Project 26 - Alphabetical Fantasy League!

[Shadaza]

26 of the worlds best teams have come together to form a super league to determine just which letter is the Strongest in all of football! A cheesy premise? Maybe, but it has lead to some interesting teams. Some filled with giants of the sports and others...underdog stories in the making. 

 

Every letter is represented by a top international club and each team has a full squad of 33 players, the best 33 players Family names (or in Brazilians case nicknames) by current ability. Each team also is managed by a manager who's name begins with that letter!

Representing the letter A

we have Carlo Ancelotti's Arsenal

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866399241/0AC4384CAD142FAFA1A27C63F9BDC994E31732C8/

A stacked team to begin the list. Their keyman will be Sergio Aguero, many consider him the best striker in the EPL he will need to score consistently and stay injury free for Arsenal to have a chance. This team is full of Hispanic flair, it won't be the only team on the list to feature that!

B

Rafa Benitez's Barcelona

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866400066/DA5693D401C4771C35DD323E6AB2B82E037BC6EF/

Bale, Benzema, Boateng. That is a dangerous trio to have in a team that in terms of physical strength could well out muscle anybody.

C

Antonio Conte's Chelsea

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866399432/7B606E6A5055273101E13C5F1CBBC21189956375/

Christiano Ronaldo is filed under C using the Portugese/Brazilian style of naming and will be expected to lead the team from the front. Cavani is a goal scoring machine but Chiellini will need to hold what is a very attack focused team at the back.

D

Vicente del Bosque's Dortmond

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866399682/5688EDFFD2E893B237071C9F3F90BE103C983683/

Hard to pick the stand out player for Dortmond as all of them are solid top picks, but David de Gea is an incredible goalkeeper for a team that has all the ingredients to challenge.

E

Unai Emery's Everton

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866399901/806482122B6D93951BD2A734F8908F16A7221BF3/

Young Christian Eriksen will be the key to success for this team that features an interesting mix of Brazilians and African stars. A top manager to boot too makes this a team not to count out.

F

Alex Ferguson's Fiorentina

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866402044/A5CB13A1C2219B710272DFCF0D1BB9885F27EBF6/

Fergy out of retirement to champion a team made mostly of Brazilian stars. Fabregas and Falcao will have to be on top form for this team to have a chance, Fergie or not!

G

Josep Guaridola's Gelsenkirchen

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866400277/B661CAC044FFBC50CC2457699DB0C0C2A3ED972C/

Godin and Garay make possibly the strongest centre back line up so far and Greizemen and Gotze are strong attacking players, after that though the team quickly loses depth so this team will be hoping to avoid injuries more than most.

H

Guus Hidink's Hannover

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866400394/81E89C1F685C493E0B890E3A197FC0A1E99D1799/

Hazard is undoubtedly the star of the team with Higuain, Hamsik and Hummels great Front, Middle and Back players respectively. But like Gelsenkirchen quality quickly drops off, it's an intense season with 54 games, the team needs to hold together if it wants to win!

I

Giuseppe Iachini's Inter Milan

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866400173/08915DEB4F03DECDE12A4D4C9B7C92A592BE90CF/

Team Ibra have an incredibly effective looking attack with Isco and Iniesta providing for Immobile and of course Ibrahimovic! Sadly their defence doesn't quite inspire the same confidence.

J

Jorge Jesus's Juventus

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866400596/1A3A2B61323FF732613E7E107EA1B7C6096365D8/

Juve have a team full of quality defenders and defensive midfielders. They will be a hard team to crack and Jackson Martinez will be there to score on counters.

K

Jurgen Klopp's Dynamo Kyiv

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866399786/7930EB3D3828E4F8D7D5CD70ACF5058ADE7D82D2/

This team is full of mainland european powerhouses and with the likes of Kompany captaining can go very far indeed! Will Harry Kane shine?

L

Marcello Lippi's Liverpool

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866400706/180FCE9397E4BF94D64E1E5F2E23A1CDD8BF3C3A/

Whole lotta Lucas on this team! There aren't many weak teams in this league, but this team looks stacked! Lewandowski, Lahm, Lloris. I can't see many weaknesses here!

