Thetownend.com

http://www.seagulls.co.uk/page/Latest/0,,10433~2113269,00.html

Albion have completed the signing of Danish goalkeeper Casper Ankergren on a two-year deal.

The 30-year-old former Leeds United stopper has signed this morning, after passing a medical, and is expected to make his debut at Swindon Town tomorrow.

Boss Gus Poyet said, "Goalkeeper is a key position in the team, and with Peter Brezovan injured, we wanted to bring some experience to that position.

"Casper brings that experience and has played at this level, and higher. I have worked with him at Leeds United, and know exactly what he is capable of; he also knows what it takes to get promoted from League One.

Ankergren's arrival means Albion now have four senior keepers, but Poyet feels both Michael Poke and Mitch Walker had the chance to seize the number one spot during pre-season.

"I am certain that Michael Poke and Mitch Walker have great futures ahead of them, which is why we signed them both, but neither of them make me feel 100% safe right now so as a manager you need to make bold decisions.

"At the start of pre-season we saw both as players for the future, with the option to challenge Peter every day, but after Peter's injury we gave them the opportunity over the pre-season period to prove themselves, but I am not 100% convinced.

"However, I always felt it would take an outstanding pre-season, both in training and in matches for either to seize the position.

"Casper is here now, and I want Pokey, Mitch and Peter when he is fit to challenge him for the position."

Ankergren won promotion with Leeds United last season, having joined the club in 2007.

In his native Denmark he played for Køge BK and Brøndby IF, where he won the Danish double in 2005, he also won the Superliga in 2002 and the cup in 2003.

He has also won international honours at under-17 and under-21 level, and in 2006 was called up to the national squad, but did not win a cap.

All empty your change pots and clear out the back of the sofa

He's getting the dogs abuse from me.

Picked the ball out of the net 6 times last season against us..

Higgs played against us at Elland Road didn't he?

Can't remember. Even so he certainly picked the ball out of the net three times at the CG.

Correct.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow even more now :D

Brez back to reserve keeper then

I think he's injured.

He's got a wrist injury...

What a wanker.

always good to give the keeper stick .. doubly good when they actually deserve it!

 :nod: :smugfu:

lets hope we actually give him some stick, him giving us a penalty again would be nice.

4 senior 'keepers? That's just greedy.

Gus is giving himself 3 pre-prepared excuses for when Brighton aren't in the tophalf of the table by november, " its casper/peter/michael/Mitch's fault".

Although their manager seems to think at least 2 of them are shit. That'll have done their confidence a world of good

FLORESANT PAEDOPHILE!

That only works if the keeper is wearing FLUORESCENT clothing. Unfortunately Ankergren will be wearing a Spiderman outfit, making it very difficult to mock him in any way at all.

Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssssper, Caaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssper, Caaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssssssssper from the Town End please.

He's going to get some stick that you can be sure of.

Ankegren!
Ankegren!
Dooes whatever a wanker does,
Can he stop, Austin scoring?
No he can't, he's a cunt,
Look out! He is Ankegren

I've always wanted to use Spiderpig in abuse.

Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasper, Caaaaaaaaaaasper, Caaaaaaaaaaaaaasper... Gotta be done ain't it 4D?!

Ankegren!
Ankegren!
Dooes whatever a wanker does,
Can he stop, Pericard?
No he can't, hes a cunt
Look out,
He is Ankegren

That just about works.

On a more serious note, I doubt he's had a pre-season and he won't know the back four.

He's Danish, he won't understand anything. At all.

Even Danish.

When I saw they'd signed him I just wondered how brilliant Poke must feel about now. Especially coming out and saying he's not good enough, so he had to get someone else in. That is a master-stroke in how to smash the morale of your team in a double quick time. Can't be good for anyone in the back 4 or even team mates of Poke et al.

I was thinking something similar. If he's not had a quiet word with Poke before/after this interview then it will be pretty hard for the guy to take.

+ 1

Ankergren is rubbish. I would rather we played Walker tomorrow. We played our #2 goalkeeper against you in 2008, when we somehow won 2-0, that man was John Sullivan (now on loan at Yeovil for the season, from Millwall)... and Walker is already looking a better goalkeeper to me. But there you go.

I agree with Poyet on the Poke issue, he's been dreadful during preseason and doesn't look good enough. But Walker? Inexperienced, yes. But he has potential, and he's ready to play.

I could be wrong here but didn't poyet (under wise) do something similar with us: Got smith in as backup keeper and when he was needed got a really dodgy loan keeper in instead. Then sturrock came in and sacked off the loan keeper?

Yep you're wrong...

Andy Lonergan?

Stop digging.

Lonergan was fuck all to do with Wise and Poyet.

please elaborate mr smeeton, i distinctly remember a very dodgy keeper coming in on loan cos wise/poyet didn't trust smith. I'll admit to being sketchy on detail but i'm not completely senile (I Hope ?)

No.

Wise played Smith
Wise left
Williams was put in charge
Williams got Lonergan in
Lonergan played twice and cost us 2 games
Sturrock came in
Sturrock sent Lonergan packing
Smith started in goal again and we won again.

Memory, great when it works...

I hope everyone's stocked up on coins. I went and swapped a few quid for bags of 2ps at the bank yesterday if anyone's short. I also have a few laser pens. Hit me up on pm if you need arming.

We all agreeeeeeeeeeeeee that ankergren is a wanker a wanker a wanker!

I'm gonna chuck a zippo this time.

Indeed it is. Lonergan came in on a month's loan to regain fitness after being out with an injury and left at the end of that month, having clearly still been struggling with fitness. He wasn't "sent packing" by anyone, it was a "punt" loan that didn't work out. That happens, you know

and it turns out that lonergan is actually pretty good.

Quite. When he doesn't have an eye injury. But he was pretty shit for us, albeit because he hadn't fully recovered from the injury

yes. vision does normally help goalkeepers.  :)