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Fingers crossed as Albion fail to strengthen before deadline
Albion are going with what they have for the rest of the season - and sweating on their strikers staying fit.
The loan transfer deadline passed without any further additions to the Seagulls' play-off chasing squad.
The big concern for manager Dean Wilkins now is an injury to skipper Nicky Forster or Glenn Murray in the remaining seven games, beginning with tomorrow's key clash against Leeds at Elland Road.
Albion have forced their way back up the table with seven wins, three draws and only three defeats since Murray was bought from Rochdale for £300,000 in January to partner 19-goal Forster.
The nightmare scenario for Wilkins is either of them being ruled out for all or part of the run-in, with little in the way of proven back-up.
Jake Robinson has been used more as a right winger this season, Joe Gatting has been restricted to just a handful of substitute appearances and Gary Hart's only starts have been at right-back in last Saturday's home victory over Swindon and Monday's 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest.
Wilkins has also not been sufficiently impressed by Jonny Dixon since his £55,000 move from Aldershot to include the small front man in his plans.
Meanwhile, Albion are poised to extend Ian Westlake's loan spell from Leeds for the rest of the season.
Chairman Dick Knight is in negotiations with United's chief executive Shaun Harvey and he expects to clinch the deal before Westlake's month runs out with the home game against Port Vale a week tomorrow.
Stretching Westlake's loan stint to the maximum 93 days would make him available for the League One play-off final at Wembley on Sunday May 25.
The left-sided former Ipswich midfielder cannot play against his parent club tomorrow under the terms of the existing loan arrangement.
Is Albion's squad strong enough to maintain a play-off challenge?
11:30pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: James, sussex on 11:48pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Why did Wilkins spend out 55k on a striker which he does not intend to play?
Why did Wilkins spend out 55k on a striker which he does not intend to play?
Posted by: Paul, Brighton Seafront on 11:54pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]James[/bold] wrote:
Why did Wilkins spend out 55k on a striker which he does not intend to play?[/quote] One for the future? He may not be ready for the step up yet. It is a question of who is available and when they are available. I don't think any of our backups stand a chance whilst Murray and Forster are looking so good together.
James wrote:
Why did Wilkins spend out 55k on a striker which he does not intend to play?
One for the future? He may not be ready for the step up yet. It is a question of who is available and when they are available. I don't think any of our backups stand a chance whilst Murray and Forster are looking so good together.
Posted by: Rich, Hanover on 12:05am Fri 28 Mar 08
A striker would've been nice but I'm not sure how easy it would have been to bring someone in to be third choice. Robinson is ok backup anyway, as long as BOTH Forster and Murray don't get injured (or suspended) we should be ok.
Good news about Westlake, if he stays our midfield looks strong, although again perhaps lacking slightly in depth especially on the flanks. Martot, Fraser, and Robinson are all solid backup players though.
Defensively, Lynch and Elphick great with Butters back up. Hart has shown he is adequate cover for Whing, and Mayo is doing ok in the absence of Richards.
Let's hope Kuipers doesn't get injured though!
A striker would've been nice but I'm not sure how easy it would have been to bring someone in to be third choice. Robinson is ok backup anyway, as long as BOTH Forster and Murray don't get injured (or suspended) we should be ok.
Good news about Westlake, if he stays our midfield looks strong, although again perhaps lacking slightly in depth especially on the flanks. Martot, Fraser, and Robinson are all solid backup players though.
Defensively, Lynch and Elphick great with Butters back up. Hart has shown he is adequate cover for Whing, and Mayo is doing ok in the absence of Richards.
Let's hope Kuipers doesn't get injured though!
Posted by: Martyn on 12:08am Fri 28 Mar 08
Let's just hope Kuipers, Forster and Murray don't get injured between now and the end of the season!
Let's just hope Kuipers, Forster and Murray don't get injured between now and the end of the season!
Posted by: Football Fred, Hove on 4:29am Fri 28 Mar 08
Along with half of the squad, Wendy and
Dick are not just good enough. A chairman who picks the team at the expense of a youth team coach impersonating a manager is a recipe for disaster !
Along with half of the squad, Wendy and
Dick are not just good enough. A chairman who picks the team at the expense of a youth team coach impersonating a manager is a recipe for disaster !
Posted by: rave, somerset on 7:25am Fri 28 Mar 08
don't talk a load of rubbish frank! we aren't where we are in the table for no reason.and whatever happens now it has been a pretty successful season. good luck Albion for tomorrow!
don't talk a load of rubbish frank! we aren't where we are in the table for no reason.and whatever happens now it has been a pretty successful season. good luck Albion for tomorrow!
