Manchester United's Best Squad? Maybe... What About Worst?

Sir Alex Ferguson today remarked that his current Manchester United squad is the 'strongest he's ever had'. Quite a statement when you consider the teams of 93/94 and treble winning 98/99.

There has been plenty of debate on BBC Sport over who would make it into an all-time great Man Utd team choosing players from Fergie's reign, but what about an all-time worst squad? Here's our pick of the players who will not be looking back on their time at Old Trafford with much pleasure.

GK - Massimo Taibi
DF - Wes Brown
DF - Henning Berg
DF - Mikael Silvestre
DF - David May
MF - Jesper Blomqvist
MF - Quinton Fortune
MF - Kleberson
MF - Juan Sebastian Veron
MF - Eric Djemba-Djemba
ST - Diego Forlan

Do you agree? Is putting Silvestre and Brown in a little harsh? Do Man Utd warrant a worst ever XI, given the quality of players they've had over the years? Leave your comments below:

Continue Reading...

Summary only...

Champions League OAP XI

While watching Barcelona v Rangers, I saw Lilian Thuram galloping majestically across the field to end yet another Rangers attack to start another Barcelona move. Then I realised that this guy's been around for ages, and began to wonder how old he was.

35 years old, not bad for a top choice centre back for arguably the best team in world. Then that got me thinking, how would a team comprised of the oldest players in the Champions League fair in Europe's flagship club competition? Not too bad as it turns out:

GK - Jens Lehmann, 37
Mad Jens turns 38 in November, but is still as sprightly as a cocky youth, as can be seen in his warm-up for England vs Germany:

DR - Cafu, 37
The Brazilian full back was once described by Alex Ferguson as having 2 hearts given his immense stamina. Brazil's most capped player currently plies his trade at Roma.

DL - Roberto Carlos, 37
Cafu's opposite Brazilian full-back accompanies him on this team. Bobby-o Carlos, now playing for Fenerbahce, has graced the game with surging runs, spectacular free kicks, and unreal shots, such as this one:



DC - David Weir, 37
The Rangers and Scotland defender is still going strong, even at the ripe old age of 37. He could have joined Celtic at one stage of his career, which would have given the hoops a back 3 of 'Weir, Tebily, Scheidt'.

DC - Paolo Maldini, 39
The oldest of our line up is also arguable the best. Has been a stalwart of AC Milan's defence for over 20 years now, and the club will retire his number when he hangs up his boots.

DC - Lilian Thuram, 35
Ah Lilian, a woman's name for a man's man. Believe it or not his real first name is Ruddy. That's right, Ruddy Lilian Thuram. I put it down to sick French parents.

DMC - Claude Makalele, 34
It's no coincidence that Real Madrid's form dropped when the Frenchman left for Chelsea. Virtually unshakable on the ball, Claude could walk away with most 'unsung hero' awards handed over the years.

ML - Luis Figo, 34
The Golden Boy of Portugal's Golden Generation, Figo has reached the footballing heights with Real Madrid when he won the Champions League in 2002. The second most expensive player of all-time, Figo is currently winding down his career at Inter Milan. Not bad.

MR - Vladimir Smicer, 34
Harsh to say that he's the weak link in the team, but not too much when you consider his team mates. Was an integral part in Liverpool's 2005 Champions League final victory over AC Milan, scoring the second en route to a famous comeback.

AMC - Rui Costa, 35
Back at his old club Benfica, he was also part of Portugal's Golden Generation, and made his mark at Fiorentina and AC Milan, winning one Champion's League Trophy in the process.

FC - Filippo Inzaghi, 34
Still bangs them in like there's no tomorrow, and was the match winner for AC Milan in last season's Champions League final. Cruyff said of the striker, "Look, actually he can't play football at all. He's just always in the right position." With 245 goals in his club career, you may say he can finish a bit too.

We reckon that this set of players would reach the Quarter Finals at least. How well do you reckon this team would fair in the Champions League?

Continue Reading...

Summary only...

FIFPro Team of the Year 2006/07 - Do You Agree?

Ignore the fact that Buffon looks a tad like Hitler, what do you think of FIFPro's selection for Player of the Year last season? (Think of FIFPro as an international Professional Footballer's Association, if you were wondering who the hell they were)

GK - Buffon
I whole heartedly agree. Casillas was worth a shout, but Buffon has been incredibly solid for some time now... is this the first time a player who didn't play in the top flight got into the FIFPro XI? (He was with Serie B Juventes last year)

DF - Puyol
I agree with, a solid choice.

DF - Nesta
You'd think that they would have chosen one defender from the European Champions.

