Note to Self: Az mistake: +1 for Zlatan, -1 for Ilaje

Please vote for the 2 teams you believe would finish at the top of the Group. 3 will advance, but please just vote for 2. If you only vote for 1 or 3+ your votes will not count. Voting will close in 72ish hours (midnight my time). If you vote in the poll you are also allowed to post a vote for a 3rd team (do not vote for 3 in the poll, put this 3rd team in a post and clearly mark that it is for a tie breaker or 3rd place).

EDIT: I suppose I need ANOTHER tie breaker just in case. In case the 3rd place tie breaker votes don't break the tie, I will start removing votes (not tie breaking votes) based on lowest post count first. However I will remove non-participating members' votes before removing the vote of anyone who participated in the draft.

Psycho(the)rapists United

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/3128/therapistsfc.jpg Subs: Rondon, Vincent Enyeama, Bonucci, Renato Augusto, De Ceglie, Mavuba, Esteban Granero, Tatarusanu, Ivan Rakitic, Nicolas Anelka, De Silvestri, Goian, Torres, Aaron Ramsay

Team McLovin

http://this11.com/boards/abBpy0nacN.jpg Subs: Carlos Kameni, Pablo Zabaleta, Papiss Demba Cisse, Juan, Stephane Mbia, Seydou Doumbia, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Giampaolo Pazzini, Douglas Costa, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Gabriel Torje, Balazs Dzsudzsak, Hamit Altintop, Mohamed Sissoko

Dutch Deluxe Delight All-Stars

http://www.footballuser.com/formations/2011/10/251744_Holland.jpg Subs: Johnny Heitinga, Luiz Gustavo, Bryan Ruiz, Michel Vorm, Douglas, Vurnon Anita, Mbark Boussoufa, Miralem Sulejmani, Luuk de Jong, Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, Georginho Wijnaldum, Zdenek Grygera, Adam Maher, Erik Pieters

The Maccabees

http://this11.com/boards/abBpG0pao2.jpg Subs: Robert Huth, Antonio Di Natale, David Pizarro, Brad Friedel, Joris Mathijsen, Yossi Benayoun, Charlie Adam, Seamus Coleman, Yuri Zhirkov, Stewart Downing, Bobby Zamora, Daniel Sturridge, Darren Fletcher, Barry Bannan

Team Ilaje

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/8281/teamilaje.png Subs: Hiroshi Kiyotake, Landon Donovan, Matias Silvestre, Tim Howard, Marvin Martin, Youssouf Mulumbu, Alou Diarra, Kevin Gameiro, Nacho Monreal, Mehdi Benatia, Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Ivan Piris, Cesar Azpilicueta, Wesley

I suppose these are all All-Star teams, so this could get redundant, but these are all good teams just like in Group B. First picture I saw was Theo's team and I was like "wow, how is that team going to lose", then I looked down and thought the same about just about everyone.

I first eliminated Zlatan's team because I don't really see where the goals come from. To me the entire offense looks like "give the ball to Robben and pray." They'll have to play very direct since they'll be out numbered in the midfield, and I actually think that team could succeed playing some long ball, but in the end I just think they'll get passed around and not get enough points to advance.

On the other side of the coin, I think Andrei's Team McLovin is the clear class of this group. Motta and Khedira holding, Ribery and Gotze creating, Krasic running the right flank, and Higuain scoring hat tricks. What's not to like. Plus Iker Casillas in goal will keep a lot of clean sheets, and he's got some attacking from Taiwo and Lichtensteiner. Maybe a week defense, but I think Khedira and Motta (and again Casillas) help that a lot. Plus, the experience of Carvalho can't be underestimated.

There's a lot of good things to say about Theo's Rapists (perhaps ironically led by van Persie), but the narrow formation is a double edged blade. I think Marcelo and van der Weil can provide the width, but only one pure holder (and Keita isn't necessarily a pure holder) will make it very very tough on those fullbacks against teams that excel on the wing.

Team Ilaje can count on an extremely solid defense and the strong understanding between Ozil and Benzema, but are Honda and Malouda (not to mention Sagna and Filipe Luis) strong enough to exploit the flanks? I'm not so sure. Also, I wonder who is going to score. Ozil and Benzema work well at Madrid because there is Ronaldo to finish off their moves with goals.

The Maccabees is your classic solid team, and it is led by a tremendous central midfield. However I think their even bigger strength is the fullbacks. Lahm and Baines can get up the line and contribute a lot to attack, while also getting back on defense. I think they would decimate a narrow team like Theo's. However, and I said it before, I question that defense which is slow and not at the top quality. Cech as well is not the keeper he was 5 or 6 years ago when he may have been able to compensate for a not-top-quality defense, and only one holder (and not a true holder in Parker) may not give them adequate cover.

