FF PL Draft Finals - AlexM/Lomax are the Victors

[dotmotion]

Battle of the 4-4-2s!!!

alexm/lomax

Subs
Mapou Yanga Mbiwa
Samir Nasri
Andy Carroll

v

dot/Elrey

Subs
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain
Ki Sung Yeung
Per Mertesacker
_________________

[dotmotion]

Who said the 4-4-2 is dead?

I was leaning to the 4-2-3-1 and was pming btw ElRey for most of today but in the end, I just felt it would be more fun to do a good old fashion match up. It is just fitting since this is a Premier League draft and English is fortunately or unfortunately known for its use of the classic 4-4-2.

To me these are two balanced teams and hard for me to choose one. Both have good spines with Ba, Ramires, De Guzman, Kompany, Lloris and Dzeko, Lucas, Yaya, Jagielka, Vorm which to me are quite equal. Yaya/Lucas gives me a bit more physicality and defensive solidity while JDGII/Ramires gives them a bit more speed and creativity. Hopefully my supporting cast though can stand out. Rafael has been class this season and no doubt has been one of Manchester United's most impressive players. Downing since being challenge by Rodgers has stood out and been extremely consistently solid. A lot more confident and his defensive play has been key to allow Enrique or Johnson to push forward more freely. This is crucial with BAE as LB for me. Sturridge, we have all seen been a real difference maker when on form for Liverpool. Makes great runs and would be able to feed off Dzeko. Lallana, to me, is an extremely talented player and started off the season well. Key in getting Southampton promoted twice in a row and has fitted in well in the Premier League when healthy. Caulker is just a well rounded CB and a versatile player. Just fits my system as a player that can cover for my attacking full backs.
_________________

[AlexM23]

Yes! Pumped you guys also went with the 4-4-2

Best of luck Dot and El Rey!
_________________

Kiltman on the sig

[Dr. Philly]

This is close, but I went with Alex on this one.
_________________

[teamorange]

Glad Alex went back to the 4-4-2
_________________

[texans_uk]

Alex/Lomax quite easily here.

No offence but I really didn't think ElRey/Dots side were better than mine.

GK - alex/lomax (Lloris > Vorm)
FB - Push (Rafael > Walker, Davies > A-E)
CB - alex/lomax (Distin > Jagielka, Kompany > Caulker)
LM/RM - alex/lomax - I mean come on Downing and Lallana? Lallana's best position is NOT as a RM.
CM - Push (possibly ElRey/Dot)
F - alex/lomax
_________________

[dotmotion]

I'll be heading out again so I'll leave this open till I wake up tmr. Let's break the tie again
_________________

[AlexM23]

My take:

Both back-fours are solid but I think our defence is a little bit stronger

GK: Lloris > Vorm
LB: Davies > BAE
CB: Kompany/Distin > Jagielka/Caulker
RB: Rafael > Walker

Onto the middle, Yaya's the best player of either side in the mid-field but our combo of Ramires and De Guzman would be a dynamic combination who can both get forward and score. I think dot/elrey's wide-mids are a bit of a weak point. Pienaar's dangerous and while Young has been out of form this season he would still give BAE problems down the right.

LM: Pienaar > Downing
CM: Yaya/Lucas = De Guzman/Ramires (Slight edge towards dot/elrey for having Yaya though)
RM: Young > Lallana

Both sides have got a good pair of strikers, we'll call that a push.


Now onto the important question... If these two teams did square off who win? I think it would be a fairly close game but I do feel we'd come out on top by a couple of goals. Our defence (Back-4 + GK) is stronger. I also feel we carry more of a threat going forward in attack.

Sturridge and Dzeko would be held in check by our CB pairing and wouldn't have too many chances via crosses from Downing or Lallana. On the flip-side I think Welbeck and in particular Demba Ba would be able to get in behind that back-line. Ba's goal scoring record is impressive, he finds the back of the net week in week out. There's also the added bonus of Ramires and De Guzman who can both sneak forward and score goals. De Guzman also has the added threat for set-pieces around the area. Along with Young and Pienaar out wide, who can both get to the by-line and get crosses in for Ba and Welbeck to get on the end of.
_________________

Kiltman on the sig

[dotmotion]

^Did you vote? ElRey and I both did so if either you or lomax or both didn't vote, we can just end this now.
_________________

[AlexM23]

[kempus]

I just broke the tie....
_________________


Winner of the Soccer Forum Legend Award

[dotmotion]

Cool. AlexM/lomax 11 - 10 dot/Elrey

AlexM/lomax wins
_________________

[Tom Shean]

Refs cheated Dot/Elrey out imo.

#Scamchester #Uefalona
_________________

[kempus]

[AlexM23]

Winners!

Thanks for running this dot, was good fun.
_________________

Kiltman on the sig