Your Premier League All-Time XI, Revised?

Fortitude

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As time goes by more competition for a place in the xi emerges, and what you may have had set in stone has to at least be reviewed. With the emergence of Chelsea, City and now Liverpool, the old order of basically an Arsenal/United combine is more than ready to be tested.

Outside of those clubs, even Shearer mightn't make it over Kane for some people, as another example of what once was may no longer be watertight.

The ball-playing keepers may now challenge the old order of Schmeichel, Cech or whoever else you might have once had has a dead certainty.

Even the full-backs you might have once picked could no longer be viable if your conceptualisation has now changed.

What is your PL all-time xi looking like now vis-a-vis your own past iteration(s)? Have any of your previous locks lost their place? Also, has your formation and visualisation of how you would want said team to play changed at all?

The domestic game has had a major paradigm shift since Klopp and Pep arrived after all, where front foot, high octane football is now king - has it any relevance to your own interpretation of the game and your xi?

TL: DR: Give us yer teams!
 
I'm a miserable old bastard so I'll just give you our 98/99 team.
 
Teams stand out more than individuals now, so I don't think much would change.

Schmeichel
Neville Rio Stam Cole
Ronaldo Keane Scholes Giggs
Aguero Henry

Bench:
Cech
Terry
VVD
Irwin
Bale
Gerrard
Viera
Kante
Shearer
Cantona
Rooney
 
If you asked me this again in few days I'd change my mind. I think pretty much every position is debatable.

Schmeical
Walker - Ferdinand - Van Dijk - Cole
de Bruyne - Keane - Scholes
Ronaldo - Rooney - Bale​
 
In terms of peak season:

Modern XI (433)
Schmeichel
TAA Rio VVD Cole
KDB Keane Scholes
Ronaldo Suarez Bale
In terms of overall balance:

Classic XI (442)
Schmeichel
TAA Rio VVD Cole
Ronaldo Keane Scholes Giggs
Cantona Henry​
 
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5 years ago I'd have gone:

Schmeichel
Irwin - Ferdinand - Terry - Cole
Gerrard - Keane - Vieira
Ronaldo - Shearer - Henry
Terry being interchangeable with Campbell and Vidic.

Now I'd lose Terry and Irwin for Van Dijk and Trent.

It doesn't quite sit right that there are no City players in there given how exceptionally dominant they've been. The challenge is you'd be as well bringing in a load of them at the same time because their value is in how well they play with each other. And that would mean shifting from the 2000s-counter-based-model above to a more possession-based unit.

In another 12-18 months' time, I imagine this will be my team:

Schmeichel
Trent - Ferdinand - Van Dijk - Cole
De Bruyne - Keane - Gerrard
Salah - Henry - Ronaldo​
 
Modern (4-3-3).
Allison
TAA Ferdinand VVD Cole
KdB Keane Scholes
Salah Henry Ronaldo


Classic (4-2-2).

Schmeichel
Azpilicueta Stam Vidic Cole
Beckham KdB Keane Giggs
Shearer Henry
 
A few years back it was:

Schmeichel
Irwin Rio Terry Cole
Keane Vieira
Ronaldo Scholes Henry
Shearer
Now, it's:
Schmeichel
Iriwn Rio Van Dijk Cole
Keane De Bruyne
Ronaldo Scholes Henry
Shearer




