For example, the strength at centre half, probably our best two were Watson and Stones but as a partnership I can't look beyond Lescott and Jagielka as a pair. Right back and central midfield a little sparse in terms of working out a line up that would actually work on the field, not just look good on paper. I think I'd go:
Pickford
S. Watson Jagielka Lescott Baines
Stuart Parkinson Hutchison McNeil
Beardsley Rooney
Controversial ones there would be:
Steve Watson - loved his energy, and he and Stuart would work to cover each other while offering plenty in attack
Stuart - just loved his energy and attitude as a player. Never stopped trying. On his day, some cracking skill and a good finisher too. And thankfully, nerves of steel and a decent penalty taker as deputy to Baines in this team!
Hutchison - I'd take Parkinson over Barry, wanted one who'd push further forward alongside Parkinson. Osman a bit slow/lightweight for a midfield 2. People forget how good Hutchison was because he played in such a poor Everton team and because he fell out with Smith and left under something of a cloud, but he almost single handedly kept us in the prem for a few years there. Another with that never say die attitude.
Subs?
Maybe : Martyn, Neville, Ball, D Watson, Stones, Osman, Barry, Hinchcliffe, Campbell
Could do this again tomorrow and pick a very different selection though.
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??
Officially the "World's most miserable football fan"
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