[Albion] Sorry Lawro your time is up…..

[dejavuatbtn]

There is no answer to this. None of us really knows just how good or bad players of the past were compared to day. Different gravy too.
Having watched us since 1962 I’d still put Lawro at the top as our best ever. he probably only scrapes into the legendary status because we never really had him long enough at the top level - he was just too good for us but proved himself at Liverpool winning the lot several times over.
Gross is probably our most gifted player currently - a wonderful footballing brain and an ability to play brilliantly just about anywhere on the pitch. I hope he is remembered as fondly as Lawro, he deserves it.

 

[Commander]

I was thinking to myself earlier, is he better than Zamora at the same age? Of course he is. Probably miles better. If we can keep him a couple more seasons he’s going to end up a proper Albion legend.

Mad that we have two strikers currently who both have the potential to be the best strikers ever to play for the club, and in fact almost certainly will be.

 

[Commander]

There is no answer to this. None of us really knows just how good or bad players of the past were compared to day. Different gravy too.
Having watched us since 1962 I’d still put Lawro at the top as our best ever. he probably only scrapes into the legendary status because we never really had him long enough at the top level - he was just too good for us but proved himself at Liverpool winning the lot several times over.
Gross is probably our most gifted player currently - a wonderful footballing brain and an ability to play brilliantly just about anywhere on the pitch. I hope he is remembered as fondly as Lawro, he deserves it.

I’m not sure about the ‘gifted’ part with Gross. I’d say he’s worked and worked and worked to get to the level he is with us, and he is a far, far superior player to the one we signed from Ingolstadt. He’s 32 and has only just got to the level of being a quality international player. He’s more akin to the likes of Murray than a naturally gifted genius. Which is all the more impressive in my book.

 

[WATFORD zero]

I don't believe, in all the years that I've been watching (and that's a lot of years) that the Albion have ever had anything remotely close to the holy trinity at the TOP level

Sorry @Lenny Rider

 

[Weststander]

At only 22, my dream would be that Pedro stays until summer 2025. At least.

Boehly can’t maintain what he’s spent to date, due to FFP, without selling homegrown players for huge profits. But then there’s INEOS, the Saudis, Abu Dhabi.

A shame that Barca these days are broke.

 

[amexer]

Early days and sure he is delighted he has joined a club that create so many chances. Agree that Lawro was maybe our one world class player.
Certainly in Peter Wards day I didnt want to miss a game to not only watch the Albion but to watch Ward who in every game win lose or draw would always do something that we would talk about for days.

 

[birthofanorange]

I think we're currently spoiled for choice, compared with our past players. It's almost impossible single-out individual players during our PL days, and it was far easier when the 'legends' stood out far more easily, like Lawro, Ward, Murray, Zamora, etc.

 

[GloryDays]

Still a bit Joao Pendro for my liking (but at least he scores them). So stats a little padded.

However, the header today, and a similar one earlier this season, shows how much he has to his game. He could be the complete striker. Will be interesting to see him for the rest of the season.

Works channels, can play in the middle, skilful, strong. He might be the best striker we’ve had that I can think of. Perhaps, for different reasons, Murray nudges him. Hard to say since sentimentality gets in the way.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Vicente in this conversation is mad. He was an ageing, injury prone midfielder in a championship team that ultimately achieved nothing.

Vicente scored just 5 goals for the Albion and is best known for hitting the bar. He never, ever, turned up away from home. Pedro has scored more already than he ever did for us.

The Vicente myth should have been put to bed long ago.

 

[kojak]

Vicente in this conversation is mad. He was an ageing, injury prone midfielder in a championship team that ultimately achieved nothing.

Vicente scored just 5 goals for the Albion and is best known for hitting the bar. He never, ever, turned up away from home. Pedro has scored more already than he ever did for us.

The Vicente myth should have been put to bed long ago.

Indeed

Mr Ward used to put it in the back of the onion bag

 

[Triggaaar]

To reiterate there’s a difference between greatest legend, Wardy, Dunk, Zamora etc and the greatest player to pull on an Albion shirt.

As you can see in my post, I'm well aware of that

 

[Triggaaar]

Vicente in this conversation is mad. He was an ageing, injury prone midfielder in a championship team that ultimately achieved nothing.

It depends on what the conversation is - if it's how he did for us, of course he's not on the list. If it's how good any of our players have been at any point in their career (eg, Pedro could go on to be great, and possibly not with us) then he's on the list.

 

[Half Time Pies]

Vicente was nominated for the 2004 Ballon d'or and around that time recognised as one of the top players in the world, he has to be the greatest player to have pulled on an Albion shirt.

 

[Cesar Chavez]

How quickly we forget Kerry Mayo !

And Richard Tiltman

 

[Half Time Pies]

I will throw another name in to the mix...Alexis Mac Allister, our first ever world cup winner and one of the players of the tournament.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

I’m not sure about the ‘gifted’ part with Gross. I’d say he’s worked and worked and worked to get to the level he is with us, and he is a far, far superior player to the one we signed from Ingolstadt. He’s 32 and has only just got to the level of being a quality international player. He’s more akin to the likes of Murray than a naturally gifted genius. Which is all the more impressive in my book.

But what, exactly, constitutes a gift? Gross's football brain is exceptional. Dunk's never-say-die attitude, Mitoma's dribbling ability, Estupinan's unbelievable engine - these are all innate abilities that other players don't have.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

It depends on what the conversation is - if it's how he did for us, of course he's not on the list. If it's how good any of our players have been at any point in their career (eg, Pedro could go on to be great, and possibly not with us) then he's on the list.

Not for me. Take his international career. Vicente was constantly overlooked in major tournaments for Spain. The only one he played in (Euro 2004), they went out in the group stages. No one has mentioned Ali Mac and he won the World cup last year. Granted he won La Liga but never went onto play for Barca or Real.

He bullied a few lower half championship teams with us and that was about it. Good? Yes. Great, For Valencia maybe. Best ever in the stripes? No chance.

 

[dazzer6666]

He's fast becoming my favourite Albion player, not only for his goal scoring but his work rate is unbelievable, he gives 100% every single game, gets back in defence when under pressure and then pops up to bang in goals.
He's not Zamora or Murray status for me (yet) but he has the potential to be an Albion legend, especially if he keeps up his European form.

Not according to Roberto

 

[dwayne]

I will throw another name in to the mix...Alexis Mac Allister, our first ever world cup winner and one of the players of the tournament.

Nah. Bang average at Liverpool so far. Got lucky with the world cup , right place right time after they lost their first game to the Saudis.

 

[MJsGhost]

he gives 100% every single game

In football parlance, this is 10% short of an impressive shift.
Are you calling him a shirker?!