EPL ALL TIME 11 DRAFT

EPL ALL TIME 11 DRAFT

As Pep/me would say, ‘great artists steal’. This idea of peak offseason content was brought to me by The Athletic podcast and I thought it would be more fun to do this way, rather than just pick an 11 myself. Firstly, because for me the main 11 are fairly obvious but also they are only obvious, to me because of my outlook on football and I didn’t want great players to miss out. I did the draft with my friends Matt and Eric, who are both Manchester United fans. There is also probably another team full of quality players who would have made it if we didn’t consider longevity, but were still great when they were in the league.

So in a snake draft the order works as follows, but we only have three players (in the draft). Now we had to find a fun way to pick the order, which I again stole from football Instagram. We are playing darts, so trying to get to 501 with a statistic from our teams without going over that number. On Instagram they play max score of 180 per dart/guess but I didn‘t see that ’til after playing if some people are confused as well.

I picked Man City total appearances. From here on out, to take you in to the conversation, I will be using F-Faris, E-Eric and M-Matt to summarise our conversation.

F Alright so I’m going to guess Dias, Doku and Gvardiol for total appearances.

quick google later

215+ 82+ 95=392

Oof way off

E Lindelof, Garnacho, Onana

quick google later

284+ 144+ 101=529

BUST

F I was worried for a second

E Close

F Yeh very, Matt you’re up

E Onana only really appeared for five though 🥁

F 😂

M Alright I’ll do goals all time for United then; Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs

quick google later

253+ 145+ 168=566

BUST

I didn’t think Giggs had so many

F Alright you two go in to a playoff and try to guess closest to 100 Prem appearances for United and has to be a player who is not there anymore

M I’ll go Owen hargreaves

quick google later

He only had 28 😮

M Dammit I just saw, thought he was there longer than that

F He was there five seasons so solid guess based on time he was just very injured

E Januzaj, my grade 12 crush

Eric then mentions my year 12 crush but that will never see the light of day

quick google later

F 50 appearances for Yanited

RULES

Order will be Faris then Eric then Matt then reverse so FEM then MEF every two rounds

We have 11 players plus a manager making it 12 rounds total

The rules we set when picking our teams are: five players from the first era of the league so 1992-2010 and five players from 2010 to now. Some players did span both but most of our picks were easily defined as more one than the other. Your 11th player can then come from any era of the league. This also plays in to draft strategy, in particular in the positions that are less flexible, like fullback. Let’s say in the later rounds the best two right backs from 2010 to now are taken, but I need a right back: I would be stuck with the third best player.

ROUND 1

F- Salah, RW

The main reason I’ve picked him first other than the obvious is that I want to play a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 and there are not many right wingers even close to his level. Drafting is not just picking the best 11 but also when to take them - so this is a strategic pick.  

E - Thierry Henry, STC

Poetry, power, and pure genius. I’ll be playing this draft a little differently. Rather than leaning solely on stats or accolades, my focus is on the players who made me sit up, lean forward, and just say “wow.” It’s more about the feeling they gave me than the numbers they racked up.

Of course, Henry ticks both boxes. the jaw-dropping moments and the goals to back them up but let’s see if some of the names that come next raise a few eyebrows.

M - Paul Scholes, CM

For me Scholesy is the greatest Premier League midfielder of all time. Not for the fact that he retired, only to come out of retirement at the request of Sir Alex Ferguson to help United win their 18th Premiership. But for the fact that he could ping a pass anywhere on the field to within a millimetre at will. La Masia have studied his passing and he has had some of the worlds’ greatest ever midfielders in Xavi, Iniesta and even the great Pep Guardiola (great manager) praise his passing abilities. Not to mention 11 Premier League titles is no easy feat for all you stats nerds out there. 😉

ROUND 2

M - Kevin De Bruyne, CM

Partnering Scholesy in the middle of the park will be the other ginger maestro of midfield. Working as a pair of 8’s in front of a stronger defensive midfielder (who will be named later), this pair of auburn haired geniuses will be able to cover every blade of grass on the football pitch with their passing range. 

