The Definitive TWF UK & Ireland XI (1970 - present) - ST VOTING OPEN

[Deutsch Wolf]

I read Kenny Samson's autobiography last year - it was written before he hit rock bottom but obviously I was aware that his life spiralled out of control - very sad indeed.

I'm too young to remember his career and didn't realise just how long he was England's first choice left back for. He must have been some player.

The only time I remember seeing him play was in the first game I ever watched properly - England vs Ireland at Euro 88. And him spannering the ball weirdly in the air under no pressure towards his own goal led to them scoring the only goal of the match. So not a great impression.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

By the way, Baines and Harte, have a fucking word you lot :icon_lol:

 

[James]

Dennis Irwin
Stuart Pearce
Matt Doherty

Really didnt want to put Ashley cole in this list.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Harte was quality for Leeds!

 

[FrankMunro-371]

The only time I remember seeing him play was in the first game I ever watched properly - England vs Ireland at Euro 88. And him spannering the ball weirdly in the air under no pressure towards his own goal led to them scoring the only goal of the match. So not a great impression.

In his prime, Sansom was an excellent left back, and very good at overlapping and supporting the forwards.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Harte was quality for Leeds!

He turned like Jupiter even when he was young. Brilliant free kick taker but he really wasn't much of a defender.

 

[Langers]

I loved Harte! Fantasy Football LEGEND.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

I read Kenny Samson's autobiography last year - it was written before he hit rock bottom but obviously I was aware that his life spiralled out of control - very sad indeed.

I'm too young to remember his career and didn't realise just how long he was England's first choice left back for. He must have been some player.

I first saw sansom play at Wembley for England schoolboys in about 1973 or 74. He was a cracking left back. 80 odd caps in q time where we didn't play as many internationals. Granted Cole is the only left back who has more and was good but this team will soon become 90s to 00s predicable with Seaman Neville, Cole Ferdinand, Beckham , Lampard , Shearer, Giggs amongst the auto picks. I just want a few in there that were unsung but bloody good. Sansom was that

 

[BillyDee]

Sansom
Pearce
Irwin

 

[Carrotdude]

Ashley Cole
Denis Irwin
Ian Harte

 

[wanderer89]

Ashley Cole
Denis Irwin
Leighton Baines

 

[machin05]

Pretty sure Evra is French, mate

 

[YoungWolf]

Cole
Pearce
Sansom

 

[wanderer89]

Pretty sure Evra is French, mate

I have no idea what you mean... [emoji23]

 

[Sniffer]

Pearce (Stuart not Dennis)
Cole
Sansom

 

[Trips]

I first saw sansom play at Wembley for England schoolboys in about 1973 or 74. He was a cracking left back. 80 odd caps in q time where we didn't play as many internationals. Granted Cole is the only left back who has more and was good but this team will soon become 90s to 00s predicable with Seaman Neville, Cole Ferdinand, Beckham , Lampard , Shearer, Giggs amongst the auto picks. I just want a few in there that were unsung but bloody good. Sansom was that

Golden generation that ultimately failed. A lot of quality footballers emerged in that time period that should have done better than quarter-finals

 

[darlowolf64]

Ashley Cole
Derek Parkin
Stuart Pearce

Kenny Sansom doesn't make my three after much consideration because Squeak really was a fantastic player, another one of that '70s Wolves team that were wrongly overlooked when it came to International recognition and don't get me started on John Richards solitary England cap vs Northern Ireland on the bloody wing!

 

[Tony Towner]

Cole
Pearce
Irwin

 

[YoungWolf]

Golden generation that ultimately failed. A lot of quality footballers emerged in that time period that should have done better than quarter-finals

I still think we should have won euro 2004 (and then maybe the World Cup). If Rooney doesn't get injured we would have beaten Portugal, and even without him we were desperately unfortunate not to.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Golden generation that ultimately failed. A lot of quality footballers emerged in that time period that should have done better than quarter-finals

Yes, there is no denying that , but there were gems in the 70s and 80s too and to us older members ,in their 50s who also grew up with an under achieving England team, Ally's tartan army, jack Charlton's Eire and Gerry Armstrong's goal still remember some of the highlights of that era and I want to highlight some in my selections. Stanley Matthews is revered as a footballer but would he play at the top in today's game? Probably not.