Well, we have no match this weekend, and I am not allowed to go back to work yet, so I have all this time on my hands. This is a natural fallout from dstriker's question about who's the EPL's best keeper. Here we are: HatterDon's EPL TOP 11! Goal: Brad Friedel, Blackburn Rovers -- I think he's still best at positional sense and marshalling his area. Defense: Gary Neville, ManU -- Some of the best RB I've seen in 40+ years of being a fan. Kolo Toure, Arsenal -- Brilliant, consistently brilliant Jamie Carragher, Liverpool -- great man marker, great marshaller of his area Ashley Cole, Chelsea -- yeah, hate the team and not fond of the man, but the best England left back I've seen since Psycho hung them up. Midfield: Steven Gerrard, Liverpool -- Why? Because he turns me into an overawed kid every time I watch him. Ryan Giggs, ManU -- What a left foot. Only Sir Bobby has turned out more in the red shirt, and Giggs is still at the top of his form. Aaron Lennon, Tottenham -- Jeez. What a pain in the ass this kid is. What fun to watch on the pitch [when he's not playing us]. Forwards: Benny McCarthy, Blackburn Rovers -- just an out-and-out goal getter. Consistent pain in the butt to defenses. Almost as English a centre-forward as our BMB Didier Drogba, Chelsea -- deadly this season; scary good, consistent Christiano Renaldo, ManU -- I don't like the way this kid puts himself about, but to paraphrase Keith Olbermann, he "puts the biscuit in the basket." Subs: Edwin Van der Sar, ManU -- maybe still the best all around keeper in the biz Micah Richards, ManCity -- I like this kid a huge amount. Mikel Arteta, Everton -- a danger man for sure Leroy Lita, Reading -- primarily because he is so in tune right now. Where's FFC's representative? On the disabled list since the visit to Newcastle. The way he started the season, Bullard would have made the top 11 for sure. Anyone else?
This is tough one. I will do my best. Keeper - Petr Cech (Chelsea)- When in form, he is the best in the league and is one of the main reasons Chelsea's defense has been so good the last few seasons. Notice when he was out earlier this season the Chelsea defense was vulnerable. Coincidence? I think not. Left Back - Jon Arne Riise (Liverpool)- He does not always play left back, but at times he does. I think he is a great defender that has the best shot from distance in the Premiership. Right Back - Steve Finnan (Liverpool) - He passes well, he can come up in attack and similar to his teammate Jamie Carragher, he is quite simply SOLID. He once played for Fulham for those who may not know. Center Half #1 - John Terry (Chelsea) - a rock in defense. A no non-sense defender who is as tough as nails. Enough said. Center Half #2 - Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United) - strong defender that is still getting better with time. Major threat on set-pieces and one of main reasons Manchester United is leading the Premiership thus far. Right Wing - Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - you could put him on the right or left, but since there are more options on the right, I will put him here. He is in my opinion, the best player in the world at the moment. Left Wing - Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn) - Possibly the most creative midfielder from the wing position in the league. His set-piece skills are great and he can score goals well from this position. A great buy for Blackburn. Center midfielder #1 - Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - Great passer, great scorer and great leader. Few players can do the things he does on the pitch. There are very few things he cannot do. Center midfielder #2 - Tim Cahill (Everton) - Strong midfielder that can boss a game from the center of the park. Can move up and score and also settle back and defend. He wears his heart on his sleeve. Striker #1 - Thierry Henry (Arsenal) - Fantastic player. Can score from almost anywhere. He even used his head to beat Manchester United earlier this season. When one thinks of the best strikers in the world, Henry's name always comes to mind. Striker #2 - Didier Drogba (Chelsea) - He did not light the league on fire his first few seasons at Chelsea, but he has been a revelation this season. His work rate is second to none. Bench Edwin Der Sar - (Manchester United) -second best keeper in the league Aaron Lennon - (Tottenham) -a pacey winger that can cause havoc for opposing defenders. Yossi Benayoun (West Ham United) - while West Ham is likely going to get relegated, Benayoun cannot be to blame. The Israeli international is fantastic. If and when the Hammers go down, there will be a bidding war for his services. Ledley King - (Tottenham) - can play center-half or defensive midfielder. When healthy, he is a great player. Spurs have definitely missed him the second half of the year with an injury. Darren Bent - (Charlton) - another player whose team is likely going down. A big reason for that is because Bent has missed a good number of games with injury. When in form, Bent is one of the best strikers in the league. If Charlton saves their season and stays up you can be sure Bent will be the main reason.
Hi Don, I have gone with far too many Man U players, and for that I am truley damned. ---------------------EVDS (Man U)------------------ G.Neville---R. Ferdinand---P. Jagjelka---A. Cole (Man U)------(Man U)------- (Sheff U)---(Chelsea) R.Giggs---S. Gerrard---F. Lampard---C. Ronaldo (Man U)--(Liverpool)---(Chelsea)-----(Man U) ----------W.Rooney----D. Drogba------------------ ----------(Man U)------(Chelsea)------------------- I have also had a look at the stats, acroding to Actim the best 11 (playing 4-4-2)are: GK E van Dar Sar*1 RB S Finnan*2 CB R Fedinand CB N Vidic LB P Evra RW C Ronaldo CM F Lampard CM M Arteta LW G Barry*3 ST D Drogba ST W Rooney *1 Followed, surprisingly, by Hannaman who does not even get a mention in the keepers "Keepers Thread". *2 G. Nevill is 3rd in the list behind Finnan in 1st. *3 Barry would normally play left midfield rather than left wing, in that case R. Giggs would come in as the 5th placed midfielder. They have a team of the season, but are playing people out of position. Boca is in the team of the week.
OK....Dan....you're essentially taking this thread where I wanted to go...good deal.. I'm working on a project and don't know enough about all the players. If any of you have aren't busy could you help me out a bit? I am looking for the best players at each position in the Premiership... Top 8-10 Goalies Top 16-20 Stirkers Top 30 Midfielders (left, center, right) Top 30 Back (left, center, right) Anyone up for it??
-----------------------Lehman---- Chimbonda--Ferdinand---Vidic----Riise -----------------------Makelle----------- ----Ronaldo ----------------------Robben ---------------------Lampard-------------- -----------Henry----------------Drogbra Bench: Keane Ricards Gallas Essien Van der Sar
Tom...just another crazy I have. I'll tell you a little more about it later when I get it all sorted out.
The Actim stats will give you the top 100 statisitically top players. If this is for commercial reasons you will have to be top heavy on the traditionally big clubs, Arsenal, Man U, Liverpool, Everton, Newcastle U, Aston Villa and Spurs. http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?c ... ctimTop100 Good Luck.
One name I haven't seen that HAS to be thrown into the discussion is Berbatov of Spuds. That guy is pure class and hotter than a July day in Scottsdale (forget that its a "dry-heat" its freakin' hot!!)
Berbatov is unconscious right now for the Spuds (beat the Scum!), but still not in the starting XI. Had Larson not left, he's still one of the best around... ----------------Friedel--- ---Carragher-------Terry----Woodgate----Vidic--- ---Ronaldo------Gerrard----Essien-----Lennon--- ----Diver Drogba----------Henry----
----------------Friedel--- ---Finnan-------Carragher----Woodgate-------Taylor--- ---Ronaldo------Gerrard----Scholes-----Barry--- ---Berbatov----------Benni McCarthy---- I know Drogba deserves to be up there, but just can't stand his diving. Berbatov deserves to be up there.
