Dicker confident streetwise Seagulls can stay the distance

9:00am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Sport By Andy Naylor

Gary Dicker thinks Albion are stronger than last season Gary Dicker thinks Albion are stronger than last season

Gary Dicker has labelled Albion too strong and streetwise to suffer another Autumn meltdown. The Championship leaders host Ipswich tonight with the Irish midfielder confident they can shrug off Saturday’s 1-0 setback against Birmingham at The Amex. The Seagulls had a point more at the equivalent stage last season but their form collapsed in a nine-match run without a win which included a 3-1 defeat at Ipswich. Dicker said: “I can’t see that happening. I think we are a lot stronger. I think the gaffer could play two elevens with the squad now. “We are a lot more streetwise this year in how we play and how we set up. I can’t see it happening like last year, when there were big patches of good and bad. Hopefully we can be a bit more consistent and keep it together.”

Full story plus a two-page preview of the clash with Ipswich in The Argus today

Comments(31)

Clean Sheet says...
9:45am Tue 2 Oct 12

Agreed. We have a stronger squad now, and more nouse about how to be successful at this level. Not sure about the relative merits of the 2nd eleven though. This might be stretching things a bit far IMHO.

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Too many Harveys says...
10:41am Tue 2 Oct 12

No side wins every game and whilst I was concerned on Saturday that it looked ominously like last year with lots of possession but no cutting edge, watching the extended highlights I think on reflection it was just one of those days as we had at least 5 very good chances and their goal was a total freak.The big test is how we bounce back. Win tonight and win well and I think we can put B'ham behind us and accept we are real challengers this season. Lose though and we may have to start to re-evaluate the understandably huge optimism we all felt after the Millwall win made it five in a row.

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pjwilk says...
11:04am Tue 2 Oct 12

I told you Barker was a good player,he scored again in the Dev team.Lets give him a game in the first team.Remember ,was it Whiteside playing for Man.U. at 17yrs old.He scored against us in the cup in the 80s.

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HOVEPARKRESIDENT says...
11:07am Tue 2 Oct 12

Dicker said: “I can’t see that happening. I think we are a lot stronger. I think the gaffer could play two elevens with the squad now.
Maybe that's the only way Brighton could win a couple more games this season by playing two elevens but at the same time!
Looking forward to tonight though and I may even risk a pie as I haven't got work in the morning.

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Dr Baldhead says...
11:22am Tue 2 Oct 12

Come on HPR - you love it really. Careful you don't burn that forked tongue on your pie.

On a serious note, I have been very impressed with Gary Dicker lately. The last two performances I've seen have been average from the Albion (Watford and Brum) but he has had good games - tackling, distribution, link-up etc. It's interesting that Gus often refers back to when he took over and cites A E-A and GD as the only two from that team who still regularly play now. Both have vastly improved under him - just goes to show what a good manager can do.

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tug509 says...
11:25am Tue 2 Oct 12

Birmingham got stuffed 5-0 but turned it around straight away,we narrowly lost 1-0 but still were the better of two poor sides on saturday.I dont think we face that much of a turn around to put things right tonight,so long as Barnes is not put on the wing,Hammond in back,and Bucks and Bridge on the left.Still think Dobbie MUST play in the middle behind Barnes imho.UTA

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Jonathan Mouette says...
11:34am Tue 2 Oct 12

My frustration mounts each time I see good chances go to waste - yes, I know we have scored quite a few but we have missed a whole lot more. This isn't a new phenomenen - we were plagued with it last season too and, no doubt, the reason why GP insists we find a new striker. I share the opinion of a growing number of posters that we should look in-house for a solution. Barker and Agdestein have never been given a real opportunity. I was derided - I am getting used to it - because I said Gus should ring the changes if we were going nowhere against Brum. TA was sitting on the bench watching crosses go astray for lack of a tall(ish) target man. And there he stayed. Shame (IMHO of course). Dicker is correct in assuming we are stronger and shouldn't have the same problems this season - just the same as the American Ryder Cup team thought, on Saturday night,they were stronger and ideally placed to win... Oh well, fingers crossed!

