IT's good that Albion are still talking about the play-offs as a target for this season but anyone who witnessed Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Huddersfield will surely have concluded that it is just a pipedream.
There needs to be a marked improvement throughout the whole set-up if Albion are going to get even close to a sniff of Wembley come May.
The harsh reality is that the current squad is simply not good enough to maintain a serious challenge.
A bit like the manager in his playing days in the heart of Brighton's midfield, there is a lot of pretty passing, some of which can be quite attractive to watch. But all too often it is all in vain because it seldom results in worthwhile chances on goal.
Against Huddersfield, with the exception of Elphick's header direct from a corner, and Forster's glaring miss when one on one with the 'keeper following Reid's slide-rule pass, there were only two real chances of note, both from set pieces, when Whing might have done better and the 'keeper saved comfortably.
Argus reporter Andy Naylor says the Albion desperately need wingers if they are going to mount a challenge, and he's probably right. Cox, playing on the left, forever has to cut back onto his right foot and put in a more predictable and less dangerous ball. From the right, we just don't have anyone who can reach the deadball line and whip in a dangerous cross.It makes all the approach play easier to defend.
Steve Thomson made a sound debut as the latest 'water carrier' - fetching the ball off the back four and spraying the ball around, and he may well be more effective when playing alongside Dean Hammond, who commands the centre of midfield more effectively than Reid.
But the Albion are still missing that strange spark that Bas Savage brought to the side. No-one is quite sure how he did it, but he was very effective playing alongside Forster in a way Alex Revell simply isn't. No-one could fault Revell for effort, but his touch is poor and so play is ponderous around him, while he is trying to bring the ball under control.
David Martot had probably his best game in an Albion shirt against Huddersfield - he certainly gets through more work than Robinson - but he too misses an important edge to give Albion a genuine dangerous thrust in important areas.
The mind-numbingly slow response from the management team in introducing substitutes continues to frustrate, with Nathan Elder once again given far too little time to make a difference in being introduced with 87 minutes on the clock.
Discounting the modest following from Yorkshire, the Albion crowd was down to just 5,153 on Saturday and many more performances like that will see the number fall easily short of 4,500 if there is nothing to play for.
At least two more signings before the window closes might make a difference - let's hope for everyone's sake they are made.Labels: Huddersfield Town, League One, Nick Turrell
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