GOALKEEPER
Stephen Henderson – West Ham United
One of the best shot stoppers I’ve ever seen, he claims everything from crosses and commands his area. He’s just a top keeper and he’s got his big move to West Ham so everybody obviously thinks the same!
RIGHT BACK
Nathan Jones – Retired
He helped me a lot and always had something interesting to say. He’s always got that little trick to get himself out of trouble. He’s different to other footballers, and he’s on another level with his nutrition and his coaching. It was no surprise to see him step up to coaching and now he’s at Brighton.
LEFT BACK
Kieran Gibbs – Arsenal
I played with him at England U17s and U18s, and he was just a class above anyone else. He’s playing at one of the top teams now so he’s gone on to do some brilliant things. I remember at the time thinking he was going to be good.
CENTRE BACK
Paul Huntington – Preston North End
He’s had that Premier League experience, he’s scored at the highest level, and he’s a good mate of mine so I’ve got to stick him in somewhere! He wins everything in the air.
CENTRE BACK
Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town
He’s played in the World Cup with New Zealand, and is an aggressive centre half who wins everything. He’s horrible to play against and brilliant to play with. I played with him at Ipswich and against when he was at Colchester on loan so I know both sides of the coin!
RIGHT MIDFIELD
Dean Bowditch – MK Dons
I didn’t know whether to put him up front or on the right, but my two front men made my mind up. He gets you goals from any position. He’s a good player and a really good lad as well, and he works so hard.
LEFT MIDFIELD
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Arsenal
I played against him when he was at Southampton a couple of years ago and he scored a great goal. That was when everyone was saying he was going to do great things and he has. His feet were ridiculous and his speed of thought unbelievable.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Ivan Campo – Retired
Such a character you wouldn’t believe, an Eric Cantona sort of character. He was a legend. Technically unbelievable, he brought the Galactico touch to East Anglia.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Gavin Williams – Woking
I used to look up to him at Ipswich when I was in the youth team and he was in the first team. He was a great player. To join forces with him at Yeovil was brilliant. He had that little jinky run. A classic box-to-box midfielder.
STRIKER
Jordan Rhodes – Blackburn Rovers
I grew up with him in the Ipswich academy, setting up all of his goals! He’s always had that ability where he seems to be in the right place at the right time, every time. The ball will never go in the box and not find him somewhere. He’s a really nice character too, one of the nice guys.
STRIKER
Andy Carroll – West Ham United
I played with him for England U19s. He was a bit old school, a big target man that wins everything in the air and if you’re in any trouble you can always pick him out. You can rely on him to hold the ball up pretty well. He had a real aura about him because he’s a big lad and can get you a few goals as well.
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