129 replies to this topic

[Jam-Fly]

Okay folks, this is the picks thread.

Here is the order (picked randomly using http://www.randomizer.org/form.htm):

Mercury69 (1)
Jam-Fly (2)
KDawgCometh (3)
mr paddyx (4)
james D (5)
Rinswun (6)
LJB723 (7)

So Mercury69, commence picking!

A few reminders...

1) This is for picks only. To discuss one's pick, go to this thread

2) This thread should consist of picks, and a spiel as to why a certain player was picked. You should include: a brief description of the player - his strengths and weaknesses, why he'll fit in well in YOUR team, why he's better than other player's in his position, his honours, a picture, possibly a YouTube clip etc. It is your responsibility to justify your pick and convince the rest of us that you made the best pick available to you.

3) After a poster receives a PM reminding him that it is his turn, he then has 24 hours to make a pick. If you fail to act in time, your turn will be skipped, and it will return to you when you become available to post. Hopefully this won't happen too much, as it really messes up the game. I think most here are fairly frequent users of the forum so it shouldn't be a big problem, but if you are the type to visit the forum once a month, it's probably best to not be part of the draft. Also, keep an eye on the order. So if you see that it will be your turn to pick soon, make it a point to visit the forum frequently.

4) The order goes like this.
1st round- 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
2nd round - 7,6,5...
3rd round - 7,6,5...
4th round - 1,2,3...
5th round - 1,2,3...
6th round - 7,6,5...
7th round - 7,6,5...
8th round - 1,2,3...
9th round - 1,2,3...
10th round - 7,6,5...
11th round - 7,6,5...

5) Remember, this is from the whole Premiership. Players from 1992 up to 2009. Players must have played a minimum of 50 games to be part of the draft (so guys like Robinho, Gullit, Baptista don't count). Players will be judged from their period in the Premiership. So if you pick Edgar Davids, this Davids is judged ONLY as the Spurs player, not the guy who dominated Europe at Juventus. Likewise, if you choose David Beckham, it's the Man Utd. David Beckham you chose, not the Madrid/LA/Milan Beckham.

6) Bear in mind, that you are picking a team to play matches. So if you pick 5 central-attacking midfielders, and 4 wingers, expect to 'conceed' alot of goals!

7) At the end of the draft, when all teams are picked, it is expected for each poster to make one final post in this thread. They are expected to make a post outlining their picks, tactics, why the feel the team will work well together, etc. This part is hugely important. It is hard to judge a team of 11 players against a team of 11 players unless we hear how the manager plans for the team to play eg. One manager may play Ronaldo as an out and out winger, affecting the dynamics of the team. Another manager may play Ronaldo in the free role which would have a different affect on the team. Both are possible options, but it is up to the manager to show how he wants his team to play. This will enable the rest of us to judge accurately what team is best, given the manager's tactics'

8) Hopefully when everyone has picked a team, we will be able to have a competition pitting teams against each other and have people vote on the winners. This can be discussed at a later date. First, let's pick the teams!



Okay, let's go! Good luck everyone!


SUBS PICKS ORDER:

Round 12: 2, 4, 5, 3, 6, 1, 7
Round 13: 1, 4, 2, 5, 7, 3, 6
Round 14: 1, 6, 2, 3, 7, 5, 4
Round 15: 7, 4, 1, 5, 2, 6, 3
Round 16: 6, 5, 1, 7, 4, 3, 2
Round 17: 7, 6, 3, 2, 5, 1, 4
Round 18: 1, 3, 6, 4, 7, 2, 5

[Jam-Fly]

This will be a record of all picks made. It will make it is easier as the game progresses to see what players have been picked and what players are still available.

