Albion off the mark in new development league (From The Argus)

We have had a good few days haven't we. First team win, development team win, our youth and ladies team both win, let's hope that we can keep this trend going. Well done to all in all teams.

Take another look at that team... Now that is a really impressive development squad, brilling with potential. Let's hope the Albion Academy project doesn't run into any more planning problems and that the academy isn't run purely as a profit centre. The long term future could be so bright and yes, the fingers are still crossed!!!

Take another look at that team... Now that is a really impressive development squad, brilling with potential. Let's hope the Albion Academy project doesn't run into any more planning problems and that the academy isn't run purely as a profit centre. The long term future could be so bright and yes, the fingers are still crossed!!!

Sorry for the double entries, caused by finger linger on the submit button - fellow users be warned, especially when submitting with crossed fingers!

I see the Sun (I know, I know...) is saying we are getting 1.5mil from Spurs for Hall. Not bad I suppose.

Good to see the Dev. Squad winning.
A number of new names one would like to find out more about were featured. I notice Bergkamp came off the bench to play - I wondered where he had got to.
The Sun is carrying a report that Spurs will have to pay £1,500,000 in compensation for Grant Hall which is rather more than I was anticipating if true. That sort of money would be really helpful when strengthening the squad.
I am hopeful rather than expectant regarding new signings in the next 4-5 days. I just wonder if we might have missed the boat but agree that there is no point in just acquiring someone for the hell of it.
Having said that, I really think we need to sign another striker to compliment Barnes and CMS and provide Poyet with more options up front and a powerful Midfielder in place of Dicker.
I anticipate a CB being signed since Poyet said one was now needed as Elphick and Hall have departed - a left sided one like the Arsenal youngster Miquel perhaps ?
I would like the club to also sign a young left back to cover Bridge (not sure about Painter) and an attacking Midfielder as cover for the injury prone Vicente with JFC away at Oxford.
I still don't know who we have as cover for Bridcutt in the 'holding' midfielder role given Vincelot is up for sale, Navarro has joined Swindon and Kasim is out on Loan at Luton,
Incidently I don't know what it is about Vicente and the Albion getting positive results but we seem to be more likely to win when he is unavailable. I do trust that trend doesn't continue since he is great to watch.

Really impressed with the U21team,some very impressive displays by a very good team.Well done.

Gus was watching the game in Lancing,gave him some food for thought.

I will see what I can do ballantrrae; I will make sure I pass on your wish list when I meet with Tony in the morning for our regular Albion discussions at breakfast.

ballantrrae; I've just been on the phone to Tony and the midfielder who will be joining us is Joey Barton, QPR are going to pay us £20k a week to take him off their hands.

Hovite wrote:
ballantrrae; I've just been on the phone to Tony and the midfielder who will be joining us is Joey Barton, QPR are going to pay us £20k a week to take him off their hands.

Barton is reportedly going to Olympique Marseille. Hope they know what they're getting!

Different topic. Watched Liverpool outplay Man City at the weekend. Particularly impressed with 17-year old Raheem Sterling. Still puzzled why OUR 17-year old prodigy - Jake Forster-Caskey - is languishing at Oxford instead of being part of the first-team squad. Didn't Rooney take the Premiership by storm for Everton at 16?

I was thinking exactly the same thing SC but obviously Gus and the management team have a different philosophy when it comes to young players.

sorry meant SB as in Sacre Bleu!

Maybe the club thinks that we need to get the first team playing together as a solid fluid unit first as a priority. Then JFC can come into something more refined.

To integrate him at this moment in time might not be that beneficial to us or him. It’s different with Liverpool, their first team are already established and can afford to give Sterling a run out.

If 1.5 million can be obtained for Hall,then its second only to acquiring Wayne Bridge as one of the deals of the year. As to Owen, I think the manager would not be interested. I certainly hope that is the case. Let him go to Stoke and we'll have Kenwynne Jones from them.

Adam el Abd called up for Egypt internationals against Nigeria and Benin next month

Rob_in_Tulsa wrote:
sorry meant SB as in Sacre Bleu!

Rather than SC in Sacre Coeur!

Hovite wrote:
ballantrrae; I've just been on the phone to Tony and the midfielder who will be joining us is Joey Barton, QPR are going to pay us £20k a week to take him off their hands.

