Wilkins admits Albion are not strong enough

[pornomagboy]

Wilkins admits Albion are not strong enough
By Andy Naylor
Dean Wilkins admitted today his Albion squad still needs improving.

Proven Championship performers Nicky Forster and Andrew Whing have been added so far ahead of tomorrow's League One opener at Crewe.

Wilkins has acknowledged more new faces are needed as the hunt for goalkeeping competition for Michel Kuipers and more creativity continues.

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The Albion chief, who went on another scouting mission this week, said: "We are definitely still light.

"We are still working extremely hard as a club to try to improve and strengthen in many areas.

"We have to keep looking. I said at the end of last season we have to be more pro-active than we have ever been. Even if we were to bring another couple in we would continue looking."

Wilkins is happy with the support he is receiving from chairman Dick Knight but, like many clubs up and down the country, Albion are finding it tough to clinch deals for transfer targets.

Last month's green light for Falmer has created a feelgood factor but the new stadium is too far off at the moment to have an impact.

Wilkins said: "It's hard. The closer the stadium gets to being built I am sure the easier it will become.

"If you are talking to a player in the summer and showing him the new stadium I am sure that is going to be a lot easier than the situation we are still in now but we just have to do the best we can.

"Nicky Forster and Andrew Whing have already added quality to the squad and are the ultimate type of professionals. They are the kind of characters we are going to continually try to bring in."

Albion will have Premiership preparation for the trip to Crewe. They are using Birmingham's training facilties again today, thanks to assistant manager Dean White's long-time friendship with former Gillingham colleague Steve Bruce.

Wilkins said: "Steve has been really good to us. It's a great location. The only problem we have is parking the coach between the Ferraris, Range Rovers and Porsches!

"We have done a lot of work over the last week on the shape of the side we are going to send out.

"Hopefully we will be very well organised and difficult to beat and also attractive to watch when we have the ball as well."

Gary Hart has joined Jake Robinson, Adam Hinshelwood and Doug Loft on the injured list. The long-serving utility player is facing hernia surgery.

11:09pm Thursday 9th August 2007

 

[pornomagboy]

and whos falt is that Mr wilkins

 

[Barrel of Fun]

and whos falt is that Mr wilkins

Finances?! Unless we are happy to spend well over our budget. I am not too keen on this administration malarkey.

I assume you are pinning it on Wilkins from that statement. How exactly is it his fault?

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Hart having surgery on a hernia...

What is the POINT of Gary Hart anymore?

Perhaps Wilkins could pick up a few loans from Brum if he is mates with Bruce. Must have a few decent players knocking about in the reserves.

 

[jonny.rainbow]

and whos falt is that Mr wilkins

Finances, Withdean, referees

 

[Trigger]

I think that's something ANYBODY could have told him.

 

[pornomagboy]

Finances?! Unless we are happy to spend well over our budget. I am not too keen on this administration malarkey.

I assume you are pinning it on Wilkins from that statement. How exactly is it his fault?

we could have got rid of some players that are dead wood, freed up some wage bill and then brought in some new faces...

 

[Barrel of Fun]

we could have got rid of some players that are dead wood, freed up some wage bill and then brought in some new faces...

Partly true, but I can only think of two, being Hart and Mayo. Mayo can do a job this season and I would hope that he plays a dual role with Rents. I would hope that Rents starts the season as first choice and I think we will see them share the role. I agree with Richie, I don't think Hart offers anything anymore and we should really have said thanks last season and assisted him in finding another club.

I was pleasantly surprised that we got Whing and Forster, so Deano and the board are obviously doing something right. I don't think we can expect too much considering our precarious position.

 

[Caveman]

I think that's something ANYBODY could have told him.

Yeah and to be fair Wilkins didn't plead with the Argus to write that.
The Argus are scratching around to fill the back pages and this is
all they can come up with.

 

[pornomagboy]

Partly true, but I can only think of two, being Hart and Mayo. Mayo can do a job this season and I would hope that he plays a dual role with Rents. I would hope that Rents starts the season as first choice and I think we will see them share the role. I agree with Richie, I don't think Hart offers anything anymore and we should really have said thanks last season and assisted him in finding another club.

