My Favourite XI (Part 2)

As an alternative to MrCadwallader's XI posted a few weeks ago, here is my Favourite XI. A mixed bag really, some players that have won my heart in the last few seasons, and some who I have loved for many years. Also a few favourites from my team Hearts might look a bit out of place to the untrained eye, but trust me they're good enough. 

On a tactical note, my XI lines up in a narrow 442 diamond, width being provided by the two full backs who are more than comfortable in the opposition half. I would expect Henry to drift left, pulling centre backs out of position and combining with Ozil (just typing that got me a little excited). Meanwhile Ronaldo, would play the more traditional 'no. 9' role, but he could play anywhere and score bucketloads. Anyway, here goes....

GK: Gianluigi Buffon

'Gigi' oozes class and personality, not something that can be said for many 'keepers. Besides being one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, he's an exceptional leader and communicator. For this reason, he would wear the armband in this XI.






RB: Cafu

Marco Evangelista de Moraes, or as you may know him 'Cafu', was the archetypal modern full back before anyone realised what that was. Constantly getting forward down the right side to provide width, he's one of those rare players who can dominate a whole flank by himself. He also played in two Champions League Finals (winning one) and three (three!) World Cup Finals (winning two). 






CB: Fabio Cannavaro

Could have been a model (see attached picture), but instead chose a career in football, and has well earned his place in the canon of great Italian centre backs. What I particularly love about Cannavaro is that he doesn't 'look' like a centre back should look. At only 5'10, his intelligence and reading of the game have carried him to the highest levels of the game. 






CB: Carlos Puyol

Should take his place as one of the great centre backs when he retires having won pretty much everything in his career.  Not many centre backs are fun to watch, but with Puyol you can physically see the desire, what it means to him and how much he cares. Extra points also for the refreshingly unchanged hair style. Would dovetail nicely with Cannavaro.







LB: Takis Fyssas

Perhaps the biggest complement you could pay Takis is that he became a cult hero and minor club legend at Hearts, despite only playing at the club for one season. But those who saw him play would understand why; a classy, elegant and cultured left back who stood out a mile amidst the rough and tumble of the SPL. Takis developed a real affection for the club, shown by his now legendary lead off of the Champions league na-na-na-na chant, on one of the greatest nights in the club's recent history. Now technical director of the Greek Football Federation, one can dream that he may eventually return as manager.




CDM: Clarence Seedorf

A real box-to-box midfielder, with a complete set of skills that have allowed him to play well into his late 30’s (no doubt with a little help from the Milan lab). Extra points also for taking on a new challenge this late into his career and moving to Botafogo in Brazil, where he is still doing the business.




CM: Andres Iniesta 

The only player chosen by both me and MrCadwallader, for obvious reasons. I'll just focus on my favourite part of Iniesta's game, his balance. The centre of gravity and poise he possesses are what make such a slight, skinny player so incredibly hard to win the ball off. He can shift direction so quickly and with such precision, leaving even the best defenders struggling to keep up. Immensely likeable and a world-class player to boot, there is no doubt Iniesta has a place in many favourite XI's.


CM: Rudi Skacel

Please forgive the slightly longer description here, but this guy deserves it. Rudi is an absolute hero to all Jambos. For my generation of fans who only watched hearts record goalscorer John Robertson at the end of his career, Skacel is the hearts legend. Winning two Scottish cups with the club, scoring in both finals including a brace in the 5-1 victory over Hibs. But its more than the that, it's the way he did it . Exuding an effortless cool, Rudi made it look so easy, so simple - he absolutely strolled through the biggest game in the club's history and walked off the field with two goals.

He burst onto the scene as part of Hearts expensively assembled 05/06 side under George Burley and set the SPL on fire. Winning player of the month in his first month at the club, he went on to lead the club to second place and a Champions League spot before heading south to Southampton. What really endeared him to Hearts fans was his return to the club in 2010, playing in a much weaker and younger side Skacel continued his excellent form, reinvented as a centre midfielder. More than this, he absolutely loves the club. When Hearts fell into financial difficulties last year, Rudi who was no longer a hearts player, was behind the bar to pull pints at a fan organised fundraiser. One of Hearts all time greats and an absolute must in my favourite XI.

CAM: Mesut Ozil

In my opinion, the best No. 10  playing in the world at the moment. Ozil is a master of subtlety, often he floats in and out of games leaving you wondering how he is so highly rated. But watch closely and you'll see his intelligence and economy of movement is second to none. He's already the creative core of two of the best sides in the world in Real Madrid and Germany and Ozil still has time on his side to get even better.
                                





CF: Thierry Henry

Probably the best player of the Premier League era. First and foremost Henry was an excellent athlete, his combination of size, pace and strength made him the perfect fit for the Premier League. Even the most ardent Arsenal haters can't deny that Henry was always a joy to watch, graceful and immensely powerful at the same time. His transformation from unproven left-winger into world class centre forward is perhaps Arsene Wenger's greatest achievement. Arsenal still haven't really replaced him.
                                                                                 




CF: Ronaldo

At his best he was probably the best No.9 of all time. Its a shame that ‘his best’ was limited to just a few glorious seasons. 

On a side note, I would like to point out that on googling 'Ronaldo', I had to trawl through at least 50 images of some Portuguese nobody before landing on the picture you see here of the 'real' Ronaldo. This is a crying shame. 

Thanks,

CurseTheseMetalHands.