In the end I thought this group would see a lot of draws, but I gave my second vote to Az's Maccabees. I think that central midfield can seize control of most games, and the fullbacks are the true difference. Drogba has still got it and I see him setting up a lot of chances for Young and Kuyt. It's really close though.

Went with McLovin and the Macabees as well. I thought using the elimination system made it way easier. I eliminated Zlatan's team because there is no one who can run the strings of the team. No creativity at all in the centre of midfield. Not much attacking threat other than Suarez and Robben.

Elimnated Theo because I am not a fan of this narrow midfield formation. It rarely works in modern football. I did not like Nigerianmiacle's team because of the wings. Malouda and Honda as starters? Are you serious? They are both good but Malouda is declining and Honda is more effective as an attacking midfielder. This leaves me with Macabees and Mclovin to vote.

The clear pick for me in this group was Az. His midfield is superb and now thinking about the attack it is pretty good. I could see the hardworking-ness of Kuyt and Drogba working well with their midfield and Young will provide a nice flair-y touch. The center defense I feel would form a good partnership and Lahm would just make the whole team better. Baines also is solid and takes nothing away from the team.

The dutch team I feel is too limited by its holland league selection. The first XI is nice but the bench IMO is the worst of the competition. Ozil and Benzema are nice on team Iliaje but the defense and centre mids aren't proven and good enough IMO compared to the rest of the competition. The wingers as well are not as good either.

Team McLovin is great but I feel Theo's just edges it out. Its a perfect team for Van Persie, whom I stated is world class. The supporting midfield is awesome and would provide good cuts towards the net. It is a very attacking side so they might get exposed in defense but overall I really like the look.

Edit: McLovin's front 3 are really good but I think his center mids and center defenders are too slow.

Team McLovin is great but I feel Theo's just edges it out. Its a perfect team for Van Persie, whom I stated is world class. The supporting midfield is awesome and would provide good cuts towards the net. It is a very attacking side so they might get exposed in defense but overall I really like the look.

Godin, Rio, Marcelo, and VdW, not to mention the (relatively) inexperienced and rebound happy Hart is a deal breaker for me. I just don't think they can get it done in this kind of competition where every single goal can be the difference between advancement and elimination. In a league perhaps it's different.

The last two World Cup winners have conceded 4 goals combined throughout their entire respective tournament. There's a reason teams like 1982 Brazil don't win it all.

I know, but I'd like to imagine the team doing well. If he went with defensive fullbacks instead of attacking ones I feel the team would have been much more solid, even with the lack of width.

My tie breaker vote goes to Theo.

mine as well.

I see Team McLovin as the favorite of the group. I see Goatze, Higuain and Ribery as extremely tough to contain. The defense is solid, and Casillas is the best keeper in the world. He can be a big difference maker.

Aside from that, another tough decision. I think they're one or two positions away from the edge. As Nim noted, Zlatan's team looks very flashy, and dangerous, but I don't see a legit goal scorer. Too much creativity and not enough finisher. That can be a huge problem in a game where the creativity gets contained.

I like Theo's team, but hate the formation. I also see a huge lack of control in the midfield with Keita as the lone holding midfielder. I can see a solid set of wingers (Robben, Young, Ribery, etc etc) exploiting the wings, and making the back sit back and defend. This is the type of team I would see dominating in attack, then against the run of play, due to the midfield weakness, a counter attack would kill them.

I like Az's team but I don't see a clear goal scorer aside of Drogba. Sure, he is still world class, but he's not the same he was before. That means there would be a big amount of pressure on the midfield to create scoring chances, which could lead to having vulnerability in counters.

Ilage's team has a very solid defense, but hard to see who the clear scorer is as well. I think there's too much pressure on Benzema to score, and when that happens, he has long droughts. Ozil is a great AMC, but a liability defensively. I could see this team conceding and going into complete disarray due to the overabundance of creativity and no clear closer.

Overall I give the nod to Team McLovin and Ilage's team because I value defense more than a top heavy attack. But it's very close. Every team has a lot of factors that would make it very unpredictable if the games were to be played out.

This is too hard. I'll have to go with Psycho(the)rapists United and Team McLovin, but I'm not sure why I haven't picked The Maccabees.

Team McLovin's attack has got to be the best of the bunch, and Casillas-Carvalho at the back is solid enough. The team might be a little narrow, though, and the full backs aren't the best.

