This week, new Chelsea Co-owner Todd Boehly has come up with a bold, and some would say misguided, proposal that the Premier League introduce an all-star North and South match, similar to those featured in many sport in the United States.
It didn’t go down well, bring up the ongoing debate around fixed congestion and raises many questions, even attract ridicule of the Liverpool Coach Jurgen Klopp when he was asked about the idea after the club’s win over Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Boehly, also co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball, suggested that a North vs South match could be used to financially benefit all levels of football in England, taking MLB as an example because it “makes $200 million from Monday and Tuesday.”
But Klopp responded, saying: “He forgets that in big sports in America these players have four months of rest. That’s completely different in football. What can I say? He has Want to bring Harlem Globetrotters? [an American exhibition basketball team] and let them play against a soccer team? “
Some fans will hate the idea; some might think it could replace the Community Shield pre-season. In all likelihood, it will never happen. But based on current form, what players would be in if an all-star game were announced right now? Mark Ogden and James Olley choose their North and South XI, with no limit on the number of players from a club.
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Premier League North (by Mark Ogden)
GK, Alisson (Liverpool): Alisson is a rare bright spot of Jurgen Klopp’s team this season. While many of his teammates were in decline, this goalkeeper played brilliantly and brilliantly City of Manchester competitors (and colleagues) Brazil International) Ederson for 1st place.
RB, Kieran Trippier (Newcastle): With Trent Alexander-ArnoldLiverpool’s form at Liverpool is declining, the right-back position is in the middle of Man City Kyle Walker and Newcastle’s Trippier. I went for Trippier, but it was a close option. Trippier’s setup ability will work in his favor.
CB, Lisandro Martinez (Man United): This position will usually belong to Liverpool Virgil van Dijk, but he was eliminated, so I went to Martinez. The 24-year-old had a nightmare start at Manchester United after a €57.37m summer transfer from Ajax, but he’s overcome that and excels next to Raphael Varane in the heart of defense.
CB, Ruben Dias (Man City): The best midfielder in the Premier League at the moment and the real leader of Man City’s defence. Lower, but completely reliable.
LB, Joao Cancelo (Man City): With Andy Robertson fighting for form at Liverpool and Luke Shaw Aside from the Manchester United team, Cancelo has no rival for the position. But even if they’re all at their peak, Portugal International will still get the choice.
MIDs, Rodri (Man City): Every top team wants a world-class defensive midfielder, but Man City have the best player in the Premier League with Rodri. Put him in the Liverpool or Manchester United team and they will instantly become much stronger with Spain international shielding four rear.
MIDs, Christian Eriksen (Man United): Eriksen has been one of the standout players of the season so far. His vision and composure on the ball has been compared to Paul Scholes at Old Trafford and his performance was even more remarkable considering the battle he endured to compete. return to play after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
MIDs, Kevin De Bruyne (Man City): The Belgium Midfielder is an obvious choice. In terms of the greatest midfielders of the Premier League era, De Bruyne has earned his place alongside Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
FW, Phil Foden (Man City): Foden can play in any position in midfield or forward, but his pace, movement and vision make him an obvious choice in the attacking role. labour. And the 22-year-old is only getting better.
FW, Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): Salah is still at his best this season, but if any player proves the adage that form is temporary, but class is permanent, it’s the Liverpool striker. . Even when he’s not in top form, he can still win a match without a hitch.
ST, Erling Haaland (City Man): Who else can play as a central striker? Haaland has 10 goals in the Premier League and will certainly break all records. He’ll make it to the World XI, never mind the Northern XI.
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There’s a lot of depth between the northern teams, so I looked beyond the Manchester and Liverpool clubs to add the Leeds winger Jack Harrison and Everton‘S Anthony Gordon after their impressive start to the season. But there is no place for Man United Cristiano Ronaldo. He hasn’t done enough this season.
GK, Ederson (City Man)
DEF, Kyle Walker (City Man)
DEF, Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
MID, Bernardo Silva (City Man)
MID, Jack Harrison (Leeds United)
FW, Anthony Gordon (Everton)
ST, Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)
Premier League South (by James Olley)
This is much more difficult for the South, not least because of the importance of form. I also effectively chose a 4-2-4 formation with Kane falling deeper into the No 10 role for 4-2-3-1 because this team is bound to lose, so it could also go down. .
GK, Hugo Lloris (Tottenham): Edouard Mendy had his troubles at the end Chelseawhile Aaron Ramsdale has not been guaranteed for Arsenalso Lloris gets the nod to someone who can be trusted if the start of the season doesn’t go well.
RB, Reece James (Chelsea): Form has been a bit strained due to his injury, but James is the standout right-back/right-back in the area.
CB, Cristian Romero (Tottenham): The pillar of resilient defense that coach Antonio Conte is trying to introduce at Tottenham.
CB, William Saliba (Arsenal): The 21-year-old wouldn’t have been near this team six weeks ago, but an extremely promising start to the season at Arsenal has given him a nod here. He’s effectively a replacement for veteran Chelsea Thiago Silva just for that reason.
LB, Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal): A less forewarned appearance from City of Manchester at Arsenal (vs Gabriel Jesus).
MIDs, Declan Rice (West Ham): The best defensive midfielder the South has to offer. West Ham have had an uncertain start to the season, but no other player has been more effective at bringing balance to a team.
MIDs, N’Golo Kante (Chelsea): Immediately after the end, former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel lamented the fact that Kante could not play more often. The Blues’ best performance of the season – a 2-2 draw against Tottenham when they really should have – coincided with another great by the World Cup winner.
FW, Bukayo Saka (Arsenal): Would love to get Gabriel Jesus on as he has played a similar role at Man City, but the Brazilian only functions as a centre-back for Arsenal with Saka on the right flank. Saka was always reliable, almost always dangerous.
FW, Raheem Sterling (Chelsea): Sterling began to find his feet at the end of the Tuchel era at Chelsea. His pedigree and his understanding with Harry Kane inside England side gives him more reason to make it, though Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha The result is unfortunately miss.
ST, Harry Kane (Tottenham): August hasn’t always been his month, but the England captain has had a good start to the season and is now third on the list of all-time Premier League goalscorers . An obvious choice.
ST, Alexander Mitrovic (Fulham): Tottenham star Son Heung-Min would have been an automatic pick any other time, but his struggles this season are in stark contrast to that of Mitrovic, who has six goals in seven games, doubling his tally since his last Premier League campaign.
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A lot of these will be initiators to past peak performance and fame, but if this mythical matchup happens tomorrow, the South has a lot of its top stars in trouble. formal problems to be solved.
GK, Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
DEF, Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
MID, Total Pascal (Brighton)
MID, Mason Mount (Chelsea)
FW, Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
FW, Son Heung-Min (Tottenham)
ST, Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
