D1 Matchday 1: Billy Minof vs vanNistelrooy

[Scarface]

Billy Minof

------------V. Valdes------------

--D. Alves---S. Ramos---Materazzi---Aurelio--

---------------Dacourt--------------

-----------------Deco---------------

---------Raul----------------Riquelme--------

------------Larsson----Ronaldo-----------

Subs: Oleguer, Cafu, Lucho Gonzalez, Seedorf & Kenny Miller

vs

vanNistelrooy

-----------------------------Dida----------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
-----J.Zanetti------Brown-----------Worns------Lahm--------
-------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------Emerson--------------------------
--------------Stankovic--------------Scholes----------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------Valeron---------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------Owen-----------Ashton-----------------

Subs: Cudicini, Jankulovski, JV of Hesselink, Del Piero & Carrick

[Nturtle]

Minof wins the battle of old guns up front...with a more creative mid-field dynamic!

[Dragonfly]

Billy's 4-2-4 formation will trouble Van's defence, but Deco and Dacourt might struggle with the hard-working and talented midfielders (i.e. Scholes, Emmerson and Stankovic).

But the front 4 will make a lot of difference, assuming that they'll be tracking back.

Billy for the victory.

[Nedy]

I go for vN here. Because Minof midfield dont look so strong in the defensive area, with a lonely Dacourt. In change, vN midfleid looks pretty strong, with Emerson as DMF and Stankovic and Scholes helping him.
With a poor defensive midfield and an average CB duo, Owen and Ashton can score atleas 2 goals for vN team.

[Don Sweey]

Billy here - the defence is weaker but the midfield and certainly the attack are stronger. I don't personally see Van's midfield working particularly well - Stankovic doesn't work hard enough and Valeron can be lazy - that'll impact on "now you see me, now you don't" Emerson.

[Highway Penguin]

I'm going for Billy, even though I'm not too much of a fan of the 4-2-4. Raul has been playing a position like that though so I could see him doing well there, which is my main problem with the formation. :)

[Billy Minof]

HP, that is why I have played Raul there he is playing really well there this season...Ronaldo will always score goals and Larrson works really hard for the team, Riquilme is either hit or miss, Deco is the heart of the team with his passing, Dacourt is holding infront of Ramos and Matterazzi, D. Alves is bombing up and down providing the with with Aurelio so I think that this formation would work really well with these players.

[greenegg]

I like vans Owen and Ashton pairing but I think Billy will just nick this one in a tight match. 1-0

[Fantana]

Owen and Ashton isn't my starting duo, Tevez is suspended you see.

Didn't realise the season had started, hence my team not looking so strong (other than Tevez and Lucio being out).

[Del Piero]

Im going for a vanNistelrooy win here (very close)

The reason for my vote is because im not to keen on the 4 2 4 formation bill has gone for (sorry billy)

Billys defence isnt the strongest and to only have a player like dacourt in front of them doesnt really strengthen it.

I feel that billys weak defensive midfield option will allow players such as Stankovic Scholes and Valeron to break them down and with very capable strikers like owen and ashton i dont feel that materazzi and ramos (whom i personally prefer as a right back) will be able to cope with such pressure.

However billy has got a very strong forward line up Raul is playing well, Riquelme is always a threat and with the experience of larsson and ronaldo up front they are sure to cause problems.

But vanNistelrooy has in my opinion got a very solid and well organised defence so they could prove to be very hard to break down.

So im going for a 2-1 win to vanNistelrooy