Every four years the nations come together to watch the greatest sporting spectacle in the world: the World Cup. The talk and commentating is never ending; who's in, who's out, the group draw, the players, the themes, the drama, etc, etc. This great sporting event begins today, and with every eye in the world focused on it, and in celebration of this, I have thought of a way to combine two of the things I love the most, in this case Doctor Who and football.
Upon to this point there have been eleven doctors, if you rule out oddities like the Valeyard or the War Doctor, and Capaldi has only made cameos, mind you. This is the exact number you need to put out a starting team. With the World Cup about to start, I began wondering what a Doctor Who team like like; if each position were played by a different incarnation of the Doctor. What position would Tom Baker or McCoy play? Who would be captain? So, I started patching a team together; here's what I came up with.
William Hartnell (First Doctor) - The First Doctor is among the oldest looking, despite being the youngest in terms of actual age. He does have some athleticism, but he is obviously past his prime, and now he is more of a leader figure, who uses his intelligence and foresight to win the day. He is not above getting impatient with his fellow time-travellers, and he can quickly become angry and begin shouting if things do not go according to plan. If that doesn't scream goalkeeper, I don't know what does.
Patrick Troughton (Second Doctor) - Intelligent but unconventional, the Second Doctor sees no problem with solving an encounter with a dangerous alien by simply running as fast as his merry little legs will take him. He's not particularly brave or athletic, nor does he wish to be in the thick of things, but he excels at running, and he has a wickedly intelligent brain. I could easily see him galavanting up and down the pitch, marauding as a left-fullback.
John Pertwee (Third Doctor) - The Third Doctor would make a perfect football player. He's just got all the right combinations. He's big and powerful, but he is also stylish and graceful. I could see him taking an opponent on in a one-on-one situation, but I could also see him playing a deliciously pleasing pass to a surging teammate if the situation called for it. He has enough ego to be confident in his decision making, but not enough of it to damage team chemistry or make him forget the team's overall goal. He's tall and powerful, so he would be able to win headers, and I think he would have excellent hold-up play. No question, the center-forward position is the Third Doctor's.
Tom Baker (Fourth Doctor) - The Fourth Doctor heads for trouble as soon as he sees it. He loves being impromptu, going into a dangerous situation cold. Once he does get there, he uses his vision and intelligence to destroy his enemies' calculated schemes. He's very much a free bird, and he always does the thing that people expect the least. His silliness and eccentricities are merely a bluff, a ruse, to make people underestimate how intelligent and sophisticated he really is. He sets a trap, draws them in, and then springs it. I can see Baker scoring quite a few goals, but I think his main role on the team would just be a playmaker. His dribbling skills would be excellent, either running at opponents or in tight spaces, with cheeky back heels and step-overs. The center-attacking midfielder role would be his best position.
Peter Davision (Fifth Doctor) - Quiet, but young and athletic, the Fifth Doctor is more gentle and team-oriented than many of his other incarnations. He doesn't mind other people getting the glory, and he doesn't have to be the center of attention. With his gentle spirit, he would be a good and aesthetically pleasing passer, and I think he would be good with the ball at his feet. I could easily see him as a center-back, in the mold of maybe Rio Ferdinand or Carvalho. Of course, he would need someone grittier, harder hitting, and better in the air to pair with him....
Colin Baker (Sixth Doctor) - Egotistical, loud, and with visions of grandeur, the Sixth Doctor is probably the most unlikable incarnation of the Doctor so far. He's mean and unfair, and he seems to enjoy arguing for the sake of arguing. He likes to think of himself as elegant and sophisticated, but in many cases he comes across as a brute or a thug. He wants to be the center of attention as the hero, the goal scorer, the assist maker, whatever, but he won't be because he's just not a team player. Well, he might be the center of attention in some games, but only for the wrong reasons. You know where I'm going with this. The Sixth Doctor would make a perfect no. 6 defensive-midfielder in the role of a destroyer.
