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Monday, 14 October, 2002, 10:35 GMT 11:35 UK
Best ever Premiership XI?
Opta's analysis of top-flight player stats names Frank Leboeuf as one of the best - but the list raises some eyebows.
Has Opta got it wrong?
With painstaking dedication, the Opta team of statisticians have counted every kick, pass, run and header of every game since 1997. And they have used their data to identify the most effective players over the last five years. The inclusion of Sol Campbell in defence would cause little argument for most - but does Frank Leboeuf really meet his standard? Many would surely disagree with the selection of David 'Calamity' James between the posts. And Paolo Di Canio beats Alan Shearer to a place up-front.
Do you agree with Opta? Or can you come up with a better Premiership XI?
This debate is now closed. A selection of your e-mails appear below. The blindness of people only looking at the last couple of years is astounding. If you go back through the nineties then you can get the best team, rather than looking just at the last five years.
Leboeuf at Chelsea was a good player and had an advantage in Opta because of his attacking play, but an all time Premiership team would have to be: Gk: Schmeichel, DR: Dixon, DL: Irwin, DC: Adams, DC: Bruce, ML: Merson, MR: Beckham, MC: Vieira, MC: Keane, FC: Shearer, FC: Cantona.
Subs: Seaman, Bergkamp, Pallister, Andy Cole, Ian Wright, Keown/McAllister, Winterburn/Pearce.
1. Eric Cantona Any team selected simply has to be based around Roy Keane. Even with a team of one or two weak links, ie Ireland, players such as himself can push people on to perform above their normal standards.
Picking the remaining ten therefore is relatively simple. Mine are Schmeichel, Dixon, Pallister, Rio Ferdinand, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Vieira, Giggs, Cantona, Henry.
The usual crop of players, practically all of whom still play now, have been selected. Have we forgotten Klinsmann, Juninho, Limpar, Beardsley, Robson, Platt, Hughes and Ian Wright? And what about some of the goals of Le Tissier?
There's only one Prem XI worthy... Midfield diamond-shaped: Ljungberg, Vieira, Zola and Pires. Pires and Ljungberg always track back and are explosive going forward, Vieira shields the back four, and Zola, well, what can you say?
Up front, Henry and Shearer will get loads of goals and scare the opposition silly. I can't believe that Alan Shearer has not made the Opta XI. He has scored more goals in the Premiership than any other striker and has been the best English striker of the last 10 years.
My team:
Subs: We all complain about the quality of the England national side, but then looking at all of the "best of" teams supplied - ignoring a couple of clear cases for the local asylum (four West Brom players in a Premiership all star team? You need help!) - less than half of the players selected are English. How long before we go down the trail blazed so spectacularly by the Scottish so recently?
In addition to that, Roy Keane should be banned from anyone's selection on the grounds of common decency.... irrespective of what happens in his disciplinary hearing, hiring an expensive lawyer does not prove innocence.
Yorke and Di Canio? How about Shearer, Cole, Wright, Cantona, Sheringham...the list goes on. David James in goal? Has no one at Opta heard of Peter Schmeichel or David Seaman?
Manager: Sir Alex. Schmeichel, Irwin, Hyypia, Adams, G Neville, Giggs, Keane, Scholes, Beckham, Bergkamp, Cantona. Subs: Martyn, Bruce, Pallister, Vieira, Henry. Basically, Man Utd and Arsenal.
Peter Schmeichel, Dennis Irwin, Gary Pallister, Steve Bruce, Lee Dixon, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Dennis Bergkamp, Ryan Giggs, Thierry Henry, Mark Hughes. I think we're forgetting some of our past masters. Pallister and Bruce were the ultimate partnership in defence, and where can you find a striker with as much balls as Hughsey!
Combine these with the brilliance of some of our current players such as Henry and Beckham and I think you're on to a winner.
Best 11:
Subs:
Leboeuf is nowhere near as good as Adams or Campbell. Irwin played much better than Harte on the left. Giggs is probably the best left-mid in the world. And how could they not pick Shearer, he's only scored 200+ goals.
How come no one has mentioned Fowler and McManaman. They were a prolific combination at the worst of times. Such great talent wasted due to their unfortunate injuries. Obviously you guys have memory problems.
Schmeichel, Irwin, Pearce, Adams, Hyypia, Beckham, McAllister, Keane, Giggs, Shearer, Sheringham.
The above team is based on overall contribution to the Premiership over the last 10 years. These players have been the best....and before anyone says Sami Hyypia has only been in the Premiership for a couple of seasons, he has proven himself to be the best defender in England during that time and that is why he is selected.
