Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Premiership Player Draft - Picks Only
Comments
-
Juninho
My team's number 10, who along with Le Tissier will provide the ammunition for Hasselbaink up front.
Though, like Le Tissier, he never played in a title-challenging side in England, his impact on the game was indisputable. That he was able to excel and carve out a reputation for himself amongst markedly inferior team-mates (an honorable exception to Ravenelli!) only underlines his quality.
As Rafa Benitez might say, he was a player with real game intelligence. Though he is capable of the most astonishing moments of individual skill and scoring wonder-goals, he is also great at linking the midfield and the attack. A quick mind, with quicker feet, he was a nightmare for the opposition.
He also has a commendable team spirit. He cried when Boro were relegated. He also held Boro's League Cup success closer to him than Brazil's triumph in the World Cup - of which he also played a significant part in.0 -
With 40 Appearances up my next pick is the great Fernando Torres. "El Nino" has a record of 29 goals in 40 league games for the pool and like his partnership with David Villa at international level I think him and Fowler in his prime would compliment each other beautifully.
A proven game changer and a match winner Torres has showed his class again and again at Premier league level, in Europe and at international level where he scored the winning goal in last summers European Championships.
Delighted to have got him. Timing is everything!0 -
Paolo di Canio
There are so many reasons why he'll be remembered with affection in England. There was his push on ref Paul Alcock (one of the funniest things we've seen on a football pitch), his amazing act of sportsmanship when he picked up the ball with the goal at his mercy because Everton keeper Paul Gerrard was lying injured.His goal against Wimbledon is rated as one of the best goals ever in the premiership.
On his day,he was one of the best players to have ever played in the premiership.With the amount of flair players going lately,I felt I had to pick him.0 -
-
For my third pick I have gone someone who is the absolute model of consistency in current Premiership football - Chelsea's Ricardo Carvalho.
The fee of 19 million pounds seemed a bit excessive for a relatively unknown defender but since joining Chelsea four years ago he has yet to finish outside the top 2 in the league, and has two titles under his belt, as well as and FA Cup, 2 Carling Cups, a Community Shield and a Champions League runners up medal.
People go on and on about John Terry but the fact is that it is Carvalho who keeps the Chelsea ticking at the back. A superb reader of the game who is strong in the air on solid on the ground.
To be honest, it makes no difference who I draft as my next centre half because whoever plays alongside Carvalho will be made look good anyway.0 -
Advertisement
-
-
Delighted to see the Centre Half I wanted still available at this spot as I thought he would be long gone.
My next pick is Martin Keown.
With Adams he formed one of the most solid centre halves in Premiership history
Twice a Double winner and picking up over 40 England caps he is a superb centre half who takes no prisoners. Not as stylish as some of the centres halves already picked but I know who I'd rather thave on my team.
0 -
The wingers are being snapped up fast so I feel it's time to act and a pick a quality one myself. Therefore my third pick is going to be one of the most dangerous wingers to ever grace the Premiership with his presence. The flying Dutchman that is...Arjen Robben!
When Man United were beaten to the signature of Arjen Robben few expected it to be such a big loss for the former and such a big gain for the latter. Arjen Robben however struck terror into Premiership defences during his time at Chelsea, but particularly during his first two seasons when he was simply scintillating. The sight of the Dutchman bombing down the wing worried fans and players alike.
In his first season with Chelsea, despite missing several games due to a metatarsal injury, he chalked up an impressive goalscoring rate of 7 goals in 18 league appearances and played a big part in Chelsea securing the Premier League title. That same year he also made the 2005 PFA Team of the Year and was shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year award, losing out in the end to Wayne Rooney. Back to full fitness the following season, he again played a big role for Chelsea as as he notched up 6 goals in 28 league games helping Chelsea to retain their title. Unfortunately a mixture of injuries and tactics damaged his chances at Chelsea after that causing him to move to Real Madrid where he was able to help them to victory in La Liga.
His legacy from his spell in the Premeirship still lives on though. Here is a nice compilation from when he was at his peak for Chelsea...
Arjen Robben will provide a great threat for my team. Comfortable on either wing with lightning speed and the ability to create goals as well as score them, plus excellent at set-pieces, he is a worthy acquisition. His impressive medals haul shows him to be a winner and he continues my trend for picking players with class and style.
