[Albion] Fab's pre-Leicester presser

[Han Solo]

If Cashin hadn't got thrown in vs Villa, I guess we would all be saying "this is why we bought him" and assuming he would play. A bad experience (it was only 20 mins) vs. Villa can't change that. He's a young CB, inexperienced at this level but ultimately has been bought in for this kind of scenario? I would be very surprised if he doesn't start. That said, Its a big test, made bigger with more pressure heaped on becuase of his debut experience and the subsequent form of the team that had sections of our fan-base waving the players away at Palace. A nervous, anxious Amex can turn negatively, and that can be the only reason not to give him another run. If he doesn't play then it makes throwing him on vs Villa even more bizarre, assuming some or all of the alternatives being suggested would have been possible at that time

We were down a goal against Villa, didn't want to risk playing Dunk and Cashin was on the bench. Not much to lose.

If we're a few goals up or a few goals down against Leicester, I'm sure he'll play a bit.

 

[jackalbion]

Obviously, Cashin is a gamble signing. He only costed £9m, which normally gives you the armpit of a PL defender these days. He may not be good enough and perhaps will be sent on loan. But its impossible to tell at this point. The manager possibly not starting a severly match unfit rookie in a game we desperately need to win really says nothing, even though people are very keen on reading a lot into it because they simply don't like the player.

He’s 23, I expect a fair amount of ability for a player brought in at 23. Not one who needs time on loan, or developing. Of course he will develop, but send him on loan, and he will be 24, and then we aren’t really getting the most out of this. He’s not a super young player, it IMO blocks pathway for players that we can develop ourselves.

Severely match unfit? He’s been sitting on the bench for months, if he’s severely match unfit, why hasn’t he been given minutes for the U21? I’m not writing him off, but if he isn’t deemed good enough to be playing one of the worst sides in the league, when we have injuries, I’m afraid I can’t ever see a scenario where he is going to play for us, except in early rounds of the league and fa cup against lower league opposition, which this season would have been 2 appearances.

 

[jackalbion]

We were down a goal against Villa, didn't want to risk playing Dunk and Cashin was on the bench. Not much to lose.

If we're a few goals up or a few goals down against Leicester, I'm sure he'll play a bit.

If that’s the only opportunity he is being given when we’re 3 goals up, why did we move McConnville on? He was perfectly capable of that role.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

If Cashin isn't seen as good enough to start against Leicester you have to wonder why on earth we have bought him. Why didn't we just keep McConville?

I assume that Eiran Cashin would be banging on the gaffer's door on Monday morning, if he doesn't start.

 

[Bozza]

If that’s the only opportunity he is being given when we’re 3 goals up, why did we move McConnville on? He was perfectly capable of that role.

McConnville was out of contract this summer and wasn't going to sign a new deal.

Our options were:

1. Retain him and let him walk away.
2. Get a small fee for him now, but lock in the possibility for a lot of future upside by way of the sell-on if he turns out to be a great player.

If we'd kept hold of him he probably wold have only played the same few minutes as Cashin up to this point.

 

[severnside gull]

Wow! Writing off Cashin for being caught upfield when we were chasing the game. Whether or not he plays the degree of castigation based on 20 minutes playing time is ridiculous.

 

[Merlin57]

Wow! Writing off Cashin for being caught upfield when we were chasing the game. Whether or not he plays the degree of castigation based on 20 minutes playing time is ridiculous.

I questioned the pursuit of Cashin, still don’t get why we would sign a central defender who’s barely six foot, if he was very quick, then that would compensate for his lack of height, but he’s far from quick. So, if he’s overlooked tomorrow as Dunks central defensive partner, what does that say about the guy?

 

[Han Solo]

He’s 23, I expect a fair amount of ability for a player brought in at 23. Not one who needs time on loan, or developing. Of course he will develop, but send him on loan, and he will be 24, and then we aren’t really getting the most out of this. He’s not a super young player, it IMO blocks pathway for players that we can develop ourselves.

