Hazell’s busy so told me to crack on.
Finished side is:
Subs: Steve Staunton , Momo Sissoko , Edin Dzeko
Overview below of time in the league:
Ederson: Best keeper with his feet the league’s seen. Falls short of the Alisson on most other areas but he’s still a brilliant keeper and has been crucial to Man City’s style of play as they’ve dominated the league.
Trophies: 5 Premier Leagues, 1 Champions League, 2 FA Cups , 4 League Cups
Individual: 2 PFA Team of the Years, 3 Golden Gloves
Branislav Ivanovic: Physical specimen of a defender, able to play in different positions whilst being part of some great defences contributing at the top end of the pitch with 31 goals and 29 assists in his first six years at Chelsea alone.
Trophies: 3 Premier Leagues, 1 Champions League, 1 Europa League , 3 FA Cups , 1 League Cup
Individual: 2 PFA Team of the Years
Antonio Rudiger: All the athletic attributes you could want for a defender, he was key to Chelsea winning the champions league and kept Chelsea competitive during his time with 4 straight top 4 finishes. They’ve dropped of significantly since his departure and looking at their performances with and without him during his time in West London, you can see why his departure may be seen as a large part of their decline.
Trophies: 1 Champions League, 1 Europa League , 1 FA Cups
Individual: 1 PFA Team of the Year
Frank Leboeuf: A great reader of the game, LeBoeuf was also great with the ball at a time when that was not the norm in the league. Part of a stylish back two who also helped France win the league, playing the entire final together, LeBoeuf would have made a great partner with Rudiger.
Trophies: 1 World Cup, 1 European Championship, 2 FA Cups, 1 League Cup , 1 Cup Winners Cup
Ashley Cole: One of the best left backs in the world throughout his career, part of two great sides at Arsenal and Chelsea, he was a top level consistent performer, Ashley Cole is an all time great, even if he’s despised by many. Brilliant at getting forward and contributing, whilst being solid at the back, he was textbook for the position.
Trophies: 3 Premier Leagues, 1 Champions League, 1 Europa League , 7 FA Cups, 1 League Cup
Individual: 4 PFA Team of the Years
Rodri: The Best DM in the world at the moment, Rodri is able to win the ball and make passes at an exceptional level, and is a crucial member of a City side that has dominated in recent years.
Trophies: 3 Premier Leagues, 1 Champions League, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cups
Individual: 1 PFA Team of the Year
Kevin De Bruyne: One of the best midfielders in Premier League history, De Bruyne has been the best playmaker in the league for several years in a row, racking up a record number of assists in a season.
Trophies: 5 Premier Leagues, 1 Champions League, 2 FA Cups, 5 League Cups
Individual: 2 PFA Player of the Year awards, 5 PFA Team of the Years, 3 Most Assist Awards
Bernardo Silva: A great technical player with a hell of an engine on him, able to play in several positions, he is a key cog in the Man City machine, who’s as good as he is despicable, which is saying something.
Trophies: 5 Premier Leagues, 1 Champions League, 2 FA Cups, 4 League Cups
Individual: 2 PFA Team of the Years
Dirk Kuyt: The Man for the big Occasion, Dirk was the scorer of many crucial goals in big games including a hattrick against United. His industry, selflessness and goal scoring made him a crowd favourite for Liverpool but also for Holland where he compiled over a 100 caps helping them reach the World Cup Final racking up the most assists in that World Cup.
Trophies: 1 League Cup
Maxi Rodriguez: A little Argentinian magician whose skill was matched by his work rate. A fan favourite whilst he was at Liverpool, his flexibility made him a key cog in a side that he added some much needed quality too.
Trophies: 1 League Cup
Erling Haaland: A goal-scoring machine, built to break records. In his only full season in the league to date he broke numerous records including the most goals in a Premier League season. Whilst his style isn’t inspiring it’s devastatingly effective.
Trophies: 1 Premier League, 1 Champions League, 1 FA Cup
Individual: 1 Golden Boot, 1 PFA Player of the Year, 1 PFA Team of the Year
Subs:
Steve Staunton: A flexible defender able to play across the back four and in midfield at a push, even playing in goal for Liverpool once. He was a classy operator whose work-rate won him many plaudits. His best days at Liverpool came before football existed but even in the Premier League era he played a big role at winning Aston Villa’s last major honours to date.
Trophies: 2 League Cups (Before Football: 1 League, 1 FA Cup)
Momo Sissoko: A great defensive midfielder who can tackle and pass at a high level, his speed and work rate allowed him to lay a base for those in front of him to concentrate on creating. Unlucky with injury, his career didn’t reach the heights it threatened to in England, but he rebuilt is career abroad staying at a top level for near enough a decade across four countries.
Trophies: 1 FA Cup
Edin Dzeko: A strong, target man who was surprisingly quick as well. His top level was border line world class, and his ability to assist and score was crucial to Man City during their early years of success, also going on to score bucket loads in Italy.
Trophies: 2 Premier Leagues, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup
How’d they play:
The team is built on skill and industry, with a back able to provide a solid foundation for the technicians further up the pitch who in turn will defend from the front. A technically outstanding side, they’ll look to dominate the ball and supply Haaland to ruthlessly finish off attacks.
