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Match report: Cheltenham 1 Albion 1
A season which flattered to deceive ended on an encouraging note in the glorious Gloucestershire sunshine.
Nathan Elder showed he could provide some of the firepower Albion so desperately need to avoid another flirtation with relegation next time around.
A full debut of considerable promise, embroidered by a superbly taken goal, left us all wondering what could be and, indeed, what might have been.
We will never know but had Elder been unleashed on unsuspecting League One defences a little earlier, then the Seagulls may not have been waiting until the penultimate match of the campaign for safety to be confirmed.
He arrived from Billericay in December with a prolific record at non-league level and was soon scoring regularly in the reserves. Dean Wilkins preferred to persevere with a misfiring Jake Robinson as Elder was restricted to a series of substitute appearances for the first team.
It is not as if the other front men, with the exception of Bas Savage, were doing their stuff. Albion had drawn a blank a dozen times and scored only 15 goals in 22 matches this year prior to Elder's first start on Saturday, four of which came in one game at Leyton Orient. So why the long wait?
Wilkins explained: "I knew he had got the ability in the air and we have been trying to work on his fitness. When he first came he was at a level of fitness that enabled him to play non-league, nowhere near the standard that we need.
"We have also been trying to improve him technically and in terms of his movement. We tried to be patient and to introduce him now and again. This was the ideal opportunity to give him a full 90 minutes."
Elder has no complaints about his kid-gloves treatment. He said: "When I got down here and spoke to the gaffer for the first time he told me it was going to be a long process, he wasn't just going to throw me in at the deep end.
"To put me in for the last game was the icing on the cake and the goal was a thank you to the team for helping me out.
"I've been scoring for the reserves but that is completely different. Maybe it was just a case of getting in the rhythmn of scoring.
"The gaffer has been amazing with me. Even before I got here my heading was all right but I have been working a lot on different aspects in training to reach this point.
"There are still parts of my game I need to build on but I have made loads of progress since I came here. If I had known three-quarters of the stuff I have learnt I would have scored 50 goals a season in the Ryman League."
Of course, it is only one game and a pretty meaningless one as well, given that Cheltenham had also secured survival in their previous match at Rotherham.
But Elder looked as if he has every bit as much to offer as 15-goal Kayode Odejayi, the hosts' big Nigerian spearhead.
He is much better in the air than Savage and more of a physical presence. He won a lot of headers and, even when he didnot, was a muscular nuisance to defenders.
His first senior goal, midway through the first half, was an absolute beauty too. Okay, the Cheltenham marking, or rather lack of it, was charitable but Elder still had plenty to do. A firm, angled header looped over keeper Scott Brown into the far corner.
Wilkins exploited Elder's aerial prowess by restoring the midfield diamond. Adam El-Abd occupied the holding role rather than Alexis Bertin, who moved out to the right, with Gary Hart at the advanced point and Dean Cox on the left.
The personnel may not be the same but it could be the shape of things to come next season. Wilkins said: "It encourages me, because I now know if we go with that shape we have got the right sort of player (Elder) to cause people problems."
That is not all. Imagine Elder or Savage partnering a regular goalscorer in a 4-4-2, with Alex Revell on the right and Dean Bowditch on the left if Albion get him back on loan from Ipswich and Cox probing from central midfield? That sounds a whole lot more threatening.
Elder's goal looked like being a winning one until a cruel coincidence for Albion;s other newcomer, Tommy Elphick, with three minutes left.
Paul Taylor spotted a handball by the young centre-half, making his first away start, as Rehman nodded away a header by JJ Melligan and captain John Finnigan beat the rarely troubled Michel Kuipers from the spot.
Taylor was also the referee when Elphick's older brother Gary, now trying to get back into the league via St Albans, was sent-off on his full Albion debut at Reading 18 months ago.
Tommy was strong and sound. Wilkins said. "I thought he was outstanding. Over the season there have been more pluses than negatives.
