Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊

[Albion] Picking the 1 to 11 - will it ever happen again?



Giraffe

VERY part time moderator
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Aug 8, 2005
26,545
For some time I've wanted to see the full shirt numbers 1 to 11 on the pitch just like the old days. We have got close to it a few times this season, at Liverpool for example I think we were 2 or 3 away and then again on Saturday we started with nine of the eleven.

23 Steele
2 Bruno
3 Bong
4 Duffy
14 Balogun
6 Stephens
7 Kayal
8 Bissouma
9 Locadia
10 Andone
11 Knockaert

If you stick Ryan in for Steele and Dunk in for Balogun we have the full house and it is actually a pretty good team. Problem is I can't see Bong/Bruno/Knockaert holding their places in a league game and Ryan will never play in the cup?
 




Baldseagull

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2012
10,946
Crawley
It has killed one football cliche, the "he has made the number 1 shirt his own" cliche. I don't think I miss it.
 






Cowfold Seagull

Fan of the 17 bus
Apr 22, 2009
21,622
Cowfold
If you really are that keen to see players wearing one to eleven, then come and watch Horsham YMCA in the Southern Combination League!, or the vast majority of non league teams for that matter.

As far as the Albion are concerned, I think that lineup at Bournemouth on Saturday was the closest we will get to it for some time.
 






Badger Boy

Mr Badger
Jan 28, 2016
3,655
To be fair, I think we're closer than a lot of clubs and the line up of;

1) Ryan
2) Bruno
3) Bong
4) Duffy
5) Dunk
6) Stephens
7) Kayal
8) Bissouma
9) Locadia
10) Andone
11) Knockaert

Could easily happen in our current shape, with 3 central midfielders in there and Knockaert wide right, Locadia wide left.
 


Giraffe

VERY part time moderator
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Aug 8, 2005
26,545
This really is a "things were better in my day" thread. They're just numbers - why do you care?

Not massively no, I'm sleeping well enough thanks. Just thought it was a vaguely interesting/geeky statto point of discussion giving we came close on Saturday.

To be fair, I think we're closer than a lot of clubs and the line up of;

1) Ryan
2) Bruno
3) Bong
4) Duffy
5) Dunk
6) Stephens
7) Kayal
8) Bissouma
9) Locadia
10) Andone
11) Knockaert

Could easily happen in our current shape, with 3 central midfielders in there and Knockaert wide right, Locadia wide left.

Indeed, now Locadia and Andone are much closer to being regulars it makes it more likely. It's almost as though Chris always knew they'd make it.
 




Icy Gull

Back on the rollercoaster
Jul 5, 2003
72,015
Do we really need squad numbers? I too like 1-11 on the shirts. Shirt sales apart what is the reason for squad numbers?

Are we actually obliged to have them?
 


Cowfold Seagull

Fan of the 17 bus
Apr 22, 2009
21,622
Cowfold
Not massively no, I'm sleeping well enough thanks. Just thought it was a vaguely interesting/geeky statto point of discussion giving we came close on Saturday.



Indeed, now Locadia and Andone are much closer to being regulars it makes it more likely. It's almost as though Chris always knew they'd make it.

Whilst unfortunately, Bruno and Bong are much closer to not being regulars,
 


Giraffe

VERY part time moderator
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Aug 8, 2005
26,545
Whilst unfortunately, Bruno and Bong are much closer to not being regulars,

Yes true which is why it is unlikely to happen unless we have injuries or Ryan plays in a cup game.
 






Perkino

Well-known member
Dec 11, 2009
5,986
with Bruno & Bong on contracts that expire this summer and maybe a few players swapping numbers it may be something we see next season
 


schmunk

"Members"
Jan 19, 2018
9,496
Mid mid mid Sussex
My son played a match at the weekend. On the pitch for his team there were 3 number 10s and 2 number 12s, all at the same time (wearing at least two different iterations of the team's kit between them).
 




Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
59,521
The Fatherland
Do we really need squad numbers? I too like 1-11 on the shirts. Shirt sales apart what is the reason for squad numbers?

Are we actually obliged to have them?

The Green Dragon pub team used to have a question mark on the back of their shirts apparently
 


AZ Gull

@SeagullsAcademy Threads: @bhafcacademy
Oct 14, 2003
11,727
Chandler, AZ
I can't remember which team it was but the other week on MOTD there was a player wearing number 66 ! WTF ??

In the age of squad numbers (which have been here for years now) I struggle to understand why people are still surprised by this. For instance, Albion currently have 67 professionals on the books. They also have 18 scholars. So, in a squad numbering system, players will have numbers up into the 80's (and quite possibly 90's if numbers are not strictly re-allocated when players leave). Albion U-21s wear squad numbers in the Checkatrade Trophy matches, and without fail the opposing commentators always make some comment about the high numbers. What do they expect? Should the club start using 1A, 7C etc? :shrug:
 


Monkey Man

Your support is not that great
Jan 30, 2005
3,157
Neither here nor there
It's odd that pundits/fans/footballers are talking a lot these days about "playing as a number 10", which those of us of a certain age know means a kind of secondary striker who doesn't necessarily contribute many goals.

But kids who have only known the Premier League perhaps wonder what on earth the phrase means (which I don't remember hearing that often when there was always a number 10 on the pitch).
 


Raphael Meade

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
4,125
Shoreham/LA
Really want this to happen! I posted something similar back on Oct 20 which was the Newcastle game where we used players wearing 1-9... can't recall when the last time we had 1-11 play in the same game? Never in the prem and would think it's a fair while before then - with Skalak/Baldcok wearing 8 and 9 and then Maenpaa wearing 1 in the championship.
 
Last edited:


Albion and Premier League latest from Sky Sports


Top
Link Here