Just for fun. Assuming modern game and VI's 3-4-3, with all players at their best in a Barnsley shirt (so not including before and after playing for us). Players listed in random order, but you can only pick the ones on the list. B Potts G Thomas J Butterfield M Appleby G Gardner C Brittain D Perkins C Hignett C Hourihane C Lumsdon C Styles J Williams J Campbell-Ryce M Devaney A Mowatt J Mellis R Glavin H Kane J Scowen D Barnard B Howard J O'Brien M Bullock E Tinkler M James A de Silva A Hammill G Moncur A Neil S McPhail H Colace S Dawson Edit: Yes, some certain wonderful players, including one Mr Redfearn, have been deliberately left out. The idea is work with what you're given and make the system work
In that system the wide men must be full backs first and foremost or it doesnt work so - Brittain. Glavin. James. Barnard. Some of the others would be picked in the front three.
As wonderfully skillful as that midfield would be, it needs a grafter like a Thomas or a Stumpy, otherwise they might never get enough possession of the ball to display the skills....
Nah, just wait to get the ball back at kick off. "We'll score more goals than you! We'll score more goal than you!"
I know I’m being a pedant but if we had some of those players you’d have to change the system. I nearly picked Jordan Williams in my choice. Who I think is a good player (just to fit the formation) but he shouldn’t be mentioned in the same breath as a good number that is on that list
Barnard Hourihane Da Silva Brittain Glavin was well before my time so couldn't really pick him. Kept the wing backs. Could put Howard or Mowatt in the centre instead of Anderson
The wide two are wing backs in VI's system, so you're restricted to 2 actual midfielders. Barnard would be a shoo in on the left, and Eaden likewise on the right. I don't think I'd sully some of the great names to be in this midfield as their roles in our currrent midfield are so stunted and limited. Redfearn and Hourihane would obviously improve it, but they wouldn't have reached their iconic heights in this system as their talents would largely be wasted and reduced to set piece takers (where Hourihane would have a chance to shine) and being ordered to flicking it on/into touch.