Jump to content

Best XI you've seen play?


Rick James

Recommended Posts

Colleague just asked me this and it was quite fun looking up some players etc. Can you make your dream starting XI (and bench if you wish) of players you've seen play in the flesh?

 

I went for a 3-5-2:

GK - David de Gea

DEF - Jamie Carragher, Lillian Thuram, Mats Hummels

MID - Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Mane, Salah

ATT - Zlatan and Henry

 

Subs -

Craig Gordon, Virgil van Dijk, N'golo Kante, Marco Reus, Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jambosteve1902
28 minutes ago, Locky said:

Colleague just asked me this and it was quite fun looking up some players etc. Can you make your dream starting XI (and bench if you wish) of players you've seen play in the flesh?

 

I went for a 3-5-2:

GK - David de Gea

DEF - Jamie Carragher, Lillian Thuram, Mats Hummels

MID - Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Mane, Salah

ATT - Zlatan and Henry

 

Subs -

Craig Gordon, Virgil van Dijk, N'golo Kante, Marco Reus, Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang 

none of your defenders could lace Van Dijks boots so whys he on bench? lol 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1. Peter Shilton

2. Danny McGrain 

3. Takis Fyssas

4. Virgil Van Dijk 

5. Sandy Jardine 

6. Glenn Hoddle

7. Ian Durrant 

8. Graeme Souness 

9. Kenny Dalglish 

10. Brian Laudrup 

11. Gareth Bale

 

Subs

12. Stefan Klos

13. Kyle Walker 

14. Terry Butcher 

15. Ronald de Boer

16. Paul Gascoigne 

17. Henrik Larsson 

18. Gary Lineker 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1. Buffon

 

2. Thuram 

6. Cannavaro

5. Van Dijk

3. Panucci

 

4. Xavi

7. Pirlo

8. Iniesta

 

10. Ronaldinho

9. Larsson 

11. Henry

 

Subs:

12. Klos

13. Stam 

14. Zambrotta

15. Seedorf

16. Gascoigne 

17. G.Bale

18. Van Nistelrooij 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

loveofthegame

                             Ederson

 

Dani Alves    R. Ferdinand    Vidic          Marcelo                                        

 

                     Scholes Xavi

 

Messi            Ronaldinho    Neymar

 

                      C.Ronaldo

 

Very quickly off top of my head. Have seen France, Spain, Barca, Real, Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea, City, Liverpool, Spurs, etc. over the years various times so will probably have left folk out that should be in there (especially in goals/defence). Also only seen Ronaldinho  in the friendly at Murrayfield where I was so drunk it barely counts...

 

Edited by loveofthegame
Forgot a LB...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Jambosteve1902 said:

none of your defenders could lace Van Dijks boots so whys he on bench? lol 

Thuram > Van Dijk all day long.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Салатные палочки

4-4-2 

 

1. Fabian Barthez  

2. Artur Numan 

3. Takis Fyssas 

4 Jaap Stam 

5.  Laurent Blanc 

6. Roy Keane 

7. Ryan Giggs 

8. Paul Gascoigne 

9. Ruud Van Nistelrooy 

10. Paul Scholes 

11. Brian Laudrup 

 

Edit.  I chose Dejan Stankovic over Scholes and I don't actually know why.  I seen Stankovic when he was young, and Scholes in his pomp.  **** it, I'm changing it.  

Edited by Salad Fingers
Link to comment
Share on other sites

51 minutes ago, John Findlay said:

Brazil 1970 in my lifetime

 

 

Me too. However I have to mention the 1956 team

 

Duff; Kirk, McKenzie; Mackay, Glidden, Cumming; Young, Conn, Bauld, Wardhaugh, Crawford.

Combined score of 7 1 against the Bigot Brothers on the way to winning the cup and the one goal we lost during that run should have been disallowed.
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The midfield is pretty impossible to choose but interchangeable nonetheless!
 
Valdes
 
Zambrotta
Van Dijk
Ramos
Puyol
 
Hagi
Iniesta
Scholes
Ronaldinho
 
Shearer
Henry 
 
Bench:
Beckham
Gerrard
Giggs
Xavi
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, John Findlay said:

Brazil 1970 in my lifetime

The criteria is players you have seen ‘in the flesh’!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

letsalldothebeattie

GK: David De Gea

 

RB: Gary Neville

CB: Carles Puyol

CB: Nemanja Vidic

LB: Andy Robertson

 

RM: David Beckham

CM: Paul Scholes

CM: Xavi

LM: Ryan Giggs

 

AM: Cristiano Ronaldo 

 

CF: Ruud Van Nistelrooy

 

Subs: Valdes, Pique, Iniesta, Deco, Ronaldinho, Shearer, H.Larsson

Link to comment
Share on other sites

scott herbertson

Jim Cruickshank (well ok probably Peter Shilton but can't bring myself to leave Cruikie out)

Danny McGrain

Roy Aitken (hard as nails and a fantastic captain, also an annoying  welt)

John Cumming (as Aitken without the captain or welty bits)

Takis Fyssas (can't think of a better left back I've seen, though there must have been some in the world cups)

Zico

Socrates 

Jones (Vinnie) (see Roy Aitken)

Ginola

Di Caneo

Larsson

 

I reckon my team would crush anyone else's if they could avoid red cards!

