Limiting myself only to players who started in each game, and I've chosen a 4-4-2 diamond as that, I think, gets the best possible XI out there!
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)
In Danny Mills' first stint with us he was quality, has to be him.
On overall ability:
Phillips Mills Rufus Bauer Bowen Newton Jones Kinsella Robinson Mendonca Taylor
3 Subs (as it was in 1998): Brown, Cullen, Bright
Combination of ability and 'on the day':
Phillips Mills Rufus Bauer Purrington Cullen Jones Aribo Williams Kinsella Mendonca
Limiting myself only to players who started in each game, and I've chosen a 4-4-2 diamond as that, I think, gets the best possible XI out there!
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)
Robinson over Williams. Different class and Robinson scored goals.
Ilic over Philips. I rate Dillon but Ilic was brilliant that season.
Would be interesting if you'd included the Leeds play-off team.
I think he was crap in that final. But as I watched it with my son, I kept telling him simply how brilliant he was in the last 10 or so games up to the final.
Taylor, Cullen and Bielik are the only ones from last season who come into consideration. One team nearly got automatic promotion in one of the strongest championship seasons of them all and the other finished 4th in a weak League One. No comparison
Taylor, Cullen and Bielik are the only ones from last season who come into consideration. One team nearly got automatic promotion in one of the strongest championship seasons of them all and the other finished 4th in a weak League One. No comparison
Taylor, Cullen and Bielik are the only ones from last season who come into consideration. One team nearly got automatic promotion in one of the strongest championship seasons of them all and the other finished 4th in a weak League One. No comparison
Doesn’t affect your argument too much, but we actually finished 3rd, not 4th last year, while we finished 4th, not 3rd in 98, so if you were to apply the “nearly got automatic” argument, it should be to the 2019 team. But I take your point.
Comments
In Danny Mills' first stint with us he was quality, has to be him.
On overall ability:
Phillips
Mills Rufus Bauer Bowen
Newton Jones Kinsella Robinson
Mendonca Taylor
3 Subs (as it was in 1998): Brown, Cullen, Bright
Combination of ability and 'on the day':
Phillips
Mills Rufus Bauer Purrington
Cullen Jones
Aribo Williams Kinsella
Mendonca
3 Subs: Brown, Robinson, Taylor
Not at fault for any of the goals as I seem to recall.
But I take your point.