davieG Posted 22 July 2013 Posted 22 July 2013 Mercury's Greatest XI Our search for the greatest Leicester City side of all time is over. All last week we narrowed down more than 1,000 players to a shortlist of the finest goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards ever to pull on a City shirt – not to forget the greatest managers in the club's history. After taking on board all the readers' comments, our selection panel has come up what they think is the greatest-ever City team. And it is a controversial one. The panel was made up of the Mercury's chief football correspondent Rob Tanner, sports editor Mark Clayton who has watched City since the late 60s, sports writer James Sharpe, who compiled the shortlist, and club legend Alan Birchenall, who played for City through the 1970s and has been representing the club for nearly 35 years. The criteria for selection was that, although there was no minimum number of appearances, it was the player's form while playing for City that was paramount. So, here it is, our greatest City side of all time... GOALKEEPER Shortlist: Gordon Banks, Tim Flowers, Kasey Keller, Sandy McLaren, Peter Shilton, Mark Wallington, Ian Walker. VERDICT: The hardest decision of them all was the first one. It will come as no surprise that, no matter how good the rest of the shortlist was, it was a two-horse race between Banks and Shilton. A World Cup winner versus England's most-capped player. People remember seeing more of Shilton but perhaps that was because he played in a more televised era than Banks, whose exploits were only really shown while playing for England. Was Shilton more of a match- winner, pulling off near- impossible saves, or did Banks have such perfect positioning and anticipation that he rarely needed to be at full stretch? There was the Pele save, of course. The judging panel was split and it almost came down to a flip of a coin but after a long, debate, we went with Banks. It could so have easily been the other way round. Keeper: Banks DEFENCE Shortlist: Colin Appleton, Adam Black, Graham Cross, Matt Elliot, Frank McLintock, David Nish, Peter Rodrigues, Dennis Rofe, John O'Neill, Steve Walsh, Steve Whitworth. VERDICT: There was only one easy decision in our greatest-ever backline – Nish at left-back. A footballer way ahead of his time, a defender as comfortable on the ball as any striker or midfielder and that's taking nothing away from the quality of our other shortlisted left-back Rofe. There was an extremely close call between Whitworth and Rodrigues to fill the opposite full-back spot. The Welshman got the nod because of his raiding runs, added to his defensive steeliness, that frightened the opposition. Whitworth was extremely unlucky but Rodrigues was the complete modern full-back and opposing managers often warned their teams about the dangers he posed. The two centre-half spots came down to two out of four– Cross, Elliott, McLintock and Walsh. We handed Cross the first slot. A ball-winner, comfortable in possession and could also do an excellent job as a holding midfielder. He would surely have played for England, if Bobby Moore had not been in his position. The final berth went to Walsh – just. While Elliott and McLintock were probably better technical players, Walsh's impact at City, his heart and drive got him the nod, despite an appalling disciplinary record early in his career. It wasn't just his performances on the pitch, Walsh typified what City stood for, particularly under Martin O'Neill. But Elliott. a Scottish international who was imperious in the air and more than decent on the deck as well plus a real leader, ran Walsh very close. McLintock can also count himself unfortunate not to be chosen – he was a player of genuine class but has to settle for a place on the bench with Whitworth and Elliott. Defence: Rodrigues, Walsh, Cross, Nish. MIDFIELD Shortlist: Hugh Adcock, Davie Gibson, Lenny Glover, Muzzy Izzet, Neil Lennon, Steve Lynex, Gary McAllister, Kevin MacDonald, Garry Parker, Don Revie, Mike Stringfellow, Keith Weller. VERDICT: With just three places to fill in our greatest-ever midfield, and such a plethora of great names to choose from, this was a difficult decision. Probably the easiest spot to fill was on the right-hand side which went to Weller. A magician with the ball at his feet, he was elegance and class and his taste for the spectacular made him the ultimate match- winner. We were spoilt for choice in the centre of the park with the likes of