Bridge joins Brighton on loan (From Daily Echo)
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Former Saints defender Wayne Bridge joins Brighton on season-long loan
4:15pm Friday 6th July 2012 in Sport
By Dan Kerins, Digital Editor
Wayne Bridge in his Saints days
Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge has moved to Brighton on a season-long loan, the Championship club announced.
The former Saints left-back has been out of favour at the Etihad Stadium for sometime, and the move to the Amex will be seen as a chance to get his career back on track.
Bridge moved to Sunderland on loan in January and had a previous spell at West Ham.
He joined Manchester City from Chelsea in 2009 and made just 42 appearances for the current champions.
Bridge left Saints for Chelsea in 2003, for a transfer deal worth £7m.
The Winchester-born left-back made his Saints debut in 1998.
Seagulls manager Gus Poyet revealed Bridge has been one of his main summer targets and is delighted to be able to bring in the former Southampton defender.
"It's difficult to say how I happy I am because it's not easy to get top-class players," Poyet said.
"I'm absolutely delighted to have Wayne with us. He's been one of the top three left-backs in this country for many years.
"There were a lot of things that had to come together to make it happen.
"Firstly, David Platt has been great at Manchester City and then Wayne and his agent have helped a lot too.
"It was not an easy one to secure, but this is what we want at this club. He's a quality player with lots of international experience.
"Wayne has played at the top of English football for a long time.
"We have all got to learn from him and I'm sure that he will have a very good season with us.
"It's going to be very nice to sit back and watch him on the pitch."
Comments(12)
gordongull
says...
5:38pm Fri 6 Jul 12
townieboy
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5:40pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Saints+Wigan fan
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5:44pm Fri 6 Jul 12
CEH393
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8:59pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Saints+Wigan fan wrote:I could not say it better myself! I had to laugh at James Beattie trying board the Saints bus again last season :-) if we were not good enough back then then sod off and rot in the lower leagues now :-)
haha oh dear Wayne going from such a hot prospect in the prem to this. Lesson to all players stay at Southampton!
Sir Ad E Noid
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12:03am Sat 7 Jul 12
CEH393
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8:39am Sat 7 Jul 12
Richard Murphy
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10:59am Sat 7 Jul 12
Sir Ad E Noid
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11:20am Sat 7 Jul 12
CEH393 wrote:Neither can I, Premier quality playing for a second rate outfit.
I am not disputing the fact he is a quality player, Ine thing I cannot understand is why no other premier league club has come in for him?
SPIKEISLANDTRADER
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4:05pm Sat 7 Jul 12
Alicesdad
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9:33am Mon 9 Jul 12
Sir Ad E Noid wrote:You are absolutely right. There is more to his demise than we see here. This is surely not where he would want to be at this stage of his career. He may think they can get up to the premiership, and maybe they can, but this is surprising.
CEH393 wrote:Neither can I, Premier quality playing for a second rate outfit.
I am not disputing the fact he is a quality player, Ine thing I cannot understand is why no other premier league club has come in for him?
He will do well at Brighton but you do wonder why a Premiership team hasn't grabbed him? Very curious.
Is there some injury issue ? I have lost interest him over the years so havent bothered to keep up with his progress.
Surely there is more to dig up on this?
lowe esteem
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2:47pm Mon 9 Jul 12
Sir Ad E Noid wrote:Would HAVE
Whatever, I would of liked him back here. I think he will do very well at Brighton. Totally agree about leaving Southampton to be a small fish in a big pond. Wasted.
Saints+Wigan fan says...
4:38pm Fri 6 Jul 12