DF - Cannavaro
Hmmm... he hasn't sorted out Real's defensive 'crisis' in a blaze of glory, but he has been consistent. You get the feeling they picked him as he was Europe's Golden Boy following the world cup. I would have preferred to have seen his teammate Sergio Ramos or Daniel Alves here.

DF - Terry
Why does he keep on getting in these squads? He had one good season, and seems to be picked for every fantasy team these days, regardless of performance. If they had to pick a premier league defender, Carragher or Vidic were much better last season.

MF - Ronaldo, Kaka and Gerrard
I'm putting all these together because the key to a midfield is how they interact. so in a 4-3-3, it's common to see 1,2 or maybe even 3 players sitting back. FIFPro have gone for 3 very attacking midfielders, so where's the stability? It's hard to choose which one, they all had terrific seasons yesteryear, but I'd have to drop Gerrard in favour of the more defensive Gattuso (Xavi and Makalele are well worth shouts also).

ST - Lionel Messi
The kid can do no wrong. He has brilliant assumed the 'Ronaldinho' role, scoring goals and whizzing past players for fun. And he's only 20. Crikey.

ST - Didier Drogba
If you're going for sheer goal-scoring threat, Drogba is a must. 33 goals last season with Chelsea, and none from the penalty spot. Totti with 32 and Van Nistelrooy with 33 goals just miss out (they were penalty takers), the big Ivorian edges it.

ST - Ronaldinho
Some say he's getting fat, rubbish and lazy. Maybe fat, maybe less energetic. But rubbish? Oh no. While Messi was encouraged to push forward last season, Ronnie sat back, playing the key passes to the people in front of him, dictating the pace of the game. He still had the tricks, just used them less. Oh, and still managed to score 24 goals. Who's saying he's rubbish now?

What do you reckon liquid fans? Who would be in your team and why?

Continue Reading...

Summary only...

The Big Four - 2nd XI

After the 'Big Four' played their Carling Cup matches with mainly second string players, we look at which men would make it into our fantasy team if we could pick anybody from each club, excluding the 1st XI.

GK - Ben Foster (MNU)
It was a close run between him and Cudicini, but the Englishman edges it on having played more recent games.

DF - Armand Traore (ARS)
Impressed in the 2-0 victory over Newcastle, setting up Bendtner's goal.

DF - Wayne Bridge (CHE)
Unfortunately, due to the arrival of Belletti, chances for a 1st team place will be scarce at Chelsea. Still a solid defender.

DF - Phil Bardsley (MNU)
Looked good when he got a couple of European games last season, he completes this attack minded back 3.

MF - Chris Eagles (MNU)
Scored his first Premier League goal against Everton last season, and once scored a Beckham-esque 50 yarder while on loan at Watford.

MF - Michael Woods (CHE)
Came on for an FA cup tie against Macclesfield last season and has been described as the new Paul Scholes, due to his ginger hair and stocky frame.

MF - Denilson (ARS)
This boy has looked a brilliant player for some time, and he assured us once again with a tremendous top-corner strike against Newcastle.

MF - Anderson (MNU)
Has the acceleration of the Millenium Falcon and the most expensive player in our line-up. Has not been given much chance to set the Premier League alight yet.

MF - Abou Diaby (ARS)
The lanky Frenchman stands tall at 6ft 2in. He has the ability to play as a holding midfielder, 'in the hole' or on either wing. Scored a cracker against Derby and looked good on Tuesday night.

ST - Theo Walcott (ARS)
Lightning pace and bundles of enthusiasm, the £12 million starlet will be looking to justify the price tag in the coming seasons.

ST - Nicklas Bendtner (ARS)
The Great Dane has a huge height and strength advantage, but could be on his way out with Eduardo, Adebayor and Van Persie all ahead of him in the pecking order.

What? Only 2 Chelsea players? ZERO Liverpool players?!?! Vent your opinions in the comments below.

Continue Reading...

Summary only...

Fantasy Football XI - Who NOT to pick

If you've not already part of some Fantasy Football league, Channel 4 started their excellent and free one at the start of the season which comes highly recommended from us. If you decide to join, don't forget to join our league (PIN 4798), and don't forget to NOT choose this team.

GK - Steven Bywater (-20 pts)
Derby's goalkeeper. Need we say anymore?

FB - Tyrone Mears (-10 pts)
Keeping with the rules of allowing only 2 players from each club, we chose Derby's lowest scoring defender with a negative 10 point score.

FB - Paul Konchesky (-7 pts)
Fulham's full-back has an annoying knack of being present whenever they concede any amount of goals. Don't touch him with a 50ft pole.

