Potential all-time football team (+ alternatives)

[netzerkaiser]

1 PatJennings (goalkeeper)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG8-5b8rZGI

2 Paul Breitner (RB)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Sxeb6ueGhs

3 Ruud Krol (LB)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAujvQ1_QA4

5 Franz Beckenbauer (CB 1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-4cgoIqC6E

I'll continue later. But no sensible guy loads a team with 11 'galactico's'. Balance is everything. There would be 10 other guys that could fill any of these positions but often the footage isn't there, so this will do me. I'm gonna pick an extra central defender but I have to think about it... all three of last guys could run a midfield, so what a team already, as for Jennings, what a beast of a goalkeeper, just playing for unfashionable side.

TBC

Right, lets skip forward:

10 Pele

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ_K5r8CAlo

Who can argue?

Possible sub Van Basten:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_yl068WHZk

9 Brazilian Ronaldo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BUDaCDQJgM

Possible sub Nordahl of Sweden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cfgzgN815A

11 Garrincha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYKP4aAknT0

7 Maradona (LW)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfqc96svZb8

possible sub Cruyff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIAVTd3jVe8

8 The player | passmaker

Left foot Rivelinho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoiOH3sCemw

or right foot Netzer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTah9eClsnQ

That leaves us a second centre-back & a holding midfielder.

For what its worth I have a genius forward as substitute I can't quite fit in to first 11 but a genius none the less:

Baggio of Italy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-7KMkza-8o

TBC

6 I'm gonna go on reputation of Boszik of Hungary who Puskas said was the best player on the team of the 1954 generation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ83tlESXd0

Substitute: You could do worse than Edgar Davids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt5NagiqiaE

4 Scirea of Italy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9541zGZW2x4

its still a great team:

Jennings

Krol Scirea Beckenbauer Breitner

Boszik Netzer

Garrincha Pele Ronaldo Maradona

Pretty cool,right?

Remember, there are scores of great players the footage just doesn't exist, but with subs some team to play the Martians.

I don't think CR7 & Messi would have thrived in pre-1990 football, it would've been too physical I feel, though I believe Haaland & Mbappe could shine, & this English kid Bellingham, too, I like him, I wish him well he's got class.

[xxxVIPERxxx]

This is very much based on personal opinions, and the generation that the person grew up in.

For me:

GK - Buffon

LB - Maldini

RB - Dani Alves

CB - Beckenbauer

CB - Ramos

LW - Ryan Giggs

RW - Cristiano Ronaldo (from his time towards the latter stages of his first stint at Man Utd)

DM - Lothar Matthaus

AM - Lionel Messi

ST - Pele

ST - Maradona

Now, that would be some team!!!

[netzerkaiser]

This is very much based on personal opinions, and the generation that the person grew up in.

For me:

GK - Buffon

LB - Maldini

RB - Dani Alves

CB - Beckenbauer

CB - Ramos

LW - Ryan Giggs

RW - Cristiano Ronaldo (from his time towards the latter stages of his first stint at Man Utd)

DM - Lothar Matthaus

AM - Lionel Messi

ST - Pele

ST - Maradona

Now, that would be some team!!!

I absolutely respect your opinion, & thanks for interest. Matthaus could take the defensive midfielder role in my team any day.

Cheers!

[netzerkaiser]

I'd love to hear more ideas. I'm open to this... a man can only, should only open his mouth about what he knows... so I can't speak of American football because I know fuck all about it.

Anyone like the clips I uploaded?

These guys who put these compilations together often have great gifts, marrying skills with musical situation.

This guy did great job with the great Glenn Hoddle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdwesPS0vgg

[Iddaoeeok]

I don't think CR7 & Messi would have thrived in pre-1990 football, it would've been too physical I feel, though I believe Haaland & Mbappe could shine, & this English kid Bellingham, too, I like him, I wish him well he's got class.

Have we had this discussion before? I totally disagree with you about C. Ronaldo and Messi not thriving in pre-1990 football. Ronaldo is six two and is built like a brick shithouse, he's fitter and stronger than the vast majority of players in previous generations, that's one of the reasons he's still playing and scoring at age 38. Whether he'd get in to an all-time football team is a different matter, he wouldn't get in mine - mostly because I don't like him!

As for Messi, he's a strong little guy, he certainly is not fragile in the slightest. I say little, but he's 5 foot 7, which is not really that small when you compare it to a lot of players (especially wingers) in the past. Nearly every team had a skilful dribbling winger who was a midget and weighed about the same as a bag of sugar - of course they got kicked up and down the park every week but skill and guile (usually) won out in the end and Messi certainly has that. I mean, you've got Garrincha in your team and not only was he the same height as Messi but he was born with a crippled leg into the bargain!

