Topic: All Time PL Draft - With a Twist! (Discussion Thread & Sign up)

[Drinks Sangria]

Won't she just ask when the final version is going to be produced?

Very good!

The totally football show had a little discussion on how Salah is the nearest thing to Henry we have seen, and those first 2 picks backs that up.

Drafts are always very much "in the moment", but Salah is so deserving of that number 1 pick.

Agreed. For me, Henry's possibly the best to ever do it in the Premier League, but Salah I think will overtake him in my thinking shortly. Salah was going to be my first pick in all honesty because of his vote-swaying potential, but when I didn't get him, it was always Henry to build the attack around. That season where he was robbed of the Balon D'or was insane, his numbers were criminal and he is still one of maybe only three players I've ever feared Liverpool coming up against.

[Crosby Nick]

Who were the other two DS?

The only time I saw Henry in the flesh was just after we signed and was very quiet in the left wing. Davor Suker missed a penalty too (Fowler and Berger in a 2-0 win).

But know what you mean about Henry. Even under Rafa they were the one side I didn’t like us playing even though we did win a few. You knew the Chelsea and United games would be tight, tactical battles but Arsenal were the one side who if they clicked could embarrass you.

[El Lobo]

Ashley Barnes and Jonathan Walters?

[Linudden]

For me it's still young Ronaldo who's the best Premier League player of all time, although we're not supposed to say that are we? Cutting in on his weaker foot but still getting those numbers is insane.

The only reason Henry wasn't a mile ahead of everyone else though was that he usually played in second gear in his prime and only unloaded when he needed to. The superiority he showed around 2004 was ridiculous to a Messi-degree when he bothered showing up. I remember a performance of his against Blackburn being said as 'a youth player too old for the team but no level to graduate to'. Very hard to judge for me between him, Salah and Suárez for the second best to grace the Premier League though. Honourable mentions to Vieira and prime van Dijk as well.

[Drinks Sangria]

Ashley Barnes and Jonathan Walters?

Barnes yes but don't insult me with Walters, it's Kevin Davies.

[Crosby Nick]

For me it's still young Ronaldo who's the best Premier League player of all time, although we're not supposed to say that are we? Cutting in on his weaker foot but still getting those numbers is insane.

The only reason Henry wasn't a mile ahead of everyone else though was that he usually played in second gear in his prime and only unloaded when he needed to. The superiority he showed around 2004 was ridiculous to a Messi-degree when he bothered showing up. I remember a performance of his against Blackburn being said as 'a youth player too old for the team but no level to graduate to'. Very hard to judge for me between him, Salah and Suárez for the second best to grace the Premier League though. Honourable mentions to Vieira and prime van Dijk as well.

The popular opinions keep on coming.

[Linudden]

The popular opinions keep on coming.

Don't worry, storm in a teacup. I'd tell Italians to their face that I like 'Spaghetti Bavarese' (pasta with sauerkraut) so all well I think it's a bit premature to nominate Salah until he's single-handely led a second-best team to a Premier League title, which Ronaldo did at least once, but you could argue three times considering all the pedestrians in their midfield and on right back. He was a different beast compared to now. The only reason United won titles after him was that the competition fell off badly and that Rooney got on a roll simultaneously, the only times in his career he truly did. United without Ronaldo during the big four days though would've been a solid third-place team with Chelsea and Rafa cleaning the trophies up.

For me, the 2020 title was more on the team as a unit more than anything with Virgil as the star man. I'll reconsider if he drags this team to the title though.

[El Lobo]

Its quite impressive how many different subjects you can chat utter wham on

[JordanTremenderson]

Don't worry, storm in a teacup. I'd tell Italians to their face that I like 'Spaghetti Bavarese' (pasta with sauerkraut) so all well I think it's a bit premature to nominate Salah until he's single-handely led a second-best team to a Premier League title, which Ronaldo did at least once, but you could argue three times considering all the pedestrians in their midfield and on right back.

Salah not only gives you the goals & assists crazy output.

He'll also work far harder than Ronaldo (even when he was younger), tracking back more too.

Plus he's not a Manc! 

