Poyet: I want more from my players (From The Argus)

Gus, we need more from lua lua, I think he needs the ball quicker to him. I never see him run on to the ball, but receive it from standing .
Bring in Boyd, Bennett, bechio , and raul ... Sell cms Buckley lua lua, Harley sparrow .

Isn't it the role of the manager to get 100% from his players ? Its not all about tactics and expensive transfers , its about player managment ....
Tomorrow should be an interesting day ... So who is the new striker ? GG

mark by the sea wrote:
Gus, we need more from lua lua, I think he needs the ball quicker to him. I never see him run on to the ball, but receive it from standing .
Bring in Boyd, Bennett, bechio , and raul ... Sell cms Buckley lua lua, Harley sparrow .

So hang on, do you want to keep Lua Lua, or sell him?

LuaLua likes to run at people with the ball and try trickery to get a shot away, that's all well and good when you're coming off the bench as an impact sub but not from the start,he has to be used for his strengths. I dont wana drone on bout the Watford game but we were well sussed out by Zola et al.
So Gus: We want more from you too!

Cabin fever wrote:

mark by the sea wrote:
Gus, we need more from lua lua, I think he needs the ball quicker to him. I never see him run on to the ball, but receive it from standing .
Bring in Boyd, Bennett, bechio , and raul ... Sell cms Buckley lua lua, Harley sparrow .

So hang on, do you want to keep Lua Lua, or sell him?

Sell, not sure we could to be honest, Gus has not played him hardly this season, and a one trick pony, he would be a better player if he got the ball quicker.

Where are the academy and development players who should be ready for the main squad? This production line HAS to produce quality players. We need a conveyor belt of talent. If the current scouts and coaches can't provide them get others who will!. We need youngsters ready at 18 to make the first team squad and contend for places. We should revue all squad development matters. Brighton must have a conveyor belt of talent Mr Bloom.

Crofts, not the player we sold to Norwich. Hammond is so inconsistent it's unreal. If we lost Bridcutt then I would start looking over my shoulder at the relegation places as if it wasn't for him on Saturday we would have lost by 6 or 7. We were awful with him so imagine what we would be like without him, who is the hold up man then? If this striker is somebody nobody has ever heard of then I think people will start turning. I love Poyet but beginning to get frustrated as everybody else is. A result against Ipswich will go along way, another defeat and our season is all but over.

In recent weeks tried defensive mid fields, didn't work. Against Watford tried attacking line up, didn't work. Run out of ideas. Bring on the new striker. Not confident that will work but gotta try something.

Hi, I think the title from the previous story sums it up as far as Watford goes QUOTE:- "Poyet and Zola watch the action" Seemed that half the team did the same while on the pitch,
As Gus says above "too dependent on key players"
If we do sign a quality forward we will need to get the ball in there a lot quicker than we did against Watford, would rather see them try to passed it around in the opponents half rather than between our defenders.
Happy New when it arrives to all!!!

Not sure our scouting sysytem is up to much at the moment especially in comparison with clubs like palace and watford who seem to be able to unearth talented players who fit their style of play for minimum outlay. There also seems to be a gulf in class between the development squad and the first team which must be down to both the lack of talent secured and coaching at that level. We may have to wait for the new training complex to come on stream (and then a few years) before this comes on stream.

I think when Buckley is fit and playing you will not see Lua Lua in the team and he will be used as an impact player from the bench. Please dont sell any of our best players ( CMS, LB & WB ) bring others in to compliment the team and take us forward. There is little point in naming names because we dont know who Gus is after but if Bennett was available from Norwich ( he is not getting a game at the moment ) to come back on loan for the rest of the season I would think that would be a good move. Perhaps then buy him in the summer, just a thought.

Gibseagull agrees with my earlier post but we cannot wait for training complex. We need a new system that finds and develops talent faster. The success criteria for this should be achieved when the production line of regular talent is established. No first teamers get new scouts and coaches. Action now not tomorrow. No excuses. Action Bloom!

john newman wrote:
Where are the academy and development players who should be ready for the main squad? This production line HAS to produce quality players. We need a conveyor belt of talent. If the current scouts and coaches can't provide them get others who will!. We need youngsters ready at 18 to make the first team squad and contend for places. We should revue all squad development matters. Brighton must have a conveyor belt of talent Mr Bloom.

