Best CAFC Eleven

I'm going for the classic 4-4-2 formation.

D. Kiely

C. Powell
R. Rufus
J. Costa
J. Humphrey

J. Robinson
C. Jensen
M. Kinsella (C)
R. Lee

C. Mendonca
Y. Kermit

Subs -
B. Bolder
S. Minto
S. Brown
L. Bowyer
G. Nelson
S. Newton
D, Bent

To be managed by Curbs.

That team would take some beating.

Over to you...

 

1 Carson
2 Humphrey
3 Konchesky
4 Graham Stuart
5 Peter Shirtliff
6 Steve Brown
7 Parker
8 Kermorgant
9 Mendonca
10 Di Canio
11 Johnny Robinson

 

Bolder;
Chris Powell, Costa, Rufus, Humphrey;
Colin Powell, Parker, Jensen, Lee;
Yann, SuperClive.

Deano,
L. Young.
Feesh,
Kinsella,
Robbo,
Hales,
Hunt.

 

Since Charlton have had three 'golden ages' in the Top Flight

(1936-57)
(1986-90)
(1998-2007) not including 1999-2000

I thought I would select three greatest top tier teams, then try to pick an ultimate greatest XI from those three.
That will take a little while...
Also I'd have to consider a few 'wild card' players, who made huge contributions, but never had the chance to represent CAFC in the top league.
They too would have to be considered for the ultimate XI.

 

It was hard leaving Solly and Jacko out, that's for sure.

 

And Paul Walsh. But Killer is my all-time favourite Charlton player. Not the best but I loved his attitude.

 

Good call - some of your bench are outstanding!

 

I would have to include Di Canio in my fav 11. Not sure he can legitimately claim to be in our best ever 11 tho.

 

My best 11 of Charlton's first top flight era (and the years leading up to it).
Basically the tenure of Jimmy Seed (1934 -1957)
Formation was always 2-3-5 back then
(note: there were no substitutes in this era!)

Sam Bartram *

Norman Smith **
John Hewie

Don Welsh *
Derek Ufton
Joe Jobling

Eddie Firmani
Stuart Leary
Charlie Vaughan
Chris Duffy *
Harold Hobbis

PS: If there was a substitute allowed it would be Johnny Summers.
Played from 1956-57 (1st Division relegation season) to 1960-61.
Scored 100 goals in 171 league starts,
including five in Charlton's legendary 7-6 win over Huddersfield Town in the 2nd Division, December 1957.

* Played in the 1947 FA Cup Final victory.
Duffy scored the only goal, 6 minutes before the end of extra time.

** Norman Smith is the only player listed who did not feature for Charlton in the 1st Division.
He retired just seven games before the Addicks won promotion to the Top Flight in 1936, at the age of 39
having served the Club since 1923, making 449 league & Cup starts.
Smith is still the only player in CAFC history to win two League Champion's medals - in 1929 and 1935.

Second & Third top flight era best teams will follow shortly,
then my selection of an all-time best XI.

 

I suppose that if you had to pick an all-time greatest 11 then Sam Bartram would have to be in goal whether you'd seen him or not.

 

Mine is based on who I have seen.

 

That's a fair point Elfs.
When I get around to an all-time best Eleven, I will probably choose a personal best XI as well, made up of players I have seen myself.

My childhood memories of watching the team at the old Valley are pretty vague.
Then I drifted away from going to games for around 25 years.
So most of my choices will be from 2007 to 2022...

 

I think it would be interesting to list a best eleven of any player we have seen. I'd put Neville Southall in goal, and Dennis Bergkamp would be up front.

I can relate to you with drifting away from games

 

Best two players performances I ever saw were from Paul McGraph (Man United) and Alan Shearer (Blackburn)

 

Simply put, Shearer is the greatest player in PL history. His goalscoring record would still be astounding if he'd played for Man Utd or Arsenal, but for Blackburn and Newcastle. Incredible really.

One opposition player who caught my eye on a few occasions was Tugay, the Blackburn maestro. Such an elegant, classy player.

 

For dominance as a team, I would say the Liverpool team in the 80's when they were winning the European Cup was probably one of THE best in the history of football in England.

 

The best player I've seen live was a 17-year-old Argentinian in 1979 who tore the Scottish defence to shreds at Hampden and had the Scottish crowd cheering him even then. His name was Diego Maradona.

 

That is a good start for the new thread I have created.

I will assume Alan Rough will not be your goalkeeper

 

See the Autobiographies thread.

 

Nevin and Law were not keepers!