Hovite I really appreciate you talking to TB and reporting back so promptly.
For the record I think Tony got 'done' if he only got £20,000 a week for helping them by taking Barton since £25K is an absolute minimum !
Since Xmas is just around the corner I thought I might as well post my wish list. Can't see it happening and would happily settle for the first 2
mentioned - striker and midfielder.

Hovite wrote:
Maybe the club thinks that we need to get the first team playing together as a solid fluid unit first as a priority. Then JFC can come into something more refined.

To integrate him at this moment in time might not be that beneficial to us or him. It’s different with Liverpool, their first team are already established and can afford to give Sterling a run out.

Possibly you're right Hovite, but on each of the few occasions JFC has played for the first team he's been ace. I just think he should be here challenging for a place in a Championship side rather than serving time with a lower division outfit. And I don't altogether agree that the Liverpool team is that much more "established" than we are, but that's as maybe.

Sacre Bleu wrote:

Hovite wrote: ballantrrae; I've just been on the phone to Tony and the midfielder who will be joining us is Joey Barton, QPR are going to pay us £20k a week to take him off their hands.

Barton is reportedly going to Olympique Marseille. Hope they know what they're getting! Different topic. Watched Liverpool outplay Man City at the weekend. Particularly impressed with 17-year old Raheem Sterling. Still puzzled why OUR 17-year old prodigy - Jake Forster-Caskey - is languishing at Oxford instead of being part of the first-team squad. Didn't Rooney take the Premiership by storm for Everton at 16?

Couldn't agree more ..if your good enough your old enough ..and JFC is definitely Good enough .... well in Gus we trust but just hope that Jake doesn't get injured whilst playing for another team ... that would be hard to take ! But the DS sound good , lots of potential ..all sounds good :) GG

£1.5m for Grant Hall. A reasonable fee.

Hovite wrote:
Maybe the club thinks that we need to get the first team playing together as a solid fluid unit first as a priority. Then JFC can come into something more refined.

To integrate him at this moment in time might not be that beneficial to us or him. It’s different with Liverpool, their first team are already established and can afford to give Sterling a run out.

From reports in the press today, brendan Rodgers is turning the Liverpool team upside down, and the inclusion of the young players is a very big part of that - just about the equivalent of us playing half the development squad in the next match.

Brendan Rogers isn't aiming for promotion this year or even the Prem title so the youngsters won't have any pressure on them. He is building for the future.

Birghton fans would put on too much pressure on JFC winning us promotion because we are palying for a top spot.

I think it is best working with what we have and becoming a well oiled machine, and with JFC working hard out of sight, when he comes back for the second half of the season he will make more of an impact with a very well rehearsed Albion.

Well it's 2pm here and 10pm in the UK so I guess one more transfer day has passed, but I expect there are those that will be burning the midnight oil.

I have to say I want this to end whether we get new players or not, I have had enough.

As much as a few new players might help us get to the playoffs I htink that we can make it anyway so long as we don't have any serious injury issues.

Goodnight UK, sleep well.

.

Sacre Bleu wrote:

Hovite wrote:
ballantrrae; I've just been on the phone to Tony and the midfielder who will be joining us is Joey Barton, QPR are going to pay us £20k a week to take him off their hands.

Barton is reportedly going to Olympique Marseille. Hope they know what they're getting!

Different topic. Watched Liverpool outplay Man City at the weekend. Particularly impressed with 17-year old Raheem Sterling. Still puzzled why OUR 17-year old prodigy - Jake Forster-Caskey - is languishing at Oxford instead of being part of the first-team squad. Didn't Rooney take the Premiership by storm for Everton at 16?

18-year-old

Jake-Forster-Caskey-
Peng wrote:

Sacre Bleu wrote:

Hovite wrote:
ballantrrae; I've just been on the phone to Tony and the midfielder who will be joining us is Joey Barton, QPR are going to pay us £20k a week to take him off their hands.

Barton is reportedly going to Olympique Marseille. Hope they know what they're getting!

Different topic. Watched Liverpool outplay Man City at the weekend. Particularly impressed with 17-year old Raheem Sterling. Still puzzled why OUR 17-year old prodigy - Jake Forster-Caskey - is languishing at Oxford instead of being part of the first-team squad. Didn't Rooney take the Premiership by storm for Everton at 16?

18-year-old

18=jake now, not rooney's debut, in case anyone was confused by my post

Alan G Skinner wrote:
£1.5m for Grant Hall. A reasonable fee.

better than reasonable and probably more than gus values him at. how many games has he played for us?

