Our Defence

[Steve Foster]

How about bringing in Sol Campbell. He would certainly shore up our defence & will be playing at a higher level (for now!) than Notts County. Could become a defensive coach?

He lives on the South Coast, wouldn't come cheap but would be a great signing.

He would also put at least an extra 1000 on the gate at the next home match as well.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

How about bringing in Sol Campbell. He would certainly shore up our defence & will be playing at a higher level (for now!) than Notts County. Could become a defensive coach?

He lives on the South Coast, wouldn't come cheap but would be a great signing.

He would also put at least an extra 1000 on the gate at the next home match as well.

This is a joke right? You don't honestly think Sol Campbell would sign for the Albion, do you?

 

[Scoffers]

This is a joke right? You don't honestly think Sol Campbell would sign for the Albion, do you?

Sure, for 1 game, yeah

 

[Twinkle Toes]

maybe not the best qualified to comment as ive only seen us play 5 times this season but it seems to me opposition forwards have sussed out that el abd is not very good so most of the attacking play goes the way of adam and he is found out time and time again,if i can see this after 5 games surley any manager worth his salt can

I don't think there's many of us who rate the abilities of A E-A, but I think he's come in for a lot of unfair criticism filling in at left-back. As you (& a few others have observed), the opposition regularly look to double-up on him - but the real problem lies in our central defenders'/midfield's inability to provide him with any cover. Considering the hiding-to-nothing he's continually faced with, I think he's done pretty well myself. Shirley the new management team's priority will be to sort the ongoing defensive shambles: either by getting Virgo & Elphick to actually fulfill their professional obligations, or bringing in replacements who actually have a bleedin' clue. Whatever decisions they make, it can't come too soon imo.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Slade made a big mistake by not bringing in a proper left footed, left-back as cover for McNulty, especially as we have so few natural left footed players in the squad. You would have thought we would have learned that lesson by now. Hoyte, red card aside, has been a good signing and has showed how important it is to have specialists in that position. Everyone recognises we need an experienced centre half which must be the first signing of the new manager. Then it's up to the others to fight for the other centre-back place. I also think a new goalkeeper may have to be found. Kuipers has been poor this season and Smith, so far, looks a long way off a first team keeper.

 

[Elder for England]

Why was Tunni missing today ....Also Elphick needs some time in the stiffs...maybe hawkins turn to shine....

You said it!!

 

[Elder for England]

As someone mentioned earlier we have a very ill-disciplined side, there are too many egos. Whatever people's thoughts on Adams, I do think he was able to hand out discipline far more than Slade. Whoever comes in next needs to address this and deflate some of those egos.

As for the defence, it's shambolic. El-Abd is bad, end of. He may have the odd good game, and credit to him, but he's not good enough if we want to tighten up the defence. Virgo and Elphick aren't solid defenders and cannot play together, and Whing's overated. So who does that leave? McNulty.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Jesus.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

As someone mentioned earlier we have a very ill-disciplined side, there are too many egos. Whatever people's thoughts on Adams, I do think he was able to hand out discipline far more than Slade. Whoever comes in next needs to address this and deflate some of those egos.

You mean when he gave them cuddles?

 

[The Wizard]

Hawkins deserves a chance, the way he's ridiculed is ridiculous, he like a few other players fell victim to Micky Adams playing not fit players with niggly injuries and from then on he didn't perform for a few games and got dropped.

We need an experienced head, why not?

(I suspect people will think I'm joking, but I'm being 100% serious)

 

[Elder for England]

You mean when he gave them cuddles?

If you read it I said he was better than Slade, not great but better. Slade let them get away with so much, the antics on and off the pitch this season prove that. We may differ on many things but you surely have to agree that discipline has gone out the window this season.

 

[Elder for England]

Hawkins deserves a chance, the way he's ridiculed is ridiculous, he like a few other players fell victim to Micky Adams playing not fit players with niggly injuries and from then on he didn't perform for a few games and got dropped.

