All-time PL XI - Creating a team to win the league

1905

Full Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2014
Messages
363
Supports
Chelsea
To spice things up a little I'll go 3-5-2, with a few explanations below:

Pre-Helmet Cech
Carvalho - - Terry - - van Dijk
Cancelo - - Kante - Vieira - - 2010 Bale
D.Silva
Suarez - - Henry

Bench: Ederson; Azpilicueta, Evra; Scholes, Keane; Ronaldo, Rooney,
Cech: I think pre injury he was absolutely unreal. Was tempted to put Ederson purely for his on ball ability.

Carvalho: Wanted an aggressive right sided CB who could also come out with the ball and deliver crosses from deep. Didn't really see Carvalho doing the latter but couldn't think of anyone else?

Kante+Vieira: Inspired by Kante's partnership with Matic. Matic was the deeper of the two, but neither really was purely holding like a Gilberto Silva/Fernandinho. Both took turns in driving forward when they could and generally had a fantastic partnership. I feel Vieira is a better version of Prime Matic.

Cancelo: No TAA you say? Never really been convinced of him when at wingback for England. Also prefer a better retainer in this position which Cancelo is. Like TAA he's a fantastic passer of the ball.

2010 Bale: This one is a stretch, but it's the Bale we saw under 'arry where he played LM/LW and famously rinsed Inter Milan & Maicon over 2 legs. In a 4atb formation A.Cole would've been in no question but I don't think he was good enough going forward to play in a 3.

David Silva: While Bale & Henry would do damage from the left side mainly, Silva will gravitate to the right from the 10 and occupy positions between the lines.

Suarez+Henry: No explanation needed really, both fantastic players. I felt Henry had to be in the team no matter what but wouldn't really work as a lone striker, so Suarez partners him with his graft and unpredictability.

This isn't a possession side, more of a direct and aggressive team which favours athleticism with a touch of flair. Feel it has a great mix of the two and would do well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jojojo

lawliet354

Full Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2014
Messages
1,863
Location
Uncomfortable chair
It's incredibly difficult because of so many great players that have played in the past and my childhood nostalgia bias affecting me, so I make myself a rule of maximum 3 players from each team, otherwise I'm gonna put like 8-9 United players.

--------------------------------------Cech---------------------------------
TAA--------------Rio----------------------VVD------------------Cole
-----------------------Keane--------------Kante------------------------
------------------------------------KDB-------------------------------------
Salah---------------------------------------------------------Ronaldo
-------------------------------Henry---------------------------------------
 

simonhch

Horrible boss
Joined
Aug 17, 2010
Messages
14,368
Location
Seventh Heaven
Supports
Urban Combat Preparedness
It's incredibly difficult because of so many great players that have played in the past and my childhood nostalgia bias affecting me, so I make myself a rule of maximum 3 players from each team, otherwise I'm gonna put like 8-9 United players.

--------------------------------------Cech---------------------------------
TAA--------------Rio----------------------VVD------------------Cole
-----------------------Keane--------------Kante------------------------
------------------------------------KDB-------------------------------------
Salah---------------------------------------------------------Ronaldo
-------------------------------Henry---------------------------------------
Hard to argue with that, equal measure of guile and grit. I’d probably take Cancelo instead of TAA, controversial I know, and maybe Vidic over VVD because of the familiarity with Rio. That said, your team is superb.
 

Canagel

Full Member
Joined
May 26, 2016
Messages
13,888
Ederson

Cancelo
VVD
Ferdinand
Laporte
Fabregas
Yaya Toure
Ozil
Hazard
Henry
Ronaldo
 
Last edited:

lawliet354

Full Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2014
Messages
1,863
Location
Uncomfortable chair
Hard to argue with that, equal measure of guile and grit. I’d probably take Cancelo instead of TAA, controversial I know, and maybe Vidic over VVD because of the familiarity with Rio. That said, your team is superb.
Cancelo would be brilliant as well, but with CR7 on the left, it's hard to not think about TAA feeding cross after cross to him, not that Cancelo isn't an excellent crosser, just TAA has slight edge in this case for me
 

Daydreamer

Full Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2014
Messages
1,276
Supports
Arsenal
It's incredibly difficult because of so many great players that have played in the past and my childhood nostalgia bias affecting me, so I make myself a rule of maximum 3 players from each team, otherwise I'm gonna put like 8-9 United players.

