This is a Pre Premier League draft from 1971/72 to 1991/92 where managers assemble their squads by selecting players based on their playing performance during this time period only. Performances that fall outside this time period should not be considered. Neither should the players performance for their country/international tournaments be considered. As in any team, team tactics and balance also play a part.
Hence please carefully consider the abovesaid factors and evaluate the merits of both teams before voting for the team which in your opinion is likelier to win the match.
Team Frank Grimes
Team Gio
Tactics Team Frank Grimes
Team
Schmeichel - 20 clean sheets in all comps in the 91-92 season and already had established himself as one of the leagues best keepers.
Parker - Started his career as a CB but moved to RB where he won all his 19 England caps. England reached the World Cup semi-final in 1990 and Parker started every game bar the opening game. PFA team of the year in 1989.
Watson - Permanent fixture in the England team of the mid to late seventies earning 65 caps. Regularly made the PFA team of the year during this time.
Narey - 21 year career at Dundee Utd where he won a Scottish league championship in 1983 as well as 2 league cups. Reached the UEFA cup final in 1987 but lost 2-1 on aggregate against IFK Gothenburg. Scottish Hall of fame Inductee in 2010.
Adams - The finest English CB of his generation. A leader and organiser at the back who significantly strengthens my team.
Coppell - Manchester United and England winger who was a fan favourite of the late 70's and early 80's. Worked tirelessly up and down the right flank for club and country.
Giles - One of Ireland's greatest ever players who was a key member of the great Leeds side of the late sixties and early seventies. Formed a great understanding with Billy Bremner. He was a cultured footballer but could also be tough tackling if required. Matt Busby regarded letting him go as his biggest mistake.
Bremner - Inspirational captain and one of Leeds and Scotland's greatest ever players. Hard as nails but could play too and like Giles got his fair share of goals from midfield. Won the FWA player of the year in 1970. Voted Leeds Utd best player of all time.
Heighway - Pacey, hard working lwinger who was a key player as Liverpool won loads of trophies throughout the seventies and early eighties.
Keegan - Superstar of the game in the seventies at Liverpool where he won it all. FWA player of the year in 1976 and even after his return from Germany he won the PFA player of the year in 1982. Industrious, brave and a match winner.
Toshack - Struck up a great partnership with Keegan where it was said they had an almost telepathic understanding. Was great in the air but was no slouch with his feet too.
TACTICS
I am lining up in a formation that will change from a 3-4-3(in possession) to a 3-5-2 out of (possession). Keegan will drop into midfield when the opposition have the ball but will burst forward to join Regis and Toshack in attack when we win the ball back.
I have went with a 3 at the back to negate the effects of the brilliant Dalglish, he will have less space to thread through balls to his striker. I will not use a man marker but whoever is closest will close him down and try and lessen his influence.
In Heighway and Coppell I have hard working wingers who will be utilised as wingbacks. Both are excellent at crossing the ball and can find the dangerous Toshack who can both head in or head down to Keegan or Regis. They will also put in a decent shift when out of possession as they are both very hard working players with great stamina.
I have decided to bring the brilliant Cyrille Regis into my team. He will be deployed as a wide forward and will give Gio's team an almighty headache with his pace and movement.
Giles eye for a pass is tailor made to find Regis' runs and on the ball Regis' dribbling ability and pace is capable of bursting past the best of defenders. With Keegan buzzing around at his energetic best and Toshack's clever touches linking the play I will also be a massive threat both in possession and on the counter attack, especially with Giles vision and long passing ability( think Scholes before Scholes).
Overall i feel I have the perfect balance of grit, endeavour, guile, pace and leadership and( all over my team) and to win through versus a very good opponent.
Tactics Team Gio
Andy Goram
Scotland's greatest ever keeper and a legend at both Hibs and Rangers. In February 1990, World Soccer magazine stated that he had been in 'outstanding form during the last 3 years'. And in 1991 he became Britain's most expensive ever goalkeeper when signing for Rangers for £1.8m, going on to keep 25 clean sheets during his debut double-winning season. Exceptional shot-stopper with razor-sharp reflexes.
Richard Gough
Athletic and imposing, Gough was a classic attack-the-first ball centre half. His dynamism, professionalism and leadership were the bedrock behind Rangers' 9-in-a-row side during a career when he hauled in 21 trophies. Not just an SPL flat-track bully, as he twice almost won the European Cup, first with Dundee United in 1984/85 when they were edged out by Roma in a contentious semi, and second with Rangers as they were a goal away from knocking out Marseille in 1992/93. Given both clubs' form with referees and bribery at the time, he's rather unfortunate not to add a European Cup medal to that collection. Exceptional man-marker, famously shackled Van Basten at Euro '92, who also shone brightly at Spurs making the all-time XIs of the players that each of Graeme Souness, Glenn Hoddle and Gary Mabbutt have played with. Read more...
