Best starting XI of your generation

[jebus]

All this stems from some moron (English) saying to myself and a mate recently that Rooney is the best player of our generation. We obviously just laughed and walked off, but it got us thinking about the best team of our generation, I realise different age groups are on here so it will be mixed, for example I never saw Pele play so he won't be near my team. Anyway here's the team I came out with,

Keeper
Peter Schmeichal - Prone to the odd lapse in concentration, but his reflexes were fantastic, and when he was on form he was the greatest keeper in the world.

Defence
Right Cafu - An absolute phenom of a player
Left Paolo Maldini - No explaination necessary
Centre Fernando Hierro - Genuinely think he has been forgotten about a bit in the category of world class players
Centre Lothar Matthaus - Absolute rock of a defender, good passer of the ball too. I took quite a lot of stick for sporting a West Germany jersey with his name on it throughout Italia '90

Midfield
Right Diego Maradona - I only remember him from around 89 onwards, but from the glimpses I remember he was something else
Left Lionel Messi - Honestly he deserves a spot from what I've seen in the last couple of seasons. Genuinely think he's the next in line in the Pele - Maradona - Zidane line
Centre Zinedine Zidane - I think he's the greatest player I've ever watched, but I did just catch the tail end of Maradona's career
Centre Dunga - Playing as a defensive midfielder in a diamond midfield formation

Forward

Kinsmann - Most natural goalscorer I've ever witnessed
Bergkamp - Most intelligent player I've ever witnessed

[Pike B]

Schmeical Thuram Hierro Desailly Maldini Keane Maradona Zidane Hagi Ronaldo(Real not Diver) Batistuta.
Manager Wenger.

[eirebhoy]

Maldini, Zidane and Ronaldo should be in everyones team tbh.

[superfrank]

Schemeichel - Great keeper

Cafu - An amazing right back, could get up and down the wing and defend as well
Thuram - He was a solid defender. I can't remember him making a mistake
Maldini - Another solid defender. A real sign of how great he is: he's spent his entire career at one of the top clubs and can still do it at 39.
Roberto Carlos - I always like full-backs that attacked and though maybe not as defensively sound as Cafu, he's still an asset to any team

Keane - Great defensive midfielder
Zidane - The best player I've ever seen play
Zola - One of those players that turn a game in a flash, pure genius

Jardel - Amazing goalscorer. Pity his career stifled in Turkey
Bergkamp - A true genius of football
Ronaldo - Another player who scored goals for fun

[Sheridan]

Ravelli

Zanetti Baresi Hierro Lizarazu

Sammer

Rui Costa Mendieta Nedved

Stoichkov

Batistuta

Being very faithful to the premise. Would have liked to have included Laudrup and Van Basten but I never saw them at their best.

[TheBoss]

GK: Schmeichal

RB: Cafu
CB: Sammer
CB: Baresi
LB: Maldini

RM: Figo
CM: Redondo
CM: Rui Costa
LM: Giggs

CF: Batistuta
CF: R Baggio

[gustavo]

1990-2007
at their best

-----------------Schmeichel
Cafu ---Cannavaro ----- Maldini -------R. Carlos

-------------Keane-------Guardiola

Figo---------------- Zidane-----------------Giggs

---------------------Ronaldo

Bench
Buffon , McGrath ,Baresi , Stam , Xavi , Ronaldinho , Messi ,Beckham , Raul , Kanchelskis , Van Nistelrooy , Kaka , Shevchenko , Batistuta , Bergkamp , Romario

[lim abroad]

surprised nobody's picked roberto baggio so far

[jebus]

surprised nobody's picked roberto baggio so far

Look again, they have

[lim abroad]

GK:zubizarreta
RB:cafu
CB:koeman
CB:baresi
LB:maldini
RW:figo
CM:baggio
CM:zidane
LW:stoichkov
CF:ronaldo
CF:romario

[lim abroad]

Look again, they have

you're right,didn't spot that

[Pike B]

GK:zubizarreta
RB:cafu
CB:koeman
CB:baresi
LB:maldini
RW:figo
CM:baggio
CM:zidane
LW:stoichkov
CF:ronaldo
CF:romario
Dodgy keeper mate....

[biscuit]

------------------Schmeichel

-----Cafu ---Cannavaro ----- Dunga -------Maldini

---------------------Keane

Romario---------------- Zidane--------------Stoichkov

----------- Shearer------------Bergkamp

Honourable Mentions:

Ronadinho, Messi, Baggio, Gullit, Desailly, Hagi

[lim abroad]

Dodgy keeper mate....

most capped spanish plaer ever(126 caps) and played in 4 world cups,can't be that dodgy?

[Pike B]

most capped spanish plaer ever(126 caps) and played in 4 world cups,can't be that dodgy?
Nigeria's 2nd goal in France 98.... Ouch...

