McGhee: New keeper is a real gem (From The Argus)

No disrespect to any of the signings made thus far by RS, as they are all of a high quality.
But, the capture of Graeme Smith undoubtedly indicates the true intentions and direction of the club for the future, and also fully justifies the wholesale release of the 'excess baggage' at the end of last season.
Despite all the woes of the period pre-Russell Slade; for Brighton and Hove Albion to have regrouped, restyled and remanaged itself in such a short space of time, and in such a radical way, clearly states that the magnificent fanbase have many exciting times to look forward to .... at last!!

MKWirral wrote:
No disrespect to any of the signings made thus far by RS, as they are all of a high quality. But, the capture of Graeme Smith undoubtedly indicates the true intentions and direction of the club for the future, and also fully justifies the wholesale release of the 'excess baggage' at the end of last season. Despite all the woes of the period pre-Russell Slade; for Brighton and Hove Albion to have regrouped, restyled and remanaged itself in such a short space of time, and in such a radical way, clearly states that the magnificent fanbase have many exciting times to look forward to .... at last!!

spot on, obviously there are still those that think signing two international players, and a centre back who was rated by several championship sides, not enough for them, they are the same ones who moaned and said i was negative of players like robinson, fraser, loft, and the whole youth set up, the club are now going rapidly in the right direction, how many other clubs except the top 8 in the country could finance the building of a new stadiumby the chairmens money alone, people need to realise that what we had before was all smoke and mirrors, i still laugh when i remember knight saying" we have the best crop of youth players ever" of those only elphick and lynch remain! what i love about the new set up is very little talk, but actually doing the job, this season will be tough, but with one or two more quality signings, and one or two staying the club will turn the corner.

“He did a sterling job for me in two years I was there and didn’t make many mistakes at all."

No mistakes in 2 years? This guy has to be too good to be true!

Charismatic Andrew wrote:
“He did a sterling job for me in two years I was there and didn’t make many mistakes at all."

No mistakes in 2 years? This guy has to be too good to be true!

He said not MANY not not ANY.

mark 62 wrote:

MKWirral wrote: No disrespect to any of the signings made thus far by RS, as they are all of a high quality. But, the capture of Graeme Smith undoubtedly indicates the true intentions and direction of the club for the future, and also fully justifies the wholesale release of the 'excess baggage' at the end of last season. Despite all the woes of the period pre-Russell Slade; for Brighton and Hove Albion to have regrouped, restyled and remanaged itself in such a short space of time, and in such a radical way, clearly states that the magnificent fanbase have many exciting times to look forward to .... at last!!

spot on, obviously there are still those that think signing two international players, and a centre back who was rated by several championship sides, not enough for them, they are the same ones who moaned and said i was negative of players like robinson, fraser, loft, and the whole youth set up, the club are now going rapidly in the right direction, how many other clubs except the top 8 in the country could finance the building of a new stadiumby the chairmens money alone, people need to realise that what we had before was all smoke and mirrors, i still laugh when i remember knight saying" we have the best crop of youth players ever" of those only elphick and lynch remain! what i love about the new set up is very little talk, but actually doing the job, this season will be tough, but with one or two more quality signings, and one or two staying the club will turn the corner.

What about Virgo and Cox? I'd say that four first team players, as well as Harding who went on to play at a higher level isn't a bad set of youth players.

Still we all have our own agendas don't we!

I have seen 800+ games and Mark McGee is the worst judge of goalkeepers in Albions history. Played the useless 'celtic' henderson until we were relegated then realised that FDM was better all along, brought him back too late and was sacked

secutiy word FDM keeps shirt

Mark 62. I appreciate your opinions on the new signing and about the players released, but everybody else seems to have moved on.

Can't we just wish those who have gone all the best and forget about them without bringing them up every thread?

mark 62 wrote:

MKWirral wrote:
No disrespect to any of the signings made thus far by RS, as they are all of a high quality. But, the capture of Graeme Smith undoubtedly indicates the true intentions and direction of the club for the future, and also fully justifies the wholesale release of the 'excess baggage' at the end of last season. Despite all the woes of the period pre-Russell Slade; for Brighton and Hove Albion to have regrouped, restyled and remanaged itself in such a short space of time, and in such a radical way, clearly states that the magnificent fanbase have many exciting times to look forward to .... at last!!

spot on, obviously there are still those that think signing two international players, and a centre back who was rated by several championship sides, not enough for them, they are the same ones who moaned and said i was negative of players like robinson, fraser, loft, and the whole youth set up, the club are now going rapidly in the right direction, how many other clubs except the top 8 in the country could finance the building of a new stadiumby the chairmens money alone, people need to realise that what we had before was all smoke and mirrors, i still laugh when i remember knight saying" we have the best crop of youth players ever" of those only elphick and lynch remain! what i love about the new set up is very little talk, but actually doing the job, this season will be tough, but with one or two more quality signings, and one or two staying the club will turn the corner.

Not really comfortable for me to stick up for Knight but I dont think he meant we had the best crop of youth players ever produced by any football club ever.
I think he meant it was the best crop of youth players the Albion had ever produced and I would have to agree with him.
I cant recall many youth team players coming through to the first team at all, other than Chapman and Mayo, in the Goldstone days.



Your views on the Albions youth set-up are well known but I think you have been comparing what we had to the set up at much bigger and wealthier clubs who take their boys from anywhere in the country.
I hope we never adopt the kind of system that relies on poaching the best 9 or 10 year olds around from other clubs, I want the Albion to develop local lads, ours is a community club.

Mark they just can't put there hands up and admit you & Zamo had it spot on.Harding is a very poor player,and has been moved from club to club since he left the Albion.Virgo & El-abd will be out the club once RS gets the chance,or there contracts run out.I think the fact most are still out of work proves your point mark.

the set up is worse than poor, the coaching is awful, and the standard of the league they play in is non league, i dont compare palace or southampton bigger than the albion but the results those two clubs youth system is another world.. things will change, club released 11 local lads.. where are they now?

mark 62 wrote:
the set up is worse than poor, the coaching is awful, and the standard of the league they play in is non league, i dont compare palace or southampton bigger than the albion but the results those two clubs youth system is another world.. things will change, club released 11 local lads.. where are they now?

Southampton's success with youth development is not down to good coaching alone, none of their lads that have made it are from Hampshire, they were poached from around the country and were already with professional football clubs, its this sort of action that stops clubs like Brighton from being able to bring on the likes of Gareth Barry.

Palace is a better comparison, most of their boys are from the area but, without wishing to sound snobby, football may be the only chance for a lot of lads in their area to make more than minimum wage so they are likely to have more to look at.
Having said that I am not aware of the former Palace youth boys setting the premier league alight, though they do have a few in the first team squad I dont think many of them start regularly.

Dick Knight was still right about that crop of youth players being Brightons best.
He didn't say they would all be sold for millions or end up Brighton legends.
If you wish to make a suggestion of a better set of youth team graduates I would love to see it.