My Perfect XI

[Mark Hanrahan]

One of my favorite passtimes. The only restrictions are that you have to have seen each player live and in the flesh, plus you have to give full justification for your choices.


Formation: 4-4-2 (obviously!)
GK) Peter Schmeichel - Quite simply the best goalkeeper there has ever been. Gordon Banks comes in second followed by Dino Zoff and Shilts. The fella had it all. Presence, great comunicator, fantastic distribution, amazing athleticism for such a massive frame and his handling was safe as houses.
RB) Dennis Irwin - The Bentley of the full-back world. Glided up ad down either flank with elegance and efficiency. A damn sight better choice than Neville, Dixon or Stevens. Sadly I've never seen Cafu live.
LB) Stuart Pearce - The only blot on his record for me was being 'done' by Basille Boli at Ibrox. Psycho may not have been the most technically gifted but he would have been deadly at set pieces and would always be there leading from the front.
CB) Des Walker - Why oh why did he choose Sampdoria?! A bit of a 'Sol' in that little was known about his life off the pitch and he wasn't famed for hispassing ability but I never saw Walker beaten... by anyone. He returned from Italy a shade poorer than the player that left England but was still a fantastic centre-back.
CB) John Scales - My controversial choice. During his time at Wimbledon, Scales was absolute top drawer. Sincerely! Living in SE London I used to see a lot of the Dons before I got a driving license so saw him for a good three-or-so seasons. The only player I ever saw get the better of him was the pacy John Williams - and that was boxing day so he wqs no doubt half cut from the night before!

LW) Ryan Giggs - Explosive pace, trickery and scores goals. For me, he is still an automatic choice for the left flank. Great partnership with Pearce too!

CM) Frank Lampard - box-to-box quite simply the finest midfielder we've had in a generation. Great engine, boundless energy and goals!

CM) Glenn Hoddle - A bit lightweight this midfield isn't it? Sorry about that but I've got to find room for Hoddle. Quite simply the most naturally gifted footballer I've ever had the pleasure of watching. Preferably in Red and white but was half decent in a few other colours I suppose.

RW) David Beckham - He'd argue with Hoddle non-stop I'm sure but my front pairing need ammo and he's the best crosser of a ball I've ever seen. On his day, he'd run the show by himself (Greece anyone?).

FW) Dennis Bergkamp - The perfect linkman for an outrageously gifted midfield. Just about gets the nod frm Cantona - to avoid permanently tarnishing my reputation as a Town fan... not a Red.

CF) Alan Shearer - The team needs a bit more steel so I'm going for Big Al to lead from the front. Not the quickest now but was no slouch in his earlier days at Toon, England and Blackburn. He could also score from anywhere. I would have perhaps gone for Henry but I've actually seen very little of him in the flesh.

Subs:
Ruud van Nistelrooy
David Seaman
Michael Essien
Sol Campbell
Paul Gascoigne

Thanks for entertaining that... I'm bored and the wife is insisting she finishes Nanny McPhee! :?

[santini]

That would be some team!
I'd have to find a place for Peter Beardsley and Eric Cantona.

[Danjackson10]

Ok here is mine:-

(GK) David Seaman- Best English keeper we have ever had and will do for a long time!

(RB) Cafu- Has captained his country and amassed over 100 caps for Brazil.  Cafu was the first footballer to play in three World Cup finals. Full of exsperience and class!

(CB) Franz Beckenabuer- The greatest sweeper and one of the greatest defenders ever, captain of the German World Cup Winning team in 1974. His reading of the game was brilliant.

(CB) Bobby Moore- Considered to be the greatest tackler and centerback of all-time. Pele rated him the greatest defender ever.

(LB) Stuart Pearce- Have to agree with Hanrahan, Mr Pearce is a true leader and nvever have I seen anyone with such passion for the game. For that reason he makes the team!

(RM) Alfredo Di Stefano- Capable of defending, passing, and scoring. 5 Times Champions League winner and over 800 goals scored. The record speaks for itself!

(CM) Diago Maradona- In my opinion the greatest and most skillful footballer there has ever been. His goal against England (Not the hand of god!) was the greatest!

(CM) Paul Gascoigne- Another unbelievable talent and at his peak a player to rival the great Maradona! Scored that totally awsome goal against Scotland!

(LM) Johan Cruyff- Dutch forward renowned for both his imaginative playmaking and his reliable scoring. He won numerous honours in the game, including European Footballer of the Year (1971, 1973, and 1974).  Took football technique to a different level!

