FansBet Star Sixes Dream Team

The FansBet Star Sixes is almost here and with so much talent playing, Dylan Macdonald from the Clyde Glasgow Branch selects his very own FansBet Star Sixes Dream Team from all the players that will be present at the tournament.

Rab Douglas (Scotland), Stephen Craigan (Northern Ireland), Joe Cole (England), Jorg Albertz (ROTW), Niall Quinn (Republic of Ireland), Ryan Giggs (Wales)

With the immense amount of talent that will be on show at FansBet Star Sixes 2019 in Glasgow, picking my dream six a side team was always going to be a challenge. However, I’ve given it a shot and managed to pick one dream ex-pro from each of the six teams competing at January’s event. Going for a balanced team with defence grit and attacking flair in abundance, here is my dream team…

Team Scotland get a training session in ahead of Star Sixes

Rab Douglas (Scotland)

The last person you’d want to see as you were bearing down on goal, shaking in your boots no doubt.

Scotland’s number one for the FansBet Star Sixes has played in some of the biggest games in the world, including a UEFA Cup (now the UEFA Europa League…) final with Celtic and internationals with Scotland, but it’s his towering presence and no fear attitude that are most fondly remembered.

As a supporter of a lower league Scottish club, I remember Rab in his early 40s turning out for both Forfar and Arbroath following a second successful spell at Dundee which ended in 2013. Travelling the country, passing on his experience and knowledge to part-time players for the love of the game.

Pulling on the famous dark blue of home nation Scotland being watched by friends, family and fans as well as playing alongside fellow professionals from down the years, Rab will give his all to make sure Scotland are defensively sound and bring the FansBet Star Sixes trophy home to Glasgow!

Ferguson, McNamara, Hutchison: Meet The Scotland Star Sixes Line-Up

Stephen Craigan (Northern Ireland)

I think it’s safe to say everyone is looking forward to seeing former Northern Ireland, Partick Thistle and Motherwell defender Stephen Craigan pretending every opposition player at the FansBet Star Sixes is Chris Sutton and giving them a good old Glasgow welcome.

These days we are used to watching Stephen, Chris and the gang talk all things Scottish football on BT Sport with expertly delivered analysis and honest opinions on the ever-changing state of our game. Chris will come up against a few of his former domestic and international foes in January at the tournament in Glasgow and I’m sure he’ll be desperate to help guide his Northern Irish side which includes the likes of Dean Sheils, Paddy McCourt and captain Maik Taylor to victory in his adopted nation.

Joe Cole (England)

When I was lucky enough to reside in St.Petersburg, Florida, the Tampa Bay Rowdies were my local team and it was certainly a cracking experience and atmosphere every time you walked into the crowd.

At this time, a former England international by the name of Joe Cole had not long become the Rowdies marquee signing. This signing helped usher in a new era of positivity, competitive football and fans through the turnstiles.

As most of you know, Cole had an incredibly successful and varied career arguably playing his best football at London rivals, West Ham and Chelsea, and finishing his career off in style with some commanding performances and incredible goals across the pond in the USA.

If ever the England side at the FansBet Star Sixes needed a player to pick the right pass whilst controlling the game and throwing in a goal or two, they appear to have their man. Hoping to ruin the mood of the Scottish crowd like captain Michael Owen at last year’s event, Joe Cole is the danger man every side will need to try and keep quiet when the tournament kicks off on the 4^th January.

Owen, Cole, Heskey: Meet the England Star Sixes line-up

Jorg Albertz (Rest of the world)

‘The Hammer’ returns to the city where he well and truly made his name in the footballing world. Still revered by fans around the country for his time in Glasgow, you may need to be picking the ball and the keeper out of the net if Jorg decides to have a pop at goal.

A Rangers legend he may be, however, Jorg holds a special place in mine and many other Clyde fan’s hearts. With Clyde languishing at the bottom end of the then Scottish First Division in 2008, Albertz emerged from retirement to sign a short-term deal with the club scoring two incredibly important trade mark free kicks in the final months of the season to help us keep our status as a First Division club. Even then, he still had the skill and deadly shooting power to trouble any goalkeeper at any level.

This year’s Rest of the World team oozes of quality and experience yet again. They will take some beating and if any of the other five teams competing can get the best of Jorg and his side, they may well be crowned champions.

Niall Quinn (Republic of Ireland)

A former Sunderland player, manager and chairman is set to lead the line for the Republic of Ireland side at the FansBet Star Sixes in Glasgow. Niall Quinn has spent most of his career both on and off the pitch associated with the Black Cats, spells on the pitch with Manchester City and Arsenal as well as off it in the Sky Sports studio featured also, helping them to compete in England’s top tier and scoring over 60 goals during his spell.

With his mix of quality hold up play and bullet like headers, Niall will be a force to be reckoned with in Glasgow. Niall will be hoping his fellow countryman, Steven Reid, can provide the attacking spark to make sure he has plenty of changes to tuck the ball away beyond the keeper.

The FansBet Star Sixes #3TouchChallenge

Ryan Giggs (Wales)

Arguably leaving the best until last here, but you can decide on that one when the FansBet Star Sixes kick off in January.

Not only is Ryan Giggs one of the greatest players to grace our game with over 1,000 games played for Manchester United and 168 goals scored, he is also the current manager of the Welsh national team as they go on the hunt for a place at EURO 2020.

Giggs will be hoping to lead his side back to Glasgow for EURO 2020 but first, he must help mastermind his team’s victory inside the SSE Hydro in January. Littered with talent from across the years, Wales will be hoping they can spring a surprise or two along the way during the tournament with creative spark coming from Craig Bellamy and Rob Earnshaw, whilst staying solid at the back with the help of Danny Gabbidon and Jack Collison marshalling the midfield.