The World League

First topic message reminder :

Rules;
£150m budget with to be spent on anybody based on their value on TM.
Draft system to build the squads.
Squad to be between 20-25 players, no more, no less.
Tactics short, teamsheet, substitutes, 100 words of tactics, few sentences for substitutions.
Everybody votes or lose a goal from their score, just scores and scorers acceptable although feedback is encouraged.
Choose your own real life team name although this will have no bearing on the players you can or can't sign.

Participants;
Azzy - Vancouver Whitecaps
BamBam - Ebbsfleet United
Holymiky - MK Dons
Marky - Crawley Town
Nadeem - Real Madrid
Olly - Accrington Stanley
Trebs - Liaoning Whowin
Viva - Manchester United
Hero - Macclesfield Town
Nando - Chesham United

Structure;

8 fixtures per team, 4 at home, 4 away. Two relegated from the Premier League, two promoted from the Championship.
3rd place in both leagues will playoff for the right to play in the Premier League.
Starting point determined at random.

Premier League
1. Chesham United
2. Liaoning Whowin
------
3. Macclesfield Town
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4. Manchester United
5. MK Dons

Championship
1. Accrington Stanley
2. Crawley Town
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3. Ebbsfleet United
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4. Real Madrid
5. Vancouver Whitecaps

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/detailsuche/spielerdetail/suche

Draft results

Marky:

Holymiky:

BamBam:

Fernando:

Nadeem:

Azzy:

Olly:

Hero:

Trebs:

Viva:

I dunno, id expect people to do their research on Chinese football.

GSC wrote:I dunno, id expect people to do their research on Chinese football.

It's a push for people to read about the Bundesliga.

To be fair with the amount of quality players moving to China it would be fair if we took their league more seriously over time.

Nikica Jelavic plays there, I need no more convincing.

Thinking more about the players like Ramires and Alex Teixeira, some more in that range of ability and age then we'd need to take it seriously. Jelavic would have been at the cheaper end of the scale

Asamoah Gyan for a while was the third highest paid player on the planet when he moved there.

Hero wrote:

GSC wrote:I dunno, id expect people to do their research on Chinese football.

It's a push for people to read about the Bundesliga.

These leagues are for today not what happens in 5 years time.

I'll be voting on what a players current ability is not what they can possibly do in a few years time which is basically stat boosting something Uncle Fan used to do.

That's great if you know what is currently going on.

Hero wrote:You have to give me Pogba.

Deal, as long as I get Dybala, Martial, Coman and Weigl in exchange

Considering I put a bid in for Sane in the first round I probably do know what is currently going on.

If you chucked in Tielemans, Ginter and Rugani I'd consider it

Ah but the question is do you know who Kasey Palmer is?

FIFA Diva wrote:Considering I put a bid in for Sane in the first round I probably do know what is currently going on.

And Sanches, so you're well aware that they've already cemented their places in decent teams and aren't just 'for the future' youth players. There's only Samper and Duarte that isn't a regular 1st team in my squad.

Who are all these players BamBam and Hero are exchanging? That Pogba and Martial are decent but other than that?

Trebs what do you think of my team mate? Interested to get your input.

FIFA Diva wrote:

Hero wrote:

GSC wrote:I dunno, id expect people to do their research on Chinese football.

It's a push for people to read about the Bundesliga.

These leagues are for today not what happens in 5 years time.

I'll be voting on what a players current ability is not what they can possibly do in a few years time which is basically stat boosting something Uncle Fan used to do.

Exactly. Offering votes based on potential is what Gary Glitter would do. I'll be voting on how the players in each team perform individually, under the tactics given and with the teammates shown. No future performance considered, no past performance other than recent form and the understanding of a player's history leading up to his current ability level. So, while I signed Frank Lampard, I'm not looking for 2011 votes on him. I'm looking for 2016 votes on him, to account for his excellent form in the States in a league which is at its best-ever, talent-wise. I won't be giving marks to (apologies to Trebs for picking one of his players) Josh Harrop, as he's done nothing at first-team level and saying anything other than 'he was woefully outmatched' would be a disservice to his opponent. If Xavi was up against Tielemans, Xavi would still come out on top. Not by a lot, and tactics and teammates could swap that around - but the kid wouldn't know how to handle a player of Xavi's calibre at this time.

Great debates guys!

If you were going to pick a European footballer who's done well in the past season of MLS then you'd pick Giovinco who stormed it over there.

I certainly wouldn't pick Xavi over Tielemans now, might as well pick those guys that turn out in the Soccer Aid match as its about as competitive as where Xavi is playing now.

So for example Azzy..

If I had a striker who hadn’t scored many goals in the current season say they had scored 5 but in previous seasons they had scored 15+ and were consistent with it but were having the first inconsistent season for a long time, do you not factor that in when voting?

---------------Zoet---------------
Vrsaljko - Matip - Naldo - Insua
--------Verratti---Herrera--------
--------------Thiago--------------
Narsingh-----Aduriz--------Nolito

Miky - it's a good team, I like Herrera and Verratti at the base of the midfield, Nolito and Aduriz in attack have been in the form of their life. Not sure about Insua at left back, and if it were me I'd like someone physical in the middle of the park, but I do like the midfielders in the own right.

Miky give me your thoughts on my squad and what you think my best XI would be please

Miky's midfield is the opposite to yours, there's too much spark in his.

Thanks buddy I appreciate it.

Holymiky wrote:So for example Azzy..

If I had a striker who hadn’t scored many goals in the current season say they had scored 5 but in previous seasons they had scored 15+ and were consistent with it but were having the first inconsistent season for a long time, do you not factor that in when voting?

