Brighton & Hove Albion (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

[paulchapo]

We're all spoilt to a certain degree.

I hate it when supporters try to make enemies of each other because we have different ways of analysing where we are.

However, I do really get wound up by delusion, and there's a lot of this about.

We have to accept that the loss of Rodri is massively more of an issue than it should be, but it is what it is.

If anybody cannot see that the team out there is a million miles off where we need to be to win the title they are absolutely deluding themselves.

This is the longest losing run since the Stuart Pearce era in 2005-06. Not even in 2006-07 did we lose four on the spin. What's more, we've deserved to lose them all. One good half an hour in the last two games has been followed by an hour of absolute tosh.

I'm very grateful for all I have seen in previous years. It's been more than I can ever have dreamed of, but let's not kid ourselves. That era is over. Anyone who truly believes that this City team can come back from this is living in a dream world.

At the end of the day, losing doesn't hurt that much. What does hurt is seeing players that don't share the same work-ethic that has made our team so brilliant over the last few years. Unfortunately, it's all too prevalent. With those players playing, we can forget any hopes of winning the title or Champions League this year.

While I agree we are seeing the end of an era due to age catching up with some of our stellar players, let's put some perspective on today. Here are the players that were unavailable to us. Ake, Dias, Akanji, Stones, Doku, Grealish. As a result we had to play a half fit Walker, a rookie kid at center half and another kid in Lewis that should be being nurtured like Foden was but can't due to our injury crisis. Kev isn't even half fit but he was thrown on to try and turn the tide. We are also missing the heartbeat of our side, Rodri. No team in world football is ripping up trees with all these issues. In spite of all this atm we sit five points ahead of Arsenal. Yes Liverpool are flying but they've ridden their luck so far in a few games I've seen them play. If they lose VVD and a couple of other key players let's see how it affects them.

Given the magnificent efforts from this squad over the last few years some burn out was bound to happen. My one criticism is our recruitment hasn't been from the top drawer the last couple of years.

Let's see where we are if we ever get a fully fit squad back. By then it may be too late for the title but we'll see.

 

[Plays By Sense Of Smell]

Unfortunately it looks quite likely that Kev is well past his best now too.Are you saying these players ages have gone under the radar with the powers that be?I know it’s hard to sign top players etc as essentially back up,but ffs!Bottom half in net spend table!That is never going to be sustainable,..even with Pep.

Re: Kev, he’s still only just back from a long term injury.
Watch and learn…

 

[Plays By Sense Of Smell]

While I agree we are seeing the end of an era due to age catching up with some of our stellar players, let's put some perspective on today. Here are the players that were unavailable to us. Ake, Dias, Akanji, Stones, Doku, Grealish. As a result we had to play a half fit Walker, a rookie kid at center half and another kid in Lewis that should be being nurtured like Foden was but can't due to our injury crisis. Kev isn't even half fit but he was thrown on to try and turn the tide. We are also missing the heartbeat of our side, Rodri. No team in world football is ripping up trees with all these issues. In spite of all this atm we sit five points ahead of Arsenal. Yes Liverpool are flying but they've ridden their luck so far in a few games I've seen them play. If they lose VVD and a couple of other key players let's see how it affects them.

Given the magnificent efforts from this squad over the last few years some burn out was bound to happen. My one criticism is our recruitment hasn't been from the top drawer the last couple of years.

Let's see where we are if we ever get a fully fit squad back. By then it may be too late for the title but we'll see.

This.

 

[PeterBarnesShorts]

Re: Kev, he’s still only just back from a long term injury.
Watch and learn…

I hope you’re right,but time waits for no man,..and injuries certainly don’t help.

 

[Blue-Ghana]

Don't agree. He NEVER finds a City player, falls to bits with excellent chances, and is windy in the tackle. I don't see anything in him.

Doku is less crap, but crap. Grealish I prefer, but he's a mess, right now.

Grealish is a 100 million dud, can't score, and can't even beat a man. Nunes has shown more ability to beat man than Grealish ever had. Doku is frustrating but at least he tries, Grealish is the most passive player ever, just passes it backward. into his 4th season and only 11 goals. Savinho looks more refined than Doku to me, once KDB starts playing regularly, you will see him scoring more goals.

 

[doobyedoobye]

Unfortunately with such a lean squad, the kind of injuries we have plus the absence of Rodri then this volatility is hardly surprising. I'm not convinced that Pep's contract situation is playing such a massive role in the dip but it may have effected the transfer windows though..

 

[citymad]

Same old problem. One pass and any half decent team is right through at our back 4 and goal. Spurs and Liverpool will also tear us to shreds if we keep lining up the way we currently do.

Peps system demands a Holding Midfielder to be stationed in the area in front of the back 4 - Kovacic isn't one btw. That midfielder needs to recognise where danger is and put the fire out quickly before disaster. We had 1 of these types of player in the entire club - 1! He's been telling you he's knackered for 18 months and now he's out.

We did nothing to back him up last summer when the need was blatantly clear. Even wider the issue being our last 3 windows have done nothing to address the gaping needs of an aging squad, with a fair few who have run their race already.

Our midfield is old, slow and badly in need of legs, muscle and fresh invention. Up front we laughably have 1 striker in the entire senior squad - 1! And yet we trousered over £150m last summer but did nothing having sold the deputy. Pep wangs on all the time about playing 60-70 games - I assume he expects Haaland to play in just about all of them. At right back Walker is a very fading force who's one greatest asset - speed - is deserting him as Father Time closes in, and Father Time always wins.

If we have any designs on finishing in the top 4 this season helps needs to arrive - immediately - in early January, paying over the odds if we need to.

Holding Midfield
Creative Midfield
Striker
Right Full back

These are 4 initial glaring areas in dire straits that have needed addressing for a year. We had ample funds in the summer to do this and did nothing. Now we are paying the penalty.

That’s an excellent point about Haaland. Does Pep really expect him to play 60-70 games? Apparently so! God help us if Haaland picks up a muscle injury because he’s played too much! For that reason I would imagine the club is looking for a loan striker in Jan.

 

[Jim Tolmie's Underpants]

 

[Father Paul]

We're all spoilt to a certain degree.

I hate it when supporters try to make enemies of each other because we have different ways of analysing where we are.

However, I do really get wound up by delusion, and there's a lot of this about.

We have to accept that the loss of Rodri is massively more of an issue than it should be, but it is what it is.

If anybody cannot see that the team out there is a million miles off where we need to be to win the title they are absolutely deluding themselves.

This is the longest losing run since the Stuart Pearce era in 2005-06. Not even in 2006-07 did we lose four on the spin. What's more, we've deserved to lose them all. One good half an hour in the last two games has been followed by an hour of absolute tosh.

I'm very grateful for all I have seen in previous years. It's been more than I can ever have dreamed of, but let's not kid ourselves. That era is over. Anyone who truly believes that this City team can come back from this is living in a dream world.

At the end of the day, losing doesn't hurt that much. What does hurt is seeing players that don't share the same work-ethic that has made our team so brilliant over the last few years. Unfortunately, it's all too prevalent. With those players playing, we can forget any hopes of winning the title or Champions League this year.

I hope this post doesn't age well but sadly I think your spot on.

 

[Bluekiwi]

In the "Crisis" thread I threatened to take retribution on our neighbours cats if we lost. The cunning beggars stayed well away today so my frustration was directed to a hedge between our house and our Middlesboro' supporters place. I made sure quite a few prunings landed on their side!! And the hedge is quite a bit lower than usual. Thankfully got two weeks now to calm down.