MANCHESTER’S dream team would be a nightmare for Carlos Tevez.
The Argentine striker couldn’t even hold down a regular first team place when he was at Old Trafford, so would stand little chance of doing so in a side combined of United and City.
Indeed, the £25m man would have a job just getting on the bench with Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, Craig Bellamy and Roque Santa Cruz all vying for places in the squad.
If that’s the talent that didn’t make the cut, how about those that did?
A forward trio of Wayne Rooney, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robinho would have the perfect mixture of power, technique, mobility and goals.
With Adebayor as the pinnacle and Rooney and Robinho dropping off or stretching the play out wide, they would be impossible to contain.
The trio scored a combined 48 goals between them last season, with Rooney and Adebayor already looking like bettering their totals of 17 and 16 respectively with explosive starts to this term.
To accommodate a three-pronged attack, Manchester’s dream team would have to deploy a three-man midfield.
I’ve gone for an attacking engine room but one filled with players willing to put in a shift, like Ryan Giggs and Stevie Ireland. Still there will be a lot of onus on the only recognised enforcer in Darren Fletcher, who just gets the nod over Gareth Barry.
It was a close call between the two, with Fletcher just edging it having established himself as a top-class box-to-box midfielder.
Click here to see City reporter Stuart Brennan's selection
His performances against Arsenal in last season’s Champions League semi-final is all the evidence you need to prove that he deserves a place.
Right now, it is difficult to imagine anyone other than Chelsea in the Premier League not finding a first-team place for Fletcher.
Owen Hargreaves would be another shout for the anchor role – but much would depend on the England midfielder’s ability to recover from career-threatening double knee surgery.
What the midfield lacks in muscle it more than makes up for in technique and creativity. With Giggs and Ireland, it is full of invention and goals – and, crucially, the ability to retain possession.
The back four has to be United’s.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s hat-trick of Premier League titles and back-to-back Champions League finals has been built on the rock solid central defensive partnership of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
It is hard to see either Kolo Toure or Joleon Lescott breaking up that partnership - especially given their shaky start to the season.
Patrice Evra has proved himself Europe’s finest left back and offers plenty of attacking threat on the left, which will be needed with the lack of width in the midfield.
On the right, it was a tough choice between Wes Brown and Rafael da Silva.
Like Evra, Rafael’s attacking qualities would be a big bonus - but Brown’s greater sense of his defensive responsibilities gives him the edge.
And behind them there was only one choice.
With Ben Foster struggling to prove he is the man to succeed Edwin van der Sar with some shaky displays this season, Shay Given is an absolute shoo-in.
The former Newcastle goalkeeper stands alongside Petr Cech as the best in the Premier League and how Ferguson must be kicking himself that he didn’t make a move for him when Mark Hughes did.
James Robson's team:
Shay Given, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs, Stephen Ireland, Robinho, Emmanuel Adebayor and Wayne Rooney.
Agree with the team? Have your say.
Click here to see City reporter Stuart Brennan's selection
Manchester's ultimate dream team
October 09, 2009
Comments
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So Fletcher is better than Barry is he?and Giggs rather than Bellamy,you couldn't make it up!in fact Ferdinand is no better than toure and Bridge is definately better than Wes Orange.
Pointless Article!
The prose not the author, although.......
Utterly ridiculous article and idea, very few reds would have any citeh player in their side and i presume vice versa. How can you have a team of champions replaced by any single one of the mercenaries.
"So Fletcher is better than Barry is he?and Giggs rather than Bellamy,you couldn't make it up!in fact Ferdinand is no better than toure and Bridge is definately better than Wes Orange.
The Admiral Mann,
9/10/2009 at 10:43"
Bridge is a left back you numpty! And yes, Fletcher is better than Barry!
Ferdinand (when fit) is a far better defender than Toure!
given
wes vidic rio evra
swp fletcher scholes giggs
rooney adebayor
The Admiral Mann "So Fletcher is better than Barry is he?" Yes, obviously. "and Giggs rather than Bellamy," Even Bellamy thinks that.
You obviously haven't got much of a clue if you think Bridge is better than Wes Brown at right back or if you think Toure is fit to lace Rio's boots.
On the selection, I don't think Ireland has shown anything to get in ahead of Scholes or Carrick. He has potential, of course, but he's not at their class yet. He's more known for his dodgy image, his penchant for pink automotive accessories and his large number of grandmothers than for football. And Robinho, though skillful, is lazy and not a team player. He'd never get in the team once the clocks go back. Adebayor, although a good player, is a horrible nasty piece of work and I wouldn't pick him on that basis alone. Given is a good shot stopper but I don't like the fact that he doesn't command his box or come for crosses. I think that's a weakness and it shows in his goals conceded record. To be honest, the only City player who'd get a chance at United at the moment would be Petrov. City's best player.
No rags in my team, nuff said!
Slack news day, is it?
Keep dreaming: Will never happen. No room in our European squad for bitter citeh!
Is this a joke??
Come May and City will be down where they belong (out of Europe, out of top anything), and once again United will be champions.
How can any manager name players like Barry and Bridge for a side challanging for titles? (Oh I forgot... the fair play "title" may take you to Europe)
Bridge can play left post and Barry right post in training.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Flethcher better than Barry? Funny!
CTID
Any combination of both squads would be a handful for anyone. The attacking side of the above team would be a right handful.
van der sar
brown vidic ferdinand evra
valencia fletcher scholes giggs
rooney berbatov
That would be my pick. Hmm... yeah, looks good!
The Original Blue John, London
9/10/2009 at 11:32
"No rags in my team, nuff said!"
It's not your fault you lack ambition old chap!!
The United Team & City's Goal Posts. Great Combination
Wes Brown...you havin a laugh !!!
Agree with BD's selection on this although possibly Robinho could squeeze in over Giggs.
Oh the irony of it all - where's Tevez (ha, ha, ha - Fergie was right - again!)
Shay, Zab,Vidic,Toure, Evra, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy,Robinho,Rooney and Adebayor up front.
Shay Given, John O'Shea, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Evra, Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs, Stephen Ireland, Robinho, Emmanuel Adebayor and Wayne Rooney
was going to put tevez in there but id rather have beckford from Leeds
Wes Brown over Toure and Flecter over De Jong and Barry hahahaha what a joke.
Berbatov before Robinho.
Steve Elliot, Tevez would be behind Rooney and Berbatov. We know that because that's why he left in a huff. I'd certainly have Owen in front of him as we know he can score and Tevez is a fluffer. Adebayor from the City side is better, obviously. As is Bojinov, Benjani and Bellamy. Oh and Caicedo and Jo. Oh, and Welbeck, of course. But every team needs someone to run around a lot and miss easy chances. It's only one team that would pay £46m for him though!!! Tevez the most expensive player in England. What a thought! The world's gone mad.
tooth&claw, manchester
£46 mill? Have City sold Tevez? If they have it is fantastic business...
The figure of £46 million includes his wages over the next 5 years, approx £4.2 million per year. We paid £25 million for him. The same as what Nited offered after Bacon face lost his little game of poker!!
On another point. Go on, tell me you were not one of the rags singing "Fergie sign him up" (Whoever started that chant must be pig sick right now)?