| 1 |
MICHEL KUIPERS * |
1st 11 KEEPER -
First choice no.1 as of old. Wants pressure from being custodian of a successful side rather than stopper or blocker of basic lower league fodder. Brilliant at times, luvs us too. Is senior player and can help young squad. Tantrums but has lasted as keeper - full apps '07/8. PoY 3rd. Signed for 2 more years - testimonial. '08/9 prospects - hands on for FDM. Nowt to do on opening day and beaten by fierce shot. Dun by soft pen in gm2, played ok. Errors gm3 but got away wiv 'em! Lucky saves but clean sheet gm4 - kicking a tad dodgy. Beaten all ends up in gm5. |
| 2 |
ANDREW WHING * |
1st 11 -
Right Back - useful pro as defensive player and gets up and down. Pretty consistent generally, gives all and gets stuck in to say the least. Can make a difference to build up and crosses. Blocks most threats in routine displays. '08/9 prospects - excellent. Got competition for place and has to watch collecting too many cards again. Sound and competent display on opening day versus tricky winger. Got forward too. Ok gm2, shoulda scored! Pretty solid gm3. Subbed late on in gm4 - ok. Tried briefly in m-f in JPT. Part of poor defence in gm5. |
| 3 |
Kerry Mayo + |
SQUAD - did he keep the shirt or is it his lucky number anyway? It's a living, one way or another.
Back from left way out of position - given a year by old boss Adams. Took a paycut but hey, got a job! '08/9 prospects - now knows where he stands. Keeps the faith! |
| 4 |
Adam Hinshelwood |
FRINGE (retained) -
Defender - initially back training for '07/8 after serious knee injury - again! Came thru reserves game ok and figured in early selection list. V late sub in gm 6 - looked strong. Then broke down, surgery and out since - musta done his head in. '08/9 prospects - hopeful of being fit. 3 months to prove up to it. |
| 5 |
Joel Lynch + |
SQUAD -
Defender - got and signed an extended deal and def potential. Looked good at first and if he had a right foot might go far. Switches to c-d in tactical moves. '08/9 prospects - good. Not bad versus Charlton. Cause for concern with injuries? Sub in gm2 and ok. Xfer request turned down. Good display in JPT. Sub in gm5 debacle - ok. |
| 6 |
Adam El-Abd |
SQUAD -
Utility - an old hand now. Can take on destroyer mf role but struggles with distribution. Fills in at left or right back or c-d. Would poss struggle in Champ's. Mr Utility or what? Wouldn't sign immediately - why not? '08/9 prospects - fair play? Ok in W'dean friendly. Needs to be versatile - must try to get a reg place in 11. Injured thigh. |
| 7 |
DEAN COX * |
1st 11 -
Midfielder - operates on flanks but can do other roles attacking from cent m-f. Got ball skills and a shot. Needs to up it if team can profit from his selection. Is short on goals and maybe reached a plateau. '08/9 prospects - faces competition. Average in OGH match. Told to get out wide and deliver - can he? Could be the new Brooker from dual championships. Busy in 1st fixture but mustn't rush delivery, whether long or short. V average in gm2 and subbed. Better gm3 and subbed. Started but only 45 min gm4. Sub in JPT and ok. Off boil in gm5 mare. |
| 8 |
STEVE THOMSON * |
1st 11 -
Central midfield - Scot who got a couple of seasons. In Oatway mould and a bit gobby and all. In prime, puts a foot in and anything else but a hand. Luvs sea air, likes Brighton and hates dirty northern playmakers. Half decent in middle and gives tidy performances of controlled power and principally a ball winner. '08/9 prospects - over the border, och aye! V good versus Charlton. Adams will want him to put it about and notch too - every one counts to help strikers. Got forward in game1 and a fair display too. Not so hot gm2 but worked hard. Decent display gm3 and an assist. Poor game4 and m-f up against it. Out of sorts gm5 - oh no! |
| 9 |
NICKY FORSTER * |
1st 11 -
Striker - Sensational in some games. Upped the ante, scored reg and finished strong. Does his thing, or not as usual. Fantastic displays then ordinary or below ave other apps. Given captaincy. Built partnership with Murray but needs more goals. Poy runner-up. '08/9 prospects - first choice. Class act against ex-Prem outfit. Adams is looking for 20+ goals and is capable of more. Classic Fozzy in initial fixture. Got pen in gm2 but little else. Scored gm3 and tried to work things with Murray. Hard luck in JPT win. Fruitless chase in gm5 tits up rollover. |
