We're Now a Proper Championship Club - Notes for Brighton Friday, 27th Sep 2013 12:00 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday's game by delving into their forums. "This season, I have felt we are a proper Championship club. Over the past couple of seasons I have felt we were punching above our weight quite a bit of the time. Now I expect us to beat teams or be able to contain them." "It was obvious we would get off to a slow start, and it was clear that we wouldn't know our true potential until at least October when injuries to key players cleared up." Seagulls are thrilled with their current six-game unbeaten run, which has been achieved while carrying injuries and bedding in a new manager. "I do think that this is the best squad we've had for many a year", "It has been a sound start and we've tightened up the defence in the last few weeks. Now let's see this attack, attack, attack philosophy from Oscar come into play". Oscar Garcia"Oscar is like a Poyet version 2.0. He has the tactical knowledge and ability to get us playing decent attacking and possession football. His substitutions change games, and every week in training is going to be a step forward with players at the moment." "Poyet worked miracles at this club, and has got us into the fantastic position we are in now", "Hopefully Garcia can build on the foundations laid by Gus". Many Gulls see the appointment of the former Barcelona youth and Maccabi Tel-Aviv coach as a next evolutionary step. "We seem to be far less predictable under him than Poyet. I love the faster breaks and the way the team are closing down the opposition, rather than it being the other way around", "We have gear changes and a Plan B. We are playing at a faster pace and much more self-belief". Some fans are more enthusiastic than others: "His humility, respect and calm demeanour make me shake my head in disbelief, because I see him as some Taoist Master. I may soon think he was born to lead Albion into Europe." The Spanish Way of Playing"We seem to have adopted the Spanish way of playing, in that nobody has a set position other than the keeper and the back four. Everyone else is free to interchange." Brighton play 4-3-3 in possession and 4-5-1 out of possession with great fluidity in midfield: "It must be a nightmare for opposing managers picking a team to play against us. In our last two away games (goalless draws at Reading and QPR), we didn't play two out and out wingers, but packed the midfield. Today (a 3-1 win at home to Bolton) we play two wingers but with no big man up front." "The formation depends on the strength and quality of the opposition. Garcia chose two wingers when he thought we wouldn't be over-run in midfield", "Gus wanted a big pitch and wingers getting chalk on their boots. Garcia's formation is a little narrower". Injuries"We haven't played anything near our best, but it is clear that we are steadily improving under Oscar despite a lengthy injury list." "Once everyone is back, this could really be a great season for us." Defence"I wouldn't be surprised if we are the only team to leave Loftus Road and the Madejski Stadium this season having not conceded a goal." "Two points — and no goals conceded — from two of the hardest away games we'll face this season is excellent going." "We look solid. We're not leaking goals."
Former Manchester United and Polish international keeper Tomasz Kuszczak "consistently makes top class saves", "His distribution can be wayward" and he "punches needlessly". The 31-year-old was also criticised for his indecision with Bolton's goal last weekend. "The most improved player under Garcia has been Calderon, who has been a revelation recently". Right-back Inigo Calderon "always seems to be involved in attacks", "He has a knack of getting a killer goal when it's most needed", "Defensively he can be caught napping." The 31-year old Spaniard "is a bit kamikaze, but he gives 100% and is a real talisman". "The former Alaves player "charges around like a musketeer", "I bloody well love the guy", "He's one of the nicest footballers I have ever met." "It's no coincidence that we have not lost a game since Ward took up the left-back spot", "Since Ward turned up, everyone seems to know what they are doing", "Ward is a good defender, but he has no idea how to attack." Republic of Ireland International "Stephen Ward isn't the best dribbler, but he plays at left-back with distinction." He joined the Gulls on loan from Wolves for the season: "I am thankful that the club has found a good replacement for Wayne Bridge." "Ward works better with LuaLua than Bridge did. Bridge bombing forward and overlapping meant that Kaz didn't always know what to do", "If Ipswich didn't have Cresswell, McCarthy would have snapped Ward up."