Severely match unfit? He’s been sitting on the bench for months, if he’s severely match unfit, why hasn’t he been given minutes for the U21? I’m not writing him off, but if he isn’t deemed good enough to be playing one of the worst sides in the league, when we have injuries, I’m afraid I can’t ever see a scenario where he is going to play for us, except in early rounds of the league and fa cup against lower league opposition, which this season would have been 2 appearances.

Yeah he's a little bit of a late bloomer but there are few starting defenders in the PL who are 24 and below. Van Hecke turns 25 this summer and is only doing his second season as a starter. And he is considered one of the best CB talents in the world. Its a role where experience is deemded very valuable. And he isn't blocking anyones pathway because there's no young left-sided CBs that are anywhere near able to play in the PL for us now.

If that’s the only opportunity he is being given when we’re 3 goals up, why did we move McConnville on? He was perfectly capable of that role.

Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't. Cashin was a top performing defender in the Championship, McConnville can't get on the pitch. Its quite possible we signed a more ready player.

Regardless, it doesn't matter much. Ruari McConnville is a right-footed defender and we have no problems and will have no problems finding plenty of those at a reasonable cost.

Finding left-footed CBs is a different story. Its a bit like finding a top striker but arguably even more difficult. Every team that wants to build from the back wants a left-footed defender. Plenty have to accept that there's simply not enough good left-footed CBs on the market. Whenever someone breaks through, they'll have a dozen teams chasing them down. If we want a chance in getting a good left-footed CB, we have to find him before someone else does. Or sign players like Igor or Boscagli who can be placeholders while the eternal chase continues.

Cashin fits the bill. Sure, one or two years older than when we started chasing him, but a young, statistically high-performing defender with a very good left foot and who was available at a fairly cheap price. His chances of becoming a Brighton starter might not be massive, but his chances of replacing Igor as backup-LCB and/or getting sold with a profit seems very good.

 

[jackalbion]

McConnville was out of contract this summer and wasn't going to sign a new deal.

Our options were:

1. Retain him and let him walk away.
2. Get a small fee for him now, but lock in the possibility for a lot of future upside by way of the sell-on if he turns out to be a great player.

If we'd kept hold of him he probably wold have only played the same few minutes as Cashin up to this point.

But that’s my point, he could have well signed a new deal if he played Cashin’s role. We shall see who starts tomorrow, but it does slightly look like we’ve spent £9m on a player we don’t intend to use or trust playing one of the worst sides in the league. Hope he does play, but it looks more and more like a very strange one to me.

 

[jackalbion]

Wow! Writing off Cashin for being caught upfield when we were chasing the game. Whether or not he plays the degree of castigation based on 20 minutes playing time is ridiculous.

Not suggesting he is written off, just incredibly puzzled why we have him if he doesn’t play tomorrow.

 

[Han Solo]

But that’s my point, he could have well signed a new deal if he played Cashin’s role. We shall see who starts tomorrow, but it does slightly look like we’ve spent £9m on a player we don’t intend to use or trust playing one of the worst sides in the league. Hope he does play, but it looks more and more like a very strange one to me.

Do you know this? That McConnville would have signed a new contract if he was guaranteed to play 18 minutes of football, a.k.a. Cashins role so far? Or is it a very hypothetical scenario?

 

[Left Footer]

I know Vardy isn't what he was but do you not think Leicester's tactic will be defend deep and when they get the ball knock it long for him to chase?
Can't see Dunk, Cashin or Wieffer in a foot race with him, only Baleba could give him a run for his money.

 

[Bozza]

But that’s my point, he could have well signed a new deal if he played Cashin’s role. We shall see who starts tomorrow, but it does slightly look like we’ve spent £9m on a player we don’t intend to use or trust playing one of the worst sides in the league. Hope he does play, but it looks more and more like a very strange one to me.

