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Who'd be in your all-time UK XI?

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Phil McNulty | 15:19 UK time, Friday, 11 May 2012

Stuart Pearce will soon be revealing his Team GB squad for this summer's Olympics - but who would make the cut were every post-war player from the UK eligible to play?

Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Radio 5 live Sport will tackle this debate in a special programme, "The Great British XI", hosted by Ian Payne on Tuesday, 15 May. It's guaranteed to be full of wide-ranging discussion and disagreement.

The choices might be framed in the context of partisanship to a particular team or personal favourites but will undoubtedly read like a "Who's Who" of the legendary figures that have graced the beautiful game in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

England's 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks would get plenty of support in that position but a list of his rivals demonstrates what competition he would face.

Bobby Moore

England and West Ham legend Bobby Moore would have been an ideal candidate to lead Team GB.ÌýPhoto: getty

Would Peter Shilton, who followed him at Leicester City, Stoke and with England, be regarded higher? And what about Liverpool's Ray Clemence, the great Neville Southall from Wales or Tottenham's Northern Ireland international Pat Jennings?

Pick any of those and no Great Britain team would have a care in the world about its last line of defence.

At right-back, Scotland and Celtic fans would fervently press the claims of Danny McGrain while England would have candidates in gentleman Jimmy Armfield and, from the modern era, Manchester United's Gary Neville. At Ibrox these choices would be questioned by those favouring the great Glasgow Rangers servant John Greig.

On the opposite flank a current player, Chelsea's Ashley Cole, will no doubt come under discussion as will his England predecessors Kenny Sansom and another of the "Boys Of 66", Ray Wilson.

In central defence nobody from Wales will bow to anyone when it comes to championing the cause of John Charles, who could play there or as a striker, while plenty will make a passionate case for the not only to be in the line-up but to also captain this fantasy football team.

Scotland would seek the inclusion of Celtic's Billy McNeill, the first British player to hold aloft the European Cup after victory against Inter Milan in 1967, while his fellow countryman and Match of the Day pundit Alan Hansen must also be mentioned.

Other central defensive candidates could come in the shape of Wolves legend Billy Wright and Manchester United's Duncan Edwards. Scotland's Dave Mackay can also be included in this discussion and also that about who plays in midfield, where there is an embarrassment of riches.

Manchester United can offer up Sir Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson while City would respond with a rival widely regarded as the club's greatest player in Colin Bell.

And what about Graeme Souness, Alan Ball, Johnny Haynes, Northern Ireland's Danny Blanchflower and of course the flawed genius Paul Gascoigne? Leeds United's firebrand captain Billy Bremner must also be put in this bracket and Rangers fans are still misty-eyed by the memories of "Slim Jim" Baxter.

The list of potential wingers would bring fear to the hearts of even the finest full-backs, and every country has a contender.

England's finest would be Sir Tom Finney and Wales can compete with Ryan Giggs and Tottenham's Cliff Jones. Once more Scotland's supporters will suggest they can top even those illustrious names with Celtic's tiny wizard of the dribble, "Jinky" Jimmy Johnstone.

Northern Ireland will insist there is only one undisputed selection for this team and it will whose shimmering brilliance illuminated Manchester United and who was a true world star despite never playing in a major international tournament.

The strikers again offers a cavalcade of Britain's finest. Liverpool fans will regard the Scot who many believe is the club's greatest player, Kenny Dalglish, as an automatic pick while his fellow Scot Denis Law is another prime contender.

Anfield will be the destination again for those believing Wales striker Ian Rush should be reunited with his old partner Dalglish up front. But Bolton fans will elevate "The Lion of Vienna" Nat Lofthouse even above that pair.

And what about these for potential rivals? Blackpool's Stan Mortensen, Jimmy Greaves, Kevin Keegan and the Premier League's greatest goalscorer Alan Shearer.

These are just some of the names with a presentable claim for inclusion - so start the debate here and let me know your choices for the "Great British XI".

Comments

Page 1 of 8

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  • Comment number 1.

    All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

  • Comment number 2.

    Pat Jennings, Danny McGrain, Ashley Cole, Bobby Moore, John Charles, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Danny Blanchflower, Tom Finney, Kenny Dalglish, Jimmy Greaves.

  • Comment number 3.

    Gascoigne is the best English player of all time so he has to be in the team.

  • Comment number 4.

