By Tim Hodges from the Amex press briefing
Gus Poyet was conspicuous by his absence at the Amex press conference this morning as first team coach Charlie Oatway took to the chair and looked ahead to tomorrow’s clash at fellow play-off contenders Hull City.
Oatway said that Liam Bridcutt would travel to Hull despite having a recurrent back problem but should be fine for tomorrow night. Will Buckley will also travel despite a tight hamstring. A lot of the players have a degree of stiffness relating to the journey to and from Liverpool and not just exertions from the game.
Oatway was adamant that there would be no hangover from the cup match as the club approached the Hull game with a play-off place at stake.
Oatway considers the Tigers one of the best teams to have played at the Amex saying that they were very difficult to play against.
He commented on the performance and goals conceded at Anfield jokingly saying that he had verbally battered the team. He went on to heap praise on Luis Suarez and said that the defenders should see it as a bad day at the office and put it behind them.
Albion almost have an embarrassment of riches in terms of selection tomorrow night with not only new boys Gai Assulin and Abdul Razak available, but also Gonzalo Jara Reyes, Joe Mattock and Matt Sparrow. He said that it had given him and Gus Poyet a headache so far.
On the subject of the manager, and the press speculation regarding Wolves, Oatway said that Poyet would be picked up on the team bus as it headed north towards the M25. This would save the boss and Mauricio Taricco from an unnecessary journey into Brighton early this morning.
Oatway told Brighton and Hove News how much the Albion had evolved in his time here. He was obviously pleased with the way that the club has progressed, commenting on all the new facilities including the university training ground and how the club had helped the university with obtaining the new pitches and facilities. He discusess the proposed new a training academy with Poyet and David Burke most weeks.
He seemed particularly delighted with the new club doctor who, he said, diagnosed injuries almost instantly.
He said that he considered the Albion his club and wanted to carry on being involved with the Seagulls as long as he can.
