STARTING XI
REMAINING SQUAD MEMBERS
3 best players not in the squad:
5 players from the 1966 World Cup winning squad make this team, while 5 from the 2000's 'Golden Generation' make it too (6 if including Rooney). I chose Bob Crompton as the back-up right-back ahead of Phil Neal because he could also cover as a 4th centre-back. I could then drop Billy Wright for another spot in the squad. Another Liverpool legend in Emlyn Hughes was very close to the squad, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has the ability to make it in future, but as a pure full-back, there are others ahead of him. Duncan Edwards would probably be the equivalent of a holding midfielder in the modern game, but was very versatile anyway. Bryan Robson is his back-up. Rooney and Charlton start together in somewhat of a midfield 3. I would expect Charlton to play a little deeper than Rooney, but Rooney's work-rate can cover whenever Charlton joins the attack. Gerrard and Scholes can cover these positions as more natural No.8 options, while Beckham and Barnes can cover the wings. Dixie Dean starts upfront, with Jimmy Greaves as his back-up. The final spot in the squad went to Keegan, as there was space for one more attacker. There is still time for Harry Kane to make the squad in the future, but I think he needs to step up more on the biggest stages. Gary Lineker has been one of England's greatest players at major tournaments, but as a all-round footballer, there are others ahead of him. Beckham wasn't a vital player to have in the squad due to Finney's capability on both flanks, but he was the best eligible option for the spot, as I had enough attacking-midfielders and strikers. Some football historians may be familiar with Nevill Cobbold. Several older sources cited him as the greatest player ever seen in the country, even after the likes of Charlie Buchan, Steve Bloomer and Welshman Billy Meredith had played there. However, Cobbold played before the establishment of the football league. Part of his later club Corinthian FC's constitution was to not compete for any trophies. They would still supply the national team with many players in the 1800's and would often beat teams in the football league in friendly matches, including a 10-3 win against FA Cup winners Bury in 1903. However, I don't think this is enough to assign Cobbold with a realistic or well-informed rating, although I felt he deserved a mention. Players By Decade: 2000's (5), 1960's (5), 1970's (3), 1950's (3), 1980's (2), 1930's (2), 2010's (1), 1990's (1), 1910's (1) World-Class English Players (52)
Honourable Mentions (Close to Gold):
GK: Hardy / Seaman
DEF: Alexander-Arnold / J.Charlton / E.Hughes / McFarland / Todd / K.Walker MID: Ball / J.Dickinson / Ince / Stiles ATT: J.Goodall / Le Tissier / Mannion / Mortensen / Sterling / V.Woodward Top 20 English Players of All-Time (& their all-time positional rank) |