[lim abroad]

Nigeria's 2nd goal in France 98.... Ouch...

there isn't a player in the world that hasn't made mistakes

[jebus]

1:Chilavert
2:Cafu
3:Zanetti
4:Sensini
5:Aldair
6:Etchevery
7:Romario
8:Maradona
9:Batistuta
10:Valderama
11:Ruben Sosa (Captain)
Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira

I know you like South American football a lot, but I can't take a team without Maldini in the starting line up seriously to be honest. In many ways he's a better player than Maradona or Zidane ever was :)

[cartman]

schmeichel

maldini
carragher
costacurta
thuram

zidane
keane
kaka

r.baggio
van basten
ronaldo

sub : cristiano :) {just for his free kick prowess}

[Pike B]

there isn't a player in the world that hasn't made mistakes
Zinedine Zidane..
Everything he ever did was right...
Yes even the headbutt. :D

[lim abroad]

Zinedine Zidane..
Everything he ever did was right...
Yes even the headbutt. :D

hahaha,ok.what would your team be?

[lim abroad]

Yes I agree. My team isn't really the best I've ever seen, more my favourites. My real team is more like:
1:Buffon
2:Thuram
3:MALDINI
4:Baresi
5:Cannavaro
6 Dunga
7:Rivaldo
8:Zidane
9:Ronaldo
10:Maradona
11:Ruben Sosa

But don't tell anyone!!

i used to love watching rivaldo until his antics v turkey in the world cup

[Pike B]

hahaha,ok.what would your team be?
It's about second on this thread!! See what you reckon..

[lim abroad]

It's about second on this thread!! See what you reckon..

good team,had forgotten about hagi,what a player!

[Pike B]

good team,had forgotten about hagi,what a player!
Ah man!!!
That goal in 94!
He meant it, I am certain he did.
He was pure genius and very few people ackowledge how great he was.
Loved that little guy.

[Pike B]

GK:zubizarreta
RB:cafu
CB:koeman
CB:baresi
LB:maldini
RW:figo
CM:baggio
CM:zidane
LW:stoichkov
CF:ronaldo
CF:romario
Is that Dino Baggio??
Or just a very very attacking midfield??

[gee wizz]

schemichel

cafu baresi mcgrath maldini

figo keane zidane

van basten batistuta maradonna

[gustavo]

------------------Schmeichel

-----Cafu ---Cannavaro ----- Dunga -------Maldini

---------------------Keane

Romario---------------- Zidane--------------Stoichkov

----------- Shearer------------Bergkamp

Honourable Mentions:

Ronadinho, Messi, Baggio, Gullit, Desailly, Hagi
Romario is wasted out right!

[biscuit]

he can push on if he wants!! who am i to tell him to stay there!! hes on the right by the way ;):D Did he not play on the right v sweden in the world cup 94??

[lim abroad]

Is that Dino Baggio??
Or just a very very attacking midfield??

no,its roberto.i'll have him playing off my front 2

[Pike B]

no,its roberto.i'll have him playing off my front 2
With Figo Zidane and Hristo behind him?? God help your defence!!!

[Pike B]

he can push on if he wants!! who am i to tell him to stay there!! hes on the right by the way ;):D Did he not play on the right v sweden in the world cup 94??
Ah no. Romario has never played anywhere but up front. He doesn't like to run you see.

[Sheridan]

My team would hammer any of these (from a similar era.) It's all about balance, people, learn from the master.

[lim abroad]

With Figo Zidane and Hristo behind him?? God help your defence!!!

my defence can take care of themselves

[Pike B]

my defence can take care of themselves
Ok. Your team 6-7 Other team. No defensive linchpin in your midfield leaves you weak. Loads of goals yes, but no balance. How about a Dunga or Viera or Keane or Matt Holland in there!!!

[Pike B]

My team would hammer any of these (from a similar era.) It's all about balance, people, learn from the master.
Self praise is no praise. My team would beat yours. 3-2..

[the sparks]

just like to say i know everyone is entitled to their oponion and i havent picked my own 11 yet but anyone that doesnt have romario up front doesnt know much about football,ye keep saying natural goalscorer bout ye're strikers but noone has more than him 1226 games 1002 goals fair enough they werent all at the highest level but a hell of a lot were,even maradonna,roberto baggio and johan cruff aswell as a lot of others have said he is the most dangerous and natural goalscorer they have ever seen and lets be honest they would no just a little bit more about it than anyone on this site

[Bluebeard]

just like to say i know everyone is entitled to their oponion and i havent picked my own 11 yet but anyone that doesnt have romario up front doesnt know much about football,ye keep saying natural goalscorer bout ye're strikers but noone has more than him 1226 games 1002 goals fair enough they werent all at the highest level but a hell of a lot were,even maradonna,roberto baggio and johan cruff aswell as a lot of others have said he is the most dangerous and natural goalscorer they have ever seen and lets be honest they would no just a little bit more about it than anyone on this site

Dunno. I'd trust Stutts 88 or Tetsujin more than Johann Cryuff, what with his suspicious superfluous "Y". I reckon he'd sell you a used football, given the chance...

