trialists mk2

[grummitts gloves]

I think Harding could prove a good signing. When he left, he was still very young, it was handled very badly and the fans were too quick to lay all the blame at his door. Plus we got a bloody good deal for him.

I have nothing against him, welcome back Dan if Slade decides to keep him

 

[WhingForPresident]

I'd be very happy to have Harding back to be fair.
He was on loan at Reading last season and started a lot of games, and Coppell is no mug.
Ricketts?! FFFFFSSS! He's a poor man's Emile Heskey, and that's saying summat.

 

[Husty]

I'd happly have Spiller + Harding, not so keen on Ricketts

 

[Da Man Clay]

I'd be very happy to have Harding back to be fair.
He was on loan at Reading last season and started a lot of games, and Coppell is no mug.
Ricketts?! FFFFFSSS! He's a poor man's Emile Heskey, and that's saying summat.

He played THREE games, about the time Reading were going through a massive slump. There's a reason he's not going on trial anywhere higher than Yeovil and us.

 

[brighton_tom]

id happily have harding back as cover and competition for mcnulty.

spiller i know nothing about, but he sounds like a player with something to prove and who needs to get his career back on track, so surely he is worth a trial.

but i have seen ricketts play a number of times in recent years and every time he has been awful, and never seemed to cause our defence any problems when playing against us. so no thanks!!!

I imagine we could get harding and spiller on fairly cheap wages so could be worth a deal, but ricketts would be a waste of money.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

Harding - more than capable at this level. He has developed as a player since he left us and is far less prone to making costly errors now. Has a good football brain and is technically sound. Someone of his ability as cover left-back or indeed cover left-midfield would be excellent.

Spiller - strikes me as being in a similar boat to Crofts, obviously a talented player in him (see West Ham offering a fair amount for him when he was at Gillingham), but has been beleaguered with injuries and poor management. If Slade could get a good League One player out of less-talented lads like Loft and Fraser, then I think there is definitely some hope for Spiller.

Rickets - not quite who I'd like to see upfront for us, but has similar traits to Bas Savage and Owuso. He can be a handful for defences on his day, however, his day is a rare sight. Wouldn't oppose to a years contract (a cheap contract, mind) providing he impresses technically in training/friendlies and demonstrates an attitude that suggests he still has enough hunger in him to succeed as a player.

 

[Turkey]

Harding looked pretty good for Southend against us last season.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Agree on Harding, sign him up. No idea about other bloke. Why all the anti Ricketts rants? He might not be a bad thing. People have short memeotries on this board.. Owusu got loads of unwarranted & ignorant abuse before he'd even kicked a ball for us and look what happened. Ricketts scored one in three for Walsall last season. That's pretty good. He's built in the Owusu mould but is he quick? That's what we really need up front, some pace.

 

[Sargey]

RS knows a player when he sees one and thats all he is doing....having a look!!!

On paper, his signings so far look good and if he signs any of these triallists so be it....They all have a bit of pedigree from the past (though i was always a little doubtful where harding was concerned) and are better stamp of triallists like we normally like doodah doodah from romania and some fella who had 10 mins in spurs last end of season game 8 years ago.....

IN RS I TRUST.....

 

[8ace]

Trio Set to Feature
Posted on: Mon 13 Jul 2009

By Tim Dudding

Russell Slade will take a look at three potential new faces this week as Albion begin their pre-season schedule, including former England hitman Michael Ricketts - who has joined the club on trial.

Ex-Albion full-back Dan Harding and former Millwall and Gillingham midfielder Danny Spiller, who are both training with Albion.

Slade is hoping the trio will turn out in either or both of the two friendlies against Havant & Waterlooville and Worthing this week.

The trio have been joining in the gruelling pre-season regime with the rest of the Albion squad.

Slade explained, "We've taken the opportunity to look at them, and they've taken the opportunity to get some fitness under their belts.

"We've got some games coming up as well, so I will be more than happy to cast my eye over them.

"They maybe involved in both games, because I don't foresee anyone having 90 minutes."

