Gus hails "fantastic" development (From The Argus)
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Gus hails "fantastic" development
5:00pm Thursday 12th July 2012 in Albion By Brian Owen
Impressed: Gus Poyet is all for the new league
Gus Poyet has hailed Albion’s ground-breaking move into under-21 football as “fantastic” news.
The Seagulls will be playing in a new development league next season rather than entering a reserve team in the Football Combination.
They will tackle home and away fixtures against clubs of a similar size, some of which will be staged at first team stadia.
Development coach Luke Williams will take charge of side which must be predominantly made up of under-21 players.
Each team can feature three over-age outfield players and there is no restriction on the age of the goalkeeper.
Albion have secured their place in the league as a prospective Category Two Academy as they plan the move to their new training base.
The new league is part of a massive shake-up of youth football under the umbrella of the Elite Player Performance Plan, driven by Premier League clubs.
Albion’s second string matches, often against lower division clubs, have lacked intensity in recent seasons but first team boss Poyet said: “This will be much better for us. It will be fantastic.”
A fixture format was still being finalised this week but Williams’ team will take on other Category Two set-ups from the south of the country, possibly including Premier League clubs QPR and Swansea.
Matches are likely to be played at the weekend.
Williams said: “I think this is the only way forward. Teams will be well matched, there will be matches week in and week out and we will play on good pitches “It’s the way to learn and I believe in the medium to long term there will be a big benefit for the first team.”
Albion’s development squad go to Nicky Forster’s Dover Athletic for a friendly on Saturday although one or two will be involved in the first team run out at Maidstone.
The youngsters also have friendlies at Eastbourne United on Wednesday, July 25, Lancing on Saturday, July 28, and Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday, August 4.
Comments(15)
mr punch
says...
5:25pm Thu 12 Jul 12
7Rookie
says...
5:26pm Thu 12 Jul 12
BHAFC151
says...
5:56pm Thu 12 Jul 12
farside
says...
5:58pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Chip of Goring
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6:26pm Thu 12 Jul 12
PressBoxTeaBoy
says...
7:31pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Brighton have opened talks with Arsenal over a loan move for defender Ignasi Miquel.
The Spanish Under-19 centre-back is highly rated at the Emirates, having made nine first-team appearances last season, including four in the Premier League and one in the Champions League.
Miquel also played every minute of Arsenal's Carling Cup campaign, but his route to more regular first-team football is blocked by Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Johan Djourou, while the exciting Kyle Bartley has returned to north London following two years spent on-loan at Rangers.
Arsenal are now ready to ship Miquel out on loan in a bid to gain more experience, and Brighton boss Gus Poyet is keen to seal a move in the next few weeks.
Brighton are willing to promise Miquel regular first-team football, while Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is happy to sanction the move, as he trusts former Tottenham star Poyet with the player's development.
Miquel, who came through the Barcelona academy before being released, is also wanted back in Spain, with Barca B ready to lodge a £300,000 bid to try to take the 19-year-old back to his first club.
PressBoxTeaBoy
says...
7:34pm Thu 12 Jul 12
rolivan
says...
7:56pm Thu 12 Jul 12
PressBoxTeaBoy wrote:I think there are other issues that need to be dealt with first.
If the Ignasi Miquel deal comes off, what for Mr Dunk ?
rolivan
says...
8:23pm Thu 12 Jul 12
bentnup
says...
8:49pm Thu 12 Jul 12
tug509
says...
9:23pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Mark Dixon
says...
10:23pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Captain Haddock
says...
11:29pm Thu 12 Jul 12
PressBoxTeaBoy wrote:Bird? Or bench!
If the Ignasi Miquel deal comes off, what for Mr Dunk ?
hannover seagull
says...
7:00am Fri 13 Jul 12
PressBoxTeaBoy wrote:Talk Sport
As reported today at "Talk Sport" and BBC Sport Gossip:
Brighton have opened talks with Arsenal over a loan move for defender Ignasi Miquel.
The Spanish Under-19 centre-back is highly rated at the Emirates, having made nine first-team appearances last season, including four in the Premier League and one in the Champions League.
Miquel also played every minute of Arsenal's Carling Cup campaign, but his route to more regular first-team football is blocked by Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Johan Djourou, while the exciting Kyle Bartley has returned to north London following two years spent on-loan at Rangers.
Arsenal are now ready to ship Miquel out on loan in a bid to gain more experience, and Brighton boss Gus Poyet is keen to seal a move in the next few weeks.
Brighton are willing to promise Miquel regular first-team football, while Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is happy to sanction the move, as he trusts former Tottenham star Poyet with the player's development.
Miquel, who came through the Barcelona academy before being released, is also wanted back in Spain, with Barca B ready to lodge a £300,000 bid to try to take the 19-year-old back to his first club.
Arsenal starlet wanted by Brighton and Barcelona
Nice thought for the day
Captain Haddock says...
5:22pm Thu 12 Jul 12
We need our development squad playing regularly for both their education but also to have them match fit and match sharp if and when called upon by Gus for the first team.
To come up against PL development teams will. E very beneficial.