| 10 |
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| 11 |
KEVIN McLEOD * |
1st 11 -
Midfielder - 27yo Scouser who Adams picked up for free from his old place of work at Colchester. Left sided winger come utility player. Can score goals which is handy for a club looking to higher level. Has done tier two, so far so good. '08/9 prospects - flying from left field. Low key against Charlton. Dean White likes him anyway. Could be Adams second Darren Freeman who got plenty of goals from wide. More to come on evidence of day1 win. Second 45 min gm4 and half decent. Carrying injury? Brilliant goal to win JPT tie. Subbed in gm5 and looked ordinary. |
| 12 |
MATT RICHARDS * |
1ST 11 - On loan again until Dec from Ipswich. Expected to get no.3 but got left in the 16 anyway. '08/9 prospects - wants a permanent contract and two choices - you decide. Ok performance on opening day, needs to up it. Left mf in gm2 - oh dear! Lb gm3 and ok - what is going on? Mom gm4 and prob deserved. Severely exposed limitations in gm5 when at c-mf. |
| 13 |
John Sullivan |
SQUAD (retained) -
no.2 keeper and not always warming bench. Did time in kids league. Loan prospect coz any imported goalie goes into reserves. Kicking ok but decision making and ability to keep it clean need improvement. Where is motivation to kick on? Needs games somewhere. '08/9 prospects - borrowed elsewhere. |
| 14 |
David Livermore * |
SQUAD -
midfield - versatile left sided player from Hull. 28yo Londoner who prefers life in the deep south even if gaffer is from up north. Experience at Millwall and on-loan Oldham. In the Rogers mould from back-to-back days of winners. '08/9 prospects - 16 is good, 11 is better. Half decent in Harty's testimonial. One of those players who quietly does his job but still gets slagged for one mistake. Can he poss be a first choice? Lb and then c-mf in gm2, basic display. Lmf gm3 and dun a job. Subbed 45 min gm4 lmf. Got cent m-f in JPT - ok. Moved to lb for 2nd 45m in gm5 trouncing. |
| 15 |
Gary Hart |
SQUAD - Got his testimonial, was released then offered a years contract. Didn't say no either. Can he deliver the necessary? '08/9 prospects - OGH reborn. Adams knows he tries and all. Started as striker in gm2, got booked and roughed up - subbed. |
| 16 |
COLIN HAWKINS * |
1st 11 -
Defender - six foot one inch of Irish centre-back. Went to and came from Coventry - released after achilles injury. Snapped up by Adams and fills the experienced pro role - being 30yo. From Galway so prob likes the seashore - we got loads of it here. '08/9 prospects - can do a Morgan kinda job. Big game in OGH friendly. Got competition and Adams can't keep 'em all happy at once. Immense on opening day, in the air, on the deck and with distribution. Coulda scored and will one time. MoM in gm2 but 'conceded' pen - yeah right. Useful in gm3 and got shirt now. Good gm4 after injury scare. Subbed gm5 and didn't like getting a beating. |
| 17 |
GLENN MURRAY * |
1st 11 -
Striker - 300k signing from Rochdale as 24yo lg2 striker who got goals. Tall and fairly good in air, ok on the floor. Could be a real asset and great expectations. Gotta try to achieve Champ's levels of quality striker - make and take goals. Has a brain but needs service on floor to exploit talent. Lot on shoulders and can he deliver under pressure first time in big boys league? Massive challenge ahead. Scores and obviously got an eye for goal. Hold up ok but no pace and wants coaching to up aggro level BZ style. Too clever sometimes for Lg1 colleagues. '08/9 prospects - could be sensational. Off boil in W'dean summer stroll. Adams must have had a word but did he take on-board? Unlucky on day1 and more of a provider for Forster. Red in LC. Scored in gm3 and running well to find space off ball. Disappointing gm4. Far from level2 standard in gm5 thrashing. |
| 18 |
Doug Loft + |
SQUAD (retained) -