[netzerkaiser]

I don't think CR7 & Messi would have thrived in pre-1990 football, it would've been too physical I feel, though I believe Haaland & Mbappe could shine, & this English kid Bellingham, too, I like him, I wish him well he's got class.

Have we had this discussion before? I totally disagree with you about C. Ronaldo and Messi not thriving in pre-1990 football. Ronaldo is six two and is built like a brick shithouse, he's fitter and stronger than the vast majority of players in previous generations, that's one of the reasons he's still playing and scoring at age 38. Whether he'd get in to an all-time football team is a different matter, he wouldn't get in mine - mostly because I don't like him!

As for Messi, he's a strong little guy, he certainly is not fragile in the slightest. I say little, but he's 5 foot 7, which is not really that small when you compare it to a lot of players (especially wingers) in the past. Nearly every team had a skilful dribbling winger who was a midget and weighed about the same as a bag of sugar - of course they got kicked up and down the park every week but skill and guile (usually) won out in the end and Messi certainly has that. I mean, you've got Garrincha in your team and not only was he the same height as Messi but he was born with a crippled leg into the bargain!

I love your knowledge on Garrincha bro, manyana, I've been up since 4:45 & alarm will hit same in morning. I'm off to bed, but thanks for contributing. Talk to you soon.

Good to hear you. Thanks!

[Iddaoeeok]

One glaring omission in your team, best midfield player of the last 50 years - Zidane.

[netzerkaiser]

One glaring omission in your team, best midfield player of the last 50 years - Zidane.

I'm not sure about that. But again tomorrow. Watch Rivelinho or Netzer vids as creative playmaker... both had better feet left right respectively than anyone I've seen... the defence has 3 midfield giants... so i got it all ways... if you watch the videos & somehow manage to avoid killing this annoying Greg cu^t who jumps in offering you traders $$$$ you might see I'm onto something.

Anyway thanks for response.

How about you putting up an all-time squad?

I'd appreciate it.

[CocosNucifera]

Petr Čech
Javier Zanetti - Laurent Blanc - Franco Baresi - Paolo Maldini
Marco Tardelli - Andrea Pirlo - Didier Deschamps
Enzo Francescoli - Thomas Müller
Zlatan Ibrahimović

[CocosNucifera]

I will develop later.

[netzerkaiser]

I will develop later.

Thanks, that's so interesting.

It's just cool to hear people's thoughtful views.

I look forward to it.

[netzerkaiser]

I don't think CR7 & Messi would have thrived in pre-1990 football, it would've been too physical I feel, though I believe Haaland & Mbappe could shine, & this English kid Bellingham, too, I like him, I wish him well he's got class.

Have we had this discussion before? I totally disagree with you about C. Ronaldo and Messi not thriving in pre-1990 football. Ronaldo is six two and is built like a brick shithouse, he's fitter and stronger than the vast majority of players in previous generations, that's one of the reasons he's still playing and scoring at age 38. Whether he'd get in to an all-time football team is a different matter, he wouldn't get in mine - mostly because I don't like him!

As for Messi, he's a strong little guy, he certainly is not fragile in the slightest. I say little, but he's 5 foot 7, which is not really that small when you compare it to a lot of players (especially wingers) in the past. Nearly every team had a skilful dribbling winger who was a midget and weighed about the same as a bag of sugar - of course they got kicked up and down the park every week but skill and guile (usually) won out in the end and Messi certainly has that. I mean, you've got Garrincha in your team and not only was he the same height as Messi but he was born with a crippled leg into the bargain!

As promised, I'll answer your question best I can. Let it be said at once, the longevity, the superb (I use the word superb rather than sublime) consistency & excellence of these 2 guys is undeniable. They both to someone like Brian Glanville, who's seen it all, should comfortably seat themselves amongst the best 200 footballers or so of the past 140 years... tribute enough.

They've fought against an immense obstacle that someone like Stan Matthews never did, that everyone knows their moves etc due to TV exposure etc.

But both have had corporate teams built around them, particularly Messi at Barcelona, almost like the Luftwaffe 'cigarette card' stance of having multiple wingmen & one star performer who they serve.

Messi to me is on a par with Sivori, another great Argentinian player, no more no less, & he never had to face the brutality this guy had:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCFlqYFdyoM

But more than this, to me he lacked that key issue that excites... acceleration... And I think he would've been broken up in previous generations. All the growth steroids pumped into him as a youth would tell their tale, as with Zico....

but crucially that lack of acceleration.

CR7 is a legend. He seems a far nicer person than his persona implies...his work ethic is inspirational, his courage in taking on new challenges is awesome. His transformation from annoying step-over donkey to world class CF at Madrid is undeniable.... but he always was to me an athlete who plays football. To me he just lacked basic genius.

Throw in the heavier ball, the ruthless challenges, the varying playing surfaces, & I just think these 2 guys would be 'ordinarily' great players.

No more, no less.

I wish them both well, but GOAT forget it.





