Not too long ago the Premier League announced they have inducted their first two legends of the English game into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Now with only a day left till voting closes on May 9, Sunday, The Top Flight crew, Site Experts and Contributors, have selected their respective six candidates and who they want to see receive the most prestigious award a Premier League footballer can obtain.
Here is each pick of The Top Flight crew
Contributor – Matthew Bottomley
- John Terry
- Ian Wright
- Frank Lampard
- Michael Owen
- Dennis Bergkamp
- Steven Gerrard
Contributor – Louis Pantziarka
- Roy Keane
- Frank Lampard
- John Terry
- Peter Schmeichel
- Paul Scholes
- Eric Cantona
Contributor – Santiago Alcedo
- Didier Drogba
- Roy Keane
- John Terry
- Steven Gerrard
- Frank Lampard
- Dennis Bergkamp
Contributor – A. Aden
- Ashley Cole
- John Terry
- Frank Lampard
- Steven Gerrard
- Dennis Bergkamp
- Ian Wright
Adding to this, we will take the names of those who show up in each member’s selection, as well as those who appear more times than others.
These picks will go down as the overall TTF prediction picks of who we believe will be the next six candidates to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
You will be shocked to see a Liverpool legend get chosen more often than Man United ones. This is surprising, considering the Red Devils dominated the English top-flight for multiple years under Sir Alex Ferguson.
He also famously produced the beloved “Class of 92” and were kings of the Premier League for nearly three decades. You’d think they’d have the most selected player here but this is not the case.
Contributor – Howard Green
- Eric Cantona
- Didier Drogba
- Steven Gerrard
- Peter Schmeichel
- Van Persie
- Nemanja Vidić
Contributor – Varun K.R. Aithal
- Nemanja Vidić
- Steve Gerrard
- Didier Drogba
- Paul Scholes
- David Beckham
- Patrick Viera
Site Expert – Hridyam Arora
- Patrick Vieira
- Steven Gerrard
- Didier Drogba
- Dennis Bergkamp
- Nemanja Vidić
- John Terry
Site Expert – Ashley Anthony (My picks)
- Steven Gerrard
- Peter Schmeichel
- Robbie Fowler
- Patrick Vieira
- Paul Scholes
- Didier Drogba
Between eight TTF members, there were 17 legendary entries. There was one clear pick but a decision needed to be made for the sixth and final candidate.
Ironically, the pick for number six is between old rivals. Three Manchester United players go up against one Gunner. How do we go about picking the final spot? Pick the odd one out or go on criteria?
TTF overall Premier League Hall of Fame picks
- Steven Gerrard – 7 TTF Votes
- Didier Drogba – 5 TTF Votes
- John Terry – 5 TTF Votes
- Frank Lampard – 4 TTF Votes
- Dennis Bergkamp – 4 TTF Votes
- Check below for pick six – 3 TTF Votes
Crowd favourite and ex-Liverpool “Captain Fantastic” Steven Gerard
Surprised he popped up so many times and made almost everybody’s list? Yup!
This, going by the talks of him not winning a Premier League title and the “he’s not better than Scholes and Lampard” debate.
However, it appears every Premier League lover had and has a soft spot for Stevie G.
What I consider to have won many people over was his inch-perfect passing and his eye for goal from range.
Another determining factor, the great sportsmanship he has always represented on and off the pitch.
Include his rally to Champions League gold back in 2005 in Istanbul, and you have a formula for one great footballer, leader, game-changer, and legend of the English and European game.
Chelsea’s Didier Drogba the entertainer
With Jose Mourinho, Drogba did damage in the EPL. Funny story, his goals were second to his theatrics on the pitch.
There were many African players in the league at the time but what Drogba did for the Blues was nothing short of outstanding.
Yes, his 191 goals and 81 assists in 425 Chelsea games are not as much as other strikers who blessed the English top-flight.
But it was his presence on the pitch and his hold-up play that was a joy to watch and what made him one of the best striker of his generation.
How Mourinho utilised the African’s best attributes was key to their success in their time together at Stamford Bridge.
John Terry and Frank Lampard (share 4 TTF Votes)
John Terry and Frank Lampard, considered as two of the best in their positions and true Chelsea legends – with Drogba, the three were, for some time, the best in their trade under Jose.
Terry, the Blues captain led them to 5 Premier League titles, 1 Champions League, 1 Europa League, 3 EFL Cups and 5 FA Cups – he is a leader amongst leaders.
Lampard, part of the same era but easily the most standout figure of the three Chelsea players. He is to date, the highest-scoring midfielder of the 21st century.
His total of 261 goals in 843 games is closely followed by his countryman and TTF’s top choice to become an EPL Hall of Famer, Steven Gerard.
This is why they appear more than some of Arsenal and Man United members.
Dennis Bergkamp – What goal was your favourite?
Dennis Bergkamp, not here for the number of goals he scored per game, nor per season.
No, he is in this distinguished line-up for the type of goals he scored and how easy on the eye he was with the ball at his feet.
The three-time Premier League champ was instrumental in the Gunners winning campaign back in the 1997-98 season. He racked up a plethora of individual awards for his efforts.
But above all, it was the award for Goal of the Season in the 97/98 campaign and his pirouette goal against Newcastle in 2001/02, which was too voted, Goal of the Season.
The winner of the last spot is a Manchester United player
Four players were eligible to make TTF’s six-man prediction list and slot in, in the last available slot. These four players received 3 TTF Votes apiece.
The toss-up was between, goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, midfielder Paul Scholes, defender Nemanja Vidić, and the last entry with three votes, the rugged Patrick Vieira. What a brilliant foursome to have to choose from, but a winner we must choose.
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The winner for this four-way duel is none other than Peter Schmeichel!
The reasoning for him being selected is because he is and was arguably the best stopper in Premier League history.
That, and in the 6-man selection, there was a player from every position on the pitch – it seemed only fair to give the last spot to a goalkeeper.
Schmeichel also forms part of the most successful team in the Premier League era, as well as being part of the treble-winning side of SAF.
It would be a crime and a sin not to have a Manchester United player on our 6-man predictions list. Their dominance over a long period is yet to be repeated.
They set the bar high, with Liverpool yes, and did in a way Premier League clubs are still attempting to reach their highest achievements.