BigSoccer Top 250

Good contributions on the other thread msioux. Jose Leandro Andrade from my understanding would be sort of like a modern wing-back or attacking right back. He's one from what I've read that would be an obvious inclusion in the 250 Schwuppe is compiling too (like I mentioned Bican and Sindelar before).
Cruyff isn't meant to be a DM no - all the players listed as options in the central midfield position seem to be either playmakers or attacking midfielders or both. Any box to box or deep-lying/defensive mid is listed as the right or left mid option (though the likes of Maradona, Di Stefano also are). I think Cruyff did play as an attacking midfielder at times at Barcelona and when he went back to Ajax (not sure how often) though he was more of a forward in his first spell with Ajax of course and mostly with Holland, though for example in the 74 World Cup he was a roving centre-forward who acted like a midfielder and/or winger often during games. The 4-3-3 is a popular Dutch formation which they used in '74 but with Neeskens probably in the central mid role (he's listed as a right mid option by Voetbal International). Poland used a system with Deyna in the middle of a midfield 3 in that World Cup too - I think Voetbal International's 4-3-3 is similar to their system, but of course also the magazine wanted to enable voters to select several of the best ever players in the first XI. There is a mix of options in the wide attacking positions too - eg Garrincha an outright winger and Dalglish a support striker.
If I have any further comments about formations I'll post on the other thread.

Just to clarify my previous comment, I was saying Rosetta wasn't on the Voetbal International list of players, not making any comment about formation (not sure if I was confusing with my first post). I did notice actually that they had De Vecchi as a left back option though, and as you point out msioux he might be more comparable to modern centre-backs also.

 

Thanks

Andrade, like english Needham & argentinian Lucho Sosa, played Right Half Back in 2-3-5, and all of them, had extraordinary stamina & speed. That allow them played like you said (a sort of modern wing back), a little more offensive that common HBs. That's why they were awesome players in their eras.


BTW, I noted that DiStefano, not Cruyff, was the player that Voetbal pick as DM (competitors are). But, that's another theme.

 

becuase Di Stefano name gotta be there in the best XI all time. He was extremely all rounded player in any position, But in attack (only) I agree with most list, he could NOT compete with Cruyff (left), Maradona & Pele (CAM) and Garrincha (right) - so he would be safely a DM in that team.

 

If Di Stefano is picked as a CF, SS, even AM.
It's OK for me.

 

Top 250

Here is my own Top 250 in relative order:

* Players in red aren't in the original list of schwuppe.

001. PELÉ (Brazil)
002. MARADONA, Diego (Argentina)
003. CRUYFF, Johan (Netherlands)
004. DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (Argentina)
005. BECKENBAUER, Franz (Germany)
006. PLATINI, Michel (France)
007. PUSKÁS, Ferenc (Hungary)
008. ZIDANE, Zinedine (France)
009. GARRINCHA (Brazil)
010. ZICO (Brazil)

011. RONALDO (Brazil)
012. CHARLTON, Bobby (England)
013. BEST, George (Northern Ireland)
014. MALDINI, Paolo (Italy)
015. MORENO, José Manuel (Argentina)
016. MÜLLER, Gerd (Germany)
017. EUSÉBIO (Portugal)
018. MATTHÄUS, Lothar (Germany)
019. YASHIN, Lev (Soviet Union)
020. DIDÍ (Brazil)

021. ROMÁRIO (Brazil)
022. SINDELAR, Matthias (Austria)
023. VAN BASTEN, Marco (Netherlands)
024. BAGGIO, Roberto (Italy)
025. BARESI, Franco (Italy)
026. ZOFF, Dino (Italy)
027. MOORE, Bobby (England)
028. MEAZZA, Giuseppe (Italy)
029. MATTHEWS, Stanley (England)
030. ZIZINHO (Brazil)

031. RIVERA, Gianni (Italy)
032. KUBALA, Ladislao (Hungary)
033. GULLIT, Ruud (Netherlands)
034. PASSARELLA, Daniel (Argentina)
035. RIVELINO, Roberto (Brazil)
036. RUMMENIGGE, Karl-Heinz (Germany)
037. SCARONE, Héctor (Uruguay)
038. SUÁREZ, Luis (Spain)
039. KOPA, Raymond (France)
040. PEDERNERA, Adolfo (Argentina)

041. LEONIDAS (Brazil)
042. RIVALDO (Brazil)
043. BOZSIK, József (Hungary)
044. RONALDINHO (Brazil)
045. MESSI, Lionel (Argentina)
046. SCHIAFFINO, Juan Alberto (Uruguay)
047. FACCHETTI, Giacinto (Italy)
048. KOCSIS, Sándor (Hungary)
049. GENTO, Francisco (Spain)
050. JAIRZINHO (Brazil)

051. LAUDRUP, Michael (Denmark)
052. MAZZOLA, Valentino (Italy)
053. NORDAHL, Gunnar (Sweden)
054. SCHMEICHEL, Peter (Denmark)
055. RIJKAARD, Frank (Netherlands)
056. DZAJIC, Dragan (Yugoslavia)
057. SÍVORI, Omar (Argentina)
058. WALTER, Fritz (Germany)
059. ANDRADE, José Leandro (Uruguay)
060. FIGO, Luís (Portugal)

061. SCIREA, Gaetano (Italy)
062. LIEDHOLM, Nils (Sweden)
063. HENRY, Thierry (France)
064. DALGLISH, Kenny (Scotland)
065. KEEGAN, Kevin (England)
066. FALCAO, Paulo Roberto (Brazil)
067. KROL, Ruud (Netherlands)
068. XAVI (Spain)
069. NÍLTON SANTOS (Brazil)
070. DJALMA SANTOS (Brazil)

071. GÉRSON (Brazil)
072. SÓCRATES (Brazil)
073. BANKS, Gordon (England)
074. CARLOS ALBERTO (Brazil)
075. CUBILLAS, Teófilo (Peru)
076. MASOPUST, Josef (Czechoslovakia)
077. SEELER, Uwe (Germany)
078. NEESKENS, Johan (Netherlands)
079. MAIER, Sepp (Germany)
080. TOSTAO (Brazil)

081. ROBERTO CARLOS (Brazil)
082. BUFFON, Gianluigi (Italy)
083. MAZZOLA, Sandro (Italy)
084. CZIBOR, Zoltán (Hungary)
085. CAFÚ (Brazil)
086. BICAN, Josef (Austria)
087. GIGGS, Ryan (Wales)
088. FONTAINE, Just (France)
089. ZANETTI, Javier (Argentina)
090. SCHNELLINGER, Karl-Heinz (Germany)

091. FINNEY, Tom (England)
092. HIDEGKUTI, Nándor (Hungary)
093. BERGKAMP, Dennis (Netherlands)
094. BERGOMI, Giuseppe (Italy)
095. FIGUEROA, Elías (Chile)
096. BATISTUTA, Gabriel (Argentina)
097. MONTI, Luis (Argentina)
098. OCWIRK, Ernst (Austria)
099. REDONDO, Fernando (Argentina)
100. VARELA, Obdulio (Uruguay)

101. THURAM, Lilian (France)
102. ZAMORA, Ricardo (Spain)
103. NEDVED, Pavel (Czech Republic)
104. NASAZZI, José (Uruguay)
105. KAHN, Oliver (Germany)
106. BONIEK, Zbigniew (Poland)
107. RONALDO, Cristiano (Portugal)
108. VAN HANEGEM, Wim (Netherlands)
109. VOGTS, Berti (Germany)
110. BOCHINI, Ricardo (Argentina)

111. TOTTI, Francesco (Italy)
112. ERICO, Arsenio (Paraguay)
113. TIGANA, Jean (France)
114. SÁROSI, György (Hungary)
115. CUETO, César (Peru)
116. FRANCESCOLI, Enzo (Uruguay)
117. DEL PIERO, Alessandro (Italy)
118. JAMES, Alex (Scotland)
119. JOHNSTONE, Jimmy (Scotland)
120. BLANCHFLOWER, Danny (Northern Ireland)

121. BLOKHIN, Oleg (Soviet Union)
122. SANTAMARÍA, José Emilio (Uruguay)
123. SASTRE, Antonio (Argentina)
124. SAMMER, Matthias (Germany)
125. GREAVES, Jimmy (England)
126. EDWARDS, Duncan (England)
127. JULINHO (Brazil)
128. OVERATH, Wolfgang (Germany)
129. BREITNER, Paul (Germany)
130. HAMRIN, Kurt (Sweden)

131. COLUNA, Mário (Portugal)
132. ROBSON, Bryan (England)
133. DESAILLY, Marcel (France)
134. ALBERT, Flórián (Hungary)
135. SPENCER, Alberto (Ecuador)
136. ADEMIR da Guia (Brazil)
137. CHARLES, John (Wales)
138. CONTI, Bruno (Italy)
139. CHUMPITAZ, Héctor (Peru)
140. FRIEDENREICH, Arthur (Brazil)

141. RAHN, Helmut (Germany)
142. WRIGHT, Billy (England)
143. NETZER, Günter (Germany)
144. VAN HIMST, Paul (Belgium)
145. DA GUIA, Domingos (Brazil)
146. CARRIZO, Amadeo (Argentina)
147. RIVA, Luigi (Italy)
148. DEYNA, Kazimierz (Poland)
149. STOICHKOV, Hristo (Bulgaria)
150. PLÁNICKA, Frantisek (Czechoslovakia)

151. ORSI, Raimundo (Argentina)
152. VAN NISTELROOY, Ruud (Netherlands)
153. RAÚL (Spain)
154. MARZOLINI, Silvio (Argentina)
155. RENSENBRINK, Rob (Netherlands)
156. BEN BAREK, Larbi (France)
157. NESTA, Alessandro (Italy)
158. BREHME, Andreas (Germany)
159. FILLOL, Ubaldo (Argentina)
160. SCHUSTER, Bernd (Germany)

161. HANSEN, Alan (Scotland)
162. SHEVCHENKO, Andriy (Ukraine)
163. MACKAY, Dave (Scotland)
164. COBBOLD, William (England)
165. ZEBEC, Branko (Yugoslavia)
166. NETTO, Igor (Soviet Union)
167. SHILTON, Peter (England)
168. KOHLER, Jürgen (Germany)
169. DASAYEV, Rinat (Soviet Union)
170. LOUSTAU, Félix (Argentina)

171. GREN, Gunnar (Sweden)
172. TARDELLI, Marco (Italy)
173. DEAN, Dixie (England)
174. KLINSMANN, Jürgen (Germany)
175. VASOVIC, Velibor (Yugoslavia)
176. VIEIRA, Patrick (France)
177. KEANE, Roy (Ireland)
178. SOUNESS, Graeme (Scotland)
179. PIRLO, Andrea (Italy)
180. ZARRA, Telmo (Spain)

181. CANTONA, Éric (France)
182. LAW, Denis (Scotland)
183. KEMPES, Mario (Argentina)
184. CANHOTEIRO (Brazil)
185. HAGI, Gheorghe (Romania)
186. JENNINGS, Pat (Northern Ireland)
187. ETO'O, Samuel (Cameroon)
188. KOEMAN, Ronald (Netherlands)
189. DEÁK, Ferenc (Hungary)
190. LINEKER, Gary (England)

191. CABRINI, Antonio (Italy)
192. LATO, Grzegorz (Poland)
193. MEREDITH, Billy (Wales)
194. BENE, Ferenc (Hungary)
195. BREMNER, Billy (Scotland)
196. KAKÁ (Brazil)
197. ARDILES, Osvaldo (Argentina)
198. SCHLOSSER, Imre (Hungary)
199. LABRUNA, Ángel (Argentina)
200. FÖRSTER, Karlheinz (Germany)

