Beaulieu FC Dream Team

I’ve been reading The Independent’s excellent recent series of articles on various clubs’ Dream Teams. I decided it’d be fun to create a Beaulieu FC dream team given that the game has been running for some time now. As I’ve played numerous formations over the previous seasons, I’ve picked one that includes most of the best players while remaining balanced. Given the number of quality players who have come and gone at The Anchor, this proved difficult, especially in the midfield.


GK – Rogerio Ceni

490 Games, 5 Goals, 0 Assists
Seasons 1 - 3

The Anchor hasn’t seen many world class ‘keepers grace the space between the sticks as I try to keep wages for this position as low as possible. Rogerio Ceni was the exception, with a high reputation and high wages to match. Having been bought for next to nothing, he performed admirably a string of fine performances over the course of two seasons. Rogerio Ceni holds off competition from Helton and Handanovic simply due to the length of his stay and the quality of his performances during that time.


DR – Nelson

334 Games, 10 Goals, 29 Assists
Seasons 3-5

The Portuguese defender was perhaps under-rated during his stay at Beaulieu FC. A truly world-class player, with explosive pace and great stats for defending and going forward, he’s a worth addition to the dream team. In truth, a lack of other real options down the right hand side ensures his place, with Longobardi far too young and not having enough impact to be considered.


DL - Balzaretti

326 Games, 1 Goal, 11 Assists
Seasons 4-6

Frederio Balzaretti is another player who deserves his place by merit, but gets it through lack of options. Pernia was a set piece wizard, but his defending left a lot to be desired while other options like Villagra and Zambrano simply weren’t of a high enough quality to consider. Never-the-less, Balzaretti adds sheer quality at left back, with enough skill to go forward and enough pace and defensive know-how to stop all but the best right wingers.


DC – Caceres

1192 Games, 186 Goals, 75 Assists
Seasons 1-6

Martin Caceres is about to complete his 6th season at Beaulieu FC and is the club’s all time appearance record holder. This alone would be enough to tell you he’d be in this list, but the fact is this – he’s one of the best defenders that exist and would walk into pretty much any side in the gameworld. ‘Nuff said.


DC – Onuoha

931 Games, 49 Goals, 48 Assists
Seasons 1-4

Nedum Onouha was another long time player at The Anchor, gracing the pitch at center back and right back for 3 and a half seasons. Blessed with unbelievable pace, over the seasons he added aerial ability and incredible strength to become a beastly defender. His time at The Anchor was only cut short due to the quality of the offer that came in for him. Time will tell whether the impressive Hummels can oust Onouha as Caceres’ partner, but as it stands, Onouha has the edge.


MR - Dani Alves

1061 Games, 139 Goals, 584 Assists
Seasons 1-6

Superman, Dani Alves, wasn’t included at right back so he could feature higher up the pitch where he is more influential. The goals have dried up for Dani over the last couple of seasons, but he’s been just as influential in the assist stakes – he’s averaged better than an assist every other game for the last 6 seasons. There was no real competition for this role, with Diego Valeri, Felipe Monteiro and Rommano Denneboom simply not of a high enough quality. The only real contender is young prodigy Giovanni Capitani. He’s already forced Dani Alves into the right back role on frequent occasions this season, and given time, he could well force himself into this dream team.


ML – Menez

309 Games, 51 Goals, 89 Assists
Seasons 4-6

The toughest choice so far in this list was the position of left wing. Over the course of 6 seasons, I’ve had 4 truly world class players sit in this position – Andres Guardado, Jeremy Menez, Carlos Eduardo and Ismael Aissatti. Carlos Eduardo was in and out of the anchor faster than the roadrunner given his poor performances, while Aissatti was never as comfortable on the wing as he was in the centre, and so misses out in this position. That left Menez and Guardado, and at the end, I decided that both in length of stay and quality of performances, Menez just about edged it. Guardado will have to make do knowing he scored the best goal in Beaulieu FC’s history – a chip over a defender followed by a sublime volley from 30 yards.


MC(d) – Donadel

61 games, 8 Goals, 10 Assists
Season 6

Throughout the history of Beaulieu FC I’ve always had (at least) one defensively minded centre midfielder. The list of players in this position is impressive, including Gobbi, Zapater, Guana, Johnson, Gourcuff, Dessena and most recently, Donadel. Ultimately, I opted for the perhaps controversial choice of Marco Donadel. A truly world class midfielder, I chose the Italian as he’s a real work horse in midfield, with great tackling, ensuring at least one member of the midfield is capable of tracking back. His rounded skillset and defensive nature put him just ahead of the other candidates in my eyes, who were lacking quality (Gobbi, Guana), too defensive (Zapater) or too attacking (Johnson, Gourcuff, Dessena). Whilst Gourcuff, Dessena and arguably Johnson are better players, his defensive qualities combined with brilliant passing combine to bring the best out of the players around him.


AMC - Julio Baptista

580 Games, 328 Goals, 231 Assists
Seasons 2-6

There was never a doubt that club record signing Julio Baptista would be part of any Beaulieu FC dream team. Almost a unique player in the game, The Beast average a goal every other game and an assist almost as often in a long spell at Beaulieu FC. Only a combination of old father time and the need for locks lead to his departure, he’ll be sorely missed by the Beaulieu FC faithful and rightly revered as one of the best players to grace The Anchor.


AMC – Guilherme

866 Games, 608 Goals, 229 Assists
Seasons 1-5

The other AMC position was hotly contested, with a number of world class players eyeing up a place in the dream team. Leandro Lima, Ismael Aissatti, Yoann Gourcuff, Danielle Dessena, Wellington and Pienaar, to name but a few, where all players who would demand a place in most people teams. Ultimately, though, I opted for a player who played upfront for most of his career at The Anchor – Guilherme. Although not his favourite position, he played in the withdrawn role very rarely, I think Guilherme would have thrived alongside Baptista. With great pace, good finishing and long shots, good passing and very apt preferred moves, the club legend Guilherme makes this spot his own.


ST - Pato

262 Games, 320 Goals, 67 Assists
Seasons 5-6

Keeping club-legend Guilherme off the front spot is no ordinary feat, but then Pato is no ordinary player. Over two seasons he’s averaged better than a goal a game upfront and his place is richly deserved. Blistering pace, great finishing and the ability to be in the right place at the right time make Pato one of the best strikers in the game. Diego Milito, Chamakh et al didn’t even come close to ousting The Duck at the spearhead of my samba attacking triumvirate.