England's Best Ever Team ?

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England's Greatest Ever Side (As chosen by Football England)

Substitutes:

Gordon Banks * Des Walker * Paul Gascoigne * Stanley Matthews
Gary Lineker

Manager: Bobby Robson

Frank Swift
1947-49; 19 caps

It’s difficult to pick Big Swifty ahead of Banks and Shilton as the war saw to it that his England career started late and was only a relatively short one. There is no doubt that he was a truly great goalkeeper, however, and established a worldwide reputation for being so during his international career.
Gained the England jersey during war time internationals and remained in possession immediately afterwards thrilling crowds everywhere with his bravery and daring as well as his agility which, in someone so big, was truly astonishing.
In fact it is Frank’s sheer size that really gets him the nod over Shilts and Banksy. You would be hard pressed to pick between the three of them on ability alone but Big Swifty was probably a more intimidating presence to opposing forwards.

Jimmy Armfield
1959-66; 43 caps

Right back is not a position England can historically feel particularly proud about and many people might raise their eyebrows at the selection of Armfield. Nobody in the modern era, in our opinion, compares favourably with the Blackpool stalwart, however, and we would be taking a giant leap of faith if we went back to before the First World War and selected Bob Crompton.
While he might not be the most celebrated footballer England have ever had Armfield was a classy performer who was at the forefront of the move away from the traditional, purely defensive, full back towards the modern day version which combines attacking ability with defensive solidity.
Armfield was extremely quick which meant he was able to overlap when the occasion required confident in his ability to recover if the move broke down. He tackled cleanly, read the game well and was thoughtful in everything he did. He was particularly impressive for England in the World Cup finals of 1962 and might well have become a recognised England great if Alf Ramsey had not displayed a somewhat surprising preference for George Cohen.

Neil Franklin
1947-50; 27 caps

Franklin was a truly great centre half and comfortably wins a place in this team as the stopper. Playing in an era when almost every team possessed a raw boned, powerful, aggressive centre forward Franklin consistently showed himself capable of handling himself in a physical battle but he was just as comfortable when engaged in a battle of wits against more subtle opponents or keeping tabs on any forwards with real pace.
Basically, as a defender, he had everything and was probably more at home in international football than in the run of the mill Football League. He was also perfectly comfortable with the ball at his feet and always strove to develop moves from the back.

Bobby Moore
1962-73; 108 caps, 2 goals

Moore is probably the first of our selections who would be an automatic selection in everyone’s all time England team. Served England majestically for over a decade and his greatest triumphs are well known and documented.
A player who oozed class, Moore was one of the finest readers of a game ever, one of the surest timers of a tackle and simply one of the calmest and most collected footballers ever to live. He also backed up his defensive expertise with real quality on the ball and was a constant instigator of attacks with his precise and thoughtful distribution.
Bobby is also the captain of this side.

Eddie Hapgood
1933-39; 30 caps

Unlike at right back England have consistently produced world class left backs and this was a difficult choice to make. Roger Byrne, Ray Wilson, Kenny Sansom, Stuart Pearce and others have all excelled in the number three shirt since the Second World War and there are other notable performers from an even earlier age but Eddie Hapgood gets the nod for our side.
Hapgood was a vital member of the England side in the run up to World War II and also a permanent fixture in the Arsenal team that dominated English football in the 1930’s. Indeed he captained both teams for a prolonged period.
Hapgood was completely before his time in his approach to the full backs’ art. He was a strong tackler who could shiver the spine of opposing wingers with his challenges but he was often delicate, almost artistic, in his treatment and use of the ball. Never one to simply hump the ball clear unless it was absolutely necessary Hapgood would always look to find a well placed colleague with his clearances.
It was at Hapgood’s time that Arsenal began to gain their lucky tag which was due principally to the amount of times they emerged from a spell of heavy pressure to score a vital goal on the break. Hapgood was instrumental in both soaking up this pressure and then relieving it with a precise ball out of defence.

Tom Finney
1947-58; 76 caps, 30 goals

It’s a never ending debate but we are convinced about our choice. The number seven shirt in our All Time England team is going to Tom, not Stan.
Both Finney and Matthews were magnificent performers who served England with total distinction but Finney’s greater all round abilities give him the edge, a decisive edge.
Finney’s dribbling ability was enough to give any full back on earth headaches although it might not have satisfied the purist to the same extent as Matthews’. There was always the feeling that all Finney was interested in was getting the job done, however, and his wing play reflected that. Fast, direct, apparently uncomplicated but baffling enough Finney could roast his man on the outside or the inside, was totally two footed, so was equally happy crossing or shooting, and was capable of out jumping the most strapping centre halves.
Not just the all round winger but the all round forward. Perhaps the all round footballer.

