# English Premier League Best XI **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 30, 2001, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502 "2001-10-30T12:53:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biffer\_Spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Biffer\_Spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffer_Spice)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/1 "2001-10-30T12:53:32Z")
----------Sorenson------------- -Babbel-Hyypia-Ferdinand-Harte- -Beckham-Gerrard–Veron–Giggs- ---------Owen-Henry------------ ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/2 "2001-10-30T13:28:11Z")
## **GK** : Nigel Martyn ## **LB** : Ashley Cole **RB** : Julio Arca **CB** : Sami Hyypia **CB** : Rio Ferdinand ## **LM** : Ryan Giggs **RM** : David Beckham **CM** : Steven Gerrard **CM** : Patrick Vieira **F** : Thierry Henry **F** : Michael Owen _Subs_: Matteo Sereni (GK) Robert Pires (LM/F) Juan Sebastian Veron (CM) Ruud van Nistelrooy (F) ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/3 "2001-10-30T13:39:28Z")
ok, playing 4-4-2: ``` Sullivan ``` Carr Ferdinand Hyppia Harte Beckham Veron Viera Giggs ``` Owen Fowler ``` Subs: Richard wright Ruud Van Nistleroy Stephen Gerrard Sol Campbell ---
**Author:** ![ObiWan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e47774/32.png) [@ObiWan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ObiWan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/4 "2001-10-30T14:04:00Z")
4-4-2 Premiership XI GK Dudek DL Harte DR Babbel DC Hyypia DC Desailly ML Giggs MR Beckham MC Vieira MC Veron FC Owen FC van Nistelrooy [Hijack] World XI GK Buffon DL Roberto Carlos DR Thuram DC Nesta DC Cannavaro ML Giggs MR Figo MC Vieira MC Zidane FC Rivaldo FC Shevchenko Now, if I only had half a _billion_ pounds to spend. 🙂 [/Hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/5 "2001-10-30T14:22:08Z")
GK: Nigel Martyn LB: Ashley Cole RB: Markus Babbel CB: Sami Hyypia CB: Marcel Desailly LM: Ryan Giggs RM: David Beckham CM: Juan Sebastian Veron CM: Patrick Vieira F: Thierry Henry F: Michael Owen Subs: Richard Wright, Gus Poyet, Steven Gerrard, Ruud van Nistelrooy Same names coming up again and again, isn’t it? This team is practically the same as Crusoe’s. ---
**Author:** ![Biffer\_Spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Biffer\_Spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffer_Spice)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/6 "2001-10-30T14:53:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ObiWan \* > World XI > > GK Buffon > DL Roberto Carlos > DR Thuram > DC Nesta > DC Cannavaro > ML Giggs > MR Figo > MC Vieira > MC Zidane > FC Rivaldo > FC Shevchenko Mine would be similar Buffon Cafu Thuram Nesta RobertoCarlos Figo Davids Zidane Rivaldo Owen Shevchenko ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/7 "2001-10-30T14:53:29Z")
There is a similarity of opinion forming here, and it is good to talk about football without meaning the freakshow that passes for football in the US. However I wonder if the homogenity isn’t partly the product of the top heavy media (esp TV) exposure that certain clubs (Man U in particular get). I included Sullivan and Carr, and still maintain that they are the best players in their respective position in the league. This comes from being a spurs season ticket holder and seeing them every week. I suspect that most supporters of clubs outside the Champions league could point to similar players. So; putting my money where my rather large mouth is here is a XI from clubs outside the Champions League (and I have excluded Chelsea on general principles, since they’d be too scared to play (and they’re not fit for polite comapny either). ``` Sullivan ``` Carr Bramble Richards Bridge Anderton Dunn Carrick Dyer ``` Sheringham Phillips ``` Subs: Walker (GK) Angel Di Canio Joe Cole Trevor Sinclair Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/8 "2001-10-30T14:55:15Z")
There is a similarity of opinion forming here, and it is good to talk about football without meaning the freakshow that passes for football in the US. However I wonder if the homogenity isn’t partly the product of the top heavy media (esp TV) exposure that certain clubs (Man U in particular get). I included Sullivan and Carr, and still maintain that they are the best players in their respective position in the league. This comes from being a spurs season ticket holder and seeing them every week. I suspect that most supporters of clubs outside the Champions league and the “media spotlight” could point to similar players. So; putting my money where my rather large mouth is here is a XI from clubs outside the Champions League and the media circus (and I have excluded Chelsea on general principles, since they’d be too scared to play (and they’re not fit for polite company either as obvioulsy are Leeds - too horrible for words). ``` Sullivan ``` Carr Bramble Richards Bridge Anderton Dunn Carrick Dyer ``` Sheringham Phillips ``` Subs: Walker (GK) Angel Di Canio Joe Cole Trevor Sinclair Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/9 "2001-10-30T14:57:00Z")
