would be very difficult to choose . . . i was thinking about it. currently i have many blanks . . . need to think about it a bit more.

prob Cech in goal. up front: Adriano and Henry. midfield: Ronaldinho, Lampard, Kaka, dunno who else. defence: Terry, Puyol, dunno who else. lots of choices to be made . . . i'll have to get back to you on that one

Man U 3-1 Charlton

Chelsea 3-0 Newcastle

Liverpool 3-0 Portsmouth

Arsenal 3-2 Wigan

All the big teams won today, but where was Owen and Shearer for Newcastle, were they injured

Peter Crouch's goal drought continues . . .

I like how you included Makelele and Heinze, they are very under rated in my opinion

But I don't know how Drogba makes your list in front of Sheva, Ronaldo, Eto'o, Ibrahimovic, or Gilardino

True, but I don't pick great players because it just goes without saying that they'd make it into nearly everyone's team. I watch EPL mostly and I've just realised that Drogba gets too much stick. I love the fact that he's a such a team player and willing to do anything at the snap of Jose's fingers. That's a player you need. And his technical ability is highly underestimated as well, he's a very well rounded forward. He's a bit of a crybaby though.

Anyone of those strikers you listed would've made my list, but then it gets kind of boring. Sheva is always magnificent and I rate him as the best. Ronaldo also, he's proved himself time and again and got 16 goals last season. This is during a "drought" while he wasn't fit. Eto'o is great and I love him. He's really emerged as a great talent at Barca, he's given more recognition now. He was underrated before he moved. Ibrahimovic is awesome. I love him. I like Crouch, and Ibra is 100000000000x better, so I don't need to explain anymore and Gila is great! Top scoring is a feat in itself, but add to that he did so in a relegation team

Henry is far more creative and skillful than both Shevchenko and Eto'o combined. lots of respect for Eto'o though

They're both in the same mould. Sheva can bring it up from midfield and make runs from deep. He used to do so all the time when he carried Dynamo Kiev. The difference being Sheva (a) can score in any situation, domestically in Italy, Internationals, and in Champion's League and (b) can be played as a striker/poacher.

He plays more as a stirker/paocher now that Kaka has arrived and can bring the ball up from midfield (in a manner that's bordering on supernatural)

Henry is creative. He's improved a lot lately I've noticed. He's composed and banging them in against the bigger sides, but still he doesn't do it regularly enough to my liking. Henry is the type of player that will hit a screamer from 20 yards with a flash of brilliance and creativity, but ask him to tap it in from 6 yards and he's completely useless. How that works is beyond me. His movement and anticipation in the box is virtually non-existant.

Peter Crouch's goal drought continues . . .

I feel sorry for the guy

Man U 3-1 Charlton

Chelsea 3-0 Newcastle

Liverpool 3-0 Portsmouth

Arsenal 3-2 Wigan

All the big teams won today, but where was Owen and Shearer for Newcastle, were they injured

Zenden is showing form

Cisse and Moro both scored, but I want Timmy to score

w00t! 4th successive win without conceding a goal!!!

Hopefully our season starts now and we can start closing the gap at the top!

And I hope Spurs beat Hammers. It'll be tough but go Spurs!

Edited November 19, 200519 yr by red_ed

As I promised!

Watch this guy at work and tell me he isn't one of the world's best defenders!

Add the fact that he has great leadership and he's loyal, even when Barca tried to sell him.

Definitely one of best on my list!

Puyol Compilation

Megaupload, 20.5 MBs

Ya, Puyol is one of the best, only Nesta and Maldini are better, but I am biased on that

by the way: Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona

Ronnie with 2 and Eto'o with the other, Ed would you be able to post the highlights of the game

Roma 1-4 Juve

Roma was horrible, and I actually thought they could have pulled out a draw before the match

Milan just has to keep winning now

yay . . . Barca won!!!!

