United/Liverpool team-Inspired by Motd2

Mr.Nice Guy · 18-05-2009 3:17am

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

You could pick any of like 5 guys for right back and be happy with it.

Phil Neal maybe? Liverpool fans like yourself would probably know more about him than myself as I would only base that on the positive stuff I've heard about him.

I tried compiling a United/Liverpool all-time XI but I just can't settle on a midfield and attack that I'm happy with. Too many outstanding players.

LuckyLloyd · 18-05-2009 3:44am

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Phil Neal maybe? Liverpool fans like yourself would probably know more about him than myself as I would only base that on the positive stuff I've heard about him.

I tried compiling a United/Liverpool all-time XI but I just can't settle on a midfield and attack that I'm happy with. Too many outstanding players.

Yeah, Neal or Neville would be good choices. You could also move Irwin to right back and stick in Noel Cantwell at left back.

eagle eye · 18-05-2009 4:14am

Steve Nicol ftw imo.

gucci · 18-05-2009 8:06am

If this was done next season (assuming both teams are top again etc) I am sure Hargreaves would be in a few of the teams.

Nalz · 18-05-2009 8:18am

Mr Alan wrote: »

Personally I'd go with....

========Reina========
Arbeloa=Vidic==Rio===Evra
====Alonso=Masch======
Ronaldo==Gerrard==Rooney
========Torres========

I'd go with that too. I find it hard to leave O Shea out with the season he's having, maybe have Carragher RB instead?

Alonso just has that touch over Carrick, although I've also been impressed with Carrick playing beyond his ability on more than one occasion (if that makes sense!).

Reina vs VDS - tough one. I'll go with Reina.

Then theres the Hargreaves thing, but he played no part this season.

cournioni · 18-05-2009 8:40am

Reina over VDS?! Are you lads right in the head? There is absolutely nothing wrong with VDS's distribution out of his hands or either foot and his influence on United this season has been proven by the record of clean sheets that he was very much a large part of. We all saw what happened the minute Kuszczak went in, in his place. United lost their clean sheet record and looked like conceeding a bag full in that game. Reina is terrible on crosses and is prone to some gaffes.

Boggles · 18-05-2009 9:00am

This season.

VDS

O'Shea

Rio

Vidic

Evra

Mash

Fletcher

Kuyt

Ronaldo

Gerrard

Rooney

thegen · 18-05-2009 9:39am

I would make a few changes. Although it is very hard to leave players like Fletcher out.

Reina

O'Shea Vidic Skrtel Evra

Mascherano Alonso
Ronaldo Gerrard

Rooney

Torres

cournioni · 18-05-2009 9:43am

thegen wrote: »

I would make a few changes. Although it is very hard to leave players like Fletcher out.

Reina

O'Shea Vidic Skrtel Evra

Mascherano Alonso
Ronaldo Gerrard

Rooney

Torres

Six Liverpool players?? Who just won the league?

Mr Alan · 18-05-2009 9:51am

winning the league is more a testament to the strenght of Utds squad as this is the most important thing over the course of a season. many Utd fans have had 5 or more Liverpool players in their team, its really close. I had 6 myself in the op.

cournioni · 18-05-2009 10:06am

Mr Alan wrote: »

winning the league is more a testament to the strenght of Utds squad as this is the most important thing over the course of a season. many Utd fans have had 5 or more Liverpool players in their team, its really close. I had 6 myself in the op.

True that it is a squad effort in winning over the season, however, getting to a Champions League final with the same squad comes from playing your best side for every game.

Michael Carrick has had a fantastic season for starters and is very much under rated. What is more surprising is that Ryan Giggs PFA player of the year has been left out of most teams. Although he has only played approx 35 games he has performed wonders this season at his age and quite rightly was voted player of the year. I agree with Torres, Gerrard and possibly Arbeloa and Alonso but none of the others. Reina wouldn't get near the United team as long as VDS is there.

ROCKMAN · 18-05-2009 10:15am

At the start of the season there would have only been one Liverpool player that I would have in or near the Utd Team and that would be Torres (no surprise there.) Yes Gerrard could come as part of the deal but I wouldn't be that pushed.:pac:
But after watching him a good few times this season I would take Mascherano in a heart beat now , Think he had a monster of a season and the type of player Utd where lacking this season ,a role i hope Hargreaves fills next season.

cournioni · 18-05-2009 10:22am

ROCKMAN wrote: »

At the start of the season there would have only been one Liverpool player that I would have in or near the Utd Team and that would be Torres (no surprise there.) Yes Gerrard could come as part of the deal but I wouldn't be that pushed.:pac:
But after watching him a good few times this season I would take Mascherano in a heart beat now , Think he had a monster of a season and the type of player Utd where lacking this season ,a role i hope Hargreaves fills next season.