E - Eden Hazard, LW

He didn’t just play football, he painted with it. There was a fluidity to his game that felt almost improvised, like jazz on grass. Every dribble, feint, or flick came with a casual elegance, as if he was just having fun while defenders desperately tried to keep up.

At his peak, Hazard had that rare gravity where the moment he picked up the ball, the atmosphere changed. It wasn’t just about output or goals. It was the way he made the game feel unpredictable, even playful.

He earns my LW spot not just for his brilliance, but for how often he made me laugh mid-game out of disbelief. Pure entertainment. Football as art.

F - Kyle Walker, RB

Similar to my first pick I am basing this on scarcity just as much as talent. I’ve gone for Kyle Walker at right back as there are not many close to his level. In the modern day there are three roles for fullbacks. The overlapper, the inverter and the third centre back. He has played all of these at various time for both Tottenham and City to a very high level. I also think he deserves more credit for shifting from the overlapper at Tottenham to a combination of the other two at city. 

ROUND 3

F- Frank Lampard, CM

I am yet again going for scarcity value. Not because there is such a lack of them but because two of my top picks have already come off the board and I don’t want to get left behind. He is very versatile and can play 8/10 in a double pivot or as one of the two more advanced with one holder in behind giving me more options with my other midfield picks. Highest scoring Prem midfielder of all time didn’t happen by accident. And to think it all started with Redknapp defending him in the press conference, humble beginnings ayy. 

E - Cristiano Ronaldo, RW

I think I have to go Ronaldo at RW here if I’m sticking to my own draft rules. The impact, the moments, the sheer awe. It’s undeniable. You watched Ronaldo with wide eyes, because at any second he might do something nobody else could. A pirouette, a 40-yard thunderbolt, a leap above three defenders. He made football feel inevitable and surreal all at once. He was the cheat code before cheat codes.

I completely understand the counter argument. His spell of true dominance in the Premier League was brief, and the second stint, while still effective, didn’t carry the same magic. But the truth is, when you think of players who defined what it meant to be unmissable, Ronaldo is at the top. Just load up any “best football highlights” compilation and count how many times he appears. You’ll lose track. He wasn’t just great. He was unforgettable.

M - Rodrigo (Rodri), DM

To fill out the 6 roll behind the ginger geniuses we have only the third player in history to have won the Balon D’or from the Premier League. Accolades aside, Rodri has completely revolutionised the holding midfielder role, not just in England, but on a global stage. His ability to dismantle attacks before they’ve even started and send the ball forward for his own players is breathtaking. Anyone that understands what it means to be a good defender will appreciate just how important it is to have a strong 6 in their team. Think Busquets behind Xavi and Iniesta for Barcelona or Casemiro behind Modric and Kroos for Real Madrid. Now imagine having a Balon D’or winning Rodri behind Paul Scholes and KDB, need I say more. 

ROUND 4

M - Virgil van Dijk, CB

Michael Dawson dubbed Virgil a “Rolls-Royce” defender and nothing could be closer to the truth with this Dutch giant. Although Liverpool have had many fantastic defenders throughout their history, I dare say any real Liverpool fan would agree that Virgil van Dijk is the best Premier League centre back they’ve ever had. With pace, power and precision, Virgil Van Dijk made modern day defending against some of the world greatest players look simplistic. A two time Premier League champion himself, along with 3 Champions League final appearances and a UEFA Cup medal in 2019, very few Premier League centre half's even come close to what this man has accomplished.


E - David Silva, CAM

David is one of only two players in the Premier League whose playing style ranks among my absolute favourites in all of football. ( Juan Mata being the other). Sure, we all know his flair on the ball and his quick changes of direction, but what truly sets him apart for me is his decision-making. I genuinely cannot recall a moment when he lost the ball in a way that could be considered a ‘terrible mistake’ (although I definitely didn’t follow every game, admittedly). Matt and I are both United fans, and I can assure you, whenever United faced City and Silva had the ball, we both had sweaty palms.


