CMS will come good, says Poyet

5:00pm Friday 15th June 2012 in Sport By Andy Naylor

Craig Mackail-Smith endured a largely frustrating first season with Albion Craig Mackail-Smith endured a largely frustrating first season with Albion

Craig Mackail-Smith has been backed to rediscover his goalscoring prowess next season with Albion.

Manager Gus Poyet is convinced the Seagulls’ record signing will find it easier in the Championship second time around.

Mackail-Smith endured a largely frustrating debut campaign on the South Coast after a £2.5 million move from Peterborough last summer.

The workaholic Scotland international striker ended up with a modest tally of nine league goals and ten in total, following 35 for Peterborough the previous season as they were promoted from League One.

Albion’s patient style of play appeared not to suit Mackail-Smith’s all-action characteristics but Poyet believes it is just a matter of time before everything clicks into place, especially if Spanish playmaker Vicente decides to re-sign. Poyet told The Argus: “It is a 100% sure Craig is going to have a better season than last season. I am convinced of that.

“He came to a new place with plenty of pressure because he was the most expensive signing in the history of the club, with a team playing a lot more possession than people think.

“People think Peterborough keep possession for long periods but we are slower than them. They keep possession going forward. Maybe we did that at the end more with Vicente in the side, when Macca was learning to be patient and waiting for us.”

Mackail-Smith has taken time out to visit a relative in New Zealand after a gruelling 56-game campaign for club and country. He reports back for pre-season training with the rest of the Albion squad on Monday week.

Poyet added: “I’m sure the rest will be perfect for him and it is going to be really easier next year.”

Meanwhile, Mackail-Smith is hoping for another memorable experience at the expanded Amex to launch Albion’s 2012-13 Championship season when the league fixtures are released on Monday morning.

Albion christened their new stadium by coming from behind to beat Doncaster 2-1 on the opening day last season.

Mackail-Smith tweeted: “Would love our first game at home in front of 30,000 fans. Would love a start to the season like last season. Fans were amazing, result was great.”

Mackail-Smith is unlikely to get his wish. Albion are anticipating an away start on August 18, especially as they have asked to be on their travels a fortnight later to avoid a clash with the Pride Festival.

Comments(23)

SMF20 says...
5:14pm Fri 15 Jun 12

Gus has a fantastic football brain and in his own words "knows everything about football". I believe 100% that if he gets the mix right next year and Vicente does day and a Trotter type player signs, then CMS will double his first season tally.

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Mark Dixon says...
5:34pm Fri 15 Jun 12

Sadens me to say but l think Vicente will move on! As for signings either GP will surprise us next week or it will be same old story and a pile of loan signings will come in, nothing against loan signings but season long ones preferred please.

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HOVEPARKRESIDENT says...
6:28pm Fri 15 Jun 12

Well it looks like Poyet will be staying as none of the bigger clubs came in for him. Really hope he and CMS come good in their second season in the Championship if not for any other reason that we can all get value for money out of our season tickets and have an exciting season.

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falmer seagull says...
6:30pm Fri 15 Jun 12

If we cannot compete with players wages now, what about if we get to the 'cherished land', the Premier League?

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HOVEPARKRESIDENT says...
6:37pm Fri 15 Jun 12

falmer seagull wrote:
If we cannot compete with players wages now, what about if we get to the 'cherished land', the Premier League?
I really wouldn't worry about the Premier League at present.

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gordongull says...
6:58pm Fri 15 Jun 12

falmer seagull wrote:
If we cannot compete with players wages now, what about if we get to the 'cherished land', the Premier League?
You can't afford to be in the Premier League until you get there.

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HOVEPARKPRESIDENT. says...
10:04pm Fri 15 Jun 12

CMS will get 20 plus next season alongside the new striker gus will sign. The promised land awaits, premiership here we come.

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Neville says...
10:27pm Fri 15 Jun 12

The only way CMS will flourish is if he has an experienced and tall target man to feed off. his best work is running onto balls and not facing his own goal policed by a 6ft plus defender,cannot recall him winning much in the air last season due to the style of play we adopted. Also we need some midfielders who can score goals,last seasons tally from midfield was abysmal.
Was at the AMEX last night and see pitch has been reseeded. Not sure if this was because of FBS concert or planned in view of problems with injuries last season.

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brightonup says...
10:47pm Fri 15 Jun 12

HOVEPARKRESIDENT wrote:
falmer seagull wrote: If we cannot compete with players wages now, what about if we get to the 'cherished land', the Premier League?
I really wouldn't worry about the Premier League at present.
either brave or foolhardy to keep going.... we will find out which...