201. SÁNCHEZ, Hugo (Mexico)
202. MAZURKIEWICZ, Ladislao (Uruguay)
203. CORBATTA, Omar (Argentina)
204. WILKES, Faas (Netherlands)
205. GENTILE, Claudio (Italy)
206. SZYMANIAK, Horst (Germany)
207. PONTONI, René (Argentina)
208. ZITO (Brazil)
209. TRÉSOR, Marius (France)
210. CAMACHO, José Antonio (Spain)

211. LEANDRO (Brazil)
212. WEAH, George (Liberia)
213. ROCHA, Pedro (Uruguay)
214. SHESTERNYOV, Albert (Soviet Union)
215. MORTON, Alan (Scotland)
216. DE VECCHI, Renzo (Italy)
217. GROSICS, Gyula (Hungary)
218. JOYA, Juan (Peru)
219. JÚNIOR (Brazil)
220. PEUCELLE, Carlos (Argentina)

221. BLANC, Laurent (France)
222. BOBEK, Stjepan (Yugoslavia)
223. PEPE (Brazil)
224. VIERI, Christian (Italy)
225. SCHOLES, Paul (England)
226. HIERRO, Fernando (Spain)
227. CANNAVARO, Fabio (Italy)
228. TONINHO CEREZO (Brazil)
229. ADEMIR Marques (Brazil)
230. DAVIDS, Edgar (Netherlands)

231. BEARA, Vladimir (Yugoslavia)
232. GERRARD, Steven (England)
233. MARTINO, Rinaldo (Argentina)
234. PAPIN, Jean-Pierre (France)
235. LAWTON, Tommy (England)
236. ROSSI, Néstor (Argentina)
237. BUTRAGUEÑO, Emilio (Spain)
238. VUKAS, Bernard (Yugoslavia)
239. LUÍS PEREIRA (Brazil)
240. PEYROTEO, Fernando (Portugal)

241. BASORA, Estanislao (Spain)
242. MAKÉLÉLÉ, Claude (France)
243. SAVICEVIC, Dejan (Yugoslavia)
244. HIDEN, Rudi (Austria)
245. CASILLAS, Íker (Spain)
246. GILMAR (Brazil)
247. CARECA (Brazil)
248. PFAFF, Jean-Marie (Belgium)
249. ALTAFINI, José (Brazil)
250. PERFUMO, Roberto (Argentina)

 

I am somewhat having a go at this, by way of an exercise, in which I'll actually extend it to 500!

The exercise is basically thus: completing a draft of players into 20 teams (so I'm using the current Premier League ones since I am English, and since my own team is not in that league at the moment so I won't be biased to their squad!) to end up with 25 player squads.

I wasn't really comfortable previously with trying such a big list of all-time players because I'd be too conflicted between peak/my own impressions on one hand, and career/reputation on the other, so erring in one direction or the other would be a bit unsatisfactory in one way or the other.

Doing it this way will make a more balanced list positionally (because I aim for a sufficient squad as if there was a real competition....whether it be a league season, several league seasons, a tournament, several tournaments or whatever) and mean less attacking players which will remove the kind of dilemmas I'd have had as I'll be more sure about the attacking players I do include. I guess it'll be two teams worth, plus an extra goalie, perhaps a utility midfield player/defender and a spare attacking/creative player too in most cases.

When I get halfway through the 13th round I'll have picked 250 players I suppose, but I'll try not to let that distract me and affect my choices even though I'm posting on this thread! I thought starting a new one and inviting others to pick too wasn't the best call this time, given how long it'd take. Maybe some of you would like to do it though with your own choices, or even leave the 'drafting' element and just select a certain number of choices for each position - it could be the equivalent to having say 60 goalkeepers, 50 'DMs', 50 'AMs', 50 'forwards', 50 'strikers', and 40 each of right backs, left backs, stoppers, cultured centre backs, right wingers and left wingers from comme's Greatest X of All-Time lists I guess. That round 13 will be drafted in the same order as round 12, to try to remove the benefit of being at the top of the order (not that it really matters as it's not a real draft/competition obviously!).


I've already got through 6 rounds, picking as if I'm secretly the transfer advisor to all 20 clubs I suppose, and while a little bit of favouritism or liking combinations of players myself can be ok and inevitable I'm mostly keeping in mind in theory the clubs would want me to pretty much optimise the selections and prioritise the best 'signings' to compliment the squad assembled so far.


So the first 120 'signings' have been this (using alphabetical order for the draft order)....

Pick 1 - Arsenal sign Pele
Pick 2 - Aston Villa sign Johan Cruyff
Pick 3 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Lionel Messi
Pick 4 - Burnley sign Alfredo Di Stefano
Pick 5 - Chelsea sign Franz Beckenbauer
Pick 6 - Crystal Palace sign Diego Maradona
Pick 7 - Everton sign Michel Platini
Pick 8 - Fulham sign George Best
Pick 9 - Leeds United sign Marco van Basten
Pick 10 - Leicester City sign Franco Baresi
Pick 11 - Liverpool sign Eusebio
Pick 12 - Manchester City sign Ferenc Puskas
Pick 13 - Manchester United sign Zinedine Zidane
Pick 14 - Newcastle United sign Ronaldo
Pick 15 - Sheffield United sign Cristiano Ronaldo
Pick 16 - Southampton sign Bobby Charlton
Pick 17 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Paolo Maldini
Pick 18 - West Bromwich Albion sign Lothar Matthaus
Pick 19 - West Ham United sign Bobby Moore
Pick 20 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Lev Yashin

Pick 21 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Zico
Pick 22 - West Ham United sign Michael Laudrup
Pick 23 - West Bromwich Albion sign Gerd Muller
Pick 24 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Luis Figo
Pick 25 - Southampton sign Peter Schmeichel
Pick 26 - Sheffield United sign Roberto Baggio
Pick 27 - Newcastle United sign Ronaldinho
Pick 28 - Manchester United sign Garrincha
Pick 29 - Manchester City sign Tom Finney
Pick 30 - Liverpool sign Kenny Dalglish
Pick 31 - Leicester City sign Gianni Rivera
Pick 32 - Leeds United sign Ruud Gullit
Pick 33 - Fulham sign Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Pick 34 - Everton sign Thierry Henry
Pick 35 - Crystal Palace sign Johan Neeskens
Pick 36 - Chelsea sign Dennis Bergkamp
Pick 37 - Burnley sign Stanley Matthews
Pick 38 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Cafu
Pick 39 - Aston Villa sign Frank Rijkaard
Pick 40 - Arsenal sign Dragan Dzajic

Pick 41 - Arsenal sign Patrick Vieira
Pick 42 - Aston Villa sign Gordon Banks
Pick 43 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Xavi
Pick 44 - Burnley sign Lilian Thuram
Pick 45 - Chelsea sign George Weah
Pick 46 - Crystal Palace sign Fernando Redondo
Pick 47 - Everton sign Jean Tigana
Pick 48 - Fulham sign Juan Schiaffino
Pick 49 - Leeds United sign Ruud Krol
Pick 50 - Leicester City sign Andriy Shevchenko
Pick 51 - Liverpool sign Alessandro Nesta
Pick 52 - Manchester City sign Fabio Cannavaro
Pick 53 - Manchester United sign Romario
Pick 54 - Newcastle United sign Gaetano Scirea
Pick 55 - Sheffield United sign Daniel Passarella
Pick 56 - Southampton sign Giussepe Meazza
Pick 57 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Carlos Alberto
Pick 58 - West Bromwich Albion sign Gunter Netzer
Pick 59 - West Ham United sign Jairzinho
Pick 60 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Paulo Roberto Falcao

Pick 61 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Kaka
Pick 62 - West Ham United sign Jozsef Bozsik
Pick 63 - West Bromwich Albion sign Matthias Sammer
Pick 64 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Mario Kempes
Pick 65 - Southampton sign Elias Figueroa
Pick 66 - Sheffield United sign Gianluigi Buffon
Pick 67 - Newcastle United sign Dejan Savicevic
Pick 68 - Manchester United sign Duncan Edwards
Pick 69 - Manchester City sign Sandor Kocsis
Pick 70 - Liverpool sign Socrates
Pick 71 - Leicester City sign Andres Iniesta
Pick 72 - Leeds United sign Gheorghe Hagi
Pick 73 - Fulham sign Didi
Pick 74 - Everton sign Robert Pires
Pick 75 - Crystal Palace sign Giacinto Facchetti
Pick 76 - Chelsea sign Paul Breitner
Pick 77 - Burnley sign Fernando Hierro
Pick 78 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Jurgen Klinsmann
Pick 79 - Aston Villa sign Pavel Nedved
Pick 80 - Arsenal sign Gyorgy Sarosi

Pick 81 - Arsenal sign Nilton Santos
Pick 82 - Aston Villa sign Raul
Pick 83 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Bixente Lizarazu
Pick 84 - Burnley sign Ernst Ocwirk
Pick 85 - Chelsea sign Raymond Kopa
Pick 86 - Crystal Palace sign Gabriel Batistuta
Pick 87 - Everton sign Zito
Pick 88 - Fulham sign Just Fontaine
Pick 89 - Leeds United sign Rivelino
Pick 90 - Leicester City sign Gzregorz Lato
Pick 91 - Liverpool sign Obdulio Varela
Pick 92 - Manchester City sign Ferenc Bene
Pick 93 - Manchester United sign Djalma Santos
Pick 94 - Newcastle United sign Dominique Rocheteau
Pick 95 - Sheffield United sign Gary Lineker
Pick 96 - Southampton sign Silvio Piola
Pick 97 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Jan Ceulemans
Pick 98 - West Bromwich Albion sign Peter Shilton
Pick 99 - West Ham United sign Paolo Rossi
Pick 100 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Jimmy Greaves

Pick 101 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Faas Wilkes
Pick 102 - West Ham United sign Manuel Amoros
Pick 103 - West Bromwich Albion sign Jorginho
Pick 104 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Glenn Hoddle
Pick 105 - Southampton sign Ryan Giggs
Pick 106 - Sheffield United sign Pietro Vierchowod
Pick 107 - Newcastle United sign Marco Tardelli
Pick 108 - Manchester United sign Rob Rensenbrink
Pick 109 - Manchester City sign Nandor Hidegkuti
Pick 110 - Liverpool sign Dino Zoff
Pick 111 - Leicester City sign Javier Zanetti
Pick 112 - Leeds United sign Rinat Dasaev
Pick 113 - Fulham sign Edgar Davids
Pick 114 - Everton sign Kurt Hamrin
Pick 115 - Crystal Palace sign Claudio Caniggia
Pick 116 - Chelsea sign Nils Liedholm
Pick 117 - Burnley sign Denis Law
Pick 118 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Francesco Totti
Pick 119 - Aston Villa sign Kazimierz Deyna
Pick 120 - Arsenal sign Josef Masopust

To be continued (like I say feel free to do something similar)....and I guess it gets most interesting/decisive as it gets towards the end of my draft in terms of who gets the nod to get into a selection of 500 doing it this way!