F - Alan Shearer, STC

Because a lot of forwards have been taken and I don’t want to be caught short I will now pick the highest goalscorer ever. There are others I would happily listen to arguments for as the best striker the Prem has ever seen but you cannot deny his talents either. I now just need a left winger to complete a very strong looking front three.

ROUND 5

F - Ashley Cole, LB

I now have both full back slots sorted and imagining these two together is a daunting prospect. Cole was part of the Invincible season at Arsenal before going on to have many years of success at Chelsea. I think when Ronaldo name checks you as one of the toughest players he has faced you are doing something right.

E - Nemanja Vidic, CB

My fellow slav. Put his face where most wouldn’t put a boot. Not just a great CB. He was the poster child for warrior defending during the mid-2000s. When United needed a result, you looked at the backline and felt calm seeing his name on the teamsheet. Everyone needs a slav head in their history but not always a slab head.

M - Rio Ferdinand, CB

Partnering Van Dijk in the back line will be the English giant, Rio! I could’ve gone for other greats like John Terry, Mark Hughes, Sol Campbell or Jamie Carragher, but this pick has been selected carefully for a tactical reason. See, in the partnership of Vida and Ferdinand, it was the Slav who would clean up all the messes and it was Rio who would be the enforcer who would step forward and dismantle attacks before they got through the midfield at times. Having Virgil behind him to clean up all the plays that get through I needed someone who could step up and command that role of enforcer and to me, there are none better than Ferdy himself. 

ROUND 6

M - Sir David Beckham, RW

The newly knighted man-of-the-moment. Becks has to be the best crosser of the ball I’ve ever seen. And tactically this is very important for the team I’m setting up. Not only that, the man is a sniper from a set piece. Having scored 65 free kicks in his entire career, we know who will be the first to step up to the dead ball in my squad. Becks is suave, elegant, sophisticated and most of all World Class! A must have in any premier league team. 

E - David de Gea, GK

Look, there are plenty of great goalkeepers to choose from in the Premier League’s 92-Current. Smart, consistent, long-serving. But for me, if David De Gea truly believed he was the most important man on the pitch, he would own it and prove it every single time. I remember having a drink at a pub with a couple of United fans and caught someone explaining De Gea to his Mrs as “Think Simone Biles in goal with an F1 Driver's reflexes”. Hilarious but accurate. I still remember that save against Everton in 2014 ( I think). Everton were bossing the game towards the end, and I was a bit worried. Then David pulled off something extraordinary and flipped that feeling on its head. He quite literally said hold my beer and delivered a spectacular game saver that's stuck with me. And just to quickly add, emotional presence on the pitch goes a country mile for your defenders. He didnt hold back celebrating a great save with his team. In the later years of his career in the Prem, he would high five Lindelof after every possible moment. Sounds corny but it’d make me give a little fist bump too. Passion is key!

F - Sir Alex Ferguson, Manager

Similar to chess I have to trade a knight for a knight in Matt’s pick. There are some other great managers to choose from but none who have done it for as long as he did and reinvented the team so many times. Pep is now on to maybe his third iteration and Klopp managed maybe two as well before bowing out. Even as a City fan I have to give credit where it’s due to one of the best managers of all time let alone to manage in England. 

ROUND 7

F - Roy Keane, DM

A lot of midfielders have gone off the board and he can also play 6/8 allowing me to pick the best third midfielder to play alongside him and Lampard at 8/10. He will also be the captain of my team and I don’t think there are many better. His battles with Vieira will always be legendary and although he did take it too far at times he only averaged a red card every second season which is not too bad. The older rules or way they were interpreted meant a lot of yellows back then would be reds today and a lot of nothings then would be yellows today but I do need someone with a bit of steel in the midfield and he fits the bill perfectly. 