We need an experienced head, why not?

(I suspect people will think I'm joking, but I'm being 100% serious)

I hope you're not joking, and if you're not I agree with you completely. Adams did bring him back too early from injury, as up until that point he was brilliant for us (regardless of what people seem to have forgotten.) If anything, the fact Adams wanted to bring him back before being ready probably goes to show how much he was valued at the start of the season.

The current defence clearly aren't capable so I say give The Hawk a chance!

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Hawkins deserves a chance, the way he's ridiculed is ridiculous, he like a few other players fell victim to Micky Adams playing not fit players with niggly injuries and from then on he didn't perform for a few games and got dropped.

We need an experienced head, why not?

(I suspect people will think I'm joking, but I'm being 100% serious)

Has EfE pinched your login details?

Hawkins is experienced - in the Irish League. There's hundreds of players in Brighton who've played 200 games at Waterhall on Sunday mornings - there's not much difference.

You can play him on the grounds that the other lot deserve to be dropped - but he WON'T improve the defence.

If you read it I said he was better than Slade, not great but better. Slade let them get away with so much, the antics on and off the pitch this season prove that. We may differ on many things but you surely have to agree that discipline has gone out the window this season.

Antics off the pitch this season while Slade was in charge? Do tell me more....

I suppose you can argue that Slade should have some responsibility for the red cards, but a lot of it is down to players being bloody stupid really (murray at Tranmere and..er..Hawkins against Stockport being two good examples)

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Hear hear...we have spent money and are a worse team.

Do you go to matches? This is just not true. Whilst the tactics and preparation have been poor (we sacked the manager because of this) the players look stronger in almost all positions as do the reserves.

Last seasons team were just about good enough to stay up - this season the squad shows far more potential.

 

[Elder for England]

Has EfE pinched your login details?

Hawkins is experienced - in the Irish League. There's hundreds of players in Brighton who've played 200 games at Waterhall on Sunday mornings - there's not much difference.

You can play him on the grounds that the other lot deserve to be dropped - but he WON'T improve the defence.




Antics off the pitch this season while Slade was in charge? Do tell me more....

I suppose you can argue that Slade should have some responsibility for the red cards, but a lot of it is down to players being bloody stupid really (murray at Tranmere and..er..Hawkins against Stockport being two good examples)

To the Hawkins point, he WAS good at the start of the season so deserves to come back and prove he can be that good again, why not? Yes he wasn't good for a lot of games after that but I do feel that was down to confidence and pressure. The defence at the moment is woeful, so what's the harm in at least giving the Hawk his turn to have another go in a new season under a new management.

The discipline was worse under Slade, ok you may argue not much better, but it was. But definitely the players are too big for their boots. Regardless of who is better than who, the point is, the new manager needs to sort it out in terms of putting these players in their place.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

To the Hawkins point, he WAS good at the start of the season so deserves to come back and prove he can be that good again, why not? Yes he wasn't good for a lot of games after that but I do feel that was down to confidence and pressure. The defence at the moment is woeful, so what's the harm in at least giving the Hawk his turn to have another go in a new season under a new management.

The discipline was worse under Slade, ok you may argue not much better, but it is. But definitely off the pitch, the players are too big for their boots. Regardless of who is better than who, the point is, the new manager needs to sort it out in terms of putting these players in their place.

17 games, 3 penalties, 1 own goal, 1 sending off...

If he plays well in the reserves and in training then he should get a chance, purely because Virgo/Elphick/Tunicliffe have all been pretty hopeless so far. However, he's not even in the squad for tomorrow nights reserve game, suggesting he's still injured.

I don't think he was very good even at the beginning of last season....but roll on next season, when he's been released, has gone back to playing in Ireland, and I'm not sat discussing the many weaknesses of Colin Hawkins at 1am!!!

With your second point - I agree.