New boys can give Seagulls a big play-off lift

11:51am Thursday 13th September 2012 in Albion By Brian Owen

Albion fans have been told their new boys from Swansea can help fire them to the play-offs.

But they will have to get in Gus Poyet ’s team first as the Seagulls prepare to face Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow.

Andrea Orlandi came on as substitute in the 3-1 win at Burnley which sent Albion into the international break on a high.

Stephen Dobbie signed too late for that one but, along with deadline-beating colleagues Dean Hammond and David Lopez, will hope to play some part against Owls.

Former Swansea and Leeds star Leighton James has followed Orlandi and Dobbie as closely as anyone in his role as a top media pundit in Wales.

He believes they have the ability and experience to delight The Amex.

James said: “Stephen Dobbie will get you goals. For me he was very unlucky at Swansea. In the season we got promoted he was outstanding from Christmas onwards when he was given a bit of a run in the side.

“He made his name in Scotland as a striker but his best role at Swansea was as the most advanced player of a central midfield three.

“He got vital goals for us. He is a big game player and he is not shy of putting a shift in. He is a very good pro.

“He is not just a tap-in merchant either. The goal he got against Reading in the play-off final was a firm side-footer from 18 yards - a magnificent finish.

“He has got technique and an eye for a goal.

“It’s not just up to him to get them up but he might just be the added bonus.

“If Orlandi and Dobbie do well for Brighton, if the others step up you could find it is a very successful season because those two boys know what it is like to be part of a squad that goes up.”

Albion have used just 12 players in their starting line-ups for four Championship fixtures to date but will make another change after Andrew Crofts left the action at turf Moor through injury.

All four new boys will be desperate for action having been short of playing time this season.

James added: “You’ve got two lads in Dobbie and Orlandi who will be desperately keen to impress.

“Orlandi is a very good footballer. He is very comfortable on the ball, a very good passer and I would imagine he would suit Gus’s style of play.”

A win tomorrow would take Albion top of the table pending Saturday’s results.

Comments(25)

graham w says...
12:30pm Thu 13 Sep 12

i cant wait, the attacking power in the side is now awsome, and with two top notch fullbacks we are in for a goal feest.. whooee.. come on you blues..seagulls..

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IRISHGULL says...
12:45pm Thu 13 Sep 12

happy days! last time i felt this excited about watching the albion, was when peter ward was banging in the goals for fun.! And the added bonus now is we are watching the action at a proper venue.

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graham w says...
12:49pm Thu 13 Sep 12

and so say all of us.. and so say all of us..

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graham w says...
12:49pm Thu 13 Sep 12

and so say all of us.. and so say all of us..

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mr punch says...
1:12pm Thu 13 Sep 12

IRISHGULL wrote:
happy days! last time i felt this excited about watching the albion, was when peter ward was banging in the goals for fun.! And the added bonus now is we are watching the action at a proper venue.
The Goldstone was a proper venue, it was just a ground of it's times :) Have to agree about the excitement though. UTA

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VegasSeagull says...
2:56pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Gus correctly dampens expectations by saying 9th is the target, now one who is outside and looking in says, playoffs.
I would guess that there are many others looking in from outside that would also say playoffs.
Gus has got to manage the pressure on the team that will build as the seasons progresses.

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Clean Sheet says...
3:59pm Thu 13 Sep 12

mr punch wrote:
IRISHGULL wrote: happy days! last time i felt this excited about watching the albion, was when peter ward was banging in the goals for fun.! And the added bonus now is we are watching the action at a proper venue.
The Goldstone was a proper venue, it was just a ground of it's times :) Have to agree about the excitement though. UTA
Agreed, the Goldstone was a great ground for atmosphere, and watching Wardy knocking them in with Fred Binney remains a highlight for me. However, onwards and upwards, and it is great to feel that the Albion can compete in all games, and get a result in most of them.

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SpainSeagull says...
4:09pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Here's the replay of that goal mentioned above against Reading:

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=-zXW0oKGn
V0

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IRISHGULL says...
4:12pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Clean Sheet wrote:
mr punch wrote:
IRISHGULL wrote: happy days! last time i felt this excited about watching the albion, was when peter ward was banging in the goals for fun.! And the added bonus now is we are watching the action at a proper venue.
The Goldstone was a proper venue, it was just a ground of it's times :) Have to agree about the excitement though. UTA
Agreed, the Goldstone was a great ground for atmosphere, and watching Wardy knocking them in with Fred Binney remains a highlight for me. However, onwards and upwards, and it is great to feel that the Albion can compete in all games, and get a result in most of them.
agreed chaps always hold some fond memories. however i personally do prefer watching from the west stand upper now, rather then that exposed chicken run all those years ago. Talking about players from the past Tony Towner took some beating. And what about Frank Worthington, could anybody strike a better dead ball then big frank. Great memories

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SpainSeagull says...
4:18pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Here's a Dobbie wonder goal in the playoff semi's (2nd goal).