Posted by: Nick, Brighton on 7:28am Fri 28 Mar 08
If thats true Fred then he hasn't done badly for a Chairman...we are sixth in the league!
Lets get behind the team and help give them every chance of making the play offs. At least yhis year they are showing some fight and spirit.
If thats true Fred then he hasn't done badly for a Chairman...we are sixth in the league!
Lets get behind the team and help give them every chance of making the play offs. At least yhis year they are showing some fight and spirit.
Posted by: Gee Jay, Halfway to Elland Road on 7:29am Fri 28 Mar 08
A real fan and true supporter then are we Fred? I bet if we manage to make it to a play off place you will be one of those moaners saying you disagree with the way tickets are allocated, because, all of a sudden, you will want to take the world and his wife to Wembley.
Come on... get behind the Albion, they have surprised their critics and we should give them and the management all the support we can during this final phase of the season. You are not anti Falmer as well are you?
A real fan and true supporter then are we Fred? I bet if we manage to make it to a play off place you will be one of those moaners saying you disagree with the way tickets are allocated, because, all of a sudden, you will want to take the world and his wife to Wembley.
Come on... get behind the Albion, they have surprised their critics and we should give them and the management all the support we can during this final phase of the season. You are not anti Falmer as well are you?
Posted by: Don Cropone, Lewes on 7:51am Fri 28 Mar 08
Dixon - SMALL? SMALL? SMALL?... he's 6 feet 2!
Dixon - SMALL? SMALL? SMALL?... he's 6 feet 2!
Posted by: Martin, Brighton on 8:15am Fri 28 Mar 08
You must be thinking of Kerry Dixon Mr Crapone
You must be thinking of Kerry Dixon Mr Crapone
Posted by: Bob the builder, UK on 10:07am Fri 28 Mar 08
Enjoy this weekend visting a decent ground rather than a community athletics track .... you'll never build Falmer .... you heard it here first ...
Enjoy this weekend visting a decent ground rather than a community athletics track .... you'll never build Falmer .... you heard it here first ...
Posted by: Phil, in the middle on 10:32am Fri 28 Mar 08
We really did need to sign another striker to maintain our Playoff aspirations.
In my opinion, it is not simply as cover if one gets injured, but also as "plan B" if the two on the pitch start to tire or ar having an off day.
Perhaps it just shows that the Board are not too interested in promotion and only want to sell tickets?
We really did need to sign another striker to maintain our Playoff aspirations.
In my opinion, it is not simply as cover if one gets injured, but also as "plan B" if the two on the pitch start to tire or ar having an off day.
Perhaps it just shows that the Board are not too interested in promotion and only want to sell tickets?
Posted by: royster, Brighon on 11:02am Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Bob the builder[/bold] wrote:
Enjoy this weekend visting a decent ground rather than a community athletics track .... you'll never build Falmer .... you heard it here first ... [/quote] Oh no panic!!! If someone who posts as "Bob the Builder" on an open comments page of a local paper, then he must be telling the truth. I think all the hard facts you have put out just prove your case.
Now do us all a favour and grow up and stop supporting Pala*se you clown.
Bob the builder wrote:
Enjoy this weekend visting a decent ground rather than a community athletics track .... you'll never build Falmer .... you heard it here first ...
Oh no panic!!! If someone who posts as "Bob the Builder" on an open comments page of a local paper, then he must be telling the truth. I think all the hard facts you have put out just prove your case.
Now do us all a favour and grow up and stop supporting Pala*se you clown.
Posted by: Haydn, Saltdean on 11:34am Fri 28 Mar 08
having Racons on loan should surely make Knight know this is the sort of player we need, and yet we've been saying it for years. nice to see westlake staying, Should We Make it perminant at the end of the season?
having Racons on loan should surely make Knight know this is the sort of player we need, and yet we've been saying it for years. nice to see westlake staying, Should We Make it perminant at the end of the season?
Posted by: vince, horsham on 1:05pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Phil[/bold] wrote:
We really did need to sign another striker to maintain our Playoff aspirations. In my opinion, it is not simply as cover if one gets injured, but also as "plan B" if the two on the pitch start to tire or ar having an off day. Perhaps it just shows that the Board are not too interested in promotion and only want to sell tickets?[/quote] Get real Phil!
We'll sign another striker if and when we get promotion. Loads of clubs involved in promotion/relegation battles would love to sign a forward as cover, so competition is high and how many succeed?
