I take the point that lanman made earlier regarding the strange decisions of the selectors for Scotland, especially in the earlier part of the 20th century. There is a lot of validity in that. Sadly though, it would be like brushing it all under the carpet if it was to be suggested that religion did not play a part in it. Unfortunately it goes far beyond the boundaries of football. Some background on Irish-Scots - The Irish-Scots were instrumental in the formation of Celtic Football Club, Hibernian F.C., and Dundee United F.C. (which was originally known as Dundee Hibernian). Indeed, these teams were originally formed to provide recreational facilities for the Irish immigrants. At first, these teams faced discrimination from the football authorities, and there was controversy over whether their players should be picked to play in international games. I wouldn't want to de-rail the thread but I would say that, for me, religion did play a factor.
Let's see, there are two teams that I personally really like the way they are put together, and another that I really like the talent. Then slightly below I have eight or nine that are bunched together, either I like how they are put together but have at least one relatively weak spot, or they don't have a weak spot but I don't really like as much how they're put together. And while I wouldn't say any team is significantly below the others -other than the sheep team- there are three or four that I ranked at the bottom because I have some concerns about them. I'll get more into it after we get the results. I still need to work on the exact placements though.
Umberto Caligaris was a left-back in the old 2-3-5 formation but I don't know if he was just a tough marker or if he could go forward. He played in the 20s and 30s, playing a part in the Juve title wins from 1931-35, forming a partneship with Virgilo Rosetta at right-back, who was also his Italy teammate in the 20s and early 30s. He was a member of Italy's 1928 Olympic team and the 1934 World Cup team. He didn't appear in the latter because Luigi Allemandi played in that position. Until the 70s, he was Italy's record cap holder with 59 caps.
I think what your description of Jusufi is fair and accurate, because from what I read (obviously I never saw him play), Jusufi was also a pioneer at his position, one of the first attacking fullbacks, and he was excellent at defending too. When you have time, can you describe more about Morton? I only know he's one of the Wembley wizards that beat England 5:1 at Wembley with Dixie Dean on the team. How did he compare to the other Soctland's greats like Liddell and Johnston?
So World Soccer published a "World XI" for each year? Are these available online somewhere? Jusufi was also rated one of the finest fullbacks in German football when he played for Frankfurt in the mid-/late-1960s.
Almost every year. It was a single journalist, Eric Batty, who made them. Some years though there doesn't seem to have been one, and they took place in different months in different years (though always between September and December). I think they stopped in about 1992, so Batty did them for more than 30 years. The selections are very interesting, but there are certainly some surprising selections. For instance Maradona didn't make the XI in 1986. Also the formations were unusual in that there would often be 5 or so playmakers in the side. He liked defenders who were comfortable on the ball and full-backs who would attack. The early ones are particularly illuminating because he would also discuss some of the players he had left out. To my knowledge they aren't available on the internet. I'm currently 44 issues (out of a total of 600 or so) short of a complete collection of World Soccer. When I have the complete collection (which should be reasonably soon) I'll go back and post them all up.
On a sidenote, that is one hell of a collection. I've been buying World Soccer religiously for 22yrs now roughly. The first one I bought had Maurice Johnston on the front cover in a Scotland away strip which if memory serves me correctly, was when he was playing for Nantes in France. Out of interest comme, how are you picking up the back issues? Through World Soccer themselves I assume but are you having to search around e-bay etc for the earlier editions?
Purely through ebay. I know the issue you mean. My first copy was December 1990 when Lothar Matthaus had won the World Soccer player of the year award. I then bought it regularly for a few years, but threw them out when I'd finished with them. I started collecting properly in 2005. There are a huge number of them available on ebay, and if you are lucky you can pick up vast numbers available at bulk prices. I bought about 150 of them in one go for about £60 including P&P.
Comme, do you have the issue when World Soccer started the voting for Player of the Century? I've seen their shortlist of 100 but I believe they offered a second 100 as a guide too? I'd be interested to see that and to see how many that finished in the readers final 100 came from outside both World Soccer lists. You don't collect FourFourTwo isses as well? I've read that John Robertson of Forest was inside the FourFourTwo best 100 players ever, on his Wikipedia page, and would be intrigued to see that complete list too Thanks. Eric Batty might have liked my team then if he favoured playmakers, although I think he'd have very much liked yours, and Peru's judging by his article you mentioned before where he selects most of his Best Ever XI from 1950's players if I remember correctly, showing his fondness for relative old-timers.
