So far on Team 33, we've examined some of the best and worst movies about football.
But what about some of the best players from those films?
This week, we picked out some of the best fictional footballers to have appeared on our screens. But it also wasn't restricted to movies or TV series. Comic book characters were also on the menu.
We talk about our favourite fictional footballers on this week's podcast. Listen in below (skip 14 minutes in for that segment):
So we've decided to make a starting XI composed solely of fictional footballers and feel free to tear apart our choices on Twitter or on Facebook as we read out every message we get (mainly because we don't get many!)
Monk AKA Jason Statham (Mean Machine)
Goalkeeper
The only option to go between the sticks by default. He should have no trouble under the high ball as seen in this clip from the movie Mean Machine.
Brad Taylor (Home Improvement)
Full-back
The character from the '90s American sitcom was a noted athlete and got an offer to play pro soccer with Birmingham Chubbs (unfortunately not a real team). His athletic ability makes him a good option to play full-back.
Jules Paxton AKA Kiera Knightley (Bend It Like Beckham)
Left wing-back
The side-kick to Jess Bhamra from the hit film, Paxton or Kiera Knightley in the real world, is the only Bend It Like Beckham character to win a place in our team. In the clips below, she sets up a goal or two which suggests a role as an attacking wing-back should work well.
Father Romeo Sensini (Father Ted)
Libero
Due to his experience and advancing years, Father Sensini should make an excellent old-school libero who can step out from the back and launch attacks.
Gavin Harris (Goal 1 and Goal 2)
Undefined midfield role
The ex-Newcastle and Real Madrid midfielder is my choice and my reasoning for his inclusion as a great fictional player can be heard at 15 minute mark:
He is made out to be mates with David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane in the first film, which may inexplicably explain why Real went to the trouble of signing him.
Karl Fletcher (Dream Team)
Invisible shield in front of the defence
He may not be alive after being killed in a dressing room scuffle on the football soap opera that was Dream Team, but he wins a posthumous place in the engine room despite playing further forward in the series. The fact that he returns as a ghost suggests he can play many roles in midfield, from ghosting in from deep to being an invisible shield in front of the defence.
For more about the trophies he won during his Harchester United career, go 14 minutes 18 seconds in:
Bruno Di Gradi (Renford Rejects)
Trequartista
An Italian position for a player obsessed with all things Italian. He was Richard's choice as a football fiction great (go to 17 minute 53 mark for more about young Bruno):
Here is the episode in which Bruno got to play alongside his hero Gianfranco Zola against a team featuring ex-Arsenal hard man Martin Keown:
Santiago Munez (Goal trilogy)
Jinking winger
Plays a couple of games for Newcastle. Does alright. Immediately signed by Real Madrid and is automatically made a Galactico. A reverse Michael Owen should we say.
The player portrayed by Kuno Becker in the ropey film trilogy develops an ego in the sequel so we're throwing him out onto the wing and as far away from the action as possible.
Luis Amor Rodriguez (Dream Team)
Free role (on but not off the pitch)
He cannot be trusted around the Fictional Footballers FC chairman's wife, judging from his actions on Dream Team. But he's included because of what he can do on the pitch.
Roy Race (Roy of the Rovers)
Striker and player manager
The only member of the starting XI who appears in comic form rather than film. He was Joe's choice and for more info on the comic book classic, listen in from the 21 minute mark:
Expect commentators to self-consciously avoid using the term "Roy of the Rovers stuff" around him.
So that's our team which also leaves out the likes of Jimmy Grimble from There's Only One Jimmy Grimble, Ball Boy from The Beano and Ally McCoist's character from movie A Shot at Glory.
The once-waterlogged pitch we expect them to play on. This pitch is in Bray and was waterlogged in 2007. It is not waterlogged at present ©INPHO/Donall Farmer
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