Kevin Ratcliffe
Captain of Everton at just 23, then the best team in the country, Ratcliffe's defensive prowess made a huge difference in catapulting Everton to the top of the table. His searing pace and reading of the game made him a perfect partner to the more conventional stopper Mountfield. He is a regular in Wales and Everton all-time XIs. Read more...
One of the finest right-backs England has ever produced. A bedrock of Clough's great double European Cup winning Forest team, Anderson won 96% of the vote when fans voted the right-back into their greatest ever XI. Outstanding for Arsenal as well where fans who know their stuff will also rank him as their greatest ever right-back (unless you want to insert George's back 4 unit in en masse). Gangly, dynamic, defensively solid and a keen ball-carrier, Anderson was a modern yet robust full-back.
Solid left-back who was an influential figure for Aston Villa, Chelsea and Leeds. Won the Player of the Year award at all three clubs which was testament to his defensive reliability and positive contributions on the ball. Good crosser who often serviced Dixon at Chelsea. Showed an impressive peak winning the fans' player of the year award during Leeds title-winning season where his stay at Elland Road was described as a 'near-perfect six years' by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Voted Rangers' Greatest Ever Player, Greig was a born leader, a one-club man whose statue stands outside Ibrox today and remains the only man to have won the treble three times. A combative, commanding and energetic midfielder whose intelligence and understanding of the game enabled him to slip seamlessly across the back line as the needs of his club demanded.
Celtic's greatest ever left winger. Heavy duty goalscorer from out wide scoring a whopping 234 goals during Celtic's 9-in-a-row stretch. Lennox was 27 at the start of the draft period where his record holds up well:
That would be an impressive enough return for a centre-forward, better still for a left winger. Incidentally it's no surprise that the season Celtic's run came to an end was the same season that Lennox was missing for large parts through injury. Lennox aged better than a lot of the Lisbon Lion generation, retaining his searing pace into his early 30s owing much to both his genetic gifts and his professional attitude off the park. He was the last of that great team to retire in 1980, having scored a further 15 goals in his final campaign.
Chris Waddle
Dribbling king whose close control, invention and goal threat made him a handful for even the best opposition. Although he hit double figures 5 times out of 6 from 1983 to 1989, it was his shuffling, shimmying and almost undefendable dribbling style that stood him out from the crowd. His form in England prompted Marseille to make him the 3rd most expensive player of all time (behind Maradona and Gullit) in 1989.
Liverpool and Scotland's greatest ever player. Dalglish was the complete attacker: scorer of a whopping 336 goals, two-footed, sensational at linking up play and holding the ball up.
Warrior centre-forward who made a career out of bullying centre-halves. Worked off limited service at times during the 1980s for United, but still regularly impacted games securing two Player of the Year awards. Perhaps the best volleyer of a ball the British game has seen.
Hence please carefully consider the abovesaid factors and evaluate the merits of both teams before voting for the team which in your opinion is likelier to win the match.
Team Frank Grimes
Team Gio
Tactics Team Frank Grimes
Team
Schmeichel - 20 clean sheets in all comps in the 91-92 season and already had established himself as one of the leagues best keepers.
Parker - Started his career as a CB but moved to RB where he won all his 19 England caps. England reached the World Cup semi-final in 1990 and Parker started every game bar the opening game. PFA team of the year in 1989.
Watson - Permanent fixture in the England team of the mid to late seventies earning 65 caps. Regularly made the PFA team of the year during this time.
Narey - 21 year career at Dundee Utd where he won a Scottish league championship in 1983 as well as 2 league cups. Reached the UEFA cup final in 1987 but lost 2-1 on aggregate against IFK Gothenburg. Scottish Hall of fame Inductee in 2010.
Adams - The finest English CB of his generation. A leader and organiser at the back who significantly strengthens my team.
Coppell - Manchester United and England winger who was a fan favourite of the late 70's and early 80's. Worked tirelessly up and down the right flank for club and country.
Giles - One of Ireland's greatest ever players who was a key member of the great Leeds side of the late sixties and early seventies. Formed a great understanding with Billy Bremner. He was a cultured footballer but could also be tough tackling if required. Matt Busby regarded letting him go as his biggest mistake.
Bremner - Inspirational captain and one of Leeds and Scotland's greatest ever players. Hard as nails but could play too and like Giles got his fair share of goals from midfield. Won the FWA player of the year in 1970. Voted Leeds Utd best player of all time.
