YOUR XI, for no particular footballing reasons
Donno has thins been done before but pick 11 players that you always liked, for what ever strange reasons, they dont have to be the most gifted players ever, for me;
GK- Packie Bonner- His booming goal kicks, making funny faces and that peno save
RB- Denis Irwin- Cork man who was pure quality all through his career, never moaned or acted the prima donna.
CB- Baresi- fantastic and loyal player, always looked like he was homeless
CB- Blanc- much the same as Baresi, he used to drag France through games at times
LB- Maldini- no explanation needed
RM- Boban- tough chap, stood up to Serb Police thugs, making him a hero in Croatia, great championship manager signing
CM- Dave Barry- could have played at a much higher level but didnt want to or need to, succeeded at the top level in Ireland at two sports
CM- George O'Callaghan- best player currently in Ireland, by a distance, Port Vale once turned down a big money bid from Arsenal for him thinking they'd get more, new manager ment no Georgie and they released him on a free two year later. Vale's loss was City's gain. Class really shun through in European games.
LM- Le Tisser- so lazy yet so talented, couldnt be arsed leaving the Saints, scored the last goal at the Dell
FC- Roberto Baggio- What a player, never got the credit he deserved, served so many clubs so well. Was always a Forentina fan so he refused to take a peno against them while playing for Juve
FC- Mark Hughes- tough fella who was also fantastic with flicks, volleys and tricks
My European XI no particular reason
Well seeing as I have an unlimited transfer budget and a time machine ( like everyone else) here goes.
GK: Dino Zoff.....One of the best ever . Once went over 1,000 minutes of international football without conceding a goal. He would also be captain as he skippered Italy to their 1982 World Cup triumph.
RB: Eric Gerets: The Belgian right-back one of the best defenders ever to come from a Benelux country.
LB: Paolo Maldini: One of the best left-backs ever.
CB: Paul McGrath: The only defender from the Premiership(or it's previous version) in recent years who would have made it in Serie A.
CB: Giacinto Facchetti: The ultimate sweeper in the old Catenaccio system. He would mind the store while others went up for corners. But when he did attack grabbed the odd goal.
RM: Dragan Dzajic: Former Red Star and Yugoslavia international. Like watching a Brazilian
CM: Dragan Stojkovic: "Piksi" is now the President of the Serbia/Montenegro Football Federation but he was always in charge on the field, playmaker supreme.
CM: Claudio Gentile: Tough as old boots, but he could also play a bit, and every team needs an enforcer. They didn't come anymore Dirty Harry-like then the bould Claudio.
LM: Didier Six: There has to be a Frenchman in this team and this left-winger gets my vote.
CF: Gerd Muller: There had to be at least one German in the team. Gerdi's goals ratio of 68 goals from approx. 63 games clinches it for him.
CF: Eusebio: When Pele got injured in 1966, he was for a time the best player in the world. Born in Mozambique he represented Portugal and his club Benfica magnificently until he moved to the North American Soccer League in the 1970's.
SUBS: Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Kenny Dalglish, Sepp Maier, Franz Beckenbauer, Dejan Savicevic,Pavel Nedved , Bobby Moore.