M

Jose Mourinho's Manchester United

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866400848/06B65B93F44EE229DA30F3CBCBBDA729B61D1BE9/

The most expensive line up of all the teams including the worlds most valuable player, Lionel Messi. I don't think I need to say anything else about how dangerous this team is. Can the Special One win with this special team?

N

Nuno's Napoli

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866400976/5284F0F0E597C96436F1C03B02EB499F9FAE8E9E/

Neymar and Neur, the strongest players line up either end of the field with solid quality in the middle. Interestingly this team features 5 Sengalese players. Keylor Navas can't catch a break as he benchwarms yet again!

O

Juan Carlos Osorio's Olympiacos

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866401066/5B1827ED0D0CA266CBBBFDEFDA1678F50DC8425E/

Ozil is undoubtedly the star of this team but I think it will be a big ask for them to challenge for the top.

P

Jose Peckerman's PSG

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195868433232/C41497AF3E498A252DAEB01F38777D942E04BE14/

Hard to pick a lead striker on this team, but don't Pjanic. This team boosts an Incredible midfield and defence with the explosive Pogba the highlight. They will be aiming high.

Q

Quique Flores's Queretaro FC

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866401169/FA6A7C49B0AF0BD3DDA70C4E2EE3781038F5C293/

We come to one of the underdog teams here as Q players are somewhat hard to find! Full of South American flair with many Colombians and Ecuadorians making up the team, best of luck to them.

R

Claudio Raneri's Real Madrid

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866401274/6A6FD9821A6B2290A2E9733AE56B9DC501E4FD5E/

An interesting mix of players with many clashing play styles, I never would expect to find Rooney, Robben and James Rodriguez to appear next to each other on a teamsheet. Incredible stars up and down the board, an entertaining team to watch no doubt.

S

Diego Simeone's Sevilla

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866401387/48C89D5A8D29EB57D73FBE0BD6FA664FE22BCC01/

The top 3 names on value are Suarez, Silva and Sanchez. That incredible attack should scare everyone and it doesn't get weaker as you look down, with captain Schwensteiger in the heart of things they look to challenge.

T

Tite's Tottenham

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866401492/DDCAD59BA936C6BF0B00912707C8FAB77F0B19F2/

The key players for Tottenham are all veterans. Tevez should lead the goal scoring, Toure can win games all by himself and John Terry will lead defence. They even have the likes of Totti and Toni to call on!

U

Julio Cesear Uribe's Udinesse

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866401598/5D6E38893D1830A46035B9B1C94DBDC2AA483940/

U is for Underdog. Uchida is listed as the keyplayer for the team who have multiple nationalities represented. They won't be last but they won't be first either!

V

Louis van Gaal's Valencia

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866401706/EF6017179958CA8AA23DE3AF8FEBBCA73F1872CB/

With powerhouse  Vidal holding midfield and plenty of pacy wingers, Valencia can surprise a lot of people. Here's hoping Vardy will bang them in!

W

Arsene Wengers's Wolfsburg

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195868514248/82329FAA975BF05E72C255408A2F8A57A8A09FA2/

Welbeck and Walcott are there to "walk it in" for Wenger. A team with all the fundamentals covered but lacking in star power.

X

Xu Genbao's Xolos Tijuanna

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866401820/A092BA426AC48C1012D458DC9056B819FE20D00F/

Xavi has his work cut out here, I don't want to reveal the odds for every team as it gives the game away, but Xolos were plum last at 5000/1!

Y

Ersun Yanal's Yokohama Marinos

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195866401938/C9269C49A543D37243B2A5631196E970B1211325/

A mix of strong players (Yarmolenko) and unknowns means it's hard to place this team. On a lighter note, this team has a Yoda and a Pikachu in it, so yay for Pop references.

Z

Zdenek Zeman's Zenit St Petersburg

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195868545289/49B968305FD502399DA663D58334295D0730B1FD/

Zabaleta is a class act and both captain and keyplayer. Ze Roberto is the oldest player in the competition at 41 and will catch the first half of the season before retiring at the end of December.

