What a team they might have been…

Some great players there but how does Krøldrup slip into your line up?

Surely Materazzi would be the choice from that kind of era given what he went on to achieve?

I would add Colin Todd who was brilliant for Derby but average for us.

I read an interview with Colin Todd only the other month and it was clear he hated his time at Everton.

In his own words, he described Everton as a "cold club" and he couldn't wait to get away. Not sure why he thought this but he didn't stay long.

My God, Todd, Gough, Ginola and Eto'o!

Eugene, I think the biggest asset our club has had in a generation is to be welcoming.

Lindstrøm is going to be a star.

Touched by the head of Zinedine Zidane…

One of three who played for us and in a World Cup Final.

Sadly, we were only in a position to recruit these players when most of them were on the tail end of their careers and available on a free transfer, or certainly cheap enough to match our sparse budget.

Although we got him eventually, we could have had him several years earlier but somehow let him slip through our fingers.

If my memory is correct, he was outstanding at Anfield the last time we won there with a crowd present inside the stadium.

He was the one player that I cursed we didn't sign much earlier in his career but then he signed another contract and was injured for much of his second season.

Gough was over here playing for Kansas City when we brought him in and people thought he was finished after a mediocre spell at Spurs years earlier.

But you're absolutely correct: he was brilliant for us and pushing 40. We always seemed to have one really good centre-back in those lean years of the 90s: Watson, Gough, Weir. Each played a major role in keeping us afloat.

Going off track (sorry Andy!) but the signing of O'Brien, to compete with two other very good central defenders, has given me real hope.

My brain has just thought whilst writing, that maybe Dyche will consider playing all three, especially with players like Lindstrøm and Ndiaye, who might be more suited to playing slightly inside?

But if we could have just signed him sooner, and had him for longer.

Maurice Johnson was another very good player who we got too late, especially because he was already enjoying partying much more than playing football by the time he signed for Everton.

And of course, let's not forget James Rodriguez.

Gordon Lee could have been great but fate and bloody bad luck and a certain referee put paid to Everton's fate.

The wait for success was still a few years away but those were the days!

Now on the cusp of a brilliantly designed new stadium and hopefully a robust business to take over the ownership of Everton, the good times will be back very soon.

The 90s were still a big time for that for footballers, as anyone who ever frequented the Conti could tell you. Regular blizzards of snow on the top floor VIP area.

I agree, providing we keep Branwaithe and make this new signing, I can see a back three.

What a season he gave us. Scorching pace, mazy dribbles, great crosses and dynamite shots. Wish we had him 2 seasons earlier when he was unstoppable for Man Utd.

Both were key players in the 1986-87 campaign.

After all he was a Blue and a Scouser as well, who was seen in the stands before he signed for Celtic...sigh.

Yakubu 3 years earlier would also have been helpful.

How to score goals

Theo Walcott
Gareth Barry
Sylvan Distin
Kevin Campbell
Mark Hughes
Paul Rideout
Andy Gray
Peter Reid
Paul Power
Nigel Martyn

Most of the others already named.

Great thread this, jeez. we've had some top players at our club, sadly most past their best or riddled with various injuries.

Just imagine a front three of Kanchelskis, Campbell and Beardsley now at their very best!!!

Anders Limpar and Norman Whiteside.

I also liked Pat Nevin.

All boyhood blues we missed out on in the 90s. God knows what our youth coaches were doing, as all of them were scouted and recommended to the club.

Fowler was given a "take it or leave it" derisory offer as we had 'a big lad up front from Sefton who comes from a good background'. Whilst the Red Shite bent over backwards…

Probably very childish, but we threw a made-up model with his face onto the fire on Guy Fawkes Night.

He was gutted at the time.

He was never a likeable kid though. Arl arse with a big mouth.

Barmby turned out to be a proper Judas, such a shame as I thought he was very good.

He loved a tackle as well — almost as much as he loved a yellow card!