Subject: Ireland Vs...

Obviously i disagree. By having the centre back the quickest theyre first to get to any loose balls or any forwards that get through. I'd prioritise central defence over the wide positions because goals from wide are rarer and it's much easier to mark wingers. We conceded only 12 goals (25% came in one match) in 16 games last season with that system. Hardly any of them were from wide positions.

What's the point of getting to a forward if your def isn't able to tackle him from behind? and what would be the sense of having even divine.99 def on wing, if he wouldn't be fast enough to get to the winger?

You're making a lot of assumptions about our squad. We have enough defenders who are both quick and good and are quite capable of tackling from behind. The central defender is always the most important because he's the last line of defence when everything else has failed. If he's too slow to catch the forward that was too quick for your other defenders, you're f**ked. It happened twice in the game today. The Scottish forward got through and Walsh was too slow to catch him. One time they scored, the other they didnt.

I'm not talking about IRE, I'm just talking theoretically.

and are quite capable of tackling from behind

what's the skill, that in your opinion is enough to be 'capable of....'?

I'm happy with any defender who has technique at Solid or over. From what i've seen it's just enough for them to knock the ball away for someone else to pick it up. To be honest though, if you've got quick defenders they shouldnt have to tackle from behind very often.
I am talking about Ireland. I assume you're talking in general. I dont watch enough games anymore to talk in general but i've seen enough of our games to be able to say that what i used last season worked. What you're suggesting may work as well but i'll never prescribe to it as a better option.

But mind that you haven't played against too good teams in last season.

And players are evolving. For example - I'm pretty sure, that magical def wouldn't be enough to get the ball from behind today against u20 team of Belgie. But the higher def = the lower chance for red card/penalty, and the higher chance to make the striker loose the ball[it sometimes bounces out from him, like here: click]

Argentina, Colombia, Canada, Australia, Belarus. All of them qualified for the world cup. Did any of them beat us? Did they even outplay us when we had half our squad missing? No they did not
As for evolution. I think what you're saying is subjective. I'd rather have a balanced defender ahead of a divine who isnt quick or technical enough.

But which of them is of the really high standard? I think that hm...Canada only. Argentina a little bit.

I also think that a def without pace/def is useless on all positions. But i prefer incredible pace/magical def on centre than the other way.

When you're talking of that standard, things do change slightly. When you've got lower class players like we've got the best thing you can do is accept crosses are going to come into the box and defend the centre with your best players. At higher class you're more likely to be able to stop them out wide. We shouldnt be doing that though. Our defence isnt strong enough to be able to sacrifice the centre for the wings.
As for what you've said about last season. Well i really dont know how to reply. Some people are never happy.
I would have loved to have been able to play some more of the bigger teams but i had a job to do in getting us into a decent qualifying position and i wasnt going to risk it, especially not in the latter half of the season when we had terrible form problems.

I would have loved to have been able to play some more of the bigger teams but i had a job to do in getting us into a decent qualifying position and i wasnt going to risk it, especially not in the latter half of the season when we had terrible form problems.

I also played a season like that with AUS to improve the rank, but it didn't meant that Australia is unbeatable...:P

still if you have def with near pace and def, then in the centre should play the one with higher def, at least in my opinion. it's much safer.

You, Jirka, Raul, Borkos and I would probably all pick different starting elevens and tactics for a game using the same squad. It doesn't mean that anyone would be right or wrong- just that Sokker allows a lot of variation :)

Ireland won a great 3-1 victory and U got the highest average value for the defenders (outstanding), can´t see anything to complain about, congrats Jirka!

Ok now seriously, what on earth is going on in the cup this season?

Strikers win games and Welchy has a nice new one :)

It's been a strange cup all season though. 2 of the semi-finalist arent even in the top division.
As for next week, well i suppose i was doomed either way.

I quite like him too :) it was a weird game though. 3 of my 4 goals came from impossible angle shots that would have gone miles wide nine times out of ten. But I ain't complaining