All time best XI

[GodalmingYellow]

Probably been done a thousand times already, but I noticed Dr Ceri felt Jemmo was one of the bext OUFC players of all time, so how about posting up your all time best OUFC XI of players you have seen play for the U's, excluding players who were only on loan, by combining players from all eras, or not if you prefer.

I'm going to keep away from the temptation of putting down the complete Milk Cup winning side.

4-4-2 formation
Phil Whitehead
Mike Ford (still thinking about this one)
Gary Briggs
Matt Elliott
David Langan (still thnking about this one)
Joey Beauchamp
Jim Magilton
Trevor Hebberd
George Lawrence (still thinking about this one)
John Aldridge
Dean Windass

[SteMerritt]

Burton

Langan Briggs Elliott Bardsley

Houghton Hebberd Magilton Beauchamp

J Aldridge Hamilton


Subs (5 as per current league rules)

Whitehead (GK)
J Phillips
L Phillips
P Simpson
D Saunders

And really unlucky players who would have to be content with a squad place only....

M Shotton
D Whitehead
D Windass
M Foyle
G Lawrence
S Hardwick
K Brock
L Robinson
B Ford
M Ford

[ty cobb]

4-4-2

GK - Whitehead
LB - Powell
CB - Gilly, Elliot
RB - Robbo
RW - Joey
CM - Magilton
CM - Whitehead
LW - Simmo
ST - Windass
ST - Saunders

Subs - Moody, Bobby Ford, Darren Purse, Robbie Mustoe, Chris Allen

Please note I have only been watching Oxford since 1987 and my memories back then are hazy! Note Jemmo comes nowhere near this team.

[DLT]

Funny but I like to pick in pairs.

For example, which was best central defence combination, Clarke/Roberts, Briggs/Shotton or Elliott/Gilchrist.

Did Langan and Houghton play together much?

Strike force wise it has to be Aldridge/Hamilton.

Whitehead was only rated sohighly because he played behind Elliott and Gilly.

Mike Ford in front of Paul Powell, your having a laugh. Even Bobby Mac.

Joey in preference to Brock or Houseman?

Hebberd and Trewick was the perfect combination even if Trewick had such limitations.

Smith and Gray was different, but they were what Joey and Chrissie needed.

That maybe is what disappoints me most about Jim this time round, he doesn't seem to select combinations that work best.

[ty cobb]

Funny but I like to pick in pairs.

For example, which was best central defence combination, Clarke/Roberts, Briggs/Shotton or Elliott/Gilchrist.

Ah but this is what I have tried to do. Elliott was the best player I have ever seen play for Oxford - he needed someone quick beside him and Gilly was that man. Robbo and Whitehead worked well with this combination so I've picked them. Powell kept us up almost single handly one season (with Richard Knight) so he gets the nod.

Joey has to be in the team he destroyed other teams on his day and is only second to Simmo in terms of a dead ball delivery. With Windass up front he can hold the ball up well and play the nippy Saunders in.

And if it all goes wrong Moody off the bench and the pace of Allen would soon change things!

My only problem would be who takes the free kicks Simmo/Joey/Whitehead or Magilton - a tricky one.

[YF Dan]

A slight variation, the team of players I most enjoyed watching:

Paul Reece
David Langan
Paul Powell
Andy Melville
Matt Elliott
Joey Beauchamp
Jim Magilton
Bobby Ford
Paul Simpson
Paul Moody
Dean Windass

Subs:
Trevor Hebberd
David Bardsley
Dean Saunders
Martin Foyle
Jamie Brooks

I only started going to matches in 1986-7, and only saw Aldridge play twice, and never saw Billy Hamilton.

[SteMerritt]

Funny but I like to pick in pairs.

For example, which was best central defence combination, Clarke/Roberts, Briggs/Shotton or Elliott/Gilchrist.

This is a valid point, but as this is a 'fantasy football' type thing, I don't really think it is that relevant. And who is to say that Elliott/Briggs would have been any worse than Shotton/Briggs?

