Who would be in your team from the players that played in the 2 games against our bitches Sunderland?..... I’d go with:
Phillips
Brown | Rufus | Bauer | Bowen
Cullen | Jones | Kinsella
Williams
Mendonca | Taylor
Manager - Curbishley
Well that killed 2 mins - only another 3 months to go.
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Comments
Ilic over Philips. I rate Dillon but Ilic was brilliant that season.
Would be interesting if you'd included the Leeds play-off team.
Mills Rufus Youds Bowen
Newton Jones Kinsella Heaney
Bright Mendonca
Subs Robinson, Brown, Jones, Taylor, Williams
He seemed like a real Curbs-type player, but Curbs only seemed willing to use him on a short term basis, either in the absence of another player or to change things up a bit.
Mills (although diabolical in that game), Rufus, Bauer, Bowen
Aribo, Kinsella, K Jones, Robinson
Mendonca, Taylor.
Andy Hughes was a modern version of him!! - Would say Lapslie is the closest we've got in the current squad to them
Mills
Rufus
Bauer
Bowen
Aribo
Kinsella
K. Jones
Robinson
Taylor
Mendonca
Tough leaving Cullen out but Jones had a great game that day.
Bolder
Humphrey Shirtliff Rufus Bowen
Lee K. Jones Kinsella Walsh
Mendonca Melrose
Subs; Taylor, Bright, Miller, Brown, M. Stuart, Peake, Illic,
EDIT tempted to choose Aribo over Heaney .. but Heaney was a tough meanie so he'll still start ((:>)
GK - Sasa Ilic. I think Phillips is a fantastic keeper, and probably better than Sasa, but you can't forget just how good Sasa was in the run-up to that final. He'd be the form pick.
RB - Danny Mills. Think he's a prick - a proper prick - for various reasons, but there's no debating he is a better choice than a raw, albeit physically gifted and sure-footed, Dijksteel.
CB - Richard Rufus. He pretty much had it all - determination, grit, pace, strength, aerial ability... How did he not play for England?!
CB - Patrick Bauer. I think his lack of pace is made up for by Rufus, and they'd complement each other wonderfully at the back. He's a bit more cerebral and would organise the defence well. I have to also point out that it was mighty tough to choose between him and Bielik, but the 94th minute last year probably gave Paddy the edge...
LB - Mark Bowen. Classy footballer - much more so than Purrington I'm afraid (despite the latter's equaliser!) - and someone I think I'd rely on 90-odd times out of a hundred to keep his cool in a final, and also smash home a penalty. Pretty comfortable on both feet if I recall correctly.
CDM - Keith Jones. I envisage him as swapping roles in a slightly fluid role with Cullen (and to a lesser extent, both of them with Kinsella). That assist for Mendonca's second is something I've always found slightly underrated because of Clive's two touches and finish being so arch - but the bloke had drive and determination in spades.
CM - Mark Kinsella (c). Not sure anyone needs to justify Kins in the side. One of the greatest players I've ever seen in the shirt.
CM - Josh Cullen. It's absolutely mad to think that he's probably my weak link in this side (along with Mills), given he was so important in the run-up to the final last season. But that's a good thing given how instrument he was in breaking up opposition moves through interceptions; tracking back and marking; and his ability to find a concise pass very quickly.
CAM - Joe Aribo. I think his armoury of skill is more than enough to worry a defence, especially when he will essentially have free rein in front of the other midfielders to do what he likes. He can also win the ball back with those long gangly legs. His creativity unleashed with Mendonca and Taylor reading off him... man, that is a tasty thought.
CF - Lyle Taylor. An absolute warrior up front that defenders would hate to play against no matter the era, and an even more perfect foil for Clive than Bright was. He's intelligent and his hold-up play would cause no end of problems for whoever he was up against.
CF - Mendonca. Obviously.
Subs (allowing us seven because it's 2020 now!): Phillips, Dijksteel, Purrington, Bielik, Pratley, Newton, Bright (again, only those who started either game)