All-time Withdean XI [merged threads]

[Not Andy Naylor]

I presume something like this thread already exists, since it's such an obvious idea. If so, please link!

And of course, I meant Withdean XI - but although you can edit posts, you can't, it seems, edit thread titles.... (Done )

Ah well, anyway ---

What would be the best XI drawn from all the Albion players to have represented us at the Theatre of Trees?

I go for:

Michel Kuipers;

Inigo Calderon, Danny Cullip, Adam El Abd, Paul Watson;

Elliott Bennett, Richard Carpenter, Simon Rodger, Paul Brooker;

Nicky Forster, Bobby Zamora.

Subs: Ankergren, Hammond, Crofts, Virgo, Oatway, Hart, Murray.


Paul Watson has to be in for his free kicks and assists, but so does Calderon - but Watto was left-footed, so could play left-back. Simon Rodger's career was ended by injury too soon after he finally got to play for the club he supported rather than, er, that other one.

Steve Sidwell, Paul McShane and Kazenga Lua Lua were only on loan, or would have been strong candidates. I also thought about Dean Blackwell, Dean Hammond, Adam Hinshelwood, Leon Knight, CKR and most of the present squad, but sooner or later you have to choose.

Who have I forgotten?

 

[The Large One]

Falmer XI? Getting a bit ahead of yourself aren't you?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

CKR would be in my Withdean XI, if the proviso was for players that didn't show anywhere near their natural ability and never looked particularly comfortable playing for the mighty Albion.

Despite an obvious disparity in length of service, I would rate Roberts higher than Kuipers. Obviously appearances are not a factor if Rodger, Crofts and Ankergren are considered worthy.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Ben Roberts
Paul Watson, Danny Cullip, Guy Butters, Marcos Painter
Elliott Bennett, Richard Carpenter, Simon Rodger, Paul Brooker
Glen Murray, Bobby Zamora

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Kerry Mayo would have to on the bench for me...

 

[Simster]

Michel Kuipers
Inigo Calderon, Danny Cullip, Simon Morgan, Marcos Painter;
Elliott Bennett, Richard Carpenter, Steve Sidwell, KLL;
Leon Knight*, Bobby Zamora.

* In the first half of the play-off season under Coppell, he was absolutely unplayable. Shame he turned into such a tosser.

Edit: Of course! KLL! Cheers Trigg

 

[Trigger]

Michel Kuipers;

Inigo Calderon, Simon Morgan, Ivor Ingimarsson, Marcos Painter;

Elliott Bennett, Steve Sidwell, Radostan Kishishev, Kazenga LuaLua;

Leon Knight, Bobby Zamora.

 

[cuthbert]

Beasant
Calderon, Morgan, Ingimarsson, Painter
Hart, Carpenter,Bennett, Sidwell, Lua-Lua
Zamora.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

Florent Chaigneau

Joe O'Ceurill Joe Dolan Robbie Pethick Zoumana Bagayoko

Dave Lee Jason Jarrett David Livermore Kevin McLeod

Sam Williams Dave Cameron

 

[Beeercan]

What about a Turkeys XI, players who you thaught would have been different class but were at best rubbish
Ross Flitney

Gavin Hoyte Colin Hawkins ? ?


Dan Marney Martin Thomas Junior Lewis Shaun Wilkinson


Federico Turienzo Mark McCammon


Subs:

Mark Petterson, Paul Kitson, Graham Barrett, Moheta Holango, Martin Ling

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I knew Gary Hart would pop up there somewhere. Nice bloke, and a lifelong trier, but is he one of the best eleven players ever to grace the turf? Not in a million years.

From the first XI listed I'd also replace El Abd with Simon Morgan. El Abd has been brilliant this year but actually very hit and miss before that. Simon Morgan was a very high class centre half who was streets ahead of Cullip in that one season he played and was a massive contributor to our getting promotion.

 

[Mendoza]

Ben Roberts

Inigo Calderon
Gordon Greer
Simon Morgan
Paul Watson

Elliott Bennett
Richard Carpenter
Steve Sidwell

Bobby Zamora
Nicky Forster
Glenn Murray

 

[perth seagull]

Florent Chaigneau

Joe O'Ceurill Joe Dolan Robbie Pethick Zoumana Bagayoko

Dave Lee Jason Jarrett David Livermore Kevin McLeod

Sam Williams Dave Cameron

Manager: Martin Hinshewood

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

Roberts

Watson
Morgan
Cullip
Painter

Bennett
Carpenter
Rodger
Brooker

Murray
Zamora

(Not including loans)

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Ben Roberts

Inigo Calderon
Gordon Greer
Simon Morgan
Paul Watson

Elliott Bennett
Richard Carpenter
Steve Sidwell

Bobby Zamora
Nicky Forster
Glenn Murray

That pretty much reflects my views on the subject. I loved Danny Cullip at the time, but felt he was eventually shown up by Morgan in that one season they had together, and his subsequent career rather confirmed that he lacked pace and quality. Still grateful for that Chesterfield moment though.

I might possibly have Painter in for Watson, as Watson actually wasn't that good a defender, and was slower than treacle, but on the other hand Watson did set up a lot of goals for Zamora.

Ingimarsson was also great for a spell, he might get in somewhere. And though I feel guilty for saying it, I can't help feeling slightly disappointed that I can't think of anyone better to go in midfield than Carpenter. He did a good job for us over the years, but I'm sure there must have been someone better?

 

[ds4000]

Michel Kuipers

Inigo Calderon
Danny Cullip
Andy Crosby
Paul Watson

KLL
Elliott Bennett
Rod Thomas
Steve Sidwell

Bobby Zamora
Lee Steele

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

Beasent

Calderon
Cullip
Morgan
Watson

Brooker
Sidwell
Carpenter
LuaLua

Zamora
Forster

Basically a mix of Adams promotion team, Coppell's team and the current side with Forster just edging out Knight.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Simon Morgan was a very high class centre half who was streets ahead of Cullip in that one season he played and was a massive contributor to our getting promotion.

That season was a massive pleasure watching an absolutely quality defender. Everything he did was un-hurried and controlled. He was the best defender in the Withdean years by a long, long chalk.

 

[Mendoza]

we've had a good XI and a bad XI.

It's only right we put together a HANDSOME XI and a MUNTER XI

 

[cuthbert]

I knew Gary Hart would pop up there somewhere. Nice bloke, and a lifelong trier, but is he one of the best eleven players ever to grace the turf? Not in a million years.

From the first XI listed I'd also replace El Abd with Simon Morgan. El Abd has been brilliant this year but actually very hit and miss before that. Simon Morgan was a very high class centre half who was streets ahead of Cullip in that one season he played and was a massive contributor to our getting promotion.

When we first came to Withdean Gary Hart was very quick and an excellent crosser of the ball from the right wing, and several clubs at a higher level looked at him quite seriously. Unfortunately after he broke his leg at Peterborough he lost all his pace. I think Zamora plays at his best as a lone striker and I wanted to give him support with Bennett in a central role so I needed someone else to play wide right, couldn't think of anyone better than OGH.