Thomas Kuszczak in the DM today

[Goldstone1976]

That to me is a supporters view.

A players view I suspect is the following -

- Increased wages
- Increased profile
- If impress will stay in prem somewhere
- Worst case is be back to position they are in now but with more cash and profile

Can you tell that I've never been a pro player?! Yep, all very sensible....

 

[Mellotron]

I don't doubt that he would go, but would Sunderland actually want him? Is he good enough to be their number one?

At the moment they are having to play Mannone because Westwood is injured, but surely if Sunderland have any ambitions to move up the table (presuming they stay up this year) would they not look for a first-choice 'keeper with more to offer than Kuszczak? They had Mignolet last year, it would be one hell of a step down to then have Kuszczak as the next permanent number one.

I would argue (through Albion-tinted glasses) that Kusz is comfortably better than Westwood from what I've seen.

It's about managers wanting players they know and can get the best from as well, see: Hodgson taking KONCHESKY to Liverpool, Moyes taking Fellaini etc. I'm not saying it always works out, but it's definitely something managers do a lot.

 

[Mellotron]

Maybe, I don't really know enough about Westwood to judge it. Anyway, whether he's better than Westwood or not isn't necessarily the main point. I imagine Sunderland do want a new long-term goalkeeper, but shouldn't they be showing more ambition than someone who has been forced to drop in the Championship for the last two years of his career? As I said, they had Mignolet last season, so their ambition must be to get someone as good as that again, and that person is definitely not either of the mediocre options at their disposal at the moment and arguably not a 32-year-old from a lower division.

I totally agree that managers like having players they know. However, I also think it would be a dangerous game for Gus to pack his Sunderland side with several of our players. Imagine if the boot was on the other foot and we'd taken a manager from a club that finished fourth in the division below us last season (that was YEOVIL, for the purpose of comparison). Would we, as BHAFC fans, be impressed if our new manager's first plan was simply to sign a bunch of Yeovil players? I know I wouldn't be. As much as we think highly of Kuszczak, Bridcutt, Ulloa etc, the Sunderland fans will be right on Gus' back if he signs Championship players and they continue to struggle. I just reckon Gus needs proven EPL quality in his situation, not Championship gambles and the threat of being accused of lacking ideas by going back for all his old Brighton mates.

Can't argue with any of that - I think you're right.

 

[byf1]

Thomas Kuszczak is not good enough for the Premiership, full stop! He's a very good keeper and proberly the best I've ever seen in an Albion top but I'm not sure what planet some of you live on, I think some of you think that every good player for us should be playing Prem football.

He has flaws in his game which in the premiership would get punished more often. His kicking and general distribution has appeared to be worse than last season and for me he still doesn't command his area well enough hence why there appears to be a shouting match nearly every game between Greer/Kusz which even involves Jones.

A very good keeper but premiership, not anymore.

 

[Black Rod]

Thomas Kuszczak is not good enough for the Premiership, full stop! He's a very good keeper and proberly the best I've ever seen in an Albion top but I'm not sure what planet some of you live on, I think some of you think that every good player for us should be playing Prem football.

It's the playing for Brighton effect - every good player we have instantly becomes better than he actually is in the eyes of our fans simply because he pulls on the stripes. See Buckley being better than Zaha last season

 

[Return of the Rev]

I'm sure if poyet can link himself to any albion player and cause a bit of anxiety in our camp he will,once a snake always a snake

 

[Mellotron]

I think looking at some of the lower down Prem keepers, Kusz could easily do a job. He's comfortably one of the best (if not the best) keeper in the Champ, so logic dictates he'd probably be good enough for a lower end Prem team, no.

As for Buckley/Zaha, Buckley stats were consistently better than Zaha's for the past 2 seasons. He actually DID a lot more with the ball than Zaha. But he doesn't do stepovers.

