D1 Matchday 3: vanNistelrooy vs O.J.

[Scarface]

vanNistelrooy

---------------------------1 Dida----------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
---2 J.Zanetti----6 Brown---------4 Lucio------3 Lahm--------
--------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------5 Emerson-----------------------------------
---------------------------------16 Carrick-------------------
--------------------18 Scholes-------------------------------
-------------------------------17 Valeron--------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------10 Owen---------9 Tevez-------------------

Subs: 13 Carlo Cudicini, 15 Marek Jankulovski, 14 Dejan Stankovic, 7 Alessandro Del Piero, 8 Dean Ashton

vs

O.J.

-----------------Kameni--------------------
--------------------------------------------
---Trabelsi---Toure---Andrade---Marcelo---
--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
--------Deisler---Perrotta---vBommel---------
--------------------------------------------
------------------Aimar---------------------
--------------------------------------------
-------------Toni-------Podolski------------
--------------------------------------------

Substitutes: Foster, Gonzalo, Albelda, Anderson, Nihat.

[Fantana]

Good luck Yossi!

[Yossi]

I'm not Yossi ¬_¬

[Nedy]

I'm not Yossi ¬_¬

:laugh:

I go for O.J here. His defense looks more strong, especially in the centre and his powerful attack can score 2/3 goals.

[martin_cranie]

On the face of it, defensively things are quite even. vNistelrooys' fullbacks being a cut above O.J.s', with that judgement reversed in the centre. For me, the Toure-Andrade partnership is the second best in the league behind Puyol-Nesta.

I don't particularly like either of the midfield setups. I think vNistelrooys' lack of width could hurt him as at least the opposition has players that can almost naturally stray outwide. I'd drop Scholes and bring in Jankulovski on the left and maybe give Valeron an advanced role on the right side. He may not work great there, but to be honest the wide options in this team are poor.

O.J.s' problem to my mind is also the layout. I feel that using Perrotta and Deisler in such deep positions will hold them back significantly. How about:

-----------------vBommel------------------
-----Deisler-------------------Perrotta-----
------------------Aimar--------------------

That way Perrotta can drift around the left side, like he did so well in the summer for Italy, Deisler can have more freedom, Aimar can still do his thing, and vBommel is left doing the leg work which he's best at. If not vBommel, then bring in Albelda to perform that role. I think that could work well for those players.

Up front we have two fantastic duos, however I prefer O.J.'s partnership. Toni is a magnificent player who can pretty much do it all up there, and Podolski will be in the right place at the right time to put a few away when Aimar releases a nice pass.

Owen relies mainly on getting on to the end of things for goals, but with all the play coming through the centre of the pitch I think his options will be a little one-dimensional. He could do with a wide man banging crosses in for him to mix things up. Tevez will work his arse off but I can see the duo of Toure and Andrade being too good for him.

I can't see anyone gaining a distinct advantage here, probably a draw but maybe O.J. would just edge it. I'll hold my vote for a while.

[Charlie: 9]

After having to follow that fantastic post from Martin, my comment is going to be utter pish, but here it goes...

... I voted for OJ, basically because I think his team is more balanced and also has a stronger defence and would or should probably win this one 1-0.

[Rambo]

O.J for me

[Del Piero]

Im going for a draw

[Dragonfly]

I've gone for OJ because Owen and Teves haven't been doing well lately (I know Owen is injured).

[greenegg]

Both stike forces are top drawer. I am not keen on vN midfield seems a bit centralised and also OJs midfield set up doesnt leave me raving. I think OJs centre backs are better but not the LB and RB. A very tough contest maybe OJ just pipping it.

[Barry]

OJ has the better strikers, and midfield and defence look even. Van lacks width again, although he has 2 great backs who will go up frequently. OJ has the better centrebacks though.

Overall I'd say OJ.

[dimitrivdr]

In a game that never seemed to get going, this game finally ended with a 0-0 draw. Despite the hype before the match began, this was a dull affair with the battle for the middle never being decided in favour of either side and the strikers unable to show their undoubted abilities as they were left to feed off scraps.

Javier Zanetti and Lahm tried to force the issue, but were unable to reach Owen or Tevez with their crosses, which Toure and Andrade dealt with comfortably.

Podolski kept trying to come deep to get the ball forward, but this just seemed to crowd the midfield still further, thus strangling the game to its eventual death as a spectacle. Toni bravely tried to take on the opposition and lead the line, but a lack of service and Lucio's excellent defensive play held him at arm's length.

The game ended all-square and is unlikely to give either set of fans much comfort as they look at the winter months ahead.

[Scarface]

Another tight one. Possibly a draw, but if there's to be a winner, i'd expect it to be O.J., due to the great strikeforce he has.

However, I voted for vanNistelrooy due to the large gap there was, at the time.