 

I've got through another 6 rounds now, so 12 picks for each club completed:

Pick 121 - Arsenal sign Julinho
Pick 122 - Aston Villa sign Johnny Rep
Pick 123 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Allan Simonsen
Pick 124 - Burnley sign Francisco Gento
Pick 125 - Chelsea sign Ricardo Zamora
Pick 126 - Crystal Palace sign David Beckham
Pick 127 - Everton sign Berti Vogts
Pick 128 - Fulham sign Antonio Cabrini
Pick 129 - Leeds United sign John Charles
Pick 130 - Leicester City sign Marcel Desailly
Pick 131 - Liverpool sign Virgil van Dijk
Pick 132 - Manchester City sign Gyula Grosics
Pick 133 - Manchester United sign Roy Keane
Pick 134 - Newcastle United sign Alessandro Costacurta
Pick 135 - Sheffield United sign Roberto Carlos
Pick 136 - Southampton sign Soren Lerby
Pick 137 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Osvaldo Ardiles
Pick 138 - West Bromwich Albion sign Andreas Brehme
Pick 139 - West Ham United sign Clodoaldo
Pick 140 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Junior

Pick 141 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Branko Zebec
Pick 142 - West Ham United sign Karl-Heinz Forster
Pick 143 - West Bromwich Albion sign Sandro Mazzola
Pick 144 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Laurent Blanc
Pick 145 - Southampton sign Wim Suurbier
Pick 146 - Sheffield United sign Toninho Cerezo
Pick 147 - Newcastle United sign Silvio Marzolini
Pick 148 - Manchester United sign Michel Preud'homme
Pick 149 - Manchester City sign Alan Hansen
Pick 150 - Liverpool sign John Barnes
Pick 151 - Leicester City sign Wim van Hanegem
Pick 152 - Leeds United sign Ivan Gudelj
Pick 153 - Fulham sign Ronald Koeman
Pick 154 - Everton sign Neville Southall
Pick 155 - Crystal Palace sign Ubaldo Fillol
Pick 156 - Chelsea sign Valery Voronin
Pick 157 - Burnley sign Pirri
Pick 158 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Sergio Busquets
Pick 159 - Aston Villa sign Velibor Vasovic
Pick 160 - Arsenal sign Wlodzimierz Lubanski

Pick 161 - Arsenal sign Domingos Da Guia
Pick 162 - Aston Villa sign Maxime Bossis
Pick 163 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Jose Nasazzi
Pick 164 - Burnley sign Jose Leandro Andrade
Pick 165 - Chelsea sign Jurgen Kohler
Pick 166 - Crystal Palace sign Armando Picchi
Pick 167 - Everton sign Sandor Matrai
Pick 168 - Fulham sign Sol Campbell
Pick 169 - Leeds United sign Brian Laudrup
Pick 170 - Leicester City sign Mario Coluna
Pick 171 - Liverpool sign Gianluca Zambrotta
Pick 172 - Manchester City sign Josep Guardiola
Pick 173 - Manchester United sign Aldair
Pick 174 - Newcastle United sign Victor Rodriguez Andrade
Pick 175 - Sheffield United sign Bryan Robson
Pick 176 - Southampton sign Pierre Littbarski
Pick 177 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Pat Jennings
Pick 178 - West Bromwich Albion sign Luis Suarez Miramontes
Pick 179 - West Ham United sign Manfred Kaltz
Pick 180 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Miodrag Belodedici

Pick 181 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Leandro
Pick 182 - West Ham United sign Manuel Neuer
Pick 183 - West Bromwich Albion sign Paul McGrath
Pick 184 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Zbigniew Boniek
Pick 185 - Southampton sign Albert Shesternyov
Pick 186 - Sheffield United sign Arjen Robben
Pick 187 - Newcastle United sign Edwin van der Sar
Pick 188 - Manchester United sign Jaap Stam
Pick 189 - Manchester City sign Giussepe Bergomi
Pick 190 - Liverpool sign Roberto Donadoni
Pick 191 - Leicester City sign Sepp Maier
Pick 192 - Leeds United sign Adri van Tiggelen
Pick 193 - Fulham sign Ivo Viktor
Pick 194 - Everton sign Hans-Peter Briegel
Pick 195 - Crystal Palace sign Oscar Ruggeri
Pick 196 - Chelsea sign Dan Petrescu
Pick 197 - Burnley sign Oliver Kahn
Pick 198 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Jose Santamaria
Pick 199 - Aston Villa sign Patrick Battiston
Pick 200 - Arsenal sign Philipp Lahm

Pick 201 - Arsenal sign Gilmar
Pick 202 - Aston Villa sign Sami Hyypia
Pick 203 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Vladimir Beara
Pick 204 - Burnley sign Marinho Chagas
Pick 205 - Chelsea sign Eden Hazard
Pick 206 - Crystal Palace sign Dani Alves
Pick 207 - Everton sign Gerard Pique
Pick 208 - Fulham sign Eric Gerets
Pick 209 - Leeds United sign Danny McGrain
Pick 210 - Leicester City sign Tommy Gemmell
Pick 211 - Liverpool sign Nelinho
Pick 212 - Manchester City sign Rafael Gordillo
Pick 213 - Manchester United sign Karl-Heinz Schnellinger
Pick 214 - Newcastle United sign Danny Blanchflower
Pick 215 - Sheffield United sign Jocelyn Angloma
Pick 216 - Southampton sign Robert Jarni
Pick 217 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Des Walker
Pick 218 - West Bromwich Albion sign Ricardo Carvalho
Pick 219 - West Ham United sign David Ginola
Pick 220 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Dave Mackay

Pick 221 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Eric Cantona
Pick 222 - West Ham United sign Rivaldo
Pick 223 - West Bromwich Albion sign Ladislao Kubala
Pick 224 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Giovanni Trappatoni
Pick 225 - Southampton sign Florian Albert
Pick 226 - Sheffield United sign Gerson
Pick 227 - Newcastle United sign Matthias Sindelar
Pick 228 - Manchester United sign Neymar
Pick 229 - Manchester City sign Zoltan Czibor
Pick 230 - Liverpool sign Enzo Scifo
Pick 231 - Leicester City sign Valentino Mazzola
Pick 232 - Leeds United sign Henrik Larsson
Pick 233 - Fulham sign Teofilo Cubillas
Pick 234 - Everton sign Fritz Walter
Pick 235 - Crystal Palace sign Rui Costa
Pick 236 - Chelsea sign Dragan Stojkovic
Pick 237 - Burnley sign Jari Litmanen
Pick 238 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Samuel Eto'o
Pick 239 - Aston Villa sign Josef Bican
Pick 240 - Arsenal sign Tostao

 

It possibly makes it easier to follow at this point if I show how the squads I've put together are looking, in the form of a first 11 players (that I did aim to pick with the first 11 picks), plus the extra player obtained in round 12.

If I was doing an exercise like Peru FC did above then of course some players would feature higher up the list than the number they got picked at doing it this way, and vice versa.

If I didn't make too much of a botch of any squad, then in theory I shouldn't find it easy to 'predict' a league table of the clubs from 1st to 20th! I suppose others can do it, but it'd be best to wait until the squads are complete anyway. The next 13 players for each squad to complete the full 500 players might take me more time I guess (in comparison to how much I took so far)!

Arsenal
-----------------------------------Gilmar-------------------------------

Lahm--------------D.Da Guia------------Sarosi-------------N.Santos

---------------------Vieira------------------Masopust---------------

Julinho-------------------------------------Pele-----------------------Dzajic
-----------------------------Lubanski--------------------------------
(With Tostao as alternative to Lubanski, to re-form his partnership with Pele)

Aston Villa
----------------------------------Banks---------------------------------

---------------------------Vasovic-------------------------------------
Battiston---------------------------Hyypia------------------Bossis

----------------Deyna----------Rijkaard---------Nedved---------

---------------------------------Cruyff------------------------------
--------------Rep-------------------------------------Raul-----------
(With Bican as centre forward, who might be put in in a narrower system in attack instead of Rep)

Brighton & Hove Albion
-----------------------------------Beara-----------------------------

------------------------Nasazzi-----------------------------------
Cafu----------------------------------Santamaria-------------Lizarazu

---------------------------------Busquets--------------------------
-----------------------Xavi-----------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------Totti--------------------------
-----Messi-------------------------------------------------Simonsen----
--------------------------------Klinsmann---------------------------
(Eto'o could be in instead of Klinsmann, which also allows Messi to switch into the false 9/CF position)

Burnley
----------------------------------Kahn-------------------------------

Andrade----------Thuram-----------Hierro------------Marinho

---------------------Pirri---------------Ocwirk--------------------

Matthews--------------Di Stefano-------------------------Gento
--------------------------------------Law-------------------------------
(Litmanen slots into Di Stefano's role if he gets injured in a theoretical season, or Di Stefano could go into Law's role)

Chelsea
----------------------------------Zamora---------------------------

-------------------------------------------Beckenbauer----------
Petrescu---------------Kohler-----------------------------Breitner

------------------------------Voronin------------------------------
------------------------------------------Liedholm----------------
---------------Kopa------------------------------------------------
------------------------------Bergkamp------------Hazard----
--------------------------------------Weah------------------------
(Stojkovic, as variation/backup, could be in for Kopa or Hazard, resulting in more of a Christmas Tree, albeit still with a somewhat tiered midfield with Voronin behind Liedholm and especially Stojkovic either side of him)

Crystal Palace
--------------------------------Fillol-------------------------------

----------------------------Picchi------------------------------
Alves---------------------------Ruggeri---------------Facchetti

---------Beckham-------Neeskens-------Redondo-------

----------------------------Maradona------------------------

---------------------Batistuta--------Caniggia-------------
(Rui Costa was added with possible absence of Maradona in mind, but a 4-2-3-1 could be lined-up either way too, with Beckham or Caniggia as right wing option and either Maradona or Rui Costa nominally from the left side)

Everton
------------------------------Southall---------------------------

Vogts-------------Matrai-------------Pique-------------Briegel

-------------------------------Zito---------------------------
----------------Tigana---------------------------------------
--------------------------------------Platini---------------------

--Hamrin---------------------------------------------------Pires--
----------------------------------Henry------------------------------
(Walter would be Platini 's cover, or could maybe be put in in a 4-1-4-1 with Tigana on the right of midfield perhaps and Hamrin omitted)

Fulham
------------------------------Viktor-------------------------------

Gerets-------------Koeman------Campbell----------Cabrini

------------------------------Davids-------------------------
-------------------Didi-----------------Schiaffino--------------

----Rummenigge-------Fontaine--------------Best----
(Cubillas could be alternative to Fontaine, even as somewhat false 9 or coming from behind as an AM in a diamond I guess)

Leeds United
------------------------------Dasaev------------------------------

-------------------------Krol-------------------------------------
McGrain--------------------Charles--------------Van Tiggelen

--------------------------Gudelj---------------------------------
--B.Laudrup----------------Hagi-----------------Rivelino----

-----------------------Gullit-----------------------------------
-------------------------------Van Basten------------------
(Larsson could go up front, with Gullit in Hagi or Laudrup's place and perhaps they'd go to the left in Rivelino's place in a re-shuffle potentially)

Leicester City
---------------------------Maier----------------------------

Zanetti----------Desailly-------Baresi------------Gemmell

-------------------Coluna---------Van Hanegem---------

Lato---------------------Rivera------------------Iniesta--

-------------------------Shevchenko---------------------
(Valentino Mazzola could come into the team for Coluna or Van Hanegem with the aim of getting forwards more; Rivera would still be number 10 but perhaps drop a bit deeper, or he could even be free from the left with Iniesta going into a midfield 3 like he's used to)