DK has made it clear we don't have the resources to pay inflated prices for average players. Rushing in a new face at the last minute is simply not good business practice.
Phil wrote:
We really did need to sign another striker to maintain our Playoff aspirations. In my opinion, it is not simply as cover if one gets injured, but also as "plan B" if the two on the pitch start to tire or ar having an off day. Perhaps it just shows that the Board are not too interested in promotion and only want to sell tickets?
Get real Phil!
We'll sign another striker if and when we get promotion. Loads of clubs involved in promotion/relegation battles would love to sign a forward as cover, so competition is high and how many succeed?
DK has made it clear we don't have the resources to pay inflated prices for average players. Rushing in a new face at the last minute is simply not good business practice.
Posted by: Jim the Postman, Tarring West Worthing. on 4:07pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[bold]So Bob the builder,
when the tenders go out for local bulders to HELP build the new ground you will so no thank you, ( i dont think so mate,thats if you are a builder).
Good to the Albion and all the supporters for tomorrow.[/bold]
So Bob the builder,
when the tenders go out for local bulders to HELP build the new ground you will so no thank you, ( i dont think so mate,thats if you are a builder).
Good to the Albion and all the supporters for tomorrow.
Posted by: Phil, in the middle on 4:39pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]vince[/bold] wrote:
<b><b>[quote][bold]Phil[/bold] wrote:
We really did need to sign another striker to maintain our Playoff aspirations. In my opinion, it is not simply as cover if one gets injured, but also as "plan B" if the two on the pitch start to tire or ar having an off day. Perhaps it just shows that the Board are not too interested in promotion and only want to sell tickets?[/quote] Get real Phil!
We'll sign another striker if and when we get promotion. Loads of clubs involved in promotion/relegation battles would love to sign a forward as cover, so competition is high and how many succeed?
DK has made it clear we don't have the resources to pay inflated prices for average players. Rushing in a new face at the last minute is simply not good business practice. </b></b>[/quote] It would only be the cost of wages for a few weeks - compared to another year in this crap league.
And, it is not really just cover - we only have two strikers worth a shirt at the
Club.
vince wrote:
<b><b>Phil wrote:
We really did need to sign another striker to maintain our Playoff aspirations. In my opinion, it is not simply as cover if one gets injured, but also as "plan B" if the two on the pitch start to tire or ar having an off day. Perhaps it just shows that the Board are not too interested in promotion and only want to sell tickets?
Get real Phil!
We'll sign another striker if and when we get promotion. Loads of clubs involved in promotion/relegation battles would love to sign a forward as cover, so competition is high and how many succeed?
DK has made it clear we don't have the resources to pay inflated prices for average players. Rushing in a new face at the last minute is simply not good business practice. </b></b>
It would only be the cost of wages for a few weeks - compared to another year in this crap league.
And, it is not really just cover - we only have two strikers worth a shirt at the
Club.
Posted by: vince, boston on 6:56pm Fri 28 Mar 08
my only worry is that Kuipers is only 1 booking away from being suspended
my only worry is that Kuipers is only 1 booking away from being suspended
Posted by: James, Brighton on 7:27pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Your dead right Phil,the Board are consistent,when we needed a striker to stay up in the championship they took a chance in not buying and we went down.They are now throwing away the chance of getting out of this poor league which of course will lead to even lower gates,they just dont learn.
The manager and players deserve better
Your dead right Phil,the Board are consistent,when we needed a striker to stay up in the championship they took a chance in not buying and we went down.They are now throwing away the chance of getting out of this poor league which of course will lead to even lower gates,they just dont learn.
The manager and players deserve better
Posted by: andy, Nottingham on 12:53am Sat 29 Mar 08
Let's be honest we are hardly going to tempt any quality strikers to the club when they know they are not going to be a regular starter.
I would genuinely be more worried about losing Kuipers as he has been immense this season-I guess if he does get injured we will get a chance to find out how good Sullivan actually is!!!
We are genuinely in with a chance of getting in the play-offs and although the skeptics will say we were lucky at Forest(I don't)lets get behind the lads,go with what we've got and keep the faith!!
UP THE ALBION!!!
Let's be honest we are hardly going to tempt any quality strikers to the club when they know they are not going to be a regular starter.
I would genuinely be more worried about losing Kuipers as he has been immense this season-I guess if he does get injured we will get a chance to find out how good Sullivan actually is!!!
We are genuinely in with a chance of getting in the play-offs and although the skeptics will say we were lucky at Forest(I don't)lets get behind the lads,go with what we've got and keep the faith!!
UP THE ALBION!!!
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