Where on earth does this £1.5 mil come from for Grant Hall. Please don't tell me it's from the Sun. It's totally unreal and aint going to happen for goodness sake.

ballantrrae wrote:
Good to see the Dev. Squad winning.
A number of new names one would like to find out more about were featured. I notice Bergkamp came off the bench to play - I wondered where he had got to.
The Sun is carrying a report that Spurs will have to pay £1,500,000 in compensation for Grant Hall which is rather more than I was anticipating if true. That sort of money would be really helpful when strengthening the squad.
I am hopeful rather than expectant regarding new signings in the next 4-5 days. I just wonder if we might have missed the boat but agree that there is no point in just acquiring someone for the hell of it.
Having said that, I really think we need to sign another striker to compliment Barnes and CMS and provide Poyet with more options up front and a powerful Midfielder in place of Dicker.
I anticipate a CB being signed since Poyet said one was now needed as Elphick and Hall have departed - a left sided one like the Arsenal youngster Miquel perhaps ?
I would like the club to also sign a young left back to cover Bridge (not sure about Painter) and an attacking Midfielder as cover for the injury prone Vicente with JFC away at Oxford.
I still don't know who we have as cover for Bridcutt in the 'holding' midfielder role given Vincelot is up for sale, Navarro has joined Swindon and Kasim is out on Loan at Luton,
Incidently I don't know what it is about Vicente and the Albion getting positive results but we seem to be more likely to win when he is unavailable. I do trust that trend doesn't continue since he is great to watch.

I'm guessing *even* with Vicente in the side on Saturday, we would have beaten Barnsley.

The team ran out of steam at the end of the season, which coincided with Vicente coming back into the side and reaching full fitness.

I've said it before, but instead of looking at the games we haven't won with him in the side, look at the number of games we won because of him: Portsmouth and Derby come to mind.

I don't buy this "We don't win because Vicente is on the pitch" argument at all, I'm afraid.

Hovite wrote:
Brendan Rogers isn't aiming for promotion this year or even the Prem title so the youngsters won't have any pressure on them. He is building for the future.

Birghton fans would put on too much pressure on JFC winning us promotion because we are palying for a top spot.

I think it is best working with what we have and becoming a well oiled machine, and with JFC working hard out of sight, when he comes back for the second half of the season he will make more of an impact with a very well rehearsed Albion.

Not sure I agree with your comment re Liverpool. I should have thought the pressure on BR for a top 4 place at the very least is every bit as intense - anybody playing in the Liverpool side is going to be only too aware of the expectations of owners and supporters. Witness the debacles of his two predecessors.
And I still reckon JFC would prosper in the company of teammates with so much experience to draw upon for support. Just hope he doesn't get crocked at Oxford before Gus decides to bring him home!

Fair enough, though I am just trying to see the benefit and reasons behind the JFC loan and not why the club shouldn't have loaned him.

Obviously I cannot speak for the club but I am confident it was a well thought out move with good and positive reasons.

Just trying to understand it rather than getting confused and frustrated by it that's all.

ballantrrae wrote:
Good to see the Dev. Squad winning. A number of new names one would like to find out more about were featured. I notice Bergkamp came off the bench to play - I wondered where he had got to. The Sun is carrying a report that Spurs will have to pay £1,500,000 in compensation for Grant Hall which is rather more than I was anticipating if true. That sort of money would be really helpful when strengthening the squad. I am hopeful rather than expectant regarding new signings in the next 4-5 days. I just wonder if we might have missed the boat but agree that there is no point in just acquiring someone for the hell of it. Having said that, I really think we need to sign another striker to compliment Barnes and CMS and provide Poyet with more options up front and a powerful Midfielder in place of Dicker. I anticipate a CB being signed since Poyet said one was now needed as Elphick and Hall have departed - a left sided one like the Arsenal youngster Miquel perhaps ? I would like the club to also sign a young left back to cover Bridge (not sure about Painter) and an attacking Midfielder as cover for the injury prone Vicente with JFC away at Oxford. I still don't know who we have as cover for Bridcutt in the 'holding' midfielder role given Vincelot is up for sale, Navarro has joined Swindon and Kasim is out on Loan at Luton, Incidently I don't know what it is about Vicente and the Albion getting positive results but we seem to be more likely to win when he is unavailable. I do trust that trend doesn't continue since he is great to watch.

Agree with all of that, B.

Things are moving fast and in the right direction too.

Reckon we're in for a busy week's business too.