Best XI from United's three top flight promotion winning teams

[1973Blade]

I've seen us promoted to the top flight three times in my life; 1990, 2006 and 2019. Who would I choose as my best eleven from the players available from those sides?
Here goes (a slight issue with formation of course, I have chosen two centre halves).
1. Simon Tracey 1990
2. Enda Stevens 2019
3. George Baldock 2019
4.John Fleck 2019
5. Chris Morgan 2006
6. Jack O Connell 2019
7. Phil Jagielka 2006
8. Ollie Norwood 2019
9. Billy Sharp 2019
10. Brian Deane 1990 (and sort of 2006!)
11. Ian Bryson 1990
The most difficult decision was leaving out Michael Tonge. Older Blades fans (ie HodgysBrokenThumb) can add players from the 1971 side!

 

[Silent Blade]

1971, 1990, 2006 and 2019

1. Simon Tracey 1990
2. Len Badger 1971
3. Enda Stevens 2019
4. Chris Morgan 2006
5. Eddie Colquhoun 1971
6. Phil Jagielka 2006
7. Alan Woodward 1971
8. Ollie Norwood 2019
9. Brian Deane 1990
10. Tony Currie 1971
11. John Fleck 2019

Both Salmons and Whitehouse are in my best X1 from 1970 to present but Salmons made only 25 appearances in 1970-71 and then became one of our key players when we were in the 1st division and Whitehouse wasnt an established player until the 1991-92 season

 

[1973Blade]

1971, 1990, 2007 and 2019

1. Simon Tracey 1990
2. Len Badger 1971
3. Enda Stevens 2019
4. Chris Morgan 2006
5. Eddie Colquhoun 1971
6. Phil Jagielka 2006
7. Alan Woodward 1971
8. Ollie Norwood 2019
9. Brian Deane 1990
10. Tony Currie 1971
11. John Fleck 2019

Both Salmons and Whitehouse are in my best X1 from 1970 to present but Salmons made only 25 appearances in 1970-71 and then became one of our key players when we were in the 1st division and Whitehouse wasnt an established player until the 1991-92 season

Of course 2007 not 2006!

 

[Silent Blade]

Of course 2007 not 2006!

Just corrected

 

[benn5712]

A brave fan to split the Deane Agana partnership.
Chris Armstrong was always underrated.

 

[1973Blade]

Just corrected

Lol, I was right to begin with then thought I was wrong

 

[Geordie Blade]

I've seen us promoted to the top flight three times in my life; 1990, 2006 and 2019. Who would I choose as my best eleven from the players available from those sides?
Here goes (a slight issue with formation of course, I have chosen two centre halves).
1. Simon Tracey 1990
2. Enda Stevens 2019
3. George Baldock 2019
4.John Fleck 2019
5. Chris Morgan 2006
6. Jack O Connell 2019
7. Phil Jagielka 2006
8. Ollie Norwood 2019
9. Billy Sharp 2019
10. Brian Deane 1990 (and sort of 2006!)
11. Ian Bryson 1990
The most difficult decision was leaving out Michael Tonge. Older Blades fans (ie HodgysBrokenThumb) can add players from the 1971 side!

Hard to argue with that (I've seen the same three top flight promotions as you), though hard to leave Agana out. I would be tempted to play him on the left instead of Jock. Wilder (1990) versus Baldock (2019) would be an interesting head-to-head! I always thought that Paul Ifill (2006) was very effective in the promotion season too, although frustrating at times, as was his style. It was interesting that Ifill's dribbling tended to be preferred to Keith Gillepie in the promotion season but, once we were up, Gillespie's better passing and ball retention game was favoured.

 

[Silent Blade]

Hard to argue with that (I've seen the same three top flight promotions as you), though hard to leave Agana out. I would be tempted to play him on the left instead of Jock. Wilder (1990) versus Baldock (2019) would be an interesting head-to-head! I always thought that Paul Ifill (2006) was very effective in the promotion season too, although frustrating at times, as was his style. It was interesting that Ifill's dribbling tended to be preferred to Keith Gillepie in the promotion season but, once we were up, Gillespie's better passing and ball retention game was favoured.

Colin Hill was our right back for most of the 1989-90 season. Wilder played about 12 games that season

 

[1066blade]

1971, 1990, 2006 and 2019

1. Simon Tracey 1990
2. Len Badger 1971
3. Enda Stevens 2019
4. Chris Morgan 2006
5. Eddie Colquhoun 1971
6. Phil Jagielka 2006
7. Alan Woodward 1971
8. Ollie Norwood 2019
9. Brian Deane 1990
10. Tony Currie 1971
11. John Fleck 2019

Both Salmons and Whitehouse are in my best X1 from 1970 to present but Salmons made only 25 appearances in 1970-71 and then became one of our key players when we were in the 1st division and Whitehouse wasnt an established player until the 1991-92 season

Top six finish today with that team.

 

[S64 Blade]

I was only just born when we went up in 1990, so I'll have to go for options between the two 2006 and 2019 sides. Out of the standard XI we played last season, I'd only swap out Bash for Jags and Fleck for Tonge.

There would be a fair few on the bench from 2006 - Kenny, Morgan, Armstrong and Webber.

 

[Houso]

I think I'd change formation and go:

Tracey

Stevens
Jags
J o'C
Del Geary

Whitehouse
Norwood
Hodges
Ifill

Sharp
Deane

A bit unbalanced and not overly happy with Ifill, but really wanted to squeeze Whitehouse in his natural position.