Round 1
1 Alan Shearer - Striker - (picked by Mercury69)
2 Thierry Henry - Forward - (picked by Jam-Fly)
3 Roy Keane - Midfielder - (picked by KDawgCometh)
4 Cristiano Ronaldo - Winger - (picked by mrpaddyx)
5 Ryan Giggs - Winger - (picked by James D)
6 Peter Schmeichel - Goalkeeper - (picked by rinswun)
7 Andy Cole - Striker - (picked by LJB723)

Round 2
1 Petr Cech - Goalkeeper - (picked by LJB723)
2 Patrick Vieira - Midfielder - (picked by rinswun)
3 Eric Cantona - Forward - (picked by James D)
4 Ruud Van Nistelrooy - Striker - (picked mrpaddyx)
5 Matt Le Tissier - Midfielder - (picked by KDawgCometh)
6 Paul Scholes - Midfielder - (picked by Jam-Fly)
7 David Seaman - Goalkeeper - (picked by Mercury69)

Round 3
1 Steven Gerrard - Midfielder - (picked by LJB723)
2 Frank Lampard - Midfielder - (picked by rinswun)
3 Fernando Torres - Striker - (picked by James D)
4 Dennis Bergkamp - Centre-Forward - (picked by mrpaddyx)
5 Ian Wright - Striker - (picked by KDawgCometh)
6 Shay Given - Goalkeeper - (picked by Jam-Fly)
7 Denis Irwin - Full-Back - (picked by Mercury69)

Round 4
1 David Beckham - Midfielder - (picked by Mercury69)
2 Rio Ferdinand - Centre-Back - (picked by Jam-Fly)
3 Wayne Rooney - Forward - (picked by KDawgCometh)
4 John Terry - Centre-back - (picked by mrpaddyx)
5 Jaap Stam - Centre-back - (picked James D)
6 Tony Adams - Centre-back - (picked by rinswun)
7 Marc Overmars - Winger - (picked by LJB723)

Round 5
1 Sol Campbell - Centre-back - (picked by Mercury69)
2 Teddy Sheringham - Centre-Forward - (picked by Jam-Fly)
3 Martin Keown - Centre-back - (picked by KDawgCometh)
4 Cesc Fabregas - Midfielder - (picked by mr paddyx)
5 Gianfranco Zola - Forward - (picked by James D)
6 Jamie Carragher - Centre-/Full-Back - (picked by rinswun)
7 Marcel Desailly - Centre-back/Defensive Midfielder - (picked by LJB723)

Round 6
1 Mark Hughes - Striker - (picked by LJB723)
2 Robbie Fowler - Striker - (picked by rinswun)
3 Nemanja Vidic - Centre-Back - (picked by James D)
4 Gary Neville - Right-Back - (picked by mrpaddyx)
5 Andrei Kanchelskis - Winger - (picked by KDawgCometh)
6 Gary Pallister - Centre-Back - (picked by Jam-Fly)
7 Michael Owen - Striker - (picked by Mercury69)

Round 7
1 Paul Ince - Midfielder - (picked by LJB723)
2 Robert Pires - Winger - (picked by rinswun)
3 Dietmar Hamann - Midfielder - (James D)
4 Claude Makelele - Defensive Midfielder - (picked by mrpaddyx)
5 Stuart Pearce - Left-Back - (picked by KDawgCometh)
6 Michael Essien - Defender/Midfielder - (picked by Jam-Fly)
7 Gary McAllister - Midfielder - (picked by Mercury69)

Round 8
1 Gareth Southgate - Centre-Back - (picked by Mercury69)
2 Freddie Ljungberg - Winger - (picked by Jam-Fly)
3 Ashley Cole - Left-Back - (picked by mrpaddyx)
4 Arjen Robben - Winger - (picked by KDawgCometh)
5 Xabi Alonso - Midfielder - (picked by James D)
6 David Ginola - Winger - (picked by rinswun)
7 Steve MacManaman - Winger - (picked by LJB723)

Round 9
1 Gilberto Silva - Defensive Midfielder - (picked by Mercury69)
2 Dan Petrescu - Right-Back - (picked by Jam-Fly)
3 Lucas Radebe - Centre-Back - (picked by KDaegCometh)
4 Harry Kewell - Winger - (picked by mrpaddyx)
5 Lee Dixon - Right-Back - (picked by James D)
6 Frank Leboeuf - Centre-Back - (picked by rinswun)
7 William Gallas - Defender - (picked by LJB723)

