Goalkeeper
Julian Speroni – Crystal Palace
Very hard working and a top keeper. When I first went to Palace I was quite nervous but he was one of the people who was very welcoming and made life easier for the youngsters.
Right Back
Shaun Derry – Millwall
He keeps everyone going – you need those kind of players, it makes sure everyone is up to scratch because you don’t want to look lazy up against the amount of work he puts in. Never afraid to put his foot in and do the dirty work to allow others to play.
Centre Back
Paul Morgan – Retired
One of the best readers of the game I’ve seen. He was at my first club, Lincoln City, and I was in awe of the way he never broke stride. We’d sometimes play with three in defence and two as wing-backs, and you could afford to play that formation, he could deal with two lumps by himself.
Centre Back
Gareth McAuley – West Brom
He came through the Northern Irish league ahead of me and I remember watching him as a massive presence for Coleraine. He scored a lot of goals as well and it’s no surprise he’s playing in the Premier League.
Left Back
Clint Hill – QPR
Him and Shaun are the same as each other and I don’t think you can ever have enough of their type – one thing I would say is that he is slightly more aggressive as he definitely got sent off a few more times!
Central Midfield
Steven Davis – Southampton
I grew up with him playing for County Antrim. He was always the one everyone else would talk about where he’d end up. A nice guy and very unassuming until you play against him – great passer, quick and loves a tackle.
Central Midfield
Andrea Pirlo – Juventus
We played Juventus for the opening of their new stadium and it was my best experience in football. Having police escorts and a private jet was unreal. During the game me and another lad kept knocking the ball over the top of him and he looked at us as if to say ‘what are you doing’?
Central Midfield
Ben Watson – Wigan
Unbelievable passer. You see people like Steven Gerrard on TV and know they’re great with the ball, but in the flesh and close up you appreciate how good Ben is. You can be big, quick, strong but no one can get near him, he makes it look effortless.
Striker
Victor Moses – Liverpool
At Palace he was just unbelievable with the ball. He goes one way then the other – I don’t think he knows which way he’s going sometimes! A very laid back character as well, someone could try and lay in to him but he’d go past them easily.
Striker
Adrian Mutu – Ajaccio
I played against him in 2006 – I was with Northern Ireland and he was playing for Romania. I remember he nutmegged someone in midfield. I thought I should stand off him so I could stop him going past me – he did anyway.
Striker
Rickie Lambert – Southampton
A class act. I’ve not seen anyone else score a free-kick with a side-foot from 40 yards. I was with him at Bristol Rovers and I’m surprised he hung around League One so long. He realised his potential at Southampton, he told me they have sharper sessions there and he lost weight. So pleased for him with his England form.
