Did you see Andy Gray's team of the decade?

[MrMichael]

Can i just clarify that Gallas never played centre back for Chelsea?

Rarely, he mostly played at right back iirc, which was why he was after leaving for quite a while before he did.

I quite rated Gallas earlier in his career, but he's never really come on the way it looked he could imo, and his mentality has shown to have been more suspect than most would have thought. Not high on any list of the decade for me

[Reece]

Rarely, he mostly played at right back iirc, which was why he was after leaving for quite a while before he did.

I quite rated Gallas earlier in his career, although the last couple of years his mentality has shown to have been more suspect than most would have thought. I wouldn't have him particularly high on that list myself.

I thought it was left back, but your point still stands. He wanted to leave because he was NOT getting played at CB.

[GraciousGooner]

Rarely, he mostly played at right back iirc, which was why he was after leaving for quite a while before he did.

I don't know how i can respond without coming accross as an argumentative WUM, but he played more often at centre back than any other position. So "rarely" is quite ridiculous.

He used to play there with Desailly (Yes pre abramovich does count) for a good while. He also went about 12+ games without conceding.

If no one believes me, why dont they research Gallas' career, he's probably spent 85% of this decade at CB.

P.s. I also know that ONE of the reasons he left Chelsea was due to playing right/left back occasionally.

[MrMichael]

Apologies, having looked at the dates you're quite right, he did play there with Desailly most of the time in his first few seasons, as well as playing on the right occasionally. Most of 2004-6 he was played at left back though. I'd forgotten he was at Chelsea as long as he was.

[dww]

I know, i named them both.

Ferdinand is criminally under rated, because people who read tabloids hear about the odd mistake he makes and live off it for 6 months before his next one.

They do the same each time Benitez makes an odd team selection or substitution. The same Soccer AM fans don't bother actually watching football. It's a mystery United have been so good for a decade and that Benitez has ever won a trophy.

Yes Ferdinand makes the odd mistake now, which I will admit are over analysed, but a few years back he was making bad mistakes that cost goals regularly, back then they weren't receiving as much attention as they do now. And it is for this reason that I wouldn't have him in a team of the decade, team of the last 5 years yes, last 10 no.

Ferdinand is a difficult one - last three years of the decade he was certainly up there before that he was merely good and largely rated highly due to the shock of seeing an English centre back who could pass.

I guess it depends on what you want for your team of the decade - peak performance or consistent contribution.

[Icon]

BBC McNulty -

GOALKEEPER: Shay Given (Newcastle United, Manchester City and the Republic of Ireland) Given was a model of consistency for Newcastle United and has continued this at Eastlands.

He remains as good as ever for club and country, at 33. There has been plenty of debate about signings made by Mark Hughes, but no-one questions Given. Well worth his place in this team, just edging out Brad Friedel and Petr Cech.

RIGHT-BACK: Gary Neville (Manchester United and England) A taste not acquired by many outside Old Trafford, an outspoken champion of Manchester United and a player who has flourished at the highest level for well over a decade. At his peak peerless defensively, and while not a scorer of goals has created his share. Formed one half of a devastating right-flank partnership with David Beckham at Old Trafford.

LEFT-BACK: Ashley Cole (Arsenal, Chelsea and England) Part of Arsenal's "Invincibles" in 2004 and will travel to the World Cup with England as one of Fabio Capello's true world-class stars. Went through a period of public unpopularity after leaving Arsenal, but has been back to his best this season. His performance against Cristiano Ronaldo in the Euro 2004 quarter-final against Portugal at the Stadium of Light remains one of the finest individual defensive displays I have ever witnessed in the flesh.

CENTRE-BACK: John Terry (Chelsea and England) Terry stood alongside Jose Mourinho as one of the shining symbols of Chelsea's resurgence under the "Special One." Brave, maybe sometimes too brave for his own good, ready to risk injury in both penalty areas and the embodiment of what you want a defender to be, with his "over my dead body" approach to conceding goals. Not quite the force of old these days, but still formidable and worthy of a place in this team.

CENTRE-BACK: Rio Ferdinand (West Ham United, Leeds United, Manchester United and England) Thought long and hard about this one for some strange reason, with the Liverpool pair of Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia figuring prominently. The Finn might just get the award for the most under-rated defender of "The Noughties".

Ferdinand gets it, though, for his class, elegance and defensive ability that has contributed so much to Manchester United successes. But it's a close run thing with Carragher and I would see no problem exchanging the two - a cop out, I know.

RIGHT MIDFIELD: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United and Portugal) Right midfield is such a low-grade description of one of the greatest players to grace the Premier League. United's most devastating weapon in recent seasons and sorely missed after his move to Real Madrid. Few players are irreplaceable, but he is one. No contest for this position.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool and England) Getting interesting now. Gerrard is my choice despite vicious competition for these positions, just getting the nod ahead of Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Manchester United's Paul Scholes.

So easy to make a case for those two, but in recent seasons Gerrard has been magnificent, occasionally carrying Liverpool on his own. Virtually won an FA Cup Final and the Champions League on his own. Dynamic and a leader - so he gets the vote.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Patrick Vieira (Arsenal and France) Gone for a partnership in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, and Vieira and Gerrard would not be too shabby. In at the start of the Arsene Wenger revolution and the significance of his contribution can be outlined by the fact they have never quite been the same since his departure. Ruthless midfield enforcer and consummate creator. Last kick for the club earned them their last trophy, the 2005 FA Cup against Manchester United.

LEFT MIDFIELD: Ryan Giggs (Manchester United and Wales) Deservedly crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2009. Could not be left out with 11 Premier League titles to his name.

Still producing outstanding performances at the age of 36, a model professional since making his debut in March 1991 and regarded as a "god" in the Manchester United dressing-room, according to Sir Alex Ferguson.

STRIKER: Alan Shearer (Newcastle and England) Tough competition here, but if you want goals, leadership, bravery and someone to follow into football's trenches, Tyneside legend Shearer is your man.

Even before this decade he won the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers, and while not under-estimating the all-round team ethic of Kenny Dalglish's side, there would have been no title without Shearer. Shearer scored 260 goals in 441 games in the Premier League - this statistic alone ends any argument about his inclusion.

STRIKER: Thierry Henry (Arsenal and France)


No Sami?

[PTP]

Decent team though i would have had Schmiechel in goal, and Bergkamp for Zola - Zola was class but i thought bergkamp was ****ing sheer class!

Though there is others - surely there is a strong arguement for Alan Shearer as well

edit - was looking at gray's team

[GraciousGooner]

Decent team though i would have had Schmiechel in goal, and Bergkamp for Zola - Zola was class but i thought bergkamp was ****ing sheer class!

Though there is others - surely there is a strong arguement for Alan Shearer as well

edit - was looking at gray's team

Team of the decade?

[BillobShaisley]

I thought there was a small chance you were a moron and not a WUM. Shame on me

As LFC fans its our duty not to be a deluded bunch of cunts.

I hate to have to admit the truth, but I wont let that stop me from recognising it. Gary Neville is probably the best RB in the world over the last decade and the best in the premiership by a country mile.