Defenders
2003/04 – Mark Bailey, Ben Futcher, Paul Morgan, Matt Bloomer, Kevin Sandwith, Jamie McCombe, Simon Weaver
2018/19 Neal Eardley, Harry Toffolo, Cian Bolger, Jason Shackell, Michael Bostwick, James Brown, James Wilson
I’ve cheated a little here as I’ve brought in Paul Morgan who was out of the play-off semi-final. I never realised that he didn’t play that evening, but we lined up Bloomer, Bailey. McCombe, Futcher and Ellison. To level things up, I’ve thrown James Wilson in to the mix for the current squad. I can’t possibly judge the two squads with Morgan absent.
In terms of the starting XI, Mark Bailey was a fantastic worker, but Neal Eardley definitely edges it. Kevin Sandwith was an accomplished left back, but I’d rather have Harry Toffolo in there.
At centre back it’s really hard to gauge one or two, but I’m going to have Cian Bolger ahead of Ben Futcher. Futch was a decent lad in the air, but he wasn’t a skilled footballer and in my opinion, would never have managed League One. Jamie McCombe comes up against Jason Shackell and again, the current class wins out. McCombe was a good defender, but it would be hard to rate him above Jason Shackell, even at 35. 4-0.
Morgan pulls it back for the 2003/04 side as he’s up against James Wilson, with James Brown losing out in the battle of benched full backs to Kevin Sandwith. We’ve not seen anything of Brown yet and Sandwith was a good solid professional with a stellar left foot that makes it 4-2 on defenders with a tie break that includes Michael Bostwick going up against Simon Weaver.
The current squad wins 5-2.
A bit like comparing chalk with cheese. Far more valid would be to rate the current squad with Murphy’s early 80’s team (the best pure footballing team I ever saw in City colours} or the heroes of 75-76 (the most exciting Imps team ever). As for your Francis Green match-up – surely Jason Roberts can’t be that bad? Green may have worked his socks off but he had more chance of finding a pot of gold under a rainbow than the opposition goalmouth.
Michael, I agree the 1975/6 team was our most exciting – but not our best ever. I’m old enough to remember the 1955/6 side which finished just six points short of promotion to the top flight. Fred Middleton, Tony Emery, Dick Neal, Andy Graver & co were surely City’s best team ever. Up the Imps!!
Wholeheartedly agree, Geoffrey. Dick Neal was chosen for England under-23s that season and was one of the best players I’ve seen in an Imps shirt. And Tony Emery was a magnificent centre back.
Presume you wrote this to get a reaction comparing teams and time periods need to take all factors into consideration to do it justice Keith being suspended 3 directors going in the same week assistant manager departing the scene yeo coming back from new Zealand if you were looking at a nearby season