Yes I do have that copy of World Soccer. Their second 100 is not nearly as good as the first IMO. I'll try and dig it out and post it up when I get home. I sort of collect FourFourTwo as well (a friend of mine has a subscription and he gives me the issues when he's finished with them). I had that issue (I think it's an earlyish one, maybe from about 1996 or so), but don't have it any more. Sorry. Their list wasn't great to be honest. Some very biased choices in it. Yeah I agree. He'd definitely have liked your team. I thought it was a really good one as well .
Thanks Comme, appreciate it. I'm sure the second 100 might provide a few talking points on here - not that we'd want it to take over this thread so I could start a new one if necessary.
From the May 1999 copy of World Soccer Florian Albert Jose Altafini Cliff Bastin Gabriel Batistuta Jim Baxter Bebeto Igor Belanov Dennis Bergkamp Zvonimir Boban Zbigniew Boniek Liam Brady Paul Breitner Emilio Butragueno Jorge Campos Claudio Cannigia Eric Cantona Careca Carlos Alberto Torres Cha Bum-Kun Jose Luis Chilavert Ray Clemence Clodoaldo Dragan Dzajic Preben Elkjaer Paolo Roberto Falcao Paul Gascoigne John Giles David Ginola Jimmy Greaves Arie Haan Gheorghe Hagi Helmut Haller Kurt Hamrin Ernst Happel Hossam Hassan Rene Higuita Ulie Hoeness Geoff Hurst Victor Ikpeba Pat Jennings Kevin Keegan Mario Kempes Jurgen Klinsmann Jurgen Kohler Bora Kostic Ruud Krol Lefter Kuculandonyadis Gregorz Lato Michael Laudrup Gary Lineker Dave Mackay Rabah Madjer Sepp Maier Majid Abdullah Billy Meredith Johan Neeskens Oldrich Nejedly Gunter Netzer Thomas N’Kono Jean-Pierre Papin Toni Polster Antonio Rattin Hector Rial Frank Rijkaard Luigi Riva Bryan Robson Pedro Rocha Romario Ronaldo Paolo Rossi Ian Rush Marcelo Salas Peter Schmeichel Karl-Heinz Schnellinger Bernd Schuster Gaetano Scirea Alan Shearer Peter Shilton Socrates Luis Del Sol Graeme Souness Hristo Stoichkov Luis Suarez Davor Suker Marco Tardelli Jean Tigana Tostao Bert Trautmann Vava Gianluca Vialli Berti Vogts Rudi Voller George Weah John White Ray Wilson Billy Wright Tony Yeboah Rashidi Yekini Branco Zebec Andoni Zubizarreta
Thanks Comme. There's a few names I'm unfamiliar with, then a mixture of some I'd suggest for the top 100, others I'd expect people to suggest for the top 100 and others I'm either under-rating or World Soccer did the opposite - I nominated Yekini and Polster for sheep (although Schwuppe understandably objected about Polster, being an Austrian and Polster being their top striker for a while). Should he be in this list rather than Hans Krankl though? It looks as though anybody getting in based on late 90's form would have had to really impress - I think the May 99 date probably hindered Figo and Rivaldo's chances of playing themselves into even this list. Rivaldo and Shevchenko did make the readers top 100 though. Campos was picked as a sheep in this draft too.
I'm probably just going completely bonkers but I swear I remember one list which featured the likes of Frank Worthington and Dennis Wise! I believe it was in an issue where Eric Cantona picked his own brother, Joel, as one of the 5 greatest players of all-time but I'm not entirely sure.
Are we sending in our votes today? I think I'm pretty decided on my order now, although it was a tough task. There really wasn't a lot to choose between some teams and I could easily see how someone could vote my 15th team as their 3rd, or even 2nd or 1st.
Got mine in last night, though they might cause a bit of controvesry (I am not sure) - it was easily the most 'even' draft I have ever been in, by a distance.
Agreed. It was a really hard task. I tried to rate the teams from more point of views and using more criterias, but after I evaluate and ranked them, I got a headache. My last team could easily someone's first, as the differences between some are too marginal.
I still need votes from ASF, Karloski and nicephoras. Any chance of an eta on when you will be ready? I would rather you take your time to get a fair ranking than rush to get it in, although sooner rather than later would be preferable.
I'll try to have mine in by tonight, but I've spent most of the weekend at work, so it'll probably be pretty late.