    All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

  • Comment number 5.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 6.

    @ 3. shavid, that is a very modern view. This is an all time team. Gazza wasn't a better player than Bobby Charlton. As for the other CM position in my team for example, I also regard Northern Irishman Blanchflower as a superior footballer to Gascoigne on and off the park.

  • Comment number 7.

    Andy Goram

    Danny McGrain - Bobby Moore - Rio Ferdinand - Ashley Cole


    George Best - Bobby Charlton - Steven Gerrard - Ryan Giggs

    Kenny Dalglish - Alan Shearer

  • Comment number 8.

    Pat Jennings,

    John Greig, Ashley Cole, Alan Hansen, Tony Adams,

    George Best, Paul Gascoigne, Glenn Hoddle, Ryan Giggs

    Alan Shearer, Ian Wright

    Subs: Peter Shilton, Lee Dixon, Gordon McQueen, Terry Butcher, Colin Bell, Sammy McIlroy, Graeme Souness, Kenny Dalglish, Gary Lineker, Ally McCoist, John Barnes,

    This team is made up of players in the era I have watched football and players I have actually seen play hence no Duncan Edwards, Tom Finney etc etc

  • Comment number 9.

    Heskey in every position. Needs no-one else

  • Comment number 10.

    @4 - Roy Keane couldn't play for a UK XI - he was from the Irish Republic

  • Comment number 11.

    For a detailed, up-to-date low-down on the hosts of this summer's Euros, Poland and Ukraine, by someone who walked across them to raise money for charity last year, with an examination of the historical 'special relationship' between Ukraine and Sweden, two of England's opponents in the group stage:

    [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]

  • Comment number 12.

    All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

  • Comment number 13.

    Jennings
    Neville
    Cole
    Moore
    Mackay
    Best
    Blanchflower
    Charlton
    Giggs
    Dalglish
    Greaves

  • Comment number 14.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 15.

    To anyone that says JOHN TERRY, read the following:

    Only considering his football ability so ignoring the fact he’s been accused of racism on two occasions (of course he's innocent as things stand), gave people a tour of Stamford Bridge to earn a bit of extra money, slept with his friends fiance/girlfriend etc

    Looking at his history:

    During Euro 2004 Sol Campbell had a late goal disallowed as England fought to make progress in their quarter-final clash with hosts Portugal, with the score tied at 1–1, Campbell won a header in the opposition six-yard box to score what seemed to be a late winner for England. However, John Terry had pushed Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo and the referee gave a free kick. The game ended 2–2 after extra time, and England lost the penalty shoot-out.

    John Terry was named England captain in 2006, so was the man chosen to lead England to Euro 2008. However, with Terry as captain, England did not qualify for Euro 2008 – their first absence from a tournament finals since the 1994 World Cup. Terry accepted that he was fully responsible.

    In the champions league final 2008 John Terry couldn’t handle the pressure and missed what would have been the winning penalty. Manchester United went on to lift the trophy (making everyone sick).

    During World Cup 2010, in the last 16 vs Germany, John Terry forgot his defensive duties and decided that he was an attacker and his lack of defending helped England lose 4-1.

    In the champions league semi final 2012 John Terry couldn’t handle the pressure of the occasion and kicked out at Alexis Sanchez, resulting in Terry being shown a red card and leaving his team to play with 10 men. Ivanovic was shown a yellow card during the same incident for standing up for Terry and as a result also misses the champions league final.

    To sum it up – it was his fault England got knocked out of Euro 2004, it was his fault England didn’t qualify for Euro 2008, it was his fault Chelsea didn’t win the Champions League in 2008, it was partly his fault England got knocked out of World Cup 2010, it will be his fault if Chelsea don’t win the champions league this year because he’s banned for it and so is Ivanovic and with Luiz and Cahill currently injured do Chelsea even have any centre backs?

  • Comment number 16.

    Gordon Banks
    Lee Dixon, Mike England, Norman Hunter, Terry Cooper
    Colin Bell, Billy Bremner, Tony Green, Eddie Gray
    Allan Clarke, Alan Shearer

  • Comment number 17.

    Banks

    McGrain - Adams - Moore - Cole

    Charlton - Bremner - Gazza

    Best - Rush - Keegan

  • Comment number 18.

    @15

    I agree, you forgot to mention that he wss best mates with Hitler and that he singlehandidly sunk the titanic.

