World Cup Dream Team?

[tricky_tree]

Simply state your formation and players.

4-4-2

Iker Casillas (Spain)

Danny Alves (Brazil) John Terry (England) Carles Puyol (Spain) Phillipp Lahm (Germany)

Ronaldo (Portugal) Kaka (Brazil) Frank Lampard (England) Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Wayne Rooney (England) Fernando Torres (Spain)

 

[s0denone]

That is horsepuckey, my friend.
Danny, it's actually "Dani" by the way, Alves before Maicon? Seriously? :--) That is just wrong.
Also Ronaldo and Messi in a traditional 4-4-2? You know wings are specified in the numbering the farthest to the right, right? You have them as regular wide midfielders. Also worth noting, just for reference, that Lahm was applied as right back by Bayern throughout the past season.
Also your team has 4 very offensive midfielders, the only one doing some defensive work being Lampard. Wouldn't work at all.

4-3-3

Huge Lloris (France)/Julio Cesar (Brazil).

Maicon (Brazil) - Walter Samuel (Argentina) - Gerard Pique (Spain) - Patrice Evra (France).

Daniele De Rossi (Italy) - Frank Lampard (England) - Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina).

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast).

 

[Brotherofwill]

Okay, sounds simple enough.

Buffon

(lb) Phillip Lahm, Mertesacker, Giorgio Chiellini, (rb) Sergio Ramos

(winger)Messi, Kaka, De Rossi, (winger)Robben

Torres, Dzeko

In that team I might want to put Kaka on the bench for a more defensive minded midfielder.
For the championship games and a more defensive minded formation, I'd go:

4-5-1

..........................Buffon.......................

(lb) Phillip Lahm, Mertesacker, Giorgio Chiellini, (rb) Sergio Ramos

..............(Def-Mid) De Rossi, Alonso..................

Robben..................................................Silva

...........................Messi...........................

...........................Torres..........................

Also worth noting, just for reference, that Lahm was applied as right back by Bayern throughout the past season.

He can play both. He says he's most comfortable on the right, but I think he plays better on the left.

 

[tricky_tree]

That is horsepuckey, my friend.
Danny, it's actually "Dani" by the way, Alves before Maicon? Seriously? :--) That is just wrong.
Also Ronaldo and Messi in a traditional 4-4-2? You know wings are specified in the numbering the farthest to the right, right? You have them as regular wide midfielders. Also worth noting, just for reference, that Lahm was applied as right back by Bayern throughout the past season.

4-3-3

Huge Lloris (France)/Julio Cesar (Brazil).

Maicon (Brazil) - Walter Samuel (Argentina) - Gerard Pique (Spain) - Patrice Evra (France).

Daniele De Rossi (Italy) - Frank Lampard (England) - Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina).

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast).

Lahm, IMO looks more comfortable on the left, and I'm just not a fan of Maicon. I'd prefer Gareth Bale in all honesty but Wales didn't qualify.
I'd play Ronaldo and Messi out wide to recieve the ball, then cut inside. They both do it, and they both do it well.

 

[s0denone]

Okay, sounds simple enough.

Buffon

(lb) Phillip Lahm, Mertesacker, Giorgio Chiellini, (rb) Sergio Ramos

(winger)Messi, Kaka, De Rossi, (winger)Robben

Torres, Dzeko

In that team I might want to put Kaka on the bench for a more defensive minded midfielder.

Also worth noting, just for reference, that Lahm was applied as right back by Bayern throughout the past season.

He can play both. He says he's most comfortable on the right, but I think he plays better on the left.

Yes, I am aware. I was just noting, as stated just for reference, that he has been playing right back this season.

Would you mind explaining choosing the players highligted? Just doesn't make sense.
Seriously... Two players from Juventus? Their worst season in recent memory, having a huge problem not being able to shut out the opposition attackers - and you pick two defensive players, one being the goalkeeper? Buffon is good, yes, but he definetely hasn't had his best season, regardless of how much of the blame the defence(Chiellini) can take.

Lahm, IMO looks more comfortable on the left, and I'm just not a fan of Maicon. I'd prefer Gareth Bale in all honesty but Wales didn't qualify.
I'd play Ronaldo and Messi out wide to recieve the ball, then cut inside. They both do it, and they both do it well.

