THE completion of Sebastien Carole's transfer to the Withdean Stadium two years ago was dependent in part on Brighton's willingness to sweeten his contract with a relegation release clause. Carole liked the thought of joining a Championship club, but the details of his deal revealed slight uncertainty over the likelihood of Brighton remaining in that division. Having come to England from Monaco by way of a loan at West Ham United, the Frenchman also seemed personally concerned about the prospect of being dragged out of the country's primary two divisions. The clause was exercised last summer when Albion's relegation gave Leeds United the opportunity to sign Carole on a free transfer, but moving north to United was not the escape it appeared to be. The winger began on the fringes of United's squad, and then disappeared from view altogether. As recently as the summer just gone, Carole's future role with Leeds was clouded in doubt.
He had seen himself as a Championship player, but Dennis Wise was not entirely certain whether Carole could meet the requirements of League One. The answer provided has been so conclusive that his is now among the first names scribbled onto Wise's teamsheet.
"Seb has become a better player," said Wise. "He also realised that when he thought he was doing great he was actually doing not-so-great. His agent had a chat with him and said 'Seb, if you don't do it at this level then what are you going to do?' I think he knows it's a big year for him, and so far he's been fantastic. He's in a strong situation because he's first, second or third on my team sheet at the moment. That's because of how well he's playing." Carole's form should not be a surprise. He was a student of Didier Deschamps at Monaco and was talented enough to convince Alan Pardew to take him to West Ham on loan from the Mediterranean principality in 2004, 12 months before Brighton prised him from Monaco. But after only four months at Elland Road, Leeds were reflecting on his modest impact and wondering whether a parting of ways might suit both the club and the player. Their doubts forced Carole to swallow an unhealthy dose of reality, and decide if the transfer had been a mistake. He chose instead to ride out the storm. The watershed for Carole came this summer when, frustrated by a number of the 25-year-old's performances, Wise sent him home to analyse video recordings of his own displays.
Wise had raised several criticisms, and Carole saw his point. The effect has been gradually evident this season, and last weekend he produced arguably his most influential display during United's 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient.
Carole said:
"The manager gave me some videos of pre-season games and showed me what I needed to do, and what I didn't do. He wanted me to cross the ball and to be more decisive in the team. He used the video to explain things properly and it's important to watch yourself. I've tried to change to make myself better. At the moment it's working and I hope it keeps working all season long. A football player has to improve every day and every year, and with every manager. I've known a lot of managers – Didier Deschamps at Monaco, Mark McGhee at Brighton and Alan Pardew at West Ham. You need to learn from them. I've done six or seven assists and scored two goals, and when you do that you deserve a place in the starting 11. But everyone here can play in this team."By coincidence, both of Carole's goals have come during the two games in which United have dropped points this season, against Gillingham last month and Leyton Orient last Saturday. Carole was the dominant influence in Wise's line-up against Orient, and his majestic goal in the 55th-minute earned Leeds their point. Tomorrow will see his first appearance at Brighton since his transfer to Elland Road, but the pressure on his position is such that he will pay little attention to the personal significance of United's 12th League One fixture. The right-footed winger has been tied to the left-side of midfield this season, but the competition for places in what is often a problematic position for English managers has grown fierce. Ian Westlake has matched Carole's tally of goals this season in a third of the number of starts, and Filipe Da Costa possesses pace which neither of the Portuguese's colleagues can contend with.
"Seb has to keep it up," said Wise. "Westlake is waiting, and Da Costa is waiting. A few of them are, and Seb knows that if he slips below he could be sitting next to me. A lot of players are fed up of sitting next to me, and they want to get in. But it's impossible at the moment, it really is."Carole appears untroubled by the internal rivalry at Elland Road.
"In football you've always got competition between players, and I think it's good," he said. "It puts pressure on every player and I'll have to work hard to stay in my position."His experience of Yorkshire has not developed as he thought it might when he left Brighton, but his potential is brimming now in the way United expected it would 15 months ago.The former Monaco trainee has laid on more goals than any other player at Elland Road – a meaningful statistic which has supported United's run of 11 games without defeat – and Leeds will look again to his creativity tomorrow. The Withdean Stadium can be an unforgiving stadium, as Carole knows well. The Frenchman played for Brighton against Leeds in 2006, when United lost on the south coast. Albion's 2-1 victory earned three points for a side who would later finish at the foot of the Championship against a team who were working towards the play-off final.
Carole said:
"I don't think they've got a secret, but it is a difficult place to go because it's not the best stadium in the world. Every game is difficult but this one is especially because we haven't got the crowd we're used to having for every game, because of the stadium. We have to deal with that and play like we've been playing. And we absolutely have to win."