--------------------------------------Cech---------------------------------
TAA--------------Rio----------------------VVD------------------Cole
-----------------------Keane--------------Kante------------------------
------------------------------------KDB-------------------------------------
Salah---------------------------------------------------------Ronaldo
-------------------------------Henry---------------------------------------
You’ve swayed me. TAA/Salah is even better than Azpi / Robben. Not as good defensively, but that XI would constantly have the ball anyway.
 

Klopper76

"Did you see Fabinho against Red Star & Cardiff?"
Joined
Dec 15, 2015
Messages
19,716
Location
Victoria, BC
Supports
Liverpool
I think there’re a couple of players you have to include. Ferdinand, Scholes and Henry stood out for me but Kante is a very smart inclusion if you’re playing a midfield three.

Interesting seeing Alexander-Arnold included in so many teams but when you think about it, apart from Gary Neville who else is there?
 

Bwuk

Full Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
17,281
I’ve taken into account leadership and mentality. To win the league nowadays you have to get a ridiculous points total. Was tempted to put Yaya in for KdB to have a powerhouse midfield.

Big Pete
Walker - Ferdinand - Vidic - Cole
Keane - Vieira
De Bruyne
Salah - Rooney - Ronaldo​
 

lawliet354

Full Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2014
Messages
1,863
Location
Uncomfortable chair
You’ve swayed me. TAA/Salah is even better than Azpi / Robben. Not as good defensively, but that XI would constantly have the ball anyway.
I think most people associate Robben with Bayern, he was good at Chelsea but become something special (arguably top 3/5 player in the world) there. If we're talking about PL performance only then don't think he would make anybody's list. True, you don't need to worry about losing possession because you'll have Keane and Kante chasing and hounding the opposition every time

I think there’re a couple of players you have to include. Ferdinand, Scholes and Henry stood out for me but Kante is a very smart inclusion if you’re playing a midfield three.

Interesting seeing Alexander-Arnold included in so many teams but when you think about it, apart from Gary Neville who else is there?
Apart from Cancelo, Neville and TAA, I struggle to name other top right back. Maybe Azpilicueta or Walker, they're still a tad below for me personally
 
Last edited:

Skills

Snitch
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
42,010
Mourinhos 4-3-3 after 2000
---------------------- Cech
Azpi --- Ferdinand --- Vidic --- Cole
---------------------Vieira
---------------Lampard --- Keane
-----Ronaldo ---- Henry ---- Hazard

Guardiola's 4-3-3 after 2000
-------------------- Allison
Trent ---- Ferdinand ---- Van Djik --- Cole
--------------------------Vieira
----------------De Bruyne ---- Scholes
-------Ronaldo -------- Suarez ----- Hazard
 

RatPack

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jul 8, 2019
Messages
222
Location
Denmark
---------------- Schmeichel ----------------
Neville -----VVD------Vidic------- Cole
------- Fernandinho --- Kante ----------
---------------------- KDB ----------------------
Ronaldo------- Shearer--------- Henry

My doubts was : Neville, Fernandinho and KDB.

But this would be my choice
 

SilentWitness

ShoelessWitness
Staff
Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
30,139
Supports
Everton
-------------------Cech---------------------
TAA -------- Rio --- Terry ------Cole
-------------Kante-----Yaya--------------
------------------Rooney-------------------
Salah ---------Shearer---------Henry

Mix of my favourite players I've watched and true PL greats.
 

Remember the geese

Full Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2018
Messages
6,728
Location
Northampton
Ederson, Cancelo, Ferdinand, Vidic, Irwin, Keane, Vieira, Scholes, Ronaldo, Cantona, Henry.

Emphasis on possession. Cantona playing as a false 9.
 

Murder on Zidane's Floor

You'd better not kill Giroud
Joined
Jun 11, 2015
Messages
28,309
To spice things up a little I'll go 3-5-2, with a few explanations below:

Pre-Helmet Cech
Carvalho - - Terry - - van Dijk
Cancelo - - Kante - Vieira - - 2010 Bale
D.Silva
Suarez - - Henry

Bench: Ederson; Azpilicueta, Evra; Scholes, Keane; Ronaldo, Rooney,
Cech: I think pre injury he was absolutely unreal. Was tempted to put Ederson purely for his on ball ability.

Carvalho: Wanted an aggressive right sided CB who could also come out with the ball and deliver crosses from deep. Didn't really see Carvalho doing the latter but couldn't think of anyone else?

