Nazario (in his 97 prime) Bench: Romario.
Right Winger: Main: Lionel Messi. Bench: Diego Armando Maradona.
1st Coach: Johan Cruyff 2nd Coach: Pep Guardiola
Honorable Mentions, players that I doubted to put there instead of others.
GK: I could have selected here Never, Khan, obviously Buffon or even nowadays gk's as Courtouis or Ter Steven, but for me those two are the biggest ever, specially for the type of football the team would propose.
In the LB, I doubted to put Jordi Alba or either move Maldini to the left back and put Baresi in the Centerback
Centerback. As I said, I doubted to put Baresi there, either moving Maldini to the left back or instead of Koeman.
Defensive Midfielder. I am still in the doubt of giving the Bench to Pirlo or Xabi Alonso Difficult choice.
Offensive Midfielder. I had Rui Costa/Platiní/Pelé/Zico/Luis Suárez (Spanish one not the Uruguay player)/Juan Carlos Valerón/Rivaldo/Kaká, or even Maradona or Cruyff to be tempted to put them here, but my love for Iniesta won at the end. There's just so many players with such a talent that could go here that I think it'll be the most disputed position.
Left Winger: Could have said Frank Ribery and I wouldn't have gone so wrong, IMHO, but I don't think he's at the level or Ronaldinho or Cruyff.
Right Winger: Garrincha is a solid choice here but tbh, no one compares to Messi and "La Mano de Dios", the great Dieguito.
Center Striker: Guess I could say Cristiano Ronaldo or Pelé here, but I felt Ronaldo and Romario way superior in sheer talent so... Also this is another position where you can put so many names... Ibrahimovic, Kun Agüero, Lewandowski, Puskas, Rooney. Just for saying some of them. Really difficult choice.
Now, on controversial takes. I put Pedri over Xavi cause he's doing at a much younger age what Xavi did at 25, maybe, 26? If you see him play, he really plays as prime Xavi with some flavor of Iniesta and Busquets into him. For me, even if he doesn't have titles, is the only modern player that can look at the eyes to players of previous eras. A complete midfielder that controls tempo of match, hands assists and defends all at once. Way better than Xavi, if you ask me.
I take Ronaldo Nazario because of his prime. It was only 97/98 season, yeah, but what a season. Never saw another young prospect do what he did with the exception of Messi and nowadays, Yamal. And while injuries made him be half of what he could have been, I still don't think any other striker has performed so well on a single season.
Yes, I consider Messi better than Maradona. Maradona was a bigger social figure, but as a player, I think Messi is way more complete.
I could have selected, I guess, another DMF bench instead of Guardiola, but for me the pivot position is probably and arguably the most important one I'm football. Organizer midfielder is very important, but having a DMF that can organise as well and decide where and where not to play is equally or even more important. Also how both Busquets and Guardiola handled pressure is still unmatched today.
And finally... Puyol. I know that many of you might not put him there, because he wasn't the most physical, neither the most technical. But he had anyways superb defensive technique and tactical criteria, and above it, something that is unmatched by any other player I've ever seen on a pitch. Sportsmanship and work ethics. He's probably the cleanest, hardest worker, best composured player I've ever seen on a pitch. Oh Captain my Captain. He's the Captain America made a football player.
Finally, the goalkeeper. I know there's many other better goalkeeper under the goal itself than Valdés. Casillas itself. But Valdés had something that few other players I've seen, that is that while being superb under the goal, he was aswell so good on his feet. I don't think I can remember any other GK being so good at both things. Also he measured so well when to leave the area to get to a ball, so yeah. My pick here is undoubtedly, Valdés.
So what do you think? Do you like my dream team? You like the thread idea? Would you select the same players as me or would you choose others? I read you in the comments!!
The idea is to post here your Dream Team of all time. Not dream eleven, that's way too usual, but rather, I want to go further away.
We will say formation it would play, style of play, and pick 22 players, one titular and one bench in each position, and then, coach and second coach.
This way we will be focusing not only on giving names but also kinda make sense for the kind of play we want. Still, obviously big names will come to the table, but might have to make us think which players we play depending on formation and playstyle.
I will start myself.
My formation would be a 4-3-3 with offensive fullbacks on both sides, that would pass the wingers on the attacking phase and help on the build up on equal sides. Wingers would be playing sometimes as full wingers, sometimes as second strikers, and others helping on the build up as offensife/organizing midfielders. The team would play possession game, something between total football and tiki-taka.