I'll see what I can do, but the highlights might not arrive until tomorrow if that's ok. I heard Barca played Real off the pitch. I'm downloading the whole game now so I can watch all 90 minutes of action

I rate Nesta, Maldini, Cannavaro, puyol and Stam as awesome centrebacks (Y)(Y) Who else is there? hmmmm... *rubs chin*

I'll see what I can do, but the highlights might not arrive until tomorrow if that's ok. I heard Barca played Real off the pitch. I'm downloading the whole game now so I can watch all 90 minutes of action

I rate Nesta, Maldini, Cannavaro, puyol and Stam as awesome centrebacks (Y)(Y) Who else is there? hmmmm... *rubs chin*

apparently the Real fans clapped Ronaldinho 'cos he was amazing and they booed the Real players off of the pitch.

Terry

Yeh Terry's pretty good, but too many times have I seen Carvalho do his dirty work. He's overhyped in my opinion. Not to say he isn't good. He just isn't as good as everyone makes him out to be. He works well with Carvalho though.

Actually I really like Gallas!

Yeh Terry's pretty good, but too many times have I seen Carvalho do his dirty work. He's overhyped in my opinion. Not to say he isn't good. He just isn't as good as everyone makes him out to be. He works well with Carvalho though.

Actually I really like Gallas!

Gallas is crazy though. he was threatening to buy himself out of his contract

Yeh Terry's pretty good, but too many times have I seen Carvalho do his dirty work. He's overhyped in my opinion. Not to say he isn't good. He just isn't as good as everyone makes him out to be. He works well with Carvalho though.

Actually I really like Gallas!

Gallas is crazy though. he was threatening to buy himself out of his contract

maybe that's why I like him

and sorry about ignoring you on MSN, I had to go out for a little while

but rest assured, I did laugh at your remarks

If he can hit the ball with such precision so far out, how come he doesn't get goals all the time from that distance?

Maybe because defenders bother him?

Real - Barca was great!

Barca dominated in every little part of the pitch. Better defence, better attacking. It was a big tactical victory for Rijkaard, he was much better than his opponent.

I'm not sure Real even had a big chance to score! Did they have one chance?

Eto'o scored his usual goal against Real.

I'm pretty sure they recognise now what they missed back then when they first lend him to Mallorca and later sold him.

And yeah, it was great to see Real fans clapping Barca. It was a great moment for sport.

Also, Marca (or was it As?) calculated that the 22 starting players would cost 2 500 000 000 Euros to buy.

If he can hit the ball with such precision so far out, how come he doesn't get goals all the time from that distance?

Maybe because defenders bother him?

They didn't seem to bother him when he was playing against Real

Real - Barca was great!

Barca dominated in every little part of the pitch. Better defence, better attacking. It was a big tactical victory for Rijkaard, he was much better than his opponent.

I'm not sure Real even had a big chance to score! Did they have one chance?

Eto'o scored his usual goal against Real.

I'm pretty sure they recognise now what they missed back then when they first lend him to Mallorca and later sold him.

And yeah, it was great to see Real fans clapping Barca. It was a great moment for sport.

Also, Marca (or was it As?) calculated that the 22 starting players would cost 2 500 000 000 Euros to buy.

It was great, Barca were just simply on another level. They were phenomenal and I didn't predict the game to be so tactical. Real were absolutely dominated in midfield and they had nothing to show for the first half, although I feel that the Robinho yellow should have been a penalty. The guy was clearly fouled in the box! Although even if they got a penalty I don't think it would've impacted the game. Real's passing was sloppy and their defence was tragic. Their midfield was non existent and they didn't play with any confidence or belief. They didn't win any of the second balls, didn't go into any of the tackles to win the ball, it's like they knew they were defeated already and opted to take out the man instead. Barca played a great passing game and their defence was superb. They smothered Real in midfield and dominated them, causing havoc on the break. Real were pressured so badly, they had to resort to long balls nearly every time. They came out in the second pressing more, attacking more, and creating a few chances, but in the end it wasn't good enough and it's kinda ironic that they conceded more in the second than in the first considering the amount of effort the put in.

When you see football that good there's nothing you can do but clap. :clap: for Barca

Now all they need to do is shore up their defence a bit more

One more thing I forgot.

Yesterday's match was a shock and a big disappointment for me.

Roberto Carlos kicked up Eto'o from behind.

That was completely unexpected from him. It was sly.