Kante+Vieira: Inspired by Kante's partnership with Matic. Matic was the deeper of the two, but neither really was purely holding like a Gilberto Silva/Fernandinho. Both took turns in driving forward when they could and generally had a fantastic partnership. I feel Vieira is a better version of Prime Matic.

Cancelo: No TAA you say? Never really been convinced of him when at wingback for England. Also prefer a better retainer in this position which Cancelo is. Like TAA he's a fantastic passer of the ball.

2010 Bale: This one is a stretch, but it's the Bale we saw under 'arry where he played LM/LW and famously rinsed Inter Milan & Maicon over 2 legs. In a 4atb formation A.Cole would've been in no question but I don't think he was good enough going forward to play in a 3.

David Silva: While Bale & Henry would do damage from the left side mainly, Silva will gravitate to the right from the 10 and occupy positions between the lines.

Suarez+Henry: No explanation needed really, both fantastic players. I felt Henry had to be in the team no matter what but wouldn't really work as a lone striker, so Suarez partners him with his graft and unpredictability.

This isn't a possession side, more of a direct and aggressive team which favours athleticism with a touch of flair. Feel it has a great mix of the two and would do well.
Absolutely love this but Keane over Viera for me. That team would be tremendously hard to beat.
 

harms

Shining Star of Paektu Mountain
Staff
Joined
Apr 8, 2014
Messages
27,952
Location
Moscow
Couple of surprises in that OP video. All of them have VDV . Can't believe people have such short memories when it comes to CBs.Someone also said , Fernandinho is better than Makele :confused:.

Nice concept though. Rather than the best available players, they are trying to get the best players to fit the team.

Gerrard at RB was funny. I would have taken Beckham instead. Bale at leftback is also something I don't agree.
They don’t have the deepest historical knowledge (even going back to the 90’s), which is a bit of a shame.

But Fernandinho can certainly be a better choice that Makélélé for teams that aim to play a possession-based game.
 

youngrell

Full Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2016
Messages
3,544
Location
South Wales
Objective: pick a team to win the league
Red Cafe: proceed to pick teams without 13 time winner Ryan Giggs

:houllier:
 

Oranges038

Full Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2020
Messages
11,785
Schmeichel
Irwin - Stam - Vidic - Evra
Keane
Beckham - Scholes
Ronaldo - Rooney - Giggs​
 

harms

Shining Star of Paektu Mountain
Staff
Joined
Apr 8, 2014
Messages
27,952
Location
Moscow
@Šjor Bepo had rightly said that it’s better to have multiple teams that represent different approaches that dominated the league through the years — otherwise you’ll either miss someone very important or struggle to achieve a cohesive style of play.

1st team — main inspirations would be our sides from 94’ & 99’ as well as Arsenal. more or less straightforward attacking 4-4-2 with a creative second striker (Cantona -> Bergkamp, Zola, Le Tissier)

Cantona - Shearer
Giggs - Keane - Scholes - Beckham
Irwin - Adams - Stam - Neville
Schmeichel​

More European counter-attacking 4-3-3 with Mourinho’s Chelsea & our CL-winning side in mind.

Cristiano - Suarez - Rooney
Vieira - Lampard/Gerrard
Makélélé
Cole - Vidić - Terry - Zabaleta/Azpilicueta
Čech​

Ball-playing modern side with mostly Pep’s City in mind (and a hint of Liverpool)

Henry - Agüero - Salah
D. Silva - De Bruyne
Fernandinho/Carrick
Evra - van Dijk - Ferdinand - Trent/Cancelo*
van der Sar​

Notable misses: De Gea, Carvalho, Kanté, Hazard, Bergkamp, Drogba
Brilliant peak but perhaps lacked longevity: Bale, Toure, Essien

* take the least shit option, really. There’s a distinct lack of top right-backs with a prolonged peak in PL
 

harms

Shining Star of Paektu Mountain
Staff
Joined
Apr 8, 2014
Messages
27,952
Location
Moscow
-Fernandinho can be improved. Probably Kante since he'd kill counter attacks and is underrated as a short passer.
For that team you need a holding midfielder, not a runner. It’s be like putting Casemiro in place of Busquets behind Xavi and Iniesta (which won’t be an improvement even if, in your case, Kanté is a better player than Fernandinho).
 