Peter Schmeichel, Tony Adams, Sami Hyypia, Paul McGrath, Roy Keane, David Beckham, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Eric Cantona, Alan Shearer, Ian Wright. The undisputed Best Premiership XI ever, with the silverware to prove it!
You cant argue with Man Utd's midfield quartet - although Vieira is outstanding, they've done it consistently longer. You won't find much better than Arsenal's old rear guard.
My team: Schmeichel, Dixon, Adams, Keown, Winterburn, Beckham, Scholes, Keane, Giggs, Shearer, Wright.
How is David James the Premiership's 'best keeper'? Peter Schmeichel almost single-handedly won a couple of titles for Man U in the mid '90s.
My team would be: GK: Peter Schmeichel RB: Gary Neville LB: Stuart Pearce CB: Sami Hyypia CB: Tony Adams RM: David Beckham LM: Ryan Giggs CM: Patrick Vieira Just behind the front two - Eric Cantona CF-Michael Owen CF-Alan Shearer
With Martin O'Neill as manager (forget Fergie, he's always been overrated).
Ian Walker, Blanc, Phil Neville, Babb, Stephanos, Gascoine, Wise, Grimandi, Chadwick, Akinbiyi, Collymore. Beat that!!
If Damien Duff was English, he would be the first name on Sven's teamsheet every time. He is quicker and trickier and inherently more talented than the excellent Ryan Giggs... and no one has even mentioned his name yet. You obviously don't watch much football, boys!
Schmeichel, Irwin, Hyypia, Adams, Riise, Beckham, Gerrard, Roy Keane, Kewell, Owen, Shearer. Easiest team I've ever had to pick.
If Damien Duff was English, he would be the first name on Sven's teamsheet every time. He is quicker and trickier and inherently more talented than the excellent Ryan Giggs... and no one has even mentioned his name yet. You obviously don't watch much football, boys!
Schmeichel, Carr, Adams, Campbell, Dixon, Vieira, Pires, Ljungberg, Wiltord, Henry, Bergkamp - basically, Arsenal FC.
A Liverpool defence, Man U midfield with the inclusion of Gerrard, and Arsenal up front.
If you are talking about the Premiership, then you need to look at who has done the most over the last 10 seasons.... Schmeichel. Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Sol Campbell, Dennis Irwin. David Beckham, Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Ryan Giggs. Alan Shearer, Eric Cantona.
Pires, Henry and Ferdinand are quality players, but they have not been in the Premiership long enough to warrant a place.
I think we are forgetting the success Chelsea had in the late nineties! 1: Peter Schmeichel 2: Petrescu 5: Pallister 4: Adams 3: Irwin 7: Beckham 8: Vieira 6: Keane 11: Giggs 9: Shearer 10: Zola
Subs: Owen, Leboeuf, Solskjaer, Seaman, Pires, Di Matteo.
The whole thing sums up what's wrong with English footy. Too many average overpaid foreigners. Ian Harte? How can someone who is slower than Gazza be a top-class left-back? Leeds are looking to get rid of him. Dennis Irwin or Nigel Winterburn more likely.
GK: Schmeichel RB: Lee Dixon CB: Tony Adams CB: Marcel Desailly LB: Jon Arne Riise LM: Ryan Giggs CM: Patrick Vieira CM: Dennis Bergkamp RM: David Beckham FW: Alan Shearer FW: Eric Cantona
Subs:
GK: David Seaman
D: Rio Ferdinand
M: Paul Scholes
F: Thierry Henry
F: Michael Owen
I can't believe nobody's mentioned Bergkamp yet - surely the most sublimely gifted footballer the Premiership has ever seen. I was shocked to find that Frank Leboeuf was picked for the all-time 11. He clearly had a few very good seasons, but he wasn't inspirational enough to lead Chelsea to the Premiership title.
Unlike the greatest centre-back ever to walk onto a football pitch, Tony Adams, whose experience not only took Arsenal to the Double in 97/98 and 01/02, but also helped develop a couple of key defenders for the present team, Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell. I don't really see how he couldn't have been included!
The best Premiership team of all time would have to be: Peter Schmeichel, Jaap Stam, Tony Adams, Rio Ferdinand, David Beckham, Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Eric Cantona, Ian Wright, Thierry Henry. Giggs, Shearer, Owen, Hyypia and Scholes on the bench!
What's all the fuss about Ian Harte, he's often found wandering defensively - how could he make a top 11 side!?
