[h=3]Albion places up for grabs[/h] 9:00am Wednesday 24th July 2013 in Albion By Howard Griggs
Jake Forster-Caskey trained yesterday and could be involved tonight
Nathan Jones*has told Albion’s players they are playing for places.
The Seagulls continue their build-up to the Championship opener at Leeds United on August 3 with a trip to Crawley Town tonight.
After facing their League One neighbours there will only be two more games in pre-season, both at The Amex against Villarreal on Saturday and Norwich next Tuesday.
Jones, the new assistant head coach to Oscar Garcia, insists there is no pre-conceived idea about the team for the Leeds game which means players should grab their chance to shine in the remaining friendlies.
The popular Welshman said: “It is a competitive time at the minute where everyone is competing and training hard.
“There is no set team that is going to start. Everyone is playing for their places.
“That is the thing about pre-season. We want to see people come back with real hunger, with desire, good workrate, they understand what they have to do and show it in games. Then the manager will sit down and pick the side he thinks can get a result in the games coming up.”
Right-back Bruno, who is recovering from a minor knock picked up while in Spain last week, is unlikely to be risked tonight but Jake Forster-Caskey, who missed the 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon could feature in what Jones expects to be a tough test against Crawley.
He said: “It is a testament to Crawley that four or five years ago we were playing them as a non-league team, now they have come up through the leagues and they had a really good season last year in terms of where they finished.
“They have a good infrastructure there in terms of Steve Coppell and I know Richie Barker really well. They have some good people, some decent players and it will be a stern test for us.
“We are preparing for Leeds and for the season ahead so every friendly is a little bit more of a progression.”
Both Bruno and Forster-Caskey trained yesterday but the former is not quite ready for action.
Oscar, meanwhile, is making progress in his attempts to further strengthen the squad ahead of the new season.
The only arrivals so far are Matthew Upson on a permanent deal from Stoke, after a successful loan last season, and MK Dons left-back Adam Chicksen.
Jones said: “We are looking to strengthen the squad. The thing is it is a good squad and any additions have to be good because we don’t just add bodies, we add people that actually improve the squad.
“There is definitely progress. The manager has identified ones he wants and it is about trying to get those.”
Original article
Nathan Jones*has told Albion’s players they are playing for places.
The Seagulls continue their build-up to the Championship opener at Leeds United on August 3 with a trip to Crawley Town tonight.
After facing their League One neighbours there will only be two more games in pre-season, both at The Amex against Villarreal on Saturday and Norwich next Tuesday.
Jones, the new assistant head coach to Oscar Garcia, insists there is no pre-conceived idea about the team for the Leeds game which means players should grab their chance to shine in the remaining friendlies.
The popular Welshman said: “It is a competitive time at the minute where everyone is competing and training hard.
“There is no set team that is going to start. Everyone is playing for their places.
“That is the thing about pre-season. We want to see people come back with real hunger, with desire, good workrate, they understand what they have to do and show it in games. Then the manager will sit down and pick the side he thinks can get a result in the games coming up.”
Right-back Bruno, who is recovering from a minor knock picked up while in Spain last week, is unlikely to be risked tonight but Jake Forster-Caskey, who missed the 2-1 win over Sporting Gijon could feature in what Jones expects to be a tough test against Crawley.
He said: “It is a testament to Crawley that four or five years ago we were playing them as a non-league team, now they have come up through the leagues and they had a really good season last year in terms of where they finished.
“They have a good infrastructure there in terms of Steve Coppell and I know Richie Barker really well. They have some good people, some decent players and it will be a stern test for us.
“We are preparing for Leeds and for the season ahead so every friendly is a little bit more of a progression.”
Both Bruno and Forster-Caskey trained yesterday but the former is not quite ready for action.
Oscar, meanwhile, is making progress in his attempts to further strengthen the squad ahead of the new season.
The only arrivals so far are Matthew Upson on a permanent deal from Stoke, after a successful loan last season, and MK Dons left-back Adam Chicksen.
Jones said: “We are looking to strengthen the squad. The thing is it is a good squad and any additions have to be good because we don’t just add bodies, we add people that actually improve the squad.
“There is definitely progress. The manager has identified ones he wants and it is about trying to get those.”
Original article