MARK GOWER – The Charlton midfielder chooses his favourite XI, made up from players he has played with or against in his football career.
GOALKEEPER
Dorus de Vries – Nottingham Forest
A great shot stopper, he’s also comfortable with the ball at his feet and can pass it out well from the back. He was always a good communicator with the back four and you just felt comfortable giving him the ball. That was important in our Swansea team.
RIGHT BACK
Simon Francis – Bournemouth
I played with him at Southend and I thought he had bags of potential then, and now at Bournemouth they’ve just made him captain and he’s getting better every season. A very good attacking player who can overlap and very rarely gets beaten in a one-on-one.
LEFT BACK
Rhoys Wiggins – Charlton
I’ve not played with him long, he’s quite young but he’s got a lot of potential. He loves to get forward, but defensively he’s very good as well. He’s got a good left foot and will get better.
CENTRE BACK
Leon Cort – Charlton
In a side you need height and he pretty much wins every header. He’s had a good career, I’ve played with him at Southend and now we’re together again at Charlton. He’s just dependable, reliable, he doesn’t let you down with a header and he’s good in the attacking box as well.
CENTRE BACK
Adam Barrett – Gillingham
I was with him at Southend for a few years and he’s just one of those guys that committed everything every week. He would never let anybody down and he was a good lad to have in the dressing room.
RIGHT MIDFIELD
Jamal Campbell-Ryce – Notts County
He’s a tricky winger who loves a step-over and he commits defenders, which is quite rare in this day and age. He can win a game for you on his own.
LEFT MIDFIELD
Johnnie Jackson – Charlton
He won’t be too happy with being pushed out on the left, but he’s got a wonderful left foot. He scores goals from midfield and his set-piece delivery is exceptional. He hasn’t really got the legs, which is why he prefers to play in the centre of midfield, but he can’t play there because I am.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Mark Gower – Charlton
I’m an all-round good player! I can defend, I can attack, I can create chances and I’m not bad at set-pieces! I used to get the odd goal, I don’t so much any more, but you can’t have everything.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Kevin Maher – Unattached
I played with him for five years at Southend and he is a good lad. He’s another one that would give anything when he’s on the pitch. He sat behind the strikers dictating the play, but would pop up with the odd goal every once in a while.
STRIKER
Yann Kermorgant – Charlton
I’ve only played with him just recently but I’ve been very impressed. He’s a real handful. He can drop deep and retrieve the ball and he loves turning and splitting the defence. He also wins pretty much everything in the air, which makes him a real danger from set-pieces.
STRIKER
Freddy Eastwood – Southend
He had a period of a few years at Southend in League One and in the Championship where he was untouchable. He was playing with such confidence, every time he got the ball you just felt like something was going to happen and he was superb.