William Hartnell (First Doctor) - The First Doctor is among the oldest looking, despite being the youngest in terms of actual age. He does have some athleticism, but he is obviously past his prime, and now he is more of a leader figure, who uses his intelligence and foresight to win the day. He is not above getting impatient with his fellow time-travellers, and he can quickly become angry and begin shouting if things do not go according to plan. If that doesn't scream goalkeeper, I don't know what does.
Patrick Troughton (Second Doctor) - Intelligent but unconventional, the Second Doctor sees no problem with solving an encounter with a dangerous alien by simply running as fast as his merry little legs will take him. He's not particularly brave or athletic, nor does he wish to be in the thick of things, but he excels at running, and he has a wickedly intelligent brain. I could easily see him galavanting up and down the pitch, marauding as a left-fullback.
John Pertwee (Third Doctor) - The Third Doctor would make a perfect football player. He's just got all the right combinations. He's big and powerful, but he is also stylish and graceful. I could see him taking an opponent on in a one-on-one situation, but I could also see him playing a deliciously pleasing pass to a surging teammate if the situation called for it. He has enough ego to be confident in his decision making, but not enough of it to damage team chemistry or make him forget the team's overall goal. He's tall and powerful, so he would be able to win headers, and I think he would have excellent hold-up play. No question, the center-forward position is the Third Doctor's.
Tom Baker (Fourth Doctor) - The Fourth Doctor heads for trouble as soon as he sees it. He loves being impromptu, going into a dangerous situation cold. Once he does get there, he uses his vision and intelligence to destroy his enemies' calculated schemes. He's very much a free bird, and he always does the thing that people expect the least. His silliness and eccentricities are merely a bluff, a ruse, to make people underestimate how intelligent and sophisticated he really is. He sets a trap, draws them in, and then springs it. I can see Baker scoring quite a few goals, but I think his main role on the team would just be a playmaker. His dribbling skills would be excellent, either running at opponents or in tight spaces, with cheeky back heels and step-overs. The center-attacking midfielder role would be his best position.
Peter Davision (Fifth Doctor) - Quiet, but young and athletic, the Fifth Doctor is more gentle and team-oriented than many of his other incarnations. He doesn't mind other people getting the glory, and he doesn't have to be the center of attention. With his gentle spirit, he would be a good and aesthetically pleasing passer, and I think he would be good with the ball at his feet. I could easily see him as a center-back, in the mold of maybe Rio Ferdinand or Carvalho. Of course, he would need someone grittier, harder hitting, and better in the air to pair with him....
Colin Baker (Sixth Doctor) - Egotistical, loud, and with visions of grandeur, the Sixth Doctor is probably the most unlikable incarnation of the Doctor so far. He's mean and unfair, and he seems to enjoy arguing for the sake of arguing. He likes to think of himself as elegant and sophisticated, but in many cases he comes across as a brute or a thug. He wants to be the center of attention as the hero, the goal scorer, the assist maker, whatever, but he won't be because he's just not a team player. Well, he might be the center of attention in some games, but only for the wrong reasons. You know where I'm going with this. The Sixth Doctor would make a perfect no. 6 defensive-midfielder in the role of a destroyer.
Sylvester McCoy (Seventh Doctor) - The Seventh Doctor is a manipulator, a puller of strings, and a perfect game player, albeit more of the intellectual variety. Still, intelligence and foresight is useful in any game, no matter how physically demanding the game. The Seventh Doctor likes to attack his opponents, but he keeps his cards close to his chest as to the manner of his attack. He is a big picture person, who is able to see the whole field quickly. Hence, I have him placed alongside Colin Baker, but more as a deep-lying playmaker. Think of an Andrea Pirlo or a Xavi; they don't necessarily play high up the pitch, but they are still an attacking threat because of their vision and passing ability. I can easily see McCoy getting the ball, turning, and unleashing an incredible pass to an onrushing player that none of his opponents could see.
Paul McGann (Eighth Doctor) - Sorry Eighth Doctor fans, but I really haven't seen enough of Mr. McGann to know where he should play that would really suit the team best. I know there's a lot of spinoff material with him, but it's taking all of my resources just to watch the tv series, so I don't know much about him. If you have any ideas about where he would work best make a comment, but for now I have merely placed him on the pitch as a right-fullback.
