As over 1,000 stoical, long-suffering Yellow and Green souls prepare to head for the South Coast tomorrow to witness our visit to Brighton I thought it appropriate to speak once again with the fervent Seagulls supporter that is the admirable Alan Howick.
Alan was a great help to me during my early days as a sports journo in Essex as he was a Director of Harlow Town FC at the time and was always open for a guiding chat, which is something a young scribbler should always appreciate.
Although we weren’t in touch for some 40 years as I moved to Norfolk while Alan remained in Essex, when we made almost accidental contact again Alan cheerfully helped me with our previous MFW Brighton preview.
I couldn’t summon much enthusiasm to create this particular article – God bless the MFW writer who is responsible for our pre-Burnley piece – but at least it gave me the chance to speak with Alan again which is always a pleasure. This is what we discussed.
MP: I suppose we could almost call this one a dead rubber in many ways as in you’re going nowhere and we’re going somewhere we don’t really want to be going. Is that about right?
AH: I guess that is so, we had so much hope and anticipation of a top ten finish recently [we may even now do so] or even Europe but as the last six games have gone [losses and no sign of any goals] it’s back to a day trip to France: Both sides want a win for self-esteem, your guys look like dropping down and we may still have that ‘top ten’ target to achieve.
MP: What would you say are the reasons for your losing the last six matches on the bounce? “A desire to emulate Norwich City” is not an acceptable answer I’m afraid!
AH: The lack of an out-and-out striker in my view. We have great talent but need a big chap up there knocking them in or down. It’s never been the same since Glenn Murray retired. We have wonderful players but…
MP: Regardless of recent form I think Graham Potter has done a pretty decent job down on the South Coast this season. But I’m not a Brighton fan, so what do you reckon?
AH: Brilliant performance and I like him as a man as much as he is an excellent coach. What he has done is wonderful, Chris H did a fine job but this chap has taken us to a different level and he is so calm.
MP: Is Potter likely to do the traditional “we’re safe so it doesn’t matter” thing and throw in a youngster or two to see how they get on – and if so, what names should we look out for?
AH: Crikey, no idea!!! We seem to have so many youngsters, I try to play catch up on the Albion site but frankly, there are loads of them. But there is a young Irish lad who has had a recent run-out, he’s a centre-forward, I can’t remember his name but he’s worth a watch.
MP: Please be kind enough to go through the motions and proffer us a score guess?
AH: Nine nil Albion! We are due a goal for sure, but then nil/nil probably.
MP: While you’re here Alan, many of us on MFW are avid cricket lovers so it would be rude of me not to ask a stalwart of his local cricketing community and indeed an MCC member the obvious question: what has gone wrong with the hierarchy, and indeed the playing side of things at Test Match level – and what do you think might be done to improve matters?
AH: I was hoping you wouldn’t mention the cricket. West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite thought England batted well after his last test interview! In fact, we did in patches, have had a few good knocks but frankly leaving Broad [and probably Jimmy A] out was a very big ask on the bowlers and poor old Woodie is so injury-prone, as is Robinson.
One chap, name relapse on my part, is a good spin bowler [certainly in Bumble’s view] and travelled all that way only to spend his time being the twelfth man. I might be either pi$$ed off or greatly relieved he wasn’t involved. Upstairs, who knows. I have faith in Strauss to sort it all out. If allowed to. Rootie, top bloke, having a really tough time and his mates do not appear to perform for him as a whole unit on the field although they are all meant to be a tightly-knit group.
**MFW apologies to those of a sensitive disposition. We discussed the state of the English Test Match set-up towards the end of the article as Alan and I are both great cricket aficionados. It had to be done so please sleep well and have no nightmares.
I’ve never managed to put a piece of music as an outro to a preview before but in this case, I feel I’ll chance it – I was actually at the Hammy O when this recording was made. Queen were still heavy and rocked like hell itself. Last time I saw them as I didn’t appreciate the sell-out commercial version of the band at all – unlike 99% of the purchasing public:
***
Dean Smith’s press conference this morning revealed that Ozan Kabak has a serious hamstring problem and has remained in Turkey.
Discussions are going on with Schalke 04 and reading between the lines we may very well have seen the last of him.
Everybody else has returned from international duty in good nick, while Josh Sargent will have a late assessment as he has rolled an ankle.
