Club News

ALBION XI: "This team has provided years of happiness"

Who would make your favourite all-time Albion XI?

THIS week's Albion XI starts with a twist - a quiz question to get us going: Quite simply, which Baggies player has been selected the most?

It's week seven of everyone's favourite website feature and our regular readers out there will likely know the answer, with the player in question named in five of the seven Albion XI line-ups so far. All is revealed at the bottom of the page.

For our new readers out there, Albion XI invites the Baggies faithful to come together and select their favourite dream team from down the years, with age no doubt playing a part as fans reflect on who they have most enjoyed grace The Hawthorns.

Marshall McDonald got in touch via Twitter keen to share his favourite side. What do you think? Let us know on social media.

Take it away, Marshall... 



Name: Marshall McDonald
Age: 21
From: Birmingham.
Interesting fact: I was the mascot for our first away win in Premier League history at West Ham United.

"I’ve gone for a 4-4-2 formation with the players allowed to roam. There is also a lot of attacking intent from the starting XI, the team should adopt an Ossie Ardiles mentality of if you score four then we’ll score five.
"Growing up watching Gary Megson’s team and then Tony Mowbray’s side, I’d like to think we could be as defensively sound as that squad which kept 23 clean sheets and as flamboyant as the Mowbray squad which scored over 100 goals in successive seasons.
"My first season was 2001/02 so I’ve watched Albion in a rollercoaster 15 years. The squad I chose could have been chopped or changed in a number of ways but this team has provided pivotal moments and years of happiness." 

Goalkeeper 
Russell Hoult - Arguably one of the best English keepers from 2001-2005 with a string of fantastic saves. He was a key member of the legendary 01/02 squad.

Defenders
Igor Balis (RB) - Not much needs to be said apart from Bradford City away and THAT penalty.
Thomas Gaardsoe (CB) - A completely different defender than the usual. Confident in bringing the ball forward and a rock of the 03/04 promotion-winning side.
Neil Clement (CB) - Had a brilliant left foot with an eye for goal. Could always be depended on.
Paul Robinson (LB) - Gave 100% in every game and wouldn’t shy away from a tackle. Can never forget that header against Villa in the Great Escape season.

Midfielders
Zoltan Gera (RM) - He could score, assist, tackle - anything you wanted he could do! Shame that injury hampered his second return, but still provided magical moments. 
Jason Koumas (CM) - My first Albion hero. First two seasons at the club he was by far the best player. His first goal away at Forest and the goal at Sunderland stick fondly in my memory.
James Morrison (CM) - Provides so much energy to the squad when he plays and a superb striker of the ball. We’re a better team when he is involved. 
Chris Brunt (LM) - Left foot is up there with anyone in the Premier league. A superb servant to the club.

Forwards
Kevin Phillips - Left foot, right foot, header - he could score anything and his record for us speaks volumes. Shame he never stayed for another year or two.
Peter Odemwingie - Although things turned sour at the end, he was superb for the club. Scoring goals consistently and THAT game at Molineux.

Subs
Darren Moore - If ever we needed to be solid, Big Dave could be heavily relied upon.
Derek McIness - The leader of the legendary 01/02 squad. Would run through brick walls for the club.
Jonathan Greening - So close to my starting XI but just missed out. Fantastic player and captain of the club.
Jerome Thomas - Tricky winger who could always get you excited. His display at Arsenal was superb.
Bob Taylor - Saw him at the end of his career at Albion when he was more of a super-sub in 01/02, but he scored some pivotal goals in his career and is a legend no doubt.

Stay tuned for next week's edition of Albion XI.

But before we go, the answer to our quiz question at the start of the article, did you guess correctly? The answer is...Neil Clement.

Come On You Baggies!