A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

Going Shopping for the Premiership

Towards the end of the movie "Castaway" Tom Hanks drives up to a crossroads in the desert. Which way does he turn? In one direction lays the certainty and assurances of the past; in the other adventures and risks unknown. The Seagulls stand at a similar junction. In one direction lays good old Brighton and Hove Albion, the team everybody has a soft spot for given all those years of struggle without a home to call our own. Part of that package includes life in the third tier of the English leagues - a place we have occupied for all but 26 seasons since we joined the Football League in 1921. 

In the other direction lies a challenge for the Premiership and the senior cup trophies. To achieve that requires major investment in players, committed supporters and a full stadium for home games. We would lose friends on the journey and have to learn how to win ugly. The Club would need to operate at an entirely new level and not get silly with the finances. We would need to lose any lingering inferiority complex and not be intimidated by places such as Old Trafford, Anfield or White Hart Lane.

I doubt if there is a supporter who is not up for the challenge and it appears that Tony Bloom and Gus Poyet have not come this far just to retreat.

So the first task is team strengthening for 2012/13 and this would be my shopping list. One of the great attractions of soccer is being able to play virtual football spending other people's money!

Based on what I saw last season we need a new goalkeeper, left back, midfielder and striker. The first task, however, is sorting out whether Vicente will be returning for a second season. If he stays we need to build the team around him and learn to win with him in the side. Despite the goal assists we won only one of the 10 games he played in the run at the end of season. A full pre-season should help the other players to learn to play on his wavelength. 

The other big decision is whether to say thank you but farewell to some of the players who have been so successful for us over the last 3 seasons. Can Painter, Dicker, Barnes etc make the transition from level three to level one of English football like Peter O'Sullivan and Brian Horton did all those years ago?

Goalkeeper

Gus used 4 goalkeepers last season so I suspect he knows he has a problem in this position. Brezovan and Ankergren are great shot stoppers but are prone to simple errors when not under pressure so I would not be surprised to see a new goalie arrive soon.

Full Back

When the transfer window opened in January Gus went shopping for a right and left back and Reyes and Mattock duly arrived. To his great credit Calderon benefited from a break from the weekly rigours of Championship life and came back very strongly showing he could leap the divide from League 1 to the Championship. His goals from full back give us a bonus few other clubs can boast.   


We do not have the same strength  and pace at left back and with Mattock being released by West Bromwich Albion it would be great to have him back permanently.


Midfield

Despite all the midfielders in the squad we lack physical strength and are prone to give the ball away a bit too often. We need a ball winner who can get from box to box particularly if we play two in that position to accommodate Vicente. I personally would like to see Abdul Razak return on a season long loan.

Striker

It is clear after one season that Mackail-Smith is not a hold-up-the-ball type central striker. He needs to play off other players and run on to the ball if we are to get the best from him. Will Sam Vokes return? 

So that is my close season shopping list - what is yours?

Finally, last November my wife and I visited New York for the first time. We visited Ground Zero and, although I never knew Robert Eaton, I found his name on the memorial plaque around the twin towers' fountains and reflected for a few moments on all the Club had achieved. He would have been very proud.