For this week’s Best Ten & Me we went to well for a former staff writer and current free lancer who’s done work for These Footy Times, Football Paradise, The Growler Mag, Breaking the Lines, and the Beautiful Game Network - Dom Bisogno. If you follow him in the Twitterverse, you’ll be acutely aware of his high regards for South American footballers and in particular Mr. Salomón Rondón; we were not let down in our expectations of his inclusion. Dom gave a us a fleshed-out classic 4-4-2 after we gave him the following rules…

You are the Player/Manager and you have to plug yourself in.
Any player selected must have been active in your lifetime.

(GK) Bobby Shuttleworth
I’ve gone with Shuttleworth, who I saw live on many occasions in 2017 for Minnesota United. He moved on to Chicago eventually, but Bobby was an absolute wall on his day. I watched him bust his nose, save critical chances, and make memories for me, so he gets the spot and adds a touch of American.

* (RB) Dominic Bisogno
I’ve always liked fullbacks. Across a range of systems and formations, fullbacks have such a wide range of roles to play. I’ve enjoyed playing both left and right back but decided on the right. I’m not the fastest or smartest player, but I do a half decent job of tracking players and have a good jersey tug in my arms. My dad frequently played the position as well, so perhaps there’s a lineage somewhere in there.

(CB) Virgil Van Dijk
I’m not sure how to word this beyond the obvious. Virgil Van Dijk has emerged as one of the elite defenders of the world, becoming a symbol in a Liverpool squad usually only defined by its attacking options. Commanding, award winning, and ruthless; you simply can’t leave a talent like this out of the eleven.

(CB) Diego Godín
Godín is a special player. For club and country, he’s played at the highest levels for over ten years and built a reputation as a ruthless student of the world’s top defenses at every turn. South America is usually lauded for its attacking talents, but Godín is an example of the top, major trophy worthy, defensive talent available there.

(LB) Andrew Robertson
I struggle to find a reason not to love this man. He’s the rags to riches story we like to think lay behind all our favorite players (but often doesn’t), but he’s also an unapologetic bastard on the pitch. Looking across from my position on the right, I can only dream of showing the level of intensity Robertson does every week.

(RM) Ibson
He’s played for notable clubs in Portugal, Italy, Russia, and Brazil, but it’s Ibson’s three or so years at Minnesota United (both NASL & MLS) that define him for me. Ibson was the most uniquely fun player I’ve ever watched live. He had tricks, he had attitude, he had the occasional goal, he had everything. The club may have not flourished on the league table while he was around, but he’s a player I’ll forever miss being able to watch live for his passion, skill, and drama.

(CM) Yangel Herrera
My Ankles shiver when I watch Herrera play for Granada these days, just like they did years ago watching him play for Venezuela’s U20’s and eventually for the senior team. He’s got a few good goals in him and plenty of assists, but at his core, he’s the quintessential Venezuelan midfielder; he’s a bone cracker. It’ll be years before he hits his prime but I need him in that midfield to teach people a lesson.

(CM) Andrés Iniesta
People don’t appreciate players like Iniesta the way the used to. He didn’t score all the goals, he didn’t have viral celebrations, but by God was Andrés Iniesta a master of the game. In his prime, he is a must.

(LM) Yeferson Soteldo
Easily one of Venezuela’s most exciting young players, Soteldo has lit up Brazil with his offensive play for Santos as of late, along with his recent role as a key attacking option for la Vinotinto. He’s 5’2” but makes up for it with some of the most magical feet you’ll ever see.

(CF) Josef Martínez
Seeing Josef Martínez live in 2017 was a turning point in my relationship with football. He’s one of a few Venezuelan players I’ve seen live and the only I’ve seen score a hat-trick (a shame it was against my club…) Hailing from the same city as my dad, it’s honestly an honor to have any shred of connection to such an insanely talented player.

(CF) Salomón Rondón
He’s Venezuala’s all-time top goal scorer and a historic player for the clubs and trophies he’s managed to win in Europe, he’s alsoprobably going to be my favorite player forever. Rondón is the hard working, genuine man we want all footballers to be. His headers aren’t half bad either.

You are the Player/Manager and you have to plug yourself in.

Any player selected must have been active in your lifetime.