APL Cup - FINAL (Leg 1 & 2)

[CrowsFan]

Final Leg 1
Blue Mountain State vs Goodfellas @ The Goat House

So it's come to this. 8 teams started in the cup and now just 2 remain, Blue Mountain Sate and Goodfellas. Two of the heavyweights of the league it is little surprise that these teams managed to make it to the final, but who will win is anyone's guess. The first leg of this double header sees BMS host Goodfellas at The Goat House and they will be looking to take an early lead ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford, however Goodfellas will want to get the win away from home and take the momentum home with them.

Previous Meetings
Round 7 - Goodfellas 58 vs 51 Blue Mountain State @ Old Trafford
Round 14 - Blue Mountain State 44 vs 43 Goodfellas @ The Goat House
Round 21 (ONGOING) - Goodfellas 53 vs 84 Blue Mountain State @ Old Trafford

So with the round 21 encounter already decided due to Goodfellas having no players left to play BMS holds a 2-1 lead in the head to head battle winning the last two, so momentum appears to be with them.

Form (Last 5 games)
Blue Mountain State - 79, 43, 21, 36, 84* (incomplete) - 2 wins, 3 losses
Goodfellas - 40, 54, 33, 62, 53 - 1 win, 4 losses

Neither team appears to be in the greatest of form at the moment, so will be interesting to see which team can turn it on when it matters.

Team Comparisons
Keepers
Blue Mountain State - Wojciech Szczesny, Brad Guzan
Goodfellas - Tim Krul, Asmir Begovic

In Begovic Goodfellas have the second highest scoring keeper, compared to Guzan in 7th. Goodfellas win this battle.

Defenders
Blue Mountain State - Jan Vertonghen, Branislav Ivanovic, Glen Johnson, Rafael da Silva, Matija Nastasic
Goodfellas - Patrice Evra, Vincent Kompany, Per Mertesacker, Matheiu Debuchy, Winston Reid

Goodfellas has the highest scoring defender in the comp in Evra, however the rest of the defense is pretty shaky with Kompany out injured. BMS has 3 of the top 10 defenders and so should score more points in this area.

Midfielders
Blue Mountain State - Eden Hazard, Jason Puncheon, Yaya Toure, Mikel Arteta, Michu
Goodfellas - Shinji Kagawa, Robert Snodgrass, Marouane Fellaini, Jonathan Walters, Jonathan de Guzman

In Michu and Hazard BMS have 2 of the top 5 midfielders, add that together with Yaya, Arteta and Puncheon and this is arguably the strongest midfield in the competition. Fellaini is the rock of the midfield for Goodfellas, however BMS should still control the mids.

Forwards
Blue Mountain State - Demba Ba, Ricky Lambert, Jermain Defoe
Goodfellas - Sergio Aguero, Robin van Persie, Steven Fletcher

RVP is the highest scoring player in the game and can win matches by himself, added together with Aguero and Fletcher and that is one scary forward line. For BMS the line has been rocked by injuries to Defoe and Ba, which means it will be a very tough battle for Lambert to keep them in it. Goodfellas with the win here.

Overall very evenly matched teams and it could just be a matter of whose big names will perform on the day.

Who do you think will win?


Trade Cut Off Point
For players to be eligible for this round they must be traded in to your team before 11.59.59pm Thursday 21st February. Trades after this wont be eligible until the following round.

Team Submission
Your team sheet must be submitted in this thread no later than 11.59.59pm Friday 22nd February. If your team is not submitted then your team from last week will be used. Team structure is identical to the official game and must be adhered to. This means:
•   The starting 11 must have ONLY 1 keeper named
•   The starting 11 must have AT LEAST 3 defenders named
•   The starting 11 must have AT LEAST 1 forward named
•   The bench must be named in order of your preferred replacements, starting with your reserve keeper, and followed by the remaining 3 players.

Good luck everyone :)

[Jukes]

I might still win this week. If Michu can score a double hatrick of own goals, miss 4 penalties then get sent off, I might have a chance. Also, Swansea don't play this gameweek, is it that fair because your best player is Michu and he can't play?


Krul
Evra, Mertesacker, Debuchy
Kagawa, Snodgrass, Fellaini, Walters
Aguero, RVP, Fletcher

Subs: Begovic; Walters, Reid, de Guzman

Captain: The god of football, Robin Van Persie



Vice-Captain: Patrice Evra

[My Chumps]

I think this match comes down to what RVP does as Goodfellas captain. Scores a couple (likely); Jukes wins. Doesn't score, Jukes loses.

[CrowsFan]

Was hoping to see some discussion in this thread whilst I was away, sadly I was mistaken :(

[CrowsFan]

Final Leg 1

Szczesny
Rafael - Vertonghen - Ivanovic - Nastasic
Hazard (VC) - Yaya - Puncheon - Arteta
Ba - Lambert (C)

Bench: Guzan, Defoe, Johnson, Michu

Not feeling all that confident this week considering Chelsea is playing Man City so I need Hazard, Ba and Yaya to score well in the mids, but that means Ivanovic and Nastasic won't score well. Also have no realy candidates for captain...  :-\

[Vicious Sandwhich Attack]

Was hoping to see some discussion in this thread whilst I was away, sadly I was mistaken :(

Two week break in EPL, coupled with NAB Cup and everyone turning attention to Supercoach could possibly be the issue CF.  :D

[Vicious Sandwhich Attack]

I have to go with Jukes over the two legs.. Just too much opportunity for RVP to go big over the two weeks.

[elephants]

Not prizes for guessing who I'm going for :P

[CrowsFan]

Just the solitary assist for RVP and injury that might see him miss the next game could see me in with a chance. Scores pre bonus points are as follows:

BMS: 19 from 4 - Vertonghen, Ivanovic, Nastasic, Hazard, Yaya, Puncheon, Ba, Lambert (C) to play

Goodfellas: 25 from 7 - Krul, Debuchy, Kompany, Aguero to play

[CrowsFan]

Looking good so far for BMS in the final. Have sewn up the first leg (even with one game to go) and should have a good points advantage to take in to the second game at Old Trafford.

Current scores see BMS 67 (Vertonghen to play) vs Goodfellas 35 (Reid to play).

[Jukes]

My captain, the best player in the comp, doesn't score and gets injured first half.
Your captain, an average striker, scores away from home.

You could say this is sort of unlucky on my part.

[CrowsFan]

Lambert is the third highest scoring striker in the game, I wouldn't call him average. Scored 12 goals so far in the EPL, 8 of which have been away from home. Yep definitely lucky he scored.

But I would agree that RVP getting injured was unlucky for you.

[CrowsFan]

Leg 1 Result

Blue Mountain State 68 vs 36 Goodfellas
Best
Blue Mountain State - Lambert, Rafael, Yaya Toure, Nastasic
Goodfellas - van Persie, Evra
Subs
Blue Mountain State - None
Goodfellas - Begovic and Reid subbed on for Krul and Kagawa


Big lead heading in to the second leg for BMS! Can they hold on to clinch the cup?

[elephants]

Wow, huge lead... RVP will need a hattrick if Jukes has a chance!

[CrowsFan]

Don't have time/access to a computer to make a new thread so please post your lineup for the second leg of the cup final here. Needs to be in by midnight sorry for the delay getting this up...