THE departures of Jay Jay Okocha and Bruno N'Gotty have prompted Reebok fans to reflect on the ever-improving quality of player they have been privileged to see gracing the club's famous colours.

Many regard the legendary Nigerian as the most gifted player ever seen in a white shirt, others consider the big Frenchman one of the club's most accomplished defenders. Yet both have had to make way for other players Sam Allardyce hopes can take the club to the next level There is no question that, along with other recent recruits to the Bolton fold, they have played major roles in weaving the richest of tapestries to delight the modern generation of Wanderers fans.

With their team now established as one of the leading lights in the Premiership, there is a case for suggesting they have never had it so good, provoking comparisons with teams and players from the club's glorious past.

How, for instance, would Big Sam's cosmopolitans compare to the class of 1953 with its all-international forward line, regarded as the best Wanderers team of the post-war era and so unlucky not to win the FA Cup or the 1958 Wembley winners, assembled for the princely sum of £110?

If Okocha wasn't the greatest of all time, then what of Youri Djorkaeff? But don't forget the legends "Super" John McGinlay, the flamboyant Frank Worthington and the incomparable Lion of Vienna, Nat Lofthouse.

Yet Nat, voted the greatest Wanderer of all-time last year, unashamedly confesses to "pinching in" at Burnden Park to watch his hero, Ray Westwood, the star performer of the Thirties. So how good was Westwood?

Relying on first hand knowledge rather than second hand recommendations, those of a certain age, whose association with Wanderers date back only to the mid-Sixties would reluctantly have to ignore the claims of Nat, Westwood and the FA Cup heroes of the Twenties.

So how's this for a Wanderers Xl drawn from the "modern" era and playing in a 4-4-2 formation?

Jussi Jaaskelainen; Gudni Bergsson, Bruno N'Gotty, Paul Jones, Ricardo Gardner; Youri Djorkaeff, Freddie Hill, Peter Reid, Jay Jay Okocha; John McGinlay, Frank Worthington.

Jaaskelainen's growing influence as one of the best keepers in Europe edges the mighty Finn ahead of Keith Branagan, whose penalty save in the 1995 Play-off Final was a pivotal moment in Wanderers' history.

Bergsson's selection at right back his position when he first arrived in 1995 is testimony to his talent and versatility and leaves the door open to pair N'Gotty with the brilliant Hall of Fame member Jones as a classy centre-back partnership.

Gardner, originally a winger, has improved so much as an attacking left back that he edges out his 1990s predecessors Robbie Elliott and Simon Charlton, who served Wanderers so impressively in the early Premiership days.

The purists will argue that the midfield lacks balance, but it would be worth taking a chance that the irrepressible Okocha, World Cup winner Djorkaeff, the supremely talented Hill and the wholeheartedly committed Reid, could make it work.

And never mind the purists. The prospect of seeing McGinlay and Worthington two of the most charismatic strikers ever to appear in a Bolton shirt is too tempting to resist.

Although I was not privileged enough to have seen some of the Wanderers "greats" from the 1920s and 1950s, their claim to be in an all-time XI cannot be ignored.

So, on that basis, the All-time Bolton Xl might have an altogether different look to it...

An All-Time XI?

Eddie Hopkinson FA Cup winner, England international and appearance record holder.
Bob Haworth Right back in the three Wembley wins of the 1920s.
Paul Jones Uncapped but the main man in any era.
Gudni Bergsson The great captain in his favoured role.
Tommy Banks Provided the spirit of the 58 team and international class left back.
Doug Holden Right winger in 53, left the club in 58.
Youri Djorkaeff A joy to watch, even in his twilight days.
Ray Westwood You can't argue with Nat's judgment.
Ted Vizard The Welsh wing wizard, 20 years a Wanderer.
Nat Lofthouse The greatest Wanderers striker of them all no question about it.
Joe Smith Not even Nat Lofthouse could beat his majestic 38 goals in one season.

But what do you think? Gordon Sharrock has named the players in his Wanderers dream team, and what he thinks the all-time XI might look like But has he made a glaring omission you want to tell us about?

Send your views by post to: Wanderers Greats, Bolton Evening News, Newspaper House, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE. Or email us