In no particular order, using the criteria set out, so just posting, not my personal feelings or friendships.
Ryan.
When Ryan talks footy, there's no one close (Grumpymonkey before he went off to be an author excepted). He grasps tactics, footballing trends, & (usually) players talents quicker than most & wraps it all up with paper made from eloquence, & acerbic wit for a ribbon.
Oncey.
This man can fucking write. He can pen a prose about almost anything known to man (excluding technology, he's shite at that), he can write musical reviews that put music rags to shame, he can describe films like Barry Norman would if he was allowed to drop the f bomb in his film reviews, & writes about Liverpool with the same enthusiasm I always did when I was a teenager. All that combined with a kickass sense of humour & forthright posting style makes him an integral part of this site, it just doesn't feel right without him.
Gene.
He never, ever, fails to make me laugh. I often wonder what new posters to the site must think, but I decide that it just acts as a buffer. He can write on almost any subject, & write very well. He can write long posts that make me laugh then think, & write a few words that make me piss myself. He's magical. You don't get gene, you don't get us.
Farkmaster.
This man knows his shit. He gets footy tactics, nuances, & players like few others do on here. On top of all that he knows all kinds of back to nature shit, can live on a kayak for a year with ease, cook pizzas on a stone like a mother fucker, & does it all without rocking up with dreads & a holier than thou attitude.
Woland.
By far & away the newest poster for me to even consider for this list, & that says a lot. When I first met him he said he liked our site cos every other website didn't get him & they're were all dicks. The fact he said that made me pleased, cos he's the exact poster this site was made for. Off the wall sense of humour, knows his footy but hates the modern bs that goes with it. Can like Rafa winning in 05 without wanting to sleep next to his effigy, knows the idea of lucas is better than the actual lucas, will speak his mind no matter what & gives less than two fucks what you think. The man can talk politics with the best of them yet carries no real allegiance to any side or agenda. Woland appearing on the site reaffirmed my attitude that if we get only one or two quality additions a year then we'll be a healthy site.
There were loads of you who missed, I won't take the piss or lick hoops by naming the nearly rans.