Sport: Mark Brailsford on the end of a chapter
What an absolute let down. How many of you were present at The Amex to see Albion’s bitterest rivals snatch Wembley glory from beneath our noses? How cruel this game can be, and it had to be Palace, of all teams. Even though Albion had an excellent season overall, it feels to most fans like a relegation. To have lost to Udinese B, sorry Watford, or Leicester would have been awful but more bearable in a way. That it was Our Friends from the North will now go to the final at Wembley on 27 May was the cruelest cut of all. Gus Poyet didn’t quite cover himself in dignified glory either. Though understandably emotional after the match, he sounded like a man going somewhere else. After being linked to Chelsea, Leeds and Reading at various times during the season, he has shown he doesn’t see his long-term future at The Amex. Whilst fans were previously relaxed about this naked ambition, after the defeat to Palace, the come hither routine has now worn rather thin. One of the key skills in football management is the motivation of players; this was sadly lacking against the old enemy. The cold heart fact that one team wanted it more than the other is down to the manager – no one seemed inclined to blame the players. Still, at least Gus is honest enough to own up to what all managers think when they’re climbing the greasy pole to the Premier League. But how must Tony Bloom have felt when he heard Gus making his “I want answers” routine?
“There’s never a dull moment at Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club”
It is highly unlikely that Tony Bloom will take it too much to heart. He has shown shrewd judgement and patience with this excellent if somewhat excitable manager, lucky for Gus perhaps, although he will be thinking of possible options at Everton and the like.
Will he stay or will he go? After that distressing defeat to that lot up the road and after that wily old journeyman manager, Ian Holloway got the better of him (again!) maybe Gus is not all that, after all? If he goes, it will be with the gratitude of the majority of the Albion faithful. He’s done a great job, but maybe he really has taken the team as far as he is capable of taking them and it might be time to give someone else the opportunity to take the club forward. Perhaps then, The Albion wouldn’t succumb so meekly to our out of form, injury ravaged arch rivals in such a dispiriting manner again. With due reference to an old headline, is it time to say “In the name of Gus, go?”
Key players & predictions
Latest 7 Player of the Season: Liam Bridcutt.
Signing of the season: Matthew Upson.
2013/14 season prediction: Automatic promotion under a new manager.
Time for cricket
The summer break will bring intrigue, transfer speculation and the usual crazy rumour mill. The disappointment will fade eventually and the fact that it really was an excellent season will sink in. It would be nice to relax a while and watch some cricket – that should ease the blood pressure. Then when it all picks up again in August the excitement and the optimism will surge and this magnificently emotional roller coaster will roll once more. Whatever it does to your stress levels, there’s never a dull moment at Brighton and Hove Albion football club.
Have a great summer and thank you for reading this column, and a special thanks to those of you who came up to say how much you enjoyed reading these idle speculations. See you at The Amex next season. Seagulls!
2012/13: Latest 7 reflects on a great season: a handy guide for those ‘where were you at the time’ moments
Friday 6 July 2012
Wayne Bridge joins the Albion on a seson-long loan from Man City
Saturday 4 August 2012
A pre-season friendly takes place at The Amex against Premier League team Chelsea. BHAFC win 3-1
Tuesday 21 August
In their first home League game of the season, BHAFC play host to Cardiff. The game ends in a 0-0 draw
Saturday 25 August
An impressive 5-0 win over Barnsley starts BHAFC’s run of five consecutive League wins
Saturday 29 September
Birmingham bring Albion’s unbeaten stretch of games to a halt, beating the Seagulls at home 1-0. A series of draws and defeats follow until…
Tuesday 6 November
Albion beat Peterborough at home 1-0, and then remain undefeated until facing Our Friends In The North
Saturday 1 December
Away at Selhurst Park to Crystal Palace, Albion lose 3-0
Tuesday 1 January 2013
The Seagulls get the new year off to a flying start, beating Ipswich away 2-0 on New Year’s Day. Our attention turns to the top end of the table.
Saturday 5 January
The npower Championship takes a break with BHAFC facing Newcastle at home in the FA Cup. The Seagulls win 2-0
Saturday 26 January
In the next round of the FA Cup, Albion welcome Premier League side Arsenal to The Amex. It’s a great battle, featuring newly signed striker Leonardo Ulloa, but the Gunners take away the win 3-2.
Thursday 31 January
Albion sign Stoke City defender and former England international Matthew Upson on loan until the end of the season
Tuesday 19 February
Facing their first League opponents of the season in a second match, BHAFC take the win over Cardiff, this time away, 2-0
Sunday 17 March
A rare Sunday kick-off at The Amex sees the Seagulls take the victory 3-0, mirroring Crystal Palace’s home performance back in December
Saturday 20 April
In a fantastic home game, Albion celebrate a 6-1 win over Blackpool – 7-0 if you count the own goal!
Saturday 27 April
Albion’s fortunes turned around after beating Palace, seeing them undefeated in eight games. A fully charged, red-card fuelled match against Leeds ends 2-1 to the Albion, guranteeing their place in the play-off semi-finals!
Monday 13 May
Unlucky for some, on the 13th, the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Crystal Palace (who else?!) saw Albion lose 2-0. Wembley and promotion will have to wait for another year…