Liverpool
----------------------------Zoff----------------------------------

Nelinho---------Nesta------Van Dijk-------------Zambrotta

--------------------------Varela---------------------------
Donadoni--------------------Socrates-----------Barnes

------------------Eusebio-----Dalglish-----------------
(Scifo could be in for Socrates or perhaps Donadoni)

Manchester City
--------------------------Grosics--------------------------

Bergomi-------Cannavaro----Hansen----------Gordillo

-----------------------Guardiola----------------------
--Bene------------------Hidegkuti----------------Finney

--------------------Kocsis---------Puskas-------------
(Czibor could go on the left with Finney moving to be right winger)

Manchester United
--------------------------Preud'homme-------------------

D.Santos---------Aldair---------Stam-----------Schnellinger

---------------------Keane-------Edwards----------------
---------------------------Zidane----------------------------

--Garrincha--------------------------------------Rensenbrink----
---------------------------Romario--------------------------------
(Neymar could be alterative to Rensenbrink, and Zidane can be pushed forwards perhaps to make it more 4-2-3-1)

Newcastle United
--------------------------Van der Sar------------------------

----------------------------------Scirea----------------------
V.Andrade---------Costacurta--------------Marzolini

-------------------Blanchflower-----Tardelli-------------

Rocheteau------------Savicevic-------------Ronaldinho
----------------------Ronaldo---------------------------
(Sindelar would probably be slotted into Savicevic's place, and Savicevic could move to the right wing instead of Rocheteau)

Sheffield United
-------------------------Buffon--------------------------

------------------------------Passarella--------------
Angloma-------Vierchowod----------------R.Carlos

------------------Cerezo------Robson--------------

Robben----------------Baggio----------------C.Ronaldo--
-----------------------Lineker---------------------------------
(Gerson could go into Robson's place, perhaps meaning Lineker and Baggio go up front and more traditional wingers are lined up, or perhaps still not)

Southampton
-----------------------Schmeichel----------------------

Suurbier-----Shesternyov----Figueroa-------Jarni

----------------------------Lerby--------------------
Littbarski-----------Charlton------------------Giggs

-------------------Meazza---------------------------
---------------------------Piola------------------------
(Albert could go into Meazza's place, maybe even making it more like 4-2-3-1, whereby Meazza could go to one of the wings, with Littbarski or Giggs dropping out)

Tottenham Hotspur
-----------------------Jennings---------------------------

--------------------Blanc-----------------------------------
C.Alberto---------------Walker------------------Maldini

----------Hoddle-----Ardiles-------Ceulemans-------

Figo-------------------Kempes---------------Boniek--
(Trappatoni could go in as a DM, with maybe Ardiles joining Hoddle as ACM, and with Ceulemans an option for the left instead of Boniek - they could possibly switch in the main system anyway so that Ceulemans could play more as a forward from the left primarily (unless switching with Figo) and Boniek could in effect be an AM from left midfield, as could Kempes depending on other additions to the squad later)

West Bromwich Albion
---------------------------Shilton-------------------------------

--------------------------Sammer--------------------------
----------------McGrath---------Carvalho------------------
Jorginho-------------------------------------------Brehme

---------------Netzer-----Matthaus----Suarez---------

-------------------------------S.Mazzola-------------------
-----------------------Muller-------------------------------
(Kubala could go into Mazzola's place, and Mazzola is then an option for one of the places either side of Matthaus feasibly, or he stays also closer to the attack and it becomes more a 3-4-2-1)

West Ham United
--------------------------Neuer---------------------------

Kaltz-------------Forster-----Moore----------Amoros

-----------------Bozsik-------Clodoaldo--------------

Jairzinho---------------M.Laudrup------------Ginola
---------------------Rossi-----------------------------------
(Rivaldo can come in for Ginola, and then could switch to the centre with Laudrup going to the left potentially; while in the main system Laudrup can be more as midfielder(AM) in a 3, leaving a front 3 ahead)

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers
------------------------Yashin--------------------------
---------------Belodedici---------------------------------
Leandro--------------------Zebec------------Junior

---------------Falcao----Mackay---------------

----------------Zico------Kaka-----------------

-------------Wilkes------Greaves---------------
(Cantona is backup for Zico but could also go into the same line-up if Wilkes or Kaka came out; Wilkes can also switch with Zico anyway or will be an option from a wider role on the right or even left perhaps too once more players are added, while Mackay could be placed as solo DM and Greaves could be more on his own up front perhaps even if it suits Mackay to have a partner in his midfield line I guess and also suits Greaves to have a partner up front which Cantona can also do well)

 

Wow, lot of effort this

 

I sometimes do these kind of things on a whim Puck, as you know by now probably!

Eventually it should result in 500 selections, that would be different to just trying to select a normal 500 best, top 500, or 500 greatest or whatever.

I hope there aren't too many omissions so far that are disappointing to you, but I guess several of them can be soon ending up in a squad anyway (I won't give hints, especially as I can take a player for a club at any time if I decide it's the best option so can't necessarily pencil one into a squad until I get to the relevant picks).

 

Hmmm no I don't see major ommissions I think. If anything the opposite!

 

I haven't thought about it a lot, but for whatever reason the first one to come to mind that you might be thinking "is it not time for him yet?" has been Seedorf!

Without going into details of plans like I said, I would feel fairly sure he will be getting in before too long (certainly before I've got all the squads full, even with the more limited numbers of midfield and forward players than in a typical top 500 like I said....not that any of us on here have necessarily gone up to 500 players before as far as I remember it...so it's still a lot of midfield and forward players that can be included)

 

Maybe, but opposite to this there are many of the Benelux who are higher than I'm thinking (as you perhaps know, who these are). It's your call of course! I don't see too many glaring ommissions I think.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I could guess some of the ones you might not have picked so soon - Neeskens, Scifo (even though not in the first 11 picks of a team, and so only a backup/alternative player looking at it that way and I could even see how you might even place him into the XI if picking from the 12 available players I have at Liverpool instead of one of the ones I indicated he could be in for which were Donadoni and Socrates who I've put in as a kind of Brazilian Jan Molby I suppose in terms of fitting in such a 4-4-2 kind of system for Liverpool as creative midfielder with some protection and running ability behind/alongside him in that section!), Rep....

 

Continuing where I left off, and completing the next 6 picks for each club, whereby I'm taking a few punts on some older legends (but in a historical list balanced by era they'd actually be probable sure picks, and some others would join them) and also getting to the stage where I'm including for example some side-backs that I wouldn't in a 'normal' type of 500 probably, and neither would most people maybe (although 500 is a lot) but filling squads, resulting in a balanced list positionally, gives them (or otherwise some similar alternatives) the chance to be in.....

Pick 241 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Anton Ondrus
Pick 242 - West Ham United sign Preben Elkjaer
Pick 243 - West Bromwich Albion sign Thomas Hassler
Pick 244 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Gunnar Nordahl
Pick 245 - Southampton sign Ronnie Hellstrom
Pick 246 - Sheffield United sign Jose Manuel Moreno
Pick 247 - Newcastle United sign Alan Shearer
Pick 248 - Manchester United sign Zizinho
Pick 249 - Manchester City sign Didier Deschamps
Pick 250 - Liverpool sign Igor Chislenko
Pick 251 - Leicester City sign John Robertson
Pick 252 - Leeds United sign Jean-Marie Pfaff
Pick 253 - Fulham sign David Seaman
Pick 254 - Everton sign Petr Cech
Pick 255 - Crystal Palace sign Davor Suker
Pick 256 - Chelsea sign Stefan Reuter
Pick 257 - Burnley sign Jimmy Johnstone
Pick 258 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Safet Susic
Pick 259 - Aston Villa sign Clarence Seedorf
Pick 260 - Arsenal sign Marc Overmars

Pick 261 - Arsenal sign Ladislao Mazurkiewicz
Pick 262 - Aston Villa sign Francesco Toldo
Pick 263 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Wladyslaw Zmuda
Pick 264 - Burnley sign Iker Casillas
Pick 265 - Chelsea sign Josip Katalinski
Pick 266 - Crystal Palace sign Amadeo Carizzo
Pick 267 - Everton sign Marius Tresor
Pick 268 - Fulham sign Oleg Blokhin
Pick 269 - Leeds United sign Coen Moulijn
Pick 270 - Leicester City sign Ruud van Nistelrooy
Pick 271 - Liverpool sign Emilio Butragueno
Pick 272 - Manchester City sign Billy McNeill
Pick 273 - Manchester United sign Ademir de Menezes
Pick 274 - Newcastle United sign Paul Gascoigne
Pick 275 - Sheffield United sign Rinus Israel
Pick 276 - Southampton sign Billy Wright
Pick 277 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Hector Chumpitaz
Pick 278 - West Bromwich Albion sign Bernd Schuster
Pick 279 - West Ham United sign Georgi Asparuhov
Pick 280 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Hristo Stoichkov

Pick 281 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Roger Milla
Pick 282 - West Ham United sign Bruno Conti
Pick 283 - West Bromwich Albion sign Hugo Sanchez
Pick 284 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Giampiero Boniperti
Pick 285 - Southampton sign Andrei Kanchelskis
Pick 286 - Sheffield United sign Leonidas
Pick 287 - Newcastle United sign Archie Gemmill
Pick 288 - Manchester United sign Zvonimir Boban
Pick 289 - Manchester City sign Dragan Holcer
Pick 290 - Liverpool sign Graeme Souness
Pick 291 - Leicester City sign Thomas N'Kono
Pick 292 - Leeds United sign Stjepan Bobek
Pick 293 - Fulham sign Alcides Ghiggia
Pick 294 - Everton sign Alain Giresse
Pick 295 - Crystal Palace sign Careca
Pick 296 - Chelsea sign Jurgen Croy
Pick 297 - Burnley sign Claude Makelele
Pick 298 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Xabi Alonso
Pick 299 - Aston Villa sign Rune Bratseth
Pick 300 - Arsenal sign Julio Melendez

Pick 301 - Arsenal sign N'Golo Kante
Pick 302 - Aston Villa sign Ronald de Boer
Pick 303 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Sadio Mane
Pick 304 - Burnley sign Jean-Pierre Papin
Pick 305 - Chelsea sign Freddie Ljungberg
Pick 306 - Crystal Palace sign Jorge Burruchaga
Pick 307 - Everton sign Josip Skoblar
Pick 308 - Fulham sign Arthur Friedenreich
Pick 309 - Leeds United sign Dietmar Hamann
Pick 310 - Leicester City sign Roberto Rosato
Pick 311 - Liverpool sign Mark Lawrenson
Pick 312 - Manchester City sign Giancarlo Antognoni
Pick 313 - Manchester United sign Luka Modric
Pick 314 - Newcastle United sign Pierluigi Cera
Pick 315 - Sheffield United sign Carlo Parola
Pick 316 - Southampton sign Lennart Skoglund
Pick 317 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Antonio Ramallets
Pick 318 - West Bromwich Albion sign Philippe Albert
Pick 319 - West Ham United sign Andoni Zubizarreta
Pick 320 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Roque Maspoli

