Transfer Window Round Up - Summer 2011

Blimey. For a club that used to sell it's best players at the first sight of money, this transfer window has been a massive break from the past with the clubs record fee paid being broken not once, not twice but three times.

In fact, Tony Bloom has put some serious money where his squeaky mouth is to shell out what we reckon amounts to over £6m in strengthening the League One champions squad ahead of the first campaign at The Amex.

And that doesn't take into account the most exciting signing of them all - former Spanish international Vicente - who arrived on the last day of the window on a free transfer from Valencia.

Yet incredibly there is still room to be disappointed - no new goalkeeper and no new defenders being the main reason. Will those be decisions that come back around to bite Gus Poyet on his arse?

Here are all the in's and out's of a hectic first summer at The Amex:

OUT:
	Elliott Bennett - Norwich City After their failed bid in the summer when Tony Bloom did something previously unheard of at the Albion in turning down money for a player, Norwich finally got their man six months later for a joint record sale of £1.5m after he'd helped us to the League One title. He deserves a shot at the EPL.
	Glenn Murray - Crystal Palace Despite scoring 22 goals last season, Gus Poyet refused to meet the strikers valuation of himself and so he walked out on a free. The biggest problem with that? It was to them lot up the road. Should be in for an interesting reception at The Amex come September.
	Radostin Kishishev - Chernomerets Burgas Did an excellent job in place of the injured Alan Navarro in the early part of last season before losing his place to Liam Bridcutt. Remained a vital player with his calming influence off the bench. Many thought he'd retire but has moved to hometown club Chernomerets to end his career.
	Fran Sandaza - St Johnstone The horse look-a-like scored some vital goals from the bench, namely the last minute winner against Oldham to take the Albion top of the table. Nevwer really did it when given the chance to start however and he has now returned to the SPL with St Johnstone.
	Agustein Battipiedi - Dover Athletic Young Argentinian midfielder who looked woefully out of his depth on rare starts against Southampton and Stoke. He never really adapted to the English game and it came as little surprise to see him released and despite interest from Derby, he has dropped into non-league at Nicky Forster's Dover.
	Cristian Baz - None The second young Argentinian to sign last summer and be released a year later. He was even less ineffectual than his fellow countryman although he did have the nerve to scoop the winning penalty in the FA Cup replay at Woking straight down the middle. Flair but not really good enough.
	Gary Hart - Eastbourne Borough After 12 years at the club he has finally bid farewell, but not before scoring aptly scoring the first ever goal at The Amex for the reserves in the Sussex Senior Cup final. He's now moved onto Eastbourne Borough but will always have a place in the heart of the Albion fans.
	Chris Holroyd - Rotherham United Scored goals aplenty in the Conference before moving to Withdean as well as during two loan spells to League Two at Stevenage and Bury but never managed to net in an Albion shirt despite being given ample opportunity. One of Gus' first signings, he has moved to Rotherham on a free.
	Jim McNulty - Barnsley Popular left back who has never really recovered from that horrific career threatening kidney injury received just after his arrival at Withdean. Given few chances by Poyet, he has spent time out on-loan at Scunthorpe United before signing for fellow Championship side Barnsley in the summer.
	James Tunnicliffe - Wycombe Wanderers Another big money signing who never lived up to his price tag, he has spent the last two seasons on-loan at MK Dons and Bristol Rovers. Despite having just Gordon Greer and teenagers Lewis Dunk and Steve Cook as available centre backs, he has been released to join Wycombe.

IN:
	Craig Mackail-Smith - Peterborough United The Albion's transfer record was smashed for the third time in the summer to secure the in demand Craig Mackail-Smith for £2.5m from Peterborough. A goal machine at League One level for the Posh, his hard working style looks to have already made him a fan favourite at The Amex.
	Will Buckley - Watford The second man for whom the transfer record was broken when he arrived for £1.5m from Watford. A wideman who has pace, tricks and goals in him, he is the ideal replacement for Elliott Bennett and should prove popular with the ladies.
	Will Hoskins - Bristol Rovers Attempts to sign him on-loan in March failed but the man who hit over 20 goals despite being relegated from League One with Bristol Rovers finally arrived for £500,000 in the summer. A talented forward who should be part of a goal getting strike partnership with Mackail-Smith.
	Vicente - Valencia We were promised a massive signing and this was certainly it. A man who has once wanted by Real Madrid for £30m and has 38 Spain caps to his name arrived on a free from Valencia, where he had been haunted by injuries. Get him fit and Brighton have the best player in the division in their ranks.
	Ryan Harley - Swansea City Another player who the Albion tried and failed to sign in January, he comes in from Swansea City for £250,000. Scored goals for fun from midfield in League One for Exeter City last year, a set piece expert who should fit in well to the Poyet style of football.
	Kazenga LuaLua - Newcastle United After two wonderful loan spells, the flying winger has finally become a Brighton player on a full time basis from Newcastle for an undisclosed fee rumoured to be slightly over £1m. He needs no introduction as well all know exactly what he is capable of.
	Romain Vincelot - Dagenham & Redbridge Utility player who can play anywhere across the back four or midfield and probably even up front. The move back to just five subs makes having somebody who can cover a number of positions on the bench key and that appears to be what the Albion have bought the Dagenham man in for.
	Roland Bergkamp - Excelsior Rotterdam Netherlands under 21 international who is probably more famous for being the nephew of Dennis. Turned down a new contract at Excelsior to move to The Amex having scored eight times in 56 games across the top and second flight of Dutch football.

Positives:

Negatives:

Rating:

Two strikers who scored goals for fun in League One last season arriving.
Vicente - who would have thought even three years ago we'd see somebody of his calibre in the stripes?
LuaLua was the man we all wanted and he is finally here on a permanent deal.
With the money spent, the Championship will be looking up and seeing Brighton mean business.

Question mark remains over whether Casper Ankergren and Sexy Pete Brezovan are good enough for this level.
Gordon Greer is the only fit and available centre back.
Marcos Painter was slow in League One - how will he cope at this level?
Glenn Murray - letting your top scorer go on a free is poor form, but to your arch rivals? Let's hope it's not decision we live to regret.

8.1
/10

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