Brighton - League 1's Dark Horses ?

[billy_bremner]

Orite lads ,

Been speaking to few of my Leeds mates bout this and I was of the opinion you guys are slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with.

When you signed Dickinson , albeit a flop at Leeds , I was really impressed. Liam was never interested when he signed for us as he knew Beckford was the better player anyday while Bechio was the lynchpin of our attack. He didn't graft enough in training because of this situation. But in his previous clubs where he was treated as the star man , he shined. IMO he is a good player who should be played in the right system ( preferably 4 5 1 with quick players around him as he likes to be involved in the attack and does some fancy stuff for a big man ! Whenever we played to his strengths , he looked up for it . When we played to the game's requirement , he would fade away ! ) . I'm confident that he will be a handful for you guys , 15-20 goals easily if he starts every game , Good deal

As for the other signings you guys have made , Harding would be good at this level , we know all too well about him. I ve been generally impressed with Slade's targets so far. He is following a similar style to that of Clark. Finding young player with the hunger to play and the potential to improve. Is Joel Lynch back in your plans now ? If so , thats another plus IMO ..

Few more signings and I can see you challenging for the playoffs spot. Good luck with it.

 

[Woodingdean Gull]

Thanks for the kind words BB. I'm sure you'll be towards the top end as well.

 

[Billy the Fish]

As for the other signings you guys have made , Harding would be good at this level , we know all too well about him. I ve been generally impressed with Slade's targets so far. He is following a similar style to that of Clark. Finding young player with the hunger to play and the potential to improve..

I think we've all been impressed with his signings. They are all young and have something to prove. Contrast that with Adams signing a load of old journeymen, I know who I'd rather have.

Could be a strange league next year, the three that came down are skint and aren't as strong as people think. Charlton are losing their best players Zheng Zhi and Andy Grey and haven't really signed anyone, Norwich have lost alot of players who they had on loan and as long as Southampton don't get any money before the transfer deadline they will still be shit.

Your lot will be weaker if you lose Beckford, Hudds, Swindon and us have all spent money, should be very interesting.

 

[Icy Gull]

There's a Huddersfield fan on 606 who seems to fancy our chances as well ( maybe it's DTG? )

More confident than me anyway

BBC - 606 - - A54404219 - Which Teams Will Do Well In League One

 

[billy_bremner]

I still remember some Orient fan's detailed League 1 analysis done at the start of last season and he had Leeds in the 1st spot and Brighton 2nd ! I think there was a thread done in this board about that , Remember ?

It will be hard for us to replace Beckford because we are basically a one man team as we don't have players who play to the strengths of our midfield better than Beckford. His pace and goal scoring instinct is a cut above anyone in this league.

I have full confidence in Promotion this year if Grayson is backed like how a quality manager should be. But I despise Ken Bates so much like 99% of the Leeds fans , I'm feeling a bit gloomy therefore. Bates is a disease for any club . Be glad that you guys are in the hands of someone ambitious and who has the club in his heart.

 

[Giraffe]

I think for the first time in ages Leeds appear to be sensibly taking stock and not actually making silly "name" signings just for the sake of it.

They had a good squad and a good manager last season. Can only need a few tweaks to make them title favourites.

What's the latest on Delph? If he is sold, will that money be used for players or Bates?

 

[Danny-Boy]

Can anyone tell me if Dougie Freeedman is still in the Southend squad? He seemed to be out through injury for most of last season, and I would guess that he won't be their first choice in this one, assuming he is still fit to play.

I gues a load of you Albion fans will be glad to see the back of him on the pitch...

 

[El Presidente]

I still remember some Orient fan's detailed League 1 analysis done at the start of last season and he had Leeds in the 1st spot and Brighton 2nd ! I think there was a thread done in this board about that , Remember ?

It will be hard for us to replace Beckford because we are basically a one man team as we don't have players who play to the strengths of our midfield better than Beckford. His pace and goal scoring instinct is a cut above anyone in this league.

I have full confidence in Promotion this year if Grayson is backed like how a quality manager should be. But I despise Ken Bates so much like 99% of the Leeds fans , I'm feeling a bit gloomy therefore. Bates is a disease for any club . Be glad that you guys are in the hands of someone ambitious and who has the club in his heart.