Duncan Edwards
1955-57; 18 caps, 5 goals

It’s hard to estimate Edwards’ actual greatness given his tragically early death and considering him for this kind of team is riven with difficulties. Have his abilities been exaggerated because of his untimely death and did he really have enough time to prove himself one of England’s real greats?
In trying to answer these, and other, questions I began to realise that I was in danger of omitting Edwards for the things he was not allowed to do rather than picking him for the things he was.
How great was Duncan Edwards? At twenty one he was acknowledged as the best player, by a margin, in the team that was the best, by a margin, in the country. He was also the obvious driving force behind a wonderfully vigorous England side and accepted as the man around whom the national side would be moulded in the decade to come. He was known, respected and feared, in about equal measure, throughout the world.
The lasting memory of Edwards is the remarkable physique which in itself was enough to dominate many games but he was also a fine footballer who was almost impossible to stop when storming forward on the attack and five goals from eighteen internationals is testament to the shooting power of a man who was primarily thought of as a destroyer.
And if he was good enough to make Bobby Charlton feel inferior then surely we have no right at all to leave him out.

Bryan Robson
1980-91; 90 caps, 26 goals

Having picked Edwards as one half of the central midfield we really wanted a gifted, creative, ball player to go alongside him but there weren’t any overwhelming candidates. Wilf Mannion and Paul Gascoigne came closest to selection but neither quite seemed to have done enough to merit a place so we had to turn to another dynamic, whole-hearted player in Bryan Robson.
Perhaps that is apt. English football has produced more players of the Edwards/Robson variety than the Mannion/Gascoigne and I suppose we do them better. Plenty of people would scorn us for that but it isn’t really something to be ashamed of.
Like Edwards, Captain Marvel represented everything that is traditionally good about English football. Totally committed, completely unwilling to admit defeat, fiercely competitive and with genuine ability to boot. A great all round midfielder and it’s not going to be much fun playing against him and Edwards.

Bobby Charlton
1958-70; 106 caps, 49 goals

The big question about Bobby was which position to play him in. In a strict 4-4-2 formation it was hard to select him in central midfield or up front but he began his England career on the left wing so there was no real problem putting him on the left hand side of midfield. Obviously he will be given licence to roam from the left hand side and we will be expecting plenty of efforts on goal from this ultimate sharpshooter.
Putting Charlton on one side will also give this side a nice balance as we’ve got our out and out winger on the other. His tremendous stamina will allow him to keep his full back occupied while providing support for both his defence and attack in the central areas.

Tommy Lawton
1939-48; 23 caps, 22 goals

The all time England team has to include a traditional English target man and there have been none better than Lawton, the man who succeeded, and surpassed, Dixie Dean in both the Everton and England teams.
Incomparable in the air, mobile, blessed with a sure touch and a certain finisher with either foot Lawton had everything a centre forward could ask for. As well as scoring plenty himself he will no doubt lay on plenty of chances for his strike partner as well.

Jimmy Greaves
1959-67; 57 caps, 44 goals

Who is England’s best ever finisher? It’s a simple question but not necessarily a simple answer. From Steve Bloomer to Alan Shearer we have produced some splendid goalscorers but, in our opinion, there have been none slicker than Jimmy Greaves.
His image may have been tarnished by his miserable 1966 World Cup and a somewhat sorry later career but in his prime Greaves was electric. His startling turn of pace and razor sharp reflexes made him almost impossible to mark and his finishing was supreme.
As well as being a master poacher Greavsie was also superb bursting through the defence from deep to score magnificent individual goals that were just about thrilling as anything football has ever offered.