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MackGull says...
12:54pm Tue 2 Oct 12

1-0 down and the young striker doesn't take the field to try and level the score, puzzeling. The only answer I can come up with is, if Barnes had picked up another yellow card or got injured, the two youngsters would have been the only genuine strikers left at the club. Had Barnes been ruled out for tonight's match surely one of them would have had to start and Barker seems to be the better of the two. I think Gus was protecting him just in case we needed him to play against Ipswich. My thinking is probabaly daft but it's the only answer I can come up with.

Tonight we must score first because if we do that will put an end to the eleven men behind the ball defense. Ipswich will be happy with a 0-0 and a point away from home. Had we managed to score first against Birmingham the whole game would have been played differently and the outcome would have been very different.

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heathgate says...
12:59pm Tue 2 Oct 12

..agreed with above regarding Toby A., he would have added that spark we needed on Saturday, and from what I have seen and heard of him, he would have been intelligent enough to see the little round the corner 1-2's that Dobbie was trying with Dicker and Barnes,... sadly neither of those two had the nouse to be able to react quickly enough. Dobbie for me will be as important to us as CMS is.... Dobbie being the link man right behind, but also in support of CMS.... cant wait for that to happen. toby and hoskins on the bench,... mouth watering.

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IRISHGULL says...
1:13pm Tue 2 Oct 12

HOVEPARKRESIDENT wrote:
Dicker said: “I can’t see that happening. I think we are a lot stronger. I think the gaffer could play two elevens with the squad now.
Maybe that's the only way Brighton could win a couple more games this season by playing two elevens but at the same time!
Looking forward to tonight though and I may even risk a pie as I haven't got work in the morning.
good to have you back HPbench. You must have been on the dows drowning your sorrows at our start to the season. But like every good predator, one chance! But just got the feeling we will not be hearing to much from you this year. Dont forget that extra duvet, winters coming. 2-0 TONIGHT

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IKnowNowt says...
1:22pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Jonathan Mouette wrote:
My frustration mounts each time I see good chances go to waste - yes, I know we have scored quite a few but we have missed a whole lot more. This isn't a new phenomenen - we were plagued with it last season too and, no doubt, the reason why GP insists we find a new striker. I share the opinion of a growing number of posters that we should look in-house for a solution. Barker and Agdestein have never been given a real opportunity. I was derided - I am getting used to it - because I said Gus should ring the changes if we were going nowhere against Brum. TA was sitting on the bench watching crosses go astray for lack of a tall(ish) target man. And there he stayed. Shame (IMHO of course). Dicker is correct in assuming we are stronger and shouldn't have the same problems this season - just the same as the American Ryder Cup team thought, on Saturday night,they were stronger and ideally placed to win... Oh well, fingers crossed!
I agree although GB is in the better form I'm not sure his lack of time training with the first team would help each player getting to know their game. He played really well last night and his creativity was the only thing that was going to beat the QPR keeper who was having a great game. He is a great prospect and I'm sure his step up is going to managed in a similar way to other future stars we have on the books and already in progress.

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CantUseNSCatWork says...
1:36pm Tue 2 Oct 12

A good performance and three more points tonight, and Saturday will be long forgotten.

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amexarena says...
2:25pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Poor old HPR - must have been a real problem for you watching Albion pick up 5 wins in a row and waiting ages for your chance to contribute more embarrassingly inconsequential nonsense - think you'll be kept in the cupboard a lot more this season because the Albion will keep improving. Your morbid negativity would be better served against a valid target.

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Bish May Turn says...
3:32pm Tue 2 Oct 12

amexarena wrote:
Poor old HPR - must have been a real problem for you watching Albion pick up 5 wins in a row and waiting ages for your chance to contribute more embarrassingly inconsequential nonsense - think you'll be kept in the cupboard a lot more this season because the Albion will keep improving. Your morbid negativity would be better served against a valid target.
Eloquent but pointless,HPR is just wanting a reaction, dont rise to the bait,use your time more wisely posting on positive Albion threads,such as stuffing the banner wielding Ipswich 3.0 tonight.

