All time XIs (International and Club sides)

[BD]

So, who do you reckon has the best all time XI in club football, and who has the best in World football?

My teams that I can get off the top of my head(probably missing some older players)

United:

Schmeichel
Neville Vidic Bruce Irwin
Best Edwards Charlton Giggs
Cantona
Law

​

Barca:

?
Dani Alves Puyol ? Sergi
Guardiola
Xavi Laudrup
Messi Maradona Ronaldinho

​

Brazil(hard to show in text, but Pele is just off Ronaldo with no proper left winger)

?

Carlos Alberto ? ? Nilton Santos
Didi Falcao
Zico
Garrincha Pele
Ronaldo

​

Anyway, who do you reckon has the best International and club all time XI, and post your opinions here. I'm missing a good few positions, so someone finish them off too if you want.

 

[Barney]

Not the best all time club XI in terms of individuals, but here's Liverpool's:

Clemence; Neal, Hansen, Lawrenson, Nicol; Souness, Gerrard; Liddell, Kenny, Barnes; Suarez.

I know that Liddell isn't on his ideal side and you could make a case for Lawrenson to miss out.

 

[Gio]

I think it's Brazil and Barcelona that stand out.

 

[2 man midfield]

No offence BD94, and this is a genuine question, but did you ever see Duncan Edwards play?

 

[BD]

No offence BD94, and this is a genuine question, but did you ever see Duncan Edwards play?

Well no, I havent seen him play live, like most on here. But I've read a good bit about him and that team, and seen in the odd video on youtube. If he's even half as good as pretty much everyone that has seen him play makes him out to be, then he deserves a spot. Obviously you could make a case for Keane to be in there instead of him, but I went with Edwards. Do I have to have seen him live to have him in my all time team? Do we now stop saying Meazza was a world class player just because we havent seen him play?

 

[Barney]

Surely Ronaldo gets in over Giggs?

 

[Mystry]

Italy:

------------Buffon---------------
Gentile--Baresi--Scirea--Maldini
Conti--Tardelli--Pirlo---Rivera
----------Baggio--Riva---------

 

[duffer]

I can think of a few centre backs you have had that were better than Bruce (McGrath, Pallister, Stam, Rio). Bruce was nowt special in the scheme of Man Utd centre backs.

 

[Barney]

I can think of a few centre backs you have had that were better than Bruce (McGrath, Pallister, Stam, Rio). Bruce was nowt special in the scheme of Man Utd centre backs.

Do a Chelsea one for us please, Duffer.

 

[peterstorey]

Not the best all time club XI in terms of individuals, but here's Liverpool's:

Clemence; Neal, Hansen, Lawrence, Nicol; Souness, Gerrard; Liddell, Kenny, Barnes; Suarez.

I know that Liddell isn't on his ideal side and you could make a case for Lawrence to miss out.

Not a great idea to play the flying pig at CB.

 

[Barney]

Not a great idea to play the flying pig at CB.

Autocorrect on my mobile. Should be Lawrenson.

 

[peterstorey]

Arsenal:

Seaman
Anderson Keown O'Leary Cole
Fabregas Vieira
Pires Bergkamp Overmars
Henry

 

[Theon]

I can think of a few centre backs you have had that were better than Bruce (McGrath, Pallister, Stam, Rio). Bruce was nowt special in the scheme of Man Utd centre backs.

Yeah, agree with that. I think simply for their partnership I would go with Vidic/Ferdinand in a Utd XI. At his peak Ferdinand was probably the best of the lot, and for how well they complimented each other it has to be Vidic over someone like Stam for me. Pretty close though, we've been blessed with a lot of great centre backs.

----------- Schmeichel ---------
Neville -- Ferdinand -- Vidic -- Irwin
-------- Keane -- Robson ----
Ronaldo --- Charlton ---- Best
------------- Law ----------

 

[vijay]

The idea of Neville getting in to United's all time XI sounds bizarre.

He can make it in the second or third though.

 

[peterstorey]

Anderson played for you as well, he was light years ahead of Neville.

 

[duffer]

Do a Chelsea one for us please, Duffer.

It's difficult for me as I'm nowhere near old enough to really be able to judge our 70s side (let alone our 55 side which won the league) but I'd argue that almost all of our "best ever XI" would come from the last 20 years. Also, does a player get picked on their overall contribution to the club or simply how good they were regardless of how long they stayed?

Anyone, somerthing like this. Hazard and Mata would probably not make most Chelsea fans "best ever" but I'd love to see that 3 firing on all cylinders behind an in form Drog.

................Cech................
Harris....Terry...Desailly..Cole
.........Makalele Lampard......
Hazard......Zola.........Mata
..............Drogba..............

