Season 2019-20 Opinion Talking Points
John Giles selects his all-time Everton XI
12 Comments
Former Leeds and Republic of Ireland midfielder, John Giles, has been selecting all-time XIs for several clubs and international sides during the recent break, for Irish radio station Newstalk's Off The Ball show.
This week, it was the turn of Everton, with Giles selecting his all-time XI from the 1960s to now, which unfortunately ruled out (among others) Dixie Dean.
Giles opted for a 3-4-3 formation but did mention that, if he had to select two full-backs, he would have gone for Seamus Coleman (right-back) and Ray Wilson (left-back).
Some of the names shortlisted for each position and his final selections will certainly raise a few eyebrows among Evertonians as will his recollection of an incident at Goodison between himself and Sandy Brown where Giles believes he was an innocent party! It is nonetheless certainly worth a listen:
The John Giles all-time Everton XI is as follows:
Neville Southall
Kevin Ratcliffe
Derek Mountfield
Brian Labone
Howard Kendall
Alan Ball
Colin Harvey
Trevor Steven
Bob Latchford
Alex Young
Andy Gray
Return to Talking Points index : Add your Comments »
Reader Comments (12)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
2 Posted 14/06/2020 at 11:42:09
Often nasty. Fiercely competitive, aggressive, streetwise and very very talented. Even in a team as despised as that brilliant Leeds team were, he still managed to stand out with his win-at-all-cost mentality.
He knew how good Ball, Kendall and Harvey were. He was one of the very few who could give them a game.
3 Posted 14/06/2020 at 12:00:47
Some top players on that list. I listen to my red mate tell me how good Van Dijk is and then I think about how much easier defenders have got it now with most teams playing only one up-front.
Although I'd select a different front three, I'd definitely make sure to put plenty of crosses into the box with Gray and Latchford up top!
4 Posted 14/06/2020 at 13:49:32
5 Posted 14/06/2020 at 21:18:58
Yes, a great side he's picked and I sense, only my view, he's picked it on football and guts and all-round competitiveness and winning at all costs and bounce-back ability.
I'd have put Bob Latchford or Sharpy ahead of Andy Gray, but fitness etc aside I can see in my opinion why he's gone for that side.
If only we could turn back time for next Sunday and put this team out!
6 Posted 15/06/2020 at 12:48:18
Then I realised I hadn't seen much from him lately. Hope he's just taking a back seat until the footy starts...
7 Posted 15/06/2020 at 12:53:13
8 Posted 16/06/2020 at 15:31:55
Johnny Giles was Revie's snide in chief, assisted by that other little gobshite Bremner. Revie's cowardly policy of getting your retaliation in first to upset the opposition was based on fear of failing...trouble was - it worked, we fell for it and contributed to our own downfall on that fateful November afternoon.
The thing is - they could play, there was no need. But Giles knows the truth, as his continued (somewhat successful) attempts at revisionism over the years shows.
One of his quotes - gist - a team with Gabriel, Kay and Morrissey in and WE get called dirty.
Clough nailed them - Cheats - throw your medals away
9 Posted 16/06/2020 at 16:57:47
10 Posted 20/06/2020 at 18:35:14
Neville: What was she like, Oz?
Oz: She was like Johnny Giles. A bit older. a bit slower, but she was always in the right position and willing to give the right pass.
Moxey: I once went out with a woman who looked like Billy Bremner.
Later in the episode, it transpired that Oz had been with the wife of the Customs guy who impounded his car, which gave us one of my favourite comedy lines ever:
"Why aye, Oz, he nabbed your car and you knobbed his missus!"
11 Posted 01/07/2020 at 10:51:55
12 Posted 04/07/2020 at 15:37:27
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
Top of the Page
1 Posted 14/06/2020 at 11:22:59