[Draft] The People's Choice Draft

left him for ye aul bhoy , never won me any drafts .

 

Ruud Van Nistelrooy (3)

His career was of goal scoring greatness right from the off. After joining Heerenveen from the side that bought him to prominence, Den Bosch, he amassed 13 goals in 31 games – a fine record for a 21-year-old playing in a relatively poor side. He was immediately coveted by Dutch giants PSV who signed the young forward for a €6.3 million fee, then a record for a footballer moving between Dutch clubs.

He would add more to his game while at Eindhoven, combining his obvious skill as a dominant forward with blistering pace and unmatched precision that would help him win the Dutch Footballer of the Year award in 1998. He netted 38 times in 46 games in the 1998-99 season as PSV finished third in the Dutch Eredivisie and qualified for the following season’s UEFA Champions League.

And if the first season was good, the next was even better – 32 goals in 33 games – including 29 in the league alone as he finished as the league’s top scorer for a second season running and helped PSV clinch their 15th domestic title, finishing a whopping 16 points clear of nearest challengers Heerenveen. Van Nistelrooy was now a target for the elite of European football and Manchester United, as well as Real Madrid, competed for the young forward’s signature.

Manchester United ignited a new desire in van Nistelrooy and one of his most brilliant goals came against Fulham at Old Trafford in 2003. It demonstrated to the world what he was all about. Picking up the ball in the centre-circle, he impressively shrugged off two challenges before setting off on a run where he was untouchable. Leaving several defenders for dead before finding himself in acres of space and finishing with aplomb, despite having an awkward body position. He had the entire stadium up on its feet, and received a vote of approval from the boss himself.

His stint in England ended with an astounding 150 goals in 219 games, averaging 0.68 goals a game. Having left for just £10.5million, Real Madrid would’ve felt that they bagged a bargain.

And they sure did. Within a year of his signing, he already helped the club to a La Liga title and was the winner of the Pichichi trophy – the award for finishing as the league’s highest goal scorer (25) – including a run of scoring in seven successive games. This was followed by another 20 goals across all competitions in the 2007-08 campaign as well as another league title.

Van Nistelrooy was just as good in Europe as he was domestically. The fourth highest goal getter in the history of the competition behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Raúl, his 56 goals for four different sides is a fine record for a man who never played in the final, let alone won the competition as he finished as the competition’s top scorer in the 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2004-05 seasons. Add to that, only Lionel Messi has a better goals-per-game ratio than the Dutchman’s 0.74.

The Ruud van Nistelrooy of 2001 to 2005 was one of the most complete forwards one is ever likely to see. Brave, lethal and supremely confident, he was a menace to the opposition and was a joy to watch. He probably didn’t win the trophies his goals deserved, but he is still regarded very highly as one of the greatest forwards of his generation and is arguably one of the most comprehensive strikers English football has ever witnessed.

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@TheHolyGoalie

 

Maxwell (3)

Has won titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France as well as earning 10 caps for his native Brazil.

 

@Minty - Lionel Messi (12), George Best (6), Gerd Muller (8), Rivaldo (7), Gaetano Scirea (13), Claude Makelele (9), Ruud Krol (1), Jurgen Kohler (16), Xabi Alonso (10)

THG- Diego Maradona (13), Lotthar Matthaus (9), Roberto Baggio (11), Lev Yashin (12), Andrea Pirlo (8), Frank Lampard (6), Andriy Shevchenko (14), Sergio Ramos (10), Claudio Gentile (4), Maxwell (3)

T.S. Eliot - Paolo Maldini (12), Marcel Desailly (4), Alessandro Nesta (9), Iker Casillas (8), Javier Zanetti (13), Denis Bergkamp (1), Michael Laudrup (11), Bastian Schweinsteiger (15), Bobby Charlton (6), Ruud Van Nistelrooy (3)

Keano88 - Pelé (13), Marco van Basten (10), Xavi (8), Frank Rijkaard (9), Jinky Johnstone (6), Neymar (1), Giacinto Fachetti (12), Jaap Stam (16) Fernando Hierro (15), Thibaut Courtois (3)

Padmill - Zinedine Zidane (10), Dennis Law (11), Ibrahimović (13), Steven Gerrard (6), Angelo Peruzzi (14) (+4)

Moustache- Eusébio (4), Luís Figo (11), Manuel Neuer (8), Pavel Nedvěd (7), Juan Román Riquelme (15), Djalma Santos (1), Nílton Santos (12), Edgar Davids (14), Roberto Ayala (3), Aymeric Laporte (2)

Mr Monaghan - Ronaldo (11), Thierry Henry (3), Michel Platini (7), Alessandro Del Piero (15), Carlos Alberto (16), Edwin van der Sar (8) Daniel Passarella (9) Fernando Redondo (14), Lucio (10) Larbi Benbarek (4)