Round 10
1 Patrice Evra - Left-Back - (picked by LJB723)
2 Nigel Winterburn - Left-Back - (picked by rinswun)
3 Edwin Van Der Sar - Goalkeeper - (picked by James D)
4 Brad Friedel - Goalkeeper - (picked by mrpaddyx)
5 Steve Finnan - Right-Back - (picked by KDawgCometh)
6 Damien Duff - Winger - (picked by Jam-Fly)
7 Gareth Barry - Defender/Midfielder - (picked by Mercury69)

Round 11
1 Markus Babbel - Right-Back - (picked by LJB723)
2 Jurgen Klinsmann - Striker - (picked by rinswun)
3 Gael Clichy - Left-Back - (picked by James D)
4 Colin Hendry - Centre-Back - (picked by mrpaddyx)
5 Magnus Hedman - Goalkeeper - (picked by KDawgCometh)
6 Graeme Le Saux - Left-Back - (picked by Jam-Fly)
7 Kolo Toure - Centre-Back - (picked by Mercury69)



Round 12
1 Les Ferdinand - Striker - (picked by Jam-Fly)
2 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - Striker - (picked by mrpaddyx)
3 Eidur Gudjohnsen - Forward -(picked by James D)
4 Dwight Yorke - Striker - (picked by KDawgCometh)
5 Juninho - Attacking Midfielder - (picked by rinswun)
6 Nicky Butt - Defensive Midfielder - (picked by Mercury69)
7 Didier Drogba - Striker - (picked by LJB723)

Round 13
1 Jimmy Hasselbaink - Striker - (picked by Mercury69)
2 Ricardo Carvalho - Centre-Back - (picked by Jam-Fly)
3 Mikel Arteta - Winger - (picked by mrpaddyx)
4 Robin Van Persie - Forward - (picked by James D)
5 Emanuel Petit - Defensive Midfielder - (picked by LJB723)
6 Nigel Martyn - Goalkeeper - (picked by KDawgCometh)
7 Steed Malbranque - Midifelder - (picked by Mercury 69)

Round 14
1 Joleon Lescott - Defender - (picked by rinswun)
2 Nicolas Anelka - Striker - (picked by rinswun)
3 Dennis Wise - Defensive Midfielder - (picked by Jam-Fly)
4 Rob Lee - Midfielder - (picked by KDawgCometh)
5 Pepe Reina - Goalkeeper - (picked by LJB723)
6 Sami Hyypia - Centre-Back - (picked by James D)
7 Tim Flowers - Goalkeeper - (picked by mrpaddyx)

Round 15
1 John Arne Riise - Left-Back - (picked by LJB723)
2 Olaf Mellberg - Right-/Centre-Back - (picked by mrpaddyx)
3 Paolo Di Canio - Forward - (picked by Mercury69)
4 Peter Beardsley - Midfielder - (picked by James D)
5 Jay-Jay Okocha - Attacking Midfielder - (picked by Jam-Fly)
6 Carlos Tevez - Forward - (picked by rinswun)
7 Des Walker - Centre-Back - (picked by KDawgCometh)

Round 16
1 Phil Neville - Full-Back/Defensive Midfielder - (picked by rinswun)
2 Wayne Bridge - Left-Back - (picked by James D)
3 Richard Dunne - Centre-Back - (picked by Mercury69)
4 Gus Poyet - Attacking Midfielder - (picked by LJB723)
5 Jamie Redknapp - Midfielder - (picked by mrpaddyx
6 Warren Barton - Right-/Centre-Back - (picked by KDawgCometh)
7 Mikael Silvestre - Left-/Centre-Back - (picked by Jam-Fly)

Round 17
1 Joe Cole - Attacking Midfielder - (picked by LJB723)
2 David James - Goalkeeper - (picked by rinswun)
3 Carlo Cudicini - Goalkeeper - (picked by Jam-Fly)
4 Tony Yeboah - Striker - (picked by mrpaddyx)
5 Paul Gascoigne - Midfielder - (picked by mrpaddyx)
6 Mark Schwarzer - Goalkeeper - (picked by Mercury69)
7

Round 18
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

[Mercury69]

My first pick is...The one and only:

Alan Shearer, Centre Forward/Striker, (Best Season: 1994-1995 season, Blackburn Rovers)



The first Premiership superstar has remained one of the EP's greatest legends, both on and off the pitch. The all-time leading scorer in EP history, leading the Blackburn Rovers to a championship in their 94-95 season. Other seasons with Blackburn and Newcastle United led to runner-up finishes and Shearer's international impact, while not resulting in any titles, was significant.

