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[Albion] How many would remain on this t-shirt?
- Thread starter dolphins
- Start date
By being our best and most important player for three consecutive seasons?
Bwian
Kiss my (_!_)
- Jul 14, 2003
- 15,898
Really?
I think Ryan (despite his size) is a better keeper. So many times he comes out for a cross and catches the ball whereas Stockdale tended to panic punch. Just as good at shot stopping and prefers to retain possession rather than long upfield hoofs.
Sirnormangall
Well-known member
- Sep 21, 2017
- 2,967
From a personal perspective, since that shirt was produced 3 years ago, I've put on so much weight there's no need to remove anyone in order to add a few more players. Indeed you could put their first names on it too.
Cowfold Seagull
Fan of the 17 bus
If that is supposedly a 'legends' shirt, to my mind there are only four names on there that qualify, Lawrenson, Zamora, Ward, and Mullery..
That word legends, is used far too freely.
That word legends, is used far too freely.
Ninja Elephant
Doctor Elephant
- Feb 16, 2009
- 18,855
Well there's some spectacular short termism going on here.
Bridcutt was incredible for us for two years, deservedly picking up the Player of the Season awards in both seasons. What a player. And to question Kuipers is ridiculous. Stockdale gave us 2 good seasons, Kuipers gave us how many? He is why we didn't get relegated to the 4th tier under that beautiful bald man in 2008 and he's a huge part of why we won the league in 00/01 and 01/02.
Shame on the detractors and naysayers, shame.
Bridcutt was incredible for us for two years, deservedly picking up the Player of the Season awards in both seasons. What a player. And to question Kuipers is ridiculous. Stockdale gave us 2 good seasons, Kuipers gave us how many? He is why we didn't get relegated to the 4th tier under that beautiful bald man in 2008 and he's a huge part of why we won the league in 00/01 and 01/02.
Shame on the detractors and naysayers, shame.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
No, it was a vote for the best player in that position for a team. Bridge is still the best LB we've had.
Still early days, but certainly looks that way, against supposedly much better opposition too. Ryan is fantastic with his feet too, genuinely two footed and skillful. Only caveat is the degree of protection he is getting from the defence (someone posted something earlier on this) - he's not actually being massively tested in terms of shots - rarely seems to have to make more than a couple of key saves per game. It's testament to the defence that Ryan has been nowhere near a MOTM performance so far this season, but has barely made a mistake either. Think Ryan's positioning is impeccable.
Cowfold Seagull
Fan of the 17 bus
Agreed, the FDM did indeed serve us for many more seasons than Stockdale, but it isn't about the number of seasons, just how good they were. As much as l liked Michelle, great club servant that he was, Stockdale was the better keeper, and of course we were playing at a much higher level when he was with us.
Kazenga <3
Test 805843
Agreed. Players like him are why we all watch football surely? Although only a friendly, the way he took apart Chelsea and made then European champions look average showed just how good he really was. He was THE best left winger in the world in his pomp, Real Madrid bidding £30m plus for him which would be god knows what in this market? And he finished his career at Brighton ffs. I don't care what anyone says about longevity etc he has to stay on that list.
Bridge was bloody fantastic. We’ve never had better before or since
Cowfold Seagull
Fan of the 17 bus
One we didn't see nearly enough of sadly. Although to my mind, even in the Amex era, Stephen Ward ran him pretty close.
Ninja Elephant
Doctor Elephant
- Feb 16, 2009
- 18,855
I would say that Kuipers at his best was better than Stockdale. I know that's not going to be something people agree with, and I don't care. He was a colossus for us and it was no coincidence that when he returned to the team in 08/09, even when he was approaching the end, our defence enormously improved. No disrespect to John Sullivan or even Mikkel Andersen, but they were shipping in 2/3/4 goals a game. The King came back in and all of a sudden we stopped leaking goals all over the place and started winning games. Our other goalkeeper that season, the Ghost, deserves nothing BUT disrespect!
Stephen Ward was extremely effective and contributed significantly to the team, but he's not even close to being as good as Wayne Bridge was. He was a class above, it was remarkable watching him in the stripes and a massive surprise at the time as well. Ward would walk into our team now though, comfortably.
Not Andy Naylor
Well-known member
On playing ability, Bridge has to be in any team, but in total status you'd have to make room for Bruno, one of our greatest captains. So where does that leave Stevens? Can you leave out Foster and Lawrenson? Are Duffy and Dunk in the running now?
Kuipers is a club legend and Stockdale has rather undermined his legacy with the manner of his departure (and destination, if I'm honest).
You'd say Knockaert was a candidate based on last season, but so far this season, not so much - a bit like Bridcutt, perhaps. Murray could guarantee a place with a hat-trick against Palace next week ...
Not Andy Naylor
Well-known member
I don't think anyone who saw Brian Horton lead the team for five of the greatest seasons in the club's history would say he was anything but a club legend. Jimmy Case too - apart from his first spell and the cup run, he came back from non-league to play at the age of 100 (or thereabaouts), got sent off at Leicester because his hearing aid wasn't working ... that's the very stuff of legend. And both managed the club too, although in JC's case that's perhaps best forgotten.
Ninja Elephant
Doctor Elephant
- Feb 16, 2009
- 18,855
Kuipers would be my undisputed goalkeeper pick, but from there on it's debatable and it should be - we're not the MK Dons, we've got a history!
Bridcutt deserved his place at the time but Stephens is well on his way to deserving a mention, maybe Propper Dave in a few years if we continue to progress. Dunk would get in ahead of Lawrenson for me, but Foster is going to take some dislodging!
Blue Valkyrie
Not seen such Bravery!
There is merit in that - we are currently higher in the league than we have ever finished a season.
Wardy's twin
Well-known member
- Oct 21, 2014
- 8,434
he was player of the season....people have short memories. Whether he was that good is another matter but don't try to rewrite history because he left, he was very good at what he did.
Wardy's twin
Well-known member
- Oct 21, 2014
- 8,434
I think he probably was the best player in Spain at that time and so possibly the best player in the world in that time - 2004.
Superphil
Dismember
All of them, they deserved it then, they deserve it now. Make a new one if you like, but don’t be like Sky and try to erase history.