Brandon Williams is unlikely to feature and Max Aarons has been ill for a while so we might see Sam Byram and Dimi Giannoulis filling the full-back slots.
That leaves Grant Hanley, Ben Gibson and Zimbo as our three available centre back which might again mean that under 23s skipper Jon Tomkinson retains his place on the bench, which will be guaranteed if Smith deploys a 3-5-2.
Pukki plays but as for who will fulfil the midfield roles, that is anybody’s guess. I’d like to see a start for Jonathan Rowe, but they say you should never make a wish on All Fools Day so I’ll leave it at “like to”.
As for the Seagulls, Adam Lallana and the highly-rated Adam Webster miss out due to continued recovery from injury but the good news for Graham Potter is that both Tariq Lamptey and Robert Sanchez are back in training and likely to be in contention for a start tomorrow.
Good comments chaps. Was the spinner Alan referred to, Matt Parkinson of Lancs I wonder? I had a chat with his dad out there, he was confident Matt would get a game in Barbados or Grenada. Didn;t happen unfortunately. Tomorrow, well who knows. Or cares really. Sooner the cricket season starts here the better…
Hi Dan
I think it might well have been Matt Parkinson, but I wasn’t certain enough to suggest it as Alan H’s knowledge of the Test Match scene is far greater than mine!
Luckily for me I worked in Beeston [not that one] occasionally and stayed in a great pub/hotel in West Bridgeford called the Rufford, so took in the third and sometimes also the fourth day at Trent Bridge whenever the opportunity arose.
Happy days 🙂
Blimey Martin, thats a coincidence, I live in Rufford ! (West Lancs). Trent Bridge is a super ground, much nicer than the other Test venues here I reckon
I’ve been to Lords, the Oval and Old Trafford and totally agree with you. I can’t speak for Headingly or Edgbaston but Trent Bridge has a very special atmosphere for sure.
Martin;
I fear that tomorrow has all the hallmarks of (yet!!) another ACN moment……or unfortunately a few!!
They are on a worse run than even we are, but man for man are so much more accomplished.
I reckon Brighton will win by at least a couple, to kick start their push to the top 10 whilst knocking another nail in the coffin of this god-forsaken season!
O T B C
Morning John
It’s hard to think otherwise really, isn’t it?
I’m not being in the slightest bit patronising when I say I admire the travelling Canary contingent. Sure you can have a great weekend in Brighton, but that shouldn’t be the point really, should it?
Cheers
Sad for Kabak and I wish him a full recovery, but it’s a great excuse not to play him for the rest of season. Much like all the other loan players who won’t be here next season. Little point on wasting game time on them and letting some of the youngsters get some Premier League Carrow Road grass on their studs. All good experience.
Hi Trunchy
Yes I agree with you there.
Maybe we should continue with Brandon Williams as hopefully that might give Sam Byram the chance to being used sparingly until the end of the season as something tells me he will be our go-to right back for 2022-23.
If Kabak is out of the equation – he never really featured anyway – I see no need to persevere with Gilmour or Normann either. I question whether either of them want to be here anyway.
The former will return to Chelsea and the latter has declared he won’t play in the Championship so I see no point in persevering with either of them.
Cheers
Rumours are that Leicester are trying to do a deal with Rostov for Normann for much less that city agreed
That could suit everybody in a perverse kind of way.
Hi Martin,
As Traffic Light-like of Trunch and your good self say, perhaps use the rest of this season to blood some of the youngsters – even to the point of bringing Tom Dickson-Peters back from Gillingham and actually playing him, he’s hardly left their bench since he arrived there!
Since we were earmarked for relegation by the fixture selectors at the Premier League right from the start of the season, we may as well use the last handful of games to build ourselves up for next season – and you never know, we might spring a few surprises before the season’s end by so doing.
I actually agree with Michael Vaughan regarding England’s test match squad. I think Rootie should resign as skipper, and continue developing his awesome skills as England’s test match batter-with-a-bit-of-spin. I believe England’s selectors should take a page out of their predecessor’s book and pick the most effective county skipper as our captain – it worked admirably well with the splendid Mike Brearley many moons ago!
Anyhoo,
COYYs !!
Hi Kev
Apart from Reece McAleer our loan-outs this season have been pretty poor really and I would include Dickson-Peters in that.
*Since we were earmarked for relegation by the fixture selectors at the Premier League* – yep, with my victim’s head on I’d agree with you.