Pick 321 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Paulo Futre
Pick 322 - West Ham United sign Kalman Meszoly
Pick 323 - West Bromwich Albion sign Mario Corso
Pick 324 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Ciro Ferrara
Pick 325 - Southampton sign Wesley Sneijder
Pick 326 - Sheffield United sign Claudio Gentile
Pick 327 - Newcastle United sign Markus Babbel
Pick 328 - Manchester United sign David De Gea
Pick 329 - Manchester City sign Jan Oblak
Pick 330 - Liverpool sign Ray Clemence
Pick 331 - Leicester City sign Thiago Silva
Pick 332 - Leeds United sign Gordon Strachan
Pick 333 - Fulham sign Nikita Simonyan
Pick 334 - Everton sign Jose Altafini
Pick 335 - Crystal Palace sign Esteban Cambiasso
Pick 336 - Chelsea sign Gianfranco Zola
Pick 337 - Burnley sign Felix Loustau
Pick 338 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Karl Aage Praest
Pick 339 - Aston Villa sign Barry Hulshoff
Pick 340 - Arsenal sign Amancio Amaro

Pick 341 - Arsenal sign Maicon
Pick 342 - Aston Villa sign Jose Augusto
Pick 343 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Franky van der Elst
Pick 344 - Burnley sign Lucio
Pick 345 - Chelsea sign Marcelo
Pick 346 - Crystal Palace sign Kevin De Bruyne
Pick 347 - Everton sign Franck Ribery
Pick 348 - Fulham sign Rio Ferdinand
Pick 349 - Leeds United sign Wilson Piazza
Pick 350 - Leicester City sign Trevor Francis
Pick 351 - Liverpool sign Steven Gerrard
Pick 352 - Manchester City sign Kevin Keegan
Pick 353 - Manchester United sign Denis Irwin
Pick 354 - Newcastle United sign Hugo Gatti
Pick 355 - Sheffield United sign Julio Cesar
Pick 356 - Southampton sign Berry van Aerle
Pick 357 - Tottenham Hotspur sign John Sivebaek
Pick 358 - West Bromwich Albion sign Rafael Martin Vazquez
Pick 359 - West Ham United sign Roger Piantoni
Pick 360 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Yordan Letchkov

 

I have managed to complete the selections to the end of 25 rounds of picks now, so have the 500 players, but still I'd hesitate to say it's even my own offering of a true top 500 players, even if balanced by position due to the criteria of selection (not so much by era but I've been open to incorporating a few older legends from relatively early times at least, like I said), but more like just the result of my 'exercise' that does return a collection of potential candidates spread over all positions/roles in my estimation/assessment....

Pick 361 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Sergi Barjuan
Pick 362 - West Ham United sign Georges Grun
Pick 363 - West Bromwich Albion sign Vincent Candela
Pick 364 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Gunnar Gren
Pick 365 - Southampton sign Luigi Riva
Pick 366 - Sheffield United sign Jose Antonio Camacho
Pick 367 - Newcastle United sign Anatoliy Demienenko
Pick 368 - Manchester United sign Willy Sagnol
Pick 369 - Manchester City sign Michel Salgado
Pick 370 - Liverpool sign Jan Popluhar
Pick 371 - Leicester City sign Bernard Vukas
Pick 372 - Leeds United sign Giussepe Giannini
Pick 373 - Fulham sign Christian Panucci
Pick 374 - Everton sign Alessandro Del Piero
Pick 375 - Crystal Palace sign Salvatore Bagni
Pick 376 - Chelsea sign Michael Owen
Pick 377 - Burnley sign Juan Sebastian Veron
Pick 378 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Andrea Pirlo
Pick 379 - Aston Villa sign Enzo Francescoli
Pick 380 - Arsenal sign Hernan Crespo

Pick 381 - Arsenal sign Diego Godin
Pick 382 - Aston Villa sign Fernando Torres
Pick 383 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Willy van de Kerkhof
Pick 384 - Burnley sign Carlos Sosa
Pick 385 - Chelsea sign Rene van de Kerkhof
Pick 386 - Crystal Palace sign Pierino Prati
Pick 387 - Everton sign Helmut Rahn
Pick 388 - Fulham sign Luis Fernandez
Pick 389 - Leeds United sign Sergio Ramos
Pick 390 - Leicester City sign Vasily Rats
Pick 391 - Liverpool sign Frank de Boer
Pick 392 - Manchester City sign David Villa
Pick 393 - Manchester United sign Bebeto
Pick 394 - Newcastle United sign Raimundo Orsi
Pick 395 - Sheffield United sign Paulo Sousa
Pick 396 - Southampton sign Humberto Coelho
Pick 397 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Germano
Pick 398 - West Bromwich Albion sign Klaus Augentahler
Pick 399 - West Ham United sign Jordi Alba
Pick 400 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Joao Domingos da Silva Pinto

Pick 401 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Edinho
Pick 402 - West Ham United sign Jeno Buzanszky
Pick 403 - West Bromwich Albion sign Frantisek Planicka
Pick 404 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Pepe (Jose Macia)
Pick 405 - Southampton sign Giovanni van Bronkhorst
Pick 406 - Sheffield United sign Mohamed Salah
Pick 407 - Newcastle United sign Ernst Happel
Pick 408 - Manchester United sign Willi Schulz
Pick 409 - Manchester City sign Karoly Sandor
Pick 410 - Liverpool sign Ian Rush
Pick 411 - Leicester City sign Branko Stankovic
Pick 412 - Leeds United sign Stuart Pearce
Pick 413 - Fulham sign Wolfgang Overath
Pick 414 - Everton sign Nestor Rossi
Pick 415 - Crystal Palace sign Tarcisco Burgnich
Pick 416 - Chelsea sign Emmanuel Petit
Pick 417 - Burnley sign Carles Puyol
Pick 418 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Rudi Hiden
Pick 419 - Aston Villa sign Hugo Hovenkamp
Pick 420 - Arsenal sign Americo Gallego

Pick 421 - Arsenal sign Luigi De Agostini
Pick 422 - Aston Villa sign Thomas Berthold
Pick 423 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign David Alaba
Pick 424 - Burnley sign Antonio Benarrivo
Pick 425 - Chelsea sign Vladimir Muntyan
Pick 426 - Crystal Palace sign Juan Pablo Sorin
Pick 427 - Everton sign Rob Jones
Pick 428 - Fulham sign Giacomo Bulgarelli
Pick 429 - Leeds United sign George Burley
Pick 430 - Leicester City sign Alemao
Pick 431 - Liverpool sign Phil Neal
Pick 432 - Manchester City sign Christian Chivu
Pick 433 - Manchester United sign Omar Corbatta
Pick 434 - Newcastle United sign Slava Metreveli
Pick 435 - Sheffield United sign Robert Gadocha
Pick 436 - Southampton sign Uwe Seeler
Pick 437 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Bernard Genghini
Pick 438 - West Bromwich Albion sign Trent Alexander-Arnold
Pick 439 - West Ham United sign Mauro Silva
Pick 440 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Antonio Sastre

Pick 441 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Igor Netto
Pick 442 - West Ham United sign Paul McStay
Pick 443 - West Bromwich Albion sign Kolo Toure
Pick 444 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Ricardo Pavoni
Pick 445 - Southampton sign Arie Haan
Pick 446 - Sheffield United sign Stefan Effenberg
Pick 447 - Newcastle United sign Bastien Schweinsteiger
Pick 448 - Manchester United sign Thomas Helmer
Pick 449 - Manchester City sign Colin Bell
Pick 450 - Liverpool sign Antonio Simoes
Pick 451 - Leicester City sign Tommy Lawton
Pick 452 - Leeds United sign Bobby Murdoch
Pick 453 - Fulham sign Ivan Helguera
Pick 454 - Everton sign David Narey
Pick 455 - Crystal Palace sign Jerzy Gorgon
Pick 456 - Chelsea sign Oleg Kuznetsov
Pick 457 - Burnley sign Adolfo Pedernera
Pick 458 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Roberto Perfumo
Pick 459 - Aston Villa sign Gerhard Hanappi
Pick 460 - Arsenal sign Alberto Spencer

Pick 461 - Arsenal sign Omar Sivori
Pick 462 - Aston Villa sign Amarildo
Pick 463 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Thibaut Courtois
Pick 464 - Burnley sign Gary McAllister
Pick 465 - Chelsea sign Gianluca Vialli
Pick 466 - Crystal Palace sign Roberto Rojas
Pick 467 - Everton sign Hugo Lloris
Pick 468 - Fulham sign Joel Bats
Pick 469 - Leeds United sign Abedi Pele
Pick 470 - Leicester City sign Yaya Toure
Pick 471 - Liverpool sign Hector Scarone
Pick 472 - Manchester City sign Hans Krankl
Pick 473 - Manchester United sign Ricardo Bochini
Pick 474 - Newcastle United sign Vava
Pick 475 - Sheffield United sign Leonardo
Pick 476 - Southampton sign Pedro Rocha
Pick 477 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Anatoliy Byshovets
Pick 478 - West Bromwich Albion sign Robert Lewandowski
Pick 479 - West Ham United sign Liam Brady
Pick 480 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Cesar Cueto

Pick 481 - Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Walter Zeman
Pick 482 - West Ham United sign Toni Turek
Pick 483 - West Bromwich Albion sign Jan Tomaszewski
Pick 484 - Tottenham Hotspur sign Gianluca Pagliuca
Pick 485 - Southampton sign Gianpiero Combi
Pick 486 - Sheffield United sign Walter Zenga
Pick 487 - Newcastle United sign Emmerson Leao
Pick 488 - Manchester United sign Jose Luis Chilavert
Pick 489 - Manchester City sign Angelo Peruzzi
Pick 490 - Liverpool sign Alisson
Pick 491 - Leicester City sign Antonio Carbajal
Pick 492 - Leeds United sign Luis Arconada
Pick 493 - Fulham sign Fahrudin Jusufi
Pick 494 - Everton sign Christian Ziege
Pick 495 - Crystal Palace sign Morten Olsen
Pick 496 - Chelsea sign Fabien Barthez
Pick 497 - Burnley sign Enrico Albertosi
Pick 498 - Brighton & Hove Albion sign Francisco Arce
Pick 499 - Aston Villa sign Christian Piot
Pick 500 - Arsenal sign Jan van Beveren

 

To help show how I ended up with the picks, here is a copy and paste of the line-ups I posted before with the second line-up being the players being inserted in brackets (although as indicated some other formations could be formed too). At the bottom I'll add notes about the other 3 squad players (versatility should be a common theme, although some players in the main or reserve line-up can also have been picked with versatility in mind to an extent):


Arsenal
-------------------------------------Gilmar(Mazurkiewicz)-------------------------------

Lahm(Maicon)--D.Da Guia(Melendez)--Sarosi(Godin)--N.Santos(De Agostini)

---------------------------Vieira(Kante)-------------Masopust(Gallego)---------------

Julinho(Amancio)------------------------Pele(Tostao)---------------Dzajic(Overmars)
-----------------------------Lubanski(Crespo)--------------------------------
(Van Beveren as 3rd goalie, Sivori as another number 10 or supporting striker option, and Spencer as a central striking option)

Aston Villa
----------------------------------Banks(Toldo)---------------------------------

---------------------------Vasovic(Bratseth)-------------------------------------
Battiston(Berthold)----------------Hyypia(Hulshoff)----------Bossis(Hovenkamp)

--------Deyna(R.De Boer)-----Rijkaard(Hanappi)--------Nedved(Seedorf)---------

-------------------------------------Cruyff(Francescoli)------------------------------
---------------Rep(Bican)------------------------------------Raul(Amarildo)-----------
(Piot as 3rd goalie, Jose Augusto as option for wide right wing forward, and Torres as option for central striker)

Brighton & Hove Albion
----------------------------------------Beara(Hiden)-----------------------------

------------------------Nasazzi(Perfumo)-----------------------------------
Cafu(Arce)-----------------------Santamaria(Zmuda)-------------Lizarazu(Alaba)