In a sense

[CocosNucifera]

Petr Čech – great physical abiliities and GK skills, great team sprit, calm and quiet personality, no useless or embarassing declarations or behaviours on the pitch and elsewhere.

Javier Zanetti – fast and technically talented for a player of nearly 180 cm high, sport and overall intelligence, sportsmanship and class included.

Laurent Blanc – solid, robust and technically talented for a sweeper with a great team spirit but withtout useless violence or vicious behaviours

Franco Baresi/Gaetano Schirea – as above.

Paolo Maldini – look Javier Zanetti.

Marco Tardelli – good technical skills for a defensive midlefielder, great working reate, not very brutal, no useless blah blah on the pitch.

Andrea Pirlo – great technical skills, an exquisite tactician and strategist, no usless vocalising on the pitch, a smart and reserved person.

Didier Deschamps – an excellent porteur d’eau without being a brainless pitbull with good playmaker qualities and excellent leadership skills.

Enzo Francescoli – an artist on the football pitch, surely not worse than other famous playmakers.

Thomas Müller – very comprehensive and inventive player, a true Swiss knife one can alaways count on.

Zlatan Ibrahimović – great technical skills and stamina for a man of his body type alongside with remarkable combativness and leaderhship skills.

Perhaps none of them is a GOAT, but if I'n not mistaken, we are here meant to choose a GOAT-all time-team, and not an 11 of GOATs.

[netzerkaiser]

Petr Čech – great physical abiliities and GK skills, great team sprit, calm and quiet personality, no useless or embarassing declarations or behaviours on the pitch and elsewhere.

Javier Zanetti – fast and technically talented for a player of nearly 180 cm high, sport and overall intelligence, sportsmanship and class included.

Laurent Blanc – solid, robust and technically talented for a sweeper with a great team spirit but withtout useless violence or vicious behaviours

Franco Baresi/Gaetano Schirea – as above.

Paolo Maldini – look Javier Zanetti.

Marco Tardelli – good technical skills for a defensive midlefielder, great working reate, not very brutal, no useless blah blah on the pitch.

Andrea Pirlo – great technical skills, an exquisite tactician and strategist, no usless vocalising on the pitch, a smart and reserved person.

Didier Deschamps – an excellent porteur d’eau without being a brainless pitbull with good playmaker qualities and excellent leadership skills.

Enzo Francescoli – an artist on the football pitch, surely not worse than other famous playmakers.

Thomas Müller – very comprehensive and inventive player, a true Swiss knife one can alaways count on.

Zlatan Ibrahimović – great technical skills and stamina for a man of his body type alongside with remarkable combativness and leaderhship skills.

Perhaps none of them is a GOAT, but if I'n not mistaken, we are here meant to choose a GOAT-all time-team, and not an 11 of GOATs.

I love your no-nonsense, lack of drama queens approach, mind you Ibra was the greatest drama queen in history!!!!!! Gotta love the guys sense of humour & irony though.

Francescoli & Pirlo are great choices... Pirlo was pure economically efficient class.

Thanks Bro. Its a unique selection, I guess its trillions to 1 that anyone would come up with same team, & that has to be respected.



I love that you

[Iddaoeeok]

Pirlo is one of my favourite players too.

[isis666xxx]

i dont know much about soccer cuz it bores me

but arent the best players cristiano ronaldo & messi?

[Zechariah]

Congratulations to my idol Lionel Messi for winning the World Cup. Mbappe is very potential future superstar.

[CocosNucifera]

I love your no-nonsense, lack of drama queens approach, mind you Ibra was the greatest drama queen in history!!!!!! Gotta love the guys sense of humour & irony though.

Francescoli & Pirlo are great choices... Pirlo was pure economically efficient class.

Thanks Bro. Its a unique selection, I guess its trillions to 1 that anyone would come up with same team, & that has to be respected.

I love that you

Thank You for Your kind words.

Indeed, Zlatan is a for sure a "grande gueule". He likes to speak and to make show. For me he is the only world class player whose ego is actually equal his talent and skills. He is the pinch of salt of my otherwise classy team.

[xxxVIPERxxx]

Based on currently active footballers who have not retired yet...

GK - Jan Oblak (controversial choice I know)

LB - Theo Hernandez (does his job well)

RB - Hakimi ( excelled in Morocco's path to the recent World Cup semi-finals)

CB - Van Dijk (personal preference for defenders with strong physicality and leadership qualities)

CB - Varane (World Cup winner, and runner-up...multiple Champions League winner)

LW - Vini Jr (open to other suggestions of a better option)

RW (right inside forward) - Lionel Messi

DM - Rodri

AM - De Bruyne

FW - Mbappe (stays up, to push the defense further back, gets through balls from midfield and full-backs)

FW - Neymar (drops back a little deeper, runs/dribbles with the ball)

[xxxVIPERxxx]

Petr Čech – great physical abiliities and GK skills, great team sprit, calm and quiet personality, no useless or embarassing declarations or behaviours on the pitch and elsewhere.

