Starblaydia All-Time XI

Overview

In a star-studded ceremony in the Starblaydia Football Association's Headquarters in the captial city of Jhanna, the Minister for Sport Lord Rikaard Van Honjiik announced the official nominations for the All-Time Starblaydia Eleven. Made up of public votes and the obligatory panel of 'experts', we can now present Starblaydia's greatest ever. With three players from each position to choose from, surely the greatest-ever Starblaydi football team of All-Time can be decided?

#1 - Goalkeeper

The Goalkeeper is perhaps the most crucial and tricky player to pick, as any mistakes are frequently punished. No goalie is ever perfect, yet we have to pick the most perfect 'keeper from among our ranks.

The Top Three:

Rodriguez Da Silva

Technically Starblaydia's first ever 'keeper, as he was between the sticks for the 3rd Under-21 World Cup. His athleticism is as legendary as his shaved-head and goatee. The Iskara Daii 'keeper for two decades, he could have walked onto any team he wanted, though stayed with them as they rose from the bottom to the top.

• 55 Caps, 0 Goals (4 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Markus Cragg

Continually behind Da Silva in the race for the differently-coloured jersey through comparative youth and inexperience, Cragg's huge frame was something special in front of goal, as he wass built like a tank, commanding his area with ease. His goal-kicks frequently went straight to the opposition's penalty box after a kick from his massive boot.

• 51 Caps, 0 Goals (13 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Fernando De Marco

Three AOCAF Winners' medals - the most-decorated Starblaydia 'keeper at International level - and being perennial captain of the AOCAF team must count for something. He was alway the 'best of the rest', but is that good enough for the All-Time XI?

• 14 Caps, 0 Goals (7 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)
• AOCAF4 Winner, AOCAF7 Winner, AOCAF8 Winner

#2 - Right-Back

The Starblaydi Right-Back can be a curious creature. Always industrious, ever-solid. Yet every one is marked out by a hint of genius, skill or some other quality that raises them to greatness.

The Top Three:

Philip Ifil

Known for his instantly-recognisable, colour-co-ordinated Bandanas, Philip was interchangeable with Midfielder Enrico Bigon, making them a useful combination. He was always prepared to get forward from the back and loved to unleash his trademark shots from twenty-five or thirty yards, though that provided precisely Zero goals on the international stage.

• 30 Caps, 0 Goals (0 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Robert Cole

The elder of the two Cole Brothers, Robert was two-footed and able to play on either side. Originally seen as a back-up to Ryan Garry in WC15, Robert made the right-side of the park his own in later years, standing alongside his brother Paul who was in the centre of Defence. 'Solid' was always applied to him, though it was his use of both feet that allowed him to excel.

• 33 Caps, 2 Goals (0 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Ceri Salisbury

Able to play at Right- or Centre-Back, Ceri's attacking abilites were used best at Full-Back where his pace and control would get him up the pitch. Seen as a right-sided Left-Back, if that made any sense, he would fly down the wings. His real ability, however, lay in deadly-accurate Free-Kicks, which had pace, power, curve and dip. Awesome going forward, yet not too shabby at the back, either.

• 58 Caps, 6 Goals (0 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

#3 - Left-Back

"Starblaydia have a tradition of great Left-Backs, rampaging Number-Threes who travel from box to box and put in more crosses and shots than your average winger. This, therefore, was a truly difficult choice, one of the most-contested categories.

The Top Three

Ryan Garry

For Vecchio Victors and Starblaydia he was the first-choice as Left-Back and Captain. Though starting his international career at thirty he was hugely influential along the back line and the left-hand side of the field. Slightly more defensive than his counterpart Philip Ifil, Garry was never backward in coming forward.

• 38 Caps, 1 Goal (0 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Vladimir Tsarev

The nearly-man at Left-Back for so many years, he was finally given a starting #3 shirt and promptly won a Regional Title in the 4th AOCAF. Whether it was his attitude to the management or his less-fashionalble club of Internasionale, Tsarev's ability was not really taken into account when the National Selectors came a-calling.

• 32 Caps, 2 Goals (13 Caps, 1 Goal at Under-21 Level)
• AOCAF4 Winner

Khim Azanulbizarn

• 58 Caps, 6 Goals (10 Caps, 4 Goals at Under-21 Level)

#4 - Defensive Midfielder

The position of Defensive-Midfielder has always been a shoe-in for Starblaydia. There has always been at least one outstanding candidate who could sit in front of the back-four like a rock, win the ball and deliver it to the forwards. The Number 4 is a much-coveted shirt in Starblaydi football, and here are its three greatest wearers.