The club had one of the worst coaching set up in the country abut three years ago.
The coaching staff and academy set up will take about 5 years to produce quality players, ie a decent 11 year old needs to play the arsenal , Chelsea for 5 years, at 16 he goes into the developement, 18 should be pushing for first team. That's the basis at arsenal, 7 years coaching, if they ain't good enough at that point , get rid.

The development squad would appear to be a bit of a non starter at the moment. It's almost as if someone said we need one and so the club when out and bought a load of kids to say we have one. They rarely get a match and apart from a couple of matches last season, none of them are given a chance to progress. You cannot just buy a young supply line, it has to be grown from a young age with a proper professional youth set up that progresses through to professional contracts. Southampton have a fantastic youth set up, just look at some of the gems they have brought through the ranks. We need this put in place and I'm sure the Academy will address this in the next few years. For now though the development squad is for me at least, pointless.

From what I saw on Saturday, I would say that we need to keep LuaLua, and use him more. He was obviously not match fit, and was struggling for the last 20 mins or so, but in my opinion, he was close to being Man of the Match, and it was only Bridcutt's brilliant display that bettered him

After the first 30 minutes, we started to lose cohesiveness, and were found wanting for pace at the back several times, which led to 2 of their goals.

We were too repetitive and predictable in our passing patterns, and why, oh why, do we keep trying the risky pass, which nearly always results in losing the ball. I lost count of how many time a pass went too close to a Watford player, who then started a new move off for them!

CMS was his usual energetic self, but his first touch is usually way too heavy, so he loses control of the ball. Dobbie, when he plays, gets in some good positions, but doesn't seem to know what to do when he gets the ball, and Hoskins just needs a good consistent run in the team as a front line player, not as he is currently being used. Would much prefer to see us with 2 up front, as we do not have the right players for a lone striker.

What was also noticeable is the the amount of times that players got into shooting positions and passed the ball! It's as though they are afraid to take it on, and would rather pass the buck, so the defence gets organised, and we lose the ball or the shot, if someone lets one go, gets blocked.

And our defence, which was one of the best in the division, has gone to pot, and I would lay the blame for that at the feet of Gordon Greer, who as skipper, should be more aware of whats going on. We are playing way too deep, and we do not keep a straight line at the back anymore, so can never get an offside decision. I know that we have Bridge and Bruno pushing forward all the time, but I lost count of how many times Bruno was in a centre back position, and David was having to come back to cover the right side. If we are going to have the full backs pushing up, then the centre backs should move higher up the field as well.

We do need a tall CF and we need to give Hoskins a good run out. I would also like to see Elliott Bennett back in the midfield, or someone of the same style, as he was always a creative midfielder, and I'm afraid that Crofts and Hammond are not up to it at the moment. Orlandi is much better than either of these two.

Anyway, let's hope that some business gets done, and we don't lose Bridcutt & Buckley in January, and we get some decent players in.

Let's hope the second half of the season improves. I'm not writing us off yet, but Gus needs to get the team to vary the play a lot more, and become more unpredictable.

I think you're right Graysgull on the whole.
Top players need to remain with us and a spine with strength, pace and aerial ability needs to be brought in. I think Orlandi gives us the creative edge you mention but without a bit of muscle and pace we are always going to be second best to the likes of Watford who seemed to have a very good mix.
I like you would like to see Hoskins given a run but again only if we change our style. Cms and others have not become bad players over night, the system just doesn't suit them.
It's time for GP to change, not some of the players, lets play to the players strengths. They were after all bought in for those strengths weren't they?
3 players desperately needed for me and all straight through the middle of the team. The making of any good side is a strong spine, I'm sure most will agree.

It never seems to work bringing old players back to the team,ie Crofts Hammond or even Bennett would be a mistake.Like remarrying an ex wife,it never works.