In fairness, Fletcher has had a monster of a season in that position too.

Paul Tergat · 18-05-2009 10:26am

PORNAPSTER wrote: »

In fairness, Fletcher has had a monster of a season in that position too.

I would class Flecth as a box to box more than holding player ala Masch.

Would take Masch in a heartbeat though - same applies to Gerrard and Torres.

gosplan · 18-05-2009 10:28am

But what about the bench guys????

ROCKMAN · 18-05-2009 10:32am

PORNAPSTER wrote: »

In fairness, Fletcher has had a monster of a season in that position too.

True , and I'm not knocking Fletcher or his performances this season. But when Fletcher is asked to play this role he does have to sacrifice part of his game i.e box to box midfielder, which in itself is a compliment to the lads commitment and skill , it just in the spirit of this thread and the fact that its Mascherano's natural role that would make him my first choice pick for a combine team or more.

cournioni · 18-05-2009 10:35am

p_larkin99 wrote: »

I would class Flecth as a box to box more than holding player ala Masch.

Would take Masch in a heartbeat though - same applies to Gerrard and Torres.

I'm not so sure about the rest of the season but he was a holding player for United against City. His holding performace was highlighted on MOTD2.

Paul Tergat · 18-05-2009 10:38am

PORNAPSTER wrote: »

I'm not so sure about the rest of the season but he was a holding player for United against City. His holding performace was highlighted on MOTD2.

Well sure without the ball its his job to hassle players in possession or cover the space in front of the back 4. it's when we are in possession that you will see him being the box-to-box type, i.e. he'll often make forward runs whereas a natural holding midfielder will do this a lot less.

Mitch Connor · 18-05-2009 10:38am

PORNAPSTER wrote: »

I'm not so sure about the rest of the season but he was a holding player for United against City. His holding performace was highlighted on MOTD2.

No he wasn't. When we didn't have the ball he dropped and blocked off space. When we did have it he tried to get into positions to receive the ball, and got involved in the attacks.

ShooterSF · 18-05-2009 10:45am

I have to say I didn't expect this thread to go like this

Hmm my team based on a 4-2-3-1:

VDS

Brown

Rio

Vidic

Evra

Mash

Hargo

Ronaldo

Gerrard

Rooney

Torres

It looks very United biased but it's just the defence and I have a thing with both keepers punching but Reina does it more.
For added fun any Chelsea or L'Arse players get into a United-Pool 11?

Boggles · 18-05-2009 10:48am

Reina

Raf

Evans

Skirtel

Insua

Alonso

Carrick

Benny

Giggs

Tevez

Torres

My B team from the season ain't too bad either.

Maybe a bit weak defensively on the wings, good attacking team though.

Mitch Connor · 18-05-2009 10:51am

ShooterSF wrote: »

I have to say I didn't expect this thread to go like this

Hmm my team based on a 4-2-3-1:
VDS
Brown
Rio
Vidic
Evra
Mash
Hargo
Ronaldo
Gerrard
Rooney
Torres

It looks very United biased but it's just the defence and I have a thing with both keepers punching but Reina does it more.
For added fun any Chelsea or L'Arse players get into a United-Pool 11?

I'd love to put hargreaves in, cause i think he would deserve to be there if he ever played, but he played only a couple of games this season and about 20 or so last season, he hasn't played enough to merit inclusion imo. I would go with Brown as the best of the available RBs over the last two seasons, i'd give it to O'Shea based on this season alone.

I do think Carrick has hit higher highs than Alonso this season, but then I would say Alonso has been more consistent, Carrick has had some bad patches. Over this season alone, Alonso. Over the last two seasons, Carrick imo. Front four of Ronaldo, Rooney, Gerrard and Torres is simply a no brainer.

VDS and Reina is a close one, both are great shop stoppers and have their stengths and weaknesses. Neither are great on crosses, but I would give VDS the edge there. I do think Reina's distribution is better (both a quality though).