E - N’Golo Kante, CDM

Ive left my CM and CDM open quite late however I feel my draft style allows for this. I have quite a few names off the top of my head which fit the criteria I’m going for but Kante tops the list for me. He covered the whole pitch and never broke a sweat. Kanté didn’t dominate with power or flair, he did it with pure presence. There was something surreal about watching him glide across the pitch, cutting out attacks before they started, then popping up seconds later to join the next move. He wasn’t just a holding midfielder he felt like two players in one. I’m sure even Vidic would appreciate a break from having to stop every ball coming into the box. All with that cheeky grin still on his face. 

M - Pep Guardiola, Manager

As Sir Alex has been taken, I have to go with, who I deem as being the 2nd greatest manager in the Premier League era. Pep’s tactical brain is one of if not the greatest of all time. Now I know he may not be the man manager that Sir Alex was, but that’s not to say he doesn’t have an incredible bond with every player that buys into his system. And those that do would run through a brick wall for him. Pep has been able to accomplish things that no other manager in Premier League history, potentially even English top flight history. With 9 seasons under his belt at Manchester City, the Spaniard has managed to average a total points tally of 87.4 in his tenure. Along with that he managed the team to a 100 point season in 2017/18, where they scored a whopping 106 goals. And he’s led them to 4 titles in a row from 2020/21-2023/24 with a treble in the 2022/23 season. For me this was an obvious choice, as the world of football evolves and tactics become more complex and sophisticated, so must the managers we entrust to run our teams. 

ROUND 8

M - Eric Cantona, STC

Choosing a striker was a very tough choice for me, however, no talisman was more prolific than King Eric. He had it all, he was tall, powerful, agile, rapid, his control was unmatched and most importantly, he was a clinical showman. For Eric, the Premier League was like a stage show and his stage, The Theatre of Dreams. I’ve never personally had the pleasure of watching him play live, although I have watched, in awe, many of his highlights and can appreciate that he was a complete striker. Mr Number 7 himself may have had an even more illustrious career if not for one moment of insanity where he karate kicked a Crystal Palace fan after being sent off in a game at Selhurst Park in 1995. But that almost adds to the insane legend that he built. Some say “the streets won’t forget” in this case, it’s “the world won’t forget” King Eric Cantona. 

E - Lauren, RB

Tough and calm as ice. You don’t replace Lee Dixon at Arsenal unless you’re a machine and Lauren was just that. A part of the Invincibles squad, but ask any Arsenal fan and they’ll tell you just how vital he was outside of that too. A midfielder turned RB as his tackling on tricky wingers was considered the best in the league at the time. I believe that with the pairing of Kante and Vidic, that right side would be completely locked down. He gives me a mix of Azpilicueta’s discipline, who rarely lost the ball and Wan Bissaka’s tackling. My ideal RB style.

F - Ryan Giggs, LW

Completing my front three with the most decorated winger of all time. He is essentially the LeBron of the Premier League and I don’t think we will see many players be as good for as long as he did it. I also like the balance of having one player as a more crossing type winger and the other to cut in and shoot so I like the balance of my team from that perspective as well. He can also be my set piece taker when a left footer is required.

ROUND 9

F - Ederson Moraes, GK

I am going to use another NBA analogy here and call him the Steph Curry of the league. Curry coincided with a big tactical shift in the league and you can argue about correlation vs causation but either way people at all levels of basketball now take a lot more threes. I see the impact Ederson has had on keepers being made to pass as just as impactful. Of course there were keepers good with their feet before him but for me players make tactics. Pep had signed Bravo in his first season and when that didn’t work out he turned to a 23 year old from Benfica to fix the hole between the sticks. Ederson has then gone on to win six titles in eight years and in my opinion is the greatest passing goalkeeper we have ever seen. I think his impact on the league can be see by the change in archetype every team now wants in their keepers even lower down the table. I think he has changed even the most conservative managers risk vs reward calculations and I think for any team to consistently make the top four they now have to have a keeper in his mould.

