What would 'X' Team have looked like if .... had stayed?

[Raees]

Ignore the confusing thread title, not sure how to word it but basically the topic is this.. which potentially majestic teams can you come up with from the past based on the fact if they had kept certain players and recruited as they went on to do (please do not mention failed signings which didn't actually happen i.e. Ronaldinho to United and don't take it too far i.e. imagine if Cantona had played with C. Ronaldo (ages too far apart - different eras as Cantona was already hitting 30 odd during 1997/98))..

i.e. United during 03/04, we could have potentially have had a midfield of..

Beckham Keane Scholes Ronaldo
Giggs
Ruud
​

How successful would that side have been? What would have happened if Rooney had signed the following season, how would Sir Alex have juggled the big names, would he still have sold Beckham the following year to make room for everyone?

What about Southampton or Spurs for example.. if they hadn't lost players, what players could have played together and how good could their teams have been? Bale, Walcott, Ox, Shaw.. all could have been in the same side if they had held on to their players (2 out of the 4 are poor but you get the gist).

Don't limit to just EPL teams, if you want to mention national teams (early retirements which prevented great players playing alongside each other or strange squad selections) - go for it.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

You shoehorn Giggs in a behind the striker role when u have ronnie?

 

[Raees]

You shoehorn Giggs in a behind the striker role when u have ronnie?

Ronaldo at 18 was just a winger but I am sure we have played Giggs behind a striker, he wasn't too bad. Scholes would ideally play there but I wouldn't know how to make that all work.

 

[2 man midfield]

Southampton and West Ham could boast pretty awesome sides. Probably a case for Ajax and PSV as well.

 

[top1whoisman]

———Dier———

Carrick—-Alli---

——Modric——-

-Bale——Kane-

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

Ronaldo at 18 was just a winger but I am sure we have played Giggs behind a striker, he wasn't too bad. Scholes would ideally play there but I wouldn't know how to make that all work.

Id rather see a 442 with CR up top on the left but anyway just thought it was funny as IMO we have had better what ifs...

 

[Raees]

Id rather see a 442 with CR up top on the left but anyway just thought it was funny as IMO we have had better what ifs...

yeah we probably have. Just thought it would be an easy way of introducing the topic as my title is confusing.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Cillessen, van der Wiel, Alderweireld, Verthongen, Blind, Nigel de Jong/Anita (was great here at Ajax), Eriksen, Sneijder, Suarez, Huntelaar, Emanuelson (sensational as a left forward/midfielder for Ajax). This is more difficult than it seems.

 

[The Stain]

———Dier———

Carrick—-Alli---

——Modric——-

-Bale——Kane-

Or

Carrick
Modric - Alli
Eriksen
Bale - Kane

 

[top1whoisman]

Or

Carrick
Modric - Alli
Eriksen
Bale - Kane

Yeah, guess you could also add a prime Berba and drop Alli/Carrick/Eriksen.

 

[paulscholes18]

Forster
Chambers Van Dijk Alderweireld Shaw
Schneiderlin Wanyama
Bale Lallana Tadic
Walcott

 

[donkeyfish]

Cillessen, van der Wiel, Alderweireld, Verthongen, Blind, Nigel de Jong/Anita (was great here at Ajax), Eriksen, Sneijder, Suarez, Huntelaar, Emanuelson (sensational as a left forward/midfielder for Ajax). This is more difficult than it seems.

Ibra!

 

[top1whoisman]

———————Barthez——————

Panucci Thuram R.Marquez Evra

———————--Petit——————

————Yaya Toure———————

Giuly—---—Djorkaeff———Henry

——————Trezeguet—————


Subs/rotation:

Riise
Maicon
Givet
Squillaci

Rothen
Gallardo

Nonda
Adebayor
Sonny Anderson

Not 100% sure if all the above could’ve realistically played together, but feck me Monaco has had some brilliant players throughout the years...

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

De Gea
Juanfran Godin Alderweireld Luis
Carrassco Saul Gabi Koke
Griezmann
Aguero

Uninjured Falcao?​

 

[ivaldo]

———Dier———

Carrick—-Alli---

——Modric——-

-Bale——Kane-

Why on earth would they still play Carrick?