"Don't get me wrong, I am not happy being in the position we were in but there are a long list of pluses - Dean Hammond's goals and the influence he's had on games, the goals Dean Cox has scored in his first year, Alex Revell coming out of non-league, Jake Robinson has hit his best tally ever.
"We have introduced Sam Rents, Tommy Fraser, and Doug Loft's had games. I can look back on so many we should have won or drawn which we drew or lost so I think there is a lot to look forward to.
"If we had been more mature in the second half we would have seen the game out comfortably and sometimes maturity comes with experience. That is what we are hoping will happen."
What needs to happen is that Albion cut the quantity and raise the quality by bringing in four or five established players to help the kids and the likes of Elder. They might then just have a chance of finishing with only six teams above them next season instead of only six below them.
ALBION (4-1-2-1-2): Michel Kuipers (GK), Zesh Rehman (RB), Tommy Elphick (CB), Guy Butters (CB), Sam Rents (LB), Adam El-Abd (DCM), Alexis Bertin (RM), Dean Cox (LM), Gary Hart (ACM), Alex Revell (CF), Nathan Elder (CF). Subs: John Sullivan, Jake Robinson, Joe Gatting, Doug Loft, Tommy Fraser (for Cox 87).
CHELTENHAM (4-4-2): Scott Brown (GK), Jeremy Gill (RB), Michael Townsend (CB), Shane Duff (CB), Craig Armstrong (LB), John Melligan (RM),
John Finnigan (CM), David Bird (CM), Gavin Caines (LM), Kayode Odejayi (CF), Steven Gillespie (CF). Subs: Keith Lowe, Adam Connolly, Andy Gallinagh, Craig Reid (for Caines 73), Paul Connor for Odejayi 70).
Should Nathan Elder have been introduced earlier to the first team?
4:36pm Sunday 6th May 2007
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CommentPosted by: Colin, Brighton on 11:39pm Sun 6 May 07
If Wilkins thinks that Doug Loft playing is a plus point of the season he won't be going far through that 3 year contract.
If Wilkins thinks that Doug Loft playing is a plus point of the season he won't be going far through that 3 year contract.
Posted by: Martyn on 8:49am Mon 7 May 07
I agree if Wilkins sees Loft playing as a plus point of the season it won't be long before he is sacked.
I agree that Brighton needs to cut the size of the squad which is why they need to get rid of the likes of Oatway, Santos, Loft, Breach, Martin, Fogden and Oatway.
But even that would only take the squad down to 22 leaving probably only room for three new signings.
Do we need as many as 4/5 experienced players? We already have Kuipers, Butters, Mayo, Hart, Reid, Bertin and Savage as well as promising youngsters such as Hammond, Hinshelwood, Lynch, El-Abd, Cox, Robinson, Fraser, Rents, Revell, Gatting, Elder and Elphick.
I would like to see Whing signed along with a right winger and a proven goalscorer. These three players need to be experienced players of proven ability. NO MORE YOUNGSTERS PLEASE!
I agree if Wilkins sees Loft playing as a plus point of the season it won't be long before he is sacked.
I agree that Brighton needs to cut the size of the squad which is why they need to get rid of the likes of Oatway, Santos, Loft, Breach, Martin, Fogden and Oatway.
But even that would only take the squad down to 22 leaving probably only room for three new signings.
Do we need as many as 4/5 experienced players? We already have Kuipers, Butters, Mayo, Hart, Reid, Bertin and Savage as well as promising youngsters such as Hammond, Hinshelwood, Lynch, El-Abd, Cox, Robinson, Fraser, Rents, Revell, Gatting, Elder and Elphick.
I would like to see Whing signed along with a right winger and a proven goalscorer. These three players need to be experienced players of proven ability. NO MORE YOUNGSTERS PLEASE!
