Central Midfield - The Engine Room of Any Team

 

Central Midfield is probably the most common and widest spectrum compared to other positions on the field. From defensive, all action tacklers like Makelele and Kante, box-to-box battlers like Gerrard and Patrick Viera to the great number tens like Maradona. Everton have had their fair share of great central midfielders over the years, here are my picks for top three.

 

Number Three, Two and One – Colin Harvey, Howard Kendall & Alan Ball

One might accuse me of phoning this one in but from birth we are all taught how good these three were and why the status on Goodison Road is there. I can’t think of any midfielders in Everton’s history that have had quite the impact these three had, the Holy Trinity really must go down as the best we’ve had, because you can’t split them, they were all excellent. Harvey, Kendall and Ball were all part of the great 1970 title winning side and two of them were with Everton for the 1966 FA Cup win as well. Two of them also went on to coach the Toffees later in life as well.

 

Each had the hard work and industry needed to run the centre of the pitch over and over again, and while Alan Ball was clearly the more technically gifted of the three, the other two weren’t far behind and are all very fondly remembered by the old boys that grew up watching them.

 

Honourable Mentions

Surely I have to do one of these so that this isn’t seen as a total cop-out.

 

1.       Tim Cahill – One of Everton’s highest scoring midfielders and an icon of the 2000s David Moyes era. Fondly remembered for his derby goals and corner flag battering celebration.

2.       Peter Reid – Massive part of the 80s all conquering side. Tough as hell and would run through brick walls for the Blues.

3.       Barry Horne – Scored one of the most famous goals in Everton history against Wimbledon and was a member of Joe Royle’s ‘Dogs of War’ alongside Joe Parkinson and John Ebbrell.

4.       Paul Bracewell – Peter Reid’s partner in crime in the 80s. Just as tough and probably slightly more unhinged.

5.       Andy King – Derby hero in the mid-seventies in an era when Liverpool were bloody unstoppable.