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ballantrrae says...
4:01pm Tue 2 Oct 12

tug509 wrote:
Birmingham got stuffed 5-0 but turned it around straight away,we narrowly lost 1-0 but still were the better of two poor sides on saturday.I dont think we face that much of a turn around to put things right tonight,so long as Barnes is not put on the wing,Hammond in back,and Bucks and Bridge on the left.Still think Dobbie MUST play in the middle behind Barnes imho.UTA
I agree Tug509 that Dobbie is more effective playing just behind someone like CMS or as tonight behind Barnes.
It looks as if we will have more or less the same team as on Saturday unless Orlandi is better. I don't think Bruno will be risked unless he's 100% fit - better to keep him back until the Derby game.
Bookies are offering silly odds again in what is a 2 horse race. Ipswich are a most generous 7/2 at Ladbrokes - they had Birmingham at 16/5 on Saturday.
Delighted to see that the new training ground got the go ahead from the Adur District Council.

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tinker000 says...
4:13pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Too many Harveys wrote:
No side wins every game and whilst I was concerned on Saturday that it looked ominously like last year with lots of possession but no cutting edge, watching the extended highlights I think on reflection it was just one of those days as we had at least 5 very good chances and their goal was a total freak.The big test is how we bounce back. Win tonight and win well and I think we can put B'ham behind us and accept we are real challengers this season. Lose though and we may have to start to re-evaluate the understandably huge optimism we all felt after the Millwall win made it five in a row.
not a freak goal just a very fine shot that was allowed by backing of and no we did not have on target like that.

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Yogi says...
4:17pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Hope Gus tells his players to keep an eye open for the fantastic runs Wayne bridge makes down the left, there were so many occasions when he could have had a free run and the play went down the right wing and, in the main, were wasted.

3 points tonight!!!

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Far gull says...
4:30pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Yogi wrote:
Hope Gus tells his players to keep an eye open for the fantastic runs Wayne bridge makes down the left, there were so many occasions when he could have had a free run and the play went down the right wing and, in the main, were wasted.

3 points tonight!!!
could'nt agree more. Want to see a bit more from dobbie too am yet to be convinced. Wonder if v may be on the bench too.

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SMF20 says...
4:45pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Ok, Having now had the chance to see all of the players in action now Im going to see what you all think of my starting 11 subject to everyone being fit.

Kuz
Bruno, Greer, El abd, Bridge
Hammond, Bridcutt, Crofts
Buckley, Vicente
Cms

Bench of Barnes, Dobbie, Orlandi, Dicker, Lua lua, Dunk and Ank.

Thoughts?

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northstand4 says...
4:47pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Bruno's not playing tonight according to his facebook page. He's wrote it in spanish so as not to get in trouble again but it says he's damaged his one of his toes and won't be ready until saturday. 1-0 tonight UTA!!

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SMF20 says...
4:54pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Thats a real shame. He is a class act and can take massive credit for our improvement this year. He will be missed again. Uta

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MackGull says...
4:54pm Tue 2 Oct 12

I see tonight's match as our biggest test so far this season. The test will not come from Ipswich, the test will come from within the team we send out. I think most would agree that only two or three of our starting eleven turned up on saturday, tonight we had better see eleven start.
If we have the quality that we think we have then it must come to the surface tonight. Ipswich don't have the players to cause us any serious concerns, we need to turn on the swagger and brush them aside.
Dobbie has a point to prove tonight, we saw glimpses of what he might give us but only glimpses. Tonight Dobbie needs to show what he has, I would not be at all surprised to see him score tonight. Barnes has to forget about his yellow card tally, it is what it is and we have to live with it. I hope to see Barnes run straight down their throats. The midfield must be creative, nothing of note was delivered last saturday, it's time that they remember the Wednesday performance. No disrespect to Ipswich but they are not even as capable as Birmingham and they don't have the players that Birmingham have. The challenge from within will be to play quality football that one might expect from the table topping team when coming up against one of the weakest.
If they pass the test this could be wednesday MK 2.