(CF) Pele- The greatest ever foward. 3 World Cups and 1282 goals. Unreal!

(CF) Alan Shearer- The best English CF we have ever had! Brilliant in a simple but effect way! Makes goalscoring look easy!


Subs:
Gordon Banks
Paolo Maldini
David Beckham
Ronaldiniho
Thiery Henry

[STFC_Chris]

Ok here is mine:-

(GK) David Seaman- Best English keeper we have ever had and will do for a long time!

(RB) Cafu- Has captained his country and amassed over 100 caps for Brazil.  Cafu was the first footballer to play in three World Cup finals. Full of exsperience and class!

(CB) Franz Beckenabuer- The greatest sweeper and one of the greatest defenders ever, captain of the German World Cup Winning team in 1974. His reading of the game was brilliant.

(CB) Bobby Moore- Considered to be the greatest tackler and centerback of all-time. Pele rated him the greatest defender ever.

(LB) Stuart Pearce- Have to agree with Hanrahan, Mr Pearce is a true leader and nvever have I seen anyone with such passion for the game. For that reason he makes the team!

(RM) Alfredo Di Stefano- Capable of defending, passing, and scoring. 5 Times Champions League winner and over 800 goals scored. The record speaks for itself!

(CM) Diago Maradona- In my opinion the greatest and most skillful footballer there has ever been. His goal against England (Not the hand of god!) was the greatest!

(CM) Paul Gascoigne- Another unbelievable talent and at his peak a player to rival the great Maradona! Scored that totally awsome goal against Scotland!

(LM) Johan Cruyff- Dutch forward renowned for both his imaginative playmaking and his reliable scoring. He won numerous honours in the game, including European Footballer of the Year (1971, 1973, and 1974).  Took football technique to a different level!

(CF) Pele- The greatest ever foward. 3 World Cups and 1282 goals. Unreal!

(CF) Alan Shearer- The best English CF we have ever had! Brilliant in a simple but effect way! Makes goalscoring look easy!


Subs:
Gordon Banks
Paolo Maldini
David Beckham
Ronaldiniho
Thiery Henry

Are you sure you have seen all of them in the flesh  :shock:

[Danjackson10]

shit missed that bit at the top! still think you have to agree a very fine team!

[Danjackson10]

:wall:

[STFC Village]

Shaka Hislop
Juan Cobian
Jason Drysdale
Freddy Darras
Alan McDonald
David Duke
Darren Bullock
Neale McDermott
Brian Howard
Lloyd Opara
Chris Hay

[STFC Village]

Oh bollocks! I never actually saw Opara play

[magnum150]

GK Banks
LB Cafu
CB Beckenbauer
CB Moore
LM Giggs
CM Ronaldinho
CM Maradonna
FC Pele
FC Henry

I think in years to come people will see Henry as the most gifted scorer of all time.

pace, power, precsion. From left or right. in play or set piece. Tap in, pile driver or cheeky back heel he has it all apart from a good head.

[Dazzza]

GK Digby – The Man

RB Danny Mills – Struggling a bit here for this one but Mills when he tucks that petulant side away is a traditional, solid right on English defender.

CB John Terry– In reserve team football, never realised he’d ever become quite a s good as he has.

CB Paul McGrath – Man mountain not in the Rick Waller sense.

LB Stuart Pearce – Made me scream so much when he tucked that first penalty away in 96 I hurt myself.  I hope he’d be proud.

RW Peter Ndlovu –Magical to watch not the most consistent but had a spark that turned games on their head.  Ace to watch

LW Lee Sharpe – Before he was cack, started boozing and ran out of ideas he was luminous.

CM - Didier Deschamps.  Sadly past his best when I saw him but without doubt one of the best midfielders.  Kept it so simple, broke up play and earnt his nickname as The Water Carrier.

CM  Gazzza - Bless the fat cherub

CF Peter Beardsley – Face like a slapped arse - skills of a deity

CF Faustino Asprillia – Lord I could watch this man play football for the rest of my life.  If he wasn’t so damn lazy and such an eccentric character he would have been one of the greatest.  Still that’s what made me love him so much.

[Ben Wah Balls]

It would definitely include

Shilton
Pearce
Hoddle
Lampard
Gazza
Le Tissier
Shearer and
Fjortoft

[McLovin]

Magnum, you actually saw all of them play?