Hazard is a silly choice thinking about it but I don't care. Hudson, Cooke, Nevin and even Robben or Duff are probably more deserving of a place in the line up.

 

[Theon]

The idea of Neville getting in to United's all time XI sounds bizarre.

He can make it in the second or third though.

It isn't bizzare really, we've never had a Zanetti level talent there. He certainly is the weakest of the bunch though, but who would you replace him with?

 

[Theon]

Anderson played for you as well, he was light years ahead of Neville.

Surprised Campbell and Adams haven't gotten into your Arsenal side, Pete.

 

[peterstorey]

Hudson, Cooke, Nevin and even Robben or Duff are probably more deserving of a place in the line up.

Hudson was a miles better than Lampard, though his best days were for Stoke playing Pirlo-like just ahead of the back 4.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

It isn't bizzare really, we've never had a Zanetti level talent there. He certainly is the weakest of the bunch though, but who would you replace him with?

Paul Parker you could make a case for... And hopefully in 10 years it will be Rafael...

 

[peterstorey]

Surprised Campbell and Adams haven't gotten into your Arsenal side, Pete.

O'Leary and Ferdinand (possibly McGrath)are the best CBs I've seen in the top league with pace, height and brains. Keown had more pace than Tony (and Sol was a spud).

 

[Joemo]

Would Domingues fill the one of ? spaces in the Brazil team?

Can't think who'd take the other really.

 

[Barney]

Paul Parker you could make a case for... And hopefully in 10 years it will be Rafael...

It's close in terms of Parker versus Neville. Not much in it at all.

 

[vijay]

If I string my best United XI from the players I've watched

-----------------------Schmeichel-------------------------
Stam---------McGrath----------------Vidic-------Irwin-----
---------------Keane---------------Robson------------------
Ronaldo-------------------------------------------Giggs------
---------------Cantona-------------Ruud------------------

Stam was equally brilliant as a RB when he had the pace, that was pretty much evident in his Lazio days. In fact his debut at Milan was as a RB in Cafu's absence and he didn't disappoint either.

EDIT: Keane may be as a RB and a more attacking line up

-----------------------Schmeichel-------------------------
Keane---------McGrath---------------Stam-------Irwin-----
---------------Scholes---------------Robson------------------
Ronaldo-------------------------------------------Giggs------
---------------Cantona-------------Ruud------------------

 

[vijay]

My all time United XI

------------------------------Schmeichel-----------------------------
--Bryne----------McGrath--------------------Stam------------Irwin------------
------------------Keane--------Edwards--------------Robson---------------------------------------
-----Charlton------------------Law--------------------Best---------------------------------------

With Edwards around I might swap either Keane or Robbo with Ronaldo

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Schmeichel

Carey - Byrne - McGrath - Irwin

Robson - Edwards

Best - Charlton - Giggs

Law
​

 

[Moby]

Germany :

Maier
Vogts - Beckenbauer - Kohler - Brehme
Matthaus - Sammer - Breitner
Netzer
Rummenigge - Muller

Holland :

VDS
Suurbier - Koeman - Stam - Krol
Rijkaard - Neeskens
Robben - Gullit - Cruyff
Van Basten


Argentina :

Fillol
Zanetti - Passarella - Rugerri - Marzolini
Redondo - Monti
Di Stefano - Maradona
Messi - Batistuta


Brazil :

Gilmar
Djalma Santos - Carlos Alberto - Domingos - Nilton Santos
Didi
Pele - Zico
Garrincha - Ronaldo - Rivelino


Italy :

Buffon
Bergomi - Baresi - Scirea - Maldini - Facchetti
Tardelli - Pirlo - Gattuso
Baggio - Meazza

France :

Barthez
Thuram - Desailly - Tresor - Bossis
Vieira - Tigana
Kopa - Platini - Zidane
Henry




Real Madrid :

Camacho - Santamaria - Hierro - Roberto Carlos
Redondo - Pirri
C Ronaldo - Di Stefano - Gento
Puskas


Barcelona :

Zubi
Dani Alves - Puyol - Koeman - Sergi
Guardiola
Xavi - Iniesta
Kubala - Messi - Ronaldinho


AC Milan :

Galli
Cafu - Baresi - Nesta - Maldini
Rijkaard - Pirlo - Desailly
Rivera
Gullit - Van Basten


Juventus :

Zoff
Thuram - Gentile - Scirea - Cabrini
Davids - Tardelli
Platini
Del Piero - Charles - Sivori


Liverpool :

Clemence
Neal - Hyypia - Hansen - Nicol
Souness - Alonso
Gerrard - Dalglish - Barnes
Rush


United :

Schmeichel
Neville - Rio - Stam - Irwin
Keane - Scholes
Ronaldo - Charlton - Best
Law


Arsenal :

Seaman
Dixon - Adams - Campbell - Cole
Vieira - Brady
Pires - Bergkamp - Overmars
Henry




​

 

[Isotope]

Is Law really better than RvN or RvP?

