Elphick completes Bournemouth move (From The Argus)

Everyone is a winner.Good luck Tommy.

Well as l said yesterday with Elphick gone all it's going to take is an early suspension or injury and were short at the back.

If that's not worrying enough up front isn't much better, Hoskins out for a few weeks, the CMS sitution unknown it only leaves Barnes with first team experience.

I didn't expect with what 4 days to go to the first game of the season to be in this situation.

Mark Dixon wrote:
Well as l said yesterday with Elphick gone all it's going to take is an early suspension or injury and were short at the back.

If that's not worrying enough up front isn't much better, Hoskins out for a few weeks, the CMS sitution unknown it only leaves Barnes with first team experience.

I didn't expect with what 4 days to go to the first game of the season to be in this situation.

That was to much happiness to go with my cheerios.

Mark Dixon wrote:
Well as l said yesterday with Elphick gone all it's going to take is an early suspension or injury and were short at the back.

If that's not worrying enough up front isn't much better, Hoskins out for a few weeks, the CMS sitution unknown it only leaves Barnes with first team experience.

I didn't expect with what 4 days to go to the first game of the season to be in this situation.

Good luck to Tommy,always gave his all for the team.

We have plenty of cover at the back,Caldo, Vincelote and Painter have also all played in the middle before.

Agree that we need to address the forward situation asap. But we may have to be patient a while longer before the final pieces are in place.

The stadium looks fantastic with the upper tier on the east side the atmosphere will be fantastic and I am sure we are in for an exciting season

Camicus wrote:

Mark Dixon wrote:
Well as l said yesterday with Elphick gone all it's going to take is an early suspension or injury and were short at the back.

If that's not worrying enough up front isn't much better, Hoskins out for a few weeks, the CMS sitution unknown it only leaves Barnes with first team experience.

I didn't expect with what 4 days to go to the first game of the season to be in this situation.

That was to much happiness to go with my cheerios.

Always look on the bright side of life..de dum de dum de dum de dum...

Bournemouth Echo says the fee around £200k.

Alfie T wrote:

Camicus wrote:

Mark Dixon wrote:
Well as l said yesterday with Elphick gone all it's going to take is an early suspension or injury and were short at the back.

If that's not worrying enough up front isn't much better, Hoskins out for a few weeks, the CMS sitution unknown it only leaves Barnes with first team experience.

I didn't expect with what 4 days to go to the first game of the season to be in this situation.

That was to much happiness to go with my cheerios.

Always look on the bright side of life..de dum de dum de dum de dum...

Beautiful day again today, and a great season to look forward to to as well.
.
Isn't life as an Albion fan really brilliant these days!!

And I've even got a to to to :-)

Looks like we've got the striker situation resolved... Courtney Richards is coming in from Coventry... Another one for the development squad apparently... How many do we need in that squad whilst waiting for the real deal. I'll let one of our experts set to work on a list...

football's coming home wrote:

Mark Dixon wrote:
Well as l said yesterday with Elphick gone all it's going to take is an early suspension or injury and were short at the back.

If that's not worrying enough up front isn't much better, Hoskins out for a few weeks, the CMS sitution unknown it only leaves Barnes with first team experience.

I didn't expect with what 4 days to go to the first game of the season to be in this situation.

Good luck to Tommy,always gave his all for the team.

We have plenty of cover at the back,Caldo, Vincelote and Painter have also all played in the middle before.

Agree that we need to address the forward situation asap. But we may have to be patient a while longer before the final pieces are in place.

The stadium looks fantastic with the upper tier on the east side the atmosphere will be fantastic and I am sure we are in for an exciting season

Disagree, yes Caldo, Vincelote and Painter have played in the middle but surely we need a player who DOES play in the middle and not rely on one who has played there from time to time.

Mark Dixon wrote:

football's coming home wrote:

Mark Dixon wrote:
Well as l said yesterday with Elphick gone all it's going to take is an early suspension or injury and were short at the back.