One of the advantages of a game being televised is the chance to watch it again but from a different perspective.
Watching Saturday's game again it was noticeable that in the first 20 plus minutes or so when we were on top that we moved the ball more quickly and positively and consequently had Watford under pressure. Then we slowed everything down and played with less intensity.
Watford looked a good side and their counter attacking was quick, accurate and very effective. Earlier this season the Albion counter attacked more quickly and as a result scored more goals. Indeed it looked as if Poyet had tweaked the BHA playing style to take advantage of CMS's talents and it resulted in our topping the table. For some reason we have regressed since then.
Whilst we undoubtedly need another striker our problems seem to stem from the seeming inability for the midfield to get forward to support CMS. Time and again on Saturday LuaLua beat the full back and then paused and had to beat him or try and beat him again because other than CMS (at most) there wasn't anyone to centre to. Of course it doesn't help those crossing that we don't have an aerial presence and that more often than not crosses have to be delivered low making them easier to cut out.
The one main exception to that was Bruno's pass to Hoskins which the latter took over his shoulder and controlled and volleyed which produced a smart save from the Watford keeper.
The midfield is the area which most needs rebalancing. Crofts other than against Notts Forest has been disappointing and had he taken his chance at 0-0 the match might have had a very different result. Orlandi had a reasonable game especially in the first quarter and perhaps it was no coincidence that Watford scored their second and third goals after he had been substituted. Bridcutt was good as always but even he faded on this occasion. The Albion still seem to need a powerhouse ball winning midfielder, Crofts is not the answer. Indeed other than his missed chanced he seemed completely periferial to the action. Of the current squad Hammond offers more and I was surprised he wasn't selected.
As a result of the lack of presence in midfield the Back 4 were left exposed and Greer and especially El-Arb's lack of pace exploited underlining the need for another defender.
Finally the lack of recent game time (Bruno and Orlandi back from injury) didn't help our cause as several players lacked sharpness. This leads on to the lack of consistency in selection. Earlier in the season Poyet was able to select more or less the same side and that consistency of selection was reflected in up position towards the top of the table. That has not been maintained for various reasons and the resulting lack of wins reflects this. As a result the team has been playing with a lack of belief which was very apparent against Watford. The only solution as Poyet has said is to freshen the squad up. However it needs freshening up not just in terms of bringing in new players but also tactically and I trust that Poyet gets the team back playing as they did against Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday and most recently Bolton.
The right signings/player movement now and adjustments to our playing style now and I am confident we will reach the play-off positions.
Comments anyone ?

pjwilk wrote:
It never seems to work bringing old players back to the team,ie Crofts Hammond or even Bennett would be a mistake.Like remarrying an ex wife,it never works.

Agreed. Same with ex Mangers too.

I'll be delighted when 'close' becomes reality for the new striker but this will not solve all our problems. Unless we play at a faster tempo the front men simply don't get enough clear-cut opportunities.

The Barcelona-type passing style is great but it works for Barca because their players are of higher quality than the opposition. So for us, in League 1 we had better players than the opposition - but in the Championship that is no longer the case.

IMHO it's the midfield we need to strengthen. Bridcutt is brilliant as the holding player and Orlandi's class provides the creativity. What we need is a powerful, quick, box-to-box player to provide the impetus. Crofts - the biggest disappointment of the season - and Hammond (not much better) are not up to it.

Poyet wants more from his players, oddly enough so do we.

Defenders mostly score from corners or set pieces, and their goals are usually gained by heading the ball. Ok would all the defenders that have scored with their head please stand up.

Defenders often win the ball from set pieces and nod it down for another to score. Would all the defenders that do this please stand up.

I doubt many of our defenders would have risen to their feet. Poyet built a wall in front of goal that made us very hard to score against, and that was good. Bridge and Bruno can raid from the back, that's good too. None of our back four can head a ball at goal, that is not good. This is one area that needs to be worked on and put right, an area where our players could do more Mr. Poyet.

Sucessful teams don't rely on one guy to score goals, CMS has as many this year as the next three added together. How many goals have Crofts, Hammond, David, (exclude penalties) Dicker or Bridcutt managed to score this year.
This is another area where our
players could do more Mr. Poyet.

