Did anyone else notice ...

[Deportivo Seagull]

..... the change in body language and attitude of the players on Saturday compared to the last couple of games. Granted we won and that Crewe were poor, but then so were Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield to name a few and we didn’t get close to putting three past them.
Thomson ran the midfield, he kept Al-Abd on the straight and narrow and Adam seemed to grow in confidence as the game went on. When he won tackles and made the right choice in pass, Thomson was there to give him a pat on the back. Thomson passing was excellent and he read the game well, could prove to be an excellent signing. I know he wasn’t the captain but he acted like one.

Forster was the captain and he certainly acted like one, and he and Murray seemed to click. Again lots of chat and encouragement between the two of them, which bodes well for the future. Nice to see that Forster talks to Murray unlike him and Revell. Murray looked class, and there we hints of Zamora in his positioning and reading of the game, it could prove to be a very exciting run in.

Finally, the embarrassment that was the first goal celebration. Only a team with good team spirit would do that …..

 

[scooter1]

Yep, it fealt really positive. In the first 5 mins I thought that Murray looked a bit shaky, lots of running but with little product - but from then on I thought he was imense. Great control, must have won every header - looked really composed and well worth the transfer fee. Agreed, its good to see him getting on with Forster beacause I think if you don't, its going to lead to problems..... Thompson was great too, as you say El Abd grew into the game but I don't think thats a good position for him, we still need somebody better going forward.. I thought Cox had a much better game than i've seen for a while, his delivery on corners was always threatening to the pint where I thought we could score almost every time. Admittedly Crewe were poor, and at time we were'nt much better but I was disappointed we didn't win by more than 3, as I thought we should have gone out in the second half and demolished them - and I mean disappointed in a positive way. If this is the new look Brighton, then bring on the games in hand and lets make a push for the play-offs

 

[The Oldman]

Apart from the exciting prospect that is Murray I thought every player raised their game . The energy level of of the whole team was so up compared with recent previous home games. It was if a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

In all the praise for Forster (my MOM) Murray, Thomson etc I would like to mention Butters. His old legs may be losing him pace but I thought he played a commanding role. I hope he keeps his place.
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[Dover]

I for one noticed that the team looked like a team.

Maybe. Just maybe, the players who left last week were becoming the rotten apples in the barrel.

 

[NMH]

..... the change in body language and attitude of the players on Saturday compared to the last couple of games. Granted we won and that Crewe were poor, but then so were Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield to name a few and we didn’t get close to putting three past them.
Thomson ran the midfield, he kept Al-Abd on the straight and narrow and Adam seemed to grow in confidence as the game went on. When he won tackles and made the right choice in pass, Thomson was there to give him a pat on the back. Thomson passing was excellent and he read the game well, could prove to be an excellent signing. I know he wasn’t the captain but he acted like one.

Forster was the captain and he certainly acted like one, and he and Murray seemed to click. Again lots of chat and encouragement between the two of them, which bodes well for the future. Nice to see that Forster talks to Murray unlike him and Revell. Murray looked class, and there we hints of Zamora in his positioning and reading of the game, it could prove to be a very exciting run in.

Finally, the embarrassment that was the first goal celebration. Only a team with good team spirit would do that …..

el-Abd enabled Thomson to get forward, and not have to worry about a lot more of the pitch he probably used to have to cover before. No wonder he'd be grateful for AeA being there.

I can see it now - "Adam el-Abd is now able to get away with mistakes because Thomson is there", or "so-and-so makes el-Abd look decent" and whatever gibberish people can make up on NSC.

 

[NMH]

I for one noticed that the team looked like a team.

Maybe. Just maybe, the players who left last week were becoming the rotten apples in the barrel.

Well for all the proclamations about O'C when he first came here, he was IN ACTUAL FACT flimsy and LACKED influence in the midfield! Yes, he had a couple of moments when he looked calm and collected on the ball, so from then on he got a lot of leeway with fans. He certainly managed to become anonymous in a lot of games he played in though. Hammond was high-profile.....when he got forward or scored goals.
What ELSE was he good at? Even at our better times, the ball got past the midfield rather easily, and the defence was having to work the ball out from our own area because the ball often made it into the box.... complete with several of the opposition.

On Saturday, the ball stayed some yards outside of our box, even when we were 'under pressure'. Apart from corners, which Michel took-care-of-nicely-thankyou, they were kept capably 'at bay'.

 

[Gully]

I would prefer to look at it a different way, maybe the arrival of Tommo and the departure of Elvis was just what Adam needed to give him both a kick up the arse and the encouragement to raise his game. I have always been convinced that we have a very good player in Bomber...it may just be that we now get to see precisely that.

 

[sammy]

I would prefer to look at it a different way, maybe the arrival of Tommo and the departure of Elvis was just what Adam needed to give him both a kick up the arse and the encouragement to raise his game. I have always been convinced that we have a very good player in Bomber...it may just be that we now get to see precisely that.

A very very good point there Gully,agree with you

 

[Hiney]

From the club site:

Guy Butters today revealed the story behind two bizarre goal celebration routines during yesterday's 3-0 win over Crewe - Albion's first against the Railwaymen in 39 years.

Following debutant Glenn Murray's early opener, Albion's ten outfield players all joined in with a ring-a-ring-a-roses dance, which ended with them all falling down!

"That was as a result of a new training drill that was introduced during the week. The coaching staff tried to inject a bit of fun into it and we ended up playing walking and holding-hands football during the warm up on Friday.

"When we scored in training people started doing that celebration so we thought it would be a laugh if we did it in the match if we scored. So we had to do it - we didn't think it would go on that long, but it had to be done.

"Mind you, having done that we then had to make sure that we went on to win the game otherwise we will have looked a right bunch of idiots. We have got it out of our system, so now I think we will put it to bed."

Butters who crashed home his first goal in over two years also explained his own personal goal celebration, which saw him take a giant swig of water from a massive water bottle.

"Kerry [Mayo] calls himself the water carrier at the moment - because he is among the subs. So, again to add a bit of light-heartedness into things, he brought out a huge water tub and when we were celebrating he said "here, have a drink", so I did! It all goes to show that despite the upheaval of people coming and going, we have still got a decent spirit within the squad."

Butters last strike was at Withdean against QPR on Boxing Day 2005, and recalled to the squad he was delighted to open his account for the season: "The ball came across and I wasn't too sure whether or not to swing the back peg for it but I thought I would have a go. It took a wicked deflection but I have got to claim it as it is very rare that I score, especially with my right-foot - that was a real collector's item."

Meanwhile the big central defender has added his seal of approval to Nicky Forster's positive midweek verdict on Murray and says the striker will have little trouble settling in at the club. "He is just non-stop energy and he runs all game," explained Butters. "That is all that you can ask of anyone, to run around and put it about a bit. He got his reward with two goals against Crewe and if he does that week in and week out then he'll rapidly become a hero here.

"Ever since I have been at the club, the lads, past and present, have always made new arrivals welcome. There are no bad eggs in the team. People may have fall outs from time to time but that is life and that happens in all walks of life, but in general everyone gets on well with everyone else. Any arguments are soon put to bed.

"I think Brighton is one of the easiest places for any player to settle and that is a credit, especially to the older pros like Kerry Mayo and Gary Hart, who do a hell of a lot that people do not see behind the scenes and have been here for years, know the ins and outs behind the scenes and are great with any and every new arrival."