If that's not worrying enough up front isn't much better, Hoskins out for a few weeks, the CMS sitution unknown it only leaves Barnes with first team experience.

I didn't expect with what 4 days to go to the first game of the season to be in this situation.

Good luck to Tommy,always gave his all for the team.

We have plenty of cover at the back,Caldo, Vincelote and Painter have also all played in the middle before.

Agree that we need to address the forward situation asap. But we may have to be patient a while longer before the final pieces are in place.

The stadium looks fantastic with the upper tier on the east side the atmosphere will be fantastic and I am sure we are in for an exciting season

Disagree, yes Caldo, Vincelote and Painter have played in the middle but surely we need a player who DOES play in the middle and not rely on one who has played there from time to time.

Mark,drive to the Withdean today and see where we've been,then drive to the Amex and see where we're going..

Mark Dixon wrote:

football's coming home wrote:

Mark Dixon wrote:
Well as l said yesterday with Elphick gone all it's going to take is an early suspension or injury and were short at the back.

If that's not worrying enough up front isn't much better, Hoskins out for a few weeks, the CMS sitution unknown it only leaves Barnes with first team experience.

I didn't expect with what 4 days to go to the first game of the season to be in this situation.

Good luck to Tommy,always gave his all for the team.

We have plenty of cover at the back,Caldo, Vincelote and Painter have also all played in the middle before.

Agree that we need to address the forward situation asap. But we may have to be patient a while longer before the final pieces are in place.

The stadium looks fantastic with the upper tier on the east side the atmosphere will be fantastic and I am sure we are in for an exciting season

Disagree, yes Caldo, Vincelote and Painter have played in the middle but surely we need a player who DOES play in the middle and not rely on one who has played there from time to time.

However much we try to keep up with this sport, football is rapidly evolving.
Part of this change is in the versatility that players can achieve on the pitch; especially when those in charge recognise this capability, and utilise it to the benefit of the squad as a whole.
Albion have many players who are capable of playing in varying positions. It is simply the way forward in the modern game.
So worry not my friend!

PittaPatta wrote:

Mark Dixon wrote:

football's coming home wrote:

Mark Dixon wrote:
Well as l said yesterday with Elphick gone all it's going to take is an early suspension or injury and were short at the back.

If that's not worrying enough up front isn't much better, Hoskins out for a few weeks, the CMS sitution unknown it only leaves Barnes with first team experience.

I didn't expect with what 4 days to go to the first game of the season to be in this situation.

Good luck to Tommy,always gave his all for the team.

We have plenty of cover at the back,Caldo, Vincelote and Painter have also all played in the middle before.

Agree that we need to address the forward situation asap. But we may have to be patient a while longer before the final pieces are in place.

The stadium looks fantastic with the upper tier on the east side the atmosphere will be fantastic and I am sure we are in for an exciting season

Disagree, yes Caldo, Vincelote and Painter have played in the middle but surely we need a player who DOES play in the middle and not rely on one who has played there from time to time.

However much we try to keep up with this sport, football is rapidly evolving.
Part of this change is in the versatility that players can achieve on the pitch; especially when those in charge recognise this capability, and utilise it to the benefit of the squad as a whole.
Albion have many players who are capable of playing in varying positions. It is simply the way forward in the modern game.
So worry not my friend!

Agree totally - absolutely nothing to worry about re central defenders. If we were to get another one in at this stage it would probably have to be somebody who was happy to be 4th choice - i.e. an inexperienced youngster or somebody who might not actually be very good. More than happy for Vincelot or Caldy to provide cover on the occasional circumstances it is needed. If there is a circumstance where all of Greer, El Abd and Dunk are injured or suspended, there would still be the option of a short term loan. The deal for Elphick is perfect for all parties although it is a shame that he never got to play a competitive game at the Amex

Jonathan Mouette wrote:
Looks like we've got the striker situation resolved... Courtney Richards is coming in from Coventry... Another one for the development squad apparently... How many do we need in that squad whilst waiting for the real deal. I'll let one of our experts set to work on a list...