The Top Three:"

Ki-Jana Carter

Forever telling us that it was 'My House!', Ki was big, strong and skillful. His quick feet and great timing let him win the ball from any opponent, and his touch was such that he could set up many a forward for a counter-attack. He commanded the Iskara Daii and Starblaydia midfield for a decade.

• 56 Caps, 2 Goals (4 Caps, 1 Goal at Under-21 Level)

Roberto Di Bradini

The younger of the incredibly-talented Di Bradini brothers at the Daii, Robb quickly earned a Twenty-Million Credit transfer to PARANOiA UNiTED in Dance 2 Revolution. He can play anywhere across the right-hand side, be it defence or midfield or a combination of the two. His out-and-out usefulness and longevity shows he has skills in every department, and his vision for passing and shooting is second-to-none. Not a bad set-piece taker, either.

• 71 Caps, 9 Goals (9 Caps, 2 Goals at Under-21 Level)
• Four Nations Invitational 2 (FNI2) Winner

Jerome Montefalcon

• 64 Caps, 3 Goals (14 Caps, 1 Goal at Under-21 Level)
• AOCAF4 Winner

#5 - Centre-Back Sweeper

Every Central Defensive partnership needs two types of player to make a real team. The Stopper and the Sweeper. The Sweeper is more wily than the stopper, usually talkative and with great positioning abilities, reading the game with great skill and playing the ball out of defence with equal finess.

The Top Three:

Paul Cole

The younger of the two Cole brothers, Paul's career was slightly more illustrious than Robert's, as his career stretched through three World Cup Qualifiers. Swift and Skillful, Paul's defending was near-faultless. Though he scored in Starblaydia's second ever international match, he never increased his tally.

• 34 Caps, 1 Goal (0 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Jean-Pierre Durand

Touted as the 'Classiest Starblaydi Defender Ever', J-P read the flight of a ball and the thread of a pass as good, if not better, than anyone before or after him. He can bring the ball out of defence and play a telling pass or two. He was also a natural Captain thanks to some innate leadership abilities.

• 72 Caps, 3 Goals (14 Caps, 1 Goal at Under-21 Level)
• FNI2 Winner

Valentino Caltabiano

• 20 Caps, 2 Goals (13 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

#6 - Centre-Back Stopper

Every Central Defensive partnership needs two types of player to make a real team. The Stopper and the Sweeper. The Stopper is the big, strong, bruiser of a man. They win the ball in the air nine times out of ten, whichever penalty area they're in. Strength, Power and Determination are their hallmarks.

The Top Three:

Spike Martin

Captained both Under-21s and the Senior Side in his time, he was the first Starblaydi captain to ever lift an International football trophy, in the Fourth Atlantian Oceania Cup of Association Football. Almost as good at Sweeping as he was Stopping, Martin's toughness and heading ability put him in this category.

• 55 Caps, 1 Goal (4 Caps, 1 Goal at Under-21 Level)
• AOCAF4 Winner

Jamie Majeed

• 38 Caps, 1 Goal (9 Caps, 1 Goal at Under-21 Level)
• AOCAF4 Winner

Martin Watt

• 22 Caps, 0 Goals (11 Caps, 1 Goal at Under-21 Level)

#7 - Right Midfielder

If you're not a pin-point crosser, don't try and wear the Number 7 for Starblaydia. That's been the case for every one of our nominees, regardless of any other talents. Be it lightning pace, the ability to go past the opposing Left-Back or stop him in his tracks, Starblaydia's strikers have always fed on crosses from these men.

The Top Three:

David Benson

At 23 he was the youngest player Starblaydia sent to the World Cup 15 Qualifiers. This was because of his excellent cross-field partnership with Haldorsson, which also earnt him a move to Inter and their excellent midfield. Fast and a neat crosser, David was always ready to get back and defend like his life depended on it.

• 39 Caps, 9 Goals (0 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

J.J. Stark

Has any man possessed a better touch of the ball than JJ? Jebediah Josephiah Stark (see why he's always been known as JJ?) had a right foot that could do almost anything with a ball. Super-fast and super-skilled a better Right-Winger we cannot think of. After a spluttering mid-career, a move to Cockbill Street revitalised him and he got back to his true form.

• 65 Caps, 10 Goals (4 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Geraint Evans

Once Captained the Under-21s, half-Druidish Geraint nearly became a fast-bowler, but instead turned into a super-dependable right-midfielder for Starblaydia. Part of the Rise and Rise of Hallad Reavers, Geraint gets forward and back with equal industry, though he's better going forward.

