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

[Jacobsenthecrab]

As much as I loved players from the previous years, the average championship player now is far better. As Premiership cash has driven British players down to the Championship and training focuses on technique rather than fitness I don’t think you can compare them.
I don’t think anyone from the Warnock promotion side would get into the current first 11.

 

[Punk Blade]

2019 first XI with Jags instead of Bash and Deano instead of Duffy.

Why everyone is picking a back four after we’ve just spent the last three seasons playing the most entertaining brand of football on the planet is beyond me.

 

[I should coco]

hy everyone is picking a back four after we’ve just spent the last three seasons playing the most entertaining brand of football on the planet is beyond me.

My midfield was:

4 Jags
7 Woody
8 Norwood
10 TC

I'm not sure how you'd get all those 4 in the team without leaning toward a more classic 4-4-2. From all the footy I've seen since 1970, I'd have Woody (RIP) and TC in ahead of pretty much anyone else.

Badger could have played wing back but I can't think of a LB with the engine to beat Enda. The current 3 CHs are great in our existing system but I wanted Eddie C and Morgs in, and I can't see them overlapping (unless CM overlapped someone's face with his fist).

If it is 'beyond you' then you aren't showing much imagination. You do know this isn't for real don't you?

 

[Tunstall Fred]

My midfield was:

4 Jags
7 Woody
8 Norwood
10 TC

I'm not sure how you'd get all those 4 in the team without leaning toward a more classic 4-4-2. From all the footy I've seen since 1970, I'd have Woody (RIP) and TC in ahead of pretty much anyone else.

Badger could have played wing back but I can't think of a LB with the engine to beat Enda. The current 3 CHs are great in our existing system but I wanted Eddie C and Morgs in, and I can't see them overlapping (unless CM overlapped someone's face with his fist).

If it is 'beyond you' then you aren't showing much imagination. You do know this isn't for real don't you?

Your midfield quartet reminds me of England under Sven, nobody to play on the left.
How do you propose to solve the problem?

 

[I should coco]

Your midfield quartet reminds me of England under Sven, nobody to play on the left.
How do you propose to solve the problem?

I'd put Scholes on the left.
When that fails as sure as night is day, I'd try 'Lamps' on the left.
When that fails, I'd move Stevie G a bit towards the left.
After another failure, I'd ask 'Becks' if Mrs Posh didn't mind him looking left once in a while.

Throughout this I'd expect one of the best left backs Ingerland have ever had, (A Cole), to keep getting forward and putting crosses in. When no-one comes over to link with him or cover, then I'd look a bit sad. I'd probably sneak that Ulrika piccie out of my wallet to cheer myself up and maybe check my bank balance too.

The one thing I wouldn't do, would be to put a proper left sided player on the left. When you've got the 'golden generation' you have to keep shuffling the pack to keep the superstars in, otherwise the Scum would crucify you.

 

[Tunstall Fred]

I'd put Scholes on the left.
When that fails as sure as night is day, I'd try 'Lamps' on the left.
When that fails, I'd move Stevie G a bit towards the left.
After another failure, I'd ask 'Becks' if Mrs Posh didn't mind him looking left once in a while.

Throughout this I'd expect one of the best left backs Ingerland have ever had, (A Cole), to keep getting forward and putting crosses in. When no-one comes over to link with him or cover, then I'd look a bit sad. I'd probably sneak that Ulrika piccie out of my wallet to cheer myslef up and maybe check my bank balance too.

The one thing I wouldn't do would be to put a proper left sided player on the left. When you've got the 'golden generation' you have to keep shuffling the pack to keep the superstars in, otherwise the Scum would crucify you.

Well I wasn't expecting that, I was rather hoping you would go into the same amount of detail about the midfield quartet of Jags, TC, Norwood and Woody.

And as regards the 'Golden Generation' I always said the team should have been built around Scholes, and maybe if Sven would have not been so rigid, and played the Wilder formation, he could have solved the left side problem with the solution you suggested.

 

[I should coco]

Well I wasn't expecting that, I was rather hoping you would go into the same amount of detail about the midfield quartet of Jags, TC, Norwood and Woody.

Don't be daft.

Norwood has been capped by Northern Ireland, so couldn't possibly play on the left for Ingerland.

 

[Punk Blade]

You do know this isn't for real don't you?

Do you? You seem a bit upset by my preference for overlapping CBs when this is just a bit of fun.