Heighway - Pacey, hard working lwinger who was a key player as Liverpool won loads of trophies throughout the seventies and early eighties.
Keegan - Superstar of the game in the seventies at Liverpool where he won it all. FWA player of the year in 1976 and even after his return from Germany he won the PFA player of the year in 1982. Industrious, brave and a match winner.
Toshack - Struck up a great partnership with Keegan where it was said they had an almost telepathic understanding. Was great in the air but was no slouch with his feet too.
TACTICS
I am lining up in a formation that will change from a 3-4-3(in possession) to a 3-5-2 out of (possession). Keegan will drop into midfield when the opposition have the ball but will burst forward to join Regis and Toshack in attack when we win the ball back.
I have went with a 3 at the back to negate the effects of the brilliant Dalglish, he will have less space to thread through balls to his striker. I will not use a man marker but whoever is closest will close him down and try and lessen his influence.
In Heighway and Coppell I have hard working wingers who will be utilised as wingbacks. Both are excellent at crossing the ball and can find the dangerous Toshack who can both head in or head down to Keegan or Regis. They will also put in a decent shift when out of possession as they are both very hard working players with great stamina.
I have decided to bring the brilliant Cyrille Regis into my team. He will be deployed as a wide forward and will give Gio's team an almighty headache with his pace and movement.
Giles eye for a pass is tailor made to find Regis' runs and on the ball Regis' dribbling ability and pace is capable of bursting past the best of defenders. With Keegan buzzing around at his energetic best and Toshack's clever touches linking the play I will also be a massive threat both in possession and on the counter attack, especially with Giles vision and long passing ability( think Scholes before Scholes).
Overall i feel I have the perfect balance of grit, endeavour, guile, pace and leadership and( all over my team) and to win through versus a very good opponent.
Tactics Team Gio
WHY WE WILL WIN:
- Too much attacking power. It's a forward line that can make the difference against Grimey's defence. To me the Dalglish/Hughes combo looks to be too strong for a young Adams and Watson/Narey, Lennox has the pace to outstrip Parker and get in behind to capitalise on his serious goal threat, while Waddle's trickery should cause Malpas problems.
- It's all about getting the best out of Glenn Hoddle. First of all he reprises the exact same role he had when he played so well for Monaco (out of scope but fit for the job in hand is relevant). Second he benefits from a willing lieutenant in the 'indefatigable' Greig. And thirdly , he has a surplus of options to link up and other technically gifted players to dovetail with, renewing his superb creative partnership with Waddle from Spurs to feed a dominating right flank, hooking up with Dalglish and Hughes to quickly get the front duo into the heart of the game.
- The team benefits from a serious core of leadership of the greatest ever 'Ger John Greig, the serial winner Richard Gough and the all-conquering-captain-at-23 Kevin Ratcliffe. The influence that central core will have on the rest of the team and the outcome of the game cannot be underestimated. Up top the Dalglish and Hughes pairing both shone when the pressure was greatest, delivering the goods in major European finals time after time.
- Defenders who can nullify Grimey's forward line: Gough's dynamism and combativeness squares up welll to Keegan's bustling game; Greig has the defensive nous and experience to track Platt's runs from deep, while Anderson and Dorigo should be able to deal with Heighway and Coppell. And Ratcliffe is always on hand to mop up with his searing speed and razor-sharp reading of the game.
- A more convincing series of contributions to the draft theme from 1 to 11. Although they were all great players, I'd question the scale of contribution to the draft period from Schmeichel (with a solitary season to his name), Adams (only his early 20s), Giles (in his early to mid 30s) and even Keegan (who left at 26 and returned at 29). That slightly waters down Grimey's spine IMO.
PLAYERS:
Andy Goram
Scotland's greatest ever keeper and a legend at both Hibs and Rangers. In February 1990, World Soccer magazine stated that he had been in 'outstanding form during the last 3 years'. And in 1991 he became Britain's most expensive ever goalkeeper when signing for Rangers for £1.8m, going on to keep 25 clean sheets during his debut double-winning season. Exceptional shot-stopper with razor-sharp reflexes.
Richard Gough
Athletic and imposing, Gough was a classic attack-the-first ball centre half. His dynamism, professionalism and leadership were the bedrock behind Rangers' 9-in-a-row side during a career when he hauled in 21 trophies. Not just an SPL flat-track bully, as he twice almost won the European Cup, first with Dundee United in 1984/85 when they were edged out by Roma in a contentious semi, and second with Rangers as they were a goal away from knocking out Marseille in 1992/93. Given both clubs' form with referees and bribery at the time, he's rather unfortunate not to add a European Cup medal to that collection. Exceptional man-marker, famously shackled Van Basten at Euro '92, who also shone brightly at Spurs making the all-time XIs of the players that each of Graeme Souness, Glenn Hoddle and Gary Mabbutt have played with. Read more...