In terms of first teams, the two sides are quite close. It is when you rotate and bring in the fringe players that United pulls ahead, espeically in midfield.

VinylJunkie · 18-05-2009 10:58am

Boggles wrote: »

Reina

Raf
Evans
Skirtel
Insua
Alonso
Carrick

Giggs
Benny
Tevez
Torres

My B team from the season ain't too bad either.

Maybe a bit weak defensively on the wings, good attacking team though.

Why so weak on the wing you have the player of the season in there

Mitch Connor · 18-05-2009 11:02am

VinylJunkie wrote: »

Why so weak on the wing you have the player of the season in there

Indeed - 18 assists this season!!

Draupnir · 18-05-2009 11:06am

Liam O wrote: »

hmm, maybe Cantona/Law/Rush instead of Dalglish and as much as it pains me to say it, you should have Gerrard there somewhere. Never really rated Barnes that much and I think Bobby Charlton should be incorporated somehow. God this is mind boggling

Only got this far into the thread yet (one of the best threads in the Soccer forum for a while) and had to comment.

Not only would Dalglish be in the team, he'd be the captain and best player in the team in my opinion. He was absolutely immense and probably as good if not better than any player ever born in the British Isles.

I'd make a case for Charlton in midfield though, I would play him ahead of Souness because Souness would be nailed on to get sent off!

slingerz · 18-05-2009 11:06am

Reina

Arbeloa

Vidic

Ferdinand

Evra

Alonso

Mascherano

Rooney

Gerrard

Ronaldo

Torres

B TEAM

VDS

Brown

Carragher

Skirtel

O'Shea

Scholes

Carrick

Benny

Kuyt

Tevez

Berbatov

Headshot · 18-05-2009 11:25am

yahoo_moe wrote: »

Whoa whoa whoa - plenty of feet put wrong if you ask me. And I think if he'd been in the side more, you'd have seen that. He was awful against City last week and has been allowed to look good on occasions because he's been played against mediocre teams at home when he doesn't get tested defensively. And while it's all very well scoring against Arsenal when you're playing as an extra right winger, he's not a very good right back.

plenty of feet wrong :rolleyes:

awful against city your joking right,the lad kept Robino quiet again

not a very good right back eh face palm

****ing hell what does a 17yr-18yr have to do these days

PHB · 18-05-2009 11:40am

GK:
I think I'd agree with Reina over VDS, although its very close.

Defence:
For me, Brown was the best RB, but this year he hasn't played. Arbeloa and O'Shea are fairly equal in quality.

Vidic, Rio and Evra are easy choices imo.

Central Midfield:
Mascherano is an obvious choice for DM. Hargreaves is imo up there, but since he's been injuried it'd be a tough argument.

Carrick is better than Alonso imo. Anderson would provide a different option.

I'd argue that if you wanted to play a DM/QuarterBack type partnership,
Mascherano and Alonso/Carrick would be better. I'd pick Carrick there.

But if you wanted a more aggressive, physical, dynamic and driving midfield, [as opposed to controlled and possession based], I'd go for Hargreaves-Anderson, who are a fantastic partnership (and showed it last season imo)

Front Four

This is where it gets really difficult imo.
The two players who are undoubted in there are Torres and Ronaldo. Torres can only play up front really, but Ronaldo can play on either wing.

After that its a competition between Rooney, Gerrard, Reira, Yossi, Park. Berbatov is really competing with Torres and loses.

I genuinely think you might need to look past Rooney and Gerrard to get real width in the wide. But ultimately Rooney is a better left winger and Gerrard a better right winger than any of the other players.

Rooney on the left and Gerrard in the middle makes sense, but personally I'd go with Gerrard on the right, Rooney in the middle, and Ronaldo on the left.

So we'd have this team:

Reina

--Brown---Vidic

Rio

Evra---

Mascherano--Carrick

-Gerrard

Rooney

Ronaldo-

Torres

or

Reina

--Brown---Vidic

Rio

Evra---

Hargreaves--Anderson

-Gerrard

Rooney

Ronaldo-

Torres

depending on the midfield.

Personally I think the second team would win more games, while the first team would lose less games.

