From: decky on February 22, 2011, 02:30:04 PM
Bringing players like Lucas into this conversation though is a bit silly. I like him and think he's improving all the time but nowhere near the level of McMahon, Molby or Whelan. There are about 4-5 players in the last 10 years who may have had a sniff in that 87-88 squad and that's about it.
While I agree that Lucas would not get near the 87/88 team, there are certainly more than four in the last ten years that would be at home in it.
This was the squad from 87/88:
No. Position Player
GK Bruce Grobbelaar
GK Mike Hooper
DF Gary Ablett
DF Gary Gillespie
DF Alan Hansen (captain)
DF Steve Nicol
DF Steve Staunton
DF Barry Venison
DF Alex Watson
DF Mark Lawrenson
MF John Barnes
MF Ray Houghton
MF Craig Johnston
MF Kevin MacDonald
MF Mike Marsh
MF Steve McMahon
MF Jan Mølby
MF Mark Seagraves
MF Nigel Spackman
MF John Wark
MF Ronnie Whelan
FW John Aldridge
FW Peter Beardsley
FW John Durnin
FW Paul Walsh
FW Kenny Dalglish (Player/Manager)
Gerrard, Torres, Fowler, Owen, Hamann, Mascherano, Alonso, Hyypia, Carragher, Reina, Babbel, McAllister and Agger would have all been fine in that side. Also, the likes of Kewell, Kuyt and Garcia could all cut in alongside those guys - especially when you consider that it was a top, top side. If you go back further, McManaman and Berger could've played in that side too.
I'm not talking about all of the above being able to necessarily get into that side, some clearly would, but they'd all be comfortable and good enough to do so.
If I was going to pick a team made up of the 87/88 squad and players from the last ten years, it would be:
_______________
Reina_______________
_____Hansen___
Hyypia__
Carragher____
_________McMahon___Whelan__________
Gerrard__Beardsley____Dalglish___Barnes
______________
Fowler_______________
Subs:
Torres, Aldridge, Grobbelaar, Nicol,
Alonso, Molby and
Agger.