My picks thus far:
#1 Dennis Bergkamp
#2 Rio Ferdinand
#3 Arjen Robben0 -
For this round I want a commanding centre half and to me the best player I have seen in this position in the premiership to date is Nemanja Vidic.
Its no coincidence that United have won two Premier League titles and a Champions League since this man joined the club. Behind every winning team in history there has been a good defence. Rio Ferdinand has looked a different player since Vidic joined him at United and this has more to do with the class of this man than of Ferdinand.
A very underrated defender imo. For me he is the most outstanding centre half I have seen in the Premiership to date. I include all others in the history of the League in that comment. The Terminator is my type of player.
is
0 -
My third pick is Damien Duff. Pretty Good.
He's perhaps best known for his days at Chelsea, where he helped them to two league titles. But it's the Duff of 2000-2003 who makes my side. His brilliant form for Blackburn culminated in an unforgettable World Cup in 2002.
At the height of his powers he was one of the best wingers in the world and he can also play up front.
Picks so far:
Thierry Henry
Steve McManaman
Damien Duff0 -
Advertisement
-
Round 3 Pick 71
Lucas Radebe - The Chief
Well it's about time I drafted a defender, and Lucas Radebe is the man for me. The best centre-back left to pick, and much better than some of those picked already. Leeds and South-African captain, Radebe was a rock throughout his premiership career. His only honors are at international level (1996 African Nations), but in fairness he spent most of his career at Leeds so domestic honors were out of the question
A lovely guy off the pitch, with a huge heart and social conscience, on the pitch he was a fierce competitor. Radebe's reading of the game, his ability to smother opposition dangermen as a top class man to man marker and his frequent last ditch saving tackles made him a truly great Premiership defender. And on top of all this, he had leadership qualities in abundance. Delighted to have him as the rock on which my defence will be built.
Couldn't find a suitable youtube clip so have another pic instead.
Picks so far:
Roy Keane
Freddie Ljungberg
Lucas Radebe0 -
Round 3 Pick 72
LEE DIXON
My Next Pick is Lee Dixon. For me he was an integral part of one of the strongest defences in Premier League History.
With Arsenal he won 3 League titles, 3 FA Cups, League Cup and the Cup Winners Cup.
I haven't much to say about him as he really jsut let his playing do the talking. A strong defender, economic with the ball and not afraid to go forward.
0 -
Round 4 Pick 73
Nicolas Anelka
Yes he may be a money grabbing little tosser, but there is no-one who can deny his ability. He has good pace, tall, and can finish with either foot. It's hard for me to pick what spell in the EPL he was at his prime in so I'll give an overall stat.
In 253 EPL Appearances he has scored 97 goals. Which is a very impressive record considering when he was with Manchester City they had only just been promoted, And Bolton certainly weren't title challengers when he was with them.0 -
Round 4 Pick 74
Colin Hendry
Continuing with my theme of drafting players with drive and determination, next on the list is Braveheart himself, Colin Hendry. A collusus of a defender, tough, powerful, quick and fantastic in the air, Hendry marshalled the Blackburn defence throughout the 90's. He captained the club on occasions and was always a leader on the pitch. He also captained his country, leading them to the 1998 World Cup. A massively important part of the 1994-95 premier league winnning team, Hendry is a proper premiership legend, a born winner and a top class defender.
Picks so far:
Roy Keane
Freddie Ljungberg
Lucas Radebe
Colin Hendry.0 -
My fourth pick is Dietmar Hamann.
Time to start thinking about the nucleus of my side. Didi will bring plenty of discipline and defensive qualities, but he also has a good eye for a pass and a shot and is an excellent free-kick taker. He will be best remembered for his seven years of fantastic service at Liverpool where he formed a formidable midfield partnership with a young Steven Gerrard.
Here's a preview of some of the tasty goals i'm hoping he'll add to my side.
But most of all i know i can be fully confident that he'll always be a rock in the middle of the field, and will allow the likes of Henry and McManaman the freedom to do what they do best. Didi is the ultimate professional, a consistent and determined performer who'll be a great addition to my side.