Posted by: Martyn on 8:52am Mon 7 May 07
I meant Paul Hinshelwood instead of Oatway the second time round.
I meant Paul Hinshelwood instead of Oatway the second time round.
Posted by: Martyn on 8:54am Mon 7 May 07
I meant Paul Hinshelwood instead of Oatway the second time round.
I meant Paul Hinshelwood instead of Oatway the second time round.
Posted by: Dougdeep, Seaford on 1:05pm Mon 7 May 07
Perhaps Martin you should look at our results since Hammond has been out injured. We need another midfielder,Center back as Butters is to old now and Hinsh is always injured.A proven goalscorer,right back and left winger.If Kuipers goes then a keeper as well
Perhaps Martin you should look at our results since Hammond has been out injured. We need another midfielder,Center back as Butters is to old now and Hinsh is always injured.A proven goalscorer,right back and left winger.If Kuipers goes then a keeper as well
Posted by: Martyn on 4:55pm Mon 7 May 07
What do we need a left winger for when we have Dean Cox who was voted second best player last season? The problem is one the right hand side of midfield where we tried eight different players.
We have Hammond, El-Abd and Bertin who can play midfield.
We have Butters, Hinshelwood, Lynch, El-Abd and Elphick who can play centre back.
Kuipers won't leave who else is going to want him?
I agree with you about a right back and a proven goalscorer.
What do we need a left winger for when we have Dean Cox who was voted second best player last season? The problem is one the right hand side of midfield where we tried eight different players.
We have Hammond, El-Abd and Bertin who can play midfield.
We have Butters, Hinshelwood, Lynch, El-Abd and Elphick who can play centre back.
Kuipers won't leave who else is going to want him?
I agree with you about a right back and a proven goalscorer.
Posted by: Dougdeep, Seaford on 5:59pm Mon 7 May 07
Cox is right footed not left.El- Abd is NOT a midfielder.Infact he can play in a few posistions but he isn't a master in any of them. Certainly not in midfield.He brings no creativity what so ever.We have Bertin for that role.We don't have a natural left sided player.Frutos has been very poor this season and and should be put on the transfer market.
Cox is right footed not left.El- Abd is NOT a midfielder.Infact he can play in a few posistions but he isn't a master in any of them. Certainly not in midfield.He brings no creativity what so ever.We have Bertin for that role.We don't have a natural left sided player.Frutos has been very poor this season and and should be put on the transfer market.
Posted by: Jack on 7:02pm Mon 7 May 07
I agree about el abd! So over rated! he only gets in because he is a bit of a presence on the pitch, I think if more experienced players were brought in he would be pushed out! I sometimes feel he just makes up the numbers and makes the team shhet because he is over 20! I can imagine Wendy being frightened of him aswell! Wilkins always talks the talk but I don't think that behind the scenes or on the pitch he walks the walk!
I agree about el abd! So over rated! he only gets in because he is a bit of a presence on the pitch, I think if more experienced players were brought in he would be pushed out! I sometimes feel he just makes up the numbers and makes the team shhet because he is over 20! I can imagine Wendy being frightened of him aswell! Wilkins always talks the talk but I don't think that behind the scenes or on the pitch he walks the walk!
Posted by: Martyn on 8:53pm Mon 7 May 07
All this talk of all very well but who is going to want to play at a dump like Withdean!
As for Cox he has played ML all season and was one of our few stars.
As for El-Abd he does a decent job in midfield. I don't think it is his best position though. He may not be the most creative but it we had decent wingers we wouldn't have a problem.
I agree with you about Frutos he should be transfer listed as he has been rubbish.
All this talk of all very well but who is going to want to play at a dump like Withdean!
As for Cox he has played ML all season and was one of our few stars.
As for El-Abd he does a decent job in midfield. I don't think it is his best position though. He may not be the most creative but it we had decent wingers we wouldn't have a problem.
I agree with you about Frutos he should be transfer listed as he has been rubbish.
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