E - Leighton Baines, LB

Longevity Prince. I’m really happy to have Leighton Baines in this XI. Before the draft even started, he was the first player I thought of out of everyone. He’s the one who wowed me the most. His set pieces were effortless, with world-class crossing and corners that always caused problems. I love how he could fake a long ball and then play a short pass between defenders again and again. On top of all that, he was a fantastic defender. Smart, reliable, and tough when it counted. He’s my favourite left back in Premier League history.

M - Gareth Bale, LW

Partnering David Beckham on the opposite wing we have, possibly the greatest player the United Kingdom has ever produced. This man was a monster in his prime and only a fool would argue it. His pace, unrivalled, his power unmatched and he, almost single-handedly dragged Tottenham from being a laughing stock into the ‘Big 6’ that they are today. We all know he went off to play for Real Madrid and win multiple Champions League titles (scoring a bicycle against Liverpool in doing so), but his status as World Beater began in the Premiership with Spurs. And he is one of those players that had you on the edge of your seat every moment he had the ball at his feet. 

ROUND 10

M - Peter Schmeichel, GK

Another choice for me that was tugging on the heart strings. Although I never got to see Schmeichel play live, I have seen enough footage from games in the past to know how good this colossal Dane was in the defensive third of the pitch. Commanding his box like a King on the battlefield, this man was as intelligent as he was insane. For all young goalkeepers beginning their footballing journeys, this man is a must study! 

E - Ricardo Carvalho, CB

Carvalho brought a rare elegance to Premier League defending. A graceful, cerebral contrast to the bruisers of his era. Where Vidic was all force and ferocity, Carvalho was measured anticipation and silent control. He didn’t need to crash into you, he just made sure you never got where you wanted to go.

He gives this team balance. Not just on the field, but emotionally. A composed anchor in a backline full of intensity.

F - Bernardo Silva, CM

I was tossing up between a few of the City midfielders from their latest dynasty who were still available like Gundogan or Fernandinho. Ultimately I picked Silva as he has been there for the longest and also is a perfect foil to both Keane and Lampard. He is a very technical, knit everything together all action 8 and is comfortable dropping deep to help with buildup even splitting the centre backs at times as he is drifting higher in to the box making underlapping runs to create goals. There have been seasons he was City’s most important if not their best player which is an important distinction to make. Having now been made City’s captain this shows how much Pep trusts him as does his use in every position from left back to DM to AM to RW to false 9 over the years. He is one of those watch him to watch the game midfielders and will be equally as hard to replace as KDB. 

ROUND 11

F - John Terry, CB

The first of my two centre back picks which I left til last as I knew even the fifth and sixth options were elite. He will play on the left and be the one who I ask to do more in terms of ball progression. Ideally this would be a left footer but as he played here most of his career he did have a passable left foot. He was first choice at age 19 in 01/02 and kept this status barring injuries until 15/16 his age 34 season. Racking up roughly 500 appearances in the league for Chelsea before moving to Villa for one final season before retiring is some career. He managed to win the league 5 times as well as being part of the best defence of all time. In his early years being marshalled by the likes of Carvalho before becoming the main man in the backline. He is also my pick for vice-captain.  

E - Yaya Toure, CM

Yaya Toure is the kind of player who changes the game simply by running with it. Powerful, skilled, and fearless, he combined strength with a surprising touch and vision. Playing alongside Kanté and Silva, Yaya would bring muscle and drive through the middle. He could break lines and create chances out of nothing. His ability to both defend and attack makes him the perfect box-to-box partner. He can cover ground, carry the ball, and finish when needed. In this midfield, he adds the physical presence and unstoppable momentum that lifts the whole team.

M - Trent Alexander-Arnold, RB

As far as English right backs go, few have “burst onto the scene” like TAA did. His ability going forward as a modern full back is unparalleled in the English game. Although he may not have the defensive quality of a traditional fullback, his presence in attack and ability to create something out of nothing more than makes up for this. Not to mention, he had Rio Ferdinand next who him who would 2 foot someone into next Tuesday if they got past Trent. 