Last team on the list, but should be strong enough not be at the bottom seasons end!

 

 

What do you think of the idea? Who do you think will win? Which team will be the biggest surprise and which team will be the biggest flop?

 

[mark wilson27]

Welcome to FMS Shadaza, must say this looks like a very good idea. Looking forward to see how this progresses 

[Shadaza]

On 23/03/2017 at 14:34, mark wilson27 said:

Welcome to FMS Shadaza, must say this looks like a very good idea. Looking forward to see how this progresses 

Thank you.

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602195872740770/E8C51AF37498000947AFC53B27FAE526BF50A9EA/

The first couple of games of the season have been played and super performances from Christiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez put their teams top of the league. PSG came back from 2 goals down to smash Sevilla 5-2, but after one game have had 4 major injuries, Pjanic will be out for at least 7 weeks!

Wenger's first match amazingly was against Arsenal, Wolfsburg managed a very credible 2-2 draw.

Toni Kruse is proving that Kyev are not a team to be ignored as they also have 2 victories to their name at the early days of the league.

Finally, Juan Mata sets the benchmark for quickest goal, scoring just 42 seconds against Inter in a 1-1 draw.

 

Any stats, formations or other information you'll like to know just ask. I also welcome predictions!

[tenthreeleader]

Very fine idea and welcome to FMS!

[Shadaza]

On 24/03/2017 at 01:05, tenthreeleader said:

Very fine idea and welcome to FMS!

Thanks for the support!

 

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602624303391892/FF970AB102E7826C1A2AA763647B8A7B5419645F/

A look at the table after the first couple of months of action! Most teams have played 10 games and every team out there has lost at least one game!

It is Tottenham that top the table (alliteration!). As a result, the reward is a view of what Tite's general line up is: https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/91602624303392226/5D235E9D50FA3E8CCF9D08556312EC0205F20D41/

You can see he is using the same core players for most of the games. The core 10 first team players have a rating over 7.2! It is as expected, Tevez leading the charge both in performance and scoreline.

Not posting every teams first choices just yet but pretty much every team has more rotation than Tottenham on the pitch, with Gelsenkirchen having played every outfield player at least once!

 

So Tite's non rotation is working for now at the top.  Guus Hiddink is right behind with Hamburg. Hazard, Higuain and Hummels have been controlling games. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's Lionel Messi who is currently the highest rated player in the League for Man United and the phrase "Messi, Muller, Goal" is a common one!

 

The current top scorer is Ibra in team Ibra, I mean  Inter. The towering figure has been providing the goals, but Inter struggle to hold on to wins leading most games at half time only to drop down to draws! Dynamo Kiev are still punching above what many would expect, Jurgen Klopp is showing his skills, with a team that has very few constant starters, most the deep squad have played, but it is Toni Kroos that has dominated the team sheet and with good reason, he is the stand out player!

 

Liverpool, Chelsea and Fiorentina are in a little bit of a dip from the last update and will hope it's nothing serious. Liverpool have Levandowski and Lukaku a devestating partnership whilst Chelsea have CR7 and Cavani banging them in, so should be fine.

Fiorentina do not quite have the same dedicated goal scorers, with an easily injured flakey Falcao and Fred their best strike force, most their goals are coming from the midfield.

 

There are some big teams not even in the top half of the table which shows how competitive the bunch are and perhaps just how much managers contribute. Arsenal, Barcelona and PSG are all well bellow where you'd expect, all 3 should be title contenders!

 

Whilst at the back, it took some time for Zenit to score any points at all to drag them out of last!  Xolos crucially won their game against Queritaro meaning the X team are NOT last, Xisco is currently on 5 goals as the team are surprisingly good at hitting the net, just sadly not so good at preventing scores. Xu Genbao the Chinese manager sure likes to play a risky game running an aggressive 4-2-3-1 narrow!

As the league rumbles on towards the Christmas period, there are mumbles that some teams are not happy with their all star managers!

To end this update, http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=892912654 it is Peckerman that is the first to face the block, here's hoping Pellegrini will have more success.