Team so far:
Thierry Henry
Steve McManaman
Damien Duff
Dietmar Hamann0 -
My fourth pick was a legend before the Premiership began. He joined Newcastle United for the second time in 1993 and assisted most of Andy Cole's goals during his record breaking run during the 93/94 season.
Yes its the one and only Peter Beardsley. One of the best players I have ever seen in the Premier League. Gifted in so many ways, he could play up front or in midfield. Between 1993 and 1997 Beardsley played a total of 129 times for Newcastle United and scored 46 times. He also assisted over 80 times during that spell. A truly magnificent all around player. I am delighted to have him in my team. I've always considered him the English version of Maradona. For the younger chaps who don't remember him, please watch the video below, its really great viewing.
0 -
"Manu Petit will always be in our minds and, more importantly, in our hearts." - Arsene Wenger
For my fourth pick I'm going to select a defensive midfielder and my pick is going to be one of the more accomplished players to fill the role in the Premiership...Emmanuel Petit!
Bought from Monaco where he operated in defense, Arsene Wenger moved Emmanuel Petit to the middle of the park at Arsenal using him as a defensive midfielder alongside Patrick Vieira. Together the two of them formed a formidable partnership as Arsenal claimed a League and Cup double with Petit playing an instrumental part in Arsenal's success. Here's some footage of his beautiful pass in the 1998 FA Cup Final to set up Overmars tos core the opener (about 1:37 in)...
That was a great facet of Petit's game. He could change a game with a delightful pass. He was not your typical defensive midfield bruiser. While he could be strong and physical he was also stylish and elegant and he goes along with my trend thus far of picking players with class.
Petit of course is also renowned for scoring the winning goal in the 1998 World Cup Final against Brazil...
Clearly not a man phased by a big occasion! Petit went on to leave Arsenal for Barcelona and in his book regarded it as the biggest msitake of his career. Barcelona did not know how to utilise him properly and shifted him back into his old role of defence. Petit made a return to the Premiership with Chelsea working alongside Frank Lampard and helping them secure Champions League football, although around this time he was battling injuries and eventually was forced to retire.
His legacy from his time in the Premiership still lives on though and he came 22nd on a list of Arsenal's 50 greatest players on the club's official website. A true winner and competitor who slots in very nicely in my team.
My team thus far:
Bergkamp---X
X
Petit
X
Robben
X
Ferdinand--X
X
X
Pick 1: Dennis Bergkamp
Pick 2: Rio Ferdinand
Pick 3 Arjen Robben
Pick 4: Manu Petit0 -
I have a decent spine in my team and to complete it I need a decent keeper. I have a long wait for my next pick and I think there is only 2 keepers left up to this standard and they are likely to go. Not much between them but I go for Nigel Martyn
Mr Consistent, Martyn had a grest career, especially at Leeds where he was an important part of their success during his time there. He only had 23 Caps for England as he was stuck behind Seaman
Loved by Leeds fans and got into their all time XI and also a popular player at Palace and Everton.
Mr Dependable and delighted to have him between the sticks
So Far :
x
Cantona
x
Ince
x
x
x
x
Keown
x
Martyn0 -
Gallas joined Chelsea from Marseille in May 2001 for £6.2 million. He played alongside John Terry in a 16 match run without conceding a goal.Gallas was part of Chelsea's team which won back to back Premier League titles and a League Cup under Mourinho.
Gallas was transferred to Arsenal in 2006 when Ashley Cole joined Chelsea. He became captain in 2007. Although hes had his fair share of dodgy moments in the last few years he is a quality defender and one any team would benefit from.
0 -
To complete my centre half partnership I've gone with someone who was a model of consistency in the Premiership for 12 years - Gareth Southgate.
In 1994 Southgate became the youngest captain of a Premiership team at the age of 23 having led Crystal Palace to the Division One title the previous season. Following their subsequent relegation he moved to Aston Villa where he spent the seven seasons.
His partnerships first with Paul McGrath and then Ugo Ehiogu were superb and earned plaudits from all corners of the game. Southgate captained Villa to a League Cup win and an FA Cup final before moving on to Middlesbrough where he finished his career, picking up a Carling Cup win and a UEFA Cup runners up medal along the way.
At international level is unfortunately most remembered for his missed penalty in the Euro 96 semi final shootout. His haul of 57 international caps at a time when England were flush with top class centre halves says just how good Gareth was.