 

[Moby]

Is Law really better than RvN or RvP?

Well, he was voted the best player in Europe at one point, in a time when the likes of Eusebio, Suarez, Greaves, etc were at their peak.

 

[Barney]

Aldo, I don't think Alonso has any right to be in that XI.

 

[Moby]

Aldo, I don't think Alonso has any right to be in that XI.

Not in terms of trophies, perhaps. But in terms of performances, I'd have him.

 

[Barney]

Not in terms of trophies, perhaps. But in terms of performances, I'd have him.

Then Gerrard gets left out as we've had better wingers than him. Gerrard should be a number 10 or a CM and there's no way you can leave him out.

 

[Moby]

Then Gerrard gets left out as we've had better wingers than him. Gerrard should be a number 10 or a CM and there's no way you can leave him out.

That's a debate for another day. For me Gerrard's best was on the right, even though him behind Torres came pretty close but since Kenny is in the team Gerrard's fits on the right.

 

[Snipers Breath]

That's a debate for another day. For me Gerrard's best was on the right, even though him behind Torres came pretty close but since Kenny is in the team Gerrard's fits on the right.

Gerrard has been better for Liverpool than Alonso, even as a CM. Don't see anything majorly wrong with your team though, would probably have the same team myself.

 

[Barney]

Gerrard has been better for Liverpool than Alonso, even as a CM. Don't see anything majorly wrong with your team though, would probably have the same team myself.

Heighway, Liddell, Cally and Houghton have all been better for us than Alonso and warrant a place more than Xabi.

 

[Snipers Breath]

Heighway, Liddell, Cally and Houghton have all been better for us than Alonso and warrant a place more than Xabi.

They have, but then again Rush, Keegan, Ian St John, have probably been better for us than Suarez has been. Out of all the players you named i don't think any of them can be said to be as talented as Alonso (Lidell is highly rated but long before my time), for me the team would look better with Gerrard on the right and Alonso in the middle, than it would with Houghton on the right and Gerrard in the middle.

 

[Moby]

They have, but then again Rush, Keegan, Ian St John, have probably been better for us than Suarez has been. Out of all the players you named i don't think any of them can be said to be as talented as Alonso (Lidell is highly rated but long before my time), for me the team would look better with Gerrard on the right and Alonso in the middle, than it would with Houghton on the right and Gerrard in the middle.

Yep, pretty much what I had in mind as well.

 

[Barney]

They have, but then again Rush, Keegan, Ian St John, have probably been better for us than Suarez has been. Out of all the players you named i don't think any of them can be said to be as talented as Alonso (Lidell is highly rated but long before my time), for me the team would look better with Gerrard on the right and Alonso in the middle, than it would with Houghton on the right and Gerrard in the middle.

Suarez at his best for us has been incredible, he's been absolutely unstoppable. Heighway, Callaghan and Liddell all get in easily over Alonso - for me it isn't even close. Liddell is rated by many who saw him as our greatest ever. Alonso doesn't come close to that.

 

[Snipers Breath]

Suarez at his best for us has been incredible, he's been absolutely unstoppable. Heighway, Callaghan and Liddell all get in easily over Alonso - for me it isn't even close. Liddell is rated by many who saw him as our greatest ever. Alonso doesn't come close to that.

But thats only two seasons in which he has been that way,in comparison to Rush when you take into consideration longevity he hasn't had the impact Rush had here, neither is he as a renowned figure. If you can put Suarez in your best team despite him only having had two outstanding seasons at the club over the likes of Rush, Keegan, Hunt etc who were outstanding for us over the course of many seasons, surely you can see the logic in including Alonso in the all time xi over the likes of Heighway Houghton who with all due respect to them weren't as talented as Alonso is.

And i'm aware of Liddell's reputation, and Suarez doesn't come close to him either if what is said about him is true.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

So, who do you reckon has the best all time XI in club football, and who has the best in World football?

My teams that I can get off the top of my head(probably missing some older players)

United:

Schmeichel
Neville Vidic Bruce Irwin
Best Edwards Charlton Giggs
Cantona
Law

​

Barca:

?
Dani Alves Puyol ? Sergi
Guardiola
Xavi Laudrup
Messi Maradona Ronaldinho

​

Brazil(hard to show in text, but Pele is just off Ronaldo with no proper left winger)

?

Carlos Alberto ? ? Nilton Santos
Didi Falcao
Zico
Garrincha Pele
Ronaldo

​

Anyway, who do you reckon has the best International and club all time XI, and post your opinions here. I'm missing a good few positions, so someone finish them off too if you want.

That Barcelona team is simply cheating.