"Keeping Matthew Upson was one of the most important things we did this summer." The Suffolk-born former Ipswich youth player and England international is "positionally superb. I feel less concerned when we are under pressure as I just know Upson will tidy up". "He is a class act", "Upson and Germaine (Greer) have been very solid in recent away games in the middle of the back four. Long may it continue." The 34-year-old former Stoke player "brings out the best in Greer and they are making a good centre-back partnership." "Gordon Greer was calmness personified." The team captain and former Swindon centre-back "is in a rich vein of form at the moment", "Why people criticise his passing is beyond me." The former Swindon man "has been sensational this season. He has been a rock". Central Midfield"Our midfield is ridiculously good now. Most of my life has seen the Albion mostly have powder-puff midfielders." "Our passing against QPR was as slick as ever especially in our own half under pretty intense pressure." Andrew Crofts had a "typical robust all action display, getting involved a lot" against Bolton, "Crofts' steel has made a real difference this season. He does a lot of the ugly stuff without getting the praise he deserves". The former Budgie and Wales international is "Mr Consistent".
Former Swansea player Kemy Agustien "seems slow and lacks mobility", "Fitness and confidence are massively important, and clearly big Kemy is struggling for both". "He has taken up some excellent positions, but has not been found quickly enough in the games I have seen." "The chap next to me referred to him as ‘Kenny Langoustine'. He will be known as this to me for ever more." The 20-year-old Dutch player is not quite a household name yet. "This will be a pivotal season for (19-year-old youth product and stepson of former Blue Nicky Forster) Jake Forster-Caskey as to whether or not he'll make the grade with us." "He's a busy player and is very good at retaining possession", "He drifted in and out of the game (against QPR)." "Liam Bridcutt brings toughness, sheer presence and unstoppable tackles to midfield." The 24-year-old Scotland international is the fulcrum of the Gulls midfield. He may well feature for the first time on Saturday since early August, having been out with a groin injury. "I'm wondering how we can fit Bridcutt, Ince and Andrews into the same team. It's a great problem to have." Ince and Andrews are really making their mark on the Seagulls' season. Most supporters think that these three will propel the team up the table, with Andrews in a more advanced role. Rohan InceRohan Ince was many Gulls' man of the match last weekend against Bolton. The former Chelsea youth player "barely put a foot wrong and won almost every header. He shows real maturity beyond his years", "He's strong, composed and quick", "The kid can play."
"I cannot remember seeing a more promising young player coming through in all of my 35-plus years of watching the Albion", "I cannot recall a youngster making such an impact for us so soon in his career, so forgive me if I am excited about what the future might hold." "Ince has a foot like a sledgehammer", "At the age of 20, the guy is absolute quality", "He adds a physical element to our side that I haven't seen for a while. He will be our Yaya Toure", "I like the cut of his mustard", "The new Patrick Vieira keeps getting better and better." "I don't think Oscar Garcia has been given enough credit for converting Ince into a midfielder when he was originally signed as a young centre-back. This is a great example of his experience working with young players (at Barcelona)." "His positioning is first class most of the time", "Ince looks much more of a box to box midfielder compared to Bridcutt's holding role. His first instinct is to drive into space with the ball." "It seems pointless Chelsea having a youth team is they let the likes of Ince and Bridcutt slip through the net, but their loss is our gain." Keith Andrews"Andrews played brilliantly (against QPR)", He's really mobile, always wants the ball, always has a picture of the game and never gives the ball away". The Republic of Ireland international "was our midfield general today".