CMS doesn't have a quality strike partner, yes Hoskins is showing some good signs but no goals from him yet, this is an area where you could do more Mr. Poyet.
Dobbie might do as you ask, he might do more but it is hard to do more if you are not in the match. Dobbie is not an impact sub in the way that Lua Lua is so just what is his role Mr. Poyet.

If a know nothing guy like me can see some areas where we are clearly lacking, would I not be right in thinking that you know these things too. Is it the tactics or stly of play that is the cause. Is it the simple fact that as good as some of our players are, some of them are just not good enough. People say that a good manager gets the best out of his players, perhaps you already have, perhaps their best is not good enough.

Yep our players need to do more, and in some areas, so do you Mr. Poyet.

fansince57 wrote:
I'll be delighted when 'close' becomes reality for the new striker but this will not solve all our problems. Unless we play at a faster tempo the front men simply don't get enough clear-cut opportunities.

The Barcelona-type passing style is great but it works for Barca because their players are of higher quality than the opposition. So for us, in League 1 we had better players than the opposition - but in the Championship that is no longer the case.

IMHO it's the midfield we need to strengthen. Bridcutt is brilliant as the holding player and Orlandi's class provides the creativity. What we need is a powerful, quick, box-to-box player to provide the impetus. Crofts - the biggest disappointment of the season - and Hammond (not much better) are not up to it.

Exactly and as near to word for word to my post as can be.

We can't all be wrong.....

pjwilk wrote:
It never seems to work bringing old players back to the team,ie Crofts Hammond or even Bennett would be a mistake.Like remarrying an ex wife,it never works.

Very very true why have Croft and Hammond returned to us because they where not good enough were they where.

Ballantrrae,

Do you remember the slating I got about my comment when we re signed Crofts?
I think I may have been right :)

Good post as always my friend.

mark by the sea wrote:
Gus, we need more from lua lua, I think he needs the ball quicker to him. I never see him run on to the ball, but receive it from standing .
Bring in Boyd, Bennett, bechio , and raul ... Sell cms Buckley lua lua, Harley sparrow .

Mark, usually your posts are sensible but this one is ludicrous. YOU'RE right about KLL needing the ball more quickly but sell Buckley, CMS and KLL? Are you drunk? Bennett, like Hammond and Crofty will not recapture the form of two years ago and anyway I prefer Buckley. 'Best before' dates are usually there for a reason and the three mentioned have expired I'm afraid. ;-)

Claude Back wrote:

mark by the sea wrote:
Gus, we need more from lua lua, I think he needs the ball quicker to him. I never see him run on to the ball, but receive it from standing .
Bring in Boyd, Bennett, bechio , and raul ... Sell cms Buckley lua lua, Harley sparrow .

Mark, usually your posts are sensible but this one is ludicrous. YOU'RE right about KLL needing the ball more quickly but sell Buckley, CMS and KLL? Are you drunk? Bennett, like Hammond and Crofty will not recapture the form of two years ago and anyway I prefer Buckley. 'Best before' dates are usually there for a reason and the three mentioned have expired I'm afraid. ;-)

I mean to get the best from him, however he is either injured or not in side, I don't think left wing is his best position either, good player.. But not going to provide on a regular basis, I did just speak to a ex relative in Southampton, saints are bidding for k jones, and allowing lambert to go, swap deal for Buckley? That's if jones deal goes through? For me stats say everything, Bennett is only 24' where as crofts , Hammond have hit there peak.

mark by the sea wrote:
Gus, we need more from lua lua, I think he needs the ball quicker to him. I never see him run on to the ball, but receive it from standing .
Bring in Boyd, Bennett, bechio , and raul ... Sell cms Buckley lua lua, Harley sparrow .

Agree. His strength is running onto a ball that is knocked in front of him - not having the ball played to his feet.

