Your ideal team for Euro '08

I'll do Spain since no one else has:

Casillas

Ramos-Puyol-Albiol (IMO)-Capdevila
----------Albelda
--------Iniesta-Xavi
----Villa---Torres---Silva

kas wrote:I'll do Spain since no one else has:

Casillas

Ramos-Puyol-Albiol (IMO)-Capdevila
----------Albelda
--------Iniesta-Xavi
----Villa---Torres---Silva

I would have the same except, I'd play a front three of Joaquin-Villa-Silva

Vicente is still a great option too.

For France


________________ Coupet___________________________
Sagnol____ Gallas______Squilacci __________ Abidal____
__________ Toutalan _____Makelele ____________
___________Ribery _________ Nasri___________________
____________Henry ________Anelka___________________

Sub: Landreau, Makelele, Benzema, Vieira, Saha, Cisse, Thuram, Trezeguet, Bodmer, Malouda, Ben Arfa

Makelele still first choice in 2008? He'll be 35 by then. France especially have quite a lot of alternatives on the DM position I thought.

He still plays well despite his age, and he's not going to play all the games for Chelsea. Actually if Vieira can stop being injured all the time, I'd put him as a starter. Mavuba, who's going to play for Villareal and Luccin who plays for Atletico Madrid could also be good alternatives.

That's what I meant, France have a lot of quality defensive midfielders these days, probably your best position. That's why I was surprised to see Makalele in the first XI.

P.S.: Will Henry & Anelka work as a partnership?

I don't really know to be honest, but while Henry has been injured all this time, Anelka has stepped up a big time, scoring some important goals for France. I really count on Benzema as well. This guy is for sure going to be an important player for France and Lyon. This year and only at 19 years of age, he scored 2 goals in the Champions league in two games, a goal for France in three selections, and 5 in 21 games in the league, while being injured most of the time.

France have a very good squad, at least on paper, and will definitely be one of the favourites next year.

A lot can still happen next season though. New players can enter the stage, players can gain or lack form, injuries etc. Will be interesting to see how the squads will finally look like next year.

kas wrote:I'll do Spain since no one else has:

Casillas

Ramos-Puyol-Albiol (IMO)-Capdevila
----------Albelda
--------Iniesta/cesc-Raul garcia
----Villa---Torres---Silva

i think that spains biggest problem in the world cup was they had to many of the same in midfield and since they only played real strikers in the striker position i think they will need a direct player like raul garcia. allthough if baraja got back in form he would get it. also i think cesc gets more assists then inesta allthough both would do.

Yes, things will change and maybe new players will come in. On paper: Portugal, Holland, Italy, Germany and France are clear favorites. Spain and England to a lesser extent. I'm quite looking forward to see what Ribery can do at Bayern, btw.

Ribery is darling of the fans already. The vast majority of fans believes him to be the best and most important signing of Bayern this summer (online vote), Hitzfeld expects great things from him next season also.

A lot of hype surrounding the new Bayern squad already. Will be a pleasure to ruin the party for us.

It's funny (or pathetic) because apparently some of his colleagues said he was kind of crazy, like putting salt in Van Buyten glass of water or hiding Tony's shoes at the hotel. OMG.

kas wrote:I'll do Spain since no one else has:

Casillas

Ramos-Puyol-Albiol (IMO)-Capdevila
----------Albelda
--------Iniesta-Xavi
----Villa---Torres---Silva

i agree just swap iniesta with cesc. (and no not because he is from barca)

Too many players I don't want to leave out....so I've made two extra teams after the first


First team :




Second team :




Third team :

----------------Robinson-----------------
----Rio---------Terry---------A.Cole
----------------Hargreaves----------
---Beckham-----Gerrard-------Joe Cole

------------------Lampard-------------------
------Michael Owen-------------Rooney----

Axeslammer wrote:Too many players I don't want to leave out....so I've made two extra teams after the first


First team :

Van der Sar

Melchiot - Donk - Opdam

De Zeeuw

Afellay - Kuyt - Drenthe

Van der Vaart

Van Persie - Van Nistelrooy

Second team :

Timmer

Kromkamp - Boulahrouz - Mathijssen - De Cler

Robben - Van Bommel - Sneijder/Aissati - Seedorf

Huntelaar - Makaay/Babel

Third team :

Stekelenburg

Jaliens - Ooijer/Heitinga - Stam - Gio

Castelen - Landzaat/Mendes da Silva - Schaars - Emanuelson

Koevermans - Vennegoor of Hesselink

Lot's of quality players. Melchiot in the first team?

