The EFC Heritage Society Dream Team - The 90's

Nervous Nineties to the last silver lining

If the Seventies were the dark ages then two of the seasons out of the decade were, to coin the Nick Frost and Simon Pegg Cornetto trilogy, “at Worlds End”. But again as in the Seventies heroes arrived to become legends. So, here we go again, piecing together my team that turned nightmares into dreams.

There are a number of players which cross eighties into nineties and nineties to noughties so they will stay in their prime years. Although one legend made it, it was easy as the competition was not that fierce to keep him out.

Big Nev: Still the best keeper to grace our green grass no disrespect to Ted Sagar as I wasn’t around even in my dad’s thoughts. What can be said that hasn’t already been said?

At Right back, this guy became a legend when he turned away from the dark side and used his Jedi powers to turn from excellent midfielder to international class right back, another adopted scouser, this time from Yorkshire: “Sir” Ian Snodin.

At left back as Thomas fed Latchford, this guy’s left foot fed Ferguson. Andy Hinchcliffe was a sublime crosser of the ball. I can’t remember a better player to deliver a corner maybe he should train the current squad.

Centre half was hard for me. Ratters and Weir obviously crossed decades so they stay in the eighties and noughties. Therefore the last captain to lift silverware was Dave Watson, once a red always a Blue as the rumours go. Who cares, he is another legend of a captain in a similar role to Lyonsy.

Alongside Waggy must be Rhino is this gladiators well this guy was a gladiator twice left Graceland to come back, a mean shot who would run through brick wall and another centre half to have donned the armband.

When you think of Joe Royle’s reign, the side had the Dogs of War tag which was slightly unfair but gave us an edge to scare some teams away. Two of the Dogs of War would be in my team – Joe Parkinson slightly behind John Ebbrell. Both players died for the cause and had to retire far too soon, which was a shame. Nevertheless they will always be Evertonians through and through.

In the wide midfield roles were two players not from the banks of the royal blue Mersey but were to be diamond to sparkle and brighten up some of the glum nineties. On the right was the man who had the bottle to take a penalty against Wimbledon on that day which felt like a funeral and rattle the bar in the Cup only for Paul Rideout to hit in the rebound. As I said, "diamond", and this one was Graham Stuart.

On the Left was our one-man Russian army, Andre Kanchelskis. Like a MIG fighter bombing the opponents, destroying teams single handedly – like Liverpool at Anfield and Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough to name a few – he was truly World Class. Well done Joe Royle for bringing him into the fold.

Before I talk about the No 9, this next player grew up an Evertonian, played as an Evertonian and sadly probably died as an Evertonian. He left suddenly but we were so grateful to have had Gary Speed be our player and a captain. He was a perfect number 10 just edging out Graham to the wing.

And so to the BIG Man Duncan Ferguson. What a talisman, a number 9 on the field if there ever was one from by-gone times where goalies were opponents not ornaments that could not be touched. He was as good on the ground as in the air, but he put the fear of God into defences. Ask Jimmy Bullard.

On the bench I had a list of players which I couldn’t fit. Some great individuals in the past like Dacourt, Collins, Whiteside and Hughes who couldn’t quite stay long enough or were past their prime.

Sub goalie who just edged out Simonsen was Thomas Myhre. Two players who backed up the defence were the sublime Richard Gough. What a player he must have been in his younger days, he was class. The other defender who could do a job at left back or in midfield if asked was the late great Gary Ablett. So graceful bringing the ball out. “Better than Hansen,” I say.

Two midfielders on the bench. “Who needs Cantona when we got BARRY HORNE”. Barry was part of the Dogs of War but was a more gifted, educated player both on and off the pitch than he was given credit for. He deserves a place for THAT goal.

The next player slightly eccentrically gave away a peno in THAT game but, as described nowadays, "won" a penalty for Diamond to score. Another tricky player, Anders Limpar who edged out Pat Nevin.

The last sub. I wanted it to be Paul Rideout. I remember seeing him at Wembley score a screamer for England School boys and again he scored the winner at Wembley, but wasn’t as prolific as super Kevin Campbell. He takes the last place. Super Kev did the damage to many a team and a great captain as well.

Hold on. What’s happening? I’ve changed the rules as Amo as ran on to the subs bench, The greatest substitution to never be wanted Daniel Amokachi at Elland Road. I loved Amo. He was so unpredictable that not only didn’t defenders know what he was going to do, neither did he.

As I said with the seventies, it’s all about perceptions and your own memories of players, so bring it on with your teams and memories.

Follow @RWGbluenose

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