Inspired by testamonial thread but didnt want to take it off track. Best XI players during his reign as captain. Assume players in best form during his reign. So yes. Fowler played with him whilst he was captain and before he was captain... but wasn't near his best when playing with Stevie when Stevie was captain. Who would you pick? ------- Pepe Reina------- Arbeloa-Hyypia-Carra-Riise ---- Lucas - Alonso ---- Gerrard ---- ---- Suarez ---- Owen - Torres ---- Subs: Dudek; Finnan; Mascherano; Igor ; Bellamy (struggling to think of good strikers... him or Crouchie); Garcia
Reina Finnan-Hyypia-Carra-Riise Hamann- Alonso - Kuyt - Gerrard - Suarez Torres (this was a quick post whilst depositing)
-----------Reina---------- Arbeloa-Hyypia-Carra-Aurelio ---------Didi---Alonso----- --Suarez--Gerrard--Owen-- -----------Torres---------
Give me this 11 in their prime anyday! ------------Pepe Arbeloa-Sami-Carra-Riise --- Alonso-Masch --Dirk-Gerrard-Suarez ---------Torres
Hamann is a good call. Found it hard to choose between Lucas and Mash... had to put Lucas in there somewhere though... admittedly Mash prob deserved it more... Didi makes it even harder. Stevie had some good defensive mids to work with in his day.
Forgot about that, he was here very briefly right? No way that Fowler gets over Torres, Owen, or Suarez.
Not under the rules set out by the OP. However, in their primes ignoring these rules, I'd have Fowler over the others every single time!
I wouldn't have Kuyt tbh, although I love him. He wouldn't win a game, but he'd be fantastic on the bench. I'd also throw in Babbel at RB, even though Finnan was good. Babbel was fantastic when he played, just plagued by injury. Babbel-Hyypia-Carra-Riise ------Alonso--Didi--------- -Bellamy--Gerrard--Suarez- ---------Torres-----------
-------------Reina--------------- Carra--Henchoz--Hyypia----Riise ----------Mascherano----------- -------Alonso---Gerrard-------- ------------Suarez-------------- -----Torres--------Owen-------- People are neglecting Henchoz on here. This exact back four here was like 2 goals from conceeding the least goals ever
The midfield trio of Alonso, Mascherano and Gerrard - for me was/is the best balanced midfield in club football.... Reina; Finnan, Hyypia, Carra, Aurelio; Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard; Suarez, Torres, Owen. However, Finnan and Auerlio could easily be swapped for Arbeloa and Riise........ Basically, except for RB and LB it's a complete no brainer in my opinion.
Well when we nearly beat our all time least amount of goals conceded Carra was played at right back. Only when Henchoz moved was he moved into the centre.
I personally never liked him at RB - not quick enough and not the best at getting forward. He was the perfect CB as his reading of the game was second to none, as well as his organisation skills. But yeah I get what you're saying