Modelling the classic centre forward, Shearer's strength and strong shot made him a threat and a target. Strong heading skills and a propensity for using his elbows resulted in many header goals (49 of 207 with NU were scored with the head), penalty cards (2 red and 59 yellow for his career) and penalty shot goals (45 for NU and 5 more off corners).

[Jam-Fly]

First pick was always gonna be a tough one with so many great players to choose from. I had 3 players in mind to pick first, but when it came down it, I had to pick...



Sheer excellence on the ball, unbelievable speed, a superb set-piece taker, an amazing captain and team player, a huge will to win, and a great goal scoring record. What seperates Henry imo is, he did for 5 seasons in a row! Many strikers have 1 or 2 twenty plus goal seasons, but Henry had 5 in a row (including one 30 goal season). His worst goal-scoring ratio came in the 00-01 season where he scored 17 goals in 35 games, not too shabby for a 'bad' season by Henry's standards.



He averaged 0.68 goals per game in his time with Arsenal in the Premiership. Coupled with this was 77 recorded assists in 254 games. This means, that on average, Henry contributed with either an assist or a goal EVERY GAME! He also won the golden boot in 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005-06 seasons!




Honours:

• FA Premier League: 2001–02, 2003–04
• UEFA Champions League: (Runner-up) 2005-2006
• UEFA Cup: (Runner-up) 1999-2000
• FA Cup: 2002, 2003, 2005
• FA Community Shield: 2002, 2004

Sheer brilliance, an utter legend, my first pick...




...Thierry Henry

[KDawgCometh]

Rd 1: Roy Keane








every side needs a captain and field marshall, and Keane will be mine. He does all sorts of things that don't end up on the stat sheet, but at the end of the day, he brings out the best from the players around him


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---- Keane ----------- ------

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[mrpaddyx]

1st Round Pick - Cristiano Ronaldo



I was so torn on my first pick as there is so much quality to pick from. However Ronaldo is simply the best attacking midfielder I have ever seen. He dribbles past players for fun and had the some of the sickest free kicks you will ever see. Also he is an excellent header of the ball. He has not played as long as of some players but the best is sure to come from the 24 year old.

Key Stats

Premier League Winner - 2007-08, 2008-09
Top Goal Scorer - Golden Boot - 2008-09 (31 goals in 34 games)
PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2006–07, 2007–08
FWA Footballer of the Year: 2006–07, 2007–08

[James D]

1st Pick: Ryan Giggs




If there's any player who defines the Premiership (and who should be first on anyone's list), it's Ryan Giggs. He is not only the most succesful player in English history, but he's a model example of how a modern day professional footballer should be. He's scored in every single season, since 1990/91... but really his influence goes much deeper than just goals, or even assists.

Loyal to the bone, he has had more influence than anyone (Alex Ferguson aside) in developing Manchester United to what they are today.



Honours (ridiculous really... and counting!)

* Premier League (10): 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08
* FA Cup (4): 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04
* Football League Cup (3): 1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–09
* FA Community Shield (7): 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008
* UEFA Champions League (2): 1998–99, 2007–08
* UEFA Super Cup (1): 1991
* Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999
* FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008


Add to this a ton of personal awards including successive PFA Young Player of the Year awards, and you start to get a sense of how great he really is. It's a complete joke that he's never had a senior player of the year (edit - He is now the 2009 PFA Player of the Year), or a FIFA award etc... but that is simply because he doesn't shout from the rooftops and whore himself out in terms of the media etc, like many others (Beckham, Ronaldo to name but two).

He's also proved himself to be very adaptable over time. In the early years, he'd tear down the wing gliding past defenders with the most beautiful style I've ever seen.. almost effortless. Recently, he is used more in a central role, but still roves down the left wing at times. He can link up well with anyone, from Hughes, to Cole, to Berbatov (just a sense of how he's spanned the years, and adapted). I am very happy to have someone in my team, who first lit up the Premiership when it started, and who 18 years later, is putting in man of the match performances in crucial victories such as MU v Chelsea this year.


