........................................... Team Gio ......................................................................................... Team crappy ...........................................
Team Gio
TEAM
Every player in the team was either best-in-the-world-in-their-position calibre or were strong performers when their national teams were the best in the world (see England in the 1960s and 1990, Scotland in the late-1920s and 1930s). In Banks, Cole, Finney and Greaves, we have four who would qualify for an all-time Britain and Ireland select. That's over a third of the starting XI. The defence combines sheer pace in Walker and Cole (perfect against Rush and Gallacher) with Scottish steel in Miller and Young (perfect against Rooney and Bale). The great all-round leader Meiklejohn and the gritty Mullery combine to hold the midfield. Together they will do the dirty work and cancel out any threat from Baxter. They will support an exceptionally talented front four. Alex James, the passing master, will link midfield and attack, feeding the elusive trio up top. Morton is the wing wizard on the left, one of the very best these Isles have produced. On the right but with freedom to roam is the great Tom Finney who will surely get the better of many, if not all, the full-backs in the draft. The predator up front is Greaves, the foremost goalscorer in the draft, who will thrive on the service provided by Finney, Morton and the assist king James.
THE WAY IT WILL GO
Crappy's fundamental weakness is the absence of any genuine defensive presence in midfield. It's too top-heavy, Baxter was the archetypal lazy genius and we should over-run them in midfield. With Davie Meiklejohn and Alan Mullery anchoring, Alex James is going to have a field day. That should afford Tom Finney, Jimmy Greaves and Alan Morton the service they will surely exploit.
Team crappy
Defense -
- Ferdinand is the second best defender in this draft after Moore. Bruce is the ideal partner for him and remains perhaps the best English player never to earn a NT cap.
- Phil Neal, one of the most successful English footballer of all time (he played in all 4 European cup wins), was a mainstay for Liverpool in their glory run. Nicknamed Zico due to his penchant for scoring crucial goals.
- Irwin himself needs no introduction , as reliable as they come and an asset while attacking too.
- Final wall in front of the goal is Andy Goram, regarded as the best Rangers' keeper of all time.
- Two young stars in Bale and Rooney need no introduction. Both remain somewhat underrated for different reasons even though they are easily one of the most talented players to come out of their respective countries.
- Ian Rush, Liverpool's and Wales' all time top scorer, is perfect to lead the line and go up against any defense in the draft. Rooney is the perfect player to establish a similar partnership with him ala Dalglish.
- Patsy "Mighty Atom" Gallacher, an unknown to all here would be ramping it up on the right. Any doubts about his prowess can be quelled by the fact that he had a scottish cup final named after him
Even an opposition player is a fan -
Patsy Gallacher played 464 times for Celtic and scored 192 goals. He also won international caps for both Eire and Northern Ireland. He became the highest paid international player at the time, and over 50,000 turned up at Windsor Park (N Ireland) to see him in his debut. Even after over 50 years after his death his name is revered like few others by Celtic fans, most of whom were not even born when he was still alive. Read more about his legend here
Midfield -
- Jim Baxter would be the lynchpin of the midfield. 'Slim' Jim Baxter is best remembered for his performance at Wembley in 1967 when, as Scotland defeated world champions England 3-2, he engaged in a bout of keepie-uppies for the amusement of the Tartan Army. It was the perfect encapsulation of an arrogant, self-destructive player who, for many, remains the most gifted Scotland has seen. In his prime, Baxter was known for his ability to raise a team's morale, his good tactical vision, precise passing and ability to send opponents the wrong way and also was good in slide tackle. Baxter played for Rangers from 1960 to 1965 and during this period the team won the Scottish League Championship in 1961, 1963 and 1964,and the Scottish Cup in 1964. In 18 "Old Firm" games against local rivals Celtic – 10 Scottish League, five Scottish League Cup and three Scottish Cup matches – he was only twice on the losing side. Read more about his genius here
- WC 66 Winner Martin Peters would be his partner. UK's first 200k footballer, he was known as "the complete midfielder" as he could pass the ball well with either foot, was good in the air and difficult to mark because of his movement. A FK specialist to boot. Read more about him here
The team will be playing an attacking game with the goal of scoring more than the opposition. Individually all 4 defenders are solid and can hold their own against any player. Baxter and Peters are complete midfielders who will aid in both attacking and defensive phase. Baxter and Rooney primarily will be lynchpins who will dictate the play when the team has the all. Bale and Gallacher both possess the ability to take on any defender on their own and also provide a presence out wide to stretch the play and create space for others. All 4 attacking players are also capable of converting any chance.