ROUND 12

M - Andy Robertson, LB

Although Andy Robertson doesn’t have the same presence going forward as TAA, he still does a job in helping build the attack down the wing, but his defensive solidity is where he outshines the Englishman. Andy could be dubbed the Scottish Marcelo with his ability to command the entire left hand side of the field and shut down attacks, sometimes before they’ve even started. Finishing off my squad is a man who has again, won everything on offer as a player in Englands top flight and one of the players that makes up the great full back pairings of the modern era. 

E - Arsene Wenger, Manager

Now remember, my team is built on individual brilliance and wow factor for me personally. I don’t have the tactical mind that Matt and Faris possess. I don’t know the ins and outs of each formation. But what I do know is the fluidity of football and how playing free makes you feel. And with that, I believe Wenger would get the most out of every player.

Wenger is the perfect manager for this team. He represents everything this XI stands for: fluidity, freedom, and football with feeling. He would give players like Henry, Silva, and Hazard the space to roam and express themselves without fear. He would trust Ronaldo to create, not contain him. He would let Yaya and Silva drift and connect in midfield while Kanté quietly holds it all together. Lauren and Baines would have the license to overlap naturally. Carvalho would sweep. Nothing rigid. Nothing robotic. Wenger would bring just enough structure to win without ever killing the joy. This is not a team built to follow instructions. It is a team built to play. And Wenger always knew how to let players play.

F - Vincent Kompany, CB

This one is similar to the Silva pick I was debating between Stones, Dias, Laporte and Kompany. Ultimately I went with Kompany for a few reasons. His ultra-aggressive playing style helps balance out Terry’s more drop to sweep up mentality. Dias is also great at this admittedly but I went for Kompany for longevity and importance. I believe he was one of the last buys before City got taken over and managed to be first choice for 11 years. Even in his last four seasons when he really struggled to stay fit - every time he was, Pellegrini and then Pep would use him, especially for the big games. City might still have had talented players but they didn’t have the Batman to lead them and every silly goal that was conceded without him on the pitch you knew wouldn’t have happened if he had been there either due to his own actions or the communication and demanding nature he brought to the team. City then had one season without him and finished second before buying his replacement in Dias and promptly winning four leagues back to back. Of course credit to Dias there as well but I think this highlights even more how important this archetype of CB is. 

FINAL TEAMS

Faris’ team

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson

At the end of the draft my team ended up looking like this. I would say in Cole,Walker, Lampard, Salah, Shearer and Giggs I got the best player in their positions as well as getting the best manager. For centreback like I said it’s a matter of preference and how the two work together and I think mine is on par with the other two teams.

My midfield I wouldn’t by any means say is weak but there were a few players I missed out on that I didn’t expect to get picked. I didn’t think Rodri would be on their lists as he hasn’t been in the league that long yet and Kante I thought for the role he played would be a bit underrated. The balance of my midfield did work out very well though with a 6,8,10 combo that would play off each other very well. I know we are only talking about the Prem but every player bar Shearer has also won the Champions League and nine of my players were part of teams or multiple teams that won 90+ points in a season.

In terms of play style as we know Fergie was fairly flexible and this team has been designed where every player can play the way that suits them and the players around them. Ederson will be himself in goal. Terry and Kompany balance each other out in terms of one goes and one covers. Cole is naturally more attacking than Walker. The midfield as spoke about has Bernardo the deeper one playing on the left to cover and drop in when Cole goes. Keane does the dirty work and sits while Lampard gets in the box for crosses from the left or makes underlapping runs to get the ball from Salah or create space for Salah to cut in and shoot. Shearer is there as the ultimate bagsman to finish everything created by the quad of Cole, Giggs, Lampard and Salah who all create from different areas on the pitch and in different ways to keep opponents guessing.