Theo's team has got van Persie and that alone is good for me, but also their full backs are the best in the group (apart from Lahm, but Baines isn't quite Marcelo). The midfield looks fun and Silva-Pastore is just insane.

Iniesta and Schweinsteiger is mouth watering though, my tie-breaker goes for The Maccabees but it was almost down to "eeny meeny miny moe".

Guys, c'mon not a legit goalscorer? Where's the love for Huntelaar? I was counting on him to get the votes of the old-time SG'ers on here. I'm dissappointed. (H)

Crap, I voted for Ilaje when I meant to vote for Zlatan, is there any way to change that?

Touché, Huntelaar alone should put it ahead of the competition, my bad. (H)


In fairness though, I don't agree with Nim in that respect to be honest. Robben, Suarez and Klaas should be plenty to score goals with. And Afellay isn't mentioned so much nowadays because Barça's frontline keeps him from getting too may games. The problem with your team is that Pepe isn't enough to hold down the otherwise weaker back-four; plus you got De Jong who isn't looked upon very well since the WC.

Crap, I voted for Ilaje when I meant to vote for Zlatan, is there any way to change that?

You just did, I think.

I had a really tough choice for my second vote between rapists United and Az's Maccabees. I like both teams but in the end I think I'll go with the rapists. I actually love that formation. But both teams deserve o go through alongside McLovin obviously (H)

I had a really tough choice for my second vote between rapists United and Az's Maccabees. I like both teams but in the end I think I'll go with the rapists. I actually love that formation. But both teams deserve o go through alongside McLovin obviously (H)

This. Maccabees have a slightly better bench, too. Both teams should penalty-shootout it.

Crap, I voted for Ilaje when I meant to vote for Zlatan, is there any way to change that?

Cheers, I'll make a note. If a mod/admin could change it that would be great too.

If my team is struggling for goals the first option off my bench will be Gameiro, who is to goals what Özil is to assists. My other vote went to Theo which next to Juventino and the Alpha Betas is probably one of the tournament's strongest teams.

Psycho(the)rapists United and Team McLovin's attacking lines are absolutely breathtaking, which were decisive for me to go for them in this group.
Both teams are well balanced, especially McLovin's.
Psychos would have to put a leash on both Marcelo and VdW, since Keita and Inler aren't exactly holding midfielders...that line-up would get ran over by a team with a good defensive line and incisive counter-attack.

Dutch Deluxe Delight All-Stars is obviously a team shaped up after Zlatan's personal preferences.
I like the attack, even if I don't rate Afellay much.
Suarez is one of my favourite players nowadays and an healthy Robben is hard to beat when it comes to wingers. Huntelaar = SG legend, 'nough said (H)
the midfield is just ok ( I don't even know who Strootman is), and in defense the side-backs are somewhat solid but far from being great. Pepe is a beast, Stekelenburg a reliable keeper.

The Macbees' midfield is definitely the best with Iniesta and Schweinsteiger representin', but the defense is far from being top class, especially when it comes to the CBs.
Also Kuyt in the attack, dispite him being a tremendous hard-worker, just doesn't do it for me.

Team Ilaje doesn't really strike me as a strong contender in this one. It has some magnificent players like Ozil and Javi Martinez but the rest of team is kind of average, although I do rate the side-backs highly.


My tiebreaking vote goes to The Maccabees.

5 great teams. My vote goes to Psycho(the)rapists United, brilliant side reminds me of Spain NT, can dominate anyone, Van persie is his only forward but Marcelo and VdW are knives in attack. Silva and Pastore would feel very comfortable in this system. I'd only swap Inler and Keita positions. The other vote goes to Ilanje because i like him, Mc Lovin don't need my vote to win and to make the poll a little more exciting.

Psycho(the)rapists United and Team McLovin gets my vote.

The Maccabees gets my third vote.

I'll join by saying these teams are all put together very well. Zlatan's team is lacking depth, and I dislike the Eredivie bias (it's cool to have a theme though) but I think they can play some sexy football.

In the end, I decided to go Theo's (The)rapists and Team McLovin (boom, chica, chica yeah chica yeah). Tiebreaker goes to the Maccabees, mainly because their midfield, though I dislike Kuyt on the left wing. He's boring and predictable and does not offer any excitement in attack. Solid defensively though.

