I HAVE NEVER considered myself a Sports Historian; yes, I enjoy looking into the rich history of ourt sporting landscape, it's an enjoyable pastime, but, I have never taken my interest in past glories seriously. Some fanatics can bore for Britain, arguing over Matthews v Finney and so forth, but, I lang syne accepted, when it comes to picking the Greatest XI or Greatest XV within whatever parameters, you will end up with as many selections as there are selectors – it has long been one of my core beliefs: opinions are like erse-holes, everybody has one.
So, when I saw the latest “Greatest Ever British Football XI” named on Facebook this week, I had to have a look. I was not impressed. For my money, about half of the names quoted ought not to even have been in the conversation. But, it got me thinking, what would be my XI of players from these islands? Here is the answer.
As a goalkeeper myself, who gets to wear the gloves is perhaps the easiest queston to answer – that position has to go to Gordon Banks. For me, there is no argument – England has had some superb goalkeepers, Frank Swift, Bert Williams, Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence, to name but four in my lifetime; but, for reasons othr than that save from Pele, I have to go with Banks.
I had to laugh at the selected full-backs: Gary Neville and Ashley Cole!!! Yer 'avin; a larf, nonentities the pair, I could name at least 20 England full-backs who were better than that pair, but none of these 20 make my team. Tempted though I was to go with the legendary Old Firm pairing of Sandy Jardine and Danny McGrain, I am going with legendary Manchester United Captain Johnny Carey and England World Cup winner Ray Wilson as my full backs.
I am actually going to line-up my team in 3-4-3 formation, so, I need a solid centre-back, for this role I have gone with the legendary Welshman – John Charles.
For my four midfielders, I have gone with two exceptional wide men, a midfield creator and a box-to-box engine for the team. My midfield lines-up: Stanley Matthews, Duncan Edwards, Jim Baxter and Tom Finney.
My three strikers will be expected to get goals, so I have gone with an excellent target man and two lightning-fast taker of penalty box chances. My front three are George Best, Tommy Lawton and Jimmy Greaves/Denis Law. I simply cannot decide between Greavesie and The Lawman: statistics favour Greaves, but, as he hiumself said: “If I have to pick a striker to score and save my life – I'm going with Denis” – can they play one half each?
So, my team in formation is: Gordon Banks (England); Johnny Carey (Republic of Ireland), John Charles (Wales), Ray Wilson (England); Sir Stanley Matthews, Duncan Edward (both England), Jim Baxter (Scotland), Sir Tom Finney (England); George Best (Northern Ireland), Tommy Lawton (England), Denis Law (Scotland) [first half], Jimmy Greaves (England) [second half].
I also cam up with a Reserve Team, in 4-4-2 formation, to give them a meaningful warm-up game, before they take on the Rest of the World. This team is: Neville Southall (Wales); Danny McGrain, Willie Woodburn (both Scotland), Billy Wright (England), Eric Caldow (Scotland); Jimmy Johnstone (Scotland), Danny Blanchflower (Northrn Ireland), Sir Bobby Charlton (England), Alan Morton (Scotland); Dixie Dean (England), Hughie Gallacher (Scotland).
I believe, were it possible to have everyone at the height of his powers, putting those two teams head-to-head would be quite a spectacle. I firmly believe, a Star in one era would be a Star in any era.
Now, about the Rest of the World opposition.
I was never a Lev Yashin fan, I still remember him being scared shitless by the physical threat of England's Derek Kevan during the 1958 World cup. So, for that reason, I will given the number one shirt to Italy's Gianluigi Buffon.
The back four will be an Axis Powers production – part Italian, part German, with former Scotland boss Berti Vogts on one wing, with the great Italian, Cesare Maldini on the opposite flank. In the middle of my back four – Der Kaiser – Franz Beckenbauer is pairted with Italy's Franco Baresi.
I am going with what many might see as a strange midfield quartet, but, on the basis, these guys could play anywhere, my selection is: Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi attacking from the flanks, with a third Argentinian – Alfredo di Stefano in central midfield, with another Real Madrid legend, Zinadine Zidane.
Up front, Pele will play, alongside Hungarian maestro Ferenc Puskas, in the first half, with Der Bomber – Gerd Muller taking over for the second half. I will keep the two Ronaldos and Johan Cruyff on the bench, just in case the British team is on top as the game nears its conclusion. Team then:
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy); Berti Vogts, Franz Beckenbauer (both Germany), Franco Baresi, Cesare Maldini (both Italy); Diego Maradona, Alfredo di Stefano (both Argentina), Zinadine Zidane (France), Lionel Messi (Argentina); Pele (Brazil), Ferenc Puskas (Hungary) [ first half], Gerd Muller (Germany) [second half].
Let the arguments begin.
No comments:
Post a Comment