MO_Football92

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Feb 7, 2021
Messages
354
Supports
Arsenal
Manager - Wenger

Cech
Sagna Ferdinand Carvalaho Cole
Toure Alonso
Salah KDB Henry
Suarez

Probably this team would be too offensive, and Wenger's philosophy generally did not involve intense collective pressing from the front. But they'd undoubtedly score plenty whilst playing intriciate passing football.
 

MO_Football92

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Feb 7, 2021
Messages
354
Supports
Arsenal
Difficult leaving out Kante. I actually rate him higher than Viera.
 

Thelongsleevesofblomqvist

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Oct 25, 2021
Messages
186
Schmeichel

Cancelo Van Dijk Desailly Cole

Scholes Vieira De Bruyne

C. Ronaldo Suarez Henry

If PL-peak doesnt matter: Gullit instead of De Bruyne.

Could make a case for Modric instead of Scholes.
 

NoPace

Full Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2014
Messages
9,340
For that team you need a holding midfielder, not a runner. It’s be like putting Casemiro in place of Busquets behind Xavi and Iniesta (which won’t be an improvement even if, in your case, Kanté is a better player than Fernandinho).
Nah, Kante could improve under Pep and be brilliant as a holder. He often has to hold for France and mostly looks very good. Fernandinho didn't play as a lone 6 at Shaktar and becoming one worked out well. I think there's a few deeper midfielders who would outperform Fernandinho if they had Pep and that team around them, even though he's a fine player. I think he's a Carrick level type, and you're better off picking whichever truly great #8 (Keane, Kante, Vieira) would, like Fernandinho, become a great #6 under Pep than settling for a very good 8 who became a very good 6 under him.
 

NoPace

Full Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2014
Messages
9,340
Manager - Wenger

Cech
Sagna Ferdinand Carvalaho Cole
Toure Alonso
Salah KDB Henry
Suarez

Probably this team would be too offensive, and Wenger's philosophy generally did not involve intense collective pressing from the front. But they'd undoubtedly score plenty whilst playing intriciate passing football.
I like some of your choices but I think my Wenger team would be more pure 4-4-2 like this:


Cech
Sagna Campbell Van Dijk Cole
Bale Vieira Keane De Bruyne
Suarez
Henry


Basically the Invincibles but Keane as the worker instead of Gilberto Silva, Bale in place of Ljungberg on the right providing the running, De Bruyne in place of Pires but same role cutting in a ton, Suarez for Bergkamp as the false 9 and Van Dijk for Kolo Toure but Rio would be fine too.

Feels weird to put Suarez there but I'm a little too young to have seen Cantona and I didn't want De Bruyne too high up the pitch. Also Bale as a left-footer on the right is a change from Ljungberg but even young Beckham might not have been quite quick enough for the role. Cristiano his 2nd last year when he was still a pretty classic winger would have been great but that feels a little 4-2-4.
 

Lougie86

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Oct 28, 2015
Messages
99
Location
Scotland
Supports
Partick Thistle
Schmeichel

Neville - rio - Terry - Irwin

Gerrard - Scholes - Keane

Kanchelskis - van nistelrooy - Henry
 

NoPace

Full Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2014
Messages
9,340
I think there’re a couple of players you have to include. Ferdinand, Scholes and Henry stood out for me but Kante is a very smart inclusion if you’re playing a midfield three.

Interesting seeing Alexander-Arnold included in so many teams but when you think about it, apart from Gary Neville who else is there?
Yeah, my guess is most top coaches would end up picking Cole at LB so they could go with Alexander-Arnold or Cancelo, but some would go with Azpilicueta or Neville and some would even end up 3 at the back because then you get to pick one of the attacking types like Alexander-Arnold or Cancelo at wingback, Bale at LWB and an incredible back 3 of Ferdinand, Van Dijk and whichever of the dominant aerial types (Terry, Campbell or Vidic) they prefer.
 

RedRonaldo

Wishes to be oppressed.
Joined
Aug 17, 2003
Messages
18,996
Schmeichel
TAA Rio VVD A.Cole
Keane Scholes Vieira
Ronaldo Cantona Henry​
 

GueRed

Full Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2020
Messages
2,849
Location
London
Hard to pick a team without a heavy United bias...

off the top of my head

Henry Shearer
Giggs Keane Vieira Robben
Irwin Ferdinand Adams Azpilicueta
Schmeichel
 

harms

Shining Star of Paektu Mountain
Staff
Joined
Apr 8, 2014
Messages
27,952
Location
Moscow
Nah, Kante could improve under Pep and be brilliant as a holder. He often has to hold for France and mostly looks very good. Fernandinho didn't play as a lone 6 at Shaktar and becoming one worked out well. I think there's a few deeper midfielders who would outperform Fernandinho if they had Pep and that team around them, even though he's a fine player. I think he's a Carrick level type, and you're better off picking whichever truly great #8 (Keane, Kante, Vieira) would, like Fernandinho, become a great #6 under Pep than settling for a very good 8 who became a very good 6 under him.
I don't believe this personally but fair enough.