Ricketts was capped for England during his time at Bolton Wanderers, prior to a £3.5million move to Middlesbrough. But after failing to establish himself at the Riverside, a series of loan moves ensued for the 6ft 2in forward, followed by spells at Southend, Preston and Oldham.

The 30-year-old striker then settled at Walsall last summer, scoring 12 times in 29 starts for the Saddlers last season.

Slade said, "He (Ricketts) had a stabilising season at Walsall last year, and he still looks to have that appetite as a footballer.

"Sometimes when you move for big money it can affect your career, and maybe his career didn't go in the direction he would have wanted.

"But he's obviously still in love with the game, and he still feels he has a lot to offer."

Harding was a product of Albion's youth system, and formed part of the side that won promotion at the Millennium Stadium, before leaving the Seagulls to join Leeds United.

He later signed for Ipswich Town, while last season he enjoyed loan spells at Southend United and Reading.

"He's got pedigree," Slade said. "He played the back end of last season at Reading and had a good loan spell at Southend, and the fans know all about him as well, so we know he's capable."

Spiller is an attacking midfielder who began his career at Gillingham, and spent the last two years at Millwall.

Meanwhile, an Albion reserve side will play additional friendlies at Selsey on Saturday 18th July (3pm), Bognor Regis Town on Saturday 1st August (3pm) and Shoreham on Tuesday 4th August (7.45pm).

 

[Giraffe]

I think people have to remember we are a different club now. If we had no money and could only afford one half decent striker then Ricketts would be a poor signing.

But now we can compete then he could turn out to be a good squad player who contributes on and off throughout the season. Where is the harm? Unless of course he is not fit, in which case after this trial we will let him go.

 

[dougdeep]

All worth a try. Good to see the boss keeping his options open.

 

[Foolg]

Would take Harding back as cover, and cant say i know much about Spiller but if he had West Ham interested a few years back must have something to offer, just hopefully the injuries are behind him. As for Ricketts, i think i'd rather we didnt sign him. I think we have 3 decent strikers in Murray, Forster and Davies (next season), so would only really like one more young striker with potential to perhaps start alongside or replace Murray.

 

[sir albion]

Glad its trials as all 3 are a load of shite and i just hope we don't start signing rejects who will take us for a ride.Can't think of many trialists as bad as these.

 

[Basil Fawlty]

After the way Dan Harding left us, then why are we bothering with him? If we're signing Dickinson then why are giving a trial to Michael Ricketts, does that mean Murray is going? and Danny Spiller might be the creative midfielder we desperately need, but time will only tell in Pre-Season Friendlies....

 

[HP Seagull]

Glad its trials as all 3 are a load of shite and i just hope we don't start signing rejects who will take us for a ride.Can't think of many trialists as bad as these.

Couldn't disagree more. These are the three best trialists we have had in many a year. We usually get non-league players.

Rickets has pedigree and contrary to what others have said when I have seen him he has looked a handful. Harding has always impressed me and would be excellent as competition for McNulty, you would not get a better left back pair in this league. I know nothing of Spiller but Slade obviously sees something in him, so we'll see how he does in the friendlies.

 

[Alan Duffys sideburns]

F*ck me we could have the following in a Brighton shirt....

Cox
Dick in son
Dicker
Hard ing
and
Spiller
Is RS having A bobble hat n scarf!

 

[sir albion]

Just need a ball or frank and bean

 

[sten_super]

Glad its trials as all 3 are a load of shite and i just hope we don't start signing rejects who will take us for a ride.Can't think of many trialists as bad as these.

Yes you are right. One player who has played for England, one who finished last season at Reading approximately 35 league positions further up the ladder, and a midfielder with a bad injury record who was once linked with West Ham.

Last seasons was much better (thanks to the search function)... Nicky Nicolau from Barnet, Greg Folks an American that no-one had heard of and Ash Robinson (who, after a lot of excitement turned out not to be the faceberk but another random one).

 

[warsaw]

Harding looked pretty good for Southend against us last season.

Indeed. Not my favourite player but casting prejudice aside he's a good player at this level and if he wants to play for us again and RS thinks he's up to it then why not?

Ricketts won't be first choice but we do have to have more than 11 players in a season

T'other guy from Millwall? I know nothing about him at all.