Matt’s team

Manager: Pep Guardiola

In the end, I managed to pick up nine out of the eleven picks I had originally chosen for my all time Premier League XI. The only two I missed out on were Cristiano Ronaldo RW and Ryan Giggs LW, but Beckham on the right I found a replacement that was just as much of a star. And I still managed to squeeze in a Welsh Wizard on the left. Ultimately I believe my team will play together the most coherently, obviously I’m biased on this, but hear me out. I went for a shot stopper in Schmeichel instead of a ball playing goalkeeper (even though he is still better than most with his feet) as I feel his vocal presence in the defensive third is the most important attribute for a goalkeeper. You can be an average goalkeeper, but as long as you can organise your back line through vocal commands, you’ll bleed that confidence into your defence that you know what you’re doing.

Moving forward, we have a CB duo that is perfectly balanced, although both are tall, strong and fast, they provide different roles. Van Dijk as previously stated is a Roles Royce defender who will shepherd you back over your own by-line, and Rio will step up and snap your leg in half to win the ball back. Moving out wider, both full backs provide differing roles, we have Andy Robertson who can play the ball out to the midfield, or tuck in to help make a back three when Trent has wandered up into the oppositions 18 yard box. And then we have the second best crosser of the ball to ever grace a football pitch on the opposite side who can hit the best cross field pass to an absolute pace demon that is Gareth Bale. Trust me when I say, I’ve seen the exact play run in an U16’s match and carve open a defence like a hot knife through butter. Shoutout to the coach for calling the play, you know who you are ;)

Then we’ve got, in my opinion, the best CDM the Premier League has ever witnessed. The rise and fall of Pep Guardiloa’s treble win for Manchester City to trophy-less campaign two seasons later has to come down to Rodri and his injury. This man glide’s across the pitch, and moves the ball with ease. He’ll dismantle your attack before you even know he’s there and counter with a ball in behind where all you have to do is tap it in. *Chef K’s Kiss*. Ahhhh, the ginger duo… These two midfielders are undoubtedly the best that the Premier League and possibly even football as whole, has ever seen. Both can ping a pass within a millimetre, anywhere on the pitch and make it look effortless. Although the may not be the strongest defensively speaking, these two ballers would pass rings around any midfield in the world, and still have energy left at the end to run a 20km half marathon. Last but not least, I had to chuck two sexy gingers in the squad to represent.

All of that leads me to men up top. Although it might look like I’ve gone for 2 crossing wingers and a big man up top to finish things off (don’t get me wrong, they can absolutely do that), they are so much more. Bale in his prime would carve defenses open and turn players inside out before cutting inside and leave finishing low and hard with his cannon…I mean left foot. With his raw pace, pin point control and unbelievable power, no right back in the world is going to prevent him from causing absolute chaos in the attacking third. Shifting over to the right, we have the original star boy himself, Becks. Not only can he whip a ball in on a silver platter, but his tactical genius is so much more than that. He’s smart enough to tuck in and help overload the midfield to help the team get out of sticky situations, or drop in to cover for Trent when he’s stepped up to help in the final third. For me, David Beckham is the best right footed wide midfielder the Premier League has ever had, and he brings class, skill, technical genius and just a touch of swagger to this lineup. 

Oh Cantona! This man…. What can I say. Cantona is him! This man embodies everything that a legendary striker should be and for this team, he is the star. Picture him with the old school baggy jersey, big sleeves, shirt tucked in, collar flicked up and chest puffed out like a boxer who’s just knocked out Muhammad Ali. I’ve already touched on his strengths and abilities on the football pitch. This is just reiterating why he is so perfect in a team where chance creation for the men up top is one of its biggest strengths. I dare say Cantona would also fit perfectly in either of the two teams Eric and Faris created as well, being someone that would have you on the edge of your seat while watching him or finish everything out in front of him by Faris’s quad of Cole, Giggs, Lampard and Salah. 