France doesn't have a holder but out of the two, weirdly enough, it's usually Pogba who stays relatively deeper with Kanté running around and winning the ball back. The roles of a holding midfielder (that Pep's tactics require) and that of a midfield ball-winner are almost completely the opposite. The former needs to stay back at all times and keep the position safe, the latter has freedom to run everywhere he feels the need to to get the ball back — and Kanté is the best in the world in this particular aspect of the game (more so, he's one of, if not the, effective ball-winners ever)... so limiting him to a role that requires him to stay in one particular area is like asking Messi not to dribble.
 

youngrell

Full Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2016
Messages
3,544
Location
South Wales
Schmeichel
Irwin - Stam - Vidic - Cole
Keane
Toure - Scholes
Giggs - Aguero - Ronaldo
A back 5 as strong as can be, good luck getting passed them, with Keane ahead to boot. Keane would sit and control the tempo, allowing Toure and Scholes to move forward and create. Scholes through superb short passing and Toure as a ball carrier through the middle. Both also carrying a goal threat from distance or arriving in the box.

Giggs and Ronaldo both able to cut in or go on the outside, both able to score and create and Aguero there to finish off the chances.

It was a toss up between Aguero and Rooney, went with Aguero to avoid having almost all United players, plus Rooney’s extra creativity is probably not needed in this side.
 

NoPace

Full Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2014
Messages
9,340
I don't believe this personally but fair enough.

France doesn't have a holder but out of the two, weirdly enough, it's usually Pogba who stays relatively deeper with Kanté running around and winning the ball back. The roles of a holding midfielder (that Pep's tactics require) and that of a midfield ball-winner are almost completely the opposite. The former needs to stay back at all times and keep the position safe, the latter has freedom to run everywhere he feels the need to to get the ball back — and Kanté is the best in the world in this particular aspect of the game (more so, he's one of, if not the, effective ball-winners ever)... so limiting him to a role that requires him to stay in one particular area is like asking Messi not to dribble.
You might be right. I'm making the same mistake Lampard did in theory with Kante, but I think a few months under Pep and he'd be the equivalent of Kyle Walker is at RB for them in terms of killing off counter attacks. Fabinho has done a good job at it but I think Kante's the kind of player you fit in for his mentality and such.

To my eyes, Kante often sits for France (Pogba often 5 yards higher simply because Deschamps likes to play on the counter (51.7 possession at the Euros) and he still shines without a ton of freedom.

DM and RB are the weakest Prem positions and I think being brave and moving one of Vieira, Kante or Keane to the 6 spot (or just playing with a double pivot) are probably the best options rather than going with a worse player who excelled in the specific role.
 

MayosNoun

Full Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2020
Messages
3,464
Supports
Chelsea
—————- Cech —————-

Cancelo. VVD. Terry. Cole

———— Kante - Vieira ——-

Salah —— Henry — Hazard

————— CR7 ——————-
 

Andersonson

Full Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
3,768
Location
Trondheim
Van der Sar
Irwin Rio Vidic A.Cole
Yaya Keane Silva
Salah Henry Ronaldo

Subs: Cech, VVD, Trent, Kante, Scholes, Shearer, Rooney
 

KeanoMagicHat

Full Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2019
Messages
3,940
Schmeichel
Walker Van Dijk Vidic Cole
Beckham Keane Kanté Hazard
Cantona Henry

Kanté and Keane I think would be hard to beat in a 4-4-2 formation, who is beating them at driving the ball forward? Would be monsters. Schmeichel could work in any era. Walker and Cole have the athleticism to cover but also able to defend. Van Dijk has the pace and long passing to go with Vidic's pure defending and leadership. Beckham could nip in and become a third midfielder and give you good ball playing skills. Hazard is the dribbler, the player to beat a man and mix things up/win fouls high up the pitch. Henry and Cantona could both drop off and play, but also do traditional centre forward stuff.
 
Last edited: