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Is Poyet appointment a gamble by Bloom?
THE announcement came on Tuesday. Gus Poyet is the new Brighton & Hove Albion manager (our fourth in 18 months!).
It was a slight surprise. I'd already lost my 10p on Steve Coppell and the each-way bet on Gareth Southgate.
Luckily Dennis Wise didn't even get under starters orders (there had been serious groaning about him by many season ticket holders!).
Alan Curbishley fell at the first fence and Peter Taylor didn't get much further. Jim Gannon (Motherwell) and Nigel Adkins (Scunthorpe) made it round the first lap and Steve Tilson from Southend emerged from the pack as a strong favourite.
But Poyet's late run took him to the post.
The former Chelsea and Spurs midfielder has agreed a contract with chairman Tony Bloom until the end of next season (this should be the cut-off point at Withdean and the start of the Falmer era!).
Bloom's quote was: "Gus is one of the best up and coming young coaches (he's 41] in this country and we are delighted to give him his first opportunity in management.
"His credentials are exceptional and all the reports we have had on his coaching ability are outstanding. I am certain he will be a big success with the Albion..."
Amen to that.
Is it a gamble? Sacking Russell Slade without a replacement lined up was a bit of a gamble (I must admit, I presumed Coppell was on board!) but then Bloom is a poker player.
This is his first big appointment and I'm sure he thinks he has got the right man.
Mauricio Taricco is coming as the new assistant manager. A former Ipswich and Tottenham defender, he played with Poyet at Spurs. I hope he is the one to get our defence working properly!
Caretaker Martin Hinshelwood was undefeated in his one game in charge as the new regime is in place for the trip to Southampton.
Meanwhile: Two Red Cards: Three Penalties: Eight Goals – Let's Have A Replay!
I didn't brave the trip to Wycombe for the FA Cup match.
I missed a great game. Four goals away from home – but we still couldn't win!
This was another game for the neutrals, plenty of goals, incidents, but tough on the nerves of both Wanderers and Albion fans!
This was Brighton's first game since the departure of Bob Booker, Dean White and manager Slade.
Hinshelwood, as caretaker manager, picked a familiar looking team but did bring back Tommy Elphick, Dean Cox and Glenn Murray into the starting line-up.
I don't know if Poyet got to see the game. He would have been pleased with our attacking play. But – and it's the same but from many previous weeks – our defending was atrocious!
It has to be said – Wycombe are bottom of League One and actually have a worse home record than ours at Withdean!
All was well as Elliott Bennett continued his excellent form and scored after just three minutes.
"Seagulls" was chanted loudly for all to hear over local Sussex radio!
There were different chants on 18 minutes from the Albion fans as referee Simon Hooper awarded Wycombe a penalty for a very slight nudge by Adam Virgo.
One-all, but it got worse! Just after the half-hour our young Arsenal loanee left-back Gavin Hoyte had a kick at Jon-Paul Pittman.
Ref Hooper gave a straight red to send off a Seagull for the SEVENTH time this season! More pain as Scott Davies scored to put the home side 2-1 up.
On the 45-minute-point, Mr Hooper evened things up when Murray took a tumble in the area and got a soft penalty. Craig Woodman got his marching orders and Nicky Forster put the penalty away, his tenth goal of the season, for 2-2.
It was "Good Old Sussex-by-the Sea" early in the second-half. After good work, luck was on our side as Murray saw his shot loop nicely over Scott Shearer in the home goal.
The 10-a-side game continued to surprise as first Pittman scored (3-3) and then Matt Harold (4-3 Wycombe).
It still wasn't all over.
Eagle-eyed Hooper spotted a handball by a Wycombe defender, allowing Murray to score his second with yet another penalty.
All this meant Brighton were in the draw for the next round. Rushden & Diamonds at Withdean are next – after the little matter of the replay (Withdean, Wednesday, 18th November!).
And finally, back to Poyet (I've decided to pronounce the T!) is an exciting and ambitious appointment by Bloom.
The vast majority of Seagulls' fans have welcomed it.
There will be enthusiastic support by the blue and white army (club say we should wear blue and yellow!) at Southampton this Sunday (kick-off 4.30pm – Sky Sports TV) for Poyet's first game in charge.
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Weather for Horsham
Friday 25 May 2012
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