Seaman, Dixon, Adams, Pallister, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Vieira, Pires, Henry and Van Nistelrooy - a team that combines British determination with foreign flamboyance...and all the players happen to come from England's best two teams over the past decade!
GK: Hoult - WBA
LB: Clement - WBA
CB: Moore - WBA
CB: Campbell-Arsenal
RB: Mills - Leeds
LM: Cole - West Ham
CM: Bowyer - Leeds
CM: Gerrard - Liverpool
RM: Beckham - Man U
AS: Smith - Leeds
AS: Roberts - WBA
Ian Harte - the best left back in the last 10 years in the Premier League? This must be a joke. A defender who cannot tackle surely cannot be included. Yes, he has scored many from free kicks (mostly in one or two seasons anyway) but surely the defensive duties are more important for a defender.
For those who say it should be Riise, don't forget he has only played one full season so far! Over the period of 10 years, surely Winterburn / Irwin played much better than an over-rated Harte.
Best Premiership XI? You can't get better than the current Arsenal side.
What a joke. As Arsenal fan, I can give a fair truth that the Man Utd midfield is warranted, but I would even go as far as saying, Robert Pires above Ryan Giggs?Questionable!! Frank Leboeuf!! You have got Tony Adams, Gareth Southgate - experienced and proven winners. What did Leboeuf ever win at club level, a few measly cups. Never the league! And the striking partnership is a laugh too. When players like Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Dennis Bergkamp (quoted by Sven as being the most complete player in England), Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham. Sorry, but this eleven is a joke.
And sorry David James, but why are you there? You spent half your career getting over the Calamity James tagline. Seaman, Schmeichel, even Tim Flowers.
GK: Peter Schmeichel
RB: Gary Neville
LB: Denis Irwin
CB: Tony Adams
CB: Sami Hyypia
RM: David Beckham
CM: Roy Keane
CM: Patrick Vieira
LM: Ryan Giggs
FOR: Eric Cantona
FOR: Alan Shearer
Presumably the Opta scoring system gives marks for public whinging and foolishness of hairstyle. This would explain things.
GK: Peter Schmeichel
LB: Jon Arne Riise
CB: Rio Ferdinand
CB: Tony Adams
RB: Danny Mills
LM: Robert Pires
CM: Patrick Vieira
CM: Roy Keane
RM: David Beckham
CF: Eric Cantona
CF: Ian Wright
Schmeichel, Dixon, Adams, Ferdinand, Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Vieira, Giggs, Shearer, Cole. Over the years these players have performed the best.
Surely Alan Shearer should be in there as a striker? And the selection of Leboeuf in defence over Adams, Hyypia, Henchoz, Hendry, Stam, Ferdinand and Berg is just silly. And surely Ryan Gigs should be included for being consistently good for so long, instead of Pires, who has had one good season.
I think it should be... 1. Peter Schmeichel 2. Steven Carr (rb) 3. Tony Adams (cb) 4. Sol Campbell (cb) 5. Ashley Cole or Christian Ziege (lb) 6. Patrick Vieira (cm) 7. David Beckham (rm) 8. Paul Scholes (acm) 9. Alan Shearer (cf) 10. Teddy Sheringham (cf) 11. Robert Pires (aml)
Subs:
13. David Seaman
14. Gary Pallister
15. Roy Keane/Emmanuel Petit
16. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
17. Thierry Henry
The trouble with Opta is that it can tell you haw many blocks/interceptions a defender makes, but it can't tell you how many he didn't make when he should have done.
Goalkeeper: Peter Schmeichel
The Arsenal team this year includes many of the Premiership's best XI, such as Seaman, a world-class goalkeeper, and Henry. But there are also the likes of Rio Ferdinand in his Leeds days, Schmeichel when he was at Man Utd, Shearer, Cantona, Owen - the list goes on.
This has got to be the best Premiership XI:
Now, if you can find me a better team than that I'd like to see it!
As a Spurs fan I am naturally delighted to see Carr's inclusion. Leboeuf's inclusion is irritating. Not only was he under par for Chelsea, he completely overrated himself. Cudicini or Given would be far more deserving in goal, and up front I'd go for Henry alongside Di Canio.
I don't think you can look any further than a selection of Man U and Arsenal players from the past 10 years - plus Alan Shearer and Ian Harte.
Schmeichel, Neville, Adams, Campbell, Harte, Beckham, Pires, Vieira, Scholes, Shearer, Wright. I'd have five Paolo Di Canios on the bench.
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14 Oct 02 | Eng Prem
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