Here sits a one-off feature where we talk through our all time Sunderland XI. Think yours is better than any of ours? Tweet @ReadSunderland your XI and you m picked to have you may be picked to have say at Read Sunderland.
Alex Finch (4-4-2)
Sorenson
Bardsley, Rae, Nosworthy, Gray
Arca, Malbranque, Ball ©, Zenden
Quinn, Phillips
I’ve gone for a side that reflects the players that have stood out during my time following Sunderland. Fans favourites such as Gray, Rae and Kevin Ball are integrated in with personal favourites. The work ethic and attitude of players like Bardsley and Nosworthy combined with the pure lovable factor of Malbranque and Zenden make it a lineup to wet the appetite of many a Sunderland fan.
The first and last English European Boot winner sits alongside the tall Irishman and his disco pants. A partnership few could better with them totting up over 400 appearances and 170 goals between them.
The captaincy for me has to go to Kevin Ball. With 340 appearances for the club in that integral central midfield role. He has since gone on to work within the club as coach of the youth side and even cameo roles as first-team coach. A man who has such a strong connection with the club and has proved so loyal not only when playing for the club but also enduring shaky times as a coach. It is hard to find a more loyal professional in the game today.
Boldon Cricket Club (4-3-1-2)
Sorenson
Makin, Bould, Thome, Gray
Summerbee, Hutchinson, Schwarz
Rowell
Quinn, Phillips
After being inundated with XIs from far and wide it was best to create a combined XI. A centre back pairing of Steve Bould and Emerson Thome may not hold the level of appearances that others in the team do although it’s the impression they made in their short time at the club where they took to fans hearts.
A midfield trio sees a mixture of experience and impact players. All three midfielder were appreciated for their time on Wearside due to leaving everything on the pitch. So much so, Hutchinson’s stay was cut short as interest in the homegrown talent was rife in the early 2000s. With experienced full backs in Makin and Gray running up either side this midfield three, it would certainly create a team that would not be taken lightly.
The front three of Rowell, Quinn and Philips is equivalent to a Messi, Suarez, Neymar line up on Wearside. With over 100 goals for Sunderland over ten years at the club, Gary Rowell stands proud in a lethal attacking line up.
Chris Sparks (4-4-2)
Mignolet
Makin, Thome, Evans, Rose
Malbranque, Cattermole, Ball, Arca
Phillips, Bent
I’ve gone for a modern day line-up with the best that I have witnessed during my years at the Stadium of Light. Simon Mignolet is by far the best goalkeeper I have witnessed in red and white, he was colossal and a great bit of business by Steve Bruce. In defence I choose Makin and Rose as the full-backs, both great defensively but could get forward when needed too. Jonny Evans and Emerson Thome are at centre-back and I doubt any premier league striker could get past those two easily!
On the wings I have the creativity of Julio Arca and the loveable Frenchman, Steed Malbranque himself. Both players just oozed class and would still probably get a game today for the club! Whilst we have the brute force of Lee Cattermole and Kevin Ball in the middle of the park. Upfront is the dynamic duo of Kevin Phillips and Darren Bent, those two would score goals in any team and did so for many years on Wearside, with a staggering 166 goals between them!
Here is some of your XI’s that you sent into us at @ReadSunderland…
@ReadSunderland Sorensen,Gray,Makin, Bould,Evans,Ball, Hutchison,Johnston, Summerbee,Phillips,Quinn. Bench Mig,Thome,Cana,Reyna, Jordan,Bent
— Mark Triggs (@mwtriggs) August 24, 2015
@ReadSunderland
Sorenson
Nyron Evans Collins Gray
Summerbee Bally Schwarz Johnston
Super Kev Quinny— Dylan Nelson (@DylanNels03) August 24, 2015
https://twitter.com/MC_SAFC/status/635757143354908672
