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Transfer Window Round Up - Summer 2012
Tony
Bloom has made no secret of his desire to take Brighton and
Hove Albion into the Premier League and if anybody doubted
his words, then a quick look through this summers transfer
details should silence them.
Just
eight players left, only two of whom were regulars last
season with eight coming in, all of which are experienced
regulars at Championship level of above. The net has been
cast far and wide with two of those additions arriving from
La Liga.
There is
no doubt that the squad has been significantly improved on
last years and Gus Poyet has all the tools he needs to
laucnh a serious assault on at least the top six, now being
able to name a starting 11 all of whom have played
international or European football at some stage in their
careers.
Here's
the full in's and out's:
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OUT: |
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Craig Noone
- Cardiff City
With an abundance of wide men and longstanding
interest from Cardiff City, it came as little
surprise to see the tricky winger departing for the
Redbirds with the club making a tidy profit on the
£250,000 it cost to sign him from Plymouth.
Entertaining on his day but inconsistency was always
a worry. |
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Tommy Elphick
- AFC Bournemouth
One player who deserved a game at The Amex in an
Albion shirt more than most. He missed the whole of
last season injured, slipping down to fourth choice
centre back in the process. A good chance to
relaunch his career with Bournemouth who should do
well in League One this season. |
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Alan Navarro
- Swindon Town
Released after battling back
from injury to earn his spot back in the first team
at the end of last season. Unlucky really in that he
was one of the few players out of contract with room
needing to be made on the wage bill. Still, his
career at new club Swindon started well with a goal
against the Albion. |
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Grant Hall
- Tottenham Hotspur
Talented defender who was
so highly thought of by Gus Poyet that he was given
two appearances last season. Having been tracked for
a while by Spurs, he rejected the three year
contract on offer to stay at The Amex in order to
move to White Hart Lane. |
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David Gonzalez
- Barnsley
Released after just six months, he played in just
two games for the Albion and they were once the
season was effectively over. His interesting
performance against Watford will live long in the
memory and marked his return to The Amex in goal for
Barnsley by letting in five.
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Others released
- Michael Poke (Torquay United),
Leon Redwood (Brentford), Mitch Walker (Dover
Athletic). |
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IN: |
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Wayne
Bridge - Manchester City
The former
England left back arrives on a season long loan from
Manchester City in what must be one of the transfer
coups of the summer. You know exactly what you are
getting with him and that is solid defence, an
attacking outlet, a dangerous ball into the box and
an unbelievably hot WAG. |
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Tomasz Kuszczak
- Manchester United
Goalkeeper was one of
last seasons least convincing positions and Gus has
recognised that by snapping up the Polish goalkeeper
on a free from Manchester United. He impressed in a
loan spell with Watford last season and should prove
to be a vast improvement on Brezovan and Ankergren. |
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Bruno
- Valencia
A semi-regular in La Liga and the Europa League last
season for Valencia, the right back follows the path
trodden by Vicente and moves to The Amex. Rumours
that he was signed just to keep his mate and fellow
Spaniard happy already look false as he has made the
right back shirt his own. |
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Andrew Crofts - Norwich City
Another good
piece of business on a free transfer see's the
former capatain return to the club after two years
at Norwich City in which time he helped win
promotion to and establish them in the Premier
League. The goal scoring midfielder we have possibly
been crying out for. |
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Stephen Dobbie
- Swansea City
Playmaking striker signed in
the closing hours of the window from Swansea City
for an undisclosed six figure fee. He has helped
both Blackpool and the Swans to promotion from the
Championship in two of the last three seasons and
should help ease the burden on Craig Mackail-Smith. |
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Andrea Orlandi
- Swansea City
The other deadline day signing from the Liberty
Stadium is a creative midfielder the like of which
we have been crying out for with Vicente's injury
woes. Has an eye for goal and picking him up on a
free transfer looks like an excellent piece of
business. |
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David
Lopez - Athletic Bilbao
Terminated his
contract with Athletic Bilbao were he was something
of a cult hero to sign a one year deal at The Amex.
Midfielder who can play either wide or through the
middle and had a reputation in Spain for a David
Beckham like ability from set pieces. |
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Dean
Hammond - Southampton
Andy Naylor teased the
return of a former Albion player and while a lot of
people put two and two together and made 124 to come
up with Bobby Zamora, it was another former club
captain who rejoined from Southampton with the
window about to slam shut. |
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Positives: |
Negatives: |
Rating: |
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- We've got a huge
squad now and with it presumably a big wage bill
including the likes of Matt Sparrow and Romain
Vincelot who Gus clearly won't use.
- A promising
defender in Grant Hall has been lost.
- With Lewis
Dunk's off field problems, there isn't a lot of
cover for Adam El-Abd and Gordon Greer
- Most of the
business has been done let in the window,
meaning the team will take time to gel.
- Tommy Elphick
never got the well deserved chance to play at
The Amex.
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9.3
/10 |
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