  • Comment number 19.

    -----------------------shilton-----------------------------
    neville-------------adams-----moore----------cole

    best-----------------gerrard---souness-----------giggs

    ----------------------dalglish----------------------
    ------------------------shearer--------------------

  • Comment number 20.

    I asked four Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú pundits for their team and they all started with Beckham, so I gave up

  • Comment number 21.

    Banks
    Pearce Moore Adams Hansen
    Giggs Keane Charlton Best
    Shearer Rush

  • Comment number 22.

    Dixie Dean and jimmy mcgrory up front, With the usual best, charlton, scholes, gazza, and four defenders who I can't be bothered with, then jim leighton.

    Also Brian clough's goals to mins ratio is unequalled in British history(I think) so worth a mention

  • Comment number 23.

    Banks
    Pearce Moore Adams Hansen
    Giggs Robson Charlton Best
    Shearer Rush

    (ignore last post as Keane is Republic of Ireland)

  • Comment number 24.

    Banks- Cole - Moore - Terry - Wilson- Giggs- - Charlton - Scholes- Best Shearer -Greeves

    (Scholes, how can he be missed? picked by Zidane as the person he would most have wanted to have played alongside and Guardiola as the only candidate he would replace someone in the barca midfield with)

  • Comment number 25.

    roy keane is irish !!!

  • Comment number 26.

    Re #14; Lo and behold...

  • Comment number 27.

    Why does Alan Hansen have to be considered? He wasn't a patch on Willie Miller who kept him out of the Scotland team!

  • Comment number 28.

    @ 24

    It was inevitable that someone would pick him. Can you please read my post (#15) and justify why you've picked John Terry. Thanks

  • Comment number 29.

    All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

  • Comment number 30.

    Jennings
    McGrain
    Wright
    Moore
    Pearce
    Hoddle
    Gascoigne
    Dalglish
    Le Tissier
    Greaves
    Rush

  • Comment number 31.

    Subs

    Banks
    Butcher
    Charlton
    Clough

    (Rush and Greaves have over 700 goals between them, so I can't picture a better forward two)

  • Comment number 32.

    Banks
    Hansen
    Moore
    Adams
    Pearce
    Best
    Scholes
    Gascoigne
    Dalglish
    Shearer
    Greaves

  • Comment number 33.

    This is a nigh-on impossible challenge, to name the greatest *ever* XI for the UK, but I would be more inclined to go only for players in the modern era as they are obviously much more skilled players than the rufty-tufty hard-men of the 1960s and 1970s. This would probably be my XI:
    David Seaman
    Gary Neville, Tony Adams, Bobby Moore, Alan Hansen
    George Best, Paul Gascoigne, Gareth Barry, Gareth Bale
    Ian Rush, Alan Shearer

    Apart from the midfield quartet, this is far from a great team! Just goes to show how poor the standard of football is among British players when compared to that of continental or South American stars. Even compiling an all-time Portugal XI would be more competitive than an all-time UK XI. Give me technical skill over physicality any day of the week.

  • Comment number 34.

    S t e v e n G e r r a r d .

  • Comment number 35.

    Duncan Edwards in central defence? Wasn't he a wing half? I know he played in defence in the 57 FA Cup final but that was thanks to an injury to Ray Wood which meant a centre-half had to stand in in goal.

  • Comment number 36.

    Has to be:

    Banks

    Cohen
    Wilson

    Stiles
    Charlton (J)
    Moore

    Ball
    Hunt
    Charlton
    Hurst
    Peters

    A team like that could win the World Cup.

  • Comment number 37.

    I think it would be near impossible to pick an "all time GB 11". You could possibly pick an all time squad i.e. 24 players.

    There are a handful of players that would probably be in the 1st 11, and then you could pick any one from the remaining squad. Im my humble opinion these are the "handful" -

    Moore
    Best
    Charlton
    Giggs
    Shearer
    Dalglish

    The rest well you pick from your squad which would include most of the usual names - Banks / Shilton / Jennings / Hansen / Edwards / Ashley Cole / Gerrard / Greaves / Gazza / Souness / Scholes / Finney / Adams / Sheringham / Lineker / Beardsley / and can't think of anymore!

    Comments?

  • Comment number 38.

    How can people forget Ali Dia!? Best player in the World, shocking that he's been missed out time and time again.

