Bryan Robson? Never heard this opinion before, always thought he was universally agreed to be brilliant when fit.Robbo a bit like Keegan. Bit of a hero and a cult figure, but very...er..."satisfactory" as a player.
Tbh the best one was mid-30s Paul Scholes. He’d long since retired from international football though.
A fit Bryan Robson was kinda like Catholic chief rabbis though.Bryan Robson? Never heard this opinion before, always thought he was universally agreed to be brilliant when fit.
Even though it was not his best position, as if Gerrard wasn't several notches above decent there. As if Paul Ince wasn't top class for a decade. Carrick was decent enough to play for the CL winners. Hargreaves played for Bayern and Man U. James Milner won titles with City and Liverpool.
I like most of this side as a concept. Not sure about the Beckenbauer/Baresi partnership though as both were mostly sweepers when they played in defence. Would probably either drop Baresi for Moore/Nesta or else move Beckenbauer into midfield in place of Andrade or the CM. Also don't think Di Stefano balances the side well at CM, think that Xavi would balance the side a lot better.GK: Lev Yashin
LB: Paolo Maldini
CB: Franz Beckenbaur
CB: Franco Baresi
RB: Carlos Alberto
DM: José Leandro Andrade
CM: Alfredo Di Stefano
AM: Diego Maradona
RW: Lionel Messi
CF: Pelé
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo
Subs:
Gianluigi Buffon
Gordon Banks
Djalma Santos
Nilton Santos
Bobby Moore
Eliás Figueroa
Xavi
Zinedine Zidane
Garrincha
George Best
Ronaldo Nazario
Ferenc Puskas
From a tactical standpoint I agree, but romantically I am not dropping Di Stefano for XaviI like most of this side as a concept. Not sure about the Beckenbauer/Baresi partnership though as both were mostly sweepers when they played in defence. Would probably either drop Baresi for Moore/Nesta or else move Beckenbauer into midfield in place of Andrade or the CM. Also don't think Di Stefano balances the side well at CM, think that Xavi would balance the side a lot better.
Yashin
Maldini
Baresi
Moore/Nesta
Alberto
Beckenbauer
Xavi
Maradona
Messi
Pele
Ronaldo
Might work better.
That's fine. I've seen far more ridiculous selections for an all-time XI with people wanting to put all their favourite attacking players in. At least you have one more holding midfielder there. Even though I think Maradona is the greater player I actually wonder if Di Stefano or even Platini might fit better in the CAM role in this side tbh.From a tactical standpoint I agree, but romantically I am not dropping Di Stefano for Xavi
I believe he would. Di Stefano is the most versatile top tier attacking player of all time; capable of playing an array of roles. Maradona was more limited in his techniques, which he made up by his stupidly effective dribbling. If I have to play a team which would actually be more effective:That's fine. I've seen far more ridiculous selections for an all-time XI with people wanting to put all their favourite attacking players in. At least you have one more holding midfielder there. Even though I think Maradona is the greater player I actually wonder if Di Stefano or even Platini might fit better in the CAM role in this side tbh.
Just read through some of these 90s sides. Hardly any actual wingers being picked, giggs got to be worth a shout. Batistuta was a god at fiorentina too.GK Schmeichel
RB Thuram
CB Desailly
CB Nesta
LB Maldini
DM Keane
MF Redondo
MF Laudrup
CAM Baggio
CF Ronaldo
CF Romario
Desailly and Nesta come in for Hierro and Stam. Redondo comes in for Matthaus (who appears to have been better in the 80s).