28 Feb 2018 09:48:55
Here's my team if North vs South actually happened. Thoughts appreciated!

GK: De Gea
RB: Kyle Walker
CB: Ben Mee
CB: Vincent Kompany
LB: Andy Robertson

CM: David Silva
CM: Kevin De Bruyne
CM: Nemanja Matic

LW: Sadio Mane
CF: Bobby Firmino
RW: Mo Salah

Bench: Nick Pope, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Virgil Van Dijk, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Seamus Coleman.

1.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 10:08:34
I like that team mate. Mine would be as below though

For the North: (4-3-3, with Deep lying playmaker)

De Gea
Walker, Bailly, Mee, Robertson
De Bruyne, Henderson, Silva
Salah, Firmino, Mane

Pope, Coleman, Kompany, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Sterling, Aguero

Then for South: (3-4-3, with wing backs)

Lloris
Azpilicueta, Alderweireld, Vertonghen
Bellerin, Kante, Dembele, Alonso
Hazard, Ozil
Kane

Courtois, Christenson, Moses, Dier, Alli, Eriksen, Aubameyang

Very clear that most of the attacking midfield and forward quality is up North though. Hence why the top 3 are Liverpool, Man United and Man City. The London clubs are chasing big time this season, but they do have the better defenders and defensive midfielders in my opinion.

2.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 10:13:30
Where are the Burnley players?

3.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 10:29:33
Ah nice one MK 👍🏻.

4.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 10:54:15
Cheers Reaper. I was undecided on Fernandinho or Henderson, but decided to just go more offensive and play Henderson as he's the better passer. Plus Fernandinho is a bit of a red card risk!

I wanted to pick Matic like I'm sure most will, but i just can't on his form from the last season. United are getting totally over run in midfield. And there was his season before last where he downer tools and Chelsea finished 10th. He just seems to have one good season followed by a bad season. In his good seasons he's unplayable, but in his bad seasons he's invisible. Hendo and Fernandinho aren't as good at their peak, but you know what you get from them; hard work and consistency. I'm sure the Hendo pick will raise eyebrows though, even with my explanation to go with it!

5.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 12:02:59
De Gea
TAA Lovren Virgil Robbo
Can Hendo OX
Salah Firmino Mane.

{Ed025's Note - im guessing your a liverpool supporter then..

6.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 12:15:18
De Gea
Walker, Bailey, Kompany, Baines
De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva
Salah, Aguero, Sterling

Obviously Baines is injured (i think) but would be streets ahead of Robertson who has only put a handful of good appearances in so far. Hendo, for me is nowhere near playing at the level he did 2 seasons ago. Sterling is having a stellar season, scoring loads so gets the nod over Mane for me.

7.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 12:30:48
Baines is a good shout Rover. Robertson only git in by default because i could only think of Delph, Young and Martina as alternatives!

On Henderson, i don't think it's fair to leave h'm out fir being injured, but then include Baines. Fit and on form Henderson is a great player. I wouldn't argue against Fernandinho though.

On the Sterling point, statistically he has been better than Mane this season, but Sterling has had De Bruyne ending passes straight to him for 3 yard tap ins all season. If Mane had that kind of service and hadn't been playing back up to Coutinho up to January, he'd at least match Sterling.

Your team still looks quality though. Aside from Baines, i had every player you picked in my 18 man match day squad. But I'd put Baines in, in hindsight.

8.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 13:00:01
Henderson is a good player, quite a way off great. I think he is Matic level, quite a long way off the level of Kante or Dembele. He had one outstanding season but many players has done that before.

I don't dislike him in anyway but whatever definition you use for great he is not at that level.

9.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 13:11:12
De Gea
Walker Kompany VVD Mendy
KDB Fernandinho Silva
Salah Firmino Sane.

10.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 13:31:07
De gea.
Valencia mee Virgil Taylor
Dr bryune matic
Salah firmino sane
Aguero

It would probably be max 3 from any team. So that's why I have some different selections.

11.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 13:38:42
Its quite simple really.
North team :

GK - Lancashire Hotpot (solid)
CB's - Tripe and Onions (No messing with these two)
LB - Tatie Pot (classic and great value for money)
RB - Tattie Ash (goes a long way)

Midfield Three - Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas (Can't be beaten, world class)

Up top - Eccles Cake and Parkin, with Sticky Toffee Pudding through the middle

Manager - Fred Elliott
Dietician and Fitness Consultant - Ed025

That XI is a guaranteed heart attack for them Southern Fancy Dans.

12.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 14:09:11
I suppose how you define "great" is subjective in it's own right, Mark. I kind of have my own rating system for Premier League players; poor, average, good, great, top class, world class. For me, Henderson is caught in between great and top class. In his best season he was top class, but as you say, he's failed to stay fit in order to replicate it. (Anybody below Premier league level i would simply define as League 1 standard, league 2 standard, Championship standard etc. )

I know some people who consider a "great" to be just below "legendary" status though. So it's all about interpretation of the terminology when you look at it like that. I wouldn't say Henderson is in that top tier (Kante, Veratti etc), and although he threatens to break into the second tier (Dembele, Tolisso etc) at times he's not quite done it because he can't stay fit. Great for me, is basically a 3rd tier (Drinkwater, Matic etc) player.

My opinions on players are always evolving though. Last summer I thought Matic was top class and his one bad season was a blip. This season he's shown me that it is his level and it wasn't a blip. He is just an on/ off player, lacking in consistency. Same as Drinkwater who was a huge part in a title win, then had a terrible season. Not sure I've cleared up anything, but my point is, take the term "great" with a pinch of salt 😂 we all define it differently.

13.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 14:35:50
Sorry Juicer, where’s your “pan of scouse”? 🤨.

14.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 15:37:09
Some of the bias here is incredible haha

De gea
Walker
Van Dijk
Bailly
Mendy

De bruyne
Matic

Salah
Silva
Sterling

Aguero

Obviously.

15.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 16:55:30
Good answer all red. I'm not here to constantly stick my tongue up man city's arse. I love footy a nd appreciate kdb aguero, kane etc but I don't like saying how much better they are than our boys.

My answer would be,

Karius

Taa lovren Vvd robbo

Milner Hendo aoc

Salah Firmino mane

Okay I'd have kdb and aguero on the bench. Maybe. Can't bring myself to say matic.

16.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 17:31:24
MK,
Henderson is a fantastic ball winner and one of the best of you play him there. His relentless pressing and energy was something Brendan used it to its maximum. That is when he had his best season. His job was clear. He had world class players alongside him which made it easy for him to succeed.

Where as Hendo is not a great holding midfielder to me. And rightly so coz that is never his strength. His passing is okay and may be the best at the club ( that says a lot about other midfielders honestly ) . His best games has come when he played alongside Coutinho. He is an excellent player when you play him alongside a playmaker.

I have said this in the past, Henderson is not a playmaker but he should be playing alongside a playmaker.
Pirlo had Vidal and Pogba, Xabi had Khadiera and Thiago. Gerrard had Hendo. Let’s hope Jorginho have a Hendo on his side. Our biggest mistake in the last 5 years was to to drop him to the holding role instead of buying one!

You are right on opinions keeps evolving As nobody remains in the same state for years. We could only judge players by season to season. I only judge them by game to game.

17.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 17:26:18
Henderson is a top class player.

18.) 28 Feb 2018
28 Feb 2018 17:54:41
Love LesDennis complaining about the bias, then sticking De Brunye in the deep midfield to shoehorn more city players in and choosing a city left back with about 20 minutes of gametime in the PL.