I’m now spamming my own highjack! Sorry! That’s waht the preview button is for. The second one is the one I meant to send Owl (although a cockerel in this context) ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/10 "2001-10-30T15:02:46Z")
Very interesting… Non Champions League XI: ## **GK** : Peter Schmeichel ## **LB** : Wayne Bridge **RB** : Julia Arca **CB** : Titus Bramble **CB** : Hermann Hreidarsson ## **LM** : Damien Duff (maybe wrong side) **RM** : Kieron Dyer **CM** : Joe Cole **CM** : David Dunn **F** : Matt Jansen **F** : Frederic Kanoute _Subs_: Mark Kinsella (CM) Richard Rufus (CB) Paolo di Canio (F) Kevin Phillips (F) ---
**Author:** ![ObiWan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e47774/32.png) [@ObiWan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ObiWan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/11 "2001-10-30T15:26:49Z")
Non Champions League XI (incl. Leeds and Chelsea): GK P.Schmeichel DL I.Harte DR S.Carr DC R.Ferdinand DC M.Desailly ML H.Kewell MR K.Dyer MC E.Petit MC L.Bowyer FC R.Keane FC J.Hasselbaink Non Champions League XI (excl. Leeds and Chelsea): GK P.Schmeichel DL N.Winterburn DR S.Carr DC D.Richards DC M.Elliot ML J.Collins MR K.Dyer MC G.McCann MC J.Cole FC P.Di Canio FC K.Phillips ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/12 "2001-10-30T15:40:05Z")
This is a colleague’s non- euro qualifiers XI and I have to say I like it a lot. I wonder how they’d get on against beckham et al? He’s cheating a bit with the formation, but he’s a man u fan and they’re used to bending the rules. ``` Van der Saar Bramble Richards Carr Powell Dunn Izzet Malbranque Robert Phillips Di Canio ``` no subs named ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/13 "2001-10-30T15:44:15Z")
Okay … how about a **Nationwide League XI** : ## **GK** : Magnus Hedman ## **LB** : Alan Rogers **RB** : Neil Clement **CB** : Darren Purse **CB** : Gary Breen ## **LM** : Colin Cameron (maybe out of position) **RM** : Glen Little **CM** : David Prutton **CM** : Robert Prosinecki **F** : Clinton Morrison **F** : Lee Hughes _Subs_: Dougie Freedman (F) Jovan Kirovski (F) Kevin Pressman (G) Jolyon Lescott (CB) ---
**Author:** ![ObiWan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e47774/32.png) [@ObiWan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ObiWan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/14 "2001-10-30T15:46:45Z")
**owlstretchingtime** , I forgot about L.Robert, good catch. I would take him over J.Collins. ---
**Author:** ![ObiWan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e47774/32.png) [@ObiWan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ObiWan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/15 "2001-10-30T15:54:16Z")
**Crusoe** , I would be tempted to play Bobby Zamora up front just to see if he could cut it against the big boys. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/16 "2001-10-30T16:05:01Z")
Many of my friends are millwall fans (easy to spot, they’re the ones with their knuckles dragging on the ground. Thye would add Neil Harris as a Striker (even though he has been ill) ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/17 "2001-10-30T16:08:55Z")
Neil Harris and Bobby Zamora are both excellent players, but Harris isn’t back to his best yet and Zamora isn’t reaching last season’s form just yet. I also wondered about an Under-21 team, but that’s a hijack too far… ---
**Author:** ![ObiWan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e47774/32.png) [@ObiWan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ObiWan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/18 "2001-10-30T16:19:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crusoe \* > Zamora isn’t reaching last season’s form just yet. Agreed - but 11 goals so far this season is still not too bad. ---
**Author:** ![Biffer\_Spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Biffer\_Spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffer_Spice)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2001, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/19 "2001-10-30T17:34:16Z")
Non CL (and Leeds/Chelsea) XI Sorenson Carr Bramble Richards Barry Dyer Dunn Cole Robert Di Canio Phillips ---
**Author:** ![xanakis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/7bcc69/32.png) [@xanakis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanakis)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2001, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502/20 "2001-10-31T02:43:38Z")
Regarding the Premiership XI, I could go with almost any of the above as long as Giggs is on the left and Beckham is on the right. Zidane and Rivaldo would have to bring up the middle. But the one Sub that no one’s mentioned who is **ESSENTIAL** is: **OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-premier-league-best-xi/90502.md?page=2)