My Best Ten and Me: d'Alary Dalton
This week, for My Best Ten & Me, we caught up with CEO and President of Sol Soccer Club, and of Santa Maria Synergy, d’Alary Dalton. She picked set up a dynamic 3-5-2 / 3-3-4 with tons of firepower. We ensured she followed the rules here too…
You are the Player/Manager and you have to plug yourself in
Any player selected must have been active in your lifetime…
A quick note about my team. I believe that greatness requires creativity, innovation and artistry. I made my picks based on players who have changed the game or entertained and inspired us in a particular game or over the course of their careers with their unique style and approach to becoming great. What is undeniable about them is how much they enjoy playing and making every game great. For this reason, it only makes sense that my team will be coached by Jürgen Klopp. We play happy.
(GK) Jorge Campos
Because we may need to score a goal. We talk a good game about risk taking and thinking outside of the box. Campos pushed the boundaries of his position and literally played outside of the box. He made me want to tune in to see what he might do and what he might wear. We will also use his style to sell his jerseys which should keep our team financially afloat
(RB) Cafu
I’m lucky enough to be able to go way back in my selections so it makes sense to tap the Brazilian with most caps and a couple of World Cups. Thank goodness he’s a defender.
(CB) Kerstin Stegemann
Also, with two World Cups, Stegemann anchored the German Women’s National team to multiple shutouts during her national team’s dominance.
(LB) Marcelo Vieira
We’ll have him as our left back, but he’ll definitely have the freedom to make his runs into the attack.
(CM) Luka Modrić
I’m pretty sure no one covers more ground on the field so it should have surprised no one that he earned the Golden Ball in 2018.
(CM) Michelle Akers
During a USC (formally NSCAA) coaching symposium following the 1999 Women’s World Cup, Michelle Akers described taking 100 shots after every practice from each position that she may have a free kick from. It is that level of focus (possibly obsession) that the greats seem to possess and it’s why she scored so many goals. She and Messi will have a trick set piece planned for us.
(AM) d’Alary Dalton
As a coach and now owner, I have mostly focused on how to bring out the joy of playing in players. It has been fun to look back on what I loved about playing and who I admired while I played, not just as a coach. This position was it for me. I loved splitting defenders and finding the threw ball. I will get the ball, make plays and get out of the way.
(RW) Johan Cruyff
My first memories of watching soccer was the 1974 World Cup. The Cruyff move became the only move I was able to use consistently. It wasn’t until I became a coach that I knew it was named for him. He later described the move has his way to solving a problem.
(LW) Kristine Lilly
1999 Header to save the goal. Don’t need to say more, but Lilly once shared that she would go out to a park kick a ball and run after it, kick it back and repeat a thousand times when opportunities to train were limited. When you really love the game, your imagination will get you to greatness.
(F) Messi
We all know why, but for my team he represents the greatest who was almost overlooked. He loves having the ball at his feet and we love watching what he’ll do with it. He’s also going to get me the ball regardless of anything I do. .
(F) Marta
Here’s my “no duh” pick. Simply put, Marta is another player that loves the ball and the game and who fans want to watch. And she said this, “It’s about wanting more. It’s training more... This is what I ask of the girls. There’s not going to be a Formiga forever. There’s not going to be a Marta forever. There’s not going to be a Cristiane. The women’s game depends on you to survive. So, think about that. Value it more.”
d’Alary Dalton, has placed herself right in the middle of the action.