Best English line up since WW2.

[Stiddle Mump]

Where to start? Well, start with a few of my favourites. In no particular order.

 

J Haynes

T Brooking

P Bonetti

J Greaves

G Banks

B Moore

F Lampard

B Charlton

C Bell

J Charlton

T Butcher

R Ferdinand

P Gascoigne

W Rooney

K Walker

T Finney

A Shearer

G Hurst

P Scholes

S Gerrard

K Keegan

G Lineker

M Owen

M Le Tissier

A Ball

B Robson

A Cole

M Peters

D Edwards

S Campbell

J Terry

 

No place for Kane, Beardsley, Beckham, Hoddle and Barnes?! Where to play Rooney?

 

Have to whittle them down to a squad of 11 and a reserve 11. What system to play? 4-4-2. Would that rule out Tom Finney? Could we have Scholes, Gerrard and Lampard in the same team?

 

Right from the start I'll have Moore, Banks, Greaves, Haynes and Le Tissier in, I'll get my top team together and post later.

[Stiddle Mump]

Here is my No ! team.

Gonna play 3-4-3 system.

 

Keeper

Gordon Banks

Defenders

Bobby Moore (C)--Jack Charlton--Rio Ferdinand

Midfield

Steve Gerrard--Matt Le Tissier--Johnny Haynes--Paul Scholes

Forwards

Alan Shearer--Jimmy Greaves--Bobby Charlton

 

[Stiddle Mump]

Here is my Second X1.

 

Keeper

Peter Bometti

Defenders

Kyle Walker--John Terry--Alf Ramsey

Midfield

Colin Bell--Trevor Brooking--Bryan Robson (C)--Duncan Edwards

Forwards

Wayne Rooney--Paul Gasgoigne--Geoff Hurst

[garygooner]

I've only just seen this thread mate.

Such a difficult task. I wouldn't know where to start if you're going back decades. So hard to compare players. 

I'd like to mention David Seaman & Kenny Sansom. What about Stan Bowles & Gerry & Trevor Francis. I know you can't have them all. ⚽️

 

[Stiddle Mump]

1 hour ago, garygooner said:

I've only just seen this thread mate.

Such a difficult task. I wouldn't know where to start if you're going back decades. So hard to compare players. 

I'd like to mention David Seaman & Kenny Sansom. What about Stan Bowles & Gerry & Trevor Francis. I know you can't have them all. ⚽️

 

I too find it difficult to recall players before the early 60s.

 

Gerry Francis was a great inspiration. A serious contender. I could even say replace Bryan Robson with Gerry. And make him captain. But then there was Colin Bell? Also a great leader.

 

David Seamen in Bonetti (not Bometti) out?

 

My most difficult task was to find the best defenders. Kenny Samson is a good shout.

[garygooner]

You're always going to think of other players and possibilities. 

I mentioned Seaman, but now I thought about Peter Shilton. 

Gascoigne was a great playmaker, but can't have him as a forward. Maybe John Barnes should be on the wing. 

[garygooner]

OTD in 1978, Arsenal beat Leyton Orient 3 - 0. MacDonald (2) Rix.

FA Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge. 

Were you there mate? 

MacDonald 'Super Mac' was some player. 👍

[Stiddle Mump]

8 hours ago, garygooner said:

OTD in 1978, Arsenal beat Leyton Orient 3 - 0. MacDonald (2) Rix.

FA Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge. 

Were you there mate? 

MacDonald 'Super Mac' was some player. 👍

I wasn't there Gary. TBH, I can't recall too much about that era for watching footy.

 

My young family was into swimming. i was working in Fords as a data analyst. Was playing at the Ford United  Ground in Dagenham. Just never had the dosh, or time, to watch much.

 

Mal Mac was certainly a handful.   Don't know why he never played more for England.

[garygooner]

14 hours ago, Stiddle Mump said:

Mal Mac was certainly a handful.   Don't know why he never played more for England.

Watched Arsenal vs Newcastle in the late 70s with my dad. 

Arsenal 5 Newcastle 3. SuperMac hatrick against his former club. 

It was a freezing cold Saturday afternoon. Every other game postponed due to frozen pitches. Highbury's undersoil heating did the trick.

Couldn't wait to see the long highlights on MOTD later.  

[Stiddle Mump]

5 hours ago, garygooner said:

Watched Arsenal vs Newcastle in the late 70s with my dad. 

Arsenal 5 Newcastle 3. SuperMac hatrick against his former club. 

It was a freezing cold Saturday afternoon. Every other game postponed due to frozen pitches. Highbury's undersoil heating did the trick.

Couldn't wa

it to see the long highlights on MOTD later.  

Didn't Big Mac also get a hatrick in his first game for Toon v Pool? I'll look that one up.

 

But I can recall the FA Cup semi (Gunners v 'o's) differently. Was there not an own goal or two?

 

Arsenal had a real gem with Liam Brady. If he had been English he would have made it into my top 22 for sure.