[Albion] Who is the best exponent of the ‘dark arts’ at the Albion?

[Bozza]

Shamelessly stealing this from The Athletic where Andy Naylor nominated Alexis Mac Allister.

Maybe he is, but I need to be convinced as Andy's reasoning doesn't really do it for me as it focuses on Mac Allister's propensity for picking up yellow cards despite being a smiley happy chappy.

For me, a master of the dark arts of football gets away with stuff more often than not, and doesn't just go around fouling and picking up yellows.

So, tell me - who is your Albion master of the dark arts?

 

[Bozza]

In fact, I'm going to reply to myself and nominate Joel Veltman.

Convince me otherwise.

 

[aolstudios]

It's obviously Veltman. Bloody good at it too. A picture of innocence & barely gets carded, while dominating his oppo mentally & physically for fun. Looking forward to a repeat of last season's bullying of several Hammers on Saturday

 

[Weststander]

The Dutch Master Joel Veltman.

Winds up opposition players, despite on paper, their superior pace. Expertly obstructing, yet winning free-kicks. Not averse to subtly leaving his foot in. A constant nuisance when we’re defending set pieces.

 

[seagullwedgee]

Veltman. By several country miles.

 

[Stato]

I read the thread title - I thought of Joel. He's such an experienced defender, he seems to know every trick in the book. £900,000? How the hell did nobody else snap him up? There isn't a defence in the division in which he wouldn't be useful.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

VELTMAN!

No one else comes close! Ridiculous Naylor has gone for someone else!

 

[Algernon]

Veltman i.e The grey man.

 

[jcdenton08]

It’s Veltman

 

[Bodian]

Not sure why you even asked! We all know who it is.

 

[Weststander]

When the Seagull gets stuck in the chimney ….

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Can someone on Twitter or something message Naylor and let him know about this huge error. Veltman is always under rated and it’s about time he got some public credit for something!

 

[Bozza]

Quickly scanning through the article, Ben White gets the nomination at Arsenal which surprises me slightly, whilst Neal Maupay getting the nod at Everton is less of a shock.

 

[B-right-on]

Another Veltz vote here.

Truly mastered the chopping down and innocent hands up 'not done anything' move afterwards.

 

[Zeberdi]

Yeah, another vote for Veltman. Other than that we seem distinctly lacking in the ‘dark arts’.

I thought Mitoma might have had the mentality to go there a few times - when he sat on his butt waving an imaginary red card after the rugby tackle from Semedo and on occasion it‘s looked to me like he‘s gone down too easily for a pen rather than putting in a cross or working through a tackle but in retrospect that’s been more frustration than devious play - unfortunately he doesn’t have Veltman’s mastery of shithousery nor the ability to make it all look so innocent.

No one does.

 

[Comrade Sam]

Saw the heading and my first thought was Veltman.

 

[Swansman]

Veltman.

Welbeck and Caicedo are up there as well.

 

[Dun Lurkin]

Another vote for Veltman, although I think Gross isn't averse to a little dig.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Sanchez

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Thought Veltman instantly then was quite surprised so many agreed. Thought I would have to argue the case more.

And A.N. picking our ‘most well known by big 6/7 fans’ player isn’t too much of a surprise. Which end will he be sat in at Stoke I wonder (yes I’m aware is a press section).