I was pleasantly surprised that we got Whing and Forster, so Deano and the board are obviously doing something right. I don't think we can expect too much considering our precarious position.

i know it was not poor charlies fault but y did we offer him a new contract..
i personaly would have got rid of loft and gatting now that we have forster gatting will be further down the line for a starting place.... as for loft he has only done 1 good thing for the albion and that is score that good goal against stoke a couple of years back when we got beat 5-1

 

[pornomagboy]

Yeah and to be fair Wilkins didn't plead with the Argus to write that.
The Argus are scratching around to fill the back pages and this is
all they can come up with.

true.. the team are getting ready for the first game of the season and they pick up the argus and ready that there own manager has no faith in them... wot is that going to do to there converdance....

 

[Barrel of Fun]

i know it was not poor charlies fault but y did we offer him a new contract..
i personaly would have got rid of loft and gatting now that we have forster gatting will be further down the line for a starting place.... as for loft he has only done 1 good thing for the albion and that is score that good goal against stoke a couple of years back when we got beat 5-1

We only offered Oatway a 3 month contract to prove his fitness and I think it was worth the gamble. He is certainly an important figurehead and natural leader.

Gatting has only had one full season and it would be extremely churlish to get rid of him now. I think a loan spell would do him the world of good. I personally think he can become a decent player for us. He scored some goals, can read the game well and has the makings of a decent goal poacher. He is only 19/20 so time is definitely on his side.

I would almost certainly agree about Loft, although I do hope he can make a mark this season. He certainly has the skills there, but whether he has the makings of a footballer is another kettle of fish. It must be a bit of a let down scoring your first professional goal in a 5-1 drubbing!

 

[jonny.rainbow]

Maybe he's struggled to bring in players because of his poor man management skills?

 

[Caveman]

i know it was not poor charlies fault but y did we offer him a new contract..
i personaly would have got rid of loft and gatting now that we have forster gatting will be further down the line for a starting place.... as for loft he has only done 1 good thing for the albion and that is score that good goal against stoke a couple of years back when we got beat 5-1

Tut tut, come on. "why" not "y" and "one" not "1".

 

[The Auditor]

Perhaps Wilkins could pick up a few loans from Brum if he is mates with Bruce. Must have a few decent players knocking about in the reserves.

Its Dean White who is mates with Bruce ..from the Gillinghams days ..and we are looking...

 

[severnside gull]

Maybe he's struggled to bring in players because of his poor man management skills?

I think ?






Gatting has every chance of making it over the next couple of years and we might regret it if we got rid now. For Loft it is make or break (looks like everyone's money is on the latter).

Hart's contract arrangements were not down to Wilkins and he has made it pretty clear that he rates him at best as a utility player to back up in a number of positions in an emergency - he can do that competently and maybe save us some grief in the future.

The same could be said of Mayo - Rents looks good enough but will struggle to play a full season and Mayo can also plug a gap inside in an emergency.

By saying he is still looking for added creativity I don't think Wilkins is surprising anyone either in the squad or supporters. Indeed it may be a spur to Cox to provide the goods more consistently - he certainly needs to if he is going to make it as a pro anywhere higher than League 1.

I pulled in to Wast Hills training ground yesterday just as the team coach drove off (there is a golf driving range next door). I didn't know they were there but I spoke to some of the Birmingham crowd who seemed quite impressed with Wilkins' & White's approach. Don't know about loan signings from Blues though - their squad is a bit on the skinny side for a new Premiership season - they will need their seasoned pro's and beyond that they are all pretty young.

 

[Basil Fawlty]

At last he has admitted it, we're extremely weak in centre midfield. Because we don't have an creative midfielder, hopefully we're looking at this position because we'll struggle if we don't find one.

 

[Peteinblack]

Wow, what next? 'Exclusive - Dracula admits I like blood !'

So, our next contestant please.

And your name is: Dean Wilkins

Your occupation: Football club manager.

And your specialist subject: Stating the bleedin' obvious.

:thud::thud::thud::thud::thud::thud:

 

[portslade seagull]

He will still be stating it in 3-months time...

 

[Ernest]

He will still be stating it in 3-months time...

In 3 months time Wilkins will be clocking on down the job centre