Edited by scott herbertson
Link to comment
Share on other sites

rudi must stay

For me (mainly Hearts games)

 

Niemi

 

Numan (struggling there but seems a good shout and I did see them hammering us at Tynecastle)

Webster

Pressley (most home games were a walk in the park for those two with those two eating up every attack)

Tierney

 

Thompson (liked his aura as a player, very confident and quality set pieces)

Nakamura

Albertz

Forrest

 

Dembele

Larsson

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The best player I have ever seen ‘live’ is Zidane.

 

Other players I’ve seen play who would make my team include George Best, David Beckham, Xavi, Iniesta, Luis Figo, Thuram, Abidal, Ronaldo (the real and original one, not the Portuguese one), Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Thierry Henry, Raul, Paul Scholes, Gascoigne and Maldini.

 

I could probably go on and on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've seen man city, Liverpool, few games abroad Germany and such which probably had some top players.

 

Scotland international matches and hearts European but can't remember the specifics to look squads up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

25 minutes ago, rudi must stay said:

For me (mainly Hearts games)

 

Niemi

 

Numan (struggling there but seems a good shout and I did see them hammering us at Tynecastle)

Webster

Pressley (most home games were a walk in the park for those two with those two eating up every attack)

Tierney

 

Thompson (liked his aura as a player, very confident and quality set pieces)

Nakamura

Albertz

Forrest

 

Dembele

Larsson

 

 

 

Tierney?

 

Naysmith? Robertson (Dundee utd)? Fyssas?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

rudi must stay
45 minutes ago, Alan_R said:

Tierney?

 

Naysmith? Robertson (Dundee utd)? Fyssas?

 

I saw Tierney v Molde and to this day it is the best performance I've seen from a left back. Incredible work rate, buzzing up and down the left side,  every minute you wanted him to be the man making the run he was right there.

 

His performance beats all the guys you've mentioned

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, rudi must stay said:

 

I saw Tierney v Molde and to this day it is the best performance I've seen from a left back. Incredible work rate, buzzing up and down the left side,  every minute you wanted him to be the man making the run he was right there.

 

His performance beats all the guys you've mentioned


Holy shit... Honestly? Tierney? :lol: 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 minutes ago, Bunny Munro said:

MacDonald, McGowan, Zaliukas, Webster, Grainger, Black, Barr, Suso, Skacel, Driver, Elliot.

Ah nice one man, I like that one ☝

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Icon of Symmetry said:


Holy shit... Honestly? Tierney? :lol: 

Yes, it's his opinion, and he's qualified it. 

He doesn't need your dickish response I'm sure, thanks. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, smiler said:

Yes, it's his opinion, and he's qualified it. 

He doesn't need your dickish response I'm sure, thanks. 


**** rattled your cage likes? :lol:

 

I’m replying to him and I’ve not been abusive. I’m really surprised that’s who makes the LB position.

 

Calm down m8. I doubt he needs you to help him make his case. Angry chap. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bazzas right boot

Neimi 😉

 

Smith

Tosh

Lucio

Vvd

 

B Ferguson 🤔

Modric

Iniesta

 

Ronaldinho 

Marradona 

Ronaldo (original) 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Samuel Camazzola
5 hours ago, Locky said:

Colleague just asked me this and it was quite fun looking up some players etc. Can you make your dream starting XI (and bench if you wish) of players you've seen play in the flesh?

 

I went for a 3-5-2:

GK - David de Gea

DEF - Jamie Carragher, Lillian Thuram, Mats Hummels

MID - Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Mane, Salah

ATT - Zlatan and Henry

 

Subs -

Craig Gordon, Virgil van Dijk, N'golo Kante, Marco Reus, Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang 

I don't believe you when you say Carragher is one of the best you've seen. 

 

From some of the names you've listed, I imagine you were at the Barca game and would have seen Abidal and Zambrotta. 

 

I don't know what age you are but thought you'd have seen Gough at Tynecastle. 

 

Also, guys like Larsson and Laudrup featured heavily against us and would easily go ahead of Mane, Salah, Aubameyang and Reus. 

 

Other guys that featured at Tynie making seeing them a higher probability are Bale, Van Der Vaart and Keane. 

Edited by Samuel Camazzola
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Samuel Camazzola
2 hours ago, rudi must stay said:

For me (mainly Hearts games)

 

Niemi

 

Numan (struggling there but seems a good shout and I did see them hammering us at Tynecastle)

Webster

Pressley (most home games were a walk in the park for those two with those two eating up every attack)

Tierney

 

Thompson (liked his aura as a player, very confident and quality set pieces)

Nakamura

Albertz

Forrest

 

Dembele

Larsson

 

 

 

From the era you've mentioned, no Laudrup? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Samuel Camazzola said:

I don't believe you when you say Carragher is one of the best you've seen. 