 

[Ole90+3]

---------------Falcao-----Hulk---------------
------------------------James-------------------
---------------Moutinho---Guarin----------
---------------------Lucho Gonz-------------
Alex Sandro-Pepe-Bruno Alves-Danilo
--------------------Cassilas-------------------

Subs: Helton, Jackson, Defour, Otamendi, Rolando, Casemeiro, Fernando

I reckon that squad would have a good go at winning the CL.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Ibra!

Exactly, even forgot about him.

 

[GloryHunter07]

De Gea
Juanfran Godin Alderweireld Luis
Carrassco Saul Gabi Koke
Griezmann
Aguero

Uninjured Falcao?​

Beat me to it..

 

[Deleted member 101472]

Valdes

Alves
Puyol
Pique
Abidal

Busquets
Xavi
Iniesta

Messi
Suarez
Neymar

 

[GloryHunter07]

?
Johnson Rio Mascherano ?
J Cole - Lampard - Carrick - Nolan
--------- Tevez Defoe

 

[Skills]

De Gea
Juanfran Godin Alderweireld Luis
Carrassco Saul Gabi Koke
Griezmann
Aguero

Uninjured Falcao?​

Diego Costa would probably be a better fit. And I don't think they particularly rated Alderweireld, so Miranda for another season?

 

[DWelbz19]

———————Barthez——————

Panucci Thuram R.Marquez Evra

———————--Petit——————

————Yaya Toure———————

Giuly—---—Djorkaeff———Henry

——————Trezeguet—————


Subs/rotation:

Riise
Maicon
Givet
Squillaci

Rothen
Gallardo

Nonda
Adebayor
Sonny Anderson

Not 100% sure if all the above could’ve realistically played together, but feck me Monaco has had some brilliant players throughout the years...

Missing their best ever player, Martial.

 

[Walrus]

Was thinking about this with Spurs but I see someone beat me to it. If you took the current Spurs side and added Bale and Modric you are already looking at a really strong XI, let alone the others (Carrick, Berba etc).

Southampton are the other obvious choice within the PL though you could make a good case for Arsenal too with some of the players they shipped off to City (and Cesc).

As for United - Ronaldo, Di Maria and Pogba into the current side would be a pretty tasty proposition.

Liverpool with Mascherano, Alonso and Suarez isn't the worst thing in the world.

 

[top1whoisman]

Missing their best ever player, Martial.

Thought about adding some ”academy players”; Martial, Carrasco, Kondogbia, James Rodriguez, Menez...

 

[FortBoyard]

?
Johnson Rio Mascherano ?
J Cole - Lampard - Carrick - Nolan
--------- Tevez Defoe

nolan looks a tad out of place there.


A West Ham fan would probably set it up like this..


---------------James

Johnson---Mascherano--Rio--Konchesky

---------Parker--------Carrick

--------------Lampard

---Cole------------------------Tevez

----------------Defoe

 

[Deleted member 101472]

Palop

Dani alves
Sergio Ramos
Caceres
Tremoulinas

Jesus navas
Rakitic
Krychowiak
Reyes

Baptista
Luis Fabiano

 

[MichaelKorleone]

Cillessen, van der Wiel, Alderweireld, Verthongen, Blind, Nigel de Jong/Anita (was great here at Ajax), Eriksen, Sneijder, Suarez, Huntelaar, Emanuelson (sensational as a left forward/midfielder for Ajax). This is more difficult than it seems.

Was too young to follow Nigel De Jong but Anita was amazing for Ajax that one season Frank moved him from full back to DM. Can't believe he moved to Newcastle of all sides. But then I was also extremely surprised to see Vertonghen move from Eredivisie winners (guaranteed CL) to Spurs who finished 4th (demoted to EL as Chelsea won CL). Obviously Eredivisie is nowhere close to PL, even 4 yrs ago.

I'm also slightly biased towards Vermeer in place of Cillesen mostly because Cillesen was playing for Jong Ajax at 25 while Vermeer kept saving penalties left right centre. Imagine Ibra (the dude who scored that goal vs NAC Breda? ) in place of Hunter. I was going through Ajax sides in 2000s recently and came across Sneijder, Maxwell, Ibra, Van der Vaart, Pienaar, Chivu, Heitinga, Litmanen, Nigel de Jong, Stekelenberg (he did reach WC finals tbf) all in the same side. Somebody hold me.

 

[GloryHunter07]

nolan looks a tad out of place there.


A West Ham fan would probably set it up like this..


---------------James

Johnson---Mascherano--Rio--Konchesky

---------Parker--------Carrick

--------------Lampard

---Cole------------------------Tevez

----------------Defoe

He scored 18 goals in 09-10! Forgot about Parker..

 

[Lay]

Palop

Dani alves
Sergio Ramos
Caceres
Tremoulinas

Jesus navas
Rakitic
Krychowiak
Reyes

Baptista
Luis Fabiano

Dani Alves and Adriano on each side was pretty good. I'd put in Keita for someone.

 

[Fortitude]

-----------------------Tevez
Ronaldo--------------Rooney-----------------Martial
-----------Pogba
----------------------------Carrick
Shaw-------------------------------------------Valencia
-----------------Pique------Smalling
---------------------De Gea

 

[Deleted member 101472]

Dida

Cafu
Nesta
Stam
Maldini

Pirlo
Seedorf
Ronaldinho

Shevchenko
Inzaghi
Crespo

 

[JB08]

de Gea
Darmian Pique Smalling Shaw
Pogba Schneiderlin Bastian
di Maria
Tevez Ronaldo​

 

[JamesB__]

Valdes

Alves
Puyol
Pique
Abidal

Busquets
Xavi
Iniesta

Messi
Suarez
Neymar

That just simply wouldn't be fair.

2011 defense, with 2011 midfield and 2011 Messi combining with 2015 Suarez and Neymar. No point in another team showing up.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Was too young to follow Nigel De Jong but Anita was amazing for Ajax that one season Frank moved him from full back to DM. Can't believe he moved to Newcastle of all sides. But then I was also extremely surprised to see Vertonghen move from Eredivisie winners (guaranteed CL) to Spurs who finished 4th (demoted to EL as Chelsea won CL). Obviously Eredivisie is nowhere close to PL, even 4 yrs ago.

I'm also slightly biased towards Vermeer in place of Cillesen mostly because Cillesen was playing for Jong Ajax at 25 while Vermeer kept saving penalties left right centre. Imagine Ibra (the dude who scored that goal vs NAC Breda? ) in place of Hunter. I was going through Ajax sides in 2000s recently and came across Sneijder, Maxwell, Ibra, Van der Vaart, Pienaar, Chivu, Heitinga, Litmanen, Nigel de Jong, Stekelenberg (he did reach WC finals tbf) all in the same side. Somebody hold me.

There's not much into it now, but I picked the team based on our how good they still are now, or else Stekelenburg, van der Vaart should surely still be in it. Forgot about Maxwell as well, so I'd have Maxwell at LB and move Blind to CVM, he was fantastic as well in his last season. This is quite difficult.

 

[Joga Bonito]

German 1974 WC side

Maier
Vogts Beckenbauer Schwarzenbeck Breitner
Wimmer Netzer Overath
Hoeneß Müller Heynckes​

 

[Dreadnought]

Juventus team prior to Calciopoli was fantastic, they could have gone on to win the CL in the next couple of years, no doubt.

 

[VorZakone]

Weidenfeller
Piszczek - Hummels - Sokratis - Schmelzer
Gundogan - Weigl/Kehl
Mkhitaryan - Gotze - Reus
Lewandowski

Bender, Subotic, Sahin, Ginter, Durm, Kagawa, Aubameyang, Kampl

Not too shabby.

 

[drdoityourself]

AS Cannes

Frey
Faubert-Zebina-Escudé-Clichy
Vieira-Luccin-Hemdani
Zidane-Micoud
Boksic

Ca. 2002, all those players were playing.

 

[Pexbo]

I always felt Forlan left that bit too soon. He would have been fantastic in the side that evolved when Ruud was gone. He struggled in a side set up for Ruud.

VDS
Brown - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra

Carrick - Scholes - Giggs

Ronaldo - Forlan - Rooney​

 

[Bwuk]

Players still playing;

De Gea
Darmian - Smalling - Pique - Evra
Schneiderlin - Pogba
Mata
di Maria - Martial - Ronaldo​