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

[Dizbuster]

The core of players Pep is willing to play is too small, especially considering the additions to the packed club/international schedule. In addition, we have a lot of older players who are frequently injured - Kevin, Kyle, Stonesy come to mind. Gundo, Phil and especially Bernardo have been bang on average and I suspect that it is mostly down to extended summer commitments. With the world-class squad we have, we were always going to be more vulnerable to in-season physical attrition.

I think we should be careful not to become prisoners of the current moment, as key players will eventually return and Pep is a genius manager who always finds solutions out of nothing, but IMO, this squad needs a substantial rebuild and some painful decisions will have to be made. As much as I love them, Kevin, Kyle, Stones, Gundo and Bernardo should all be moved on from this summer, but with Pep's situation unclear, that is impossible to do until he provides some clarity. OTOH, we had all summer to find a backup for Rodri and enough time to bring in a replacement for Alvarez and we didn't, so those errors need to be rectified in the January window. I also see us being bullied around the pitch by inferior opponents - a stronger and more physically imposing side might be helpful, especially in Rodri's absence.

 

[Lee the Blue]

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.

 

[Gumzy97]

All four central defenders injured and a few players who have to play while not 100%, plus having to play a kid and Rico ( who I don't think will make it as a defender) in defence. No Rodri as well. No wonder teams are waltzing through us.
The fact we desperately need bodies back is an understatement. Get our first choice back four playing and hopefully Phil and Gundo find some form, then Kev back and we might start winning again. Hopefully we're not too far from Liverpool by then, though I think this season is a step too far for us.

As for Brighton where do they keep on finding these players from? We need to steal their scouts.

The thing is will we get our first choice back 4 back, Stones and Ake are injury prone can’t stay fit for a long period of time, Dias now seems to pick up knocks frequently. Plus Stones and Ake will be called for internationals it’s how Ake got injured last time.

 

[paulchapo]

Lets not overdo it. Brighton are an average mid table team who bumped into an out of sorts, disjointed injury ravaged football team there for the taking.

I don't agree. They consistently find excellent players at bargain prices. They then sell them on for a huge profit. They also change managers a fair bit. While doing this they manage to keep not only their consistency but play good football too. All on a maximum gate capacity of just under thirty two thousand if full.

 

[pride in battle]

Never been so depressed since 1997 in my years supporting this team. I suppose we are spoilt after winning the first ever authentic treble by an English club and four titles in a row, but it's still depressing.

I remember the rags in 96/97 had a similar run which consisted of 5-0 against Newcastle, 6-3 against Southampton, 1-0 against Fenerbache and then a loss against Chelsea in the league, only to win the title, so I am clinging onto some sort of hope we will get ourselves sorted and we do have an autumn allergy anyway.

Grow a fucking pair mate

 

[N1985]

Never been so depressed since 1997 in my years supporting this team. I suppose we are spoilt after winning the first ever authentic treble by an English club and four titles in a row, but it's still depressing.

I remember the rags in 96/97 had a similar run which consisted of 5-0 against Newcastle, 6-3 against Southampton, 1-0 against Fenerbache and then a loss against Chelsea in the league, only to win the title, so I am clinging onto some sort of hope we will get ourselves sorted and we do have an autumn allergy anyway.

You could always go back to supporting them you fucking melt.

 

[Ted_Bovis]

absolute bollocks. Can you imagine Berno saying to Pep in the dressing room, "hey boss I'm having bad vibes everytime there number 15 and number 5 stand next to each other.

So you don’t think reading about it, discussing it. Seeing it in the media has any affect on an elite athletes performance and concentration?

 

[pride in battle]

I think most of us had the feeling we'd lose before the game. Even when we went 1-0 up I still thought we'd lose. If we could have got the second goal when we were on top I would have still been worried I but thought we may get a draw.

This team peaked ( Obviously) in the treble season and we needed to start strengthening then. We had great players but they weren't getting any younger. Our recruitment lately has been poor. Nunes is trying his best but is a level below our standard. Savinho ( Yes I know he's young) is flattering to deceive. Doku the same. We won't even mention Phillips.

Partway through the second half I had to nip to the shops before they closed. We were still 1-0 up but the writing was on the wall. I came back and we were losing 2-1. I was gutted but not surprised and that is the worst part about it. Every game atm is predictable. On top, usually score, fail to increase that lead then fall apart. Rinse and repeat. I've just watched their goals back and the defending is absolutely shocking, particularly the first goal. Lewis lay on the floor, players with weak challenges. It just needed somebody to take charge and boot the fucking ball into row z. The second goal was equally abysmal. As usual easy to play through and he's one on one with Eddie.

I've no idea where we go from here or where the next win is coming from. For once I'm fucking delighted we have an international break. Every single one of our players needs to stay at home. We desperately need all our key experienced players back but sadly, even then, I don't expect a great improvement.

Bizarrely if Liverpool and Arsenal drop points we're still in it, but in our heart of hearts I think we all know this season it is going to be a step too far. The club is at a crossroads and everything hinges on these fucking charges. We hopefully come out of them unscathed and strengthen with the fresh top quality the squad desperately need.

Nipped to the shop ???? While the game was on ? FFS what did you need ? Oxygen ?

 

[PeterBarnesShorts]

Not sure which thread this belongs really,so I ‘ll say it here.Bottom half over the last 5 years in net spend table!To win 4 on the trot,with that in mind,is f’kin incredible,..but nobody f’kin noticed that anyway!?Now,we have let the others catch up,when we should have had more winnings etc to make that moreorless f’kin impossible,if it was spent well!?Proper dropped the ball here City,..unless they know something we don’t!?..

 

[makinghistory]

We've gone from best team in the world to top 8 with a bit of luck. We are now easy meat. Tactics always the same. Brighton deserved it. Good high press. Goof finishing. Pep should be knighted for what he has achieved but where do we go from here?