Premiership appearances - 327
Team so far -
Seaman
xxxx----Carvalho----Southgate----xxxx
xxxx
xxxx
xxxx
xxxx
Ferdinand
xxxx
0 -
Advertisement
-
Well, I need a defender in my team, and I'm happy enough with the pick I have got to make:
Kolo Toure
He didn't have a great start to his career at arsenal, looking a bit of a joke in midfield and at full back. When I heard Wenger was pinning his central defensive hopes on him, I laughed and laughed hard. I think his first big game with the position as his own was against United - and he freaking dominated at the back. He has been a rock at the back for Arsenal ever since really, imo.
Big, strong, fast and good on the ball, good positional ability and can strike a decent effort at goal too. Recently he has become a victim of his own versatility, seeing him play RB a number of times which he can now do well, and many would say he should be the captain too.
Yes, there are a couple of players I would have picked ahead of him; but i am honestly hapy with the pick I have made. A solid defender with a bit of versatility. Currently one of the best in the prem.0 -
Even though I should pick a centre back as most of the good ones are going, I've decided to pick a centre forward, who I hope will form a strong partnership with Di Canio up front, or if I'm defending a lead he can move back into field.
He was once referred to as the blonde Maradona. He is one of the most intelligent footballers to have ever played in the Premiership, and is a player I would have loved to have seen in a United jersey.
0 -
My next pick is Mark Bosnich
Ignore the ignominity that befell Bosnich at the end of his career and remember the world class goalkeeper that cam before and graced the premiership for a decade and played almost 200 games between Villa and Man Utd. In his prime Bosnich was definitely in the upper echelon of premiership goalkeepers and the fact that United deemed his a suitable replacement for Schmeichel speaks volumes.
Bosnich won the League cup twice in his time with Villa and the league in his first season with United. Perhaps the move to United was too much for Bosnich as his decline began after the move but what went before was a keeper who was solid, dependable and capable of awe inspiring saves0 -
Gary McAllister
I've turned my attention to the middle of the pitch with this pick. McAllister offers a lot to any team: technique, passing, vision, creativity, versatility, leadership and an awesome set-piece delivery.
He's capable of playing across the park, and though he is not afraid of a tackle, his biggest asset is his ability to build attacks from deep. He'll be sitting behind Juninho and Le Tiss, pulling their strings!
Team so far:
x
x
x
x
x
McAllister---X
---Le Tiss-Juninho---x
Hasselbaink0 -
Spent the last two rounds building from the back, so I think it's time to go back to flair. My pick for Round 4 is Gus Poyet.
Poyet began his Premiership career with Chelsea in 1997 after arriving on a free transfer from Real Zaragoza. He established himself as a vital part of the Chelsea team and a firm fan favourite.
He made a decent start to life in England scoring 4 goals in his opening 12 games. But tough times were to come for Poyet, when he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury soon after. Unfortunately, this would not be the last time the injury reared its head.
The following season, 1998/1999, Poyet scored 14 goals and helped Chelsea to finish 3rd. 11 of those goals came in the Premiership, where he finished just behind Zola as the club's top scorer. He achieved this despite once again battling injury, missing some four months of the season.
He followed up that season with 18 goals in 1999/2000, including a brace against Newcastle in the FA Cup semi-final, and Chelsea went on to win the competition. The next season would be his last for Chelsea, when he scored 12 goals before moving to Spurs. His time at Chelsea was prolific; in 145 appearances for the club, he scored 49 goals, a return of a goal every three games.
The £2 million paid by Spurs seemed like a bargain when the Uruguayan netted 14 times in his debut season for the club. However, his influence began to decrease as he again succumbed to cruciate problems. 2003/2004 was Poyet's last season for Spurs, where overall he scored 23 goals in 98 games.
Below is a famous Poyet goal from 1999 - a superb scissor-kick against Sunderland.