 
A beautiful 4x2x3x1
PositionPlayerReasoning
GKPeter SchmeichelEasy one. One of the most complete keepers at his time (bare in mind that playing with the feet was not as important as post mid-2000's).
His hand throws were so bloody accurate!
RBGary NevilleObvious choice, even though his last two seasons were sub-standard, but still did his job most of the games.
LBAshley ColeA very consistent and long career. I was torn between him and Evra.
CBRio FerdinandObvious choice.
CBTony AdamsOne of the players I wished it had played for us. A very classy CB.
Pivot1Roy KeaneAggressive, leader, hardowrker and actually a very skilled passer.
Pivot2Paul ScholesHe actually could had become an excellent regista in nowadays football.
Attacking MidfKevin de BruyneJust amazing. Will go down on history as one of Premier League best players ever.
LWCristiano RonaldoObvious choice once again. Sorry, Giggsy.
RWBeckhamI know Salah is bit better overall, but I think Dave could give the team more balance, because we all know Ronaldo is very attack oriented. Beyond that, his set piece ability would give us a lot of game changing moments.
StrikerHenryMobile and a very complete forward, could interchange with Ronaldo, and also very competitive.
 
Very interesting that Schmeichel is getting into both older and modern sides; is that because of his distribution with his arms (best thrower I've ever seen) as well as being a sweeper-keeper before the term was even coined, or is he seen as just that much better than everyone else, regardless?

Seems like most of the mainstays remain, which has surprised me a little as I thought there would be a few sweeping changes.
 
Great Dane
Cancelo Stam Vidic Irwin
Beckham Keane Scholes Ronaldo
Cantona
Henry

Used to seeing wingers rotating in game, with this team can do it with Full backs.

Bench
VDS
Evra
Rio
Salah
KDB
Vieria
Shearer
 
Very interesting that Schmeichel is getting into both older and modern sides; is that because of his distribution with his arms (best thrower I've ever seen) as well as being a sweeper-keeper before the term was even coined, or is he seen as just that much better than everyone else, regardless?

Seems like most of the mainstays remain, which has surprised me a little as I thought there would be a few sweeping changes.
Maybe United bias but he was damn good.
Very proactive, great reactions, commanded his box exceptionally well and had perfect throws to start the counter attack.

His ball playing abilities would fade against the newer batch but all the other things balances it out I feel.
 
Schmeichel
Trent-Van Dijk-Terry-Cole
Keane
Scholes-KDB
Salah-Henry-Ronaldo​
Maybe Rio for Terry, or Irwin for Trent/Cole. A lot of non United fans would have Gerrard or Lampard in for Scholes but for balance sake Scholes is a better fit with KDB in there.
 
Schmeichel
Neville
Vidic
Rio
Cole
Vieira
Keane
5 years ago I'd have gone:

Schmeichel
Irwin - Ferdinand - Terry - Cole
Gerrard - Keane - Vieira
Ronaldo - Shearer - Henry
Terry being interchangeable with Campbell and Vidic.

Now I'd lose Terry and Irwin for Van Dijk and Trent.

It doesn't quite sit right that there are no City players in there given how exceptionally dominant they've been. The challenge is you'd be as well bringing in a load of them at the same time because their value is in how well they play with each other. And that would mean shifting from the 2000s-counter-based-model above to a more possession-based unit.

In another 12-18 months' time, I imagine this will be my team:

Schmeichel
Trent - Ferdinand - Van Dijk - Cole
De Bruyne - Keane - Gerrard
Salah - Henry - Ronaldo​
So this Liverpool team, with 1 PL title, get 3 players in the all time PL XI? Interesting. New is always best.
 
Cech
Neville-Ferdinand-Terry-Cole
Vieira-Lampard
Beckham-Giggs
CR-Henry

A pre-Klopp/Pep list? possibly; I'd only add Salah, Van Dick or De Bruyne to that Starting XI.
 
Mine is still very much dictated by my first 10-15 or so years watching:
Cech
Neville - Terry - Vidic - Cole
Vieira - Gerrard - Keane
Ronaldo - Henry - Giggs​

Subs (11): De Gea, Irwin, Kompany, Rio, Lampard, Scholes, Bale, De Bruyne, Salah, Agüero, Kane​
 
From the current era, De Bruyne definitely has a case. If Liverpool win another title or two, Trent and Van Dijk also.
 
