Tim Lovejoy's World Of Banter

Why I Love The Beautiful Game #5 – Classic Players

Pele 2Oi oi! I’m writing from the sunny Seychelles, on a great trip with the great lads at Lynx, and we’ve been having a great time playing footy on the beach and downing massive pints of cheeky Pina Coladas long into the warm South American nights.

On my chat and recipes show called Something For The Weekend with Jamie’s missus on BBC2 at 10am on Sundays, conversation often turns to the best footballers ever when the cameras stop rolling, and it’s been no surprise to me whatsoever at all that we’ve spent much of this trip discussing the same topic: football.

Like all true men, I love the colourful past of the Beautiful Game. There’s nothing better than a proper debate about classic players and who they are to get your mouth watering for an argument. It really gets fans excited.

To cut a long story short we’ve all spent hours perfecting our perfect elevens of all time this week and I’m going to share mine with you.

Here it is:

GK Petr Cech
LB Ashley Cole
CB John Terry
CB Beckenbauer
RB Maldini
MF Lamps
MF Stevie G
FW Rooney
FW Torres
FW Pele
FW Drogba

Between the sticks you’ve got my mate, the Czech Petr Cech. There’s no better keeper out there. Czechmate!

It should come as no surprise to see Coley taking up his legendary left back position, and I’ve chosen a German (controversial!) to play alongside JT. I’ve been told Maldini was blinding, so he completes the back four.

In midfield in my eyes, it’s got to be Frankie Lamps and Stevie G. It’s simply a full gone conclusion. Who said they couldn’t play together for England? You’ve only got to look at how good they are as individuals to understand that they are a quality pairing.

Looking further back you’ve got to say that the big man from Brazil Pele’s up there with the best. I’m no supporter of Brazil, but at the end of the day the lad was quality. He scored goals and played in massive matches. He’s got to be up there, or thereabouts.

With Torres, Rooney and Drogba, the deadly trio as I am calling them, completing the attack you’ve got a forward line that anyone would pay to see.

What I wouldn’t give to see a match between all of this lot and today’s current day stars, officiated by one of football’s classic refs, like Collina or the gay one off YouTube.

Now that’s football!

More from Tim Lovejoy's World Of Banter