 

[symyjym]

I'm sure if poyet can link himself to any albion player and cause a bit of anxiety in our camp he will,once a snake always a snake

He said a few weeks ago he was after another goalkeeper and was looking to try to get QPR keeper Cesar in on loan.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...nderland-want-sign-QPRs-Julio-Cesar-loan.html

 

[brightonrock]

Reading Gus' comments in one of the red tops yesterday about how he expects to have players in sooner rather than later, he seemed to imply he was going shopping abroad. I'm less worried now than I was a fortnight ago - Kuszczak isn't a long term solution for Sunderland, Bridcutt isn't as good as Ki (who I think Gus will try to make permanent), Ulloa would require silly money and no guarantee he'd be successful in the PL and Buckley is too injury prone and his delivery not a patch on Johnson/Larsson.

If anyone does leave I imagine it will be Bridcutt or Barnes - but not to Sunderland (*grasping at straws*)

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

I'm sure if poyet can link himself to any albion player and cause a bit of anxiety in our camp he will,once a snake always a snake

I disagree with your assessment of the situation.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

He said he want's to play infront of 'good crowds' again........ errrrrrrrrr

But yes he's not good enough for the Prem but would be England's number 2 I expect. Behind Hart it's Ruddy who'll get there and is similar standard to Koosh but younger and established at his club but not much else I can think of English wise? (Edit - lad at Celtic). Butland eventually.

We're the perfect club for him. He's 24th or so best starting 'keeper in the British leagues and only chance of playing in Prem is to get there as an established and settled 'keeper who the team would only replace with a big upgrade not with a similar/slight upgrade for risk of failure.

 

[fosters headband]

Maybe, I don't really know enough about Westwood to judge it. Anyway, whether he's better than Westwood or not isn't necessarily the main point. I imagine Sunderland do want a new long-term goalkeeper, but shouldn't they be showing more ambition than someone who has been forced to drop in the Championship for the last two years of his career? As I said, they had Mignolet last season, so their ambition must be to get someone as good as that again, and that person is definitely not either of the mediocre options at their disposal at the moment and arguably not a 32-year-old from a lower division.

I totally agree that managers like having players they know. However, I also think it would be a dangerous game for Gus to pack his Sunderland side with several of our players. Imagine if the boot was on the other foot and we'd taken a manager from a club that finished fourth in the division below us last season (that was YEOVIL, for the purpose of comparison). Would we, as BHAFC fans, be impressed if our new manager's first plan was simply to sign a bunch of Yeovil players? I know I wouldn't be. As much as we think highly of Kuszczak, Bridcutt, Ulloa etc, the Sunderland fans will be right on Gus' back if he signs Championship players and they continue to struggle. I just reckon Gus needs proven EPL quality in his situation, not Championship gambles and the threat of being accused of lacking ideas by going back for all his old Brighton mates.

Agree with this and I do wonder when will Oscar be allowed to do this and not be forced into having what Burke and now it appears Jones select for Oscar to choose from.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Can't tell whether he's after a move, or an improved contract to stay with us. If no-one from the Premier League came in for him before we did, why would they now – two years later?

Don't get me wrong, he is a great keeper, and he *might* end up playing in the PL with the Albion next season, but if he's after a number 1 spot at an established club, I think he's being a bit unrealistic.

As an aside, the stuff in that article about MUFC, and Gus, but not Oscar, doesn't surprise me. The DM won't really want to dwell on the Championship - the main emphasis throughout was Premier League, including all the stuff about Joe Hart. Bit-part mention of how we are faring in our post-Gus existence, since he moved to, oh yeah, the Premier League...

 

[Return of the Rev]

I disagree with your assessment of the situation.

I HAVE ASSESSED YOUR DISAGREEMENT OF MY ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION AND AGREE WITH YOUR RIGHT TO ASSESS THE SITUATION EVEN IF IT DISAGREES WITH MY ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION

 

[Mackenzie]

What's all this flimflam about shop windows and great crowds. Jeez Kush don't you know when you're on to a good thing?

Unpleasant reading for this Brighton fan.

 

[brakespear]

Shop window right there

Absolutely.

edit: having read the rest of the thread I agree with those saying that if he goes Butland would be an ideal replacement.

 

[symyjym]

I would find it strange if any player didn't say they wanted to play in the Prem.