All this talk about Manchester City having the greatest strike force ever and the best team that people can ever remember has set me a thinking in a rather nostalgic sort of way.
Some musings by Wswilly3
Would there be many players from previous eras, in say the last 50 or so years that would or could have forced themselves into today’s team? Or if you are not as much as an old f*rt as yours truly, what about the last ten years?
I immediately think of Colin Bell, probably the greatest footballer I have ever seen in a City jersey and who from midfield managed 153 goals. The third highest ever by a City player, someone who never stopped running from box to box, a true legend.
I also think of Bert Trautmann, who forwards thought were more likely to save their penalties than they were to score, and whose testimonial match at Maine Road in 1964 was a sell out, with thousands locked out of the ground.
To put some structure to my ramblings I thought about the most likely five players that might break into the current team, defined by position, however, you might have other nominations of your own.
Who do you think could gate crash the current squad if they hadn’t succumbed to old age (and don’t I know that feeling)?
GOALKEEPER
Shay Given: Frank Swift: Bert Trautmann: Harry Dowd:Joe Corrigan: Nicky Weaver
BACK FOUR
Micah Richards: Richard Dunne: Ned Onuoha: Wayne Bridge: Dave Ewing: Tony Book: Tommy Booth: Glyn Pardoe: Paul Lake
MIDFIELD
Steve Ireland: Gareth Barry: Kompany: Michael Johnson: Mike Doyle: Alan Oakes: Colin Bell: Georgie Kinkladze: Ali Benarbia
WINGERS
Shaun Wright- Phillips: Martin Petrov: Roy Clarke: Peter Barnes: Denis Tueart: David White: Mike Summerbee
STRIKERS
Robinho: Carlos Tevez: Adebayor: Santa Cruz: Craig Bellamy: Denis Law: Francis Lee: Rodney Marsh: Shaun Goater: Nicholas Anelka
One interesting side issue was how relatively hard it was to find five defenders of past eras who were challengers to our current defenders!
Now what does that say about City?
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