[DLT]

But would Elliott have been the God he was without Gilly to provide the pace?

Individuals whohave been outstanding footballers could also include Colin Todd, Steve Perryman and Tommy Caton of course.

[SteMerritt]

He didn't have Gilly covering him at Leicester, and he did quite well there!

[dr ceri]

That sounds like a challenge GY! Particulalry to try and get Jemmo into a best 11...Not sure he would quite, but he'd be in the squad....

How about this? This is restricted to who I've actually seen play, natch.

GK Phil Whitehead (the most consistent keeper)

RB Dave Langan (who else?)
CB Matt Elliot (of course)
CB Gary Briggs (although I'm not sure they'd have the pace as a pairing)
LB Paul Powell (not sure we've ever really had any decent LBs)

LM Paul Simpson (God)
CM Trevor Hebberd (Deity)
CM Jim Magilton (prophet)
RM Joey Beauchamp (choir boy)

CF John Aldridge (no words required)
CF Billy Hamilton (can't break up THAT partnership)

Subs: Bobby Ford, Les Phillips, Dean Saunders, Dean Windass, Nigel Jemson

Imbalanced, no proper cover on the bench, but simply the best players I've ever seen don the shirt. I think we'd outscore the opposition more times than not though.

[boris]

I'm going to buck the trend here and pick a few players from way back, to mix it up a bit.

1. Roy Burton
2. Dave Langan
3. Gary Briggs
4. Dave Roberts
5. Jimmy Phillips
6. Joey
7. Ray Houghton
8. Jim Magilton
9. Paul Simpson
10. Nigel Cassidy
11. Derek Clarke

[YF Dan]

I'm pleased that Jimmy Phillips is creeping in, he was class. Probably better than Powell in many ways, but Powell had that one season where he singlehandedly kept us up from left back.

Bardsley was a god too, as good a replacement for Langan as you will ever get without DNA technology.

Shit players I'd forgotten about from that era: Greenall

[DLT]

I hated Bardsley. He would take four strides over halfway with the ball and then punt it in the air at the penalty spot.

A Watford education under G Taylor for sure.

[GodalmingYellow]

Funny but I like to pick in pairs.

For example, which was best central defence combination, Clarke/Roberts, Briggs/Shotton or Elliott/Gilchrist.

Did Langan and Houghton play together much?

Strike force wise it has to be Aldridge/Hamilton.

Whitehead was only rated sohighly because he played behind Elliott and Gilly.

Mike Ford in front of Paul Powell, your having a laugh. Even Bobby Mac.

Joey in preference to Brock or Houseman?

Hebberd and Trewick was the perfect combination even if Trewick had such limitations.

Smith and Gray was different, but they were what Joey and Chrissie needed.

That maybe is what disappoints me most about Jim this time round, he doesn't seem to select combinations that work best.

Powell was a fantastic talent and great to watch, but I still bear a grudge that he wasted it. Also for my XI I wanted a bit of experience and consistency. Bobby Mac was one of the ones I was also thinking of, which is why I put undecided.

Never saw Houseman play, at least not that I remember. Joey ahead of Brock on the wing defo. Don't get me wrong, Brocky is a god, but Joey was so exciting to watch. At the time he made the season ticket money worth it to watch him alone.

Smith and Gray don't come close, though I regard them better now than I did at the time.

[Resurrection Ox]

I'm going to buck the trend here and pick a few players from way back, to mix it up a bit.

1. Roy Burton
2. Dave Langan
3. Gary Briggs
4. Dave Roberts
5. Jimmy Phillips
6. Joey
7. Ray Houghton
8. Jim Magilton
9. Paul Simpson
10. Nigel Cassidy
11. Derek Clarke

Derek Clarke!!! Time has obviously added enchantment young Boris. Cassidy was very very slow as well.

If you're going to go old skool Hughie Curran in his first spell was trmendous. Mick Tait on the subs bench for me. Good shout on Dave Roberts as well.