Gareth Bale has zero defensive qualities. Zero.
They(Messi & Ronaldo) are both good at cutting inside, yes, but that bring me back to the point of you basically playing with 8 offensive-minded players, with Lahm being the only arguable one. Danni Alves spends more time on opposition half than his own, and, as stated, all your midfielders are offensive players as well.

 

[Brotherofwill]

Explain your Picks

I don't pick my players based on their season, well atleast mostly. I pick them on how I think they would do in a tournament, based on their mentality.

Buffon is an absolute leader. Doesn't matter if he's prone to ddo a mistake, I'd simply want him on my team as a captain (okay this is fantasy stuff, everyone would need to speak Italian for him to be effective, but you get the point).

Mertesacker, well I just think he's really good. He's completely underrated because he doesn't play at a major club, like many German players. He's tall, strong, has a reliable dribble for his size and is a really good header.

I don't pay attention to Seria A, but I like Chiellini. He's dominant and all I'd want in a defender.

What's wrong with Sergio Ramos?

I'd pick Kaka for game changing solo plays, but as I said he's kind of wobbly and probably should be subbed for a more defensive minded player in that formation.

What's wrong with Dzeko? I'm considering if he could harmonize with Torres (which is a major if) but I love the player. Drogba is also a candidate next to Torres.

 

[s0denone]

Explain your Picks

I don't pick my players based on their season, well atleast mostly. I pick them on how I think they would do in a tournament, based on their mentality.

Okay...

Buffon is an absolute leader. Doesn't matter if he's prone to ddo a mistake, I'd simply want him on my team as a captain (okay this is fantasy stuff, everyone would need to speak Italian for him to be effective, but you get the point).

He has had a terrible season. Period. While the italian defensive still has quite some quality, they will not advance past the first knockout stage, if they even get there.

Mertesacker, well I just think he's really good. He's completely underrated because he doesn't play at a major club, like many German players. He's tall, strong, has a reliable dribble for his size and is a really good header.

Many, many central defenders have been playing a lot better than him in the past season, and many at a much higher level. This choice is frankly outright ridiculous. Mats Hummels out of Dortmund(Scandal he wasn't selected for the WC squad) included.

I don't pay attention to Seria A, but I like Chiellini. He's dominant and all I'd want in a defender.

He's "all you want in a defender"? Seriously? You are just picking players on their name and not their level of performance. He has had the worst season of his career, and you want him in your World Cup Dreamteam. It's as ridiculous as Mertesacker.

What's wrong with Sergio Ramos?

Aside from the fact that he is a centre-back schooled for right side, since Madrid have no real right backs? The place highest on Mourinhos list for improvement(Maicon displaying interest in a move)?
Well, besides that there's the fact that the worlds two best right backs are, hands down, Dani Alves and Maicon. One a little better offensively(Alves) and the other defensively(Maicon).
Both have had excellent season.
Sergio Ramos has had a breakthrough season as right back, but has he played better than them? Of course not. Is he a better back than them, with his offensive/defensive qualities and placements on the pitch? Well he is more defensive, obviously, but is lacking severely offensively.

I'd pick Kaka for game changing solo plays, but as I said he's kind of wobbly and probably should be subbed for a more defensive minded player in that formation.

So we pretend this farce never happened. Got it

What's wrong with Dzeko? I'm considering if he could harmonize with Torres (which is a major if) but I love the player. Drogba is also a candidate next to Torres.

Selecting Dzeko is just silly. Luis Suarez of Ajax should even be taken over him.
Drogba/Rooney should be no-contest for forward, with Torres at 100% being right at their heels.

 

[Giest4life]

Glenn Johnson, Evra, Terry, Puyol, Evra; Gerrard, C. Ronaldo, Wesley Sneijder, Kaka; Torres and Wayne Rooney.

 

[Brotherofwill]

This is silly

Are you discussing or just proclaiming your opinion very loudly? Don't deal in absolutes, especially if you're talking about football.

Read my first line again and then read your posts.

Many, many central defenders have been playing a lot better than him in the past season, and many at a much higher level.

Seriously? You are just picking players on their name and not their level of performance.

He has had the worst season of his career, and you want him in your World Cup Dreamteam.

I do not pick them based on their season, mostly atleast. It's that simple.

For example: Podolski, a German striker has had an abysmal season. Terrible performance, hardly scored any goals. I still think he'll own at the WC and score 3-5 goals, essentially being Germany's best striker. I don't pick based on the season. It's only a small factor in my equation next to experience, previous WC performances, relation to teammates, ability to lead etc etc.

