Now the dust has settled, Ian Hart reflects on Danny Welbeck’s move to Chelsea
After it initially broke last Monday, for the majority of Albion fans, the whole Danny Welbeck saga was like watching your dear old Nan crashing her Austin Allegro in slow motion.
But it’s done now, he’s a Chelsea player, and will get the early chance to line up against his old teammates at Stamford Bridge on Bank Holiday Sunday.
Over the years given the very nature of the wonderful world of the Albion, my columns are reactionary, at times knee jerk.
Last Tuesday, I put one such column out, whilst now the dust has settled and I realise - as always with the Albion - there are effectively three sides to every story. The overall sentiment is still there, for a player of Danny’s ability and experience to lose him at this stage of the pre-season is a huge negative.
Regarding the aforementioned settling of the dust, the obvious question as more information comes to light is ‘Did he jump, or was he pushed?’
Brighton got the best Welbeck
I don’t think we will ever really know, but as was pointed out to me at Goodwood last Thursday by a somewhat confused Chelsea fan, Brighton have clearly had the best out of Welbeck.
He’s not going to get any better, there are question marks over his fitness, so to get £7million, however minimal in the footballing grand scheme of things, it’s still seven million quid!
My Chelsea mate also reckoned he will struggle to play 10 games in that squad. So, whilst I’ve no doubt it came down to what Chelsea were prepared to pay him for two years, up against what Brighton had committed for the next 12 months, footballing wise it’s almost like Welbeck’s version of ‘Last of the Summer Wine’.
Brighton must replace Welbeck
But he’s gone, and whilst part of me is still gutted, I do wish him well, but the onus is clearly on the Albion to replace him and hopefully before we venture to Norway or Romania on 20 August for the first leg of the Qualifying Round of the Conference League.
And by replacement, it has to be just that. Apples for apples, not some ‘prospect’ who will hopefully do great things ‘one day’?
Is the answer Evan Ferguson?
Someone who can scores goals at this level, now. But is the answer not right in front of us? In the form of Evan Ferguson.
Maybe if he has that bit of belief in himself, the same from the manager and an extended run in the team, then he can become the striker we all believed he could be.
But if not Ferguson, we need some ‘white smoke’ from the Amex chimney ASAP.
No boos for Welbeck
Re Danny, would I boo him on his potential return to the Amex? A big no!
It’s both disrespectful for a player who ultimately served us well regardless of the manner of his exit and it achieves nothing.
Fun fact, I didn’t even boo Graham Potter (even though he probably deserved it after the history lesson’ soundbite!).
In fact the only time I’ve ever booed anyone at the Albion, it was at the Goldstone, and it was entirely aimed at three individuals.
No prizes for guessing, it was Messrs Archer, Stanley and Belotti.