CB - Carlos Bocanegra (-7 pts)
14 goals conceded thus far, Fulham's defenders are not to be sniffed at.

CB - Michael Dawson (-3 pts)
Tottenham can't seem to keep a clean sheet to save themselves (or their manager). There are a lot of better defenders for £3.8 million out there.

MF - Kevin Nolan (2 pts)
A relatively expensive midfielder, but only one assist in 7 games and playing for the 19th placed team makes him one to stay away from.

MF - Mikel Arteta (4 pts)
Has been one of Everton's top performer's this season, but tends to play the pass before the assist is made. Being the 3rd most expensive midfielder, he ain't worth it.

MF - Ryan Giggs (2 pts)
The Utd legend has been almost ever present this season, but has taken a back seat to the impressive Nani. Coupled with some low-score wins, Giggsy has a disappointing 2 points so far.

MF - Cristiano Ronaldo (0 pts)
The most expensive midfielder has yet to score any points. He will start scoring soon, but not enough to warrant the ridiculous price tag of £7.3 million.

ST - Dimitar Berbatov (3 pts)
18th placed Spurs don't look like getting out of their rut any time soon, especially with the recent news about Martin Jol. One goal in 6 games says it all for one of the Premier League's golden boys.

ST - Andrew Johnson (4 pts)
Not even a goal to speak about from Everton's marksman. A poor return from his £6.9 million price tag, although droughts are there to be ended...

Continue Reading...

Summary only...

Tattoo FC

In light of Rooney's recent tattoo of a St George's cross, we take a look at the men hard enough to have injected ink into flesh...

GK - Sam Ashton
The former Bolton 'keeper made headlines a couple of seasons ago, when Big Sam threw him on in an FA cup game against Watford... as an outfield player! Now he plies his trade with FC United (remember them?), but his Bolton tattoo still remains, and he may even get rid of it so not to damage his career prospects.

DF - Sergio Ramos
This man is tattoo central. Names, initials, dates, cartoons, messages, even elvish writing has been written into this man's skin. From here on in he shall be referred to as 'The Walking Bar code'.

DF - Fabio Cannavaro
Golden Ball winner Fab (and voted sexiest man at the World Cup, not bad) has several tats of mention. He has the names of his wife and 2 children on his arms, along with a tattoo of the sun on his right calf. He must have light legs (gets beaten with a stick).

DF - Marco Materazzi
Public Enemy Numero Un, Marco turned to the needle well before turning his eyes to Zidane's sister (he wanted to have her, Zidane was miffed, something like that). He has several stars over his arm, along with his birth date in Roman Numerals (just in case he forgets). The World Cup itself is immortalised on his left thigh.

DF - Daniel Agger
What better player to include in our starting line-up than a bona-fide tattoo artist? This vice is probably not so secret due to the huge filled tats he has running up both arms. He has 'mors certa hora incerta' written on his back, which translates as hour uncertain, death certain. Nothing like a cheery wee slogan on yourself, eh?

MF - David Beckham
It is impossible to look at Becks and not see a tattoo somewhere. Where to start? He has various scribblings all over him, including his children's names, and also has lovely 'Victoria' written in Hindu on his left arm. Sorry that's 'Vihctoria', after it was misspelled. I'm sure he could just rub it off... oh.

MF - Freddie Ljungberg
If you can bear to look at the picture, Freddie shows off his black panther on his stomach (while showing off his pants). No trying to over-compensate for anything are you?

MF - Lucho Gonzalez
No fewer than 10 drawings feature on the man that scored against Liverpool last night. These include the signature of Diego Maradona and also the name of his wife Pamela in Chinese. Others include the initials of his family, a rose on his left leg and a depiction of Jesus on his right.

MF - Steve Sidwell
Only one to speak of, well, 101 more accurately. The Chelsea midfielder had his 100-word wedding vows inked on his back, along with a depiction of Jesus on a cross. He described the experience as a 'nice pain'. Worrying shades of masochism there...

ST - Djibril Cisse
He first got a rose on his chest 7 years ago, which then led to eagle wings on his back, his daughter's name on his neck, a massive tribal-esque pattern running down his leg, and at least another 12 tattoos adorned over him. Shame all the focus is on his crazy hair (and horrible Marseille kit).

ST - Wayne Rooney
He added to his repertoire recently with a St George's cross on his left arm (just to reinforce the fact that he's English). He also bears a Celtic cross on his right arm with, bizarrely, the word 'then' on his back. A friend of his bears the word 'okay' in homage to a phrase they used to say in their younger days. 'Then okay' sounds like a rubbish phrase if you ask me... (paperweight gets thrown in my direction).

Continue Reading...

Summary only...