Dave! · 18-05-2009 12:30pm

It'd certainly be an epic team

Highsider · 18-05-2009 12:32pm

Flecther :eek:. Where MOTD taking the piss?
Reina
Arbeloa
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra
Ronaldo
Alonso
Mascherano
Gerrard
Rooney
Torres

ShooterSF · 18-05-2009 12:50pm

Fletcher has had a fantastic season to be fair. Probably United's most consistently on form midfielder this season. He has got a reputation as a back-up player that I think he will find very hard to shake off though with rival fans.

whatawaster · 18-05-2009 12:56pm

Goalkeeper – Reina edges it for me
Right Back – Brown if fit would probably have made it, but on this season alone I’d pick Arbeloa over O’Shea
Left Back – Evra, no question
Centre Backs – Vidic and Ferdinand. Skrtel gets close
Defensive Mid – Mascherano. Even if Hargreaves was fit, he wouldn’t get near the monster.
Central Mid – Alonso is just a better player than Carrick. Better passer, better defensively (a much under-rated part of Xabi’s game). Anderson doesn’t come even close.
Front 4 – absolutely picks itself

Reina

Arbeloa

Ferdinand

Vidic

Evra

Mascherano

Alonso

Ronaldo

Gerrard

Rooney----

Torres

Only doubt I’d have is right back to be honest, but Arbeloa’s had a good season.

kida · 18-05-2009 1:11pm

whatawaster wrote: »

Only doubt I’d have is right back to be honest, but Arbeloa’s had a good season.

Arbeloa has been muck this season, constantly caught out of position, numerous yellow cards for reckless tackles when beaten.

chopperbyrne · 18-05-2009 1:55pm

Who needs defence when you can score lots of goals!

Reina

----Vidic

Rio

Evra

Mascherano

Gerrard

Kuyt----Rooney

Tevez

Ronaldo

Torres

whatawaster · 18-05-2009 2:05pm

kida wrote: »

Arbeloa has been muck this season, constantly caught out of position, numerous yellow cards for reckless tackles when beaten.

8 yellow cards isn't that many for a constant starter. Wes Brown had 8 last season.

To say he's been muck is a ridiculous statement. He's been one of our best players this season.

kida · 18-05-2009 2:07pm

whatawaster wrote: »

8 yellow cards isn't that many for a constant starter. Wes Brown had 8 last season.

To say he's been muck is a ridiculous statement. He's been one of our best players this season.

Do you think he will be first choice next season?

Mr Alan · 18-05-2009 2:08pm

kida wrote: »

Do you think he will be first choice next season?

Yep. I'd imagine so.

whatawaster · 18-05-2009 2:08pm

kida wrote: »

Do you think he will be first choice next season?

I hope not, because i hope we sign a world class right back, which Arbeloa isn't.
But the reality is we probably won't, but i for one will have no problem keeping Arbeloa as number one, as long as he has adequate backup next season.

Dublin_Gunner · 18-05-2009 2:16pm

Mr Alan wrote: »

Personally I'd go with....

========Reina========
Arbeloa=Vidic==Rio===Evra
====Alonso=Masch======
Ronaldo==Gerrard==Rooney
========Torres========

Wat do people reckon?

Not bad. But I dont see how Carragher could be left out. And eh, EVRA????? I'd nearly put anyone else out there rather than him. Personally, I think he's absolutely rubbish.

Would be a bloody good side though. Stick Tevez in when Torres is injured, could fill the role in his own way.

While Masch is excellent, I could see Carrick fitting in there instead at times.

Though Ronaldo, Rooney, Gerrard & Torres, all being fed by Alonso would be devastating.

Doesnt really matter who you had defending in that regard, you'd score so many.

Pro. F · 18-05-2009 2:41pm

Mr Alan wrote: »

========Reina========
Arbeloa=Vidic==Rio===Evra
====Alonso=Masch======
Ronaldo==Gerrard==Rooney
========Torres========

This one for me. Over this season, so no talk about Brown or Hargreeves.
Both teams lack real quality at right back for me.
DM - Mascherano without a doubt.
CM - Alonso has been better than Carrick this season imo. Better first touch, equal passing maybe, better defensively. IMO Alonso is a better player than Carrick.
Ronaldo, Gerrard and Rooney to swap around from time to time.

