Somebody post up that Vicente video...

[Mellotron]

How did we ever even get a player of his ability? Remember when we had players of Vicente's ability?! Now we have Gary Gardner..

That video is so sad. We had such a great team under Poyet and I haven't even really appreciated just how good we were until recent times.

We were- as Oscar said when he signed- one of the most progressive clubs around. We had an identity. Teams were scared to play Brighton. Even under Garcia, when our squad was significantly weakened, we played good football, not necessarily entertaining, but disciplined play that saw a pretty average side make the play-offs.

We seem to have gone back 5 years recently though. We've gone from a great keeper with top level experience to a guy that has been a massive underachiever for his whole career, and with £1 million going out to replace a very good Championship keeper to an average one.

We've missed the solidity of Ward. He wasn't the best going forward but he always tracked back and did his defensive duties, unlike Bennett and Chicksen. And we've missed the passion and guts of players like Barnes and El-Abd for players who don't give a shit about the club or whether we win or lose.

And of course we've missed Ulloa. We'll be lucky if we find another striker as good as him for as cheap as he was in the next 10 years.

But I digress, I really thought it was a matter of time until we made the step up, but we have regressed so much in such a short space of time. The squad and the club have had their insides ripped out. It's pretty heart-wrenching to see.

Sorry I am absolutely smashed.

All very, very depressingly spot on.

We were SO good. We're a million miles away from that standard now.

 

[Mowgli37]

Why do that to us?

Why put that video up?

Why?

 

[Mackenzie]

Poyet, Vicente and Ulloa or Hyypia, O'Grady and Gardner......tough decision.

 

[dadams2k11]

That's just ruined my morning...

 

[Frutos]

By far and away the most talented and exciting player I've ever seen play for us....how the hell did we ever get him?

I still remember sitting here, constantly refreshing NSC when we were first trying to get him - as someone who was familiar with him before I couldn't believe that it would actually happen, but what a moment when it finally did! My favourite memory of his time here is probably the Portsmouth game - 0-0 when he came on, he was absolutely unplayable that day. Aside from that, the magical slalom run against Derby will live long in the memory. Had that shot been six inches lower, it would have been beyond doubt the greatest goal I've seen an Albion player score.

Good times, but also a rather depressing reminder in our current state of how good we had it not so long ago.

 

[Smile]

So sad to see the downward spiral. Which all started when Barber and co managed to hoodwinked the vast majority of fans to want to get rid of toxic Gus. Unbelievable! He gave us the identity he pulled in the big name players such as Vicente and yet so many fans fell for the bull***t from the club.

 

[Barham's tash]

Corrected.

I don't actually think it's Barber's fault at all but hey ho.

PB was given a mandate by TB and was backed by TB. I think it had more to do with recruitment than anything else therefore more likely that Burke was underlying factor.

 

[Wilko]

Brilliant player
Brilliant squad
Amazing Manager
Packed Amex with an atmosphere
Great kit with no shithouse stick on logo


We have managed to completely and utterly **** it up in so little time.

 

[Seagull1989]

Sad thing is how recent it was! Now we have JFC and Gardner in the midfield

 

[peterward]

Poyet, Vicente and Ulloa or Hyypia, O'Grady and Gardner......tough decision.

Poyet, who on top of his busy role as manager and coach was able to use his expertise to bring to the club Buckley and Ulloa for peanuts, + Vicente, PIG, Bridge, Upson, Bridcutt, Bruno on Loans/FREE's

Or full time dedicated Head of football ops (who doesnt have the burden of hours of coaching,managing on top of his role), who was able to use his expertise to buy O'Grady, Chicksen and Stockdale for way over the odds + those first team Loan/FREE revelations Nzuzi, Holla, Gardener.

 

[peterward]

By far and away the most talented and exciting player I've ever seen play for us....how the hell did we ever get him?

I still remember sitting here, constantly refreshing NSC when we were first trying to get him

me to as Sven GE tried to hijack the deal and take him to leicester

 

[Barnet Seagull]

We've missed the solidity of Ward. He wasn't the best going forward but he always tracked back and did his defensive duties, unlike Bennett and Chicksen.

Just want to point out that this is part of the tactical approach of Hyppia. Full backs aren't expected to track back in the same way, the midfield are expected to cover.

I agree we miss Ward, but we miss tactical acumen more.

 

[£1.99]

Brilliant player!

 

[aolstudios]

The best we ever had. By a long, long way

 

[tomfitz12]

this thread has seriously put such a downer on my morning

 

[parks]

What a star he was. And when he was crowded out he could lay it off to KLL in space. Halcyon days that I will remember for a long, long time.

The best I have EVER seen in a BHA shirt...he was just brilliant.....and we miss him! Boy do we miss him, and 10 others like him...and a decent manager. Other than than all's good.

 

[bhawoddy]

The excitement that Vicente brought was unrivalled imo. Seems like such a long time ago now. Simply a brilliant player, the likes of which we may not see again for a long time.

 

[Dub-67]

so depressing to see this and remember.

 

[gully1984]

Legend. That is all.

 

[desprateseagull]

here's a bit more magic, when Mr V was at Valencia..