However, he does need to get it into the box quicker sometimes.

sebastian ribas number 9

mark by the sea wrote:

Claude Back wrote:

mark by the sea wrote:
Gus, we need more from lua lua, I think he needs the ball quicker to him. I never see him run on to the ball, but receive it from standing .
Bring in Boyd, Bennett, bechio , and raul ... Sell cms Buckley lua lua, Harley sparrow .

Mark, usually your posts are sensible but this one is ludicrous. YOU'RE right about KLL needing the ball more quickly but sell Buckley, CMS and KLL? Are you drunk? Bennett, like Hammond and Crofty will not recapture the form of two years ago and anyway I prefer Buckley. 'Best before' dates are usually there for a reason and the three mentioned have expired I'm afraid. ;-)

I mean to get the best from him, however he is either injured or not in side, I don't think left wing is his best position either, good player.. But not going to provide on a regular basis, I did just speak to a ex relative in Southampton, saints are bidding for k jones, and allowing lambert to go, swap deal for Buckley? That's if jones deal goes through? For me stats say everything, Bennett is only 24' where as crofts , Hammond have hit there peak.

Lambert and CMS here would be great. However, I think Saints would be barmy to exchange Lambert for Jones in their team. Look how many points Lambert has got in the Telegraph Fantasy Football with his assists and goals. He has adapted well to the Premiership. I like Jones too but Saints need both in my opinion.
Take your point about Buckers being a potential sick note.
If YOU'RE right about the deal it would be good or us.

john newman wrote:
Where are the academy and development players who should be ready for the main squad? This production line HAS to produce quality players. We need a conveyor belt of talent. If the current scouts and coaches can't provide them get others who will!. We need youngsters ready at 18 to make the first team squad and contend for places. We should revue all squad development matters. Brighton must have a conveyor belt of talent Mr Bloom.

You can't just set an Academy up from scratch and expect immediate results. It's a long term investment in a clubs future.

I have been involved in junior football in Sussex for many years, and in all that time have only seen one or two players who I thought had a chance of making it at professional level. Both got taken on by BHA, neither were retained after a couple of seasons. There is a shortage of genuine talent in Sussex.

So, you need a nationwide scouting network and then a track record in developing youngsters in order to attract them over other clubs. I would say that BHA are trying to establish the former but won't have the latter for a few years and then that's dependent on the scouting producing results.

I hate making predictions as one can look so daft when it turns out you are miles off the mark. That said, I am going to make a prediction or two.

Unless our new striker is from foreign lands, a player we the fans are not thinking of, I predict that we will not buy a striker, we will borrow one, if CMS moves on then two.

I'll stick my neck out and say that a target man will also be aquired, same as above on loan or purchase.

Accepting that CMS could leave I also predict that either Buckley or Bridcutt go too.
If Bridcutt I predict that Gus will not replace him, Orlandi will get the job, Orlandi or David.
If Buckley, then Hoskins might be given his chance and a younger lad on loan or purchase will come in.

Fringe players to go, no prediction, it's a given.

We don't have time for players to bed in so I predict who ever arrives will be quality and of proven ability at our level and above. The players will not be past their sell by date, in fact I would predict that they will be all in their mid twenties, or there abouts.

Ok guys, shoot me down.

Something that Gus has said that scares me a great deal is that although we are apparently really close on desired striker, we are really far from other deals.
When you consider that there are strong rumours about 3 of our best players leaving, I wonder if GP has factored in that the chances that have been created and missed this season will no longer be created, just a thought.
I've said it before but I'd like to see the 3 top guys remain with us until the season ends with the big striker coming in additionally.
Another thought, if we are a way off on other signings and this isn't just a smoke screen then perhaps a reshuffle to a 4-4-2 with Kaz as the driving midfielder may be worth a go..
I like the thought of the back 5 as normal with Orlandi and Buckley on the flanks with Bridcutt and Lua Lua in the middle. When Kaz tires at 60 ish minutes, we replace him with Vicente or Dobbie.
The new big guy starts up top with Cms and again when Cms tires we bring on Hoskins.
Think this might work and see us playing with more pace and higher up the pitch but it does rely on a change of tactic and just one addition.
Thoughts anyone?

