Your top 5 generals

[Avicenna]

[cough]

Scythian victory over the Macedonians

[cough]

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I have to agree that the Dardanelles campaign, if successful, would have been crippling for the Central Powers.

Strategically, if successful:

1. The Ottomans would have been deprived of -- or at least strongly limited in using -- Instanbul, Smyrna, and Izmir. The entire Aegean coast would have represented a powerful economic blow to the Ottomans. This would have severely limited the war-fighting abilities of the Ottoman forces.

2. A line of communication and support would have been opened up through Odessa -- possibly stiffening Russian resistance (chancy, as the corrupt Romanov regime might still have screwed the pooch).

3. Romania would have been open to support and reinforcement. They had already proved troublesome to the AH forces. Direct allied support and resources could have enhanced this effect (not by sweeping victories, of course, the Balkans did not bring such to the armies of that era). Remember, the narrowness of front was one of the limiting factors of the war for the Allies. Germany was always able to "under-man" the East (in relative terms) because of Russian weaknesses. Italy was a slog through mountains. Even using second-rank "colonial" forces, Britain and France could have aided the Romanians and broadened the war -- at a greater relative attritional strain to the Central forces than their own.

The Dardanelles may well have been a tactical disaster -- and certainly many mistakes were made -- but the strategic concept was superb. Churchill was a wonderful strategist, but tactically was always a cavalryman.

[Pannonian]

[cough]

Scythian victory over the Macedonians

[cough]

Alex wasn't present during the incident when 1000 Macedonians. To restore the Macedonian reputation, he personally commanded an expedition into Scythian territory. The Battle of the Jaxartes was, in terms of ideas, one of his highlights, resulting in a Scythian rout and submission.

http://www.livius.org/ja-jn/jaxartes/battle.html