Christopher Eccleston (Ninth Doctor) - Intelligent and intense, the Ninth Doctor seems like a natural born leader. He is at times compassionate, but he is also not afraid to become angry or yell at his companions if they are deserving. He has tasted defeat and suffering with the recent occurrence of the Time War, and he knows what it takes to win. He's fairly big, but he's also got plenty of mobility. I think he would work well along Davison as the more aggressive and ball-winning center-back. Once he won the ball, it would be his job to make simple passes either to McCoy or Davison, who could then start the attack.
David Tennant and Matt Smith (Tenth & Eleventh Doctors) - I put these two together because they play the same role just on opposite sides of the field. Both Tennant and Smith are quite eccentric, with their minds and mouths constantly working overtime. They are both young and athletic, and they would have no trouble going up and down the field, both in attack and defense. They are clever and quick-thinking, and I think they would make for excellent dribblers. I have decided the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors should play as the left and right attacking midfielder. These guys were born to run down the sidelines and deliver a cross for then Pertwee or Baker to head into the back of the net. They would also give the team some badly needed width.
So the team looks something like this.....
Paul McGann (Eighth Doctor) - Sorry Eighth Doctor fans, but I really haven't seen enough of Mr. McGann to know where he should play that would really suit the team best. I know there's a lot of spinoff material with him, but it's taking all of my resources just to watch the tv series, so I don't know much about him. If you have any ideas about where he would work best make a comment, but for now I have merely placed him on the pitch as a right-fullback.
Christopher Eccleston (Ninth Doctor) - Intelligent and intense, the Ninth Doctor seems like a natural born leader. He is at times compassionate, but he is also not afraid to become angry or yell at his companions if they are deserving. He has tasted defeat and suffering with the recent occurrence of the Time War, and he knows what it takes to win. He's fairly big, but he's also got plenty of mobility. I think he would work well along Davison as the more aggressive and ball-winning center-back. Once he won the ball, it would be his job to make simple passes either to McCoy or Davison, who could then start the attack.
David Tennant and Matt Smith (Tenth & Eleventh Doctors) - I put these two together because they play the same role just on opposite sides of the field. Both Tennant and Smith are quite eccentric, with their minds and mouths constantly working overtime. They are both young and athletic, and they would have no trouble going up and down the field, both in attack and defense. They are clever and quick-thinking, and I think they would make for excellent dribblers. I have decided the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors should play as the left and right attacking midfielder. These guys were born to run down the sidelines and deliver a cross for then Pertwee or Baker to head into the back of the net. They would also give the team some badly needed width.
So the team looks something like this.....
What do you think? Is this the best team the Doctors can make? Do you think everyone is playing in their best position? And, of course, any team needs some substitutes...
K-9 (GK) - This guy could stop almost anything. He can detect incoming enemies, and he can even produce a force field to stop shots!! The level playing field also means he has decent mobility. However, because his battery gives out so quickly, I think Hartnell gets the nod.
The Brigadier (DM) - The Brigadier could provide good defensive cover for the backline, and once he gets the ball he would know what to do with it. A good passer, he might even score a few goals if the Doctors were having a bad day.
Leela (CF) - Perhaps not the biggest center-forward, but she has the skills and intangibles to nick a late goal if needed. She's fast, smart, and knows where the ball will end up. She's a fighter, and she would make for a perfect fox-in-the-box striker if the team needed a different attacking outlet.
K-9 (GK) - This guy could stop almost anything. He can detect incoming enemies, and he can even produce a force field to stop shots!! The level playing field also means he has decent mobility. However, because his battery gives out so quickly, I think Hartnell gets the nod.
The Brigadier (DM) - The Brigadier could provide good defensive cover for the backline, and once he gets the ball he would know what to do with it. A good passer, he might even score a few goals if the Doctors were having a bad day.
Leela (CF) - Perhaps not the biggest center-forward, but she has the skills and intangibles to nick a late goal if needed. She's fast, smart, and knows where the ball will end up. She's a fighter, and she would make for a perfect fox-in-the-box striker if the team needed a different attacking outlet.