Here we go again, blame the players not the tactics! I am convinced that he would get more from some of his players if he allowed them to play to their specific strengths. Perhaps if new players are coming in,then this will be possible, however, is Gus going to be prepared to adapt where necessary? This is a real headache and who Gus signs, and if or how he adapts will define our season and his future. I really hope that he is up to the challenge and make brave decisions which will take him away from his comfort zone. Selling CMS, Buckley, Bridcutt is not the answer,(if this is really on the cards as it is pure rumour at present) as we need to hang on to genuine talent and not allow others to get the benefit. Rather, buy quality to ADD o what we have rather than REPLACE it. This in my opinion is the way to create success. If Gus needs to adapt in the process he must do!

I watched the Watford match and then looked at the video... I have come to the amazing conclusion that CMS can go for the following reasons... Anyone fit enough can run around but it needs real talent to get the first touch right, it needs real talent to be in the right place at the right time - or at least challenge someone else who is in that place. As usual in recent games there was only one person doing that and it was Will Hoskins. And even then crosses into the box were left unchallenged - it used to be calle dballwatching - but when you see it in the 6 yard box it is unforgivable. Those of you who have the opportunity should watch again. It was, unfortunately, laughable. I don't care if CMS goes somewhere else and scores a hatful. That's the way it gies. He won't do it here, not under GP's style... The question is how he will be replaced... TK and WB both signed with the ambition of a return to the Premier League. A team languishing in mid-table does not turn the heads of PL players unless they are really on the fringe. My own wishlist is fairly straightforward...
Connor Wickham up front and
Craig Dawson at the back...

Both great prospects for the immediate and for the future. Simples! Fingers crossed.

mark5 wrote:
Here we go again, blame the players not the tactics! I am convinced that he would get more from some of his players if he allowed them to play to their specific strengths. Perhaps if new players are coming in,then this will be possible, however, is Gus going to be prepared to adapt where necessary? This is a real headache and who Gus signs, and if or how he adapts will define our season and his future. I really hope that he is up to the challenge and make brave decisions which will take him away from his comfort zone. Selling CMS, Buckley, Bridcutt is not the answer,(if this is really on the cards as it is pure rumour at present) as we need to hang on to genuine talent and not allow others to get the benefit. Rather, buy quality to ADD o what we have rather than REPLACE it. This in my opinion is the way to create success. If Gus needs to adapt in the process he must do!

Can't keep adding players to the squad, if we sign rebas for instance, I am not convinced Gus will play two up front, again it's about tactics as you say, Barnes for me has proven Gus wrong, he hung his team selection around him at times, even when he had a bad game, and dropped or never gave certain players a chance to do his stuff. Hoskins and Dobbie won't get on the bench together.. I would imagine one up front and cms or Buckley in a free roll behind the rebas.

Neillo wrote:

john newman wrote:
Where are the academy and development players who should be ready for the main squad? This production line HAS to produce quality players. We need a conveyor belt of talent. If the current scouts and coaches can't provide them get others who will!. We need youngsters ready at 18 to make the first team squad and contend for places. We should revue all squad development matters. Brighton must have a conveyor belt of talent Mr Bloom.

You can't just set an Academy up from scratch and expect immediate results. It's a long term investment in a clubs future.

I have been involved in junior football in Sussex for many years, and in all that time have only seen one or two players who I thought had a chance of making it at professional level. Both got taken on by BHA, neither were retained after a couple of seasons. There is a shortage of genuine talent in Sussex.

So, you need a nationwide scouting network and then a track record in developing youngsters in order to attract them over other clubs. I would say that BHA are trying to establish the former but won't have the latter for a few years and then that's dependent on the scouting producing results.

Pure lies.What about Charlie Gilmour former Hove Park schoolboy at just 13 and off to Arsenal.Even scouts like Dave Allen can find local young talent.Top scouts have all watched freeloaders like Dunk,Barker,Dickenso
n,OatwayJr,El-Abd,an
d the biggest of the lot Anton Rodgers.Even with the millions Chelsea have they soon had that lad out the door.

Why do we need 46 players when other teams manage with half this number? Scrap the development team as it is producing nothing.