  • Comment number 39.

    GK & Defence - Gordon Banks, Phil Neal, Stuart Pearce, Bobby Moore, Alan Hansen
    Midfield - George Best, Ryan Giggs, Bobby Charlton, Paul Gascoigne
    Strikers - John Charles, Kenny Dalglish

    No need for a defensive Midfielder the other team wont touch the ball!!

  • Comment number 40.

    How can people forget Ali Dia!? Best player in the World, shocking that he's been missed out time and time again.

    Personal squad though would be:

    Carragher
    Carragher Carragher Carragher Carragher
    Carragher Carragher Carragher Carragher
    Carragher Carragher

    We all dream of a team of Carras.

  • Comment number 41.

    Gordon Banks

    Billy Wright Bobby Moore (Cpt)

    Bobby Charlton Archie Gemmill Gary speed

    George Best Ryan Giggs

    Kenny Dalglish Derek Dougan Allan Shearer

    I’d want a few subs too, likes of Wayne Rooney etc! Bit sparse on defenders, granted!

  • Comment number 42.

    Who on earth would choose John Terry over the number of excellent centre halves the UK has produced? Terry's not fit to clean Billy McNeill's boots.

  • Comment number 43.

    Difficult to pick the best XI individuals or the best XI to play as a team.

    Banks
    Butcher, Moore, Adams, Pearce
    Beckham, Gascoigne, Baxter, Best
    McCoist, Shearer

    And for a Barbarians team:
    Schmiechel
    Bilic, Leboeuf, Stam, Vidic
    Zola, Viera, Keane, B Laudrup
    Henry, Di Canio

  • Comment number 44.

    Banks

    Pearce Moore Adams Hansen

    Duncan Edwards Scholes Gigggs Best

    Carlton Shearer

  • Comment number 45.

    Banks

    Pearce, Moore, Adams, Hansen

    Duncan Edwards, Scholes, Gigggs, Best

    Carlton, Shearer

  • Comment number 46.

    There has to be a place for Gordon Smith - the Prince of Wingers - contemporary of Stanley Matthews for those who don't know: read his cv and weep!

  • Comment number 47.

    1967 was Celtic's European Cup Victory. 66 something else happened but it wasn't very interesting. Can't believe Cashley is even mentioned!!!! Not a patch on Ross County's Scotty Mo!!

  • Comment number 48.

    I should have put Tom Finney on my list as well. There are so many world class Brititsh players that we could make 3/4 teams.

  • Comment number 49.

    Ronnie Simpson
    Jim Craig
    Tommy Gemmill
    Bobby Murdoch
    Billy McNeill
    Jim Clark
    Jimmy Johnstone
    Willie Wallace
    Steve Chalmers
    Bertie Auld
    Bobby Lennox

    It was 1967, not 1966

  • Comment number 50.

    Seems like Bobby Moore is the most consistent choice.

    Which is reasonable given that he is the only British person ever to lift the world cup.

    But the more I think about the choices the more I realise how many I have missed out.

    Trevor Brooking, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst, Frank Lampard(s), Rio Ferdinand, I could go on....

  • Comment number 51.

    I give you My squad...with first choice picks
    Banks (Jennings Southall as cover)
    Stevens (Neville Cohen)
    John Charles & Big Jack (Rio Bobby Moore Hansen)
    Bale (Cole Wilson)
    Finney Gazza Bobby Charlton Georgie Best (Giggs Jimmy McIlroy Alan Ball Jinky)
    William Ralph Dean & Dalglish (Shearer Rush)

    Manager Sir Alf (Mr Jock Stein).

  • Comment number 52.

    I completely agree with nicia (37)

  • Comment number 53.

    Bobby Lennox - 167 League Goals in 335 League Appearances. 1 goal every 2 games ratio - not bad considering he was on the left wing most of his career. Shocking he only ever had 10 Sctoland Caps.

  • Comment number 54.

    I wouldn't pick John Terry, but comment number 15 is ridiculous. You are forgetting that he is the most successful captain of Chelsea ever, has won 9 trophies in the 8 years he has been captain, the same amount as Manchester United have won in that time period (generously counting their Club World Cup), and a lot of what you're pointing out is actually what makes him such a good player.

    The point about Sol Campbell's disallowed goal is irrelevant as that shouldn't have been given as a foul, there was nothing wrong with it.

