Martyn
Neville - Jagielka - Stones - Baines
Barry
Osman - Beardsley - Parkinson - Barmby
Rooney
The right side was a real challenge - it’s Hibbo or Neville at right back and I’d take Neville there. Right mid was a real void. Walcott? Lennon? I went with Osman, who was better central but played enough out wide to qualify.
In the centre, I’d have Barry in front of the defence, Parkinson snapping around in front of him, and Beardsley playing in that role between the midfield and forward. Barkley was probably the next best bet there and Beardsley was on a different planet to him (other option would be to play Kev Campbell up top and drop Rooney into the shadow striker role). Left mid was also a tough choice but Barmby at his best was superb for us.
Honourable mentions for Pickford, Lescott, Barkley, Super Kev…possibly even Gazza in that purple patch he had for a bit.
Saw this doing the rounds on social media for other clubs, and it made me realise something.
Firstly, here's my PL era best Everton XI:
(This is not necessarily the "best" player in each position, because I have given some thought to the formation and playing style)
1. Pickford '22
2. Neville '08
3. Baines '12
4. Barry '13
5. Watson '95
6. Stones '15
7. Osman '09
8. Barkley '13
9. Campbell '00
10. Rooney '03
11. McNeil '23
So that's 4-4-2 with traditional English numbering. A solid defence. Central midfield with one that sits and the other is box to box. Lack of pace out wide but hard working and good technically. A little and large double act up front.
If I'm allowed to pick 5 substitutes, I can deal with potential criticisms...
GK: Martyn '04 (strong contender for no. 1 but don't hold Pickford's early career wobbles against how phenomenal he was in the last couple of seasons)
FB Hibbert '12 (better than Ablett as a back up full back, I think)
CB Jagielka '13 (one of the first names I put originally but let's face it Stones was better and Watson was a beast)
CM: Carsley '04 (many would say he should be ahead of Barry, but he was shit in a middle two and only really had 1 good season. Strong case for Parkinson instead of Barkley, or, if you want to go crazy, I'd even entertain a discussion about Billy Kenny. Don't think Jack Rodwell is relevant.)
Forwarda: Beardsley '92 (can't see him alongside Rooney, so he's on the bench. Cottee '94 is also an option, 16 goals aren't to be sniffed at and alongside Campbell he'd be good.)
What's missing - Wingers: Walcott??
Now here's the point I wanted to make:
Pickford - current
Tarkowski - not far behind Watson
Branthwaite - possibly better than Jagielka, may even become Stones level (or at least be as good for us as Stones was, who's improved since joining City)
Garner - not that much worse than Osman, even though he's not a winger
McNeil - far ahead of Hinchcliffe, and I can't think of another English left midfielder we've had
I make that 5 of the current starting XI that are pretty close to being on our list of best English players in the PL era
We can't be that shit then, currently, surely??
Speaking of tedious...here's Mazzzzzzz
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