Think I have done tbis before. But thought sod it, sometimes things are worth revisiting. And I am feeling wistful. Away golfing with the lads last weekend and we had a long debate on this one. Alcohol misguided many any an opinion. I love thinking back to teams that have made me love this game more and more. I have 10 or 11 teams I could wax lyrical about. Might do a bit on each over time. But want others to add their own teams too please. I love reading everyones opinions. I remember the Liverpool side of 83/84 as one of the greatest. Not the best in my opinion, and not my favourite (to come), but man this was something special. Grobelaar was seen as something of a clown but man he could keep nets. He was always in control of his backline and he didnt fear big lumpy centr forwards. Neal and Kennedy as good a full back pairing as you could hope for. Neal in particular was a hell of a player. Hansen and Lawrenson, enough said. Last weekend all the lads agreed Hansen would be £100m plus worth of centre half these days. Pace, greater reader of the game, sublime tackler and kept the ball under pressure. One of my fav ever defenders. Souness in the middle. If you never saw Souness you missed out. He was a brilliant footballer, and an animal alongside it. To see him and tiny Sammy Lee line up made you laugh. Whelan one of my favourite midfielders of that era. Genious with the ball at feet. In a golden era of ball playing midfielders he shone. Johnston on the right complemented him so well with a more direct running game. Dalglish and Rush? Dalglish just seemed to go on forever, and get better. Another who in the modern game would be setting tfr records imo. Vision was unreal and he was strong as an ox. Then Rush, the arch finisher. What a striker he was. I dont know if I have seen better finisher ever, maybe Van Basten, but Rush was deadly. 47 goals that season! They won a treble. Including the European Cup when the big pot was for the best only. It was made more remarkabke as it was ***ans first season in charge after Paisley.
The best team I've ever seen in club football was peps Barca team - this was before his teams became boring to watch Loved the movement, passing and the workrate of the team - was extra special that 8 of the team were from their academy
They would be in my 10 or 11 for sure. Not the best though in my lifetime. Keeping that one up my sleeve for now.
If we are including international teams, I loved the French team that won the WC then euros (or was it the other way around) Barca we're just a special team for me, that CM was unreal and felt that was when Messi really arrived as a GOAT contender
Liverpool coming back from 3 nil down against Milan has always given me a soft spot for them. The Milan players were kissing the trophy as they walked off at half time apparently and tge Liverpool players coukd here then celebrating in the changing room which fired them up so much for the 2nd half. Stevie G was amazing and its through my respect for him as a player and leader which also give me a soft spot.
Might be quite a rogue shout but I loved the 2014 World Cup Germany team. Ozil Klose Muller Kroos Khedira Schweinsteiger Howedes Hummels Boateng Lahm Neuer Wouldn't call them fun to watch, they were just so efficient across the park.
Early 90s AC Milan. Gullit, Van Basten, Riykard, Papin, Maldini, Baresi, Ancellotti, Donadoni off the top of my head. What would that team be worth today!
The 2 big Spanish clubs - Barca and Real in the 90s, full of galacticos but where also some of the best footballers to grace this planet.
I was only young but I loved watching the 1984/85 Everton team. I remember watching them become euro cup winners cup winners when European competition was played by the teams that actually won things to get into Europe. Southall, the Stevens’s, Graeme Sharpe and of course Peter Reid and Paul Bracewell in the middle of the park.
Holland in the 1974 World Cup. Cruyff, Neeskens, Johnny Rep, Rudy Krol et al. It was the first time we had seen the concept of total football, where players could interchange their positions without it causing any loss of effectiveness. Ajax had won the European Cup in 1971,72 and 73 so I suppose it wasn’t that much of a surprise but they were outstanding in that tournament. Lost to the Germans 2-1 in the final though.
Categorically this. That team was utterly flawless. They had scrapping, tough tackling defenders who lead, attacking wingbacks, the most complete and effortlessly dominant centre mid pairing, and we don’t even have to discuss the 3 up top. Stunning side.
Wow this is a tough one Milan early 90's would be up there. Have to say so cultured at the back, I love a defender.
I loved the French team of the 1984 Euros. Thought Platini was the best. Also loved the Barcelona team of the late 80s with Koeman and Laudrup. First time I'd seen another European league game on TV and was mesmerised.
I've watched the brazil 1970 world cup team so much, for those that actually watched the how good were they?
A lot of these teams are great, and then some pure nostalgia. Can any of you truly say they’d beat Peps Barca? I don’t believe anyone could.