Lastly, Pep. This man is a tactical genius. One of, if not the greatest of all time. And with 10/11 of the men on the field, when set up correctly, this team would be unstoppable. With Pep’s brain and all the men behind Contona running their plays, I truly believe this squad would give the 2009-2011 Barcelona squad a run for their money. And like Messi in that squad, Cantona in this squad would be given creative freedom to do what he needs to do, to help this team win. 


Eric’s team

Manager: Arsene Wenger

Warning… this one’s a tad corny and emotional.

But as the great Dani Rojas once said, “football is life.” And for me, it truly is. Football has always been more than a sport. You step onto the pitch and everything else fades, your stress, your problems, your routine. Being a United fan, I’ve read every one of Fergie’s books, so I’ve naturally done this write up with the same passion and description as Fergie would his own. Not just for the football wisdom or the way he speaks about the game but, more importantly, the players. You never forget the players. You coach for forty-odd years and still carry stories about each one, the personalities, the moments, the memories. That’s football. And this is my write-up.

This team isn’t built in spreadsheets. It’s built in moments. Moments where the game slowed down. Where something happened, a pass, a touch, a burst of movement, and I stopped thinking and just felt. That’s what this XI represents. Not balance, not shape, not even logic half the time. Just feeling. This wasn’t a tactical exercise. This was a love letter to what football meant to me growing up. To the players who made me sit forward. Who made the game feel like more than a game.

I’ll never pretend to have the same tactical brain as Matt or Faris. They can explain how a midfield triangle controls space or why a 4-2-3-1 creates vertical passing lanes, I can’t. What I can tell you is how it felt when David Silva turned in tight circles and made the ball sing. When Ronaldo stretched the pitch and made defenders disappear. When Henry didn’t just score but created theatre. These aren’t just players. They are memories. They are moments I can still feel years later.

Hazard brought that same electricity. He played like chaos had a purpose. Ronaldo, in those first few years, was pure energy. Silva was the opposite, like quiet magic. Yaya carried the ball like he was gliding through air. Kanté never looked like the star, yet he made everyone else shine brighter.

My back line was chosen the same way. Carvalho was silk. Vidic was steel. Baines felt like reliability with a wand of a left foot ( FIFA free kick taker every time for me). Lauren just fit. Never screamed for attention, but always there. And De Gea, in his prime, felt unbeatable. He made impossible saves feel ordinary.

None of this was built with systems in mind. I wasn’t chasing the perfect formation. I wanted a feeling. A rhythm. A sense of fluidity that real football gives you when it clicks. When the ball moves on instinct. When players understand one another without words. That’s how I like to play the game and how I imagine this team would too. And that’s why Wenger fits. He would understand this team. He would give them just enough shape to work, and just enough freedom to feel. He would let them breathe.

This team wasn’t built to follow orders. It was built to play.

And for me, football has always been about that. About expression. About emotion. About the way it makes you feel when it flows, when it connects, when it becomes more than tactics.

This XI may not be perfect on paper. But it’s perfect to me.

A big, big, big thanks to Faris for giving Matt and I the opportunity to be part of this. I still remember us sitting outside Subway back in grade 9 with two blank sheets of paper, making our Club XI… Country XI… World XI, and Champions League XI. It’s really exciting to see how a shared interest has turned into a shared experience. Matt and I support the same team, but even when it’s City versus United or doing this draft, none of us bicker or throw shade at each other’s clubs. We watch and talk together like we’re still those friends sitting outside Subway in grade 9, enjoying the game the way we know best.

Faris again

I don’t think I could put it any better than Eric just did so I just wanted to say thanks to both of them for their time and excellent writing. I think football sometimes gets a shallow rap and even I can acknowledge that playing or coaching is not the most noble pursuit in the world. I know it’s not saving lives for example. What I can say, however, is that having friends like these has saved my life on many occasions and for that as well I am forever grateful.

Thanks again to the Guest Writers

Matt

Eric

Thanks to Editors

Rose

Thanks to Patrons

Ramon

Murad

Aaliyah

Tom