Best goal ('99 FA Cup semi against Arsenal). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrOyedpeZnk

[rinswun]

Rinswun's 1st pick:

Every great team is built on a strong spine and as the saying goes 'defence wins championships'. Where better to start then than with the last line of defence and arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time, The Great Dane - PETER SCHMEICHEL.

Schmeichel made over 351 premiership appearances over 10 Premier League seasons from 1992-2003, most notably with Manchester United and laterly with Aston Villa and Man City. He also made 129 international appearances for his native Denmark. As well as clean sheets, Schmeichel also had quite the goalscoring record for a non-freekick taking keeper with 2 premiership goals and an international strike to his credit - amongst 10 in his career.

Over the course of his Premiership career Schmeichel backstopped his teams to 5 Premier League crowns, 3 FA Cups, 1 League Cup and a Champions League title. He also clocked up individual accolades including 3 UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year awards, and International honours winning the European Championship with the unheralded Denmark squad in 1992.

A physically imposing man, Schmeichel was a fine organiser of a defence, a brilliant shot-stopper, technical sound when dealing with crosses and an excellent distributor with a long throw that is still unparrelled today. He was as likely to intimidate the opposition into missing a good chance as he was likely to make a world class save and he was a great leader when called upon by his respective managers.

Peter Schmeichel, the Premiership's number 1.





Peter the Great - video

Peter Schmeichel - Wikipedia

[LJB723]

If goals are what you're looking for look no further than Andy Cole. 2nd top scorer in EPL history. 5 premier league titles. 2 FA cups and the CL in 1999.

Cole made his name at Newcastle before moving to Man Utd in a then British record £7m deal. There Cole formed a deadly partnership with Dwight Yorke and together they helped Manchester United win everything under the sun.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Cole

[LJB723]

For my first pick for round 2 I give you:



Petr Cech. Already a winner of 2 EPL titles with Chelsea. The Czech international is a model of cosistency and showed remarkable powers of recovery to return to football despite fracturing his skull. Still considered one of the top goalkeepers in world football at the moment the Chelsea man is a fine edition to team LJB.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petr_Cech#Chelsea_2

[rinswun]

My 2nd pick:

Continuing the theme of building a strong spine for the team, my second pick will be the tall, tough tackling, Frenchman PATRICK VIEIRA.

Vieira spent his whole Premier League career (9 seasons, 1996 - 2005) at Arsenal, patrolling the middle of the park with his long, languid stride that could often look lazy to the untrained eye. Make no mistake however, Patty V was no lazy player. Ferious in the tackle, outstanding range on his pass, a non stop engine and a good eye for goal, Vieira was the metronome from which Arsenal took their rhythm. Often remembered for his clashes with Roy Keane in particular, he clocked up 279 Premier League appearances and scored 29 goals, preventing many more besides.

Like Schmeichel, Vieira has a long list of Domestic and International team achievements and plenty of individual honours. 3 Premier League titles - including one skippering the 2003/4 unbeaten 'Invincibles' and 4 FA Cups were his achievements in the domestic game and he also picked up winners medals in the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship whilst an Arsenal player. Individual accolades include being named to the PFA Team of the year 6 years in a row from 1999-2004 and the UEFA Team of the year in 2001.

Patrick Vieira - my captain.





Patrick Vieira, Legend - video

Patrick Vieira - wikipedia

[James D]

2nd pick: Eric Cantona







Where do you start, really? If Giggs defines the Premiership, then Cantona invented it.

No one else comes close, in terms of iconic status to him. Every (full) season he played at Man Utd, we won the league, and his name will be one of a small handful that United fans will sing about for eternity, at Old Trafford. In fact, he even won the league for Leeds the season before joining us... I know that isn't strictly Premiership, but it has to be mentioned.