Scotia - Henrik Larsson (9), Marco Tardelli (1), Clarence Seedorf (8), Didier Deschamps (14), Kenny Dalglish (15), Packie Bonner (12) Craig Bellamy (16) Mattias Sammer (7), Patrice Evra (4), Gary Lineker (6)

Idioteque Ryan Giggs (12), Ronaldinho (1), Dino Zoff (13), Arjen Robben (3), Luis Suarez (16), Patrick Vieira (14) Paul Lambert (6) John Arne Riise (15), Steve Bruce (2), Sol Campbell (10)

Packybhoy - Toto Schillachi (1), Mark Hughes (9), Roy Keane (14), Siniša Mihajlović (16), Danny McGrain (13), Ashley Cole (11), Billy McNeill (8) Marc Overmars (15), Deco (3) Paul Elliot (2)

Mr. Fawlty - Johan Cruyff (11), Ferenc Puskás (4) Ruud Gullit (7), Garrincha (16), Johan Neeskens (8), Zico (9), Paul Breitner (1), Velibor Vasović (10), John Charles (15), Horst Blankenburg (2)

mark82 - Franz Beckenbauer (7), Andres Iniesta (12), Gianluigi Buffon (13), Socrates (1), Raul (10), Gabriel Batistuta (11), Jairzinho (16), Alessandro Costacurta (14), Zé Roberto (3), Tommy Gemmell (6)

obafgkmlt - Carles Puyol (12), Roberto Carlos (16), Bobby Moore (6), Lilian Thuram (14), Peter Schmeichel (11), Romario (3), David Beckham (15), Paco Gento (10), Luis Monti (4), Jimmy Case (2)

V For Vendetta - Cristiano Ronaldo (13), Alfredo Di Stefano (4), George Weah (11), Kaka (7), Stanley Matthews (9), Ronald Koeman (16) Robert Gardner (5) Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (8) Eric Cantona (15), Francis Benali (2)

Pennywise - Franco Baresi (12), Fabio Cannavaro (13), Philip Lahm (1), Cafu (14), Gareth Bale (6), Oliver Kahn (8) Hristo Stoitchkov (7) Hernan Crespo (16) Stefan Effenberg (10) Pablo Aimar (3)

 

I'll pick asap.

 

José Bosingwa (Category 4)

An excellent attacking right back who won 2 Champions League trophies, along with 4 league titles, 2 FA cups and 1 Taca De Portugal.

 

To complete my stellar team, I'll take Bert Trautmann. Legendary Man City goalkeeper. (Category 2).





Bernhard Carl "Bert" Trautmann OBE (22 October 1923 – 19 July 2013) was a German professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Manchester City from 1949 to 1964.

Brought up during times of inter-war strife in Germany, Trautmann joined the Luftwaffe early in the Second World War, serving as a paratrooper. He fought on the Eastern Front for three years, earning five medals, including an Iron Cross. Later in the war, he was transferred to the Western Front, where he was captured by the British as the war drew to a close. One of only 90 of his original 1,000-man regiment to survive the war, he was transferred to a prisoner-of-war camp in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire. Trautmann refused an offer of repatriation, and following his release in 1948, settled in Lancashire, combining farm work with playing goalkeeper for a local football team, St Helens Town.

Performances for St Helens gained Trautmann a reputation as an outstanding goalkeeper, resulting in interest from Football League clubs. In October 1949, he signed for Manchester City, a club playing in the country's highest level of football, the First Division. The club's decision to sign a former Axis paratrooper sparked protests and 20,000 people attended a demonstration. Over time, he gained acceptance through his performances in the City goal, playing in all but five of the club's next 250 matches.

Named FWA Footballer of the Year for 1956, Trautmann entered football folklore with his performance in the 1956 FA (Football Association) Cup Final. With 17 minutes of the match remaining, Trautmann suffered a serious injury while diving at the feet of Birmingham City's Peter Murphy. Despite his injury, he continued to play, making crucial saves to preserve his team's 3–1 lead. His neck was noticeably crooked as he collected his winner's medal; three days later an X-ray revealed it to be broken.

Trautmann played for Manchester City until 1964, making 545 appearances. After his playing career, he moved into management, first with lower-division sides in England and Germany, and later as part of a German Football Association development scheme that took him to several countries, including Burma, Tanzania and Pakistan. In 2004, he was appointed an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for promoting Anglo-German understanding through football. Trautmann died at home in Valencia, Spain, on 19 July 2013, aged 89.

Trautmann excelled at shot-stopping, particularly penalties, saving 60% of those he faced over the course of his career. The Manchester United manager Matt Busby mentioned Trautmann's anticipation in his pre-match team talks: "Don't stop to think where you're going to hit it with Trautmann. Hit it first and think afterwards. If you look up and work it out he will read your thoughts and stop it." Similar sentiments were expressed by the Manchester City forward Neil Young, who recalled that "the only way to beat him with a shot in training was to mis-hit it". As a former handball player, Trautmann was adept at throwing the ball long distances, an attribute he used to start attacking moves, particularly after witnessing the Hungarian goalkeeper Gyula Grosics use such tactics to good effect in Hungary's 6–3 victory over England in 1953.

