Yeah that's the thing. The "cantera" policy is pretty much just based on Basque patriotism, but it's pretty remarkable that they've done so well with it. They're the fourth most successful Spanish club in history and have never been relegated. I'm not sure there's any other club in the world which could do as well with the same policy.
Best ever: Maradona, Pele, Cryuff, Beckanbauer (sp?) Meredith. Best my lifetime: Zidane, Ronaldo, Messi, Ronaldo(fat) & Henry Favourites: Gerrard, Beckham, Owen, Shearer & Pearce
And I don't think any other club could. Think of the uproar from the fans....and then the human rights people would come in too....
Strange twist on topic..... A whole team of Favourites: GK - Norman Conquest CB - Daniel Killer CB - Danger Fourpence CB - Mario Killer LM - Emmanuel Panther ACM - Pedro Power DCM - Kick van der Vall RM - Danny Invincible ST - Zdenko Muff ST - Danny Diver ST - Bongo Christ Impact subs include: Ricardo Virtuoso, Roberto Dinamite & Hulk. Now that team, if they played like their names suggest would take some beating! Admittedly a controversial 3-4-3 formation, but Christ could draw a lot of attention from opposition players, while Panther could pounce to provide Muff/Diver a lot of action in the opposing box! I'll let somebody else do the team of players nobody would fear, but I'd suggest Dominique Dropsy in goal ;-) Lat
Again, will only do best from my lifetime... Best players: Messi, Zidane, Figo, Ronaldinho, Schmeichel (Goalies seemed a bit underrepresented!) Favourite players (excluding Saints): Bergkamp, Zola, Roberto Carlos, JayJay Okocha, Henry.
The defence would have to be three man. Lee Naylor, Bobo Balde and Rod Fanni. Nothing like laying a team out to show Naylor Balde Fanni.
Barakaldo in Spainish second div b are also a basque only team. I was manager with them on fm, had no chance as their squad is very poor. Got religated lol. Same with real sociedad their basque to, but changed the laws to allow foreign players into their club. As bibao had all the best basque players.
I have been reading this thread over the last day or so and it is interesting to see and judge peoples offerings as to the top 5 players who ever lived. It is interesting to note that I didn't spot an Englishman amongst the top 5. With the exception of Duncan Edwards perhaps, killed in the Munich air disaster. It is worth mentioning that England was always seeded in the top 3-5 teams in the world in the 50's and 60's. Not to mention the huge world wide following they had. Some will remember the cigarette cards going around. They started as just the England team then added world wide players later. Certain English players were very sought after Cards. Yet none of these are mentioned in the listings other than Edwards. Yet really famous players Like the Charlton brothers, Sprake, Stan Mathews, Even Gordon Banks, (who I think is mentioned in someones favorites) who was a world wide hero of his day are not mentioned in the top 5. You have taken out the obvious bias by suggesting Saints players shouldn't be included in this list. Yet players like Keegan, Channon, Shearer and Shilton, just to name a few, were all at some time classed as world class players and in the worlds eyes Hero's. You go to most country's and ask the same question, the reply you would get inevitably would have included some of their own football hero's. Yet despite having some of the very best world ranked players in the past and probably today. Relatively few have made the top 5 list. There has to be a reason for that because we do have some truly great players and have had. We do have players like the Messi's of this world. In fact mid fielders that actually score more goals than messi. They may not have the pace or the dribbling skills but they do have the end product and more so. So why are these players not included in our listings? Just thought I would add this thought provoking bit in for what it is worth.......
Best in my lifetime: Pele, George Best, Johann Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Lionel Messi Favourite non-Saints: Bobby Charlton, Johnny Giles, Liam Brady, Marco van Basten, Messi again
Keegan nearly got in my top 5 and favourite 5. I eventually left him out because I tried to make the fav 5 excluding Saints. Dalglish nearly got in the top 5 too (Scot, I know). For me the only other English (non-saints) players I considered were: Glenn Hoddle - we should really have built an England team around him at the same time the French did with Platini; 53 caps??? he should have got 153 Gazza Stanley Bowls David Beckham - I think if he had played in an era with less private life, media coverage, he may hav ebeen in a few more people's list. I never saw anything of Stanley Matthews.
best 5 (seen live or on tv, cant include pele as only seen clips): Henry, Ronaldo (the fat one), Ronaldo (prick), Ronaldinho, messi Favourite: Wayne Bridge (fav player ever for saints, shame he has become a laughing stock), juninho, cassano, becks, makelelele
Best i've seen 1) Zinedine Zidane - phenomenal talent and fantastic off the pitch as well. His goal in the champions league, hands down the best goal i've ever witnessed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeAsBwbhKpU&feature=related 2) Ronaldo - Never again will an opposing player leave old trafford to an ovation like he did. 3) Fabio Cannavaro - Best reader of a game I have ever witnessed 4) Dennis Begkamp - Great first touch, vision and finishing ability 5) Messi - Obvious reasons based on accounts from others Pele Maradonna Cruyff Puskas Ron Davies (how many have scored 4 at old trafford? united tried to buy him several times after that. He was labelled the best centre forward in the world after that game) My favourite Le Tiss Zidane Ronaldo Bridge Rivaldo
saivet was absolute class on FM - always used to nick him and cavenaghi and have a super team right there.
What I loved about Bilbao under Joaquin Capparos was he'd go down to the likes of the Spanish 2nd Division B for players, and somehow manage to make them absolutely immense. My personal favourite... please log in to view this image Couldn't finish his dinner with Sestao River, yet past two seasons for Bilbao he's managed to almost hit double figures despite being the equivalent of a pub footballer over here! It would be like one of us being terrible at football and playing for Saints Gaizka Toquero lehendakari!
Nope, I mentioned Banks in my Top 5 best players. For me he is the best goalie of all time. Also I had Bobby Moore in there too. So, two English players in my best 5.
