In my opinion id go..... Goalkeeper= Pickford- the fact he's now England number 1 speaks volumes. Gutted we couldnt have had him for abit longer than 1 season after making it into the first team. Up until a few years ago weve always had quality keepers in our team. Leftback=Danny Rose- he was relatively unknown when we took him on loan. He was absolute quality for us and im gutted Spurs took him back. He said he'd happily sign for us if Spurs didnt want him. It was tough to call between him and Alonso, but Rose just edged it for me. Centre back= Kone- Im picking him on the way he played in his first season with us. He was an absolute monster and his one on one against Yaya Toure' typified what a big physical presence he was for us. Rightback= Bardsley- Not much to say about him really, we havent really been blessed in this position for a long time. He always gave 100% and had a decent freekick in his locker. Defensive Mid=Kirchoff- He could and should have been a Champions league quality player if it wasnt for his injuries. I remember when we beat Chelsea, he had Mata in his back pocket all game. Quality player. Attacking Midfielder= Steeeed- By far the most Technically gifted ive seen since supporting Safc. His only down fall was his lack of goals for us. Winger= Sess- Bruce used to like to play him central alot but we bought him as a winger and thats where he was best suited in my opinion. Hed absolutely destroy any fullback that he had to face. One of the best players ive ever seen in an Safc shirt. Striker= Jermaine Defoe- His names speaks for itself, i dont even have to comment on his ability. Top lad and even better Goal scorer. Anybody else fancy having a bash in naming theirs???
I think pound for pound, Bent, Welbeck and Gyan were better players than Defoe when we got him. The issue with Defoe was not what he could do from 6 yards from goal, it was that we struggled to get within 30 yards of the goal He was part of that, anyone who watched him in those games knows that he would spend most of the game not even bothering to make runs because he was being marked. We'd have been better off with a more limited striker who was prepared to drag the opposition around and chase every lost cause. I'd also have Mignolet in goal if it's based on what he did for us. Pickford was great but he only played half a season. Where would you stick Richardson? One of the best we've had but probably not a left back, maybe midfield?
Yes you may have a point with Mingolet. Richardson is a tough one. He was Jack of all trades but master of none. He was a good Left back and also equally as good in the #10 role. He was signed as a winger but that was probably his worst position. He needs to be respected from what he did during his time for us though. Especially that freekick against the scum.
I can't remember if it was in the last 10 years or not but Johnny Evans at CB was a class act for us.
Mignolet Bardsley Kaboul Mensah Rose Henderson Mvila Zenden Sessegnon Johnson Bent That team would have been lovely to watch
Winger= Sess- Bruce used to like to play him central alot but we bought him as a winger and thats where he was best suited in my opinion. Hed absolutely destroy any fullback that he had to face. One of the best players ive ever seen in an Safc shirt arguably the best
It's so easy to forget just how good a player Johnson was on the back of what he did! But he was quality even though he's a NONCE!!
That's my point. He was never a great player for us, he went through spells when we were calling him a waste of a shirt because of how lazy he was. Overall he was good. I don't think animals like him should be shown any respect after what he's done. Putting him in one of our best teams, for me, shows him respect when really his name should never be mentioned again.
Not arguing with that team but the "average" abilities of some of them, the brief stays of others and the fact that very few of the rest performed to the best of their abilities on a regular basis highlights just why we are where we are!
Gyan the best I have seen at Sunderland in 60 years, never mind 10, a magnificent player up their with T Henry imo.
I cant understand why you would think I am trying to wind anyone up by expressing an opinion. Naturally gifted and inventive, he was a brilliant footballer imo. and a joy to watch, just who have we had that was better, maybe Shack in a very different era.
It was the comparison to Thierry Henry. Henry is one of the greatest players to ever grace the English game. His speed, skill and finishing ability would destroy oppositions on a regular basis, he was that good. Gyan was talented and good but I just can't for the life of me understand how he would ever be compared to Henry.
The best footballer I have ever seen at Sunderland was Jan Kirchoff. You could just see why he was at Bayern Munich. Injury free he would have been a top player for them and I think that says it all. He was an extraordinary talent. I've never seen a Sunderland player being able to control a game in the way that he did.
Apparently Pickford had another stinker for Everton, tonight. He'll be lucky to be England's number 1 at the next tournament unless he can sort his **** out.
Thing is he went 5 or 6 games doing absolutely **** all, where his nice flicks that were admittedly superb when they worked would bounce ten yards away from where he wanted them to go. Phillips would take a ball in his stride and his control was sublime, but he did it without trying to look flash. Gyan was unable to do the simple things, or at least he never ever tried to do them and as a result he was massively inconsistent, brilliant when it worked but ****ing terrible when it didn't.
Goes to show exactly where he is though. With a defence playing well in front of him and his "arrogant confidence" he is a great keeper. You take that away and he isn't. Jon McLaughlin was the same - last season he was excellent. Saved us numerous times. His confidence looks shot this season and he's made some awful decisions costing us goals.