--------------------VDS
Jaliens - Boulahrouz - Donk/Opdam - De Cler
Van Bommel/De Zeeuw - Drenthe
--------------------VDV
-----Van Persie----------Robben
-------------------Ruud

My preference. Whenever the three upfront are in sync, its always a massacre.

Bench: Stekelenburg, Gio, Kromkamp, Mathijsen, Ooijer, (Melchiot, Boateng), Schaars, Affalay, Aisatti, Sneijder, Seedorf, Huntelaar, Kuyt, Makaay, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Koevermans, Babel

@ DD

I like your team .. more or less what i want to see.

Drenthe must start.

---------------Sar---------------
--------------Donk--------------
Jaliens-----------------De Cler
-----------De Zeeuw------------
---M Da Silva-------Schaars---
---------------VDV--------------
Van Persie-------------Drenthe
-------------Ruud----------------

rai quagmire wrote:@ DD

I like your team .. more or less what i want to see.

Drenthe must start.

A combination of talent and experience, in defense, midfield and attack. Also a good DM (De Zeeuw/Schaars) or grit (Van Bommel).

With Van Bommel you can also switch to a more 3-4-3 role, when he goes to the attack and Jaliens fills in his DM spot. Drenthe can also handle himself in DM, so no problem.
Van Bommel is necessary to not keep the midfield too light. Even though now Drenthe can also reasonably handle himself.

And the replacements are quality and flexible enough to fill many positions on the pitch, both in roles and in strategy.

The players who would be on call for a possible invitation (when people drop out): Greene, Zuiverloon, Heitinga (not for defense though), Landzaat, Vlaar, Boateng, Da Silva, etc.
Not their time yet.

rai quagmire wrote:@ DD

I like your team .. more or less what i want to see.

Drenthe must start.

not on midfield though. The hype around Royston, shouldn't obstruct sensible judgement.

He's a great talent, but there's also a lotto be learned for him. At the EC U-21, he lost quite a few balls when passing backwards/sideways (we could have well lost the match v Belgium, becuase of his sloppyness.he did that at Feyenoord regularly too). That's a cardinal sin when you play with as many people ahead of the ball as Holland does.

jonathan de guzman wrote:---------------Sar---------------
--------------Donk--------------
Jaliens-----------------De Cler
-----------De Zeeuw------------
---M Da Silva-------Schaars---
---------------VDV--------------
Van Persie-------------Drenthe
-------------Ruud----------------

Also a good team, I prefer yours only second to mine. I think your defensive midfield combo is too young.
Drenthe LW wouldn't be a bad choice has he can lay those crosses to Ruud (and Robin) ala Beckham.

Why can't Van Basten do anything like the ones we suggested? Instead he's mucking about with Huntelaar and Maduro, Urby, Heitinga etc.

De Zeeuw should play central, he's best at spreading the game, and speeding it up. 1 of the best pivots in the world, why waste him on the right?

jonathan de guzman wrote:

rai quagmire wrote:@ DD

I like your team .. more or less what i want to see.

Drenthe must start.

not on midfield though. The hype around Royston, shouldn't obstruct sensible judgement.

He's a great talent, but there's also a lotto be learned for him. At the EC U-21, he lost quite a few balls when passing backwards/sideways (we could have well lost the match v Belgium, becuase of his sloppyness.he did that at Feyenoord regularly too). That's a cardinal sin when you play with as many people ahead of the ball as Holland does.

We can see him as a future regular , next season he will excel at Feyenoord. I did think he looked comfortable as a LB , even though he did join the attack in the early games .. so a move to midfield was on the cards.

Next season will be important for many players such as Boulahrouz , Donk , Drenthe , De Zeeuw etc

The only worry i have is the experience around the field.

jonathan de guzman wrote:

rai quagmire wrote:@ DD

I like your team .. more or less what i want to see.

Drenthe must start.

not on midfield though. The hype around Royston, shouldn't obstruct sensible judgement.

He's a great talent, but there's also a lotto be learned for him. At the EC U-21, he lost quite a few balls when passing backwards/sideways (we could have well lost the match v Belgium, becuase of his sloppyness.he did that at Feyenoord regularly too). That's a cardinal sin when you play with as many people ahead of the ball as Holland does.