Is it true that Bates is using club money to pay his libel legal costs of about £1.5million whilst claiming he is too skint to find the cash himself? I wouldn't wish that vermin on anyone, he is a cancer for the whole of football. Chelsea were 48 hours from going bust when Abramovic arrived, Bates also f***ed about with Wembley when the new stadium was being built, and relies on bullying others into submission to get his way.

 

[Scoffers]

Difficult one to pick this season, lots of clubs with potential to do well. We have a fair number of new players that could take a while to gel, by which time a potential promotion spot might be unrealistic. At least I am hopeful that we won't be in a relegation dogfight!

 

[looney]

Charlton and Brighton to go up, leeds to lose play off final to huddersfield and Southampton to go down.

Now thats settled would someone post some porn pleeez.................

 

[billy_bremner]

I think for the first time in ages Leeds appear to be sensibly taking stock and not actually making silly "name" signings just for the sake of it.

They had a good squad and a good manager last season. Can only need a few tweaks to make them title favourites.

What's the latest on Delph? If he is sold, will that money be used for players or Bates?

You maybe true there mate. Jason Crowe has been quality in the 2 pre season games so far. A proper attacking full back. Shane Higgs is another interesting and sensible signing. I have complete faith in Grayson , it's just Bates who pisses me off. We need a really pacey striker and winger and a Sodje like CB. Thats it.

The latest on Delph is that we are asking for an 8 M price plus add ones ( which is fair enough IMO as I personally don't want to sell him at all. His value is bound to increase every season because he is a proper top 4 Premier League Talent. Moreover , he has good advisors around him , I'd like him to stay here , take us up and then take over the captaincy to lead us to the Premiership hopefully ! Long dreams I know but this kid is the real deal )

I'm sure Bates being the evil guy that he is , will take the majority of the money from the Delph sale while giving about 1M to Grayson, which should be enough hopefully. A part of the money will go to the buying back of Thorp Arch and Elland Road.

As for Bates and his libel charges, he released an official statement through the club once the verdict was out. He said that he won't use a penny from the club's war chest. Only a fool would trust that though.

 

[philgull25]

isnt this what claridge said about us last year?...look what happened then

 

[Aspinal's Body Double]

Kind of you to say, but personally I don't think we're a real threat yet.

Signings are sound, but not earth shattering. Looking at Leeds, Charlton, Huddersfield, Southampton, Norwich I'd say we're maybe top half but not real promotion contenders at this stage.

 

[Nicky-Number-Nine]

The squad is easily capable to compete. It is much stronger than the squad we had two years ago. We have cleared nearly all the deadwood out.

My prediction is 4th

 

[Brovion]

isnt this what claridge said about us last year?...look what happened then

Indeed. I think most of us are quietly confident that we'll do better than we did last season (i.e. needing a win on the last day to be 100% certain of staying up), but I think calling us 'dark horses' is building us up a bit too much.

On the subject of Leeds I agree with Giraffe. I think Leeds have gone through all the stages they say you go through (denial, anger, bargaining, etc) and have now accepted that they're in the third division because they are currently a third-rate club. Stripped of all their delusions of superiority and the belief that they're better than anyone else should do well.

 

[Spacegull]

Looks like the bookies are starting to fancy us as well....
As of today, Ladbrokes are quoting Leeds 3/1, Norwich 6/1, MK Dons & Charlton 8/1 and Albion at 9/1.... shop around and you can still get us at 14/1 (e.g. at Coral). It might be worth moving quickly - these odds are sure to fall if we keep signing quality players.

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-one/coca-cola-league-1/win-market

 

[Rookie]

Not really dark horses, the bookies have fancied a high finish from us since Bloom took over. Spent some money and I'm sure will more players will arrive before September. Personally anything less than the play-offs will be very dissapointing but then again I said that last season!

 

[brighton_tom]

if we can keep hold of murray and lynch, and spend some decent money on a quality attacking midfielder then promotion is not beyond us...

 

[Lewes' best seagull]

we said this last year tho

 

[Don Quixote]

Yeah f*** off back to WACCOE you ****!