Albion retain 11 out of the 15

[lethaldrizzle]

I think we've got a great starting ten (missing a quality goalscorer obviously), but they all have problems.

Butters, Hinsh, Reid and Kuipers are all injury-prone due to age/recurring injuries and we can't be sure that they will either be capable of maintaining form (Butters) or reaching the level they were at before long breaks (the others)

Bertin almost certainly won't stay.

Cox and Rents are both young and will struggle with consistency and confidence.

Leaving only Lynch, Hammond and Savage who are solid bets for a good season. Also we really lack depth in the squad.

Could either be very good or very bad depending on form/injuries I think.

 

[andybaha]

My concern is that last season we had a massive first team squad of around 30 players, many of whom were all of the same limited abilility. I would perhaps liked to have seen a smaller squad of better quality players.

If we have so far only released 3 or 4 players, by the time we give contracts to some of the current youth team, hopefully make some permanent signings and then bring in some players on loan I think we could have a first team squad pushing 40 players but still not have a first eleven capable of challenging for the play-offs.

 

[TonyW]

Bertin

Yep, like him

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Butters, Hinsh, Reid and Kuipers are all injury-prone due to age/recurring injuries and we can't be sure that they will either be capable of maintaining form (Butters) or reaching the level they were at before long breaks (the others)

Hinsh and Kuipers you can have, but Reid has had a single serious injury - that's not injury prone.

Butters started the season a few weeks late after suffering a back injury in the summer [take it easy with him this summer, Race, please] and then stayed fit all season. He has barely been injured in his time at the club. And as for 'maintaining form' Butters along with Hammond is the only player to perform consistently all season. Not Lynch who had a really crap spell, not Cox who dissappeared after Xmas, not Robinson, not even Bertin who was brilliant in his first 3 games then faded, but Butters.

 

[Schrödinger's Toad]

A new goalkeeper desperately needed, plus a RB, RM & a striker ... three of those four quality signings would make an enormous difference to our side.

 

[Dave the OAP]

I think we've got a great starting ten (missing a quality goalscorer obviously), but they all have problems.

Butters, Hinsh, Reid and Kuipers are all injury-prone due to age/recurring injuries and we can't be sure that they will either be capable of maintaining form (Butters) or reaching the level they were at before long breaks (the others)

Bertin almost certainly won't stay.

Cox and Rents are both young and will struggle with consistency and confidence.

Leaving only Lynch, Hammond and Savage who are solid bets for a good season. Also we really lack depth in the squad.

Could either be very good or very bad depending on form/injuries I think.

superb first post!!!!

 

[Brighton Breezy]

My concern is that Lynch and Hammon won't be here come the new season....

 

[Frutos]

Maybe I've missed something (apologies if so), but why does everyone seem so adamant that Bertin will definitely be going?

Have any other clubs shown interest that we know of? Has the man himself said that he wants to leave?

I can fully understand why he could potentially be a target for other clubs, but is there actually anything concrete on which to base these opinions that he's going?

 

[Icy Gull]

My concern is that Lynch and Hammon won't be here come the new season....

Lynch I half expect to go but we'll be well F*****d if they both leave.

 

[The Large One]

Maybe I've missed something (apologies if so), but why does everyone seem so adamant that Bertin will definitely be going?

Have any other clubs shown interest that we know of? Has the man himself said that he wants to leave?

I can fully understand why he could potentially be a target for other clubs, but is there actually anything concrete on which to base these opinions that he's going?

He has said himself that he wants to have a look around and play in the Championship. Whatever happens, he has no intentions of going back to France to play just yet.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Maybe I've missed something (apologies if so), but why does everyone seem so adamant that Bertin will definitely be going?

Have any other clubs shown interest that we know of? Has the man himself said that he wants to leave?

I can fully understand why he could potentially be a target for other clubs, but is there actually anything concrete on which to base these opinions that he's going?

but that is the whole point of this board...wild speculation.

You are right, no-one really knows anything about the playing side apart from them who know players etc...

...therefore speculate on...

 

[The Large One]

My concern is that Lynch and Hammon won't be here come the new season....

I'm going to fixture myself here...


Am I the only one who thinks that Lynch's departure is FAR from certain? To me, it doesn't make sense.

I can't help feeling that there's a sense of presumptuous arrogance (not necessarily from your good self unameable) from some that because he is a half-decent talent at Brighton, it's automatic that he is a dead-cert for a transfer. Sure, some managers have come and had a look at him, but so what? He is nothing like ready for the big step-up. At best, he is a punt for the future for any manager. Don't get me wrong, I think his talent and temprament are certainly enough to take him far higher than we are at, but... just not yet.

My excessive gut feeling is that he is a nailed-on cert for him to be still here in August. We shall see.

 

[Dave the OAP]

He has said himself that he wants to have a look around and play in the Championship. Whatever happens, he has no intentions of going back to France to play just yet.

there you are Frutos.

my point exactly

 

[Brighton Breezy]

I think the issue with Lynch is that he said at the start of the season he wanted to perform well, try and get in the under-21 squad and get attention from a bigger club. I believe it was during an interview with The Argus.

I think he has ambitions we cannot match in the short-term and if a decent championship side came in he would be off.

With Hammond, he has one year left on his contract and we need to offer him a new deal. If he does not want to sign it we could risk losing him for free next Summer.

 

[Frutos]

You are right, no-one really knows anything about the playing side apart from them who know players etc...

...therefore speculate on...

My brother's best mate's sister knows Kerry Mayo's cousin, and so I can exclusively reveal that we're preparing a double swoop for Gennaro Gattuso and Ronaldinho.

You heard it here first.

 

[Trigger]

So we're not buying anyone of note this summer then?...

 

[Dave the OAP]

i would be very surprised if there wasn't one single player who at the moment is not looking around to see if they can get a better club, even those who have been offered/given contracts.

ie If say Bournemouth came in with an offer of player coach with paying for coaching badges etc to say Guy, I would venture he would be offski....

 

[The Large One]

So we're not buying anyone of note this summer then?...

I think we might try and Whing it getting in another player or two.

 

[The Large One]

With Hammond, he has one year left on his contract and we need to offer him a new deal. If he does not want to sign it we could risk losing him for free next Summer.

He is the team captain - who knows, possibly to be the club captain soon - and the current Player of the Season. He would be FIRST on the list for contract renewals.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

He has said himself that he wants to have a look around and play in the Championship. Whatever happens, he has no intentions of going back to France to play just yet.

You never know though;

"Guy Butters, Alexis Bertin, Charlie Oatway, Michel Kuipers and Paul Reid are among the players Albion want to keep. Wilkins is confident the 11 on his retained list will sign new contracts.

The Albion boss said: "I'm optimistic but nothing is certain. I see no reason why we cannot come to agreement with every one of them. I hope to get it all sorted within a week."