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Mark Brailsford on Leo, Steve Bruce & Arsenal
It seems the Albion faithful have a new hero in Leonardo Ulloa and he’s not the only one to benefit from a boost since his arrival from Almeria – Ashley Barnes seemed to grow in confidence playing with him. The player with most to lose at this point may be Craig Mackail-Smith as the competition intensifies for the right to play alongside Big Leo. Stephen Dobbie has left the Seagulls for Palace, and Barnes looks set to benefit most from Ulloa’s arrival with perhaps Hoskins seen as the best back up option. As is often the case with a club on the up, the squad can be lifted by a new signing, especially one who looked so impressive on his debut against Arsenal.
“We may be witnessing something special brewing at The Amex”
It was wonderful to see the ball finally being held by a front player for long enough, for not only the midfield to advance up the pitch, but for the defence to push up. If the integration of Big Leo continues as smoothly as his introduction to English football went against Arsenal, then this should mean more breakaway goals towards the end of matches as the opposition tire from chasing Albion’s passing game. Factor in the wonderful moment when he scored his first goal and we may be witnessing something special brewing at The Amex in the coming months. Ulloa still needs to gain full match fitness, but give it a game or three and he could tear the Championship apart in the months ahead. There appears only one fly in the ointment: the defence itself, which now looks more vulnerable with Greer missing for up to three weeks with a hamstring injury. Add to Gus Poyet’s dream signing of Ulloa, Albion also signed centre-half Matthew Upson on loan from Stoke City. If The Albion do reach the play-offs (and who would bet against them now?) then we may have to find a new nickname for Big Leo, not so much El Cyclone, more El Catalysto.
Next up: Hull City
As ever, with a team managed by Steve Bruce, Hull City are a tough team to beat, but with star striker Leonardo Ulloa certain to start, Albion will go into the match confident of having the presence up front to get a result. Hull City are ahead of Albion in the league by eight points so this takes on the guise of the proverbial six pointer as Gus Poyet seeks to take points from teams above to challenge for that coveted top six finish. Hull manager, Steve Bruce, has signed the highly thought of Fulham goalkeeper, David Stockdale, on loan and was still trying to sign DJ Campbell from QPR at the time of writing. Either way it’s set up for a high scoring draw. But then you know my record with predictions, so put money on a 0-0 again!
News
AITC & American Express® celebrate local heroes
Paralympic judo medalist, Ben Quilter and Albion boss Gus Poyet were among a host of Sussex sports stars and local dignitaries gathered on Thursday 24 January to celebrate the second year of a major community programme run by Albion in the Community (AITC) and American Express.
The Albion In The Community and American Express Awards evening, supported by Solutions Inc, was held at the American Express Community Stadium and recognised the outstanding contributions of over 700 volunteers and the special achievements of seven award winners. The prestigious awards were also attended by Caroline Lucas MP and Albion stars Inigo Calderon and Craig Mackail-Smith.
The winners of the coveted Awards included:
• Ben Doehren – Disability Achievement Award
• Tanbridge House School – School’s Masterclass Innovation Award
• Joshua Coulson – Outstanding Sportsman Award
• Heather Hobden – Community Health Ambassador Award
• Brighton Paper Round and Sonia Nicholls – Want to Work Partnership Award
• Sophie Thomas – American Express Charitable Person of
the Year
• Lucy Thomas – American Express Community Volunteer of the Year
See also, Latest people p4.
January deadlines
’Tis the season to be fiscal. As the transfer deadline approached, fans of clubs with cash to splash on players worked themselves up into a lather over rumours of players coming and going. Sky Sports News was invented for occasions like this, the hyped up presenters in the studio doing the rounds of frozen reporters, standing in empty car parks with only young oiks in the background for company. The coverage ramped up the hysteria as Sky Sports News reporters breathlessly reported the breaking transfer news to an expectant nation: that a light has been left on in the upstairs loo at Old Trafford. It’s hilarious to watch as the inevitable interview with Harry Redknapp through a car window gets replayed every ten minutes, interspersed with live footage of a fox rummaging in a rubbish tip outside Selhurst Park. Sorry, that’s no rubbish tip, it is Selhurst Park!
“And we go over to St James’ Park where we think Newcastle’s latest signing, a chef named Gaston, has arrived for a medical prior to his transfer from L’Escargot restaurant, Paris, to feed the first team on match days!
But seriously folks, good fun though it is, some clubs anxiously waited for the window to close last week in case their best players were pinched by bigger clubs.
Albion fans had an added interest in this transfer window as they awaited news on a possible new signing of a certain Dutch defender, who by all accounts, is the wasp’s nipples. Don’t be surprised to see a few comings and goings – and that’s just the Sky Sports News presenters.
Words: Mark Brailsford