How about

Henderson
Morgan
Egan
JOC
Stevens
Jags
Norwood
McGoldrick
Sharp
Deane
Agana

 

[benn5712]

Tracey
Badger
Colquhoun
JoC
Armstrong
Woody
TC
Hockey
Salmons
Deano
Agana

 

[Mad Mick]

Hodgie, Badger, J Shaw, Coquhoun, Hemsley.
TC, Sabella, Woody, Hockey. Dearden, Deano.

 

[Silent Blade]

Hodgie, Badger, J Shaw, Coquhoun, Hemsley.
TC, Sabella, Woody, Hockey. Dearden, Deano.

Sabella never played in our promotion winning team

 

[Mad Mick]

 

[I should coco]

Do you? You seem a bit upset by my preference for overlapping CBs when this is just a bit of fun.

Not upset at all mate other than by the fact that my stellar 'humour' does not always come across. I'd use a smiley if it wasn't for the fact that I hate the American-teenager-Silicon Valley-'fun'-shite little bastard wanker things...

Given you obviously weren't around to see Len De Badger, TC and Woody, your team looks half decent. I wouldn't have Agana however as despite two cracking promotion seasons, he never did it at the top level. I always thought so much of his game was down to form (the 'Agana bobble') rather than genuine class.

Please feel free to call me a twat, as I generally am one.

 

[Woodwardfan]

4-4-2 easily flowing into 3-5-2 ………. Total Football

Hodgkinson
Badger
Colquhoun
Jagielka
O'Connell
Woodward
Hockey
Currie
Salmons
Agana
Deane


Stevens , Norwood, Tudor, Hemsley, Powell, Egan, Reece all came close.

Studying the teams made me wonder how we went up in 2006.

In order of quality squads per promotion I reckon : 1. 1970 2. 2019 3. 1990 4. 2006 and yet I've only found a place for one 2019 player and that was a marginal decision. That tells me we have something special this time - sum of the parts and all that/ what a manager!

All 4 squads were built on shoestring budgets. What managers!

 

[Tunstall Fred]

4-4-2 easily flowing into 3-5-2 ………. Total Football

Hodgkinson
Badger
Colquhoun
Jagielka
O'Connell
Woodward
Hockey
Currie
Salmons
Agana
Deane


Stevens , Norwood, Tudor, Hemsley, Powell, Egan, Reece all came close.

Studying the teams made me wonder how we went up in 2006.

In order of quality squads per promotion I reckon : 1. 1970 2. 2019 3. 1990 4. 2006 and yet I've only found a place for one 2019 player and that was a marginal decision. That tells me we have something special this time - sum of the parts and all that/ what a manager!

All 4 squads were built on shoestring budgets. What managers!

Almost as bad a team as the one selected by Mr CoCo, and that was poor

 

[Silent Blade]

4-4-2 easily flowing into 3-5-2 ………. Total Football

Hodgkinson
Badger
Colquhoun
Jagielka
O'Connell
Woodward
Hockey
Currie
Salmons
Agana
Deane


Stevens , Norwood, Tudor, Hemsley, Powell, Egan, Reece all came close.

Studying the teams made me wonder how we went up in 2006.

In order of quality squads per promotion I reckon : 1. 1970 2. 2019 3. 1990 4. 2006 and yet I've only found a place for one 2019 player and that was a marginal decision. That tells me we have something special this time - sum of the parts and all that/ what a manager!

All 4 squads were built on shoestring budgets. What managers!

We got promoted in 1971 not 1970. Hodgy was poor for most of his games in 1970-71 and was letting in too many soft goals. It was sad as I never saw him at his best.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Won't include 71 as before my time

--------------------Tracey

Baldock---Morgan--JOC----Stevens

-----Norwood--Jagielka--Fleck

--------Deane---Sharp--Agana

 

[Woodwardfan]

We got promoted in 1971 not 1970. Hodgy was poor for most of his games in 1970-71 and was letting in too many soft goals. It was sad as I never saw him at his best.

Don't think the criteria was about how they played that particular year . He played plenty of games.

Just a passing comment.
Hodgy was dropped at Oxford away and Hope was outstanding from Day 1 and for the rest of the season. Young, confident lad but by Xmas in the 1st Division he was a dithering wreck. The Prem is a huge test for a young keeper.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Sabella never played in our promotion winning team

Nor Joe Shaw.

