canizaresI've gone for a variation on 4-5-1 (a 4-1-2-2-1 formation), which I think works well for this team with the ability to change from a offensive tactic to defensive with relative ease. Just to give an outline why I chose each player, their position in the team and their job role.
Canizares - One of, if not the best keeper in the entire world at the early part of the decade, twice runner up in the Champions league with Valencia which he was a huge part of. With his brilliant reflexes anything that does get past the defence you can have confidence Canizares would be there. His role in the team would be key, a strong keeper who will come and collect the ball in the air who’s also reliable will take a lot of pressure of the centre backs who can have confidence in him which in turn allows them to play with less nervers.
G.Neville - Often hugely underated but arguably England’s greatest right back, and certainly one of the worlds best in his prime. A player capable of attacking and defending, Neville was one of the most reliable players around before injuries took their time, having won everything you can think of at club level for Man United and having made the PFA team of the year multiple times, you can’t doubt his credentials. In the team his role as right back has some attacking roles taken off him by the brilliant Ronaldo at right wing.
Ayala - One of the best centre backs in the world in his prime, a decorated career both club and internationally Ayala was a superb centre back who was a great reader of the game and a incredibly reliable main stay in his teams. As with Canizares, he was one of the stars of a Valencia team who twice won La Liga, and finished runners up in the Champions league (where he was awarded best defender for 2000/20001), and not to forget his contributions to Argentina with whom he captained 63 times and remains their second most capped player of all time, arguably their greatest ever centre back. In the team would take the role of a ball playing centre back.
Gallas - An incredibly underated player who has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League, fast, strong, good in the air, a knack of scoring goals, strong marker and tackler, Gallas is a pretty much all round defender. Gallas was one half of the centre back pairing who went 16 games without conceding. Having made the PFA team of the year multiple times, Gallas has also been an accomplished international for France, playing 78 times for them this decade. As a partnership with Ayala the pair could work very together, both players are very strong defensively and have been repeatedly recognised for this, whilst the expirence of both backed up in pretty much every level of the game would make them a formidable pairing.
Grosso - The man who won Italy the world cup with the winning penalty had quiet a remarkable world cup, winning the controversial penalty to sneak Italy past Australia, sinking the Germans in the semi-final with a terrific finish, and finally scoring the winning penalty against France. A left back very capable of attacking, Grosso would aid his left winger brilliantly whilst providing solid support in defence. His abilities have since been recognised by Inter Milan, Lyon, and Juventus no doubt 3 of Europe’s best clubs, whilst his contributions to Italy should not go unrecognised, having being capped 48 times for the Italians and scoring one of their most important goals of all time. His role in the team would be to provide support for Ze Roberto, but also to add height into the back line.
Van Bommel - But for various arguments and injuries he would have featured far more for the Dutch team, but nonetheless has 51 caps and a superb scoring record with 9 goals. Van Bommel is pretty much the all round midfielder, a very good passer of the ball, a very strong tackler, and a extremely powerful shot he can play attacking or defensive with equal ability. For the purposes of this team he would be my midfield enforcer, a strong physical presence in defensive midfield capable of scoring great goals whilst also having the passing ability to fit the rest of the team. Twice named Dutch player of the year (In 2001, and 2005) he was also named Bayern’s player of the season in 06/07. Having played for PSV, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich he again has played for some of Europes best.
Ze Roberto - I know I’ve called Neville and Gallas underrated, but this man really could take the crown of the most underrated player of the decade. Capped an incredible 84 times for Brazil (where he actually made the squad of the tournament in 2006) he spent the vast majority of the decade in Germany which perhaps explains why he is often overlooked, but a player of great skill and natural ability, Ze Roberto has the ability to tear any full back to shreds. Ze Roberto was also a player of great effort and who you can always be assured will work diligently for the team. For the team I feel he’d provide a great threat down the wing, but also provide support and cover for Grosso who himself likes to get forward.
