Kuipers shines on his big night

10:00pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in Albion By Brian Owen

Michel Kuipers makes a fine save during a cameo appearances tonight. Picture by Tony Wood Michel Kuipers makes a fine save during a cameo appearances tonight. Picture by Tony Wood

Michel Kuipers marked his testimonial with a super save as Albion drew 1-1 with Reading tonight.

The big Dutchman played the first 15 minutes and produced a fine reflex stop from Pavel Pogrebnyak right in front of the North Stand.

Vicente slotted Albion ahead from a 33rd-minute penalty won by Ashley Barnes.

Albion were the better side all the time Vicente was on the field.

But Reading came back into it after his 61st-minute departure and deserved their leveller.

Hal Robson-Kanu got it on in the 90th minute by angling a header across sub keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

But it could not dampen a special night for Kuipers and 8,107 fans.

Comments(20)

Rhodes Seagull says...
10:14pm Tue 7 Aug 12

Listened on the radio player and from what I heard the statement "Albion were the better side all the time Vicente was on the field." is way off, we where the better team all the way through and it sounded as though Reading found it very hard to break us down for 90 minutes. Happy for MK he deserved the night and well done to those 8000 who made it so.

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SMF20 says...
10:42pm Tue 7 Aug 12

Just got back from the match and I'd say the reporter is almost right but not quite. Brighton were the better team with Vicente on the pitch but I thought that when he did get substituted we were still a match for our visitors. Reading did not deserve the equaliser.

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Terrygull says...
10:57pm Tue 7 Aug 12

What a load of rubbish. I only went to cheer on Kuipers. What an insult to take him off after 15 minutes. This should have been his night after the great service he gave the club, I thought we would see some ex-players turn out but we just saw the primadonna players that we now rely on having their pre-season warm up.

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wole says...
11:00pm Tue 7 Aug 12

A total con of £15 per ticket. He played 15 mins then sat on the bench. I understand that the league campaign starts in ten days but I feel supporters have been conned here as they did not see much of the great man himself!!

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Ringmer Rich says...
11:08pm Tue 7 Aug 12

I have to disagree, when Vicente left the pitch, the team shape disappeared and we went from the team in control to the team defending in the last third. We need another quality midfielder as well as a forward.

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golddene says...
11:08pm Tue 7 Aug 12

SMF20 wrote:
Just got back from the match and I'd say the reporter is almost right but not quite. Brighton were the better team with Vicente on the pitch but I thought that when he did get substituted we were still a match for our visitors. Reading did not deserve the equaliser.
yes i agree with your summing up we were the better side throughout, still it was only a friendly. great send off for the former dutch marine just a shame that he was unable to attract a larger crowd but then again had the match been played at withers it would have been close to a record gate, anyway well done to the other 8106 supporters. we are only seven days from our first competitive match and it can't come quick enough for me as i don't really like friendly's i need a fix of adrenalin, games without stress do not fit comfortably with me SEAGULLS.

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craigw25 says...
12:29am Wed 8 Aug 12

Well done kuipers good save bringing back the withdean years like the attendance tonight! Bit dissapointed think more people should have come. Anyway good night for him! And he signed everyone's programme at the end of the game top bloke

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cvs says...
7:39am Wed 8 Aug 12

We were all warned beforehand that this was close to the start of the season and the game was going to be used as an important pre-season session. Why would you expect a load of past "legends" to be playing. Jeez.

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smilingseagull says...
8:22am Wed 8 Aug 12

I thought we were superb in the opening 60 mins, some terrific play, but for people to say we matched them for the final third of the game were watching a different one, we gave the ball away very poorly, created nothing and yes Reading deserved there equaliser. There is work to do in that team to make us serious challengers for promotion but there signs are there that we can be in the mix, for this stage of
pre-season, I am very happy, but looking at the line up for the last 15 when we had no recognised striker on the pitch, it shows how important it is for Gus to get in another striker before we kick off.