[biscuit]

Dunno. I'd trust Stutts 88 or Tetsujin more than Johann Cryuff, what with his suspicious superflous "Y". I reckon he'd sell you a used football, given the chance...

Quality Bluebeard as usual!!:D:D POTM

[GavinZac]

...................Schmeichel
............Maldini Baresi Dunga
............... Keane Gattuso
Rivaldo..................................Messi
..........Romario Ronaldo Weah

Subs: M. Devine, J. Gamble, C. Healy, P. Freyne, J. Caulfield

[Sheridan]

That team is a joke without Gerald Dobbs.

[GavinZac]

That team is a joke without Gerald Dobbs.

If i was playing a system with right full backs he'd be in there definitely :D

[stojkovic]

Zoff
Gentile-Ayala-Passarella-Maldini
Keane
Matthaus-Platini-Zidane
Maradona
Cruijff-Van Basten

Argie-Italo defence
Keano the leader
German efficiency and French flair in midfield
Maradona magic
Double Dutch up front

Apologies to Batigol.

[Morbo]

All this stems from some moron (English) saying to myself and a mate recently that Rooney is the best player of our generation. We obviously just laughed and walked off, but it got us thinking about the best team of our generation, I realise different age groups are on here so it will be mixed, for example I never saw Pele play so he won't be near my team. Anyway here's the team I came out with,

Keeper
Peter Schmeichal - Prone to the odd lapse in concentration, but his reflexes were fantastic, and when he was on form he was the greatest keeper in the world.

Defence
Right Cafu - An absolute phenom of a player
Left Paolo Maldini - No explaination necessary
Centre Fernando Hierro - Genuinely think he has been forgotten about a bit in the category of world class players
Centre Lothar Matthaus - Absolute rock of a defender, good passer of the ball too. I took quite a lot of stick for sporting a West Germany jersey with his name on it throughout Italia '90

Midfield
Right Diego Maradona - I only remember him from around 89 onwards, but from the glimpses I remember he was something else
Left Lionel Messi - Honestly he deserves a spot from what I've seen in the last couple of seasons. Genuinely think he's the next in line in the Pele - Maradona - Zidane line
Centre Zinedine Zidane - I think he's the greatest player I've ever watched, but I did just catch the tail end of Maradona's career
Centre Dunga - Playing as a defensive midfielder in a diamond midfield formation

Forward

Kinsmann - Most natural goalscorer I've ever witnessed
Bergkamp - Most intelligent player I've ever witnessed

I'd pick pretty much the same team except up front I'd go with Romario and Ronaldo_Version1, I was a big fan of Bergkamp and he scored some wonderful goals, I'd rate that goal he scored in France 98 as the 2nd best goal I've ever seen but for pure clinical effiency I'd have to go for Romario.
Klinsmann was more consistant thoughout his career than Ronaldo but with both players playing at their best I'd have to give it to Ronaldo.

Subs: Buffon, Thuram, McGrath, Hagi, Baggio, Stoichkoff, Klinsmann

[OwlsFan]

I'd play a team that would concede 4 and score 7:


---------------Given-----------------

-----Baresi-----McGrath----------Maldini----------

----------Giles-------Zidane------

-----Cruyff--------------------------------Ronaldinho----

-----------Maradona---------Pele-------Eusebio----

[endabob1]

Team (3-1-4-2)

Zoff

Baresi
McGrath
Maldini

Mattheus

Platini
Hoddle
Maradonna
Gullitt

Van Basten
Romario

Subs
Schemicial
Nesta
Ayala
Rijkaard
Gazza
Zidane
Klinsman
Ronaldinho
Baggio

[shakermaker1982]

I'm picking from 1990 onwards (I was 7/8).

Schmeichel

Maldini
McGrath
Baresi
Cafu

Messi
Keane
Zidane
Figo

Ronaldo
Romario.

[Pike B]

I'm picking from 1990 onwards (I was 7/8).

Schmeichel

Maldini
McGrath
Baresi
Cafu

Messi
Keane
Zidane
Figo

Ronaldo
Romario.
Is anyone nuts enough to not pick Paolo Maldini I wonder.... Nope..

[gustavo]

Is anyone nuts enough to not pick Paolo Maldini I wonder.... Nope..

The man is a class act , One of the All time greats , what more can you say :)

[Pike B]

The man is a class act , One of the All time greats , what more can you say :)
Nothing..

[shakermaker1982]

Nothing..

I have him in at LB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!