    When England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 can he really solely be blamed? The entire team and manager were to blame.

    2008 CL final he missed a penalty... so what? Ronaldo and Messi both missed important penalties the other week.

    The point you made about him in the 2010 world cup attacking more is especially irrelevant, obviously because more attacking was needed, and for Chelsea he often goes forward when they're losing to help get a goal, which gets results a lot of the time.

    I partly agree with the final point about the CL semi against Barcelona, what he did was absolutely ridiculous, but it wasn't his fault Ivanovic got sent off.

  • Comment number 55.

    # 44 & 45 = BusbyBabes

    Is it a typo? Carlton……………… = Carlton Palmer !!
    Have you missed a letter out?

  • Comment number 56.

    I honestly don't understand how so many of you are leaving about both Sir Stanley Matthews and Sir Tom Finney. They completely reinvented wing play and were absolutely unplayable by anyone in the world at the time. I'm not going to bother putting together a full XI but I would be hard pressed to leave either of those two out of it if I did. Is it just that they were before our time so we therefore assume they were rubbish? These are the players that defined football as the game we know and love today.

  • Comment number 57.

    The problem with a lot of these selections is that the manager would have a hard time getting most of them out of the pub!

  • Comment number 58.

    ....and if you squint hard enough you can see that it's JT firing from the grassy knoll.

    And know for a team that would have no parallel in this earthly realm....


    Phil Parkes

    Graeme Le Saux, Kevin Ratcliffe, Martin Buchan, Phil Neal

    Peter Barnes, Don Masson, Norman Whitside , Neal Ardley

    Ian Dowie Derek Dougan

    I know, I know. No place for Tony Dorigo or Jeremy Goss will have the pundits scratching their heads.....

  • Comment number 59.

    For a goalkeeper that might not have been name Sam Hardy, 21 caps for England before and after WW1 when we played maybe 3 a year.

    Billy Meredith as well the first superstar of football in attack, played for both Manchester clubs.

    I think the manager has to be Sir Alf Ramsay, won the World Cup in 66.

    My team (3-4-3)

    Sam Hardy, Bobby Moore, John Charles, Jack Charlton, Stanley Matthews, Nobby Stiles, Alan Ball, Tom Finney, Colin Bell, Dixie Dean & Alan Shearer.

  • Comment number 60.

    Colin Tod, Roy McFarland, Kevin Hector, Dave Mc Kay, Terry Hennesey,
    Frannie Lee, COYR

  • Comment number 61.

    Danny McGrain is the best right back (Celtic) and the best left back (Scotland) the uk has seen. Ask Gabby Logan's Dad or ask Liverpool's steve mcmannaman when he played an exhibition match against him when Danny was in his fifties and mcmannaman was in his mid thirties. It was so funny to see the frustration on macca'ss face as he repeatedly tried to get past an aging McGrain and found he just couldn't. Classic.

  • Comment number 62.

    @29

    hahaha what are you talking about he wont even get in team of the season let alone the greatest british side ever.

  • Comment number 63.

    Shilton
    Neville - Moore - Ferdinand - Pearce
    Charlton - Gascoigne - Hoddle - Giggs
    Best - Keegan

    A word about Pearce...played for England 72 times - lost, I believe, just TWICE ....other than penalty defeats. Can ANYONE better that sort of consistenct, and determination ?! Reason enough for the great man to take the place ahead of Cole - who is not hald the DEFENDER that Pearce was.

  • Comment number 64.

    Can people please take this seriously and stop putting Neville in their teams!!! He wouldn't make it in the best English team 5th XI

  • Comment number 65.

    Banks
    Neville England Moore Hughes
    Best Blanchflower Jimmy Mcilroy Charlton
    Shearer Greaves

  • Comment number 66.

    Neville Southall
    Steve Nicol Emlyn Hughes Alan Hansen
    Steven Gerrard Graeme Souness Bobby Charlton Paul Gasgoine
    George Best Ian Rush Kenny Dalglish

    This team would destroy any of the teams above!! In fact, Barca wouldn't stand a chance! ha ha. Great balance of players from all GB countries too, all truly worthy of a place in this side. The best of their generation.

  • Comment number 67.

    Manager- I know people would want a British manager but if I was the fictional British time-travelling FA I would go foreign and take Arsene Wenger as his attacking style would suit the team.