 

[Silent Blade]

Nor Joe Shaw.

He did in 1953 and 1961

 

[Silent Blade]

Don't think the criteria was about how they played that particular year . He played plenty of games.

Just a passing comment.
Hodgy was dropped at Oxford away and Hope was outstanding from Day 1 and for the rest of the season. Young, confident lad but by Xmas in the 1st Division he was a dithering wreck. The Prem is a huge test for a young keeper.

Salmons and Whitehouse are in my best X1 since 1970 but picking the best X1 that meets with the OP's criteria, I left both Salmons and Whitehouse out as neither played more than 25 games in 1970-71 and 1989-90 respectively

 

[Harry's Game]

Tony Agana has to be in there

 

[Woodwardfan]

He did in 1953 and 1961

Hey Silent - but the o.p. doesn't include those years.

And it does include players of the 4 years no matter how many games they played.

 

[Harry's Game]

Henderson

Jagielka
Egan
O’Connell

Stevens
Baldock

Fleck
Norwood
Duffy

Agana
Deane


The Warnock and Bassett teams had great spirit and the Bassett front two has not been bettered since, but my choice is dominated by the current generation.

This is the best United side I’ve seen in my time watching the Blades going back to 81.

We are very lucky to be around in these times,

 

[Silent Blade]

Hey Silent - but the o.p. doesn't include those years.

And it does include players of the 4 years no matter how many games they played.

The OP's team is 1990, 2006 and 2019. Am sure he would be interested in your team from 1961, 1971, 1990, 2006 and 2019 and there would be no arguments about Hodgy

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Salmons and Whitehouse are in my best X1 since 1970 but picking the best X1 that meets with the OP's criteria, I left both Salmons and Whitehouse out as neither played more than 25 games in 1970-71 and 1989-90 respectively

Silent,who played in Geoff Salmons position in the 70/71 season?

I can recall John Barnwell,Colin Addison and Frank Barlow playing games that season,but non strike me as being able to play where Salmons did.

 

[Silent Blade]

Silent,who played in Geoff Salmons position in the 70/71 season?

I can recall John Barnwell,Colin Addison and Frank Barlow playing games that season,but non strike me as being able to play where Salmons did.

Salmons started in 25 games. Started in 3 of the first 7 games wearing the number 6 shirt then started in every game wearing the number 11 shirt from the 0-0 draw at Watford on 26th Sept until the 2-1 defeat at Bolton on 16th January. Came on as sub against Hull (h), Bristol City (a) and Millwall (h) then started again wearing the number 8 shirt in the last 4 games from the 3-0 win against Birmingham. Gil Reece wore the number 11 shirt in in 24 of his 27 starts that season but he was more of a forward playing behind Dearden rather than attacking the left wing and making crosses like Salmons did (Reece was right footed)

 

[gavtheblade]

Big Neil shipperley did a cracking job.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Last 3 times:
Tracey

The OP's team is 1990, 2006 and 2019. Am sure he would be interested in your team from 1961, 1971, 1990, 2006 and 2019 and there would be no arguments about Hodgy

O.K. 5 years worth then:

4-5-1

Hodgkinson
Badger
G.Shaw
J.Shaw
Jagielka
Richardson
Hamilton ( the o.p. does not mention a minmum number of games played in the promotion year!)
Woodward
Currie
Salmons
Deane

With 2 up front Russell or Agana would get in. (Currie out)
With a Back 3, Colqhoun in (J.Shaw out)

 

[Silent Blade]

Last 3 times:
Tracey




O.K. 5 years worth then:

4-5-1

Hodgkinson
Badger
G.Shaw
J.Shaw
Jagielka
Richardson
Hamilton ( the o.p. does not mention a minmum number of games played in the promotion year!)
Woodward
Currie
Salmons
Deane

With 2 up front Russell or Agana would get in. (Currie out)
With a Back 3, Colqhoun in (J.Shaw out)

My dad was a big fan of Willie Hamilton too. Alex Ferguson said in his autobiography that he heard the great Jock Stein saying that Hamilton was the most talented player he has ever worked with but he despaired of his lifestyle. Interesting to see that Stein thought Hamilton was more talented than any of the players he managed at Celtic and Scotland! It looks like John Harris got fed up of Hamilton's lifestyle too so he sold him to Middlesbrough in early 1961.