If they're now inconsistent, and have declined in production, then that's what I see. I see their talent and ability, their ability to handle big matches etc. But ultimately, Antonio di Natale has 1 goal all season. He's not a good striker for a team to pick, regardless of his recent seasons leading the charts.

Olly wrote:Miky give me your thoughts on my squad and what you think my best XI would be please

I will do the best 11 tonight if that's okay?

He squad is decent, got some players that have been consistent this season in there which is important for this league. Good quality too especially in Barkley. I didn't think you would sign some of the players as I didn't think they would be your cup of tea.

Olly, I know you weren't talking to me directly, but I put this as your best line-up

Butland
Trippier Shawcross Van Dijk Cresswell
Drinkwater Dembele Barkley
Arnautovic Bojan Bolasie


On another note, can we work out how we're doing results? Personally I think it should be the five in the other league vote, then based on the results we get a result.

At least three people give one result - Do that, except:
2-3-0 - Home Win (?)

2-2-1 Draw
2-1-2 Draw

And that covers every eventuality

Surely you have to get Barkley in there Trebs no?

So you'd currently be voting for Renato Sanches who's shown last night he can handle it on the big stage in the CL whilst also being consistently brilliant for Benfica in the Portugese league this season in top spot over Pirlo whose lack of mobility has been his downfall in the MLS this season?

Didn't see Barkley as he was the star player, edited it now.

Azzy wrote:

FIFA Diva wrote:

Hero wrote:

GSC wrote:I dunno, id expect people to do their research on Chinese football.

It's a push for people to read about the Bundesliga.

These leagues are for today not what happens in 5 years time.

I'll be voting on what a players current ability is not what they can possibly do in a few years time which is basically stat boosting something Uncle Fan used to do.

Exactly. Offering votes based on potential is what Gary Glitter would do. I'll be voting on how the players in each team perform individually, under the tactics given and with the teammates shown. No future performance considered, no past performance other than recent form and the understanding of a player's history leading up to his current ability level. So, while I signed Frank Lampard, I'm not looking for 2011 votes on him. I'm looking for 2016 votes on him, to account for his excellent form in the States in a league which is at its best-ever, talent-wise. I won't be giving marks to (apologies to Trebs for picking one of his players) Josh Harrop, as he's done nothing at first-team level and saying anything other than 'he was woefully outmatched' would be a disservice to his opponent. If Xavi was up against Tielemans, Xavi would still come out on top. Not by a lot, and tactics and teammates could swap that around - but the kid wouldn't know how to handle a player of Xavi's calibre at this time.

Great debates guys!

I disagree. I think you overrate players who are clearly past their prime. Xavi is now playing in a subpar league where the playing standard is low and he has too put less effort in. He has reached an age where his reactions have slowed down and if he came up against an energetic player like Tielemans he would not be able to handle him. Even if you instruct Xavi to stay deep and not attack I feel his lack of mobility would be like playing with 10 men.

For me if in MLS/China your are as good as retired. Demba Ba went out no-one rated him within 3 weeks  I will not rate anyone who's in a league where Liam Ridgewell, Bradley Wright Phillips & Obafemi Martins is successful.

Are we still having lawyers etc?

Really wish the other league had Nando, Bam, Miky and Nadz in it and I'd storm the voting.

no you wouldn't 

I expect will have to explain to Viva who Gonzalo Castro & Charles Aranguiz are despite being 2 of the best midfielders in Germany 

Well at least do better than with Trebs, Azzy and Viva at the helm!

I'm kind of glad I'm in your league because Nando might have savagely voted me down because I outbid him for Aduriz

I wouldn't count on it

Holymiky wrote:I'm kind of glad I'm in your league because Nando might have savagely voted me down because I outbid him for Aduriz

I don't mind i wanted Chicharito mainly due to pace.  Aduriz would of been back up 

*Cue Marky Pace Abuse comment*

I'm just messing bro

Yeah you out bid me on him though! So fair play.

Miky I look forward to your comments on my team and thanks to trebs for his

I think you've got a sleeper in Borja, 29 La Liga goals between him and Aduriz.

I wanted Aduriz too, you're lucky we're in the same league Miky

Hero wrote:I think you've got a sleeper in Borja, 29 La Liga goals between him and Aduriz.

Yeah I watched some clips on YouTube last night to see what he was all about and what he was good at from what you told me, I know what I need to do tactically now.

BamBam sorry mate!

Any further thoughts on my side? I've got three players in mind to bid on but not sure what to get - it depends what people see as my weaknesses

Iraizoz
Lichtsteiner Silva Pepe Telles
Lahm
Toure Moutinho
El Ghazi Aboubakar Cavani

Maybe Valbuena in there

buy 2 wingers & maybe a LB i like Telles i suspect others wont

Personally I would be reluctant to play Cavani on the wing, I'd be much more confident with him in the centre, I know that means Aboubakar would miss out but as good as he is, Cavani is better.

I rate Telles also but I can see him getting mixed opinions.

Does anyone actually care how their team does? I know I don't, I drafted a squad of players I like. I didn't give particular thought to who would work best with Delle Alli, or who I'd want to pair with Harry Kane if I played an outdated 4-4-2 shape.

If i wanted to do well i wouldn't of bought Castro/Aranguiz/Saul & Cech

Lot of money could of been spent elsewhere.

I care because it's not us voting on ourselves you have to win the matches to win it and surely that's part of the fun?

I get what you're saying but if we were all completely satisfied with our squads then what would be the point in doing deals etc?