He didn't want to sign a new deal and wasn't going to.

 

[jackalbion]

He didn't want to sign a new deal and wasn't going to.

And is that because he didn’t see a route to first team minutes as we were spending money on new players instead of developing within? With possible news of this with another player, it’s just seems that the pathway is being blocked from the academy and that could be detrimental to developing a lot of talent. It’s beyond the point however, IF he doesn’t start against Leicester, I don’t think I’ll be the only one wondering why we bought him. The player in question is Cashin and I hope he starts tomorrow.

Do you know this? That McConnville would have signed a new contract if he was guaranteed to play 18 minutes of football, a.k.a. Cashins role so far? Or is it a very hypothetical scenario?

Yes this is a discussion so it of course is very hypothetical, but I just see it personally as some young players are seeing a lot of traffic between U21 and First Team. I don’t believe that is positive for a club, that attracts a lot of talent due to its pathway to first team football.

 

[Han Solo]

I know Vardy isn't what he was but do you not think Leicester's tactic will be defend deep and when they get the ball knock it long for him to chase?
Can't see Dunk, Cashin or Wieffer in a foot race with him, only Baleba could give him a run for his money.

Well, we are going to make them defend deep whether they want it or not.

The key to dealing with those long balls is always to make sure that we pressure players on the ball so that they can't make measured passes. At this level, if you don't close a player down, he's going to do what he tries to do.

Sure, there will likely the be the odd chance for them but if our midfield and attackers make life miserable for their garbage defense and midfield, our defenders shouldn't get into too many 50-50 duels against Vardy. And the days of him creating stuff out of nowhere are gone.

 

[The Grockle]

People who are writing off Cashin will do well to remember how poor Van Hecke was in a few of his early performances. Positions further up the pitch are much more forgiving in terms of rustiness and bedding in.

 

[Jeremiah]

But that’s my point, he could have well signed a new deal if he played Cashin’s role. We shall see who starts tomorrow, but it does slightly look like we’ve spent £9m on a player we don’t intend to use or trust playing one of the worst sides in the league. Hope he does play, but it looks more and more like a very strange one to me.

Didn't we do they same thing with that CH from Pompey (Clarke ?) . Signed him any never played him and has been sold or out on loan (Derby ?). All very strange.

 

[Eric Youngs Contact Lens]

We were down a goal against Villa, didn't want to risk playing Dunk and Cashin was on the bench. Not much to lose.

If we're a few goals up or a few goals down against Leicester, I'm sure he'll play a bit.

Fair, and I get the rationale, but in the context of the game, we were only 1 down, we were pushing to equalise and leaving the back line exposed against a renowned counter-attacking team with pace, strength etc etc. It seemed a big ask for a first PL run out alongside another young CB especially if Fab thinks we have other options to play there Wieffer, Baleba for example - the loss for me could be the player's confidence - he may be much stronger than that of course but I just don't get why he wasn't bought on for example at Saints, when we were 3-0 up and cruising - a few minutes to build some confidence.

I expect him to start on Saturday and really hope he starts well to get the crowd on side and support him against a wily old fox like Vardy!!

 

[Justice]

People who are writing off Cashin will do well to remember how poor Van Hecke was in a few of his early performances. Positions further up the pitch are much more forgiving in terms of rustiness and bedding in.

I suppose it’s confusing why we are dropping down to this level of player now he’s played the majority of his football in league 1 , no other PL club was remotely interested in him and he appears to have no attributes a PL CB needs to succeed.

 

[Han Solo]

Didn't we do they same thing with that CH from Pompey (Clarke ?) . Signed him any never played him and has been sold or out on loan (Derby ?). All very strange.

Clarke was a signing recommended by Potter after he and Macauley scouted him as a potential Swansea signing.

Didn't work out. Maybe both due to Clarkes injury problems and Potter/Macauley at that point not being entirely aware of the level demanded in the PL.