My team so far (formation still tbd):
James
xx
Stam
xx
xx
xx
xx
Giggs
Poyet
xx
xx
0 -
A player so good they named him twice
Jay Jay Okocha
Although he never played for one of the fashionable teams, Jay Jay Okocha transformed Bolton overnight from the piss break team on match of the day to the must see team. Tremendous to watch and tremendous on the field he was one of the best dribblers in the premiership and he combined it with a ferocious shot and great distribution. The most expensive African player ever at the time of his transfer to PSG completes my phenomenal attacking triumvirate from midfield
Team so far
x
--G. Neville
x
x
x----
x
x
---J.Cole
J.J. Okocha
C.Ronaldo--
x
0 -
-
There are less than a handful of top goalkeepers left in this, and of that handful there are only two that I'd consider picking and sleep easy in the knowledge that they'll perform consistently for me.
Goalkeepers have the toughest job in football, if they make a mistake there's rarely anyone behind them to mop it up. They sometimes spend 85 minutes thinking through what they're going to do for the week, before suddenly being called into action. A good keeper brings out the best in the defenders in front of him, they can get on with doing their own job with confidence that he commands the box behind them.
This guy, after an admittedly shaky start, has won the Premier League Golden Gloves trophy 3 years in a row. He has earned a reputation as an incredible penalty stopper, is commanding at the back and has taken a number of club records for goalkeeping with Liverpool.
His only shortfall is on the international stage, where he can consider himself unfortunate to be stuck behind arguably the best goalkeeper of his generation.
My next pick is Jose Manuel (Pepe) Reina
Team so far
Reina
xxx xxx Carragher xxx
Beckham xxx xxx xxx
Cole xxx0 -
I think Brad Friedel represents solid value at this juncture. A former NCAA National Championship winner, it Friedel a long time before he was able to settle into a starting role for a club and produce his best work. Friedel didn't work out at Liverpool. but my oh my - has he done the job for Blackburn.
Over the past seven seasons Friedel has been one of the best keepers in the premiership. A lot of the time he is a solid and dependable last line. But the rest of the time, he metamorphoses into the human embodiment of a wall. And is simply unbeatable. On such occasions, Friedel is capable of making astonishing save upon save from all variety of efforts and angles.
His natural height is an advantage under the high ball, and he is a good decision maker in that respect - generally if he attacks a cross or corner he will come down with it. He has great agility and reflexes and is technically very sound at cutting down angles, getting his footwork and body position right and shifting body weight in a split second to reset his point of balance as required. He deals well with weight and is good at parrying the ball out of danger rather than coughing up easy rebounds. He recovers quickly and makes a great second effort when required. Finally, he marshals a defense with a high degree of competence, and has good levels of focus and concentration.
On top of his abillity on the pitch, he seems to be a good guy to have off it. He voluntarily decided to stay and help steer Blackburn back into the Premiership following relegation under Brian Kidd. Apparently he is someone who works extremely hard before and after training on pushing his athletic boundaries, and as such, he is the kind of player who inspires teammates to put in the little bit extra here and there. That he had a rocky road to travel during his twenties - battling problems with work permits and being out of favor at his clubs - and has got better as he has progressed through his thirties is a testament to his character and tenacity. I'm very happy to be adding another strong leadership presence to compliment Desailly and Vieira.
All in all, I think having a guy like Friedel as the last line is a huge positive and I'm delighted to get him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgsnODQoxDw&feature=related0 -
Advertisement
-
Flowers is one of only a handful of goalkeepers to have ever won a Premiership medal, and having got more than 500 league appearances during his career, he was one of the star keepers of the first decade of the Premiership. Often overlooked because of Man Utd's Schmeichel and Arsenal's Seaman, Flowers is one of the most underrated stars of the Premiership.- Premier league winner.
- 6ft 2in, not bad for a keeper.
- Capped for england at junior and senior level.
- When he was transferred from Southampton to Blackburn in 1993 for a fee of £2.4 million, it made him the most expensive goalkeeper in England at the time.
I also have one or two picks I had planned on using before Tim Flowers, but there seems to be an eagerness to pick up Goalkeepers at the moment and I didnt wnat to miss out. There is at least one other goalkeeper I had planned, but he didn't fit my "Classic English Premiership Team" theme.
EDIT: just realised I've skipped bohsman here, i blame lloyd for his over eagerness in PM-ing both of us!
If bohsman wants tim flowers he can have him! fair is fair. 0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohcnW30t4OQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyf0A-rCVA8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0YzwoAxL8M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNdefw7u-Eo
Advertisement