 

From some of the names you've listed, I imagine you were at the Barca game and woukd have seen Abidal and Zambrotta. 

 

I don't know what you are but thought you'd have seen Gough at Tynecastle. 

 

Also, guys like Larsson and Laudrup featured heavily against us and would easily go ahead of Mane, Salah, Aubameyang and Reus. 

 

Other guys that featured at Tynie making seeing them a higher probability are Bale, Van Der Vaart and Keane. 


Who would you put Brian Laudrup in in front of?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bazzas right boot
17 minutes ago, Smith's right boot said:

Neimi 😉

 

Smith

Tosh

Lucio

Vvd

 

B Ferguson 🤔

Modric

Iniesta

 

Ronaldinho 

Marradona 

Ronaldo (original) 

 

 

 

Diego wasn't playing. 

Missed Messi 🙄

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, Samuel Camazzola said:

Mane, Salah and Reus. 


In front of Salah surprises me. Salah is streets ahead of him for me. 
 

(sorry Smiler, was that too dickish?)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, Smith's right boot said:

 

Diego wasn't playing. 

Missed Messi 🙄


Missed Messi from what game? I’ve never seen him play live.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bazzas right boot
3 hours ago, rudi must stay said:

For me (mainly Hearts games)

 

Niemi

 

Numan (struggling there but seems a good shout and I did see them hammering us at Tynecastle)

Webster

Pressley (most home games were a walk in the park for those two with those two eating up every attack)

Tierney

 

Thompson (liked his aura as a player, very confident and quality set pieces)

Nakamura

Albertz

Forrest

 

Dembele

Larsson

 

 

 

 

From the SPL and that era, b Ferguson was always a cut above imo. 

 

Splits opinion but a midfielder that actually controlled football games, Scotland haven't had many of them. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bazzas right boot
2 minutes ago, Icon of Symmetry said:


Missed Messi from what game? I’ve never seen him play live.

 

 

Did he not play In The friendly as a sub? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Samuel Camazzola
3 minutes ago, Icon of Symmetry said:


In front of Salah surprises me. Salah is streets ahead of him for me. 
 

(sorry Smiler, was that too dickish?)

I've not seen Salah in a match I've attended so it wouldn't be a consideration for me. 

 

However, not a chance he's "streets ahead". 😄 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bazzas right boot
Just now, Cruyff Turn said:

No. He wasn’t in the squad.

 

 

Having a mare. 

 

Henry then 😂

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Samuel Camazzola said:

However, not a chance he's "streets ahead". 😄 


At the risk of infuriating Smiler, I absolutely believe he is. 
 

Unless you are Jim White? 🤭

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Only ever watch Hearts so...

 

Gordon

Pressley Zaliukas Takis

Brellier Aguiar

Driver Hartley Skacel

De Vries Zeefuik

 

I know Takis was a LB but I couldn't think of a stand out RB so given he's 6ft 2 he can play LCB :P 

Zeefuik is the best finisher of a ball I've ever seen and firmly believe we should have scooped him up when he got canned off that Turkish team. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

SectionDJambo

Probably forgot many a great player but here goes,

 

Pat Jennings

 

Lucas Piszczek

Bobby Moore

Sol Campbell

Takis Fyssas

 

Gareth Bale

Diego Maradonna

Paul Gascoigne

John Robertson (Forest)

 

Hernik Larsson

Robert Lewandowski

 

Substitutes (another 11)

Antti Niemi

Kenny Dalglish 

Mario Kempes

Alan Ball

Craig Levein

Marco Reus

Sandy Jardine

Graeme Souness

Sebastian Kehl

Felix Magath

Manfred Kaltz

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bazzas right boot
1 hour ago, Icon of Symmetry said:


Now he actually was a sub.

 

 

I got messi and the young serb lad mixed up. 

 

Serb lad was only 16. Serb/ Croatian. 

 

Had a mare. Me. 

 

He was quality iirc. 

 

 

Edited by Smith's right boot
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bazzas right boot
58 minutes ago, OTT said:

Only ever watch Hearts so...

 

Gordon

Pressley Zaliukas Takis

Brellier Aguiar

Driver Hartley Skacel

De Vries Zeefuik

 

I know Takis was a LB but I couldn't think of a stand out RB so given he's 6ft 2 he can play LCB :P 

Zeefuik is the best finisher of a ball I've ever seen and firmly believe we should have scooped him up when he got canned off that Turkish team. 

 

 

Aye but Hearts play other teams. 

 

I reckon Bale, suraez might make that team. 

Larsson... 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bazzas right boot

Did Dzeko play v us in the 2-0 win against a Bosnian team? 

 

Could be a shout if you were there. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...