I would recall Barnes and change to 4-4-2 as Mackail-Smith is too isolated in 4-3-3 which in reality is 4-5-1 as two of the three forwards are wingers. Hoskins, Dobbie, Sparrow, Vincelot and Harley aren't good enough. Selling Bridcutt, Mackail-Smith and Buckley isn't the answer.

Why do we need 46 players when other teams manage with half this number? Scrap the development team as it is producing nothing.

I would recall Barnes and change to 4-4-2 as Mackail-Smith is too isolated in 4-3-3 which in reality is 4-5-1 as two of the three forwards are wingers. Hoskins, Dobbie, Sparrow, Vincelot and Harley aren't good enough. Selling Bridcutt, Mackail-Smith and Buckley isn't the answer.

fansince57 wrote:
I'll be delighted when 'close' becomes reality for the new striker but this will not solve all our problems. Unless we play at a faster tempo the front men simply don't get enough clear-cut opportunities. The Barcelona-type passing style is great but it works for Barca because their players are of higher quality than the opposition. So for us, in League 1 we had better players than the opposition - but in the Championship that is no longer the case. IMHO it's the midfield we need to strengthen. Bridcutt is brilliant as the holding player and Orlandi's class provides the creativity. What we need is a powerful, quick, box-to-box player to provide the impetus. Crofts - the biggest disappointment of the season - and Hammond (not much better) are not up to it.

Correct! Trotter would be a great addition! Big, strong, covers ground quick, great link up play, good in the air.

Freeloaders wrote:

Neillo wrote:

john newman wrote:
Where are the academy and development players who should be ready for the main squad? This production line HAS to produce quality players. We need a conveyor belt of talent. If the current scouts and coaches can't provide them get others who will!. We need youngsters ready at 18 to make the first team squad and contend for places. We should revue all squad development matters. Brighton must have a conveyor belt of talent Mr Bloom.

You can't just set an Academy up from scratch and expect immediate results. It's a long term investment in a clubs future.

I have been involved in junior football in Sussex for many years, and in all that time have only seen one or two players who I thought had a chance of making it at professional level. Both got taken on by BHA, neither were retained after a couple of seasons. There is a shortage of genuine talent in Sussex.

So, you need a nationwide scouting network and then a track record in developing youngsters in order to attract them over other clubs. I would say that BHA are trying to establish the former but won't have the latter for a few years and then that's dependent on the scouting producing results.

Pure lies.What about Charlie Gilmour former Hove Park schoolboy at just 13 and off to Arsenal.Even scouts like Dave Allen can find local young talent.Top scouts have all watched freeloaders like Dunk,Barker,Dickenso

n,OatwayJr,El-Abd,an

d the biggest of the lot Anton Rodgers.Even with the millions Chelsea have they soon had that lad out the door.

What part of my post is '' Pure Lies '' ?

Are you seriously expecting instant success from the establishment of an Academy ??

'' Even scouts like Dave Allen '' ? - Tell me one player that he has scouted that has made it - i can't recall one.

As for the players you mention, it totally validates what i said does it not ??

Zamora25 wrote:
Why do we need 46 players when other teams manage with half this number? Scrap the development team as it is producing nothing.

I would recall Barnes and change to 4-4-2 as Mackail-Smith is too isolated in 4-3-3 which in reality is 4-5-1 as two of the three forwards are wingers. Hoskins, Dobbie, Sparrow, Vincelot and Harley aren't good enough. Selling Bridcutt, Mackail-Smith and Buckley isn't the answer.

Hoskins isn't good enough...? You are, with all due respect, havin' a larf!!!

Happy New Year...so lets all take a step back and realise, appreciate what G.P with T.B have achieved for all us Albion fans,that we never believed ever could or would.Yes,we all know we need a strong forceful striker up front to help C.M-S,but the worse drivers are back seat ones..so lets cut G.P some slack get behind him and the boys at every game,I'm 100% sure things will be o.k and let him do his job.We all make mistakes,no matter what our fied of expertise is,but learn from..Im 'sure he has. He's wants sucess as much as we do!!

