D1 Matchday 3: Reyes vs Nikos

[Scarface]

Reyes

-------------------------------Cech--------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
------Miguel----------Puyol------------Ayala-----------A.Cole-------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------Fabregas---------Cambiasso---------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
------Ribery------------------------------------------Vicente-------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------Rooney----------------------------------------
--------------------------------------Henry------------------------


Subs: Given, Nesta, Lampard, Reyes, Torres

vs

Nikos

-------------------------------Coupet--------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
------Sagnol----------Squillaci------------Gallas-----------Abidal--------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------Gattuso----------L. Diarra-----------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
------Joaquin------------------------------------------Malouda-------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------Kaka------------------------------------
-------------------------------------Saha------------------------

Totti in for Kaka at 60th minute.

Subs: Kuszczak, Bonera, Totti, Govou, Samaras.

[nikos24]

Good luck James. :)

Is my substitution idea alright with you? :unsure:

[Nedy]

Good match here. And Nikos substitution idea looks very good for me.

I have to go to James here. Nikos dude you finally use a great formation with a very good team there, but James eleven looks fabolous and his team win this match.

[Rambo]

This looks like a good match but Reyes's team will be too much for Nikos

[Scarface]

Good luck James. :)

Is my substitution idea alright with you? :unsure:

Cheers, good luck yourself.

I don't see a problem with it. Rafalutionary mentioned about putting a similar system where we post tactics and substitutions with our team selection before the season started, but I said it's something we could implement next season, depending on how active the League is, as they'd be no point if only a 1/3 of managers post tactics. No reason not to post subs now, though. I was going to start doing it last season, but the only reason I don't is because i'd like to make the decision based on the scoreline, so would want to do it once i've seen the match progress, but it couldn't really work that way.

[Del Piero]

I go for a Reyes win here.

His team is very strong all over the pitch.

Fabregas and cambiasso in the middle is a fantastic partnership they will be spraying balls out to ribery and vicente and with there pace and skill it would prove to be very hard for any defence to handle.

Henry and Rooney up front (what can i say) :huh:

I feel that Saha would have probs getting round Ayala and Puyol, and even if he did do it he would then have to try and score past Cech.

Nikos your team is looking much much better youve got a good balanced formation, with all the right players in there positions, i think you should do well this season if you carry on playing this way. Also I like the sub idea.

[greenegg]

Despite an improved team from Nikos Reyes seems to have too much power.

[dimitrivdr]

This was a game that will continue to be talked about for decades as two sides with world-class stamped all over them went out with the intention to win or die trying.

Reyes took the lead within seconds when Ribery had an incisive dribble on the right and provided Henry with a razorsharp throughball. The living legend then went on to place the ball in the far right bottom corner with ruthless precision.

Before a shellshocked Nikos side could recover, their problems got even worse when Fabregas and Rooney combined well to completely break open the defence inside the box, leaving Rooney with the simplest of tap-ins.

Nikos must have given his charges the hairdryer treatment at halftime, because they came out swinging in the second half. Joaquin tore down the wing and left a line of defenders in his wake as he bore down on goal and smashed a hard shot against the opposite post and into the net. His team-mates, buoyed by their unexpected return into the match, began to play with more purpose and were soon rewarded for their industry when Totti unleashed Malouda, who unselfishly provided Saha with an easy finish.

The scores tied at 2-2 with 20 minutes remaining, Reyes tried to salvage what he could of the match, bringing Reyes on for Vicente and trying to provide a three pronged attack with Ribery switching to the left.

Reyes made a point about his exclusion from the starting line up when he skinned Abidal to provide Henry with an opportunity, which the flying Frenchman back-heeled past an astounded and furious Coupet.

The seconds were ticking down and Nikos decided let loose for one last concerted effort.

Totti, Saha and Malouda all had opportunities, but it was the unlikeliest of heros who finally brought Nikos back on level terms.

Gattuso recounts: "I can barely believe it myself. Puyol headed the ball out of the area after a cross and the ball came floating towards me. I was so angry that we were losing after fighting back so hard that I took it all out on the ball. I just whacked it as hard as I could and the next thing I remember is everyone jumping on me saying 'what a goal', right in the top-right corner!' I will never forget it."

One suspects neither will Cech! ;)

[Hunter]

Good post again dimitrivdr.

I'll have to go with Reyes on this one, despite Nikos' attack looking strong and fact as well as troublesome at times I believe Reyes' defence should be able to keep them at bay or relatively tied down. Whereas with an attack of Rooney and Henry, the creativity is pretty much unstoppable.

Reyes 2 - 0 Nikos

[nikos24]

Wow, great post Dmitri. You should be particpitating in making the matchday reports. ;)

[nikos24]

Needless to say James, good game. What a thumping, 4-0? :unsure:

[Dragonfly]

I think in real life, the more realistic result would be something like 2-0.

[nikos24]

I think in real life, the more realistic result would be something like 2-0.

Yes hopefully, I mean I did put Gattuso and Diarra, concentrated more on defence, so I'll definitely take a 2-0. Anyway, whichever way it goes, I'm cool with it.

[Scarface]

Needless to say James, good game. What a thumping, 4-0? :unsure:

Good game, Nikos. Bit harsh, the scoreline, but i'm sure you'll soon climb the table, using that system.

It's 3-0. 13 votes = 3, 17 = 4.

[Charlie: 9]

Good luck James. :)

Is my substitution idea alright with you? :unsure:

If the substitution thing does be counted for, then surely It should add an appearence to that players data? So you would need to be careful not to over play the man youre bringing on.