• 46 Caps, 8 Goals (17 Caps, 4 Goals at Under-21 Level)

#8 - Attacking Midfielder

This has always been a problem position for Starblaydia. Do we want a Striker who doesn't mind getting back and into the thick of things, or do we want a midfielder who doesn't get a nosebleed when he gets high up the pitch? Then again, a natural 'in the hole' player isn't that hard to come by... is it?

The Top Three:

Fabricio de Souza Lima

To this day we still can't decide if Fabricio is a striker or a midfielder. More tricks than your average magician concealed a hardworking playmaker who covered as much of the pitch as anyone. Still a fans' favourite wherever he appears, especially as coach for FC Albertine of Spruitland.

• 34 Caps, 6 Goals (0 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Tetsuo Naoki

Half Dance 2 Revolutionary, Tetsuo is not the tallest man on the pitch but he's one of the fastest. A Hammer of a shot coupled with excellent movement and the ability to ghost into the box without anyone noticing led him to score som excellent goals. The Youngest International Cap winner at just 16 when he bagged Seven goals in AOCAF3.

• 54 Caps, 17 Goals (14 Caps, 5 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Syku Lyku-Agbayani

• 37 Caps, 17 Goals (11 Caps, 4 Goals at Under-21 Level)

#9 - Striker

The Starblaydi Number-Nine tends to be a target man for the long-ball. Usually on the tall side and able to flick the ball on, passes to feet and the ability to hold the ball up are useful to have too.

The Top Three.

Nikola Lazerevski

The one, the only. Scoring Eleven goals in the World Cup 15 Qualifiers, "Laser" was a one-man show with all the talent needed to take Starblaydia up the world rankings. His management skills as assistant to Guylain N'Dumbu-Nsungu and then Rikaard Van Honjiik show he has further abilities. His then-record tally of 15 is still the benchmark for anyone who wants to claim they are a top-class Starblaydi marksman.

• 39 Caps, 15 Goals (0 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Eomer Hall

Taller than your average Giant Oak, Eomer's sheer presence on the pitch provided him a lot of goals. A huge target-man for set-pieces and long-balls gave Hallad Reavers and Starblaydia a helluva lot of goals. Captained the Under-21s, too, when they notched up a 3rd Place in U21WC5.

• 58 Caps, 21 Goals (13 Caps, 9 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Marco Del Blanco

• 35 Caps, 12 Goals (15 Caps, 12 Goals at Under-21 Level)
• AOCAF4 Winner

#10 - Striker

At Number Ten comes the most-exciting of all Starblaydi players, the out-and-out striker. Speed, skill and boatloads of goals mark them out as the most-lauded of all Starblaydi players.

The Top Three:

David Bentley

His partnership with Nikola Lazerevski was famous at Penningworth United and for Starblaydia. His goal-scoring was never out-of-this-world but it was his ability to set another player up that was his true gift. When the ball was played to his feet anything was possible.

• 20 Caps, 4 Goals (0 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Simeone Di Bradini

SDB: The legend. Top scorer in almost every tournament, league and competition he ever played in. Won more trophies with Iskara Daii and Alan City than most people will ever see in a lifetime. Forty-Million Credits-worth of pure gold at his peak. Simply sublime.

• 84 Caps, 44 Goals (4 Caps, 3 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Darius Belizaire

• 40 Caps, 19 Goals (16 Caps, 15 Goals at Under-21 Level)

#11 - Left Midfielder

Starblaydia's Left-sided Midfielders tend to be out-and-out wingers, chained to the duties of defending. They exude class and skill, but we always make them work hard.

The Top Three:

Aiden Matranga

He had to wait a long time for his first goal for Starblaydia, as it only came at the age of Thirty-Five as he captained the AOCAF3 team in his last tournament. That well-deserved goal was the first of four, as well as the reason for naming his youngest son Itechton, after the Pedrianan city he scored in. Speed and long-shooting were his speciality, plus he had all the heart of a great player, just like his sons Nick and Itechton.

• 20 Caps, 4 Goals (0 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Stefan Haldorsson

Big, blond and two-footed, Stefan ousted Aiden from the Starting XI, took the Number 11 shirt and never gave it back. His accurate crossing with either foot, as well as heading and shooting were excellent. His free-kicks were awesome and he ran the show from whichever part of the pitch he was standing in. An Artist among Artisans.

• 48 Caps, 9 Goals (0 Caps, 0 Goals at Under-21 Level)

Nick Matranga

• 46 Caps, 12 Goals (10 Caps, 4 Goals at Under-21 Level)