Albion Make Record Signing!

Record signing Craig Mackail-Smith



Brighton & Hove Albion today smashed their previous transfer record with the £2.5 million pound signing of former Peterborough striker Craig Mackail-Smith. The 27 year old won 'League One Player of the Year' last season and scored 35 goals for his former club. Astonishingly he has signed a four year deal which will delight Albion fans. I really rate Mackail-Smith who is the perfect replacement for Crystal Palace bound Glenn Murray, in my view CMS is a better all round player than Murray and I think our style of play will suit him perfectly. I assume that the player could probably have got higher wages at the other clubs showing an interest but it seems that he places a higher importance on the footballing reasons for joining a club rather than the financial reasons and he probably will want a guarantee of first team football which Albion will give him. Great, a player that actually wants to play for us for the right reasons - he's going to be a real favourite with the Albion fans.

He was Gus Poyet's number one target and Gus will be very pleased to have got his man. This is a stunning piece of business and shows that the Albion manager obviously has a persuasive way with words as he beat Leicester, West Ham and Premier League outfit QPR to sign up the much sought after player. The fee is rumoured to increase to £3.25 million after appearances and shows that the club are serious about becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Championship this season.

The signing of Mackail-Smith will doubtless attract other players to join the Gus bus for what looks like becoming a very exciting journey through 2011-12. The new stadium, the style of football and most importantly the manager are what players will find irresistible. Albion just have to keep an eye on the wage bill to make sure they don't let things run away with them too much but at the moment the future looks very interesting. Albion fans will be delighted that such an exciting prospect is joining the squad and will be impressed that the board of directors are showing their intent with the record investment they have made. The Seagull fans now can't wait for the season to start.

Craig Mackail-Smith at the Amex