    GK- Gordon Banks

    RB- Jimmy Armfield
    CB- John Charles
    CB- Bobby Moore
    LB- Gareth Bale
    RM Stanley Matthews
    CM-Billy Wright
    LM- Tom Finney
    CAM George Best
    CF Dennis Law
    CF Bobby Charlton

    I know people won't agree but here is my reasoning- Law, Charlton and Best form the attacking triumverate due to the fact that they played together at Man Utd- Chemistry is important.

    The same goes for Matthews and Armfield. Bale sneaks in largely due to his speed which would be of great help in what no one can deny is an attacking side. Banks gets in partially because of one of the greatest saves at all time but also because the relationship between him and Moore at the back would be of use keeping things solid. Chemisty is important because while bringing amazing players together is every persons dream, not having the chemistry between at least some of those players I think would leave the team disjointed.

  • Comment number 68.

    GK - Neville Southall
    RB - Phil Neal
    CB - John Charles
    CB - Bobby Moore
    LB - Ashley Cole
    M - Tom Finney
    M - Stephen Gerrard
    M - Bobby Charlton
    M - Billy Liddell
    F - Jimmy Greaves
    F - Kenny Dalglish

  • Comment number 69.

    GK - Banks

    RB - Neville
    CH - Moore
    CH - Hansen
    LB - Cole

    DM - Dave Mckay/D. Edwards(a bit out of position) Colin Bell maybe
    CM - Scholes
    CM - Charlton

    AM/W - Best
    AM/W - Giggs
    CF - Law - the 'king'

    There we go, i think with that team team, no one could even get the ball from them never mind score a goal.
    Scholesy could really do the DM bit, and be used to nice spray the ball about, especially if they played by 60/70's rules then he'd be one of the best tacklers in the game

  • Comment number 70.

    62.
    At 18:12 11th May 2012, JamieR93 wrote:


    @29

    hahaha what are you talking about he wont even get in team of the season let alone the greatest british side ever.
    --------------------------------------------

    I dont know if you looked at the team of the season when it was announced last week, but.....

  • Comment number 71.

    I'm perhaps a bit young to be doing this, but why not:

    GK - David Seaman
    RB - Lee Dixon
    CB - John Charles
    CB - Tony Adams
    LB - Gareth Bale
    LM - Ryan Giggs
    DM - Billy Bremner
    MC - Glen Hoddle
    RM - David Beckham
    F - Alan Shearer
    F - Kenny Dalglish

  • Comment number 72.

    Gordon Banks
    Gary Neville (as much as I despise him) Bobby Moore Tony Adams Ashley Cole
    Stanley Matthews Steven Gerrard Bobby Charlton Matt Le Tissier
    Alan Shearer Jimmy Greaves

    That was just English players, picking a whole British Eleven would be too difficult, I've already left out players like Scholes, Keegan, Beckham, Gascoigne, Terry, Lineker, Neal. If I had to pick players from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too, it would be too difficult.

    Alot of people will criticise me for leaving out scholes, but Gerrard has have won so many matches on their own it's unbelievable, and Le tissier is the most naturally talented player England has ever produced. If they had played for a team like United, they would easily have had as many medals as Scholes. Don't get me wrong Scholes is class, but this is the best ever 11.

  • Comment number 73.

    Peter Shilton
    Gary Neville Bobby Moore Willie Miller Lee Dixon
    Jimmy Johnstone Kenny Dalglish Paul Gascoigne Stan Matthews
    Gary Lineker Mark Hughes

    Manager Brian Clough

  • Comment number 74.

    As an Ipswich supporter I would want to see John Wark in the team. Kevin Beattie for the bench.

  • Comment number 75.

    This is almost impossible, but here's my effort...

    GK. Banks
    RB. Gary Nevile
    LB. Ray Wilson
    CB. Bobbie Moore
    CB. John Charles

    RW. Best
    LW. Giggs
    CM. B.Charlton
    CM. A.Ball

    FW. Shearer
    FW. Dalglish

    It has to be said that my knowledge of defenders before the late 80's is terrible. I'm confident with the centre backs though.

  • Comment number 76.

    Alan Clarke of Leeds United. One of the greatest players ever to play football. If we had been in the 1974 world cup I think he would have set it ‘alight’. Billy Bremner, Paul Reaney, Paul Madely, Peter Lorimer and Johnny Giles. These players would have walked into any all time great teams.
    Funny how the Southern based London media never mentions them or the Great Don Revie. Is some thing to do with the north southern biased I wonder?
    The Leeds team and Clarke especially for me where mesmeric aren’t afforded the respect they deserve.

