- Jun 27, 2012
- 14,565
??
Ince, Crofts, Stephens, Kemy and our new u21 England midfielder JFC. Quite a strong line up of (defensive) midfielders to join i'd say.
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Nzuzi Toko SIGNS
- Thread starter El Sid
- Start date
Ince, Crofts, Stephens, Kemy and our new u21 England midfielder JFC. Quite a strong line up of (defensive) midfielders to join i'd say.
Cheeky Monkey
Well-known member
- Jul 17, 2003
- 23,616
Don't get me wrong, I am very much. When United won the European Cup they had The Soul Brothers (Yorke and Cole). With Kaz and Toko in our squad the European Super Cup is only a couple of seasons away from taking its rightful place in the Amex trophy cabinet.
Albumen
Don't wait for me!
I don't rate JFC, Andrews (last year) and an absent Kemy as being strong. Ince, Stephens, Toko and Crofts (if he comes back the same) are strong. Anyway, if all are fit and actually ready for selection I'll be happy.
brightonrock
Dodgy Hamstrings
- Jan 1, 2008
- 2,482
I think the reason JFCs form tailed off was due to Andrews (bare with me). KA spent every game haring around chasing the ball and closing down the defence/holding midfielder. But, he never actually won it or pressed with others in a group, he just repeatedly took himself out of the game by sprinting at a centre back who'd knock it past him to a midfielder and suddenly he's 40 yards out of position. As a result JFC was having to sit deeper to cover, in the mix of big tackles and battling, which isn't his game. Early in the season he was the 1 in our 4213, getting into the box for cut backs or popping up in the hole a la Lampard/Gerrard. IMO Toko could be a new lease of life for JFC, releasing him to get further forward.
Deep lying, ball-winning midfielder: Toko/Ince
Box to box: Stephens/Crofts
Creative number 10: JFC/Agustien (or his replacement if he goes).
Looks well balanced to me.
Deep lying, ball-winning midfielder: Toko/Ince
Box to box: Stephens/Crofts
Creative number 10: JFC/Agustien (or his replacement if he goes).
Looks well balanced to me.
Ernest
Stupid IDIOT
If this is a SIGN of our AMBITION and the standard of players we are SIGNING then I'm going LARGE on us being RELEGATED. My SWISS pal WALTER says he MAKES Andrews look like GERRARD
El Sid
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #408
Brighton & Hove Albion’s latest addition Toko Nzuzi says he turned down Champions League football because he wants to experience English football and feels the Albion is a club heading in the right direction.
The 23-year-old admitted that it was hard to leave Grasshopper Zurich, a club who've qualified for next season's Champions League, and one he had been with for over a decade, but he is convinced that he has made the right move.
He told seagulls.co.uk, “I had other options in Turkey and Italy, but I've always liked English football. It was a dream ever since I was a child to play in England, and for me, Brighton & Hove Albion is a club of the future and this is why I made the decision.
"I’ve been at Zurich for more than 12 years, so it’s a very long time and it was very hard as I have a lot of friends there. My relationship with the fans was very close. It was very hard in the last game; it was emotional for me.
“It’s the first time I have left a club, I have never changed a club before, but it’s a new challenge here at Brighton and one I am looking forward to. I’m very thankful to be here and I hope that one day we can play in the Premier League.
“I was here before to see the training ground and the stadium and I could see the history of the club and with the new stadium and training ground, it’s an exciting future. It’s very organised and I’m very proud to be a part of it. I am sure it’s going to be a good few years."
Albion’s new signing spoke of how much the Zurich faithful meant to him and how he would love to have the same connection at the Amex.
He told seagulls.co.uk, “I have a very good relationship with the fans at Zurich and when I left they were very supportive. I have received very positive messages from everyone, wishing me good luck and inviting me to one day come back.
“The fans were behind me when I was younger and I’m very thankful to the supporters at Grasshoppers.
“I always try to do my best on the pitch and I hope that the fans here like me like they did in Zurich. It will be fantastic if the fans are like those at Zurich.
"A big game in Switzerland, like a derby, you might get 6 or 7,000 fans but here, when it’s a big game, there is a very big difference. People are talking about football wherever you go and this is what I like.”
The 23-year-old admitted that it was hard to leave Grasshopper Zurich, a club who've qualified for next season's Champions League, and one he had been with for over a decade, but he is convinced that he has made the right move.
He told seagulls.co.uk, “I had other options in Turkey and Italy, but I've always liked English football. It was a dream ever since I was a child to play in England, and for me, Brighton & Hove Albion is a club of the future and this is why I made the decision.
"I’ve been at Zurich for more than 12 years, so it’s a very long time and it was very hard as I have a lot of friends there. My relationship with the fans was very close. It was very hard in the last game; it was emotional for me.
“It’s the first time I have left a club, I have never changed a club before, but it’s a new challenge here at Brighton and one I am looking forward to. I’m very thankful to be here and I hope that one day we can play in the Premier League.
“I was here before to see the training ground and the stadium and I could see the history of the club and with the new stadium and training ground, it’s an exciting future. It’s very organised and I’m very proud to be a part of it. I am sure it’s going to be a good few years."
Albion’s new signing spoke of how much the Zurich faithful meant to him and how he would love to have the same connection at the Amex.
He told seagulls.co.uk, “I have a very good relationship with the fans at Zurich and when I left they were very supportive. I have received very positive messages from everyone, wishing me good luck and inviting me to one day come back.
“The fans were behind me when I was younger and I’m very thankful to the supporters at Grasshoppers.
“I always try to do my best on the pitch and I hope that the fans here like me like they did in Zurich. It will be fantastic if the fans are like those at Zurich.
"A big game in Switzerland, like a derby, you might get 6 or 7,000 fans but here, when it’s a big game, there is a very big difference. People are talking about football wherever you go and this is what I like.”
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Hotchilidog
Well-known member
- Jan 24, 2009
- 9,020
Well he certainly ticks the saying all the right things box. A very decent start to the off season. Now if we can only get someone to manage him.....
KZNSeagull
Well-known member
Wellesley
Well-known member
- Jul 24, 2013
- 4,973
Exactly what I thought watching the video. "Toko's eeeeeevil!!"
somerset
New member
Exactly....
Marshy
Well-known member
Not for me he wont, hes behind, Stephens, Ince, JFC and Toko, in my opinion.
somerset
New member
Should get down to Specsavers dude......Crofts was running the show until his injury, his absence a major contribution to our average midfield/attacking performances in the 2nd half of the season. JFC just doesn't have the awareness or goal threat.
Ernest
Stupid IDIOT
If Crofts is fit he is first on the team sheet, so where will Swiss Billy play ?
The Truth
Banned
Just one more attacking midfielder and our midfield is complete. (guessing the next manager is playing 5 in the middle)
somerset
New member
Instead of JFC or Ince.....I believe he is an Essien type player.
I would imagine the Swiss premier is roughly the same as the Championship.
Marshy
Well-known member
Crofts was having " one of those seasons " in front of goal before his injury, he certainly puts a shift in I will give him that, but he cant pass, cant control a ball and his all round game is not as good as all our other central midfield options
I bet JFC goal ratio is better than Crofts. And he will get better and better.
Agreed ,Crofts is our main midfielder.He was playing so well when he was injured.