I decided to pick a composite best XI from all three squads with the proviso the individuals had to have played in more than half of the regular season League One matches.
The 2008-09 and 2020-21 teams finished runners-up and won automatic promotion. The 2010-11 side finished fourth and won the play-offs, but Ferguson only returned to replace Gary Johnson as manager midway through that season.
I’ve selected a 4-2-3-1 formation to best suit the players at my disposal. It was tough and I’ve had to leave out so many players who had outstanding Posh careers. Any one of the three regular right-backs would have been worthy selections.
I’m sure my team would the League One title though!
Let me know what you think...
9.
RIGHT-SIDED ATTACKER: SIRIKI DEMBELE: 2020-21: 42 apps. Chris Whelpdale (2008-09) and Joe Ward (2020-21) are largely unsung heroes from successful Posh promotions. Certainly Whelpdale who was consistently good and who scored some crucial goals. Ward is improving year-on-year and his goal and assist records were decent last season. The 2010-11 side didn’t really bother with a right-sided attacker mainly because of Mark Little’s pace and quality from right-back. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing made a lot of appearances, but mainly from the substitute’s bench. I have had to be creative in my selection as Siriki Dembele spent most of last season on the left or down the middle, but he so much class and skill I had to find a place for him in this team as he’s been a joy to watch.
10.
CENTRAL STRIKER: CRAIG MACKAIL-SMITH: 2008-09: 46 apps. 2010-11: 45 apps. Deciding to play just one out and out central striker caused a problem. Without question Aaron Mclean (2008-09) and Jonson Clarke-Harris (2020-21) would be worthy selections. Smiling assassin Mclean was a deadly finisher and excellent in the air for someone who wasn’t that tall. Clarke-Harris racked up some incredible numbers last season, but he was also a selfless performer and nerveless in the biggest moments as he showed in the penultimate game of the season when so much was on the line. But how do you not select a player whose commitment, hard-running and goalscoring record were so strong throughout two League One promotion seasons? Craig Mackail-Smith scored 50 goals in those two seasons combined and missed just one game.
11.
LEFT-SIDED ATTACKER: GEORGE BOYD: Now I’ve shifted Dembele to the right it leaves just one contender to play on the other flank so step forward the great George Boyd, a loyal and outstanding performer for Posh in the promotion seasons of 2008-09 and 2010-11 who deservedly went on to play in the Premier League and for Scotland, even though he was from Kent. Boyd wasn’t the quickest, but his speed of thought and that quality left-foot made him a stand-out performer in the division, not just at London Road. He was fit as well. Once played in 144 games in a row for Posh! He was an ever-present in the 2008-09 runners-up side. Tommy Rowe was another 2010-11 player with a quality left-foot and he made his name as a wide player, but Boyd was much better.