I think Lahm is the best Wing back in the world. Better than Maicon and Alves. Both of them are very solid. Alves D is too bad and he goes on too much of a rampage to be on my team. Maicon is very solid, he's a likely pick.

Matts Hummels had an awesome season but he's too young and inexperienced. He'd be one of my subs, but he's not playing in the World Cup, now is he?

Let's look at your team:

Huge Lloris (France)/Julio Cesar (Brazil).

Lloris is solid, altough he doesn't have enough of a leading role as a goalkeeper, as does Cesar. Very respectable both, but not ideal for my team. Cesar has too little natural ability for me.

Maicon (Brazil) - Walter Samuel (Argentina) - Gerard Pique (Spain) - Patrice Evra (France).

Maicon is a good pick. Samuel is a little old, altough solid. Good pick there. Not sure why you'd pick Pique and Evra.

Daniele De Rossi (Italy) - Frank Lampard (England) - Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina).

Rossi and Cambiasso are both solid. Lampard wouldn't make my team in a million years. Loser mentality, clashes with teammates. Would you play him as a DM?

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Messi good, Ronaldo bad.

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast).

Good.

 

[s0denone]

Let me start of by saying I can truly appreciate being given a taste of my own medicine, thank you

This is silly

Are you discussing or just proclaiming your opinion very loudly? Don't deal in absolutes, especially if you're talking about football.

Read my first line again and then read your posts.

Many, many central defenders have been playing a lot better than him in the past season, and many at a much higher level.

Seriously? You are just picking players on their name and not their level of performance.

He has had the worst season of his career, and you want him in your World Cup Dreamteam.

I do not pick them based on their season, mostly atleast. It's that simple.

For example: Podolski, a German striker has had an abysmal season. Terrible performance, hardly scored any goals. I still think he'll own at the WC and score 3-5 goals, essentially being Germany's best striker. I don't pick based on the season. It's only a small factor in my equation next to experience, previous WC performances, relation to teammates, ability to lead etc etc.

I think Lahm is the best Wing back in the world. Better than Maicon and Alves. Both of them are very solid. Alves D is too bad and he goes on too much of a rampage to be on my team. Maicon is very solid, he's a likely pick.

Matts Hummels had an awesome season but he's too young and inexperienced. He'd be one of my subs, but he's not playing in the World Cup, now is he?

Podolski was awesome at Köln, didn't do well at Bayern, but has always scored goals for the national team. He will most likely not be in the starting-11 though. Given his horrendoes season. I don't vision him being Germany's main scorer here either.

Lahm being the best wing back in the world is simply false. I realise there is "difference of opinion", and that Lahm has had a terrific season(and a tendency to be underrated) - but Maicon and Alves are, quite simply, more accomplished players at top level.

Let's look at your team:

Yes! Let's do that!

Huge Lloris (France)/Julio Cesar (Brazil).

Lloris is solid, altough he doesn't have enough of a leading role as a goalkeeper, as does Cesar. Very respectable both, but not ideal for my team. Cesar has too little natural ability for me.

Okay, so you're not really disagreeing here, you're just holding on to your "need leadership qualities on the pitch"-argument, enforcing your own pick of Buffon. I see what's going on. That's fine.

Maicon (Brazil) - Walter Samuel (Argentina) - Gerard Pique (Spain) - Patrice Evra (France).

Maicon is a good pick. Samuel is a little old, altough solid. Good pick there. Not sure why you'd pick Pique and Evra.

If I'm being honest I would chance Evra to Lahm in a heartbeat. That is a mistake. Plain and simple. Lahm > Evra > Cole for the left back, in my opinion.
For Gerard Pique he is simply, along with Samuel, the best playing centre-back at this point in time. He has had a wonderous season in Barcelona, retaining the championship.

Daniele De Rossi (Italy) - Frank Lampard (England) - Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina).

Rossi and Cambiasso are both solid. Lampard wouldn't make my team in a million years. Loser mentality, clashes with teammates. Would you play him as a DM?

I'm sorry, this can be mistaken easily. I plan on having Lampard as a box-to-box center midfielder, utilising his skills upfront but not allowing him to lazy it up during. Incredible player with an incredible season.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Messi good, Ronaldo bad.

Ronaldo bad why? He has had a superb season at Real Madrid... Even though, again for reference, he has been playing as attacker for quite a few games.

Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast).

Good.

I'm glad there is no trouble here!