Gimme Salah over that greasy bastard.

[Hazell]

The popular opinions keep on coming.

Its quite impressive how many different subjects you can chat utter wham on

[Crosby Nick]

Luis Suarez - Arsenal?

What are they smoking at the Emirates Emerald Isle?

[Drinks Sangria]

Ronaldo took a few years of adjustments due to age to start dominating, as soon as Salah joined Liverpool he was dominant. Ronaldo is top 10 but not even top 5 for me, he did his best stuff elsewhere.

[JordanTremenderson]

I'd argue Shearer was at his best at Blackburn.

[Crosby Nick]

I'd argue Shearer was at his best at Blackburn.

Definitely. He was unstoppable there, even after his bad knee injury. 93-95 he was incredible.

[Drinks Sangria]

I'd argue Shearer was at his best at Blackburn.

Yeah, still had pace then, Blackburn was his undoubted peak. Fair play to the dirty bastard though, he reinvented himself when he lost his pace post injuries and still was a very effective striker. One of the best to do it and to this day the league's (92 onwards) greatest ever goalscorer.

[Max_powers]

You know what I will switch Shearer to Blackburn. Gives me an opportunity to draft JLingz or whoever newcastle may sign in coming days.


Also thats a cracking pick by Hazell

[Lastrador]

Is the Lman living in an alternative universe where Suarez joined Arsenal or something? Did Ireland lose to Luxembourg there too mate? 

[El Lobo]

Also thats a cracking pick by Hazell

Can I shock you? I like Hazell.

But I'm not sure its a great one considering he's only become a really top player outside the PL.

[Linudden]

Modric wouldn't be a top five pick (7th or thereabouts) considering all their careers, let alone in the Prem but it's always good to mix things up I suppose

Its quite impressive how many different subjects you can chat utter wham on

Cheers mate, at least I'm in good company considering you my good sir is also in the building and we usually chat wham together

[Drinks Sangria]

Modric was a great player no doubt, but definitely became world class outside of the Premier League. He was quality though and doesn't look out of place in any team, but that does seem very high up the draft to choose him.

[Hazell]

Given you can only pick one player each team, I took a bit of a risk with Modric in the hope that there'll still be some quality players left when it comes back round to me. There's not many players outside of the other 5 clubs that would get ahead of him I think.

[Max_powers]

Modric was a great player no doubt, but definitely became world class outside of the Premier League. He was quality though and doesn't look out of place in any team, but that does seem very high up the draft to choose him.

Can I shock you? I like Hazell.

But I'm not sure its a great one considering he's only become a really top player outside the PL.

I actually kinda disagree. Yes he pretty much won nothing with Spurs but that's because its Spurs.

He still was showing same qualities he displayed at Real Madrid. Just didn't have the same quality around him.

[Linudden]

Ronaldo took a few years of adjustments due to age to start dominating, as soon as Salah joined Liverpool he was dominant. Ronaldo is top 10 but not even top 5 for me, he did his best stuff elsewhere.

He was 18 when he showed up and started dominating at 21, Salah was 25 so it's a bit like apples and oranges although I hear you, hope the wedding was nice

[Lastrador]

Cheers mate, at least I'm in good company considering you my good sir is also in the building and we usually chat wham together

This you two?

[Linudden]

I have glasses so can't be. Lobo attributes those to my supreme intellect

[El Lobo]

Fucking hell don't group me with the reject! I'd like to think I'd never go to the lengths of creating multiple accounts to say how picked on I am

It'd be interesting (well....not) to know which seasons Ronaldo took a United team which was the second best in the league to the title? His time there literally culminated in winning the CL as well. But they didn't have a great right back.....

Mo has scored 144 in 222 games for us, Ronaldo 130 in 308 for United. The two are not even comparable.

[Linudden]

Fucking hell don't group me with the reject! I'd like to think I'd never go to the lengths of creating multiple accounts to say how picked on I am

While Lobo is a decent man, he clearly believes a few too many conspiracy theories in the RAWK-iverse

2007, 2008 and 2009. Chelsea/Roman dropped the ball on all three occasions to be honest. Frigging Avram Grant took that squad on the verge of the title, the squad was that good.

