Best XI of current & ex players (still playing)

[Greacen2000]

There are a decent amount of former ton players currently playing at a higher level and doing well so I thought I would try to come up with the strongest XI we could have at our disposal if we had been able to hold onto all our best players over the years.

The only limitation I’ve put on this is that they just still be playing (or at least be of an age where they still could play if they don’t currently have a club), so it’s ok to include loans.  In some cases I’ve picked players based on how they performed while with us (Muirhead, Grimshaw) and in others it’s based on the career the have had since leaving(Shankland, Findlay, Mcpake)

a few honourable mentions - 

Kiltie & Cadden were both excellent for us but on current form I had to begrudgingly pick Miller

I really wanted to get Jamie Brandon in there but with me lining up 4-4-2 and already having Mcentee & Grimshaw in the team it just wasn’t possible

Welsh & Baird both deserve a shout at CB and even as I type this I’m wondering if I should have picked one of them ahead of Iredale.  I could maybe have moved Iredale to LB and fitted one of them in but I really wish we had kept a hold of Strapp so I wanted him in there.

Oksanen didn’t make a big impression while here, but he has gone on to get a big move to a club that regularly play in the UCL as well as becoming a Finnish international so he deserves a mention too.  I don’t really follow Finnish or Kazakhstan football so haven’t seen enough to earn him a spot in the team

Arguably Maciver & Oakley are better shouts than Muirhead but he was one of my favourite ton players in recent years and I love having a maverick type in the team so he gets the nod to partner Shankland up front 

in goal it’s very hard to pick between Schwake, Hamilton, Mullen & Storer in terms of how they played during their time with us - they were all excellent.  Hamilton & Mullen don’t get much game time these days so I’ve ruled them out that basis.  Arguably Schwake should be in there ahead of Storer by virtue of the level he is playing at (lining up against the likes of Messi as well as appearing in the concacaf champions league), but I’ve went for Storer just because of just how good he has been for us this season.

Bold statement and totally moot point coming up, but I would say this XI would comfortably hold their own in the premiership and have a good chance of competing for top 6.  I know that realistically we could never have kept this group of players to make it possible - it’s just a bit of fun thinking about “what if?”.

[TRVMP]

No Nicky Cadden? 

[Greacen2000]

24 minutes ago, TRVMP said:

No Nicky Cadden? 

9 assists and 6 goals for Calvin Miller this season compared to Cadden getting 6 assists in a stronger team.  I preferred Cadden to Miller during his time with us and he has done it in the top flight for longer, but on current form it has to be Miller

[Toby]

Ross Forbes is still playing for Thorniewood. I hope he’s having a lovely day.

[TRVMP]

37 minutes ago, Greacen2000 said:

9 assists and 6 goals for Calvin Miller this season compared to Cadden getting 6 assists in a stronger team.  I preferred Cadden to Miller during his time with us and he has done it in the top flight for longer, but on current form it has to be Miller

Fair play.

[RossMcC1874]

Brian Schwake now plays regularly in the MLS and has been a standout for Nashville FC would argue he deserves a spot in the starting 11, Storer has had one good season so would swap those two. 

Grimshaw has done nothing since leaving even though he was very good would argue probably Oksanen deserves to be in midfield everything else seems about right. 

 

[TRVMP]

Storer over Schwake is absolutely wild btw, the guy's not a million miles away from a World Cup berth for a decent country.

[TRVMP]

31 minutes ago, RossMcC1874 said:

Brian Schwake now plays regularly in the MLS and has been a standout for Nashville FC would argue he deserves a spot in the starting 11, Storer has had one good season so would swap those two. 

Grimshaw has done nothing since leaving even though he was very good would argue probably Oksanen deserves to be in midfield everything else seems about right. 

 

I think Grimmy's packed in football now. Seems to be traveling a lot with his young family. He has a nice blog: https://www.thoughtsfromthefoothills.com/

[RossMcC1874]

22 minutes ago, TRVMP said:

I think Grimmy's packed in football now. Seems to be traveling a lot with his young family. He has a nice blog: https://www.thoughtsfromthefoothills.com/

Love that he would probably knock fuck out of most people hard as nails on the pitch but comes across so different in his blog. 

Proper guy. 

[Mr.Blue]

Toughie this...

Schwake

Grimshaw Findlay Iredale Strapp

Shug Brandon R. Crawford 

Cadden Shankland Miller 

[so72]

Jaze Kabia has been playing decent for Grimsby in League 2 this season. Maybe worth an honourable mention.

[Cet Homme Charmant]

Surprised to see Strapp in most folk's selections. While was certainly very decent with us and you could never fault his effort and commitment, I always though those who predicted he'd go on to greater things and be snapped up by a Premiership club were deluded. The fact that his career has flatlined at best since leaving us tends to confirm that.

[TRVMP]

6 hours ago, so72 said:

Jaze Kabia has been playing decent for Grimsby in League 2 this season. Maybe worth an honourable mention.

I would never have seen that coming, he looked absolutely miles off it with us, but fair play, he's having a decent career. 

[Mr.Blue]

9 hours ago, Cet Homme Charmant said:

Surprised to see Strapp in most folk's selections. While was certainly very decent with us and you could never fault his effort and commitment, I always though those who predicted he'd go on to greater things and be snapped up by a Premiership club were deluded. The fact that his career has flatlined at best since leaving us tends to confirm that.

I struggled for other options at left back. Waters the only other one that comes to mind.

[so72]

3 hours ago, TRVMP said:

I would never have seen that coming, he looked absolutely miles off it with us, but fair play, he's having a decent career. 

Yeah kept an eye on him after he scored in the shootout vs Utd, seems to score every other week. 

[Pedrodelawasp]

1 hour ago, Mr.Blue said:

I struggled for other options at left back. Waters the only other one that comes to mind.

Move Iredale to left back and maybe Stuart Findlay as left side centre back?