-------------------------------------Busquets(Van der Elst)--------------------------
-----------------------Xavi(Alonso)-----------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------Totti(Susic)--------------------------
-----Messi(Mane)-------------------------------------------------Simonsen(Praest)----
------------------------------------Klinsmann(Eto'o)---------------------------
(Courtois as 3rd goalie, Pirlo can be an option in Xavi's position or even to the left in a similar role which can even allow Alonso as DM in an extreme tiki taka system, or he can be placed in an alternative system which the squad allows which would have him as deep lying playmaker surrounded/supported by Van der Elst and Willy van de Kerkhof who in general is an option in the left midfield slot or as DM/CM, while Mane is shown on the right even though he's more likely for the left, because it would be SImonsen who was alternative option for the right or as mentioned Eto'o, if Messi or alternatively Totti was in the centre forward/false 9 slot rather than him...but like Simonsen they are in the main XI too)

Burnley
------------------------------------Kahn(Casillas)------------------------------

Andrade(Sosa)----Thuram(Puyol)------Hierro(Lucio)-------Marinho(Benarrivo)

---------------------Pirri(Makelele)--------Ocwirk(McAllister)--------------------

Matthews(Johnstone)--------Di Stefano(Litmanen)--------------------Gento(Loustau)
--------------------------------------Law(Papin)-------------------------------
(Albertosi as 3rd goalie, Veron as CM/AM option - he and/or McAllister can be put more advanced than Makelele of course, and Pedernera potentilly as supporting/creative forward or AM from the centre or possibly the left)

Chelsea
------------------------------------Zamora(Croy)---------------------------

---------------------------------------Beckenbauer(Katalinski)----------
Petrescu(Reuter)--------Kohler(Kuznetsov)----------------------Breitner(Marcelo)

--------------------------------Voronin(Muntyan)------------------------------
--------------------------------------------Liedholm(Petit)----------------
---------------Kopa(Stojkovic)------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------Bergkamp(Zola)------------Hazard(Ljungberg)----
----------------------------------------Weah(Owen)------------------------
(Barthez as 3rd goalie, Rene van de Kerkhof as winger option, more likely for the right, and Vialli as another striker option)

Crystal Palace
--------------------------------------Fillol(Carizzo)-------------------------------

----------------------------Picchi(Olsen)------------------------------
Alves(Burgnich)-------------------Ruggeri(Gorgon)---------------Facchetti(Sorin)

----Beckham(De Bruyne)----Neeskens(Bagni)-------Redondo(Cambiasso)----

-------------------------------------Maradona(Rui Costa)------------------------

-----------------------------Batistuta(Careca)--------Caniggia(Suker)-------------
(Rojas as 3rd goalie, Burruchaga can be an option as right midfielder or central/box to box midfield and potentially a right winger/forward too while also in the midfield I could consider switching Bagni and Cambiasso's placements I think but showed them in the most like for like slots in terms of who is in the main XI, and Prati can be left striker, solo striker or left wing forward)

Everton
-------------------------------------Southall(Cech)---------------------------

Vogts(Jones)-------Matrai(Tresor)-------Pique(Narey)-------Briegel(Ziege)

-------------------------------------Zito(Rossi)---------------------------
----------------Tigana(Giresse)---------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------Platini(Walter)---------------------

--Hamrin(Rahn)---------------------------------------------------Pires(Ribery)--
------------------------------------------Henry(Altafini)------------------------------
(Lloris as 3rd goalie, Del Piero can be supporting striker/number 10 in a tweeked system or be an option as left forward, while Skoblar covers the central and wide attacking positions too)

Fulham
-----------------------------------Viktor(Seaman)-------------------------------

Gerets(Panucci)--Koeman(Ferdinand)--Campbell(Helguera)--Cabrini(Jusufi)

-------------------------------------Davids(Fernandez)-------------------------
-------------------Didi(Bulgarelli)------------Schiaffino(Overath)--------------

----Rummenigge(Cubillas)---Fontaine(Friedenreich)------Best(Blokhin)----
(Bats as 3rd goalie, Ghiggia option as outright right winger/wing forward, and Simonyan as centre forward and perhaps one of the side forward positions in a narrow 3 too)

Leeds United
------------------------------Dasaev(Pfaff)------------------------------

-------------------------Krol(Piazza)-------------------------------------
McGrain(Burley)----Charles(Ramos)---------Van Tiggelen(Pearce)

--------------------------Gudelj(Hamann)---------------------------------
--B.Laudrup(Strachan)----------Hagi(Giannini)-----------------Rivelino(Moulijn)----

-----------------------Gullit(Bobek)-----------------------------------
-------------------------------Van Basten(Larsson)------------------
(Arconada as 3rd goalie, Murdoch as central midfield option, potentially alongside a partner, and Abedi Pele as supporting attacker from the left or in a roving role)

Leicester City
---------------------------------Maier(N'Kono)----------------------------

Zanetti(Stankovic)--Desailly(Rosato)---Baresi(T.Silva)-------Gemmell(Rats)

-------------------Coluna(Alemao)-----Van Hanegem(V.Mazzola)---------

Lato(Francis)------------------Rivera(Vukas)------------------Iniesta(Robertson)--

--------------------------------Shevchenko(Van Nistelrooy)---------------------
(Carbajal as 3rd goalie, Yaya Toure as midfielder with emphasis either more towards holding or attacking, and Lawton as a striker option on his own or as target man for goals and bringing a partner into play too)

Liverpool
------------------------------------Zoff(Clemence)----------------------------------

Nelinho(Neal)----Nesta(Lawrenson)----Van Dijk(Popluhar)---Zambrotta(De Boer)

--------------------------------------Varela(Souness)---------------------------
Donadoni(Chislenko)-------------Socrates(Scifo)-----------Barnes(Simoes)

-----------------------------Eusebio(Rush)-----Dalglish(Butragueno)-----------------
(Alisson as 3rd goalie, Gerrard an option as a DM or an AM, and Scarone probably as supporting forward behind a Eusebio, Rush, maybe Butragueno or even Dalglish, although maybe also as outright AM or in a front two himself; if Butragueno and Rush were lined up together I'd probably have swapped their sides by the way but wanted to illustrate the like for like roles more than sides)

Manchester City
----------------------------------Grosics(Oblak)--------------------------

Bergomi(Salgado)---Cannavaro(McNeill)----Hansen(Holcer)---Gordillo(Chivu)

----------------------------------Guardiola(Deschamps)----------------------
--Bene(Sandor)---------------Hidegkuti(Antognoni)----------------Finney(Czibor)

---------------------------Kocsis(Villa)---------Puskas(Krankl)-------------
(Peruzzi as 3rd goalie, Bell option as CM/DM/AM, and Keegan as supporting striker or attacking midfielder)

Manchester United
------------------------------------Preud'homme(De Gea)-------------------

D.Santos(Sagnol)-----Aldair(Schulz)----Stam(Helmer)----Schnellinger(Irwin)

------------------------------Keane(Modric)---Edwards(Boban)-------------
-------------------------------------------Zidane(Zizinho)----------------------------

--Garrincha(Corbatta)--------------------------------------Rensenbrink(Neymar)----
----------------------------------------Romario(Ademir)--------------------------------
(Chilavert as 3rd goalie, Bochini option as AM, and Bebeto in attack, probably as support striker)

Newcastle United
------------------------------Van der Sar(Gatti)------------------------

-------------------------------------Scirea(Cera)----------------------
V.Andrade(Babbel)---------Costacurta(Happel)--------------Marzolini(Demienenko)

---------------Blanchflower(Schweinsteiger)-----Tardelli(Gemmill)-------------

Rocheteau(Metreveli)------------Savicevic(Sindelar)-------------Ronaldinho(Orsi)
----------------------------------Ronaldo(Shearer)---------------------------
(Emmerson Leao as 3rd goalie, Gascoigne as option for more attacking CM or AM, and Vava can be an option as a goal poacher up front)

Sheffield United
-------------------------Buffon(J.Cesar)--------------------------

----------------------------------Passarella(Israel)--------------
Angloma(Gentile)-------Vierchowod(Parola)----------------R.Carlos(Camacho)

------------------Cerezo(Effenberg)------Robson(Gerson)--------------

Robben(Salah)----------------Baggio(Moreno)------------C.Ronaldo(Gadocha)--
-----------------------Lineker(Leonidas)---------------------------------
(Zenga as 3rd goalie, Sousa as CM/DM option, and Leonardo can be another left footed right wing option as well as left back or wing back including potentially with Gentile as defensive right back in a Zona Mista)

Southampton
----------------------------------Schmeichel(Hellstrom)----------------------

Suurbier(Van Aerle)---Shesternyov(Coelho)----Figueroa(Wright)-----Jarni(GvB)

---------------------------------------Lerby(Haan)--------------------
Littbarski(Kanchelskis)-----------Charlton(Sneijder)------------------Giggs(Skoglund)

--------------------------Meazza(Albert)---------------------------
---------------------------------------------Piola(Seeler)------------------------
(Combi as 3rd goalie, Rocha as attacking midfielder in main system or in a duo or free behind a striker I guess, and Riva can be in as a left forward or striker)

Tottenham Hotspur
---------------------------Jennings(Ramallets)---------------------------

--------------------Blanc(Chumpitaz)-----------------------------------
C.Alberto(Sivebaek)--------Walker(Ferrara)-----------Maldini(Pavoni)

----------Hoddle(Gren)-----Ardiles(Trapattoni)-------Ceulemans(Genghini)-------

Figo(Boniperti)---------------Kempes(Nordahl)---------------Boniek(Pepe)--
(Pagliuca as 3rd goalie, Germano can be placed in a central defensive role or as DM, and Byshovets can be put somewhere in the attack either as mobile striker or to one side, especially if the main formation was tweeked to have 3 narrower/roaming front players in which case Figo might go into the midfield 3 as RM or LM)

West Bromwich Albion
---------------------------Shilton(Planicka)-------------------------------

--------------------------Sammer(Augentahler)--------------------------
----------------McGrath(Toure)---------Carvalho(Albert)------------------
Jorginho(Alexander-Arnold)-----------------------------------Brehme(Candela)

---------Netzer(Hassler)-----Matthaus(Schuster)----Suarez(Martin Vazquez)----

-------------------------------S.Mazzola(Kubala)-------------------
-----------------------Muller(Sanchez)-------------------------------
(Tomaszewski as 3rd goalie, Corso can be left midfielder including in other systems like the one he played in at Inter even for example, and Lewandowski is another striker option of a different size/shape and kind)

West Ham United
----------------------------------Neuer(Zubizarreta)---------------------------

Kaltz(Buzanszky)-----Forster(Grun)-----Moore(Mezsoly)----------Amoros(Alba)

------------------------Bozsik(M.Silva)-------Clodoaldo(McStay)--------------

Jairzinho(Conti)----------M.Laudrup(Rivaldo)------------Ginola(Piantoni)
---------------------------------Rossi(Elkjaer)-----------------------------------
(Turek as 3rd goalie, Brady can be left CM or AM in various systems, and Asparuhov is another striker who could also be up front with one of the others potentially)

Wolverhampton Wanderers
------------------------Yashin (Maspoli)--------------------------

---------------Belodedici(Ondrus)---------------------------------
Leandro(Pinto)----------------Zebec(Edinho)---------Junior(Sergi)

---------------Falcao(Sastre)----Mackay(Netto)---------------

----------------Zico(Letchkov)------Kaka(Cantona)-----------------

-------------Wilkes(Milla)------Greaves(Stoichkov)---------------
(Zeman as 3rd goalie, Cueto as an attacking midfield option or left midfield in a 4-3-3 perhaps, and Futre as left forward/wing option)

 

I had a think about whether having a different selection of clubs (with a different order) somehow changed things re: my above posts, but overall I don't see that it should or would, at least not using the 2021/22 teams instead of last season's.