He had a run out in the second half at Crawley. I would not have guessed he was a Striker, he seemed to be playing deep centre mid.
He did not do very well, nothing terrible, just didn't look comfortable.

However, Agdestein, Oatway junior and Barker all looked promising and Shamir Goodwin looked ok in the five minutes he had at the end.

What good, experienced, pro footballer would be content with 4th place in the pecking order? Tommy leaving says more about the guys ambition and how far we have come as a club, than the clubs lack of vision for "if" or "when" one or two of our first choice centre backs get injured. We have Dunk/Elabd as third choice..(one will be on the bench) If desperate in a game - we have "utility" players that can cover.. and we have the Development Team who have proven they can step up to the mark as 4th place cover if desperate (look at Dunk/Cook/Hall et al who all came from that squad). We need utility players to cover, granted... the likes of Vincelot and to a certain extent Calde will fill that role. What we dont want.. and will not have is a top class pro, potentially wasting his best years, on the off chance that a player will get injured so he may get a chance on the bench.
As for driving to Withdean and then back to the Amex - i would heartily agree with that. How people can moan is beyond me. The fact we have attracted ex prem and champs league players shows how far we have come. 2 years ago losing Tommy would have been a disaster "un"fortunately now - its good for all parties...

It is probably one of the most difficult pre-seasons for a lot of clubs. I read about the frustrations Mancini is having over not being able to sign the right players for Man City We are in a recession and footballers need to realise this and not have such high wage demands. There is going to come a time when some clubs are going to say 'enough is enough we cannot justify paying these young men such high wages when the ordinary man in the street is having to cut back'. I am sure Gus & co are planning for the future and included in that is a set of accounts that does not evenutally go the way of Rangers, Portsmouth and many others. I am sure eventually Gus will get his man albeit perhaps not his first choice. IN GUS WE TRUST.

Jonathan Mouette wrote:
Looks like we've got the striker situation resolved... Courtney Richards is coming in from Coventry... Another one for the development squad apparently... How many do we need in that squad whilst waiting for the real deal. I'll let one of our experts set to work on a list...

Jonathan Mouette could you let me know where you picked up the info about Richards since I haven't seen anything on the club website or elsewhere ? Most grateful for your previous tip about 'Newsnow' - very useful.
Like you I am waiting for 'the real deal' as far as a striker is concerned.
The club are really performing brilliantly in all sorts of areas bar one it seems. Great stadium, quality people running the club ie Bloom, Bailey, Poyet, Burke etc., some good recruitment defensively, putting in the infrastructure for the future with the academy and the Development squad.
However when it comes to finding another striker in spite of searching pan Europe we appear to have got nowhere. Poyet has made it clear that acquiring another forward is a priority and whilst there is no point in signing just anybody I do feel that having not having someone yet is disappointing. With Hoskins out for at least 6 weeks and CMS not fully fit yet we seem vulnerable if anything happens to Barnes. Unsatisfactory as it might be surely the club should consider getting someone in 'on loan' for a month or two ? After all the season starts tomorrow.
Changing the subject back to the report on this thread good luck to Elphick at Bournemouth. He has been a good servant to the club and deserves all the good wishes I see he has been getting.
With Tommy's departure and also Grant Hall's I assume we will be signing another defender. Poyet is constantly saying that he needs cover for every position which means the club needs a 4th CB. Perhaps we will sign the young Arsenal player Miquel I saw mentioned on Talksport ,on loan ?
With the additional funds (£200,000 according to the Bournemouth Echo) from Elphick's sale plus potentially the compensation for Hall, Poyet's budget should be in good shape.
Currently all we have spent this transfer window is the fee for Crofts plus of course committed to paying a fairly heftty slice of Bridge's wages.
Finally I noticed that in yesterday's People newspaper that we were being linked with Alan Judge of Notts County. Just because we have signed Crofts doesn't mean that we shouldn't still strengthen the midfield further.
Comments anyone ?