Javier Zanetti – fast and technically talented for a player of nearly 180 cm high, sport and overall intelligence, sportsmanship and class included.

Laurent Blanc – solid, robust and technically talented for a sweeper with a great team spirit but withtout useless violence or vicious behaviours

Franco Baresi/Gaetano Schirea – as above.

Paolo Maldini – look Javier Zanetti.

Marco Tardelli – good technical skills for a defensive midlefielder, great working reate, not very brutal, no useless blah blah on the pitch.

Andrea Pirlo – great technical skills, an exquisite tactician and strategist, no usless vocalising on the pitch, a smart and reserved person.

Didier Deschamps – an excellent porteur d’eau without being a brainless pitbull with good playmaker qualities and excellent leadership skills.

Enzo Francescoli – an artist on the football pitch, surely not worse than other famous playmakers.

Thomas Müller – very comprehensive and inventive player, a true Swiss knife one can alaways count on.

Zlatan Ibrahimović – great technical skills and stamina for a man of his body type alongside with remarkable combativness and leaderhship skills.

Perhaps none of them is a GOAT, but if I'n not mistaken, we are here meant to choose a GOAT-all time-team, and not an 11 of GOATs.

Wow, this reminds me that there have been some really classy footballers...so many good choices...I think Pirlo is a great CM choice, but for me, I always felt he lacked the height, physicality to compete in certain leagues and competitions. If he was around 6 foot or plus, he would have been a much more competitive choice.

[CocosNucifera]

Hello.

Thank You for Your kind words.

I acknowledge having chosen some "hipster" players, but I don't feel I've done if for the sake of any kind of snobism. I just wanted to recall all of us some great players who, at their prime, were considered among the best, but who, probably, would never be considered GOATs on their respective positions. That being said, as I had written earlier, a potential all-time football team does not necessairly contain 11 GOATs. Au contraire, I believe that a potential all-time squad would rather be a summum of international level players with good team-working spirit than a summum of stars who could have some serious issues to work together, even if individually they are probably better than the players I've chosen.

By the way, I think I would replace one of central defenders with another Italian, Pietro Vierchowod. Just a personal preference.

[netzerkaiser]

Hello.

Thank You for Your kind words.

I acknowledge having chosen some "hipster" players, but I don't feel I've done if for the sake of any kind of snobism. I just wanted to recall all of us some great players who, at their prime, were considered among the best, but who, probably, would never be considered GOATs on their respective positions. That being said, as I had written earlier, a potential all-time football team does not necessairly contain 11 GOATs. Au contraire, I believe that a potential all-time squad would rather be a summum of international level players with good team-working spirit than a summum of stars who could have some serious issues to work together, even if individually they are probably better than the players I've chosen.

By the way, I think I would replace one of central defenders with another Italian, Pietro Vierchowod. Just a personal preference.

When you talk about great Italian central defenders, its nice to remember the great Scirea, whose life was so tragically cut short in a traffic accident in Poland, I believe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9541zGZW2x4

[netzerkaiser]

Hello.

Thank You for Your kind words.

I acknowledge having chosen some "hipster" players, but I don't feel I've done if for the sake of any kind of snobism. I just wanted to recall all of us some great players who, at their prime, were considered among the best, but who, probably, would never be considered GOATs on their respective positions. That being said, as I had written earlier, a potential all-time football team does not necessairly contain 11 GOATs. Au contraire, I believe that a potential all-time squad would rather be a summum of international level players with good team-working spirit than a summum of stars who could have some serious issues to work together, even if individually they are probably better than the players I've chosen.

By the way, I think I would replace one of central defenders with another Italian, Pietro Vierchowod. Just a personal preference.

When you talk about great Italian central defenders, its nice to remember the great Scirea, whose life was so tragically cut short in a traffic accident in Poland, I believe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9541zGZW2x4

Thanks for inspiring me. I replace Baresi with Scirea. So now I've got FOUR defenders who can operate as WORLD CLASS midfielders if called upon.

Thanks man.

[CocosNucifera]

Yes, Gaetano Scirea died in an traffic accident in Poland. When I first learned this, I could barely understand and believe it. Moreover, he died not far from my grandma's small town. Great loss. Way too young to die. If my memory is correct, he came to Peoples Republic of Poland (the offical name of Poland at that time) to watch a game of Górnik Zabrze, a Polish Silesian club Juventus was meant to play against in an European competition. Scirea died with his Polish interpreter (it makes me suffer since me too, I'm an interpreter) and his Polish driver.

I must serach for Gio Chiellini's book about Scirea. I'm sure I've it somewhere. C'è un angelo bianconero. Il mio maestro si chiama Scirea.