Honourable mentions for Kyle Nix, Luke Beckett, Phil Kite and Lee Evans.

 

[I should coco]

Whitehouse
Norwood
Hodges

Whitehouse was at the club in 1990 but not a regular. Hodgy wasn't bought until after we'd gone up.

Ifill

I think you have some kind of computer virus.

 

[Jimmy23]

2006/2019
GK Phil Barnes
RB Rob Kozluck
CB Craig Short
CB Chris Lucketti
LB Alan Wright
RM Nathan Thomas
CM John Lundstram
CM Nicky Law
LM Marvin Johnson
ST Geoff Horsfield
ST Hao Haidong

 

[guancheblade]

1990/2006/2019

I’ve opted for a 4-3-3 formation

1. Paddy Kenny
2. Derek Geary
3. Enda Stevens
4. Chris Basham
5. Jack O'Connell
6. Phil Jagielka (he predominantly played CM in the promotion season)
7. Mark Duffy
8. Michael Tonge
9. Brian Deane
10. Billy Sharp
11. Tony Agana

So 2019 just edges it.

 

[I should coco]

In my time watching

1 Tracey

2 Badger
3 Enda
5 JOC
6 Morgan

4 Jags
7 Woody
8 Norwood
10 TC

9 Billy
11 Deano (in the wrong shirt)

Tonge, Paddy K, Jock Bryson, Eddie Colquhoun, Geoff Salmons and Egan just missed out by a gnat's.

 

[Houso]

Whitehouse was at the club in 1990 but not a regular. Hodgy wasn't bought until after we'd gone up.

I think you have some kind of computer virus.

re. Whitehouse / Hodges - they were both at the club in the promotion season weren't they? Regardless of whether they were regulars or full signings at that stage, they go in my side. Granted I was only 10, so my memory is somewhat fuzzy...

re. Ifill - I genuinely can't find a better right winger from the three seasons' squads.

 

[BushBlade]

re. Whitehouse / Hodges - they were both at the club in the promotion season weren't they? Regardless of whether they were regulars or full signings at that stage, they go in my side. Granted I was only 10, so my memory is somewhat fuzzy...

re. Ifill - I genuinely can't find a better right winger from the three seasons' squads.

No. We signed Hodgy after we’d got promoted.

 

[Houso]

Fair enough... out he goes, in comes Fleck

 

[I should coco]

re. Ifill - I genuinely can't find a better right winger from the three seasons' squads.

If he's the best you can come up with, don't bother with one. It worked okay for us this year didn't it?

While he had a decent physique, pace and a good cross, he had the heart of the lion from the Wizard of Oz.

I'd have Paul Wood, Bryson, Tonge, Keef Gillespie, Duffy or Fleck all way ahead of Ifill.

 

[Bonzodog]

Dean Henderson
Len Badger
Enda Stevens
Jack O'Connell
Dave Powell
Alan Woodward
Ollie Norwood
John Fleck
Tony Currie
Brian Deane
Billy Sharp

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Tracey
Sir Leonard Morgs Stan Ted

Woody Jags TC Jock

Billy Deano

 

[I should coco]

Tracey
Sir Leonard Morgs Stan Ted

Woody Jags TC Jock

Billy Deano

Tsk, another know-nowt poster!

That Fred Tunstall couldn't even make his own team. McCabe out!

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Tsk, another know-nowt poster!

That Fred Tunstall couldn't even make his own team. McCabe out!

It appears I’m anti 2019,but if I am forced to play the Wilder formation,back goes Jags,Stan makes way for Jack,out goes Woody and Jock,In comes Ollie and Fleck(with Gannon breathing down his neck)

 

[benn5712]

No. We signed Hodgy after we’d got promoted.

Yes. I sold some raffle tickets to chip in a few quid of the £400,000 to buy him.
Sold messen 5, and me mam bought 1. £6. I did my bit.

No need to thank me.

 

[BushBlade]

Yes. I sold some raffle tickets to chip in a few quid of the £400,000 to buy him.
Sold messen 5, and me mam bought 1. £6. I did my bit.

No need to thank me.

I bought some too.

 

[benn5712]

I bought some too.

Thanks BB. It was a bit embarrassing truth be told.
Dirties were sniffing after Hodges at the same time.
Maybe just to wind the price up.

 

[8lade]

Thanks BB. It was a bit embarrassing truth be told.
Dirties were sniffing after Hodges at the same time.
Maybe just to wind the price up.

Yeah but who's laughing now?
OK maybe not laughing but at least this time we aren't crying.

 

[Geordie Blade]

Colin Hill was our right back for most of the 1989-90 season. Wilder played about 12 games that season

Sssshhhhh - don't tell Baldock! Wilder's been telling him how he was the pivotal player in the 1990 campaign.

 

[1973Blade]

I think I'd change formation and go:

Tracey

Stevens
Jags
J o'C
Del Geary

Whitehouse
Norwood
Hodges
Ifill

Sharp
Deane

A bit unbalanced and not overly happy with Ifill, but really wanted to squeeze Whitehouse in his natural position.

Honourable mentions for Kyle Nix, Luke Beckett, Phil Kite and Lee Evans.

I may have missed something here, but why does Luke Beckett deserve an honourable mention?

 

[10-0 win]

I may have missed something here, but why does Luke Beckett deserve an honourable mention?

Simply for not playing much