SG's Ultimate Draft Challenge 2011--This Year, Someone Will Win!

[Mandieta6]

Not really that much different. He still scores goals, drifts over the pitch, plays great passes, runs with the ball like a demon. He's a false 9 now instead of a winger, but I don't think he's that much different.

I disagree, Messi used to have a poor passing range and Barca relied on the midfield for creativity. Messi plays great passes to the runners now, and although his range of passing is still not as good as it would be for a perfect player playing in the AMC zone, he has pinned down the assists part, and in a few years, assuming his game doesn't draw him back to dribbling more than passing, he could get close to Xavi's passing ability.

Highly doubt he ever will be as good a protoypical playmaker as Xavi, but it won't ever matter since Barca produces other playmakers so Messi can keep being Messi.

I still rate Xavi higher, though, but I'll always value passing over dribbling, and no one beats Xavi's passing, although a few players are close, some practically on par, like Iniesta, Sneijder and a few others I won't mention.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Lucky for me you have Iniesta then, because I need to craft a system of good teammates around my selfish Super Talent winger.

 

[Mandieta6]

Not sure I understand what you're getting at.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

I was saying that because you have Iniesta, you won't be going as hard after the "few others I won't mention", which is good for me because with Ronaldo in my side I need unselfish players and good passers.

 

[Mandieta6]

Ah yeah, unless they're versatile and can play deeper, or as forwards/wingers, playmakers are off my list for at least 10 rounds. My backups for the bench are probably not gonna get picked either, so that's good.

 

[kp41]

I disagree, Messi used to have a poor passing range and Barca relied on the midfield for creativity. Messi plays great passes to the runners now, and although his range of passing is still not as good as it would be for a perfect player playing in the AMC zone, he has pinned down the assists part, and in a few years, assuming his game doesn't draw him back to dribbling more than passing, he could get close to Xavi's passing ability.

Highly doubt he ever will be as good a protoypical playmaker as Xavi, but it won't ever matter since Barca produces other playmakers so Messi can keep being Messi.

I still rate Xavi higher, though, but I'll always value passing over dribbling, and no one beats Xavi's passing, although a few players are close, some practically on par, like Iniesta, Sneijder and a few others I won't mention.

Xavi's mine

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Ah yeah, unless they're versatile and can play deeper, or as forwards/wingers, playmakers are off my list for at least 10 rounds. My backups for the bench are probably not gonna get picked either, so that's good.

Well there's more people this year. Maybe someone else has a fetish for Premier League mid-table players like you.

 

[Mandieta6]

Yeah, seeing as I couldn't get Xavi last year when I was amongst the first pickers, I couldn't see me getting him this time around either, but I'm more than happy with Iniesta, in some ways he's even better than Xavi.

EDIT: Playing for a midtable club doesn't make you a midtable player, especially when playing in one of the Top 3 leagues, and I'm being purposefully non-controversial.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Arnau picked him #2 last year, so I was really shocked to see him fall outside the Top 10. To be honest, I thought I would end up with him at #4, which is why I wanted to trade the pick. Not sure he can play deep in a 4-2-3-1, nor do I think he's quick enough to play AMC in that formation, and versatility is important this early. I would imagine Az is looking at a Villas Boas style 4-3-3 now.

 

[Mandieta6]

Since my next few picks are ones that could go either in terms of whether they're available, I'm keeping quiet on any plans. But I do have some now!

 

[kp41]

Neymar managed to lead Santos into Libertadores glory, every team need this kind of talent to win titles, although i agree he has to prove himself in Europe. Barça win tittles with Iniesta injured but i don't think we are able to compete at this level without Messi. Same goes to 2006 with Ronaldinho, Xavi were injured all season long and Van Bommel was starter, DRAMA!

Iniesta and Xavi won World Cup and Euro for spain, they were best players in those competitions. Messi couldn't score a single goal in World Cup or Coppa.

I don't think Barca can compete at this level without any of them (Iniesta, Xavi and Messi). and we are talking about world's top 3 players.

 

[Filipower]

I'm keeping quiet for now, but that's because I have no idea who I'll pick. I'll knee-jerk the crap out of this one

 

[Mandieta6]

Pick Huntelaar.

And **** off, it ain't tipping, no one's picking Huntelaar in the next 3 weeks, or 50 thread pages.

 

[fender]

Have my eye on someone and will be surprised if he isn't snapped up before my turn.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Come on VtM...

 

[Keegan]

I'd have picked Messi had I known when it was my turn... not CR7. I'll work with Kun although I hope he gets knocked out in the first 5 minutes of his next Prem game and has to sit out the rest of it.

 

[Pogba4Now]

VtM's vote can be skipped in 1h 36 minutes.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

I love how you use election terminology.

 

[lucacalciatore]

For those of us that aren't actually in the comp., could you guys post a list of who picks which players in the OP, or as the picks are made?

Would have liked to been part of this, but I don't post here very much...

 

[ShiftyPowers]

It's all in the first post of the Selection Thread.