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Newcastle United’s All-Time Starting XI

By Bryan Nelson

"St James' Park from the Sandman Signature hotel, 18 April 2012" by Ian Paterson. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_James%27_Park_from_the_Sandman_Signature_hotel,_18_April_2012.jpg#/media/File:St_James%27_Park_from_the_Sandman_Signature_hotel,_18_April_2012.jpg
"St James' Park from the Sandman Signature hotel, 18 April 2012" by Ian Paterson. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_James%27_Park_from_the_Sandman_Signature_hotel,_18_April_2012.jpg#/media/File:St_James%27_Park_from_the_Sandman_Signature_hotel,_18_April_2012.jpg /
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Centerback: Philippe Albert

Philippe Albert is one of those centerbacks who was so much more than a brutish defender. Albert was known more for rampaging forward and scoring brilliant goals than he was for throwing his body in to a crunching tackle. His most notable moment in a Newcastle United was his incredible chip over Peter Schmeichel against Manchester United.

That is not to say however that Albert was not renowned for his defensive prowess. The big Belgian defender had an uncanny ability to read the game and keep opposing center forwards in check. He is still a cult hero around Tyneside and while Fabricio Collocini would have been a solid selection here, it is the Belgian giant that wins out.

Next: Centerback 2