Jonathan Mouette wrote:

Zamora25 wrote:
Why do we need 46 players when other teams manage with half this number? Scrap the development team as it is producing nothing.

I would recall Barnes and change to 4-4-2 as Mackail-Smith is too isolated in 4-3-3 which in reality is 4-5-1 as two of the three forwards are wingers. Hoskins, Dobbie, Sparrow, Vincelot and Harley aren't good enough. Selling Bridcutt, Mackail-Smith and Buckley isn't the answer.

Hoskins isn't good enough...? You are, with all due respect, havin' a larf!!!

Serious ? The developement squad has been going for about a year, only just got into the league... It will take years to really produce players ..
Please try and understand what it's about...

SMF20 wrote:
Something that Gus has said that scares me a great deal is that although we are apparently really close on desired striker, we are really far from other deals.
When you consider that there are strong rumours about 3 of our best players leaving, I wonder if GP has factored in that the chances that have been created and missed this season will no longer be created, just a thought.
I've said it before but I'd like to see the 3 top guys remain with us until the season ends with the big striker coming in additionally.
Another thought, if we are a way off on other signings and this isn't just a smoke screen then perhaps a reshuffle to a 4-4-2 with Kaz as the driving midfielder may be worth a go..
I like the thought of the back 5 as normal with Orlandi and Buckley on the flanks with Bridcutt and Lua Lua in the middle. When Kaz tires at 60 ish minutes, we replace him with Vicente or Dobbie.
The new big guy starts up top with Cms and again when Cms tires we bring on Hoskins.
Think this might work and see us playing with more pace and higher up the pitch but it does rely on a change of tactic and just one addition.
Thoughts anyone?

I share your concern SMF20 regarding Poyet's reported comments that only a striker is close to being signed.
Like others I think the spine of the side needs strengthening as I indicated in my earlier post.
Shaking up and adjusting the BHA playing style as you suggest SMF20 might well be worth a go as something needs to change to get the team playing again as well as they were earlier in the season.
Incidentally I wouldn't be surprised if the striker we are apparently close to signing is from Europe.i

Freeloaders is right. You can get a powerful youth policy going quickly, Palace were almost closed down but now have this conveyor belt.

Jonathan Mouette wrote:
I watched the Watford match and then looked at the video... I have come to the amazing conclusion that CMS can go for the following reasons... Anyone fit enough can run around but it needs real talent to get the first touch right, it needs real talent to be in the right place at the right time - or at least challenge someone else who is in that place. As usual in recent games there was only one person doing that and it was Will Hoskins. And even then crosses into the box were left unchallenged - it used to be calle dballwatching - but when you see it in the 6 yard box it is unforgivable. Those of you who have the opportunity should watch again. It was, unfortunately, laughable. I don't care if CMS goes somewhere else and scores a hatful. That's the way it gies. He won't do it here, not under GP's style... The question is how he will be replaced... TK and WB both signed with the ambition of a return to the Premier League. A team languishing in mid-table does not turn the heads of PL players unless they are really on the fringe. My own wishlist is fairly straightforward...
Connor Wickham up front and
Craig Dawson at the back...

Both great prospects for the immediate and for the future. Simples! Fingers crossed.

Good post Jonathan M.
Actually I am beginning to think that the Watford result might prove to be beneficial in the long run.
I think it confirmed Poyet's already reported realisation that the squad needs changing and strengthening. More to the point the match demonstrated where the weaknesses are.
It's just as well that the lessons have been learnt now with the January window coming up allowing Poyet to remedy the situation potentially, budget permitting of course.

john newman wrote:
Freeloaders is right. You can get a powerful youth policy going quickly, Palace were almost closed down but now have this conveyor belt.

Not quiet , they have had a policy for years Moses now at Chelsea to name but one.. Things will take time, most important thing is the academy, give the best we can find decent oposition and coaching.

I think LuaLua is important. He made all the difference when he came on against Millwall. He earned us a point with his contrbution. He does seem to flit in and out of games and is a bit inconsistent but even if he isn't commanding a regular place he's still the sort of player I like to see on the bench.