Loans and groans

Albion’s only non-loan signing so far this January goes through his paces in the Sussex snow

Is it just me, or has Gus Poyet’s fishing so far in the January transfer window has been a bit, well, mediocre? Gavin Hoyte has been given an extension of his loan deal from Arsenal until the end of the season. Poyet has taken on Frenchman Seb Carole for his third stint in the stripes – but on a week to week basis, assumedly because if he’s shit (I think he might be) he can offload him straightaway.

Latterly Poyet has just acquired Marcos Painter on loan from Swansea City. Our only bona-fide permanent signing is Inigo Calderon, and he was out of work before Poyet offered him a contract. Maybe I’m being hyper-critical, but the gaffer is not exactly making a big bang for his bucks in the transfer market. I presume The Lizard has plenty left over for this sort of thing?

Our current squad are in serious danger of relegating the club for next season, because going on results and league position we are pretty shit. We need good players in. These new boys may be brilliant, they may be wank, they’ll probably be somewhere in between those two extremes – but I was expecting a bit more. It’s early doors, maybe Gus, who’s an intelligent football man, has more dealing to do.

I’m mostly looking forward to seeing Calderon play, and then Painter. Won’t be long now, I’m all set for Villa Park and our Cup Final next week. Saturday’s match at Walsall looks in serious doubt – the snow is still thick on the ground.

Ice ice baby

Albion ground staff assess the Withdean skiing surface prior to the (postponed) home game against Brentford

Had to happen. I’ve been watching the UK weather go more than a bit Pete Tong from an unseasonally warm – and curiously snowless – Kabul. The club called the Brentford game off today, and I don’t think many other games will kick off all over Britain this weekend. Well, I’m sure the gazillionaires in the Premiershit will be good to go, but who gives a fuck about them eh?

Some warmer news on the transfer front. Gus Poyet has signed unemployed Spanish defender Inigo Calderon (liking the name already). Inigo used to play for Deportivo Alavés (yeah I know, “fucking who?”). He’s apparently a right back, we’ve already got two of them, so I reckon either Gavin Hoyte or Andy Whing may be heading out of Withdean. We’ll see.

Just heard on Sky News that this current ice age is going to last for at least another TEN DAYS! It had better fuck off by the 22nd, I’m due in to Gatwick then. Then there’s the boring little trip up to Villa Park the day after. Get shovelling!!

Who’s on the Gus bus?

Who's missed the Albion transfer bus?

Happy New Year. It’s January transfer window time folks, so who’s on the bus, and who’s off it? So far we have Poyet offering a deal to Peter Brezovan, it’s up to him to prove his worth now. The jury’s still out after a topsy turvy start and a complete ‘mare of a goof at Wycombe, which a better team would have no doubt punished us severely for. Jake Wright has gone on loan to Oxford United, which is a bit  sad since he only just arrived at the club from Crawley, suffered an injury, then never recovered his starting place at left back – Poyet doesn’t favour him, so he’s off.

Adam Virgo stays, and is determined to fight for his place – lay off the fish suppers Virgs, work on your ball control and who knows? Poor old Graeme Smith, he’s off to Hibs on a free, no doubt to be remembered fondly amongst the illustrious, and ever-growing,  list of Albion signing disasters – I would mention his goals conceded versus appearances ratio, but I can’t count that high. Good luck Graeme, it was fun.

That’s all I’ve got so far, I’ll add any shock £500K signings if and when they come before the transfer window slams shut on the 2nd February.

p.s. I’m home again three weeks from today, a win tomorrow and I might be coming home to a BIG FA Cup away draw. Fingers crossed.

Seagulls net a loan Gooner

In what could be an exciting move, the Albion have signed Arsenal teenager Gavin Hoyte on a month long loan deal. The youngster can play at full and centre back and should help shore up the leaky old tub that is our ever changing back four. Hoyte is in the squad, and almost certain to start, against Yeovil away on Saturday. Great stuff.

Jake Wright is a Seagull

Great news. Although Crawley Town fans tell me he’s a natural centre back it looks like Wright will slot into cover Jim McNulty at left back. The new signing played for us at Torquay and was man of a very poor match for us.

Hearts were the SPL club interested in signing him, and offered a lot more money for Wright, but he seems to like life in Sussex. Good lad!

Russell Slade has made quite a few signings this summer, pre-season has been poor, but the buck stops next Saturday 8th August.