Greatest EPL XI Ever

The new Premier League season is only days away. What would make your greatest Premier League team combined of all time?

Here's mine -

GK - Peter Schmeichel - For so long, the solid bed rock on which Sir Alex Ferguson built his success on at Manchester United. The fact that Ferguson went through so many keepers after Schmeichel's departure before settling on Edwin van der Saar in 2007 shows how much United depended on the big Dane.

LB - Ashley Cole - One of the most successful yet maligned players in Premier League history. Nevertheless, Ashley Cole's quality is undeniable and so is his success - 3 Premier League titles with two different clubs. Cole has been an ever-present in attack and defence in two sides of London and doesn't look like he's slowing down any time soon.

CB - Rio Ferdinand - Probably one of the greatest centre-backs ever to play the game, let alone in the Premier League. Ferdinand was dependable at the back and a surprise pushing up front. No wonder Leeds and then Manchester United paid so much money for the former West Ham man. Could keep going on if he wanted. Will always be remembered for scoring the last ever goal at Old Trafford in the Fergie era.

CB - John Terry - His qualities as a person are questionable but his defending and skill shouldn't. There's a reason why Terry was picked early in his Chelsea career even with the likes of Marcel Desailly at the club. A one-man club legend and a player who should gain a bit more respect once the tabloids have stopped printing about his personal life and racist misdemeanours.

RB - Gary Neville - One of the best attacking and defending threats of all time. The older Neville brother could cross a ball as well as his more illustrious teammates, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo on the same flank. His leadership at the back in the post Roy Keane era was impeccable.

LM - Ryan Giggs - It seems like Giggs has been around forever - which he has. Possibly the most electric winger in the Premier League in his younger days, Giggs is still effective playing in the middle supporting his younger team-mates. A manager's dream and one who could just play on and on.

CM - Paul Scholes - One of the most talented midfielders England and Manchester United has ever produced. The humble redhead seems like a player who just wants to get on with his business - which happens to be dominating the midfield and coming up frequently to finish off great moves - and often with the most stylish of goals. Was missed so much by United, that they brought him back from retirement.

CM - Steven Gerrard - Is Gerrard the best midfielder that England has ever produced, i.e. better than Sir Bobby Charlton? Liverpool fans now seem to think so with the venerable Gerrard now entering his 15th Premier League season for the club. There is just no greater joy than watching Stevie G at his very best. Now set to be a one-club man.

RM - Cristiano Ronaldo - The most ridiculously skilled player the Premier League has ever had. A goal machine who slowly blossomed at United and peaked enough for Real Madrid to break the transfer record for him. A United legend.

FW - Alan Shearer - England's greatest goalscorer whose goals made the Premier League in its early days. While he didn't quite achieve the success he deserved, at least he gained the satisfaction of playing for and captaining the club he grew up supporting. Devastating even in his late 30s.  

FW - Thierry Henry - The best goalscorer the Premier League has ever had. Henry's key was longevity and good luck with injuries which saw him dominate the goalscoring charts for 6 seasons. The most celebrated player in Premier League history with a collection of PFA Awards from the mid 2000s.

SUBS -
GK - Petr Cech - Chelsea's dependable Czech keeper and one of the best keepers ever to play in the Premier League.

DF - Sol Campbell - big and powerful. Will never be forgotten - and forgiven - by Spurs fans

MF - Frank Lampard - the best goal-scoring midfielder in Premier League history

MF - Gareth Bale - definitely one of the best wingers in Premier League history

FW - Eric Cantona - ooh ah Cantona. Made Manchester United the club it is today.

Sorry Wayne, but King Eric still rules!