For sure at some points I will have selected an ex-player of a club, or one that seemed to fit the tradition of the club or something, but especially if the first round picks would remain the same, probably the rest would too. I suppose Norwich City would just take Sheffield United's squad in that case, and Watford would just take West Brom's. Further up though, Messi and co would now be selected for Brentford, Di Stefano and co therefore Brighton, Beckenbauer and co (including ex Chelsea players Hazard, Petrescu, Zola for example) now Burnley, Maradona and co Chelsea rather than Crystal Palace, Platini and co Crystal Palace, and George Best and the rest of what was Fulham's squad would now comprise the Everton squad! So I guess I'd still have the same 500 names anyway.

This would be a theoretical fantasy matchday 1 (albeit over 3 days) for a 2021/22 Premier League schedule in that case (noting the two most likely subs, but keeping the first choice line-ups in each case; and including what might be my score prediction for fun, albeit it's very speculative and obviously it's impossible to see what would happen really!)

Brentford
----------------------------------------Beara-----------------------------

------------------------Nasazzi----------------------------------
Cafu-----------------------Santamaria-----------------------Lizarazu

-------------------------------------Busquets--------------------------
-----------------------Xavi-----------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------Totti(Susic)--------------------------
-----Messi------------------------------------------------Simonsen----
------------------------------------Klinsmann(Eto'o)---------------------------
vs
Arsenal
-------------------------------------Gilmar-------------------------------

Lahm(Maicon)--D.Da Guia------Sarosi----------N.Santos

---------------------------Vieira-------------Masopust---------------

Julinho(Amancio)------------------------Pele---------------Dzajic
-----------------------------Lubanski-------------------------------

'Prediction': Brentford 2 Arsenal 2 (Klinsmann diving header from a deep Xavi cross, Pele after combination with Lubanski, Pele header from Dzajic cross, Messi escaping N.Santos and taking an Eto'o reverse pass to cut in and score in the far corner)

Manchester United
------------------------------------Preud'homme-------------------

D.Santos------------Aldair------------Stam----------Schnellinger(Irwin)

---------------------------Keane(Modric)---Edwards-------------
---------------------------------------Zidane----------------------------

--Garrincha--------------------------------------Rensenbrink(Neymar)----
----------------------------------Romario-------------------------------
vs
Leeds United
------------------------------Dasaev------------------------------

----------------------------Krol-------------------------------------
McGrain--------Charles----------------Van Tiggelen(Pearce)

--------------------------Gudelj---------------------------------
--B.Laudrup----------Hagi-----------------Rivelino(Moulijn)----

-----------------------Gullit-----------------------------------
-------------------------------Van Basten------------------
'Prediction': Man Utd 1 Leeds 2 (Van Basten header from Laudrup cross, Romario after interplay with Zidane on the edge of the box, Gullit after overlapping to receive a Van Basten pass into the area)

Burnley
------------------------------------Zamora---------------------------

---------------------------------------Beckenbauer---------------
Petrescu(Reuter)--------Kohler----------------------Breitner

--------------------------------Voronin------------------------------
--------------------------------------------Liedholm----------------
---------------Kopa(Stojkovic)------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------Bergkamp------------Hazard----
----------------------------------------Weah------------------------
vs
Brighton
------------------------------------Kahn------------------------------

Andrade--------------Thuram------Hierro-------Marinho

---------------------Pirri----------------Ocwirk--------------------

Matthews-----------------Di Stefano--------------------Gento(Loustau)
--------------------------------------Law(Papin)-------------------------------
'Prediction': Burnley 1 Brighton 1 (Weah running onto a Bergkamp flick after a Beckenbauer incursion towards the area, Di Stefano pouncing on a loose clearance)

Chelsea
--------------------------------------Fillol-------------------------------

----------------------------Picchi(Olsen)------------------------------
Alves-----------------------Ruggeri---------------Facchetti

----Beckham(De Bruyne)----Neeskens-------Redondo----

-----------------------------------Maradona-----------------------

-----------------------------Batistuta--------Caniggia-------------
vs
Crystal Palace
-------------------------------------Southall---------------------------

Vogts-------------Matrai(Tresor)-------Pique-------Briegel(Ziege)

-------------------------------------Zito---------------------------
----------------Tigana---------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------Platini---------------------

--Hamrin---------------------------------------------------Pires--
------------------------------------------Henry------------------------------
'Prediction': Chelsea 3 Crystal Palace 2 (Batistuta from a wide left pass by Maradona, Henry taking on a lofted Platini pass to score with a low shot, Batistuta header from a Beckham cross, Batistuta penalty after foul on Caniggia, Henry from the edge of the area after Pires picks him out)

Everton
-----------------------------------Viktor-------------------------------

Gerets---------Koeman(Ferdinand)--Campbell-------Cabrini

-------------------------------------Davids-------------------------
----------------------Didi----------------------Schiaffino--------------

----Rummenigge-------Fontaine(Friedenreich)------Best----
vs
Southampton
----------------------------------Schmeichel----------------------

Suurbier------------Shesternyov----Figueroa--------Jarni

---------------------------------------Lerby--------------------
Littbarski(Kanchelskis)-----------Charlton------------------Giggs(Skoglund)

--------------------------Meazza---------------------------
---------------------------------------------Piola------------------------
'Prediction': Everton 1 Southampton 2 (Fontaine from 6 yards after Didi releases Rummenigge down the right, Kanchelskis on the counter attack from a Schmiechel throw, Charlton with a half volley after Piola lays the ball back)

Funny/confusing how the previous squads of Burnley and Crystal Palace would now be the opposition for those clubs.

I'll continue with the other 5 fixtures in a bit....

 

So continuing with that....

Leicester City
---------------------------------Maier----------------------------

Zanetti--------------Desailly------Baresi-------Gemmell(Rats)

------------------------Coluna-----Van Hanegem--------

Lato(Francis)------------------Rivera------------------Iniesta--

--------------------------------Shevchenko--------------------
vs
Wolverhampton Wanderers
------------------------Yashin -------------------------

---------------Belodedici---------------------------------
Leandro----------------Zebec---------Junior

--------------------Falcao----Mackay---------------

--------------------Zico------Kaka(Cantona)-----------------

-------------Wilkes(Milla)------Greaves---------------
'Prediction': Leicester 2 Wolves 2 (Zico from a one-two combination with Wilkes, involving a Wilkes dribble on the right side before a close distance half-volley Zico finish, Shevchenko released by Rivera, Greaves after a combination with Milla, Shevchenko penalty after he's fouled following another Rivera pass)

Watford
---------------------------Shilton-------------------------------

--------------------------Sammer--------------------------
----------------McGrath---------Carvalho(Albert)------------------
Jorginho---------------------------------------------Brehme

---------------Netzer-----Matthaus----Suarez----

-------------------------------S.Mazzola(Kubala)-------------------
-----------------------Muller-------------------------------
vs
Aston Villa
----------------------------------Banks---------------------------------

---------------------------Vasovic-------------------------------------
Battiston-------------------------Hyypia-------------------Bossis

--------------Deyna-----------Rijkaard--------Nedved(Seedorf)---------

-------------------------------------Cruyff-----------------------------
---------------Rep(Bican)------------------------------------Raul-----------
'Prediction': Watford 1 Aston Villa 2 (Rep with a dribble and shot after a Cruyff pass, Muller from close range after Netzer works his way into the box, Raul with a half volley, picked out by Cruyff)


Norwich City
------------------------------Buffon--------------------------

----------------------------------Passarella(Israel)--------------
Angloma(Gentile)-------Vierchowod----------------R.Carlos

------------------Cerezo------Robson--------------

Robben----------------Baggio------------C.Ronaldo--
-----------------------Lineker--------------------------------
vs
Liverpool
------------------------------------Zoff----------------------------------

Nelinho(Neal)--------Nesta---------Van Dijk--------Zambrotta

--------------------------------------Varela---------------------------
Donadoni(Chislenko)-------------Socrates-----------Barnes

-----------------------------Eusebio-----Dalglish-----------------
'Prediction': Norwich 2 Liverpool 2 (Eusebio racing onto a Barnes lofted/angled pass from the left, Lineker from 2 yards sliding in after Angloma overlaps and crosses low, Lineker running through and rounding the goalkeper after a Baggio pass on the turn, Socrates from the edge of the box after Dalglish tackled and the ball runs free)

Newcastle United
------------------------------Van der Sar------------------------

-------------------------------------Scirea----------------------
V.Andrade---------Costacurta(Happel)--------------Marzolini

------------------Blanchflower-----Tardelli(Gemmill)-------------

Rocheteau----------------Savicevic-------------Ronaldinho
----------------------------------Ronaldo---------------------------
vs
West Ham United
----------------------------------Neuer---------------------------

Kaltz------------------Forster-----Moore----------Amoros

----------------------Bozsik-------Clodoaldo(McStay)--------------

Jairzinho------------------M.Laudrup------------Ginola
---------------------------------Rossi(Elkjaer)-----------------------------------
'Prediction': Newcastle 3 West Ham 2 (Ronaldo after Savicevic squeezes a pass through after a dribble, Ronaldinho free kick after Ronaldo blocked off illegally near the area, Rossi prods in a Laudrup pass, Ginola volley after Laudrup scoops the ball up for him, Rocheteau with late winning goal after twisting and turning when receiving a Gemmill pass after Gemmill had taken on the ball from Scirea's initial foray forwards)

Tottenham Hotspur
------------------------------Jennings---------------------------

------------------------Blanc-----------------------------------
C.Alberto----------------------Walker---------------Maldini

----------Hoddle-------Ardiles(Trapattoni)-------Ceulemans-------

Figo---------------------Kempes(Nordahl)---------------Boniek--
vs
Manchester City
----------------------------------Grosics--------------------------

Bergomi---------Cannavaro-------Hansen(Holcer)-------Gordillo

----------------------------------Guardiola(Deschamps)----------------------
--Bene----------------------Hidegkuti----------------Finney

---------------------------Kocsis---------Puskas-------------
'Prediction': Tottenham 3 Man City 2 (Hidegkuti after Puskas trickery, Kempes after Hoddle picks him out in the area, Kempes after flowing counter attack ends with Ceulemans squaring ball to him, Nordahl header from Figo cross after long Carlos Alberto pass, Kocsis header after Puskas backheels ball to Finney)

Too late to edit the previous post, but I had 3 Man Utd subs noted by mistake so I'd not include Irwin coming on if knocking that down to 2 I think.

I'd be surprised if the actual Premier League results for these fixtures on the opening weekend are the same as what I wrote here obviously, and probably also if there are as many goals although that's possible I guess!

 

I won't go further than 'envisioning' the second weekend of a theoretical 2021/22 Premier League with all-time players, but I've had a go at that too. Probably it would be unlikely in reality (not that all-time teams can ever happen in reality anyway) that every team would score a goal in every game (or even over 2 weekends), and that there wouldn't be more than one goal in it in any game, but I guess it makes sense that the teams should seem evenly matched and the goalscoring potential high for every team.

I don't know how close these 'predictions' would be to how it'd turn out on a Football Manager simulation, like @poetgooner has done either!

