Pick your 11

[Cjay]

Difficult one this.

This seasons side doing extremely well but they have a long way to go to match that eras one.

Gets forgotten a bit how good they were because of what followed but we had an extremely good side back then.

[Cjay]

Nigel Martyn- Has to be surely? No disrespect to Meslier but long way to go before he can be talked about in the same.way as Martyn.

Gary Kelly- Easy again imo.

Gianni Alioski- Best left back.

Ferdinand- class act as a player.

Llorente- Looks class

Raph- Definitely

Kewell- 100%

Dacourt- very underrated imo.

Bowyer- would make a great box to box midfielder.


Viduka. Not sure if he coild do all the running Paddy does but he is our top Premier league goalscorer.

May be nostalgia and because it was my childhood team but i dont think the current crop with 1 or 2 exceptions are as good individually as the 2000 team and because the 2000 team so far made it to a higher level its hard to put many of todays lads in.

Maybe in a few years?


I know Ali will raise eyebrows but i dont like inverted full backs and Harte wasnt great as a player imo.

Raph was a no brainer

Llorente looks class

Paddy was close but Viduka edged it for me.

. . . . . . . . . Martyn . . . . . . . . .

GK . . Rio . . . . . . . Llorente . . Ali.

. . . . . . . . . .Batty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Raph . .Dacourt . .Bowyer . Kewell.

. . . . . . . . .Viduka . . . . .

[Ron Swanson]

1. Martyn
2. Ayling
3. Dallas
4. Phillips
5. Ferdinand
6. Llorente
7. Raphinha
8. Dacourt
9. Viduka
10. Bowyer
11. Kewell

Martyn is the best keeper we've ever had. Ayling is better than Danny Mills was, more positional sense and a bit extra gas, Kelly wasn't the same after that year off either. Harte was crap, was okay at free kicks but he'd be screwed playing Bielsaball as he was far too slow, Dallas in for his extra pace and discipline.

Ferdinand and Llorente would make an excellent CB pairing.

Midfield... Batty was past his best by then, not as good as Phillips is now. Dacourt is an easy pick at 8, Raphinha on the right, Kewell on the left... with Bowyer behind the striker. He could rotate with Kewell or Raphinha.

Striker... Viduka on his own up top.

[The Subhuman]

Thought this was going to be pick your first 11 for 21-22...

[Leeds1000]

Martyn
Kelly Llorente Ferdinand Dallas
Phillips
Raphinha Bower Hernandez Kewell
Viduka

What a team. Ask me again in 3 years and i may find room for any of Meslier Ayling Struijk Koch Klich???

[1964white]

1. Martyn
2. Ayling
3. Dallas
4. Phillips
5. Ferdinand
6. Llorente
7. Raphinha
8. Dacourt
9. Viduka
10. Bowyer
11. Kewell

Martyn is the best keeper we've ever had. Ayling is better than Danny Mills was, more positional sense and a bit extra gas, Kelly wasn't the same after that year off either. Harte was crap, was okay at free kicks but he'd be screwed playing Bielsaball as he was far too slow, Dallas in for his extra pace and discipline.

Ferdinand and Llorente would make an excellent CB pairing.

Midfield... Batty was past his best by then, not as good as Phillips is now. Dacourt is an easy pick at 8, Raphinha on the right, Kewell on the left... with Bowyer behind the striker. He could rotate with Kewell or Raphinha.

Striker... Viduka on his own up top.

Another LB that couldn't defend, wouldn't anywhere near a Bielsa team as he always reminded of a donkey trotting down the left flank.

[1964white]

1. Martyn
2. Ayling
3. Dallas
4. Phillips
5. Ferdinand
6. Llorente
7. Raphinha
8. Dacourt
9. Viduka
10. Bowyer
11. Kewell

Martyn is the best keeper we've ever had. Ayling is better than Danny Mills was, more positional sense and a bit extra gas, Kelly wasn't the same after that year off either. Harte was crap, was okay at free kicks but he'd be screwed playing Bielsaball as he was far too slow, Dallas in for his extra pace and discipline.

Ferdinand and Llorente would make an excellent CB pairing.

Midfield... Batty was past his best by then, not as good as Phillips is now. Dacourt is an easy pick at 8, Raphinha on the right, Kewell on the left... with Bowyer behind the striker. He could rotate with Kewell or Raphinha.

Striker... Viduka on his own up top.

Another LB that couldn't defend, wouldn't anywhere near a Bielsa team as he always reminded me of a donkey trotting down the left flank.

[Ron Swanson]

I'd have liked to have seen Pablo at his peak...

[1964white]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Martyn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ayling. . . . .Llorente. . . . .Ferdinand. . . . . .Dallas

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Phillips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Raphinha. . . . Bowyer. . . . Hernandez. . . . Kewell

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bamford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

With Bielsa as our coach not O'Leary

[Smudge3920]

Meslier
Ayling...Llorente...Ferdinand...Alioski
Phillips
Raphina...Dallas...Batty...Kewell
Bamford

[Clacton White]

I wonder what Bielsa could have done with the 2000 squad . Anyway.....
Martyn
Mills Rio llorente Dallas
Phillips
Kewell Dacourt Bowyer Raphael
Viduka

Pains me to include Kewell though, Harte really was awful barring set pieces .

[DavidH]

"Pains me to include Kewell though"


Yes, but what a player. When you think about it, Rhaphinha is a very similar player. Both have/had swashbuckling skill and an uncompromising eye for goal.

[Clacton White]

"Pains me to include Kewell though"


Yes, but what a player. When you think about it, Rhaphinha is a very similar player. Both have/had swashbuckling skill and an uncompromising eye for goal.

Yes I know , but what he did to the club in time of need , the club that made him............. I wish there was a better option or as good so I could pick that one . There isn't though .

[Chilli D]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Martyn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ayling. . . . .Llorente. . . . .Ferdinand. . . . . .Dallas

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Phillips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Raphinha. . . . Bowyer. . . . Hernandez. . . . Kewell

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bamford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

With Bielsa as our coach not O'Leary

I agree with this except I'd have Viduka instead of Paddy. There's no denying Paddy's contribution to the present team but Viduka was different class.
What a team that would be.

[Chilli D]

I would have had Woodgate over Llorente if he'd been on the list.
That team from 2000 was on the verge of greatness and we all know what happened. Thankfully we're much better run now.