THEY ARE the players at the sharp end. The men who get the fans’ adulation – and the whacks from defenders.

Now, as we complete our all-time Albion XI, we are asking you to select a focal point up front.

Forget the squad numbers of later years – 19 for Leo Ulloa, 25 for Bobby Zamora, 17 for Glenn Murray.

We want what Gus Poyet called “a No.9 – proper” and we’ve got some big players from Albion’s history to fill that role and play alongside the second striker which readers are currently voting for from a list which includes Peter Ward.

Ten years ago we asked you to vote for your all-time Albion XI and you plumped for Bobby Zamora at centre-forward.

Memories were still fresh in 2005 of how he joined as an unknown from Bristol Rovers, announced himself with a hat-trick at Chester City and then fired the goals which played a massive part in back-to-back titles.

The clamour in some quarters for his return to the club this summer underlines the affection with which Zamora is still held in these parts.

But he had to fight off some good opposition back in 2005. And it has got tougher in the last decade.

Firstly with the arrival of Glenn Murray. Enigmatic and frustrating at times, he was devastating at others.

In his final year, he was a sensation, topping 20 goals and leading Albion to the League One title.

Then he left and joined the old enemy, and, curiously, his standing among Seagulls fans has probably increased with his performances against the club for both Crystal Palace and Reading.

But hold on a minute. If the song got it right, Albion weren’t missing Murray any more when Leo Ulloa was bearing the brunt up front, scoring goals and also helping knit things together with link-up play under-rated by many.

Ulloa went on to prove himself in the Premier League, As eventually has Murray. And Zamora.

But how about another strong candidate who scored his Albion goals in the top-flight?

Some members of the side which helped keep the club in the old First Division for four seasons can be under-valued by fans. Michael Robinson is arguably one of them.

A strong but talented forward, he played for Albion throughout their top-flight years, scoring 37 league goals.

And he set up what should have been the winning goal in the FA Cup final.

Robinson played at the top level of club football, helping Liverpool win the European Cup in 1984.

Bobby Smith did not do too badly either with a starring role as Spurs won the double in 1961.

His arrival at Albion in 1964 was nothing short of sensational and he scored 19 goals as they went on to win the Fourth Division title.

There are other names which will mean little to younger fans but bring a warm, nostalgic glow to older supporters.

Kit Napier netted 84 times for the Seagulls in the league between 1966 and 1972, regularly finishing as top scorer and helping them to promotion from the third tier. A real idol of his time.

And fans from the later 1970s will forever hold Ian ‘Spider’ Mellor dear as the straight man to Ward’s jinks and dribbles. He could score goals too, including a hat-trick against Walsall. But the fact Ward scored four that night perhaps illustrates how the little man always grabbed the headlines – while Mellor did great work alongside him.

Completing our list are Mike Small who formed a great partnership with John Byrne in 1990-91 as Albion reached the second-tier play-off final at Wembley, Kevin Bremner who was a real battler in the late 1980s when he notched 35 goals and Kurt Nogan – one of those players who shone brightly in the dust of some troubled times at the Goldstone. His 49 league goals came at a rate of one every two games.

As ever, we want you to vote for the best player, playing at his best but judged only on what he did for Albion.

Pick us a No.9 – proper!