When I think of my favourite period of ever watching United, the Cantona years will always be at the top, higher than the treble winning team or the current one. I'm sure this must be the case for non United fans too... when he was playing there was something about him that you couldn't take your eyes off him, not knowing what outrageous piece of skill he was going to attempt next (not in a Ronaldo type way either... it was altogether more classy than that). Despite his disciplinary record, somehow he was a true leader... EVERYONE in my team would look up to him, and would be honoured to play alongside him.


This isn't just my sentimentality talking, however. Because he is the most skillful, imaginative, controlling and audacious player to have ever played in the Premiership. Also one of the most successful.. The only reason I picked Giggs ahead of him was because of longevity and temperament. We all know about his temper, but that just adds to the enigma... Oh, and if Eric does something, he does it better and more extreme than anyone else. He does it properly. None of this finger waving, namby-pamby stuff... he just goes flying into the crowd and unleashes hell.





He also had one of the single biggest influences that anyone has had on one team (1996 season), in winning the League and FA Cup double. His goals proved crucial, and there was a period where it seemed we always won by one goal... scorer: Cantona. Then he finished off Liverpool in the Cup Final.


Genius.


Eric Cantona - The King



Honours:

Manchester United
Premier League (4): 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97
FA Cup (2): 1993-94, 1995-96
Charity Shield (3): 1993, 1994, 1996

Individual
PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1994

[mrpaddyx]

Round 2: I'm going to forget my manners because its time to get Ruud!

My 2nd draft pick is the legendary goal scorer Rutgerus Johannes Martinus van Nistelrooij otherwise know as Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Signed from PSV Eindhoven for hefty £20 Mil his time at Old Trafford was highlighted by goals, goals and even more goals. In only 5 seasons (one of which he was mainly injured) he scored 95 Premiership goals. In total he scored 150 goals in less than 200 games. Like a few high profile players, his time in England was cut short by an falling out with Alex Ferguson and he was shipped off the Real Madrid.


Key Stats

Premier League Winner - 2002/03
PFA Player of the year 2002/03

[KDawgCometh]

sorry it took me a while, was recovering from a very long night on saturday/sunday


Round 2: Matt LeTissier




a magician in the midfield who never really got his due with england. Maybe it was down to his not moving from southampton, but its hard to deny his class. He basically kept southampton up for years with his skill and making a whole bunch of crap look a lot better then they were. I'd love to see what he can do with actual good players around him to see what magic he can do


stats:

Southampton 443(162)
England: 8(0)

[Jam-Fly]

PAUL SCHOLES


What a player. Vision, passing, shooting, work rate, what more could you ask for? Never the centre of attention, but ever-present for United for the last 15 years!
He has played 408 league games, scored 97 goals and won no less than 8 (!) EPL titles! In 2008, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.
I don't think I really need to go on about this guy's achievments as everyone knows how brilliant he is. Instead, I'll let you enjoy this video...

The legend - Paul Scholes

HONOURS

• Premier League: 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08
• FA Cup: 1996, 1999, 2004
• Football League Cup: 2006, 2009
• FA Community Shield: 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2008
• UEFA Champions League: 1999, 2008
• Intercontinental Cup: 1999
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
• Barclays Premiership Player of the Month: January 2003, December 2003, October 2006
• PFA Team of the Year: 2002–03, 2006–07
• English Football Hall of Fame: 2008

Team so far: Henry, Scholes

[Mercury69]

My 2nd pick of the draft...

Topnotch goaltenders are, perhaps, harder to come by than any other position, so I'm going to make my 2nd overall pick:

David Seaman, MBE



This anchor of the Arsenal juggernaut of the 90's. inexplicably rejected by Graham Taylor to be part of the English World Cup squad of 1992 (after a season in which he conceded only 18 goals in 38 matches), Seaman took his revenge by leading Arsenal to the League Cup and FA Cup in 93. , Seaman and Arsenal managed to grab two titles despite Man U's domination through the 90's and finished near the top of the table in most seasons. Easily one of the top 3 goaltenders in premiership history...

Honours

Tournoi de France
Winner: 1997

First Division Championship*/FA Premier League:
1997-1998, 2001-2002

FA Cup:
1992-1993, 1997-1998, 2001-2002, 2002-2003

League Cup:
1992-1993

Cup Winners' Cup:
1993-1994

[LJB723]

Coming in for my 3rd pick is Mr. Liverpool himself. Steven Gerrard MBE.