Anyway, Ronaldo was cutting onto his weaker foot and Salah onto his stronger one and also Rooney was down the middle whereas Salah has greater freedom to roam in a more attacking team. Just looking at stats can be a bit misleading. He definitely is in the top three but don't estimate the difficulty in scoring above 30 in a season in a very rigid Whiskeynose system from out wide with a focus on winning 1-0 and keeping as many clean sheets as possible.

[Max_powers]

I mean Ronaldo has always been a selfish player and rather lazy compared to Rooney and Tevez. So the argument he is better than Salah would be around if was better at scoring goals.

Salah broke the league goal scoring record in his first season and is on-track to break it again. (He probably won't break that record again due to AFCON)

He also has the most assists in the league. Same number Ronaldo managed in his whole Ballon D'or winning season.

So I don't see the Ronaldo argument at all. Henry or Salah for me.

[Drinks Sangria]

He was 18 when he showed up and started dominating at 21, Salah was 25 so it's a bit like apples and oranges although I hear you, hope the wedding was nice

Fair, I should've made the comparison that Lobo did, the GPG stat. That probably better illustrates my point.

It wasn't brilliant, thank you for asking though. The reception was in a Wetherspoons and I was the only man in the guests in a suit, to give you some perspective (probably not if you're not from the UK!).

[Lastrador]

Fucking hell don't group me with the reject! I'd like to think I'd never go to the lengths of creating multiple accounts to say how picked on I am

It'd be interesting (well....not) to know which seasons Ronaldo took a United team which was the second best in the league to the title? His time there literally culminated in winning the CL as well. But they didn't have a great right back.....

Mo has scored 144 in 222 games for us, Ronaldo 130 in 308 for United. The two are not even comparable.

Curiously, that's exactly what George Michael said about Andrew Ridgeley when Wham was formed. Eventually, they learned to get along, so there's still hope for you two.     

[Hazell]

I actually kinda disagree. Yes he pretty much won nothing with Spurs but that's because its Spurs.

He still was showing same qualities he displayed at Real Madrid. Just didn't have the same quality around him.

Thank you my friend. I'll be laughing at them when they're scrambling around picking Timothee Atouba and Oliver Skipp.

[Lastrador]

I think all you fuckers holding up to your Liverpool pick, are gonna regret it on the second round when Stephane Henchoz is the best pick left.

[Crosby Nick]

I think all you fuckers holding up to your Liverpool pick, are gonna regret it on the second round when Stephane Henchoz is the best pick left.

Get your goal scorers on while you can. Sergio Aguero better than most.

[JordanTremenderson]

I think all you fuckers holding up to your Liverpool pick, are gonna regret it on the second round when Stephane Henchoz is the best pick left.

"HAND BALL!"

[Linudden]

Curiously, that's exactly what George Michael said about Andrew Ridgeley when Wham was formed. Eventually, they learned to get along, so there's still hope for you two. 

It's a bit asymmetrical because I always enjoy the Lobo banter, but he sometimes snipes a bit in the other direction. We're all human though so shit happens

[El Lobo]

I wish I could find a Finchy 'its not banter' gif but here we are

[Linudden]

We should have some kind of time limit also in first round for this one...

[vivabobbygraham]

Seriously? Stevie G, 7th pick of best in the premier league?

[XabiArt]

Bit confused as to how the players are judged.

If I pick a player who played for someone 4 times aged 38 and chose that team, would they be judged on the 400 class games they had for their more recognisable club or the mere minutes they plodded about for the relegation fodder? Nobody in particular in mind here, just want to be sure.

[JordanTremenderson]

Bit confused as to how the players are judged.

If I pick a player who played for someone 4 times aged 38 and chose that team, would they be judged on the 400 class games they had for their more recognisable club or the mere minutes they plodded about for the relegation fodder? Nobody in particular in mind here, just want to be sure.

If you choose Salah for Chelsea, he'd be judged at that club, not LFC.

So you'd want Lampard at Chelsea not Man City for example.