Over the course of his career, Trautmann received many plaudits from leading football figures. The Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin, himself considered one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, believed that Trautmann and himself were the "only ... two world-class goalkeepers".

Trautmann's idiosyncratic style of play also had an influence on budding young goalkeepers at the height of his career. The former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson names Trautmann as his boyhood hero, and Gordon Banks cited him as an influence on his playing style.

Media outlets have since recognised Trautmann's reputation, with Trautmann placed unofficially as the 19th greatest goalkeeper of all-time by the Daily Mail. ESPN consider Trautmann as one of the greatest FA Cup goalkeepers, with Trautmann representing Manchester City in two consecutive FA Cup finals in 1955 and 1956 while his lunge at Peter Murphy's feet to grasp the ball in the 1956 FA Cup Final is rated as the greatest FA Cup save – a save that broke Trautmann's neck.

 

1. Pick a player that has scored in a World Cup tournament. - 10 Picks. Locked.
2. A player with zero international caps. - 7 picks.
3. A player who has won three top division titles in different countries. 10 picks. Locked.
4. A player who represented a different country than the one he was born in, at international level. - 9 picks.
5. Footballers who played a match in the 19th century. 1 pick.
6. UK born players who played abroad. 10 picks
7. A player who has won Ballon d'or 8 picks
8. Players who have played in more than one European Cup/CL final. 10 picks. Locked.
9. Players who became a manager. 9 picks.
10. Player who scored in a CL/European Cup final. 10 picks.
11. Players that have played for both sides of a notable rivalry. 10 picks.
12. One club players. 10 picks.
13. Has beaten England in an international match. 10 picks
14. A player who was born in the 60's or 70's. 10 picks.
15. A player who has between 15 and 30 international goals. 10 picks.
16. A player who has played for 5 clubs or more (loans do count, B/C teams do not) - 10 picks

 

That is the final category list.

Everyone except @Idioteque is now free to make their final pick from ANY of the 16 categories.

Apologies to @Idioteque and @V For Vendetta, who got * over a bit by the miscount. If it's any consolation, I got * over too.

 

For your final pick, you still have to show which category your player fits in to, as there will inevitably be players that don't fit into any category.


You're up, @TheHolyGoalie

 

Thought I got to keep my last pick? As I picked Steve Bruce from a different open category?

 

Maicon (1), scored an amazing curved goal against North Korea at the 2010 World Cup

 

Woops, I forgot! You can pick from any category!

 

I got it the wrong way round, @V For Vendetta has to pick from one of the categories that are left open.

 

I'll put the formations thread up later. Quite comfortably an elite team of footballers.

 

Probably my fave right back of current times.

 

Two secs Keano

 

Falcão (9)

Paulo Roberto Falcão, or simply Falcão, is a Brazilian former footballer and current manager of Sport. He is widely considered one of the best players in Internacional and Roma history, and he is universally considered one of the greatest Brazilian players of all time, especially at his peak in the 1980s. At one stage, he was the world's highest paid footballer. Due to his success and performances with Roma, he earned the nickname "the eighth King of Rome" from the fans, and was inducted into the A.S. Roma Hall of Fame in 2013.

For the Brazil national team, Falcão was capped 34 times between February 1976 and June 1986. He appeared at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, playing in midfield alongside Zico, Socrates and Eder, considered one of the greatest Brazilian national teams ever.

The role Falcao performed during his career bore little relation that of modern-day wearers of the No5 jersey. He was in fact one of the last of a cultured breed of deep-lying midfielders whose main function was not to run their socks off, close down opponents, win the ball back and lay it off to the nearest team-mate.

An elegant and technically gifted player, Falcão usually functioned as a deep-lying playmaker, although he was capable of aiding his team defensively, as well as creatively and offensively, due to his physique and tenacity. He was known in particular for his control, vision, passing, and long-range shooting ability, as well as tactical intelligence and leadership.

Stationed just in front of the defence, the multi-talented ball player became Internacional’s orchestrator-in-chief, the instigator and catalyst for virtually everything Os Colorados achieved during his spell with the club from 1973 to 1979.

The leader of one of Brazilian football’s greatest dynasties, Falcao inspired Inter to five state championships and three Brazilian titles, the Porto Alegre outfit becoming the first club to achieve that feat since the inception of the Brasileirão in 1971. The highlight of those national league successes came in 1979, when Internacional went the whole season unbeaten, a feat yet to be matched in Brazilian football. And such was their consistency that only once in Falcao’s six years in the club's first team, in 1974, did they finish outside the top four.

Though a difference of opinion with national team coach Claudio Coutinho led to him being left out of the Brazil squad for the 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina, Falcao was by that time universally recognised as “the greatest Brazilian midfielder of all time."

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@Keano88