But unlike some other clubs at our perceived level we seem to revel in making ourselves easy targets for the fat cats – we don’t show much fight against it anyway.
To me Brearley was unique in English cricket. I like your idea of choosing the best available county captain though. Maybe?
Cheers
Hi Martin,
Acknowledged, not many of our loan-outs are uprooting trees, McAleer, yes it seems he is, but I’d also like to add Onel Hernandez, and to a degree Jordan Hugill and Sam McCallum to that success list, the first two are putting themselves about quite credibly, and despite injuries, McCallum seems well thought of at QPR.
I don’t personally have a ‘…victim’s head on…’ over our early fixtures this season – just don’t think it, and the sneers we received over it, should be forgotten.
After all, the sidewalks are paved with good intentions, the gutters are full of slit throats, and the dark alley-ways are crammed with skulduggery!
I thoroughly agree NCFC don’t help ourselves much though!
Brearley was indeed unique. I have always been somewhat uneasy about selecting our best batter as captain – often involves runs of poor form.
OTBC !!
Yes, Onel and Hugill seem very popular with supporters at Birmingham and Cardiff respectively I would agree.
Both clubs seem to want to keep them if they can, but like them we’ll have to wait and see what Dean Smith’s – or more likely Stuart Webber’s – plans will be.
I think the captaincy drained both the swash and the buckle from even Ian Botham – and that was one huge mass of fire, ego and brawn to dissipate!
I’m just assuming we will lose so plan to spend the afternoon gardening thus avoiding further heartache until 4.55pm at least.
Main concern tomorrow, Cambridge Utd visiting Suffolk, not sure if Wessy plays if so let’s hope he maintains his fine unbeaten record. We could do with that lot losing a couple to further delay our inevitable date of comeuppance.
As regards the Cricket, agonising but we’ll bounce back this Summer against N Z, India and S A. Dont forget the women play tonight in the OD World Cup Final v The Aussies.
Sad to learn of John Deehan’s illness, a great striker 162 games for City, no mean feat.
Hi Colin
Mrs P is o-i-c of of our gardens for the simple reason she knows what she’s doing while I most certainly do not. Only the herb patch is mine.
Tomorrow afternoon would be the perfect occasion to spend some time on it.
Totally agree with you about Dixie. I met him once with a couple of mates and he was really cheery and seemed like a great bloke with a real sense of humour.
Cheers
Colin , don’t think the Kiwis will roll over for us , I think their bowling attack in UK conditions is better than ours
Hi Bernie
Yes I think you’re right about the Kiwis. It’s a common thread they share with the All Blacks as in neither rolls over for anybody.
Cheers
We’ll have Jimmy and Broadie back in harness but you’re probably right.
Will be interesting to see if Anderson and Broad bowl in tandem this summer, and I think they need to coach their particular brands of guile to teach and inspire those who will replace them.
Regrets, I don’t think Root is a strong enough strategist/tactician to captain England – but I love it when he bats well!
Come On You Yellows, stuff Brighton!
Sunday newspaper headlines;
‘CANARIES BRING DOWN SEAGULLS,
fish supper eaters breath sigh of relief on Brighton seafront’
OTBC !!
You were kind of close, Kev 🙂
Hi Martin
Sadly I think Root has been left out to dry by the selection of this touring squad and had to go with the line on Broad and Anderson, then others didn’t turn up on the day.
WI bowlers soon found out those that were up for the fight and hit them hard and fast but that is another discussion to be had.
My Brother in laws brother one Eddie Spearitt started his career of at Ipshite then moved to Brighton played a few years there in defence but soon left once Brian Clough turned up strangely he sold him to Carlisle the one and only season they were in the old First Division caused a few opening upsets but like us got relegated.
Saturday will be an interesting game in many ways will the travelling Canaries show dissent to the Smith’s only time will tell but their backing for the team is outstanding.
Hopefully with most returning uninjured we might have a team that can get at least a point if not 3.
Hi Alex
I’d be surprised if there was dissent from what will surely be the hardcore of our regular travellers tbh, but you never know. Burnley will be a different scenario I suspect – especially if it’s yet another limp performance.
Fair point about Joe Root and I agree with both Alan H and yourself that Broad and Jimmy A should have gone to the WI – they’re the best we’ve got and they’re not getting any younger so my attitude would be that of *use them while we can*.
Cheers