  • Comment number 77.

    Pat Jennings

    Viv Anderson, Alan Hansen, Kenny Burns, Stuart Pearce

    George Best, Jim Baxter, Paul Gascoigne, John Robertson

    Ian Rush, Robbie Keane


    This team won't tackle back in midfield, but they'll sure score plenty.

  • Comment number 78.

    Picked from post 1968 players.
    Shilton
    McGrain
    Wilson
    Souness
    Ferdinand
    Robson
    Best
    Greaves
    Charlton
    Law
    Giggs
    Subs
    Banks
    Moore
    Cole A
    Shearer
    Baxter
    Johnston J
    Hughes M.

  • Comment number 79.

    GK: Gordan Banks
    RB: Danny McGrain
    LB: Ashley Cole
    CB: Bobby Moore
    CB: Tony Adams
    RW: Stanley Matthews
    LW: George Best
    CM: Bobby Charlton
    CM: Paul Gasgoigne
    STR: Jimmy Greaves
    STR: Kenny Dalglish

    Honourable mentions:

    Peter Shilton, Pat Jennings, Gary Neville, Willie Miller, Billy McNeill, Ray Wilson, George Cohen, Jimmy Johnstone, Paul Gascoigne, Glenn Hoddle, Trevor Brooking, John Barnes, Gary Lineker, Ian Rush, Ryan Giggs, Bryan Robson, Brian Clough, Duncan Edwards, Dennis Law, John Charles, Archie Gemmill, Norman Whiteside, Nat Lofthouse, Tom Finney, Graeme Souness, Neville Southall, Kevin Ratcliffe, Stuart Pearce, Alan Ball, Geoff Hurst, Michael Owen, Matthew Le Tissier, Paul Scholes, Billy Liddell, Phil Neal, Steve Nicol, Danny Blanchflower, Roy McFarland, Dixie Dean, Bobby Lennox etc. etc.

    We could be here for all eternity.

  • Comment number 80.

    John Charles.

    Voted Greatest Ever non-Italian player in Juventus history in 1997 ahead of Zidane, Nedved and Platini. Voted greatest Foreign import in Italian Football in 2001 ahead of Maradona and first non-Italian voted into the Azzuri hall of fame. Never booked or sent off in his career. World Class at Centre Half and Centre Forward.

    If he can be voted ahead of Zidane, Platini and Maradona, then he's easily in the top 11 British footballers of all time.

  • Comment number 81.

    Carragher
    Carragher, Carragher, Carragher, Carragher
    Carragher, Carragher, Carragher, Carragher
    Carragher, Carragher

  • Comment number 82.

    So, Phil, football was invented in 1960, was it?

    Frank Swift (Man City), Bob Crompton (Blackburn), Billy McCracken (Newcastle), Ernest Needham (Sheff Utd), Charlie Roberts (Man Utd), Colin Veitch (Newcastle), Stanley Matthews (Stoke), Charles Buchan (Sunderland), Steve Bloomer (Derby), Billy Meredith (Man Utd).

    Game to be played under real offside law, with proper ball and kit.

    Bobby Charlton and Gordon Banks to provide match tickets.

  • Comment number 83.

    I thought this was a supposed to be for the "GREAT BRITISH XI"? Well if that's the case then for the benefit of those who have included them (and, it appears Mr. McNulty too) the likes of Pat Jennings, Danny Blanchflower, George Best, Derek Dougan etc. don't qualify as they are from Northern Ireland which is NOT part of Great Britain but a part of the United Kingdom. Furthermore, it's incredulous to see the Keane's (Roy & Robbie) being included given that they're Republic of Ireland players.

    Perhaps someone should let Stuart Pearce know as well that Northern Ireland players are excluded from Team GB or else please call it Team UK.

  • Comment number 84.

    Further to 83, forgot my centre-forward: Hughie Gallacher (Newcastle).

  • Comment number 85.

    Ray Clemence

    Alan Kennedy - Phil Thompson - Alan Hansen - Phil Neal

    Sammy Lee - John Barnes - Graeme Souness - Terry McDermott

    Kenny Dalglish - Ian Rush.