Sorry for not offering an original insight into their selections. :P

I just went with Milan's 01-04 X-mas tree cause I knew everyone and their mom would be playing Barca's 4-3-3, trying to emulate their philosophy. all three midfielders I'm using are great in the final 3rd, but they are also good defensively, all of them having been played as defensive mids at some point by their coaches. I've also tried to select defenders that are decent with the ball and also have decent mobility or agility, however do you want to put it. on the other hand Milan had pretty slow centre-halves paired with offensive-minded fullbacks and it seemed to work for them, mainly due to Gattuso being all over the pitch probably. when it comes to my forwards I don't think I could have done better than that imo and all in all I'm pretty happy with my team.


votes go to my team, McLovin and Ilaje. if it wasn't for Kuyt then Maccabees would have been my 3rd option.

I knew everyone and their mom would be playing Barca's 4-3-3, trying to emulate their philosophy.

I take offense to that, good sir!

Most of teams are playing 4-2-3-1.

I had fully planned to start out as 4231 formation, but I see it as a huge waste with Busquets falling on my lap. He has so much class and command in the midfield that I saw it necessary to go 433... anyway, kinda off topic for this group.

Maccabess
- I like the system
- but apart from a couple of players, the individuals let the plan down


Dutch Deluxe Delight
- I really like this starting XI, because unlike what others have said, I think there are goals in this team
- but I think Max went with the wrong system; would have liked to see 4-3-3, with Luisito LF, and Afellay as CAM
- very narrowly loses out to Ilaje for the tiebreak spot


Ilaje - [TIEBREAKER VOTE]
- the double pivot is a proven setup, and that's fine by me
- I really like Nyema's 'bug-eyed' trequartista
- but the only thing that lets the starting XI down is the wing combination: the problem with Benz, as has been noted, is that he's not the best at carrying the lion's share of the goalscoring load [at this level] on his shoulders ... this system needs wingers who are eager to drift into the box and occupy goalscoring positions, allowing Coco to frequently drift wide from his central position ...


McLovin
- that attack is special, and should give endless problems to anyone's defence
- I'm really not a fan of the error-prone Thiago Motta, and Khedira has underwhelmed since his big move; this leaves the midfield a little lacking in quality for me -- this means possibly conceding the midfield area against a strong attacking setup like Theo's, that can keep the ball ...
- the difference was marginal for top spot


Psycho(the)rapists
- love the attacking flair and creativity in this team, which I'd say comes close [in its own way] to matching the level of flair in Andrei's XI
- the formation is set up narrow, but Silva and Pastore need no second invitation to drift ... complimenting left and right feet will mean complimenting runs into space, which definitely works, and is a HUGE plus in my eyes ...
- biggest worry would be if Keita had all the defensive responsibilities, but with Inler there sharing ballwinning duties, and Montolivo doing his box-to-box bit, I think that midfield would work -- this is the key area that pipped top spot in this group ...

Still waiting your thoughts in group B.

Still waiting your thoughts in group B.I've been reading the feedback, and it's not always clear why people are voting the way they are -- i.e. I read their posts, but their votes almost completely contrast the points they've made ...

and it also feels like quite a few comments are based more on what they've read, rather than trusting themselves on what they've seen of the player's individual abilities ...

anyway, I have been staring at the formations since the Group of Death was announced ... I have all my points down for each team, in terms of pros and cons ... I am voting for myself, but I haven't made my mind up on how the teams would exactly stack up for the 2nd spot and Tiebreaker ... I think after the Champions League matches, I'll submit my votes ...

Went with McLovin and the Macabees as well...

This.

Closed

Final Results:

1. Team McLovin 15
2. Psycho(the)rapists United 12 (Rocky vote disqualified for only voting once)
3. The Maccabees 8
4. Team Ilaje 5 (Az mistake vote)
5. Dutch Deluxe Delight All-Stars (Az mistake vote)

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...the quarterfinals !

Getting the 2nd in Group D? Yeah, I'll take that too.

How long before the knockout rounds? To know how long I have to work out a formation for whoever I face from Group D, and once I do, do I end it to you Dan?

Well, Groups A and D close in a little under 18 hours. I figure I'll put up the First Knockout Rounds 24 hours after that (Late Sunday Night my time). So you guys will basically have all Sunday to send me your formation once you know who you match up with. Obviously PM unless you don't care if your opponent sees, then I suppose just put it in the General thread. I'll post the matchups in the General Thread in case there's confusion as well. If you don't submit me a different lineup, I will just use the one you had for the Group Stage.

Getting the 2nd in Group D? Yeah, I'll take that too.

But if you get through, you have the powerhouse Alpha Betas looming in the Quarters (H)

Will I? Hm, I'll think about how to face that when I get there.

Assuming I don't bring in Arnau as a consultant. Mes que un XI (H)

http://redstaplerchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/JohnnyDramaVictory.jpg