Opinion: Albion need to act
12:51pm Friday 9th January 2009
Albion need to get a move on during the January transfer window.
The opening week has come and gone with no additions to the squad, which is down to the bare bones at Walsall tomorrow.
Just 15 outfield players are available for the trip to the West Midlands. Of these, Kerry Mayo, Jake Robinson and Jonny Dixon have not started a match between them this season and Doug Loft's two full appearances came in cup competitions, the last in September.
Mayo is the only recognised leftback now that Matt Richards has returned to Ipswich, although the versatile Adam El-Abd and Andrew Whing have played there before.
Richards, Joe Anyinsah, Bradley Johnson, Paul Wotton and Chris Birchall have all been on Albion's radar and there are undoubtedly other targets but nobody has been signed yet.
The Seagulls are notoriously late movers in the transfer market. Chairman Dick Knight is an experienced negotiator and, of course, the club should get the best deal they possibly can and not rush into potentially expensive mistakes.
However, they are hovering just outside the relegation zone. The Walsall visit is the first of five important League matches this month, together with the prospect of taking a giant step towards Wembley in the home leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy area final against Luton.
Let's hope we are not waiting until too close to the 5pm deadline on February 2 for the squad to be strengthened.
12:51pm Friday 9th January 2009
Albion need to get a move on during the January transfer window.
The opening week has come and gone with no additions to the squad, which is down to the bare bones at Walsall tomorrow.
Just 15 outfield players are available for the trip to the West Midlands. Of these, Kerry Mayo, Jake Robinson and Jonny Dixon have not started a match between them this season and Doug Loft's two full appearances came in cup competitions, the last in September.
Mayo is the only recognised leftback now that Matt Richards has returned to Ipswich, although the versatile Adam El-Abd and Andrew Whing have played there before.
Richards, Joe Anyinsah, Bradley Johnson, Paul Wotton and Chris Birchall have all been on Albion's radar and there are undoubtedly other targets but nobody has been signed yet.
The Seagulls are notoriously late movers in the transfer market. Chairman Dick Knight is an experienced negotiator and, of course, the club should get the best deal they possibly can and not rush into potentially expensive mistakes.
However, they are hovering just outside the relegation zone. The Walsall visit is the first of five important League matches this month, together with the prospect of taking a giant step towards Wembley in the home leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy area final against Luton.
Let's hope we are not waiting until too close to the 5pm deadline on February 2 for the squad to be strengthened.