So did Frenkie De Boer.
I want Drenthe there (midfield) as he's a very good attacker, but good enough of a hybride to track quickly and defend when we aren't in possession. When we're in possession he can go in front. And he's still capable of bombing those crosses forward from the midfield.

I see it more as an interchanging fluid unit, rather than a (table football-like) static midfield and attack.

DD wrote:

jonathan de guzman wrote:---------------Sar---------------
--------------Donk--------------
Jaliens-----------------De Cler
-----------De Zeeuw------------
---M Da Silva-------Schaars---
---------------VDV--------------
Van Persie-------------Drenthe
-------------Ruud----------------

Also a good team, I prefer yours only second to mine. I think your defensive midfield combo is too young.
Drenthe LW wouldn't be a bad choice has he can lay those crosses to Ruud (and Robin) ala Beckham.

Why can't Van Basten do anything like the ones we suggested? Instead he's mucking about with Huntelaar and Maduro, Urby, Heitinga etc.

My 'back 6' are used to playing together.

DD wrote:

jonathan de guzman wrote:

rai quagmire wrote:@ DD

I like your team .. more or less what i want to see.

Drenthe must start.

not on midfield though. The hype around Royston, shouldn't obstruct sensible judgement.

He's a great talent, but there's also a lotto be learned for him. At the EC U-21, he lost quite a few balls when passing backwards/sideways (we could have well lost the match v Belgium, becuase of his sloppyness.he did that at Feyenoord regularly too). That's a cardinal sin when you play with as many people ahead of the ball as Holland does.

So did Frenkie De Boer.
I want Drenthe there (midfield) as he's a very good attacker, but good enough of a hybride to track quickly and defend when we aren't in possession. When we're in possession he can go in front. And he's still capable of bombing those crosses forward from the midfield.

My line-up would play something in between 3-4-3 and Foppe's 4-2,5-2,5, in which Drenthe could be the 'fake left winger', like Hofs was at the previous U21 EC.

FDB was sloppy indeed, but his overall game was far more mature than Royston's.

rai quagmire wrote:

jonathan de guzman wrote:

rai quagmire wrote:@ DD

I like your team .. more or less what i want to see.

Drenthe must start.

not on midfield though. The hype around Royston, shouldn't obstruct sensible judgement.

He's a great talent, but there's also a lotto be learned for him. At the EC U-21, he lost quite a few balls when passing backwards/sideways (we could have well lost the match v Belgium, becuase of his sloppyness.he did that at Feyenoord regularly too). That's a cardinal sin when you play with as many people ahead of the ball as Holland does.

We can see him as a future regular , next season he will excel at Feyenoord. I did think he looked comfortable as a LB , even though he did join the attack in the early games .. so a move to midfield was on the cards.

Next season will be important for many players such as Boulahrouz , Donk , Drenthe , De Zeeuw etc

The only worry i have is the experience around the field.

Until last season Royston mainly played attacking left winger (ie part of the front 3 in 4-3-3), so yep was about to be expected.

Leo,

I think we more or less agree with each other (in spirit) even though the line-ups differ slightly.

I just think that if your playing the attacking diamond of VDV, RVP, Robben and RVN that you need 4 defenders generally (less necessary though if Drenthe is also in the diamond). The (defensive inclined) midfielders can handle it, and those four will always make themselves available for a quick pass forward.

Besides, we'll have 70% possession anyway. The best defense is offense.

On a sidenote, I think Drenthe could develop a matureness in his game to match FDB, but only if he chooses to. I don't think he'll be a jack of all trades, but either a good midfielder (like Essien but more attacking inclined) or a good left winger/bulldog.

It just depends which route in his development he takes, and who'll be his coaches during those crucial periods in his development.

Alive and Kicking wrote:

Lot's of quality players. Melchiot in the first team?

Yep

Holland's weakest positions are the fullbacks.

Melchiot was tried out in the last two internationals on that position and he mightily impressed me.

He's a modern RB : he knows how to defend, goes forward a lot and has an excellent cross. He's got speed, he's tall and because he played in England for a while he's learned to be a good offensive and defensive header (the English might not realize it themselves but they're the best headers in the world).

He's also experienced and mature, he's laid back in a good way : he'll bring peace and rest to our youths.

All in all I have to say I like him very much (both on and off the pitch)