Lennon, McAllister, Parker and MacDonald on our shortlist but none, not even Revie, were able to mount a serious challenge to the unrivalled natural talent of Gibson. Arguably the most gifted footballer to pull on a City shirt, his graceful control and pinpoint distribution make him the centre of our midfield three. The final question was who should partner them to complete our midfield trio. The blisteringly-quick Glover can count himself unlucky as the final decision came down to Izzet or Stringfellow. While the likes of McAllister and MacDonald became better players once they had left Leicester, Izzet was in full and brilliant bloom while at the club. With sublime ball control, Martin O'Neill's Premier League playmaker fills the final slot, while Stringfellow, who was one of the most feared attacking forces in the country in his prime, takes his place on the bench. Midfield: Weller, Gibson (captain), Izzet STRIKERS Shortlist: Arthur Chandler, Allan Clarke, Steve Claridge, Derek Hines, Gary Lineker, Emile Heskey, Arthur Rowley, Alan Smith, Sep Smith, Frank Worthington. VERDICT: The first spot in our front three goes to the man they call 'Elvis'. Worthington was the first name out of all the judges' mouths. The superstar of Jimmy Bloomfield's skillful side of the 70s, he was a genius with the football. He embodied the elegant flair, arrogance and flamboyance that accompanied him off the pitch as well as on it. Worthington's name was quickly followed by another unanimous decision – Rowley. There had to be a place in the side for the most prolific marksman the Football League has ever witnessed. With 265 City goals to his name, he also holds the club record for the most number of goals in a season with 44. The final place in our starting XI is, fittingly, handed to the player widely regarded as the greatest all-round footballer ever to play for the club – Sep Smith. While only the veteran City fans will ever have seen him play, his legacy made him a certain selection. Controversially, there is no place in our front three for Lineker. Although he has deserved legendary status in Leicester and beyond, the criteria for selection was based on the impact the player had in a City shirt. While a master of the goalscoring art, it was decided that it was only once he had left Filbert Street that he really blossomed into the world-class player. He does, however, make it on to the bench with Leicester's other favourite son, Heskey. Strikers: Sep Smith, Worthington, Rowley. MANAGER Shortlist: Micky Adams, Jimmy Bloomfield, Matt Gillies, Brian Little, Frank O'Farrell, Martin O'Neill. VERDICT: For many City fans, there will only ever be one person who should manage the greatest-ever side – O'Neill. But Bloomfield was a real contender, having put together arguably the most entertaining and best out-and-out footballing side City have ever had and for a time were challenging at the top of the old First Division. But, ultimately, football is about winning trophies and while he may have won the hearts of the City fans, he won no trophies during his time at the club. Matt Gillies won the club's first piece of silverware as well as taking the club to two FA Cup finals and two League Cup finals. Brian Little was the one who started the revolution with three consecutive play-off finals and promotion to the Premier League. But in the end we plumped for O'Neill. Promotion, four top-10 Premier League finishes, two League Cup triumphs in three finals as well as European football made him the obvious choice. Manager: O'Neill Foxestalk Greatest XI Banks Grayson Walsh Elliott Nish Weller Lennon Izzett Worthington Lineker Rowley Manager O'Neill Asst Manager Gillies Subs - Shilton, Whitworth, Rofe, Cross, McAllister, Gibson, Chandler
Zingari Posted 22 July 2013 Posted 22 July 2013 Fantastic looking line up that, i'd pay a lot to see that Not sure why gibbo as captain though ( was he ever team captain ?) Walshie is the stand out captain in my book
Leicester_Numan Posted 22 July 2013 Posted 22 July 2013 Now I don't get why they wanted everyone to vote on the players if they had a panel to pick the team. What a complete waste of people's time
Trav Le Bleu Posted 22 July 2013 Posted 22 July 2013 Not sure how Chandler didn't even make the subs bench on the Mercury version, or the actual team of either!
Wherethefoxhat? Posted 24 July 2013 Posted 24 July 2013 Jimmy Walsh- Striker 1956-64 ......176 appearances.....79 goals !!
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