Ravenbarber
This is my idea of a completely unstoppable All-time XI that could actually function together excellently as a team. Most All-time XI’s usually have the best attackers of all time in a front seven with a three man defence consisting of the likes of Beckenbauer, Baresi and Moore; completely unrealistic (even within the realms of fantasy).
I’d have Cruyff playing as a false nine, Zidane in the Iniesta role to link up with Xavi and Cruyff (I consider Zidane a greater goal threat from midfield than Iniesta) and Guardiola in the, well, Guardiola role that he pioneered.
In defence, Lilian Thuram would be the stopper to complement Koeman as the ball playing libero. Kroll is at left back because he was very quick and versatile, which would be necessary when Alves perpetually bombs forward. When Alves does spend lengthy times in the opposition half, either Guardiola could drop deep into defence to form a back three, or Kroll could, depending on the situation. Of course Koeman could venture forward in deadlocked situations as well, and he would always be a threat from free kicks.
Paco Gento gets the nod for front left because he was so damn quick and skilful, and even though from the fifties and sixties primarily, I think he would flourish today because of said qualities. This team would hardly ever lose possession, as Zidane, Cruyff and Messi would shore up midfield when the numbers are needed. Any thoughts? Would love to see challening, “functioning” all-time XI’s.
31.05.2011
manutdtillidiethis would be mine
01.06.2011
nvrJust today, I read somewhere that the Dutch of 74 WC run a average of 7km per game per player. If you watch the videos, they seem to be running their socks off when compared to opponents.
Today a team runs an average of 10km per game per player. That's a %50 rise from the top running team of 70s.
What I am trying to say is, your stars from a couple of decades ago will not have any chance whatsoever against an average player today.
02.06.2011
Ravenbarber
Thanks very much for your comment NVR. With the inclusion of the likes of Cruyff, Gento, Krol (misspelt his surname on my team sheet), I am of course working from the standing point that they’d be able to adapt to today’s game, if they were playing today. I think fitness levels is something that can be worked on with any player. Skill, technique, vision and mentality are eternal; that’s my belief, anyways. Can anyone say for sure that a defender like Vidic is better than someone like Baresi, or Beckenbauer, just because he is used to today’s rigours? I’m not convinced about that. Phenomenal players that these guys were, I think that if they were playing today, they’d be able to adapt.
That said, the one thing that you cannot do is be lax as a player these days, like Ronaldinho was when he was at his peak. He allowed his fitness levels and physical condition to drop and forever lost that extra yard of pace that gave him that ridiculous advantage. Gento, Cruyff and Krol, and the best footballers from previous eras would not have allowed that to happen to themselves, I believe. I think one of the reasons that Barcelona is so successful is because, like classic teams from years past, they rely on vision and technique as the deciding factor, and these qualities are not that common in the world of football today, especially not in the Premier League, where pace and power is much more desired. Nobody would argue that the likes of Khedira, Pepe and Ramirez are better athletes than the midgets Iniesta and Xavi, or even a slight player like Busquets, but these players are far superior with the ball at their feet, and Barcelona have based their game on their strengths, not on that of others, which has made them quite the inventive setup in today’s climate of high paced wars of attrition. I think it goes without saying that no team can seriously compete in especially the Champions League without a Modric or a Sneijder in their teams, but technical players like Xavi and co. have not rested on their technique alone; the fact that Modric can compete in the middle of the park in the Premier League is evidence that a technical player that works on his fitness levels and physical form, even if slightly built, can be devastating, even in today’s “tactical” (negative tactics, more like) climate. I think that says that players like Cruyff, Gento and Krol, who were all incredibly quick anyways, could fit into today’s game. Thanks again for your insights, NVR.
That is an outstandingly workable team, manutdtillidie. With Cafu and Roberto Carlos invariably pushing up, you’d have outstanding cover in Beckenbauer and Keane, not to mention grit aplenty with these two, especially with the latter, and creativity and composure aplenty in the former. Your defensive pairing is fearsome as well, although I wonder how much your front three would help out with defensive duties. It might be that your team could become a little too compartmentalised at times, like Argentina were in the World Cup. In any event, an incredibly insightful line-up.
02.06.2011
nvrI am sure some of the players would have adapted. But some would have been less prominent, some wouldn't have lasted long enough, some wouldn't have even become stars.
02.06.2011