Kevin Ratcliffe
Captain of Everton at just 23, then the best team in the country, Ratcliffe's defensive prowess made a huge difference in catapulting Everton to the top of the table. His searing pace and reading of the game made him a perfect partner to the more conventional stopper Mountfield. He is a regular in Wales and Everton all-time XIs. Read more...
- English First Division Winner 1984/85 and 1986/87
- European Cup Winners Cup 1984/85
- FA Cup Winner 1984
- PFA Team of the Year 1984/85
One of the finest right-backs England has ever produced. A bedrock of Clough's great double European Cup winning Forest team, Anderson won 96% of the vote when fans voted the right-back into their greatest ever XI. Outstanding for Arsenal as well where fans who know their stuff will also rank him as their greatest ever right-back (unless you want to insert George's back 4 unit in en masse). Gangly, dynamic, defensively solid and a keen ball-carrier, Anderson was a modern yet robust full-back.
- Notts Forest All-Time XI
- European Cup Winner 1979, 1980
- English First Division Winner 1977/78
- PFA Team of the Year 1978, 1980 and 1987
Solid left-back who was an influential figure for Aston Villa, Chelsea and Leeds. Won the Player of the Year award at all three clubs which was testament to his defensive reliability and positive contributions on the ball. Good crosser who often serviced Dixon at Chelsea. Showed an impressive peak winning the fans' player of the year award during Leeds title-winning season where his stay at Elland Road was described as a 'near-perfect six years' by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
- Aston Villa Player of the Year 1985
- Chelsea Player of the Year 1987/88
- Leeds Fans Player of the Year 1991/92
- First Division Winner 1991/92
Voted Rangers' Greatest Ever Player, Greig was a born leader, a one-club man whose statue stands outside Ibrox today and remains the only man to have won the treble three times. A combative, commanding and energetic midfielder whose intelligence and understanding of the game enabled him to slip seamlessly across the back line as the needs of his club demanded.
- SFWA Footballer of the Year 1975/76
- European Cup Winners Cup Winner 1971/72
- Multiple domestic titles and trophies
Celtic's greatest ever left winger. Heavy duty goalscorer from out wide scoring a whopping 234 goals during Celtic's 9-in-a-row stretch. Lennox was 27 at the start of the draft period where his record holds up well:
1971/72 - 44 games, 19 goals
1972/73 - 29 games, 17 goals
1973/74 - 32 games, 27 goals
1974/75 - 19 games, 8 goals
1975/76 - 36 games, 14 goals
1972/73 - 29 games, 17 goals
1973/74 - 32 games, 27 goals
1974/75 - 19 games, 8 goals
1975/76 - 36 games, 14 goals
That would be an impressive enough return for a centre-forward, better still for a left winger. Incidentally it's no surprise that the season Celtic's run came to an end was the same season that Lennox was missing for large parts through injury. Lennox aged better than a lot of the Lisbon Lion generation, retaining his searing pace into his early 30s owing much to both his genetic gifts and his professional attitude off the park. He was the last of that great team to retire in 1980, having scored a further 15 goals in his final campaign.
Chris Waddle
Dribbling king whose close control, invention and goal threat made him a handful for even the best opposition. Although he hit double figures 5 times out of 6 from 1983 to 1989, it was his shuffling, shimmying and almost undefendable dribbling style that stood him out from the crowd. His form in England prompted Marseille to make him the 3rd most expensive player of all time (behind Maradona and Gullit) in 1989.
- PFA Team of the Year 1984/85 and 1988/89
- Spurs Player of the Year 1988
Liverpool and Scotland's greatest ever player. Dalglish was the complete attacker: scorer of a whopping 336 goals, two-footed, sensational at linking up play and holding the ball up.
- 10 league titles
- 10 domestic cups (FA/League)
- 3 European Cups
- Ballon d'Or: Runner-up 1983
- FWA Footballer of the Year: 1978–79, 1982–83
- PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1982–83
- IOC European Footballer of the Season: 1977–78
Warrior centre-forward who made a career out of bullying centre-halves. Worked off limited service at times during the 1980s for United, but still regularly impacted games securing two Player of the Year awards. Perhaps the best volleyer of a ball the British game has seen.
- PFA Player of the Year 1988/89, 1990/91
- PFA Young Player of the Year 1984/85
- European Cup Winners Cup Winner 1991
- European Super Cup Winner 1991
- FA Cup and League Cup Winner 1985, 1990, 1992
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