Substitutes Bench

Gordon Banks gets the nod over Peter Shilton to start on the bench. Magnificently agile and supremely safe handling ensure that there won’t be any Bonettiesque calamities if Big Swifty ever goes down with food poisoning the day before a big match. You’ll never beat Des Walker but the good news for opposing forwards is that he’s only on the bench in this side so they don’t need to, they’ll have to try to beat Franklin and Moore instead.
Having not picked a real ball playing central midfielder in the starting eleven we needed one on the bench and the choice boiled down to Wilf Mannion or Paul Gascoigne. Mannion, more consistent, reliable and pragmatic, got closer to a starting place but if we need someone to make an impact from the bench then it’s got to be Gazza. Always manic but often magnificent Gascoigne could open up any defence with an inspired pass or a powerful surge and would offer this side something completely different.
Stanley Matthews has to take a place on the bench and while he is a right winger till he dies Finney‘s versatility means he would be a sound option to replace any of the attacking players. As a full back you wouldn‘t fancy seeing Matthews entering the fray after an hour of chasing Finney.
The last place on the bench has to go to an out and out goalscorer and nobody scored as often for England when it really mattered as Gary Lineker. I’m not sure this England team would need bailing out too often, however.
One thing’s for sure, if anyone ever picks an all time Brazil side to take us on we’re going to wipe the floor with it.

Manager: Bobby Robson
1982-90

To be honest Glenn Hoddle is probably the best tactical manager England have ever had but he lost all credibility when he began introducing faith healers and mentioning God more than once a year and Joe Mercer can’t really be considered on the basis of a handful of games in caretaker charge, even though he was a magnificent football man in every respect.
If any of you are up in arms calling for Sir Alf Ramsey, however, then forget it. The fact that the World Cup of 1966 took place in England had more to do with us winning it than the tactics of Sir Alf and his decision to ditch wingers was a move that retarded English football for a decade and led to perhaps the most boring period in our footballing history. His stewardship of the 1970 and ‘74 World Cup campaigns were also disastrous.
Robson, on the other hand, led us through two thrilling World Cup campaigns and, although our progress might have been erratic, he was ultimately only denied glory by a goal that looked suspiciously like handball and a penalty shootout defeat against a set of half human, half robot Germans.
The glorious denouement to his reign also pointed English football away from a dark and dangerous recent past towards a glorious new horizon. He was also a man who somehow managed to retain his dignity while suffering some of the vilest and most unreasonable vitriol ever spouted forth by our press.
Believe you me, Bobby Robson was a great manager, a great bloke and a great Englishman.

To conclude

No doubt you all disagree with this selection, which is fair enough. In over one hundred years of international football there would be something amiss if we hadn’t produced several decent players in the eleven positions we have to fill. This is our choice, however, and the thing we like best about it is that it is a recognisably English side, not simply a collection of talented individuals.
There is plenty of skill and natural ability in the side but all eleven players selected to start were hard working, tough, honest footballers who were more than willing to roll their sleeves up and pitch into a scrap for the sake of their team.
The balance between poise and power should make this a truly formidable line up.
With three defenders (Moore, Franklin and Hapgood) who were all outstanding distributors of the ball this side should enjoy plenty of possession and be especially adept on the counter attack. With Jimmy Armfield bombing down the wing to support the magnificent Tom Finney the right hand side should also be particularly potent.
Edwards and Robson are going to be formidable in the centre, both defensively and charging forward, while Bobby Charlton is going to make the most of a roving commission from the left wing. Up front the partnership of Lawton and Greaves is surely going to be a natural with two differing styles perfectly complementing each other.
Feel free to pick your own but we’re happy with this one.

Honourable Mention
Players who didn’t quite make it but were given serious consideration:

Peter Shilton, Roger Byrne, Kenny Sansom, Stuart Pearce, Dave Watson, Wilf Mannion, Cliff Bastin, Steve Bloomer, Stanley Mortensen.

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Do you think you can pick an all time England team that would give our boys a run for their money?

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A formidable side 
It has to be said that the Football England selection looks like a formidable side, but I think there could be one or two changes in there.

The 'Keeper ...

phil minett  Not rated yet
1.peter shilton, consistently good over 20 years, 1970, 1986 and 1990 world cups.
2.phil neal, very consistent for liverpool, solid defender, excellent ...

Good Selections?  Not rated yet
good selection

just a few thoughts

In 40 years of watching England - Gascoigne is the best player I've seen in the shirt - you even admit he'd dovetail ...

Tom Moore  Not rated yet
Gordon Banks- Purely because he saved the unsavable, and won a world cup, can't do more than that.

Jimmy Armfield- As stated, not a great position for ...

Kesu  Not rated yet
In goal right mate in goal right right ok in goal Gordan Banks right ya know what i mean. Right right-back i´ll have Kenny sansom you know what i mean....