I've stuck to the first choice line-ups again pretty much, but bringing Hassler and Rivaldo into them. Re: Rivaldo/Piantoni I think they both suit inside left more than outside left, but I'd be thinking of Laudrup going more central again after the substitution....

Liverpool
------------------------------------Zoff----------------------------------

Nelinho----------------Nesta---------Van Dijk--------Zambrotta

--------------------------------------Varela---------------------------
Donadoni-----------------Socrates(Scifo)---------------Barnes

-----------------------------Eusebio-----Dalglish(Butragueno)-----------------
vs
Burnley
------------------------------------Zamora---------------------------

---------------------------------------Beckenbauer---------------
Petrescu-----------------Kohler----------------------Breitner

--------------------------------Voronin(Muntyan)------------------------------
--------------------------------------------Liedholm(Petit)----------------
---------------Kopa-------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------Bergkamp------------Hazard----
----------------------------------------Weah------------------------
'Prediction': Liverpool 2 Burnley 1 (Eusebio from just inside the area after Dalglish plays the ball through for him to take in the inside left channel, Eusebio header after Scifo picks out Donadoni who makes room for an accurate cross, Weah after Kopa's dribble and pass leads to Bergkamp's first time ball into the box)

Aston Villa
----------------------------------Banks---------------------------------

---------------------------Vasovic-------------------------------------
Battiston-------------------------Hyypia-------------------Bossis

--------Deyna(R.De Boer)------Rijkaard--------Nedved---------

-------------------------------------Cruyff-----------------------------
---------------Rep(Bican)------------------------------------Raul-----------
vs
Newcastle United
------------------------------Van der Sar------------------------

-------------------------------------Scirea----------------------
V.Andrade(Babbel)-----Costacurta--------------Marzolini

------------------Blanchflower-----Tardelli(Gemmill)-------------

Rocheteau----------------Savicevic-------------Ronaldinho
----------------------------------Ronaldo---------------------------
'Prediction': Villa 3 Newcastle 2 (Rep header from Cruyff cross on the left, Ronaldo races through to equalise from a Ronaldinho pass after one-two with Savicevic, Deyna from just outside the box, curled into the corner, after Cruyff dribbles and lays it off to him, Cruyff after rounding the goalkeeper, following Nedved's run and pass into the area, Ronaldo tap in after Rocheteau gets round the outside and cuts it back)

Crystal Palace
-------------------------------------Southall---------------------------

Vogts-------------------Matrai----------------Pique-----------Briegel

-------------------------------------Zito---------------------------
----------------Tigana(Giresse)---------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------Platini---------------------

--Hamrin---------------------------------------------------Pires(Del Piero)--
------------------------------------------Henry------------------------------
vs
Brentford
----------------------------------------Beara-----------------------------

--------------------------Nasazzi----------------------------------
Cafu-------------------------Santamaria-----------------------Lizarazu

-----------------------------------Busquets(Van der Elst)---------------------
-----------------------Xavi-----------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------Totti--------------------------
-----Messi------------------------------------------------Simonsen(Praest)----
------------------------------------Klinsmann---------------------------
'Prediction': Crystal Palace 3 Brentford 2 (Platini free-kick after Henry fouled, Messi after an angled dribble having taken a pass from Xavi, Klinsmann after racing onto Totti's pass, Henry solo dribble and shot after Pires clips a pass infield to him, Platini after a one-two with Del Piero started with a 20 yard curled pass to the left)

Leeds United
------------------------------Dasaev------------------------------

----------------------------Krol-------------------------------------
McGrain--------Charles----------------Van Tiggelen

--------------------------Gudelj---------------------------------
--B.Laudrup(Strachan)------Hagi(Giannini)----------Rivelino----

-----------------------Gullit-----------------------------------
-------------------------------Van Basten------------------
vs
Everton
-----------------------------------Viktor-------------------------------

Gerets---------Koeman(Ferdinand)--Campbell-------Cabrini(Jusufi)

-------------------------------------Davids-------------------------
----------------------Didi----------------------Schiaffino--------------

----Rummenigge-----------Fontaine--------------Best----
'Prediction': Leeds 2 Everton 1 (Van Basten takes down and volleys in a Rivelino cross/pass after an elastico, Gullit takes on and drives home a Hagi pass on the counter attack, Schiaffino despatches a loose ball after defenders converge on Best as he dribbles into the area)

Manchester City
----------------------------------Grosics--------------------------

Bergomi---------Cannavaro-------Hansen-------Gordillo

----------------------------------Guardiola----------------------
--Bene----------------------Hidegkuti(Bell)----------------Finney

---------------------------Kocsis(Villa)-------Puskas-------------
vs
Norwich City
------------------------------Buffon--------------------------

----------------------------------Passarella--------------
Angloma---------------Vierchowod----------------R.Carlos

------------------Cerezo(Effenberg)----Robson(Gerson)--------------

Robben----------------Baggio------------C.Ronaldo--
-----------------------Lineker--------------------------------
'Prediction': Manchester City 3 Norwich 2 (Hidegkuti half volley after a 3 player move with the two fellow Hungarians in attack, Puskas with a rifled drive following a drag back after Finney dribbles forwards and plays him the ball, C.Ronaldo takes the loose ball and fires it in after Robson is block tackled entering the area just as he is trying to shoot, Puskas penalty after Finney is upended following Hansen's dribble and Hidegkuti's slide rule pass, Robben heads in after Baggio hits the bar with an effort after a short free kick)

 

Brighton
------------------------------------Kahn------------------------------

Andrade--------------Thuram------Hierro-------Marinho(Benarrivo)

---------------------Pirri(Makelele)---------Ocwirk--------------------

Matthews-----------------Di Stefano--------------------Gento
--------------------------------------Law-------------------------------
vs
Watford
---------------------------Shilton-------------------------------

--------------------------Sammer--------------------------
----------------McGrath---------Carvalho-----------------
Jorginho---------------------------------------------Brehme

-------------Hassler------Matthaus-----Netzer(Suarez Miramontes)----

-------------------------------S.Mazzola(Kubala)-------------------
-----------------------Muller-------------------------------
'Prediction': Brighton 2 Watford 2 (Di Stefano after one-two with Law, Muller with a first time shot after Hassler makes himself room and plays a ball into the box, Gento with a drive after Matthews dribbles down the opposite side and plays a long cross into his path, Muller lobs the keeper after a Suarez and Kubala combination is thrwarted but the ball bounces into the box)

Southampton
----------------------------------Schmeichel----------------------

Suurbier(Van Aerle)--Shesternyov---Figueroa-------Jarni

---------------------------------------Lerby--------------------
Littbarski-----------------Charlton------------------Giggs(Albert)

--------------------------Meazza---------------------------
---------------------------------------------Piola------------------------
vs
Manchester United
------------------------------------Preud'homme-------------------

D.Santos------------Aldair------------Stam----------Schnellinger(Irwin)

------------------------------Keane--------Edwards-------------
---------------------------------------Zidane----------------------------

--Garrincha--------------------------------------Rensenbrink(Neymar)----
----------------------------------Romario-------------------------------
'Prediction': Southampton 1 Manchester United 2 (Romario from Rensenbrink pass following a twist and turn on the left after receiving from Zidane who'd taken the ball on after a smooth touch and turn in the middle, Romario with a chip after Garrincha dribbles and cuts the ball back to him, Lerby with a long range drive after Meazza is tackled before he can shoot or pass back to Piola who had laid the ball off to him)

Wolverhampton Wanderers
------------------------Yashin -------------------------

---------------Belodedici---------------------------------
Leandro----------------Zebec---------Junior

--------------------Falcao----Mackay---------------

--------------------Zico------Kaka(Cantona)-----------------

-------------Wilkes(Milla)------Greaves---------------
vs
Tottenham Hotspur
------------------------------Jennings---------------------------

------------------------Blanc-----------------------------------
C.Alberto----------------------Walker---------------Maldini

----------Hoddle-------Ardiles(Trapattoni)-------Ceulemans-------

Figo---------------------Kempes(Nordahl)---------------Boniek--
'Prediction': Wolves 1 Tottenham 1 (Hoddle penalty after Kempes's lengthy dribble is ended with a foul, Milla volleys in from a cross by Junior who was found by Zico)

Arsenal
-------------------------------------Gilmar-------------------------------

Lahm(Maicon)--D.Da Guia------Sarosi----------N.Santos

---------------------------Vieira-------------Masopust---------------

Julinho------------------------Pele--------------------Dzajic
------------------------------------Lubanski(Tostao)--------------------
vs
Chelsea
--------------------------------------Fillol-------------------------------

----------------------------Picchi------------------------------
Alves(Burgnich)----------------Ruggeri---------------Facchetti

---------Beckham---------Neeskens-------Redondo----

-----------------------------------Maradona-----------------------

-----------------------------Batistuta--------Caniggia(Suker)-------------
'Prediction': Arsenal 3 Chelsea 2 (Batistuta after Maradona escapes down the right and stabs a pass to him, Julinho having taken a pass from Pele who had dribbled through the centre towards the right, Pele after a dummy to shoot following Tostao's lay back to him from Dzajic's cross, Suker with a deft flighted half volley after Maradona's dribble and chipped pass, Pele drive from the dge of the box after a one-two with Tostao)

West Ham United
----------------------------------Neuer---------------------------

Kaltz------------------Forster-----Moore----------Amoros

----------------------Bozsik-------Clodoaldo--------------

Jairzinho------------------Rivaldo(Piantoni)------------M.Laudrup
---------------------------------Rossi(Elkjaer)-----------------------------------
vs
Leicester City
---------------------------------Maier----------------------------

Zanetti--------------Desailly------Baresi-------Gemmell

------------------------Coluna-----Van Hanegem(V.Mazzola)--------

Lato----------------------------Rivera------------------Iniesta(Robertson)--

--------------------------------Shevchenko--------------------
'Prediction': West Ham 2 Leicester 2 (Rossi from close range after Laudrup works space to pick him out, Jairzinho having taken the ball on from Rossi who was found by Rivaldo after a clever turn, Lato scores running onto a Shevchenko pass after Rivera makes an opening, Zanetti from close range after Robertson tricks his way down the outside and plays the ball to the back post area)

Quick edit after Titanlux's rep (thanks mate for that of course): I had meant to suggest Piantoni on as sub for Rivaldo, like I'd already hinted, but had put him on for Laudrup I realised!

 

I don't know about top 250, but I'll name a top 50 of players I've at least seen in action:

1. Maradona
2. Pele
3. Cruyff
4. Garrincha
   
5. Ronaldo Nazario
6. Xavi
7. Zidane
8. Messi and Cristiano (I can't pick one over the other)
9. 
   
10. Van Basten
    
11. Platini
    
12. Di Stefano
13. Eusebio
14. Henry
15. Puskas
16. Nilton Santos
17. Beckenbauer
18. Baggio
19. Yashin
20. Law
    
21. Hidegkuti
    
22. Gerd Muller
23. Eto'o
24. Banks
25. Breitner
26. Souness
27. Van Hanegem
28. Iniesta
29. Best
30. Rivaldo
    
31. Bobby Moore
32. Roy Keane
33. Socrates
34. Neuer
35. Dalglish
36. Carlos Alberto
37. Kante
38. Matthaus
    
39. Gullit
40. Zico
41. Cantona
42. Falcao
43. Pirlo
44. Modric
45. Ronaldino
46. Overath
47. Riquelme
48. Ramos
49. Batistuta
50. Romario