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Captain Haddock says...
12:36am Sat 16 Jun 12

Neville wrote:
The only way CMS will flourish is if he has an experienced and tall target man to feed off. his best work is running onto balls and not facing his own goal policed by a 6ft plus defender,cannot recall him winning much in the air last season due to the style of play we adopted. Also we need some midfielders who can score goals,last seasons tally from midfield was abysmal. Was at the AMEX last night and see pitch has been reseeded. Not sure if this was because of FBS concert or planned in view of problems with injuries last season.
Spoke to a steward at the ground yesterday who said the pitch didn't have thick enough content to it therefore causing the injuries.

Grass has been laid thicker this term to avoid a repeat of the first half of year probs. Pitch has been done and is becoming green as we speak.

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JoeBlow says...
12:57am Sat 16 Jun 12

Albion are set to sign Olivier Occean from SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Last season he had 17 goals to lead Greuther Fürth into the Bundesliga for the first time in their history. The 6' 1" forward was top scorer in the 2. Bundesliga.

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Mark Dixon says...
7:41am Sat 16 Jun 12

JoeBlow wrote:
Albion are set to sign Olivier Occean from SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Last season he had 17 goals to lead Greuther Fürth into the Bundesliga for the first time in their history. The 6' 1" forward was top scorer in the 2. Bundesliga.
Can't see this one personally, only joined Greuther Furth in July 2011 and contracted till 2014 and they've just gone up to the Bundesliga. Would GP pay his market value of around £1m for a 30 year old?

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Captain Haddock says...
8:31am Sat 16 Jun 12

Mark Dixon wrote:
JoeBlow wrote:
Albion are set to sign Olivier Occean from SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Last season he had 17 goals to lead Greuther Fürth into the Bundesliga for the first time in their history. The 6' 1" forward was top scorer in the 2. Bundesliga.
Can't see this one personally, only joined Greuther Furth in July 2011 and contracted till 2014 and they've just gone up to the Bundesliga. Would GP pay his market value of around £1m for a 30 year old?
Plenty of song material if we signed him.

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Captain Haddock says...
8:33am Sat 16 Jun 12

And for the first match, BBC Sussex commentary goes thus:

"So what number is the lad Occean playing in?"

"Occean's Eleven, Warren!"

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Gabbafella says...
9:08am Sat 16 Jun 12

Haddock, you're assuming that Aspinall will know how to pronounce a players name correctly, I lost count of the games we apparently had Hel Habd and Gear playing at the back for us last season, not forgetting Navro (or sometimes Navavro) in midfield! Lol

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gordongull says...
10:27am Sat 16 Jun 12

Not to mention Vincente!

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pte says...
10:30am Sat 16 Jun 12

either he should stay off the vino or get new dentures

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pjwilk says...
2:16pm Sat 16 Jun 12

BBC Sussex commentries are terrible.They should just one commentater describing the match,not two people chatting about anything and everything whilst the job of describing the match is overlooked( what did you have for breakfast,oh by the way they have just scored)and at away games they are playing left to right what does that mean,if they said north to south i would have a better picture.One person descibing second by second whats happening.

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Neville says...
2:33pm Sat 16 Jun 12

Have to disagree with pjwilk,think Johnny canters match commentaries are very good and catches the atmosphere and Johnny Byrne is a good foil. Worst one used to be Norman Gall on away matches getting all the names wrong,like Aspinall does. Used to like Andrew Hawes before he was sacked.No commnetaries are perfect but it could be worse we could get Chris Twaddle.

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pjwilk says...
9:05pm Sat 16 Jun 12

Neville wrote:
Have to disagree with pjwilk,think Johnny canters match commentaries are very good and catches the atmosphere and Johnny Byrne is a good foil. Worst one used to be Norman Gall on away matches getting all the names wrong,like Aspinall does. Used to like Andrew Hawes before he was sacked.No commnetaries are perfect but it could be worse we could get Chris Twaddle.
You are not Gary Neville are you,he is the most boring useless commentater,especial
ly on that Monday night football load of rubbish.Wouldnt you rather hear the commentry of the game,i would.

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Hovite says...
10:18am Sun 17 Jun 12

gordongull wrote:
Not to mention Vincente!
or Vinshentaye

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thisistips says...
2:27pm Sun 17 Jun 12

Hovite wrote:
gordongull wrote:
Not to mention Vincente!
or Vinshentaye
And Bobby Navro

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gordongull says...
5:04pm Sun 17 Jun 12

Who could forget Richard Gere's first goal for the Club against The Tykes?

Hands off our stars Barnsley!

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