Who do we really want in the Premier League?

Given that we are now at the business end of the season, with relegation dogfights and play-off posturing aplenty, the question arises: who do football fans really want in the Premier League? Leaving aside the cash-induced potential for success at clubs like MK Dons and QPR, if we strictly applied a purist criteria of legacy, tradition, atmosphere and fanbase, what 20 teams would best reflect the uniqueness of English football at its highest level? Below is my ideal Premier League (based of course on the unlikely scenario that the clubs listed would all have competitive teams worthy of the Premier League in a given season) along with some explanatory notes. Feel free to question my choices or to come up with your own Premier League wishlist!

IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

Arsenal

Aston Villa

Blackburn

Bolton Wanderers

Chelsea

Coventry - They might have been relegated in 2001 but this was after a 34-year unbroken run spanning back to their initial top flight promotion under the legendary Jimmy Hill in 1967. Also, the impressive Ricoh Arena deserves to reach the heights that Highfield Road did.

Everton

Ipswich Town - Keano-hype aside, the Tractor Boys are one of the great English clubs, having tasted several league and cup successes under such luminaries of the game as Alf Ramsey and Bobby Robson. And who can forget George Burley's 2001 Ipswich side which finished an impressive fifth place — being pipped by Liverpool on the last day of the season for a place in the Champions League.

Leeds United - A given. Hooligan criticisms aside, they get an average attendance at Elland Road of over 25,000... in League One! nuff said.

Liverpool

Manchester United

Manchester City

Newcastle United

Nottingham Forest - With 2 European Cups to their name, the shadow of Brian Clough still looms large at the City Ground, as does more recent memories of the ruthless Stuart Pearce, a fresh-faced Roy Keane and an erratic Pierre Van Hooijdonk!

Portsmouth

Sunderland

Tottenham Hotspur

West Ham

Wigan

AFC Wimbledon - the spiritual continuation of the legendary Crazy Gang following the demise of Wimbledon FC in 2003. Its fiercely loyal fanbase has seen the club go 78 league matches in a row without defeat over three seasons, a run which has already earned them promotion to the Conference National. With support on-board from former Wimbledon FC players and managers such as John Fashanu, Dave Beasant, Efan Ekoku, Neil Sullivan and Dave Bassett, the Crazy Gang mark II are worthy of a Premiership spot on passion and tenacity alone.

What do Arsenal Football Club, Dublin GAA, the Irish Rugby Team, and Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland soccer teams all have in common?

Dr. Kevin O'Flanagan. Confused? For a bit more context, read the following snippet from Brian Glanville in last week's Sunday Times:

"What should be emphasised, however, is that those footballs of yesteryear picked up both moisture and mud from pitches. Playing against Bolton in 1946, Arsenal’s Irish winger, Dr Kevin O’Flanagan, wiped mud from the ball with his sleeve before scoring with an extraordinary right-footed free kick from 30 yards. The same year, sporting allrounder O’Flanagan turned out for Ireland’s rugby union team against France, then featured for the Northern Ireland football team against Scotland seven days later."

Further investigation shows that O'Flanagan also played with distinction for the Republic of Ireland soccer team, was on the Dublin Minor Football team in the 1930s, and had illustrious spells with London Irish, Lansdowne, and Leinster with the oval ball. Puts a bit of perspective on how worked up punters get when they hear of the dilemmas Tomás O'Leary and Shane Long have had with committing to sporting codes!

During his time on the Dublin minor panel, it emerged that O'Flanagan also played soccer with Home Farm, as did soon-to-be Manhcester United legend Johnny Carey. When the GAA found out, O'Flanagan, but not Carey was dropped from the Dublin panel. After moving to London in 1945 to work as a GP, he divided his spare time between playing soccer for Arsenal and rugby union for London Irish - can you imagine anyone from the current none-too-physical Arsenal crop making the London Irish XV? I sure cant! In his debut season with Arsenal, 1945-46, he scored 11 goals in 18 Football League South appearances, finishing as the club’s top scorer. Despite clearly being good enough to play soccer as a professional, he remained an amateur so he could continue to play rugby union.

For more info on O'Flanagan's extraordinary sporting life, check out the following:

- Obituary in The Independent (he passed away in 2006, aged 86)

- Kevin O'Flanagan wikipedia article (nice summary of his life and times)