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=CW9D184Ck
h0

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SpainSeagull says...
4:21pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Dobbie - The Scottish Messi

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=Awo0l6lZ-
mE

Just look at some of these goals. Think we could have made one of most astute signings of the summer.

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graham w says...
4:47pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Nice to see fred Binneys name get a mention in this columm i named a cat after him and he lived to ripe old age, ah memories ... cant wait to see dobbie and where he fits in with cms , i think we are in for a great season... i think we have the potential now to be a great free scoring side, with the threat coming 9 positions roll on 2mor night...seagulls....
.

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graham w says...
4:47pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Nice to see fred Binneys name get a mention in this columm i named a cat after him and he lived to ripe old age, ah memories ... cant wait to see dobbie and where he fits in with cms , i think we are in for a great season... i think we have the potential now to be a great free scoring side, with the threat coming 9 positions roll on 2mor night...seagulls....
.

Report this post »

graham w says...
4:47pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Nice to see fred Binneys name get a mention in this columm i named a cat after him and he lived to ripe old age, ah memories ... cant wait to see dobbie and where he fits in with cms , i think we are in for a great season... i think we have the potential now to be a great free scoring side, with the threat coming 9 positions roll on 2mor night...seagulls....
.

Report this post »

tinker000 says...
5:03pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Dont see why we are not playing on saturday as per fixture's not tele so who can tell me WHY ?? WHAT is wrong with Saturday football

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lochlomond says...
5:52pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Wardy played with Spider Mellor, replacing Fred Binney in the side.

Spider was probably our best player in those days ... the number of 'assists' he had would have had Opta purring!

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saraman says...
7:50pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Can't see us being beaten again this season. Top two finish if not champions. Mattock is clutching at straws wishing he was playing for the Albion. GP and TB will be giving everthing this season to ensure success. This is once in a lifetime opportunity so lets grab it with both hands. You can be in my dream if I can be in yours. I said that.

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VegasSeagull says...
7:56pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Saraman.

That is some statement, I hope you are right but a continuous run of games without losing, right to the end of the season, not so sure about that.

We have a highly experienced squad, we have quality and fire power but we are not alone in having a quality squad.

You are right, in order for us to make the top two we will have to embark on along unbeaten run, and maybe we can, but my hope is thta some of the top teams draw against each other and give us a little room for injuries or errors., ,

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Hovite says...
8:03pm Thu 13 Sep 12

SpainSeagull wrote:
Dobbie - The Scottish Messi

http://www.youtube.c

om/watch?v=Awo0l6lZ-

mE

Just look at some of these goals. Think we could have made one of most astute signings of the summer.
Yep, he is good isn't he, in fact quite special. Thanks for the link

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pjwilk says...
9:19pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Bobby Smith was another top man and goalscorer, left foot,right foot and headers as powerful as a boot.

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Clean Sheet says...
9:21pm Thu 13 Sep 12

lochlomond wrote:
Wardy played with Spider Mellor, replacing Fred Binney in the side.

Spider was probably our best player in those days ... the number of 'assists' he had would have had Opta purring!
Fred mentored Wardy in his first season. Spider came along the following season, and struggled for along time till he scored his memorable hat trick iirc.

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Captain Haddock says...
10:59pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Tinker, it was moved forward due to the uni...think there's something happening with them Saturday.

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Captain Haddock says...
11:01pm Thu 13 Sep 12

IRISHGULL wrote:
Clean Sheet wrote:
mr punch wrote:
IRISHGULL wrote: happy days! last time i felt this excited about watching the albion, was when peter ward was banging in the goals for fun.! And the added bonus now is we are watching the action at a proper venue.
The Goldstone was a proper venue, it was just a ground of it's times :) Have to agree about the excitement though. UTA
Agreed, the Goldstone was a great ground for atmosphere, and watching Wardy knocking them in with Fred Binney remains a highlight for me. However, onwards and upwards, and it is great to feel that the Albion can compete in all games, and get a result in most of them.
agreed chaps always hold some fond memories. however i personally do prefer watching from the west stand upper now, rather then that exposed chicken run all those years ago. Talking about players from the past Tony Towner took some beating. And what about Frank Worthington, could anybody strike a better dead ball then big frank. Great memories
Ah yes, Frankie Worthington. The man who looked a 45 year old spiv throughout his playing career! Pure quality though.

Oooh Frankie, Frankie....

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saraman says...
7:52am Fri 14 Sep 12

Gus says in todays Argus. ''Go grab top spot''. He also says that The ALBION went top in L1 two years ago late September and stayed there to win the title. Let's hope we can do that tonight and carry on. Can't wait for tonight. So exciting.

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tinker000 says...
12:51pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Captain Haddock wrote:
Tinker, it was moved forward due to the uni...think there's something happening with them Saturday.
Thanks El Captain not a big fan of evening matches

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