The former Ipswich loan signing has been allowed to go out on loan for the season by Bolton after Jay Spearing arrived at the Reebok Stadium. Most Seagulls believe that the Bolton (and former Palace) manager Dougie Freedman has really blundered. "I can't for the life of me understand why Bolton let him go", "Freedman dropped a clanger big time on this one", "I f****** love this guy. Freedman once again shown up for the awful manager he is", "Big mistake, Dougie, big mistake." "Andrews steadies everyone else", "I like the calm intelligence Andrews brings", "He moves the ball around quickly and accurately. He does the simple things almost perfectly. He has been an outstanding addition." Wide Midfield"I'm a bit concerned in case ‘Spanish Dave' will have one of his Granddad games", "I am worried about him", "Lopez is a shadow of the player he was last season", "He just needs more confidence in his ability", "Dave has to learn to stop jumping out of every tackle". The form of former Athletic Bilbao midfielder David Lopez is a source of wide concern: "We need to drop Spanish Dave. He has been shocking so far this season", "His set pieces are a shambles".  Will Buckley "I love Buckles and rejoice heartily when he strokes a net bulger", "His crosses always tend to be dangerous", "He often bends and breaks the back line with a run, and then turns to see no one has spotted what he was up to". "In losing possession and switching to a 4-5-1, Buckley is a waste of time defensively", "At times, Buckley tucks in with the striker as a partner, and it leaves LuaLua more freedom to cut inside and run at centre backs instead of full-backs". "Is there a player in the squad more entertaining to watch?" On the left flank, ex-Newcastle winger Kazenga LuaLua "consistently terrorised the Bolton defence", "Bolton put three defenders on him and he still went through them like a hot knife through butter". "KLL's strength is short bursts of power in ball control, shooting and crossing. He would be a better all-round player is he could temper the power that can make him one dimensional", "Quite how he could still be sprinting at 90 minutes is beyond me". "LuaLua is so frustrating. He does the difficult thing of beating the player and then he puts in a terrible cross", "When he cuts inside and shoots with his right, his shot can be awesome. Leave him on the left and encourage him to cut inside more". "He's on fire, but he's very right-footed. That's why his crosses are poor", "However, we are more likely to score from one of LuaLua's crosses than one of his shots". "The addition of Conway means we have enough wide options". The Scotland international "had his arm raised in apology to his team-mates after every pass against QPR (in his debut)", "Conway didn't go past his player once and constantly passed the ball backwards". "One of the worst debuts I've ever seen and he appears to only have one foot". The Seagulls signed left winger Craig Conway on loan from Cardiff until December, and he is still finding his feet: "He's understandably not in tune with the rest of the team yet." Strikers"It seems shooting practice was shunned again this week. When will we at least start putting 40% on target? A lack of bloody accuracy seems to have been our biggest problem this season", "We have lots of possession but again no end result". "As so many say, our potency in front of goal is the issue", "There's a reason we had 66% possession against Bolton in the first half and no shots on target, and that's because we never attack in enough numbers". A lack of a consistent goalscoring threat is the only consistent criticism voiced by fans: "We are lightweight up front when Leonardo Ulloa is missing." The Argentine striker, who joined this summer from Almeria in Spain, was sent off against Reading and is suspended for Saturday's game.
"Barnes works very hard with bugger all help". With Craig Mackail-Smith also injured, Paulton Rovers youth product Ashley Barnes, who joined the Gulls from Plymouth in 2010, has been leading the line. "Barnes links up well, although he doesn't get much by way of scoring chances", "Not much comes his way, but his flick-ons were quality", "He was far too isolated but working his socks off". This lack of support for the striker was repeated in so many comments. Brighton Fans' Views of ITFC and the Game"We beat Ipswich comprehensively last season. I hope we do the same again", "I'm hoping Ipswich will be spooked by last season's result at Portman Road", "Play Andrews as an attacking midfielder at Ipswich and he is bound to score". "Historically, we haven't done well at Ipswich. If Garcia can get three points, it will be impressive, especially with a limited forward line", "The Ipswich game is a specific game, like QPR and Reading away. I wouldn't expect such a crazed attacking display there". "McCarthy is doing at Ipswich what he does so well wherever he goes. He's turning a Championship team into a hard team to beat and making the home ground a fortress". Many Seagulls are quite apprehensive about Saturday's match. I will update the forum on Saturday morning with their more immediate thoughts on the game. WebsitesThe biggest and most knowledgeable Brighton message board is North Stand Chat.
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Tomasz Kuszczak
Matthew Upson
Kenny 'Langoustine' congratulated by Andrew Crofts
Rohan Ince
Keith Andrews
Leonardo Ulloa gets sent off against Reading