The definitive, scientifically proven, best, all time Liverpool & Manchester United eleven*:

Schmeical
Neville-Lawrenson-Hanson-Irwin

Keane-Souness

Best

Charlton

Giggs

Dalgleish

*caution: not scientific or definitive.

kida · 18-05-2009 3:16pm

No All time Utd eleven could not have Duncan Edwards, viewed by many who saw him as the best ever talent

LuckyLloyd · 18-05-2009 4:05pm

kida wrote: »

No All time Utd eleven could not have Duncan Edwards, viewed by many who saw him as the best ever talent

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to play enough games to match the impact of the other great players at both clubs. He'd have to go down as a great talent with unlimited potential relative to the other options you have, rather than a great player in such company, as his career was only starting and he didn't get the opportunity to match their levels of achievement in the game.

keane2097 · 18-05-2009 5:28pm

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to play enough games to match the impact of the other great players at both clubs. He'd have to go down as a great talent with unlimited potential relative to the other options you have, rather than a great player in such company, as his career was only starting and he didn't get the opportunity to match their levels of achievement in the game.

Pfft - you're not talking about what you know here I think.

Bobby Charlton wrote:

I didn't see a lot of players who I thought were better than me until I came to Old Trafford. Then Jimmy Murphy the assistant said to me he said "Bobby, I want you to play with Duncan Edwards - what a player he is. He's got a great left foot, right foot, balance - everything is right."

And I thought, "Well, nobody can really be as good as that".

But he was.

Charlton also described Edwards as "the only player that made me feel inferior" and said his death was "the biggest single tragedy ever to happen to Manchester United and English football".

He's not talking about potential - he's talking about a brilliant player outright.

Remember, he was 22 when he died having made his England debut at eighteen years of age. Just because he never reached his full potential doesn't mean he wasn't peerless at the level he did live long enough to reach.

Highsider · 18-05-2009 6:37pm

kida wrote: »

Arbeloa has been muck this season, constantly caught out of position, numerous yellow cards for reckless tackles when beaten.

No he has'nt.

Boggles · 18-05-2009 6:37pm

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

Not bad. But I dont see how Carragher could be left out. And eh, EVRA????? I'd nearly put anyone else out there rather than him. Personally, I think he's absolutely rubbish.

Dear God, that is the wrongest sentance I have ever read!!! :eek:

thegen · 18-05-2009 6:45pm

the alleged best, all time Liverpool & Manchester United eleven*:

Schmeical
Neville-Lawrenson-Hanson-Irwin

Keane-Gerrard

Best

Charlton

Giggs

Dalgleish

That has to be a joke?? Phil Neal has to have been better than Neville

Cantona, Rush, Robson and how many others on the bench?????

dfx- · 18-05-2009 8:05pm

No particular desire to pick out a team, but anyone who doesn't pick Alonso should be strung up and sent to jail.

Especially in front of Mascherano, Carrick or Anderson. :eek:

purple_hatstand · 18-05-2009 8:47pm

Mr Alan wrote: »

a thought just occured to me!

who do we get to manage?! Rafa or Fergie!!!!

only kidding
rafa obviously

Mike Bassett:D

Pro. F · 18-05-2009 8:50pm

thegen wrote: »

That has to be a joke?? Phil Neal has to have been better than Neville

That's a fair call. TBH no one really came to mind other then Neville.

Cantona, Rush, Robson and how many others on the bench?????

Is this a joke? Are you saying I should have put those players in? You can only pick 11. So would you have Rush ahead of Dalgleish? Cantona ahead of Charlton? Not me.

Anyway, you can post your own 11 if you don't like mine.

yahoo_moe · 18-05-2009 9:11pm

Headshot wrote: »

plenty of feet wrong :rolleyes:

awful against city your joking right,the lad kept Robino quiet again

not a very good right back eh face palm

****ing hell what does a 17yr-18yr have to do these days

Ah come on, it's got sweet FA to do with his age - I'm not knocking his potential, just his current level. Same as I think Vela has great potential but is far from the finished product right now. Or that Tony Adams was great but I'm glad he's not still in the Arsenal team.

Against City, I can't agree that he "kept Robinho quiet" - I just think Robinho and City generally were quiet. But any chances they had came down United's right. He made some decent interceptions in the game but his positioning just doesn't seem anywhere near the required level. Especially if you're playing with Ronaldo (way) ahead of you.

So no, I don't think he's a very good right back - I think he's a player with potential who at the moment looks his best in situations where his positioning doesn't come under too much pressure and he's free to concentrate on going forward rather than defending.

United/Liverpool team-Inspired by Motd2

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