Schmeichel
Neville
Vidic
Rio
Cole
Vieira
Keane

So this Liverpool team, with 1 PL title, get 3 players in the all time PL XI? Interesting. New is always best.
3 Champions League finals in 5 years and 196 points in 2 seasons show they are one of the best XIs in the PL’s time. The difference with them is that they are more reliant on those 3 individuals than most other great sides whose quality was arguably more evenly spread.
 
Very interesting that Schmeichel is getting into both older and modern sides; is that because of his distribution with his arms (best thrower I've ever seen) as well as being a sweeper-keeper before the term was even coined, or is he seen as just that much better than everyone else, regardless?

I actually sometimes wonder if he's even the best goalkeeper we've had in the premiership because, contrary to what people remember, he did make some awful howlers but the reason i'm picking him is that i'm not sure i can ever remember a goalkeeper being so vital for a premiership title victory as he was at times. The 1996 game against Newcastle was such a ridiculously good level of goalkeeping in a (almost) title deciding match that i can't remember it being equaled in the PL era.


Schmeichel

Trent
Ferdinand
VvD
A Cole

Keane
Vieria
De Bruyne

Henry
Shearer
Ronaldo

I think all the players i've picked have had something special about them that's just elevated them above other players. Salah and Gerrard would be very unlucky not to be in the team as would Aguero, Terry, Cantona, Lampard and Giggs. I still think my choices are the best though.
 
Very interesting that Schmeichel is getting into both older and modern sides; is that because of his distribution with his arms (best thrower I've ever seen) as well as being a sweeper-keeper before the term was even coined, or is he seen as just that much better than everyone else, regardless?

Seems like most of the mainstays remain, which has surprised me a little as I thought there would be a few sweeping changes.

If a striker is 1v1 and your life depended on the save who honestly would you pick?
 
How the feck is Trent getting in all these teams?
 
Schmeichel
Neville
Terry
Ferdinand
Cole
Keane
De Bruyne
Vieira
Ronaldo
Shearer
Henry
 
This is not necessarily based on longevity or trophies won but moreso who I deem the greatest in each position at their best

Cech
Sagna Ferdinand Carvalho Cole
Alonso Toure De Bruyne
Ronaldo Henry Hazard
 
3 Champions League finals in 5 years and 196 points in 2 seasons show they are one of the best XIs in the PL’s time. The difference with them is that they are more reliant on those 3 individuals than most other great sides whose quality was arguably more evenly spread.
The title is Premier league all time XI, not CL. But in any case could use the same argument for United’s United 07-11 team - 3 CL finals and also won 4 league titles. We were reliant on Rooney, Rio, Vidic, scholes, Ronaldo before he left but only 2 of them in your team.

I’m guessing Liverpool is your PL team..
 
My All Time XI:

team-a.png


Best in their prime:

team-b.png
 
The title is Premier league all time XI, not CL. But in any case could use the same argument for United’s United 07-11 team - 3 CL finals and also won 4 league titles. We were reliant on Rooney, Rio, Vidic, scholes, Ronaldo before he left but only 2 of them in your team.

I’m guessing Liverpool is your PL team..
Nope. But all of this is a moot point without making a specific case for removing those 3 Liverpool players. Who would you take out? Van Dijk - a PL defender who came 2nd in the Ballon D'Or? Trent - who averages 15 assists a season and has comparatively light competition in his spot? Salah - who has averaged over 30 goals a season for 5 straight years from the right-wing position? None of those are unreasonable suggestions for a PL XI.
 
Schmeichel

Irwin/Cancelo
Rio
Van Dijk
Cole

Keane
De Bruyne
Lampard

Ronaldo
Shearer
Henry
 
Going for a 343 since no-one else has

Cech
Terry Stam Van Dijk
Azpi Kante Yaya Cole
Ronaldo Rooney Henry​
 
Schmeichel
Irwin - Ferdinand - Van Dijk - Cole
Keane
De Bruyne - Silva
Salah - Henry - Ronaldo​