Brighton (H) | Post-Match Thread

[Gremlin]

If you look at the attendances at St. James’s when they were shit, the answer is they were in the boozer.
Him: ”Just going to watch the Toon, darling”
Her: “A likely story.”

'pet', not 'darling', surely?

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

Can't see it. He got a rise and nobody is going to want him with his age and wages.

We should have got what we could in the summer or offered him as a makeweight for somebody else.

He's obviously content at City, but Pep won't give up on him and his quality just yet.

He still has the ability to pass perfectly on a dime and doesn't lose the ball. In the buildup going forward can't really find mistakes with him till he runs into a man and can't dribble past where as Palmer can sit people down.

His future might lie as a backup attacking midfielder or double pivot when we're trying to rest the big guns and need him to do a job moving the ball along.

I think you're right that he can't be moved on, but he is happy here and the team seems to love the Riyad Pasta.

 

[supercity88]

Agreed Bill but this season other than the Rags and possibly the Dippers we don’t appear to be fully at it. I know we are changing the way we play but I am worried that better teams will find us out. Brighton are arguably the best footballing team we will play (maybe the Arse) and they had more possession and made us look very vulnerable. Wolves controlled the ball with 10 men against us as well (without hurting us) and the Toon basically took it to us. We have lost the control somewhat and I hope we figure it out soon as my nerves and nails can’t take it!

I'm with you on this. I think we're miles off it still. Lots of basic errors, poor passing and Haaland has had to save us so many times already. We were down and out against Newcastle but dragged ourselves back into it thanks to him being a focal point. Same against Palace. Away at Villa we were really poor. Saturday was really sloppy, possibly our poorest performance and whilst you do have to give credit to Brighton we shouldn't be stifled so easily by a side of their stature like it or not.

I think for all the early criticism of ignoring Haaland we've now slightly overcompensated and we're trying to find him too often and too early and not being more patient in our build up. Our first instinct is to try and find him, and why not when he scores so easily. But sometimes we're not quite as balanced as a result because inevitably we do give the ball away when looking for him. Having said that Pep will very much be nursing us through this period to the WC. The target will have been to win the CL group, be close to if not top of the league and still in the league cup. He can then work hard and manage things post-WC knowing it's all within the control of the club then.

 

[AirbagsOptionalTheReturn]

I honestly think mate that we were as good as we needed to be v Brighton.
I think Pep has drilled into the lads to conserve energy with so many games in our season.
We stayed in lower gears because we could.

I really hope you are right

 

[domalino]

I'm with you on this. I think we're miles off it still. Lots of basic errors, poor passing and Haaland has had to save us so many times already. We were down and out against Newcastle but dragged ourselves back into it thanks to him being a focal point. Same against Palace. Away at Villa we were really poor. Saturday was really sloppy, possibly our poorest performance and whilst you do have to give credit to Brighton we shouldn't be stifled so easily by a side of their stature like it or not.

I think for all the early criticism of ignoring Haaland we've now slightly overcompensated and we're trying to find him too often and too early and not being more patient in our build up. Our first instinct is to try and find him, and why not when he scores so easily. But sometimes we're not quite as balanced as a result because inevitably we do give the ball away when looking for him. Having said that Pep will very much be nursing us through this period to the WC. The target will have been to win the CL group, be close to if not top of the league and still in the league cup. He can then work hard and manage things post-WC knowing it's all within the control of the club then.

We’ve only reached 8/10 in the derby and we coughed up 3 stupid goals that brought that down.

This team has miles to go before it hits its potential- I think peps saying the same when he says KDB hasn’t been at his best.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Agreed Bill but this season other than the Rags and possibly the Dippers we don’t appear to be fully at it. I know we are changing the way we play but I am worried that better teams will find us out. Brighton are arguably the best footballing team we will play (maybe the Arse) and they had more possession and made us look very vulnerable. Wolves controlled the ball with 10 men against us as well (without hurting us) and the Toon basically took it to us. We have lost the control somewhat and I hope we figure it out soon as my nerves and nails can’t take it!

I agree with that. We have sacrificed some of our control for Haaland but it’s worth the gamble and I love watching him. We have made a big mistake not signing a competent full back this season for me. Seeing our CB’s at right back is painful at times and a better side will take advantage. Just have to hope Walker stays fit from Jan onwards or that we sign someone in Jan.

 

[supercity88]

I agree with that. We have sacrificed some of our control for Haaland but it’s worth the gamble and I love watching him. We have made a big mistake not signing a competent full back this season for me. Seeing our CB’s at right back is painful at times and a better side will take advantage. Just have to hope Walker stays fit from Jan onwards or that we sign someone in Jan.

Akanji has been excellent but he wasn't on it at the weekend and Trossard's goal came from him being uncertain whether to mark the RB space or follow the man - he wrongly assumed Dias was dealing with him.

I'm hopeful that our young lads like Rico Lewis and Wilson-Esbrand keep getting minutes and can be proper squad members next season. Realistically we'll have to enter the market though. Walker's not been on it, but hopefully once his injury is sorted his pace will remain and he'll be able to contribute for another couple of years.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Akanji has been excellent but he wasn't on it at the weekend and Trossard's goal came from him being uncertain whether to mark the RB space or follow the man - he wrongly assumed Dias was dealing with him.

I'm hopeful that our young lads like Rico Lewis and Wilson-Esbrand keep getting minutes and can be proper squad members next season. Realistically we'll have to enter the market though. Walker's not been on it, but hopefully once his injury is sorted his pace will remain and he'll be able to contribute for another couple of years.

The RB struggles were beginning to materialise last season,Walkers form/fitness was inconsistent and Cancelo's inability to prove his ability in the role were both red flags for the club.Instead,the warning signs have been largely ignored and we are left playing square pegs in the position.

Akanji is being hung out to dry in the position,which will only pull our defence apart,cause misunderstanding,and a lack of confidence for the lad.

We'd do better to play Lewis in the role and then at least have Akanji,Dias,and Cancelo doing what hey do best.

 

[supercity88]

The RB struggles were beginning to materialise last season,Walkers form/fitness was inconsistent and Cancelo's inability to prove his ability in the role were both red flags for the club.Instead,the warning signs have been largely ignored and we are left playing square pegs in the position.

Akanji is being hung out to dry in the position,which will only pull our defence apart,cause misunderstanding,and a lack of confidence for the lad.

We'd do better to play Lewis in the role and then at least have Akanji,Dias,and Cancelo doing what hey do best.

Completely agree. Last season we were down to bare bones at the back. Stones played at RB in the CL semi until he went off injured and Fernandinho took over. We managed to get Walker back for the away leg, but he went off before the collapse and Cancelo had to switch from LB. Our back four for the last few games really exposed us at times. Ferny was a car crash!

Having brought in Gomez and Akanji we've at least got cover should we need it. Akanji and Ake aren't full backs, but having said that they can play there and 90% of the time we'll still win the game. There aren't many games it truly costs us. But it's definitely an area we could improve on dramatically and be an even better side. I love seeing Wilson-Esbrand and Lewis driving up and down the pitch. Their energy is fantastic. We're not often under the cosh so just having the pace to be in position is 50% of the job and closing things down. In an attacking sense both are solid on the ball and able to get into attacking positions. Cancelo is clearly a better player right now, but having a left footer on the left side is still beneficial in certain games.