Best midfield ever
- Thread starter Mersey86
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Some good shouts there. Although the Leeds midfield was just before my time, I have heard enough about them. I loved that Milan team of the last 80s. And the Barnes midfield was perhaps my favourite of all time. I think the 2 Irishmen in that 4 were badly under-rated by many.
The one with Souness. I might be in the minority these days but I still think he's our best ever central midfielder (ahead of SG).
Not a 'greatest' contender, but I always thought the Filthy Leeds (TM) of Speed, Strachan, Batty and MacAllister was a brilliant blend.
Was lucky enough to have a season ticket that year. He was just superb in every department.
Amen to this!
No mention of the 70s Dutch teams?
Only heard, read and seen old youtube clips about them and their total football, i guess it was more about the whole team than a set midfield with them, for all their attacking flair and fluidity their offside trap was a sight to behold, never seen anything like it, like a rush defence in rugby, its a mad thing to watch seeing them catch 5 or 6 players offside.
Here you go, worth a watch if you have never seen it, still worth a watch if you have...
Only heard, read and seen old youtube clips about them and their total football, i guess it was more about the whole team than a set midfield with them, for all their attacking flair and fluidity their offside trap was a sight to behold, never seen anything like it, like a rush defence in rugby, its a mad thing to watch seeing them catch 5 or 6 players offside.
Here you go, worth a watch if you have never seen it, still worth a watch if you have...
Aye, the Kewell, Batty, Dacourt, Bowyer one was decent aswell, the year they were flying in the CL.
Certainly not. They played some great football. In fact, there's one goal, scored by Gray after work by Reid and Bracewell, that for me epitomizes what a Champion team should be.
Good points. I thought that Dutch team was great to watch, but like you, struggled to name a midfield 4. Neeskins certainly and Cruyff - though was he more of a forward. That offside is funny to watch, as is the Uruguay keeper slapping the Dutch attacker on the back of the head.
Johnny Rep. Robbie Rensenbrink, Arie Haan. Ruud Krol to a certain extent when he played as an advanced libero.
Very stylish team who could also mix it if the other team came to kick them.
Very stylish team who could also mix it if the other team came to kick them.
I thought Rep and Rensenbrink were the attackers. Van de Kerkhoff twins, Haan, Suurbier more the midfield.
I can't remember if I'm honest!
Agreed.
I've never seem a team be able to keep possession so well and also use it so devastatingly in the final third. It was football as it finest; a marriage of skill, intelligence which made the most of the near perfect conditions footballers are afforded.
I've never seem a team be able to keep possession so well and also use it so devastatingly in the final third. It was football as it finest; a marriage of skill, intelligence which made the most of the near perfect conditions footballers are afforded.
The Milan (80/90s) would give the Barca midfield a run for their money.
This is exactly the reason I didn't suggest a Dutch midfield from this era because the '74 midfield and '78 midfield were both awesome but quite different and I was afraid of mixing them up.
From memory Rep and Neeskins were both in the '74 midfield and were both awesome, as was Arie Haan (Haan and Rep both scored screamers from more than 35 yards out in '74).
Krol was a central defender but did stray forward at every opportunity, I think Suurbier was a defender.
I think the '74 midfield was probably........Rensenbrink.....Rep....Haan....Neeskins and if that's correct I think it was the best Dutch midfield ever eclipsing the '78 midfield and the Rijkaard/Gullitt etc midfield.
If anyone has time to google any of this I'm prepared to accept my 50 year old memory has brainfarted again.
Wim Van Hanegem? Completely forgot about him from the '74 line up! Had to google it in the end as it was driving me crazy.......here are the '74 and '78 line ups.
http://footballsgreatest.weebly.com/netherlands-1974-78.html
http://footballsgreatest.weebly.com/netherlands-1974-78.html
Classic World Cup goal, against Zoff to which just adds to it.
Always remembered it from the Italia 1990 sticker book, the one where you had to buy an issue each week and put them in a folder, it had all the facts and stats from previous World Cups along with classic games and goals and legendary players, still got it somewhere!, no internet back in those days to check out the goals...
I've decided, the greatest midfield of all time is...................................
...................Busquets.....................
.........Xavi...................AN Other.................
...................Iniesta..................................
AN Other = David Silva or Xabi Alonso or Fabregas or Pedro all of whom have played a major part in Spain's domination of World football over the last 6 or 7 years. I've never seen a midfield dominate to the extent that Spain's has in this period and all 7 players mentioned have been heavily involved. If pushed to pick what I consider their best 4 then AN Other is David Silva.
...................Busquets.....................
.........Xavi...................AN Other.................
...................Iniesta..................................
AN Other = David Silva or Xabi Alonso or Fabregas or Pedro all of whom have played a major part in Spain's domination of World football over the last 6 or 7 years. I've never seen a midfield dominate to the extent that Spain's has in this period and all 7 players mentioned have been heavily involved. If pushed to pick what I consider their best 4 then AN Other is David Silva.
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