[Albion] Dunk 'a top-four defender if ever I saw one'

[the right footed denilson]

Apologies if this has already been done, i'm full of cold.

From Garth Crooks team of the festive period...

'It was Dunk's performance against Watford, and again at Newcastle, that left me thinking he is a top-four defender if ever I saw one. Whether he can mentally cope in that environment would be my only concern, but in terms of his defensive qualities I don't think I've seen a better centre-back this season. I've seen more polished performances but nothing quite so efficient.

It struck me that Liverpool could do themselves a great service by making an audacious move for Dunk. What would he cost - £35m in today's grossly over-inflated market?

Offer £45m and I've no doubt Brighton boss Chris Hughton would drive him to Anfield himself. Could Brighton afford to turn that down? Alongside Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool would suddenly have two towering defenders who know how to defend. They should be paying me a consultancy for this column!'

 

[Titanic]

From Garth Crooks team of the festive period...

enough said.

 

[Insel affe]

Apologies if this has already been done, i'm full of cold.

From Garth Crooks team of the festive period...

'It was Dunk's performance against Watford, and again at Newcastle, that left me thinking he is a top-four defender if ever I saw one. Whether he can mentally cope in that environment would be my only concern, but in terms of his defensive qualities I don't think I've seen a better centre-back this season. I've seen more polished performances but nothing quite so efficient.

It struck me that Liverpool could do themselves a great service by making an audacious move for Dunk. What would he cost - £35m in today's grossly over-inflated market?

Offer £45m and I've no doubt Brighton boss Chris Hughton would drive him to Anfield himself. Could Brighton afford to turn that down? Alongside Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool would suddenly have two towering defenders who know how to defend. They should be paying me a consultancy for this column!'

To be fair that is about right in his capabilities and cost.

 

[Hammer15]

I'm surprised Crooks didn't put Dunk on the left wing.

 

[Bob!]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42547711

Mat Ryan in his team of week as well.
Garth still thinks we won't stay up.

Ryan was outstanding during the 1-0 win over Watford and the 0-0 draw with Newcastle, helping provide four massive points for the Seagulls. I find Brighton deadly dull as an attacking force, but as a defensive unit they were magnificent against the Hornets and Magpies, and did not give Chelsea a sniff for 45 minutes on Boxing Day. They work hard as a team, are so brilliantly drilled, and give their manager everything.

Ryan's performances have been so compelling he has left Tim Krul with very little chance to come in and prove himself. In the Newcastle game the stop from Isaac Hayden that took a massive deflection en route to goal was wonderful but the save from a flicked header from Dwight Gayle was even better.

I've been saying all season that Brighton will run out of gas, and it seemed to be happening quicker than I thought against Bournemouth on New Year's Day. They must pick up maximum points at home against teams such as the Cherries otherwise their existence in the Premier League will be short-lived. However, neither of the two goals they conceded in the 2-2 draw were down to Ryan.

 

[the right footed denilson]

Does anyone else still find all this very surreal?

 

[pishhead]

Did Hughton tea bag Crooks or something when they were at Spurs together?

 

[Ecosse Exile]

Have to admit, when Liverpool signed VVD i thought to myself if they pair him with Dunk they will possibly have the best centre back pairing in the league, to go with possibly the best strike force. Hope they dont agree!

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

He can't be, Paul Merson has never heard of him.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42547711

Mat Ryan in his team of week as well.
Garth still thinks we won't stay up.

Ryan was outstanding during the 1-0 win over Watford and the 0-0 draw with Newcastle, helping provide four massive points for the Seagulls. I find Brighton deadly dull as an attacking force, but as a defensive unit they were magnificent against the Hornets and Magpies, and did not give Chelsea a sniff for 45 minutes on Boxing Day. They work hard as a team, are so brilliantly drilled, and give their manager everything.

Ryan's performances have been so compelling he has left Tim Krul with very little chance to come in and prove himself. In the Newcastle game the stop from Isaac Hayden that took a massive deflection en route to goal was wonderful but the save from a flicked header from Dwight Gayle was even better.

I've been saying all season that Brighton will run out of gas, and it seemed to be happening quicker than I thought against Bournemouth on New Year's Day. They must pick up maximum points at home against teams such as the Cherries otherwise their existence in the Premier League will be short-lived. However, neither of the two goals they conceded in the 2-2 draw were down to Ryan.

What an odd thing to say, given both teams continued going at it until the final whistle? I get the point he's making but a) he's made it time and time and time again and b) He's not really backing it up with anything.

He also contradicts himself from earlier on when he stated that 'Brighton and Huddersfield moved themselves into the relative safety of mid-table with a pair of key draws apiece.' So which is it to be, Garth – relative safety or a 'short-lived' PL existence?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

If it wasn't for Ryan, Dunk, Duffy and Bruno we'd be good as relegated already. Rest of our first-choice line-up would be hard pushed to make the Championship play-offs. IMHO, like.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

If Garth Crooks says he thinks we'll go down then I suddenly have renewed confidence.

 

[McTavish]

If it wasn't for Ryan, Dunk, Duffy and Bruno we'd be good as relegated already. Rest of our first-choice line-up would be hard pushed to make the Championship play-offs. IMHO, like.

Agreed. But I think even Man City would struggle with only seven players.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

If it wasn't for Ryan, Dunk, Duffy and Bruno we'd be good as relegated already. Rest of our first-choice line-up would be hard pushed to make the Championship play-offs. IMHO, like.

I agree re Dunk, Ryan and Bruno. And I think you can easily add Gross to that list.

 

[Dougie]

Garth crooks you say .

 

[The Tactician]

If it wasn't for Ryan, Dunk, Duffy and Bruno we'd be good as relegated already. Rest of our first-choice line-up would be hard pushed to make the Championship play-offs. IMHO, like.

Good point, we saw with Murray's pitiful return last year of 23 last year that he's clearly not good enough even to make the play-offs. Same goes for Knockaert, player of the season last year doesn't mean he's good enough for a promotion chasing side, Didn't have Gross last year but he only cost £3 million so he'd be useless, forget what he's doing in the league above. As for the rest, just all useless, you're 100% correct in the defence is carrying them-we only scored 74 goals last year! Hemed, March, Bong, Kayal-useless the lot of them, and the fact that we finished with 89 and 93 points in our last 2 championship seasons has no reflection on their ability, no way we'd get in the play-offs this year were we in the championship, you're right. I mean I know we're 13th in the Premier League, but that doesn't mean our players are any good.

 

[Beanstalk]

I'm still unmoved in my opinion that he'll go in the summer. I would presume to either Arsenal or Liverpool mainly as, one would assume, they will be in Europe next season, and he'll qualify as a home-grown player.

If that's the case, it'll be absolutely deserved on his behalf and I am sure we would be recompensed handsomely.

 

[jimhigham]

Did Hughton tea bag Crooks or something when they were at Spurs together?

 

[Ernest]

If Dunk is good then why are we letting in so many stupid goals

 

[Biscuit]

If it wasn't for Ryan, Dunk, Duffy and Bruno we'd be good as relegated already. Rest of our first-choice line-up would be hard pushed to make the Championship play-offs. IMHO, like.

TBH, playing with seven men would be pretty difficult - even in the Championship.

Edit: @McTavish beat me to it