Excelling in Europe where he almost single handedly dragged Liverpool through the group stages of the CL of 2005 and scored in the final. Gerrard got them back there again in 2007 where he narrowly missed out on another winner's medal.



Honours

FA Cup: 2000-01, 2005-06
League Cup: 2000-01, 2002-03
FA Community Shield: 2001-02, 2006-07
UEFA Champions League: 2004-05
UEFA Cup: 2000-01
UEFA Super Cup: 2001-02, 2005-06

Individual
PFA Young Player of the Year: 2000–01[21]
UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2004–05
UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2004–05
FIFA Club World Championship Silver Ball: 2005
PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2005–06[21]
FA Premier League Player of the Month: March 2001, March 2003, December 2004, April 2006
FA Cup Final Man of the Match: 2005–06
FIFPro World XI: 2006–07, 2007–08
UEFA Team of the Year: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07
PFA Team of the Year: 2000–01, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08

The only thing missing from this man's resume is a Premiership medal. Maybe this year...

[Mercury69]

Retracted...process problem...sorry.

[rinswun]

My third round pick is the living embodiment of the term 'Box-to-Box' midfielder, Chelsea's FRANK LAMPARD.

Lampard's blood lines are impressive with his dad a well respected coach and former England full-back, his uncle Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp and his cousin ex-Liverpool and England midfield Jamie Redknapp. Despite this impressive football heritage, Lampard is the best of the lot. Along with Matt Le Tissier, Lampard is one of only 2 midfielders to have notched 100 Premier League goals - as well as 16 for England.

Lampard has an impressive array of honours, both with Chelsea and individually. They include 2 Premier League titles, an FA Cup and 2 League Cups with the Blues and indivually he was voted Football Writers player of the year in 2005, voted to the Premier League team of the year 3 times from 2004-06 and voted UEFAs top midfieder in the 2007-8.

Lampard's primary strengths are his boundless energy and workrate, the timing of his runs in the box, the great range on his pass and an uncanny net of getting a shot on target even through a crowded penalty area. He is also very durable, making 164 consecutive Premier League appearances from his debut in 2001 until December 2005 - which was a record at the time. A talismanic figure for Chelsea and underrated leader, Lampard will be a fine addition alongside Vieira in the engine room of my team.

Frank Lampard - centre midfield





Frank Lampard, midfield maestro - video

Frank Lampard - wikipedia

[James D]

I feel like I've just made a frantic transfer deadline day type signing to my team here... but after receiving final confirmation from the authorities, I can proudly reveal to fans of Real Jamborino (yes, that's my team name) that our 3rd signing is none other than 'El Nino' himself... Fernando Torres!






This guy is most definately the real deal, and he's beaten a whole host of established Premiership names in getting a contract from me as my main striker (am I getting carried away? lol!).

His impact on the Liverpool team is clear for everyone to see and he marked his first season at the club by being their first player to score more than 20 league goals (33 in total) for the club in a season since 1995. He will be around for a long time to come, I love his attitude (seems very committed to his club, and loyal... I like to see that, especially in today's world of football), his style and ambition. And he is only getting better. He's very much a big game player too, completely unafraid of big name defenders... he's put in man-of-the-match performances against Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United in the last few months alone.

Also worth mentioning that he has won the European Championships with Spain. Not only that, he was their leading scorer in qualification and scored the winner in the final against Germany, and was man-of-the-match.




I enjoy watching him play a lot, his style seems effortless yet deadly effective and he manages to find that extra yard of space that is synonymous with only the very very best strikers. I think his link up play in my team with Cantona playing in the hole just behind him (no, not like that silly) would be too much for any team to handle.

I said in the main Premiership thread at the time Liverpool were going for him, Man Utd should have signed him. We didn't, and I still believe that Fergie missed out there.


Oh, and he's pretty good looking too... so I'll have lots of female fans coming to watch my games - I'm thinking of everything here... I'm building a goddamn EMPIRE!!


Youtube - Fernando Torres