Upson

[scousefan]

Reported on twitter that he's going to sign for Brighton

@UK_Transfer: Matt Upson will join Brighton and Hove Albion from Stoke City on a permanent deal this summer. #bhafc #scfc

 

[albion534]

Quality if true, honestly believe if we can settle the ship, few solid signings, we will get promoted....

 

[Bra]

What is their record on rumours like. Not heard of them but would be happy if right

 

[Seagull Steve]

I hope that's true. Need Bridge to sign now.

 

[OSRGull]

Hardly a reliable account, put 2 and 2 together because he's out of contract and a former loaned.

 

[Poyetry In Motion]

This would be a huge chink of light in a very dark tunnel right now

 

[Pavilionaire]

I would like this to be true. Regardless of who the next manager is anyone would love to have him in their squad.

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

It will be the first positive bit of news in a week if true

 

[Soulman]

Yes please.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Just seen walk down North Street in his training clobber. Should have asked him!

 

[kevtherev]

Upson is much more likely to stay than Bridge, I would have thought but who knows....I got a feeling that no one is going to be put off by the new man, whoever he is i'm very confident it will be a man with enough clout in the game to attract the players we need.

 

[Lower West Stander]

Who's decided that?

We haven't got a manager.........

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Would be a good signing IMO.

 

[Icy Gull]

Who's decided that?

We haven't got a manager.........

My first thought too, not that I'm not pleased with the possibility of Upson signing. Signing players when a new manager may have other preferences and contacts does seem strange. Maybe Gus is staying?

 

[blue2]

Very happy if true with or with out Gus any manager would be happy to have a player like Upson in the squad

 

[joeinbrighton]

Barber used to be at Spurs and over the last 15 years or so, other than when Harry Redknapp managed them, they had a Director of Football/Sporting Director and Head Coach structure.

What you might be seeing as a result of Poyet moving on is that a similar structure is adopted by Brighton whereby transfer targets are decided by committee and headed up by a Director of Football (possibly Barber in the interim) with the manager left to focus more on just managing the team, thereby meaning the manager is seen as more accountable and less autocratic, which appears to have been Poyet's downfall.

 

[Diego Napier]

Who's decided that?

We haven't got a manager.........

No but we do have a Head of Football Operations, a Chairman and a Chief Executive. Between them they are more than capable of making a decision on Upson.

 

[Poyetry In Motion]

There's nothing on the Stoke Oatcake forum so far to help substantiate this. it'd be great if true.
As a side note, according to the Stoke forum it's all going tits up at Port Vale and Mickey Adams might be leaving.....MA part 3 anyone? <snigger>

 

[Rookie]

Barber used to be at Spurs and over the last 15 years or so, other than when Harry Redknapp managed them, they had a Director of Football/Sporting Director and Head Coach structure.

What you might be seeing as a result of Poyet moving on is that a similar structure is adopted by Brighton whereby transfer targets are decided by committee and headed up by a Director of Football (possibly Barber in the interim) with the manager left to focus more on just managing the team, thereby meaning the manager is seen as more accountable and less autocratic, which appears to have been Poyet's downfall.

i

Imagine David Burke would be pissed if Barber was making footballing decisions that are well above his remit.

 

[Lower West Stander]

No but we do have a Head of Football Operations, a Chairman and a Chief Executive. Between them they are more than capable of making a decision on Upson.

Maybe. But I kind of assume that the manager would be the main decision maker.

And why commit to signing a player before a manager? I really rate Upson but all seems a bit arse about face to me.