GK: Main: Victor Valdes. Bench: Iker Casillas.
Left Fullbacks: Main: Roberto Carlos. Bench: Marcelo.
Centerbacks: Mains: Puyol and Beckenbauer. Bench: Maldini and Koeman.
Right Back: Main: Cafú. Bench: Dani Alves.
Defensive Midfielder: Main: Sergio Busquets. Bench: Pep Guardiola.
Organizer Midfielder: Main: Pedri. Bench: Xavi Hernández.
Offensive midfielder: Main: Zinedine Zidane. Bench: Andrés Iniesta.
Left Winger: Main: Ronaldinho Gaucho. Bench:Johan Cruyff
Striker. Main: Ronaldo Nazario (in his 97 prime) Bench: Romario.
Right Winger: Main: Lionel Messi. Bench: Diego Armando Maradona.
1st Coach: Johan Cruyff 2nd Coach: Pep Guardiola
Honorable Mentions, players that I doubted to put there instead of others.
GK: I could have selected here Never, Khan, obviously Buffon or even nowadays gk's as Courtouis or Ter Steven, but for me those two are the biggest ever, specially for the type of football the team would propose.
In the LB, I doubted to put Jordi Alba or either move Maldini to the left back and put Baresi in the Centerback
Centerback. As I said, I doubted to put Baresi there, either moving Maldini to the left back or instead of Koeman.
Defensive Midfielder. I am still in the doubt of giving the Bench to Pirlo or Xabi Alonso Difficult choice.
Offensive Midfielder. I had Rui Costa/Platiní/Pelé/Zico/Luis Suárez (Spanish one not the Uruguay player)/Juan Carlos Valerón/Rivaldo/Kaká, or even Maradona or Cruyff to be tempted to put them here, but my love for Iniesta won at the end. There's just so many players with such a talent that could go here that I think it'll be the most disputed position.
Left Winger: Could have said Frank Ribery and I wouldn't have gone so wrong, IMHO, but I don't think he's at the level or Ronaldinho or Cruyff.
Right Winger: Garrincha is a solid choice here but tbh, no one compares to Messi and "La Mano de Dios", the great Dieguito.
Center Striker: Guess I could say Cristiano Ronaldo or Pelé here, but I felt Ronaldo and Romario way superior in sheer talent so... Also this is another position where you can put so many names... Ibrahimovic, Kun Agüero, Lewandowski, Puskas, Rooney. Just for saying some of them. Really difficult choice.
Now, on controversial takes. I put Pedri over Xavi cause he's doing at a much younger age what Xavi did at 25, maybe, 26? If you see him play, he really plays as prime Xavi with some flavor of Iniesta and Busquets into him. For me, even if he doesn't have titles, is the only modern player that can look at the eyes to players of previous eras. A complete midfielder that controls tempo of match, hands assists and defends all at once. Way better than Xavi, if you ask me.
I take Ronaldo Nazario because of his prime. It was only 97/98 season, yeah, but what a season. Never saw another young prospect do what he did with the exception of Messi and nowadays, Yamal. And while injuries made him be half of what he could have been, I still don't think any other striker has performed so well on a single season.
Yes, I consider Messi better than Maradona. Maradona was a bigger social figure, but as a player, I think Messi is way more complete.
I could have selected, I guess, another DMF bench instead of Guardiola, but for me the pivot position is probably and arguably the most important one I'm football. Organizer midfielder is very important, but having a DMF that can organise as well and decide where and where not to play is equally or even more important. Also how both Busquets and Guardiola handled pressure is still unmatched today.
And finally... Puyol. I know that many of you might not put him there, because he wasn't the most physical, neither the most technical. But he had anyways superb defensive technique and tactical criteria, and above it, something that is unmatched by any other player I've ever seen on a pitch. Sportsmanship and work ethics. He's probably the cleanest, hardest worker, best composured player I've ever seen on a pitch. Oh Captain my Captain. He's the Captain America made a football player.
Finally, the goalkeeper. I know there's many other better goalkeeper under the goal itself than Valdés. Casillas itself. But Valdés had something that few other players I've seen, that is that while being superb under the goal, he was aswell so good on his feet. I don't think I can remember any other GK being so good at both things. Also he measured so well when to leave the area to get to a ball, so yeah. My pick here is undoubtedly, Valdés.
So what do you think? Do you like my dream team? You like the thread idea? Would you select the same players as me or would you choose others? I read you in the comments!!