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ballantrrae says...
9:41am Wed 8 Aug 12

Ringmer Rich wrote:
I have to disagree, when Vicente left the pitch, the team shape disappeared and we went from the team in control to the team defending in the last third. We need another quality midfielder as well as a forward.
Your comments RR seem most appropriate.
In any game when leading 1-0 you are 'vulnerable'. The midfield powerhouse referred to quite frequently might help break up opposition attacks.
The extra forward might (a) help create that extra goal and (b) offer more threat and physical presence up front thereby discouraging the opposition from pouring forward on the attack.
Don't forget Barnes had been substituted 5 minutes before Reading equalised.

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markymark03 says...
9:48am Wed 8 Aug 12

Kuipers special pies were awesome last night. I hope they make them on a regular basis!

I know everyone has been banging on about how fantastic Vicente was (which he was), but I would just like to mention how impressive Bruno was too. He could easily fit into any top Prem club. I was suprised at how much he pushed up the park and attacked.

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roast says...
12:38pm Wed 8 Aug 12

wole wrote:
A total con of £15 per ticket. He played 15 mins then sat on the bench. I understand that the league campaign starts in ten days but I feel supporters have been conned here as they did not see much of the great man himself!!
Why don't you stop moaning on here and write a letter of complaint to the Albion?

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roast says...
12:43pm Wed 8 Aug 12

Rhodes Seagull wrote:
Listened on the radio player and from what I heard the statement "Albion were the better side all the time Vicente was on the field." is way off, we where the better team all the way through and it sounded as though Reading found it very hard to break us down for 90 minutes. Happy for MK he deserved the night and well done to those 8000 who made it so.
Once Vicente went off we lost our shape and focus. For the last 20/25 mins we looked a different team.

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Billyboyarnold says...
2:02pm Wed 8 Aug 12

What a very poor turn out from Reading fans, very poor indeed.

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seagulltess says...
3:17pm Wed 8 Aug 12

From my point of view I would rather be in our position than Readings at this stage. I feel that Reading on that performance will struggle to stay in the Premier league. They are to predictable and will I feel come straight back down. Agree with previous comments that Bruno was class, but also feel that Bridcutt, Dicker and Croft are ideal in midfield. Croft is a great signing.

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Billyboyarnold says...
4:09pm Wed 8 Aug 12

We have a good squad of players and they are looking class, I can't wait for Hull City.

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Perseus says...
5:14pm Wed 8 Aug 12

Is Brian Owen going to be the match reporter this coming season?

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SicklySeagull says...
6:08pm Wed 8 Aug 12

Poor turnout by Reading fans?????????












Poor turnout by Reading fans?????
Would anyone travel to Reading for a Testimonial for one of their players?

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EBiscuit says...
9:23am Thu 9 Aug 12

Well exactly sickly... Most of us were Sussex-based Royals. However, it was great that we were allowed to all sit together, so was able to catch up with a couple of mates who are Brighton fans during the game.

From our point of view, 1st half, as Brian McD said, we were too nice, and I thought it was a very soft pen - we were right in line - but, hey, it's only a friendly. Also I hope Brian gives Harte a telling off, no need for "taking one for the team" in a friendly, so now he starts the season already on a yellow. Footballers, eh?

The Pog looked good, although I don't think he's match fit yet, & that was a fine save from Kuipers in the 1st 5 mins. Vincente looks class, and took that pen really well, as it was just out of Fed's reach. Of our two other new boys on show, Guthrie looks a good signing and McCleary needs less stepovers - he's the lad that scored 4 at Leeds for Forest last season.

Don't know what you can tell from that for either side for the coming season, as nobody wanted to get injured. If you can keep Vincente fit I think you've probably got as good a chance as anyone, whilst for us, we need Roberts on the pitch (which is gonna be tricky as he's suspended for the 1st two games) with Jimmy "Invisible Man" Kebe.

Also big thumbs up for Harvey's on the concourse along with the Euro-fizz and cheaper than our place! Glad I went.

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Hoarder12345444 says...
1:48pm Thu 9 Aug 12

Well done Kuipers gave the team and the fans a real send off, fair play to him. Was lucky enough to be in the goal behind him and what a fine save he did!! Shame about the short cameo, but if he was retired he could have played 90 mins. I suspect its a mixture of Crawley not wanting to risk him and this basically being a friendly and Gus wanting to test and prepare his own players as much as possible. I would have liked 30 mins or a half of Kuipers but there you go. Well worth the money I think.

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