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Withdean's Greatest XI Vote - Left Back
With the end in sight for Brighton and Hove Albion's
time at Withdean Stadium,
we've decided to put together a poll for the Greatest
XI to pull on the stripes
during our 12 year stay - with this weeks vote being for
the left back slot.
Left back is often a difficult
position to fill, based on the fact that the majority
of players are stronger on their right foot.
Apart from
the longstanding Kerry Mayo, the Albion seem to have had
a different left back option every season.
Three players
who made the move initially on-loan make the list and
two highly rated youth team products who went onto play
at a higher level and gain international recognition all
the make the shortlist. So now its over to you to nominate
the one who you think to be the best left back in the
Withdean era
Please
remember this is a vote for the player you thought to be
the BEST Albion left back - not your favourite!
Kerry Mayo
1996-2009,
367 appearances, 12 goals |
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Kerry
Mayo became known as Mr Brighton and Hove Albion
during his thirteen years at the club. He recovered
from scoring an own goal at Hereford that nearly
condemned the Seagulls to the Conference to
play over 350 times, turning successfully from
central midfield to left back in 1999. He was
first choice as the Albion won two championships
and came runner up in the player-of-the-season
vote in 2002-2003 behind Danny Cullip. Never
the most mobile of players, the ginger prince
made up for it with his solid defensive ability
that meant he was not just a mainstay but a
quality performer during one of the Albion's
most successful runs. |
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Dan Harding
2003-2005,
67 appearances, 1 goal |
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A product
of the youth system, Harding broke into the
first team halfway through the 2003-04 season
and didn't relinquish his place for the 18 months
until he left for Leeds United at the end of
2004-05. An attacking full back who was also
prone to defensive lapses that often cost goals,
he received international recognition with England
under-21's during his time at Withdean. His
decision not to sign a new contract with the
club soured his reputation with the fans and
he now receives a hostile reception whenever
he returns but the club netted a healthy profit
in compensation for his move to Elland Road
that was probably an inflated fee owing to his
international call ups. |
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Joel Lynch
2005-2009,
79 appearances, 2 goals |
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Another youth
team product who gained international
recognition with England under 18s, Lynch was
thrown into a struggling Championship side at
the age of 18 in 2005-2006 and instantly
impressed. A centre back by trade, he did not
look out of place on the left side of defence
and became
a regular for the next two seasons. Micky Adams
bizarre preferences of Colin Hawkins and Matt
Richards' following their arrivals in 2008 saw
him out of the team, and it wasn't long before
he was snapped up on-loan by Nottingham Forest
who turned the loan into a permanent deal for
£200,000 in the summer of 2009. |
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Matt Richards 2007-2008,
51 appearances, 1 goal |
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Richards
spent three separate loan spells from Ipswich
at Withdean during which time he was an automatic
pick at left back. He originally arrived under
Dean Wilkins in 2007, staying until Christmas.
A second spell was agreed in January 2008 as
the Albion fell one place short in their quest
for a play-off spot, and he signed again for
the first six months of 2008-2009 under Micky
Adams. While he lacked pace, he was a solid
performer defensively and would have become
a permanent signing for the club had Ipswich
not held out for such an inflated fee. Best remembered for slotting the
winning penalty in the shoot-out win over Manchester
City |
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Jim McNulty
2009-, 15 appearances, 0 goals |
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With Ipswich refusing to lower their asking
price for Matt Richards, the Albion took
advantage of Stockports financial difficulties
by signing Jim McNulty. He instantly became a popular player
with the fans for his never-say-die attitude
and for being the first full back
who really liked to get forward. Unfortunately,
McNulty suffered an horrendous injury
against Crewe when he ruptured a kidney
and was subsequently out for six months.
Since then he has been loaned to Scunthorpe
United twice following the arrival of
Marcos Painter and it reamins
doubtful that he has a future at the
club under Gus Poyet. |
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Gary Borrowdale 2009,
12 appearances |
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Facing
a left-back crisis following McNulty's horror
injury, caretaker-boss Dean White moved to bring
in Gary Borrowdale from Queens Park Rangers.
The former-England under 20 international played
the remainder of the season as under Russell
Slade the Albion pulled off a miraculous last
day escape from relegation. His form during
that run in was such that along with White's
other signings of Lloyd Owusu and Calvin Andrew,
he played a major part in securing the Seagull's
place in League One and was rewarded with a
return to the QPR first team when he went back
to Loftus Road at the end of the season, scuppering
any hopes for Slade of a permanent deal. |
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Marcos Painter
2010-,
52 appearances, 1 goals |
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With
Gus Poyet remaining unconvinced with Jim McNulty's
fitness following his return, the new Albion
boss bought in Marcos Painter from Swansea City
on-loan until the end of the season. The new
man soon showed that he fitted straight in to
the Seagulls' new style of play, bombing up
and down the wing and turning a defence that
had previously been leaking goals at an alarming
rate into one of the most solid in the division.
Out of contract at the Liberty Stadium, Painter
agreed to sign permanently with Brighton in
the summer and since then has been the undoubted
first choice left back as the Albion have topped
League One since October. |
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