Paul Reid

[Brighton Breezy]

I have always rated Reid and thought he could add a lot to our midfield but to start on about how he is better than O'Callaghan just because O'Callaghan has, quite reasonably, returned to the club who OWN him just lacks class.

 

[dougdeep]

Not in the same league as O'Callaghan.

No, he's in the championship.

 

[Caveman]

Isn't Gareth Barry our very own Gareth Barry?

Is he Mr Standings nephew?

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

O'Callaghan was a model professional in his time with us and a great player for us. I still think we will miss him, unless we bring in another midfielder.

A model professional who got himself sent off for a needless tackle, and then spoke out about a club that he has nothing to do with to the press causing ructions amongst players and fans. Yeah, just the sort of model professional we need.

 

[Skaville]

O'Callaghan was a model professional in his time with us

 

[SNOOBS]

He was quality today and can only get better as he gets more matches, I hope Wilkins won't sub him every game like he does when Fraser starts though

 

[Yorkie]

http://www.theargus.co.uk/display.var.1935985.0..php

Reid makes up for lost time

Happy New Year? It is if you are Paul Reid.

Albion's Aussie midfielder has already started more games this year than in the whole of 2007.

And he reckons there is plenty more in the tank to make sure he makes up for the frustration of the last 15 months.

Reid completed his gradual return from a serious knee injury suffered in September 2006 by doing a steady midfield job alongside Dean Hammond for the first hour of Tuesday's thriller.

Not a bad way to bounce back from a calendar year which yielded just five appearances off the bench, plus several arduous months of recovery and rehabilitation and periods of concern as to how the knee would hold up when he returned.

Yesterday, helped by George OCallaghan's departure and Tommy Fraser's ill-health, that return became reality. And he looked like he had never been away.

Reid, clearly highly delighted after the game, said: "Hopefully 2008 is going to be much better than 2007.

"I really enjoyed it and I was disappointed to be taken off but the manager said he was saving my legs.

"I haven't played for a long time so hopefully there is more to come - it's a great start to the new year.

"I'm glad I've taken the chance now and proved the knee injury is well and truly behind me.

"When you first come into training from the injury, it's still in the back of your mind.

"Obviously at the start of the season you're always thinking is it up to speed and up to full strength?' but it's definitely behind me now."

Reid was presumably not in a position to hear Big Ben ring out 2007 which is a shame as it would have been music to his ears.

But he might have caught TV pictures of the celebrations from Sydney back in his homeland after training midway through our New Year's Eve.

By then, he knew he was starting against the Cherries and what the mission would be.

Bournemouth lined up as expected with three midfielders and Jo Kuffour and Max-Alain Gradel operating wide in a 4-5-1 set-up.

Reid said: "We got told the team on Friday morning at training (actually it was Monday but that's the festive period for you).

"We thought they would start the way they did with their No.14 (Danny Hollands) sitting in behind and picking up a lot of ball.

"Basically Dean Hammond and I had to keep our position. We couldn't start chasing players and get caught out of position.

"That was the aim but we changed our formation towards the end of the first half and I think that helped us."

Reid is a worker. He also fits Dean Wilkins' masterplan of having players who can control the ball, feel comfortable in possession and, more often than not, pass to a team mate.

Sound simple? Well, it doesn't always happen in this league.

Wilkins was joking after the game about getting Ian Chapman fit to try and add another player to the squad.

Actually Dean, what you really need is a playmaking midfielder.

Presuming the manager has no plans to get on the treadmill himself, Reid is one of those players who have the poise to do a decent job in there.

Wilkins said: "Reidy has been doing okay lately. We tried to bring some stability into the side and I felt him and Dean Hammond could do that from the middle of the field.

I thought he (Reid) did all right for us as well. He was steady at times and he has got enough experience to go out there and have an influence on the game.

"The only reason I changed him after we went in front for the second time was to get some extra energy on the pitch."

With six recent first-team squad members having either come to the end of deals or been laid low by a virus, there were going to be unexpected chances for others.

Even with those absences, Reid presumably had to fight off a challenge from Doug Loft, who did well as a substitute at Yeovil, for his starting berth.

He added: "You lose players but you've got to bounce back from that.

"I'm just glad I've taken the opportunity and proved to the manager, to the assistant, to the supporters that I'm still here."

"People haven't seen me for so long and it's just nice to show my face again."

 

[The Oldman]

A model professional who got himself sent off for a needless tackle, and then spoke out about a club that he has nothing to do with to the press causing ructions amongst players and fans. Yeah, just the sort of model professional we need.

Spot On

 

[NS Herald]

Paul Reid is a VERY good player and should be in the starting 11 from now on playing in midfield - NOT right back.

He did very well yesterday showing excellent composure and should only get better as he get's games under his belt.

I thought he was subbed too soon and the team suffered when he came off as the balance was messed up.

He has great experience, character and has a very good shot. He is probably more useful going forward than Hammond, Fraser or OC for that matter and I for one am pleased to see him.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

I'm wrapped he's back and playing in the first XI, i was starting to worry he wasn't comming back from his injury well and it might see the end of him.

When he's fit and firing he's our most versatile player in the squad.

I just hope this time he's left in the middle of the park and not chopped and changed from midfield to defence.

I even think he'll put a few in the back of ther net before the seasons out.

Good to have my favourite player back in contention.

 

[Skint Gull]

I thought he was subbed too soon and the team suffered when he came off as the balance was messed up.

Agreed - Loft came on and was all over the place, the least central, central midfielder I've seen in a while!

 

[Deano's Right Foot]

I'm really pleased that Redy's back. With a decent run in the team he looks like he could be a very influential player for us, hard-working and skillful.