So no one rates Gareth Barry then?
Christ, you only notice he's on the pitch when he gives the ball away.
So no one rates Gareth Barry then?
GK:
Hart, Carson, Ruddy
Defence:
Richards, Walker, Cahill, Lescott, Smalling, Terry, Baines, Cole
Midfield:
Gerrard, Parker, Milner, Lampard, A. Johnson, Young, Lennon, Chamberlain
Strikers:
Sturridge, Welbeck, Crouch, Rooney.
Fair enough, like I said, short of Ideas and quite frankly none of that low who I didn't pick already inspire me with confidence. Is Wilshere back from injury yet?
Mark Noble anyone? We should also sign him if West Ham don't go up.
It's interesting the choices that come up when people pick subjectively, but it's been an even bigger eye opener looking through different club stats objectively.
Have to agree with your comment about Gerrard, at the moment, Beef Dripping.
Liverpool's WIN RATE with him playing is awful this season, and their LOSS RATE greatly enhanced.
Some of the POSITIVE stats ...
K Walker, S Parker, D Rose, T Walcott, A O-Chamberlain, A Cole, K Gibbs, J Terry, P Neville, D Gibson, J Carragher, A Carroll, A Johnson, W Rooney, P Scholes, M Carrick, D Wellbeck
Clear NEGATIVES ...
S Gerrard, L Baines, J Milner, G Barry, M Richards, A Young
If they two groups are categorised on stats alone please ignore what I've got to say next and sorry!
However if those are your personal "negative" list of players then you've got to be bonkers! Richards is the best english right back since neville and by far and away the best in the prem not to mention his ability to play centre back being invaluable in a tournament environment.
Baines is an understudy that most countries would be happy to have as their 1st choice.
James milners workrate and adaptability is vital to any team.
Gareth Barry is the one I may agree with you on although I think he's far better than people think and he's become a bit of a scapegoat.
Gerrard is getting some stick on here but people just do not realise how much he cares in an england shirt barring ashley cole and recently joe hart he has been by FAR our best performer and certainly a player who would kill for the shirt.
Ashley Young is a diver. This I hate about him. However he has undoubted class and would get into almost any national side plus he can play anywhere across a front 3.
Yep, statistics alone. Based on how well the team did when they were in action or not over the course of the season.
Agree with what you say about Gerrard. I love the lad, but sometimes love can be blind, I fear. His problem, perhaps, as an older player, is that he hasn't quite recovered what he had before his long term injury at the start of the season. He may just find a groove again, who knows?
City's figures all improve when Barry, Milner and Richards are out. Richards only marginal, but Milner's make for nasty reading. I also like Young as a player, but he hasn't nailed down his place at United and you have to ask why - their figures improve without him ( although he has done well for England ).
With regard to Baines, his set play delivery gets him noticed, not sure what stands out beyond that. Ashley Cole's figures are fantastic, and Gibbs ( his understudy ), not far behind him. Actually remember Young and Gibbs having a very good thing going down the left side in one England game.
It's not an exact science, but it does help to get a bigger picture. You know how fickle some football fans can be, only noticing the great pass or goal. Or with regard to keeping goal, the one howler. There's a lot more to the game than the highlights, I feel.
I'm really surprised at some of these opinions. As odious an individual as he is John Terry has been one of the best CB's in the world for the past 8 years. Hugely influential and as brave as any other footballer, while also a superb passer and all-round technical player for a defender, not to mention the amount of goals he scores. Just because he had a bad game at Liverpool the other night doesn't change any of that. As a centre back who plays as a decent level myself, i'll remember him as the finest of his generation. Can't begin to comprehend the thinking behind putting Shawcross, Caulker(!) and Jagielka ahead of him in the pecking order.
My Squad:
Hart, Foster, Butland (might as well give it someone young as 3rd choice is never gonna play)
Richard, Walker, Terry, Ferdinand, Lescott, Jones, Cole, Baines
Walcott, Gerrard, Parker, Lampard, Carrick, Barry, Young, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Rooney, Crouch, Sturridge, Welbeck
I think Milner and Johnson are good enough but can't justify selection when they've played less than half the minutes of the rest of the squad. A small price to play for earning a ****load at City.
Terry has been good for 7 our of the past 8 seasons, however this season he has been DIRE and if we're going to win we need to pick players on form not on reputation.
I think the fact that he's set the bar so high in his career serves to make any mistakes all the more noticeable. Add that to the fact that he's constantly reminding us what an utter prick he is off the pitch and it's no wonder the public revel in any opportunity to doubt his credentials.
**** his private life, he's the best natural leader, and most passionate player in that squad by a mile. Not to mention how invaluable previous experience of international tournaments is. He'd be first on the plane for me along with Rooney and Hart.
Who are your four Centre backs out of interest?