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MackGull says...
5:02pm Tue 2 Oct 12

SMF20 wrote:
Ok, Having now had the chance to see all of the players in action now Im going to see what you all think of my starting 11 subject to everyone being fit. Kuz Bruno, Greer, El abd, Bridge Hammond, Bridcutt, Crofts Buckley, Vicente Cms Bench of Barnes, Dobbie, Orlandi, Dicker, Lua lua, Dunk and Ank. Thoughts?
I would have Dobbie and Orlandi with Buckley and Vicente on the bench.

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pandaking says...
5:04pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Anyone know the latest on Vicente and his injury?

I know Macca is out still, but Bruno and Orlandi are possibles as being fit for today (so would definitely be fit for Derby).

Be nice to know a time frame of when we can expect to see Vicente start to get game time as a 60min sub etc.

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Far gull says...
5:10pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Shame if bruno out agree with above post. Our new defence this season has been key so far time for our new creative midfielders to kick on . Sing up thought were a bit flat in that department to at the start on Saturday may be reflecting what was happening on the pitch.

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bruce beckett says...
5:22pm Tue 2 Oct 12

I don't know about the players but Saturday's result has knocked my confidence a bit. For those who weren't too concerned about the possible departure of CMS last summer, he sure looks a pretty integral part of the team right now. With the exception of Cardiff, I believe we've had a pretty favourable run of fixtures to start the season. If we want to get into the play-offs, then we need to be beating teams like Brum and Ipswich at home. Let's hope we can grab an early goal tonight instead of spending the last hour chasing the game.

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Clean Sheet says...
5:36pm Tue 2 Oct 12

I understand that Vicente has only just commenced training with the first team so I would have thought at least 2 weeks away from a start.

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saraman says...
5:50pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Can't go tonight, laid up with flu.Gave my ticket to my son and cost me £10 to upgrade as I am a poor old pensioner. He's buying me a program though and his mum has given him money for a pie & a pint. I'm gutted. Enjoy the game boys, it's the radio for me. 3 points I hope.

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MackGull says...
6:00pm Tue 2 Oct 12

saraman wrote:
Can't go tonight, laid up with flu.Gave my ticket to my son and cost me £10 to upgrade as I am a poor old pensioner. He's buying me a program though and his mum has given him money for a pie & a pint. I'm gutted. Enjoy the game boys, it's the radio for me. 3 points I hope.
I cant go either, I share a season ticket with my son, it's his turn, ears pinned to the radio.

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saraman says...
6:20pm Tue 2 Oct 12

MackGull wrote:
saraman wrote: Can't go tonight, laid up with flu.Gave my ticket to my son and cost me £10 to upgrade as I am a poor old pensioner. He's buying me a program though and his mum has given him money for a pie & a pint. I'm gutted. Enjoy the game boys, it's the radio for me. 3 points I hope.
I cant go either, I share a season ticket with my son, it's his turn, ears pinned to the radio.
What a fine father you are. I'm not sharing, I just feel to unwell to go.

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Cabin fever says...
7:48pm Tue 2 Oct 12

SMF20 wrote:
Ok, Having now had the chance to see all of the players in action now Im going to see what you all think of my starting 11 subject to everyone being fit.

Kuz
Bruno, Greer, El abd, Bridge
Hammond, Bridcutt, Crofts
Buckley, Vicente
Cms

Bench of Barnes, Dobbie, Orlandi, Dicker, Lua lua, Dunk and Ank.

Thoughts?
Is this for tonight or in general? If the latter, I would agree with that. Still think David has plenty to offer though.

Interesting to see Brez is now seemingly third choice. Thought he did better than Ank last season.

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