    :)

  • Comment number 86.

    Alternatively...

    GK Pat Jennings

    RB Phil Neal CB John Charles LB Danny Mcgrain

    RW Stanley Matthews DM Graeme Souness CM Bobby Charlton LW Ryan Giggs

    AM Kenny Dalglish

    FWD George Best FWD Ian Rush

  • Comment number 87.

    Gordon Banks

    Danny McGrain
    Bobby Moore
    Billy McNeill
    Gareth Bale

    Jimmy Johnstone
    Graeme Souness
    Bryan Robson
    Ryan Giggs

    Rush & Dalglish

  • Comment number 88.

    Reina
    neville
    Hansen
    Adams
    A.Cole
    Souness
    Gerrard
    Overmars
    Bergkamp
    Rush
    Henry

  • Comment number 89.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 90.

    Southall

    A Cole, Charles, Moore, Hansen

    Best, Blanchflower, Le Tissier, Giggs

    Dalglish, Greaves

    (If I did another version I could easily pick entirely different players and it would be just as strong... already regretting leaving out Jennings, Charlton and Gazza...). Had to put Le Tiz in as then the Channel Islands are represented along with the usual suspects, plus he was amazing of course.

    BTW can't believe people put Bale in as a left back, he is as bad a defender as he is good in attack - best decision 'Arry ever made was converting him into a winger.

  • Comment number 91.

    GK Shilton Goram Seaman

    DEF Neal Cole McGrain Adams Hansen McNeill Gough Aitken

    MID Johnstone Gascoinge Scholes Best Souness Giggs Robson

    FWD Dalglish Shearer Rush Lineker

  • Comment number 92.

    @83 - the headline (in large letters) says: 'Who'd be in your all-time UK XI?'

  • Comment number 93.

    GK: Gordan Banks
    RB: John Charles
    LB: Ashley Cole
    CB: Bobby Moore
    CB: Billy McNeill
    RW: George Best
    LW: Ryan Giggs
    CM: Bobby Charlton
    CM: Paul Scholes
    STR: Jimmy Greaves
    STR: Kenny Dalglish

  • Comment number 94.

    @92 ... and the piece finishes off with 'let me know your choices for the "Great British XI"'. It is also written in the context of Stuart Pearce selecting his squad for "Team GB". So obviously, like many contributors, the author doesn't know the difference between what is Great Britain and, to give it its full title, the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

  • Comment number 95.

    GK: G. Banks
    RB: G. Neville
    LB: G. Bale
    CB: B. Moore (c)
    CB: T. Adams

    RM: G. Best
    LM: R. Giggs
    CM: P. Scholes
    CM: B. Charleton

    FC: D. Law
    ST: T. Finny

    Subs:

    P. Shilton, A. Cole, R. Ferdinand, S. Gerrard, D. Beckham , S. Matthews, W. Rooney

  • Comment number 96.

    Sir Stanley Matthews was years ahead of his time in both training methods and diet. Loved around the world and has a cup final named after him.

  • Comment number 97.

    Jimmy McGrory. All time top scoring British player, he definitely deserves to be in the team. I can't understand people putting Bale in the team. He's only had two good seasons so far.

  • Comment number 98.

    Perry Groves, Perry Groves, Perry Groves, Perry Groves, Perry Groves, Perry Groves, Perry Groves, Perry Groves, Perry Groves, Perry Groves & Perry Groves.

  • Comment number 99.

    @15 Romeo

    I agree with you on you're comments about Terry. You are dead right.
    Only the Chelsea boys brigade will disagree.

    On reading what others have posted on this blog.
    I will ask..

    What exactly has Gascoigne done?
    He is remembered for his tears of so called "passion" at Italia 90.
    And his goal against the Scots at Euro 96.

    Apart from these 2 moments what else can we remember about him?

    Spurs/Rangers legend I agree.
    England legend? No chance.

    Hoddle saw this this and rightfully dropped him for the 98 world cup.

    As for UK greats??

    Maybe. Best, Charlton, Shearer, Lineker.

    and Erm.. their is no else i could think of.

  • Comment number 100.

    I cannot believe some people are getting more annoyed at Roy Keanes inclusion (albeit incorrectly because he is Irish) than about someone including Gareth Barry in this team!!
    Really? One half of the best central midfield pairing Great Britain has ever produced is Gareth Barry.....don't think so

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