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Withdean's Greatest XI Vote - Left Wing

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 side of midfield.

Left midfield has often proven a problem position for English sides to fill in the last ten years, which was highlighted by the national teams complete lack of options in that position in the early years of the 21st century.

Thankfully, the Albion have had no such problems in filling the role since returning to Withdean. From Paul Brooker all the way through to Kazenga LuaLua, we've been blessed with both goals and assists from the left flank, which will make this particular vote one of the toughest to call

Please remember this is a vote for the player you thought to be the BEST Albion left winger - not your favourite!

Paul Brooker 2000-2003, 118 appearances, 13 goals
A week before Bobby Zamora arrived on loan at Withdean, a young left midfielder from Fulham came in by he name of Paul Brooker. His ability to beat men with pace and trickery resulted in a permanent transfer at the end of the 1999-2000 season. Although he tended to disappear once winter came around, when he was in the team he was an important player and along with Paul Watson, supplied most of Zamora's ammunition before leaving at the end of 2002-03 to rejoin Micky Adams at Leicester. Memorably only made one tackle in his entire Albion career, and that resulted in a red card in the 5-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
Nathan Jones 2000-2005, 159 appearances, 7 goals
The Rhonda Valley Wizard arrived in the summer of 2000 from Southend United as a left back but he soon found himself pushed forward into the wide midfield role. A popular player owing to his unique and effective stepover and his colourful choice of hairstyles, Jones scored some wonder goals for the Albion, none more so than his halfway line volley away at Nottingham Forest in 2002. He played a key role wide on the left as the Albion won three promotions in four years, including the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium. Once made the somewhat outlandish claim that he could be in the Welsh squad once Ryan Giggs retired from international football.
Darren Currie 2004, 22 appearances, 2 goals
When Mark McGhee signed Darren Currie on a free transfer in July 2004, few would have thought that five months later he would leave as one of the best pieces of business in the clubs history. Despite a chronic lack of pace, Currie was no doubt one of the most skillful players to pull on the stripes at Withdean with his ability to trick has way past virtually any opponent. Lethal from dead ball situations, it still came as a surprise when Ipswich offered £250,000 for arguably the clubs best player at that point. With finances tight, the offer couldn't be refused and despite staying up that season, it was Currie leaving that proved the catalyst for the disastrous form that lasted until 2007.
Alexandre Frutos 2005-2007, 45 appearances, 3 goals
Frutos arrived with fellow Frenchman Seb Carole at the start of the 2005-06 season from French Ligue 1 side Metz. He soon established himself as a first team regular down the left flank, with his direct running and aggressive style of play making him an important player. Following Mark McGhee's departure, he fell out of favour with new manager Dean Wilkins who preferred to play a number of graduates of his youth team and the final straw came when he received a straight red card in a shocking 3-0 home defeat to Blackpool live on Sky. Come the end of the 2006-07 season, he agreed to cancel his contract and returned to France.
Dean Cox 2005-2010, 146 appearances, 16 goals
A youth team product, Cox was handed his chance by Mark McGhee at the start of the 2006-07 season and never looked back. He became a regular in the team for the next three years until the arrival of Gus Poyet whn questions about his attitude meant that he was deemed surplus to requirements. Cox was a tricky wideman who would cut onto his preferred right foot, and was responsible for a large number of assists in his early days in the side. Unfortunately, he never really recaptured the form that saw him start his Albion career in such a blaze of glory, and after unsuccessful spells wide on the right and behind the strikers, he moved to Leyton Orient.
Kazenga LuaLua 2010, 22 appearances, 4 goals
What words can do Kazenga LuaLua justice? Arriving on-loan from Newcastle in 2010, his pace was alarming and his ability unquestioned. If he was good in his first loan spell, then when Gus Poyet bought him back for the second time at the start of the 2010-11 season, he was unbelievable, scoring goals that will live long in the memory against MK Dons, Bournemouth and Charlton. With League One defences not having a clue how to defend against him, he remained a vital weapon and it was no coincidence that the Albion's one dodgy patch thus far this season came in the wake of his leg break away at Hartlepool.