D1 Matchday 1: Reyes vs Barryvs

[Scarface]

Reyes

------------------------------Cech---------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
------Miguel----------Puyol------------Ayala-----------A.Cole-------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------Fabregas---------Cambiasso---------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------Lampard-------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------Rooney----------------------Henry-----------------
------------------------------Torres--------------------------------


Subs: Given, Chivu, Alonso, Ribery, Ibrahimovic

vs

Barryvs

-----------------------Gomes----------------------
--Maldini------Carragher-----Woodgate-----Grosso--
---------------------------------------------------
--------Xavi----------Sissoko---------Edu---------
--------------------------------------------------
--------------Alex-------------Ronaldinho----------
----------------------Eto'o------------------------

Subs- Kuyt,Serginho,Jesus Navas,Robinho

[Dragonfly]

Reyes to win, but Barryvs has got a very good team and should do well this season.

[Nedy]

A very good match here. I have to go to Reyes.
His defense look more strong, with two awesomes full-backs and a very strong duo in the centre.
Then in the midfield, looks very strong, but James in my opinion Cesc is in a bad position, IMO he isnt a DMF. Maybe Alonso will be better in that position.
Last in the attack, the awesome trio that James put will score like 2/3 goals. Another recommendation James: Put Henry as CF and Ibrahimovic as SS, removing Torres. Zlatan is playing very well at the moment.

[Scarface]

Then in the midfield, looks very strong, but James in my opinion Cesc is in a bad position, IMO he isnt a DMF. Maybe Alonso will be better in that position.

He's meant to be in centre midfield alongside Cambiasso, with Lampard as an attacking midfielder, but I should probably put Cesc on the line between Cambiasso and Lampard, to make it clearer in the future.

Last in the attack, the awesome trio that James put will score like 2/3 goals. Another recommendation James: Put Henry as CF and Ibrahimovic as SS, removing Torres. Zlatan is playing very well at the moment.

I was tempted to do that, but I felt Henry and Rooney's pace in the 3 man attack would give it an extra dimension. I'll probably use Ibrahimovic mostly in a 4-4-2 formation alongside Henry.

Thanks for the comments.

[dimitrivdr]

Barry has a very strong passing unit in midfield, with players like Alex, Edu, Ronaldinho and Xavi in there. Sissoko should be a disrupting force, particularly for the likes of Lampard...

The Eto'o v Cech battle will be very interesting, but I think the defining part of the pitch will be the battle between Henry and Maldini. Maldini isn't 34 any more and I would have serious worries about 1-on-1 situations. With Henry's pace, it could have a devastating effect.

To make matters worse, the players at the top of Barry's midfield all tend to lean to the left, meaning that Rooney should have a decent amount of space if he drops deep.

Having said that, 3 v 5 for a team of Barry's quality in midfield is probably going to be too much too handle and could turn this into a one-sided affair with Reyes's squad depending on the counter...

A win for Barry it is! 2-1.

[Barry]

Thanks for the comment mate!

Didn't even know I had to face you Reyes, great test for my team. Good luck!

[Scarface]

Good luck to you too, mate.
For the season that is, not this match ;-)
You should have a good campaign.

[CaptainCabinet]

Reyes to win, Barry has a very strong squad but not good enough to win. His defense pales in comparison to Reyes' and I think that will be where the match is won.

[Del Piero]

Fuck me! is there any stopping Reyes?

Hhhhhmmmm where do i start, the defence isnt bad? :laugh:

Reyes = Class all over the pitch and great formation.


Barry - Very good defence Carragher Woodgate great partnership, noyt sure about Maldini at right back?

Solid middle three, and your attacking three would def cause probs. Surely youve got to put Kuyt in there somewhere with the form his on :w00t

Barry you should be up the top end of the table come the end of the season.

[mufcsean]

Reyes's team is undoubtedly the best in the league and this will be an easy victory for him with some of the players he has but you never know, with the likes of Ronaldinho in your team Barry, you might just cause an upset

[Dr. Bob Kelso]

A great match to start the season. I would have to say a 1-1 draw.

I think Reyes has the more balanced and therefore better back 4 but I think Barry has a harder working midfield.

With the exception of Henry, Reyes does not have the best forwards in the world when it comes to finishing. Eto'o on the other hand would not be so wasteful and with Ronaldinho and Xavi supplying the bullets he would have his chance.

Overall Reyes does have class all over the pitch but I think he just misses that killer instinct which Barry in Eto'o (and Kuyt on the bench) has. Barry's side may not be as gifted technically but they more than make up for it in effort and determination and as I say he has the more clinical finishers.

[Barry]

I got one vote, thanks dimitri :tongue:

Thanks for the comments.

[grimmer101]

I think Barry will win as i see his squad more dynamic that reyes

hard choice thought

[kallum]

Reyes, to scrape it.

Slightly more quality overall.

[Billy Minof]

A draw here for me...

[Preki-USA]

I am going to vote for Reyes because of his overall class. However, James, I am going to be a bit nitpicky over you midfield. I think those three roam too much and you could benefit by getting a true stay at home type in your squad.


Barry, you're my pick for second this season, not much I can complain about in your side.

[Charlie: 9]

Both quality teams on display. Im leaning more towards James XI at the minute, on the basis that his team is well balanced and each player compliments an other. Great teams here and both will obviously do well... Unless they meet me...

[Figо10]

Good match here, both with 4-3-3s. Sissoko and Xavi are a match for James' midfield, but not Edu, as he's not great at defence or attack. Both have solid backlines except that Woody isn't having a too good time now, and James' attacking players can punish that. Torres can be contained by Carragher but goals will still come from Henry and Lampard, especially if Henry goes down the left. Eto'o might be able to dart in there to score once from a Ronaldinho through pass. Robinho and Serginho could inject some pace into Barry's XI later in the match, and cause some problems down the flanks.

Overall, good solid lineups from both teams, Barry's midfield will be very competitive but that sacrifices some of its attacking abilities. James to win 2-1.

[nikos24]

Reyes to win but not the extent of a blowout (4-0, 5-1), actually a more close game, like 3-2. Both teams have great set of players and will certainly go far this season. Barry has many potential and I believe he may not be on the losing side next time out.

Reyes wins mainly because of the trio attack he posseses. Could beat almost any defence I think.

[Hunter]

James takes this for me, a close contest and Barry definetely has a strong team. I think there will only be 1 goals difference in this match, possibly 2 but that's uncertain. What makes it very difficult to judge I think for most of us is the balance in both teams and the competition in each position. None the less, I'd say James's midfield would dominate the centre with both attacking fronts looking very good. Eto'o will be deadly if he can break through Puyol and Ayala (easier said than done). Torres may not have the pace Eto'o does but if being provided by such superb players as Henry and Rooney then there is no doubting they'll somehow create several chances.

James 2-1 Barry (or 3-2)