Tag: Championship

BHAFC: Niki Mäenpää’s performance proved David Stockdale doesn’t need to be rushed back into first team action.

Published on by Liam_RichnerLeave a comment

Albion Analysis: #4 Rotherham United (H), 16th August 2016.

Brighton and Hove Albion moved to the top of the Sky Bet Championship after comfortably beating Rotherham United 3-0 at the Amex.

Goals from Anthony Knockaert, Glenn Murray and Tomer Hemed prolonged the Seagulls unbeaten start to the campaign, with the defence keeping a fourth consecutive clean sheet.

Credit is due to the likes of Bruno and Lewis Dunk for their fantastic performances at the back for Brighton so far this season, but yesterday it was Niki Mäenpää’s chance to prove his worth.

The Finnish shot stopper made his home league debut for the Albion in place of regular ‘keeper David Stockdale, who came off injured in last weekend’s clash with Nottingham Forest. 

Albeit it was an easy night for the Seagulls on the whole, the goalkeeper still had to stop the minimal Rotherham threat at times, and made some good saves when called upon.

Manager Chris Hughton was full of praise for Mäenpää; and he may even be in contention to start the weekend’s fixture away at Reading.

Since he joined the Albion just over 12 months ago, the 31-year old has helped transform Stockdale into one of the most potent goalkeepers of the division.

Cast your mind back to the Sami Hyypia era of 2014-15, and you’d remember a very different Stockdale, who produced some pretty bad clangers between the sticks.

Mäenpää though has helped develop Stockdale’s judgment when to come out, when to collect the ball in mid air, his positioning and most of all his distribution.

His work off the playing pitch hasn’t been brought up enough; and his performances in the League Cup and FA Cup last season weren’t bad at all.

It was only a matter of time before he got his league bow, as no player can remain fully fit all the time, and the 31-year old took his opportunity with both hands.

As much as it would please me to see Stockdale return in goal; I think Mäenpää should play, give him a chance to consolidate his place.

Reading at the Madejski will be a tough place to go and a good test for the Finnish goalkeeper.

Squad rotation is so important in this division; and it also creates good competition for places.

Should Mäenpää play and do well against Reading, then we know for certain we have two very good goalkeepers at our disposal here at the club.

 

BHAFC: Bruno proved once again why he is Brighton’s best defender.

Published on by Liam_RichnerLeave a comment

Albion Analysis: #1 Derby County (A), 6th August 2016

Brighton and Hove Albion opened their Championship season with a respectable 0-0 draw away at fellow Promotion candidates Derby County yesterday.

It was a game which could so easily have ended with the Seagulls travelling back to the south coast with all three points.

But despite this, the majority of fans travelled home happy with the performance and were even more optimistic of the what the team can achieve this season.

With David Stockdale, Beram Kayal, Anthony Knockaert, Jiri Skalek and Glenn Murray impressing for the Albion, it was actually the Seagull’s captain Bruno who caught my eye most.

It was his first competitive match since being handed the Albion captaincy in the summer, and he excelled in a position he hasn’t been accustom to.

He was vocal and kept the defence in shape. He was relatively unchallenged by the Derby County forwards and looked very comfortable alongside Lewis Dunk.

His calmness on and off the ball makes him one of our best players technically and although he wasn’t bombing down the right flank like we all know and love, he was a rock in the heart of the Albion backline.

His ability to play anywhere along the back line is a relief in my eyes, as before the match I was a little worried that the creativity of Tom Ince and strength of Darren Bent would have made it a difficult afternoon for the Spaniard.

Lewis Dunk has been well in the media spotlight, with a move to the Premier League swirling around constantly all summer.

The centre half may be a good player, but as he proved last season, he can sometimes make silly challenges and get sent off when the Albion are on top. His dismissals against QPR in December last year and Derby in May evidence that.

I think Bruno may have had a word with the young Englishman over the summer break and told him to be more focused when making a tackle, and making sure he wins the ball. It paid dividend yesterday as Dunk produced a commanding performance.

That’s why Bruno is captain.That’s why he is crucial to Albion’s promotion push.

He is our leader and he obviously has the respect from all his team mates on the pitch. Should he get injured, I worry that leadership and experience he brings would be missed massively.

I dare say he would be missed more than our creative players further up the field.

Manager Chris Hughton was also very pleased with Bruno’s performance but is adamant that the club will look to buy a centre back before the transfer window slams shut.

Bruno’s best position is at right back, but it’s good to see that he can do the job at centre half and no rush to buy the right centre half is needed.

 

 

BHAFC: Beram Kayal linked with move to Premier League.

Published on by Liam_Richner1 Comment

Hull City are reportedly interested in signing midfielder Beram Kayal, according to reports.

The figure being whispered around social media is believed to be £1.5 million, which in my opinion is way too short of his true valuation.

The Israeli international featured in almost all of the Seagulls games last season, making 43 appearances in the Championship and scoring two goals.

Brighton’s number seven is a key member of Chris Hughton’s team, as he is a player who reads the game well and makes crucial interceptions which lead to our counter attacks.

He has also formed a formidable partnership in the centre of Albion’s midfield with Dale Stephens, with Steve Sidwell failing to break into the side during his initial loan last season.

Whilst Kayal seems happy at Brighton, the worrying factor that comes with Hull’s interest is their ability to offer him a better contract and the opportunity to play in the Premier League.

At 28 years of age, it is very much make or break for the central midfielder. He could easily play in the top flight of English football, but does he want to try and make it there with the Seagulls? Or is this potential move north just too difficult for him to pass up.

On the plus side for Brighton fans, Hull’s current crop of midfielders makes me wonder why they are even considering any kind of bid for our man in the first place.

Kayal has no Premier League experience, whilst the likes of Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore and Mohamed Diame between them have plenty.

Huddlestone and Diame in particular play similarly to Kayal, so it makes you think, would the Israeli actually get any game time?

Brighton are yet to accept any bid, (thats if one has officially been made), and anyway, I don’t think Kayal has any intention to leave.

His Instagram account and Twitter feed show him looking more than content at Albion, and with him playing consistently for Hughton, why would he want to go?

I’m more than confident he will remain in an Albion shirt when the window shuts.