C.Ronaldo - I would say the best player in the world for the second half of the decade. An incredible 84 goals in 196 games for Man United he was top scorer in the premier in 2008 and actually won the European golden shoe that year, where he won pretty much every individual award you can imagine including the prestigious Baloon d’or, and as if all that wasn‘t enough just this summer he has become the most expensived player of all time. Incredibly fast, incredibly skillful, a wonderful finisher, with great ability in the air, Ronaldo at his best is unplayable. Since arriving at Man United in 2003 he seems to get better year on year. Although his form for Portugal perhaps hasn’t matched his club level he still has an impressive 22 in 68 games, whilst also had a hugely impressive Euro 2004 as an 18 year old, whilst he was also one of the young stars of the 2006 world cup. I would have him in my team as the right winger, as he was at Man United however, where he will play in a more free role than anything, allowing Neville to sit back whilst also pegging the left back and winger of the opposing team who will know if he’s left unmarked he will punish you.
Zidane - If Ronaldo was the best of the second half of the decade, I would say the wonderful wizard that is Zidane was the player of the first half of the decade and will be regarded as many as one of the greatest players of all time. World player of the year twice this decade, he became the most expensive player of all time in 2001 when Real Madrid bought him from Juventus, where he would go on to win the Champions League with what I would call the goal of the decade, a goal which summed up the man, and also La Liga. Internationally Zidane was the star of Euro 2000 for many, where France triumphed and Zidane was awarded player of the tournament, followed up by winning winning the golden shoe at the world cup in ‘06 where we saw the best and worst of Zidane. In the team I have him as a offensive midfielder, with Van Bommel concentrated on defensive duties it allows Zidane to do what he does best as a play maker, unlocking defences with out of this world skill or amazing vision, and of course popping up with the important goals. As well as this I would have Zidane as my set piece man and penalty expert, as good a penalty taker there has been this decade Zidane was also lethal from free kicks.
Fabregas - Sharing the offensive midfielder role with Zidane would be Fabregas. Incredibly still only 22, since 2004 Fabregas has gone on to be the star of the Arsenal team and has been capped an incredible 47 times for Spain. Not particularly fast, strong, or tall Fabregas has shone with his brilliant vision and technique, much like fellow Spaniards Xavi and Iniesta. With the ability to cut teams open with ease, Fabregas really shone in 05/06 with Arsenal’s Champions League run to the final where he bossed the midfield against Juventus. In recent seasons Fabregas has improved yet to add goals to his game, as has come with his move to a more offensive role. Twice named in the UEFA team of the year, he was also in the team of the tournament for Euro 2008 where he was a huge part of Spain’s victorious team. In the team I feel he would work with Zidane in a attacking role where he could cut teams open and feed Ibrahimovic with plenty of chances whilst as a midfield they would also be brilliant at keeping the ball.
Ibrahimovic - Playing the role of lone striker, Ibrahimovic is often unfairly thought of as underrated and yet he is one of the best strikers of the decade. Tall, strong, extremely skillful and a lethal finisher, Ibrahimovic is a complete striker. Undoubtedly one of the greatest players in the world, Ibrahimovic has a frightening goal scoring record and is continuing that record at Barcelona. Named in UEFA team of the year in 2007, Serie A player of the year in 2008, and Serie A top scorer in 2009, Ibra continues to excel year after year. As for his role in the team, well, as a lone front man I think he suit’s the team very well. With the chances provided by the midfield you’d have confidence in him to finish the chances, whilst with his brilliant touch and technique he has the wonderful ability to hold the ball up and also create space for other players, particularly Ronaldo on that right wing free role.
Style of play
With the players in my team, to play anything other than an attractive ball on the ground style would be a waste of talents. A patient approach would be adopted where Fabregas and Zidane’s vision would be key to this, with their ability to pick off teams and split defences. The defence would be expected to play the ball out, as they are all more than capable of doing, whilst everyone of the midfielders is talented in possession. Once a lead has been taken I would expect the style to stay pretty similar with an emphasis on keeping the ball in midfield and waiting for more gaps to emerge whilst the other team has to push forward for an equaliser, on the break I would expect a more direct approach to be taken. Similarly if we were looking for a goal a 4-3-3 change to the formation could easily occur, with the attacking midfielders playing higher up.
19.12.2009
ZolaMan, where's your formation?
22.12.2009