Midfield - has to up it again this term. Put it all in for seconds but didn't quite click somehow last season. Box to box and maybe best in an attacking team set up. '08/9 prospects - upgraded! Got something to prove and can bag crucial goals. 1-0 will do for Micky! Might be a super-sub. Started in JPT tie - ok. |
| 19 |
Jake Robinson + |
SQUAD -
Forward - can do wide right posn or striker but an enigma. Kinda a super-sub. Bit of a mover and shaker in reserves. Likes a dig or two. Tad too cosy on home turf, maybe needs time and space away. Gets goals but not good ratio. '08/9 prospects - poss relocation. Didn't dazzle in sunny W'dean spectacle. Adams had similar test with Rod Thomas in revolution no.1 - oh dear! 2nd 45 min in gm4 - ok without raising game. Sub and scored gm5, competitive and got somet to prove. |
| 20 |
Joe Gatting |
FRINGE -
Striker - dropped down pecking order. Was on loan '07/8 - dun good. Got goals in reserves and ok there. Came thru youth ranks. Useful display in SSC final against tough defenders. '08/9 prospects - non-league. On loan again. |
| 21 |
Jonny Dixon |
SQUAD -
Striker - v little Aldershot fan reaction to ex-Blue Sq champs player. A scoring striker at non-league. Sir Richard got him for 55k - if only as top reserve on hot stand-by. Jury out and got to have a chance to silence doubters - hard task. Subbed in SSC - off the boil. '08/9 prospects - reserves reg. Tough job on to make it in league. Adams will want convincing. |
| 22 |
Tom Fraser + |
SQUAD -
Midfielder - Albion youngster but not disgraced in 11. Does a good job and something to offer. Strolls in seconds matches and maybe lost some kids desire. Sub - tough but that's squad use. Prepared to take responsibility. Signed deal offered. '08/9 prospects - scope. Shades of ginger in hot W'dean test. Did a sub job in gm2 - just. |
| 23 |
ADAM VIRGO |
1ST 11 - that hero who dun the biz in '04/5 in Championship. '08/9 prospects - more good times if home is where the heart is. Could be Adams trump card. Can do defence, mf and attack. Bit of a Junior Lewis from Peter Taylor days after Adams first stint. Goal from m-f in first game and an honest performance. Not Prem class but we already knew that. Pushed up front in gm2 for last half hour - ok. Half decent gm3 and links with Thomson. Off boil in gm4, went to rb v late. Injured in JPT tie when at rb. |
| 24 |
TOMMY ELPHICK * |
1st 11 - Player of Year '07/8
Centre Back - on a steep learning curve and still climbing. Got some football there and not just clog. Did mans job '07/8 and grown up fast. Racked up vital apps and not a dirty player. Useful prospect, could be effing immense - concentrate lad! '08/9 prospects - rising. Did the do against ex-Prem eleven. Does Adams go with kids over experience? As of first matches, at the mo he does. Bit shaky in gm2 with distribution. On it gm3 and needed to be. Pretty solid gm4 but booked. Dun for pace gm5. |
| 25 |
Scott Chamberlain |
FRINGE (retained) -
Central midfield - with some attacking and creative flair. Youth product - was on loan playing in Sussex. Great goal in SSC final. '08/9 prospects - difficult. |
| 26 |
Wes Fogden |
FRINGE (retained) -
Right back - ex-kid league who got good reports from on loan. Made debut in lg1 - no pressure then! Half decent display mighta led to more sub apps. Got to be reserves captain. Mom in SSC final. '08/9 prospects - in balance again. |
| 27 |
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| 28 |
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| 29 |
Kane Wills |
Up from kids ranks and looked ok in friendly against quality opposition. B'ton want a upcoming midfield prospect. |
| 30 |
Kane Louis |
Offered a job as a pro. Thought he might as well have a go. |
| 31 |
Dan Royce |
Youngster who fancies hitting the net like senior pros. Perhaps one day. |
| 32 |
Andy Pearson |
Kid defender who kicks it, heads it and also plays ball. Useful prospect, hope he likes the Combination at Lewes. |
| 33 |
Sam Gargan |
FRINGE (retained) -
Striker - young pro who had hit a goal or two at kid level. Can be target man and heads a ball ok. Was out on-loan. Sub app v end of season. Not convincing in SSC final. '08/9 prospects - out on loan in mens semi-pro footy. |