Brighton & Hove Albion (A) - Sun 31st Aug, 14:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[Columbia]

No more walking football. We must start the most dynamic midfield we can muster, which means keeping the olds benched.

 

[ysmsa]

No more walking football. We must start the most dynamic midfield we can muster, which means keeping the olds benched.

We did that against Spuds, and got fucking mullered!

 

[pavelsrnicek]

After last week I expect another tough afternoon against a well coached side. Expect we’ll be pressed heavily again so Trafford, if he plays, will need to be more decisive with his feet.

I’m not sure if Phil is fit, hopefully he is because he has a brilliant record against Brighton.

Hopefully Ait Nori is fit as he makes a huge difference though forward.

As always we need to take our chances. We didn’t last week.

We lost this one last year but more often than not we go there, have a tough match, but we win. We should get a better idea of where we are after this one.

 

[deano ou812]

A draw for me but with the news foden and Cherki are out gives us less options and Brighton a boost,wouldn’t be surprised if we lost but still think it’ll be a draw..

 

[SamTheGuru]

Can't see a win. A draw will do. Can see this a bedding in season. I hope I am wrong.

 

[thebiglug]

I won't say its a must win but it would be very worrying if we lost. We'd have only beaten Wolves, who took like relegation fodder this season, and we would have lost our first two decent tests. Not ideal going into an international break.

I hate international breaks so early! The season never feels like it gets going.

2-1 city

Sent from my Asus iPad.

 

[Goater101]

Too much doom and gloom on here. Need to look at the spurs game in context. We created more than enough to be 2-0 up before they even scored. Both of their goals came from poor mistakes. Even in the second half we still created enough. When we play like that and lose I’ll take the positives out of it. The good signs are there.

 

[KS55]

Too much doom and gloom on here. Need to look at the spurs game in context. We created more than enough to be 2-0 up before they even scored. Both of their goals came from poor mistakes. Even in the second half we still created enough. When we play like that and lose I’ll take the positives out of it. The good signs are there.

Pep agrees with you. He made a point of saying he thought we played ok but made too many basic errors.

 

[SamTheGuru]

I just hope we go back to Route 101 City a little bit (over the last 10-12 years), we flirted with Wolves. This high line is destroying me. We have so much talent on the pitch to drain the game to what we want to do but it often feels like we play stupid kamikaze football for no real reason.

 

[Craig]

After last week I expect another tough afternoon against a well coached side. Expect we’ll be pressed heavily again so Trafford, if he plays, will need to be more decisive with his feet.

I’m not sure if Phil is fit, hopefully he is because he has a brilliant record against Brighton.

Hopefully Ait Nori is fit as he makes a huge difference though forward.

As always we need to take our chances. We didn’t last week.

We lost this one last year but more often than not we go there, have a tough match, but we win. We should get a better idea of where we are after this one.

Alt Nori will make a difference going forwards if he’s allowed to. Not holding my breath though after the first 2 games

 

[thebiglug]

Pep agrees with you. He made a point of saying he thought we played ok but made too many basic errors.

Indeed but those are the same errors we made last season. Same errors we made in the CWC against a team we shouldn't lose against and then the same errors in the first test of the season.

I think people can be forgiven for worrying that it's possible we haven't addressed the problems, especially should it carry on today...

Let's see. I reckon we'll win. Brighton have enough quality to test us and I think we need it. It's alright blowing away Wolves, they're awful. We need solid win against a test.

Come on City.

Sent from my Asus iPad.

 

[Marvin.]

Alt Nori will make a difference going forwards if he’s allowed to. Not holding my breath though after the first 2 games

You can't judge Ait-Nouri's play based on his game vs Spurs. He was injured quite early in that game.

 

[Rammy Blue]

I’d like to see a midfield 3 of Rodders, Nico G & Reijnders today, bit more solid but with Tij slightly further forward.

Try and control the game centrally, then let the two wide guys, probably Bobb and Doku, have a bit more license to link up with the fullbacks bombing on, hopefully Ait Nouri and Nunes today.

 

[Marvin.]

I just hope we go back to Route 101 City a little bit (over the last 10-12 years), we flirted with Wolves. This high line is destroying me. We have so much talent on the pitch to drain the game to what we want to do but it often feels like we play stupid kamikaze football for no real reason.

The high defensive line is a key part of our offensive game. If we don't do that, then it is much more difficult to play football in the opponent's half.

We did not lose against Spurs because of the high defensive line. We were poor in possession and were not helped in that regard by Trafford.

 

[Craig]

You can't judge Ait-Nouri's play based on his game vs Spurs. He was injured quite early in that game.

Basing it on he wasn’t going past the winger at all when we had them under early pressure. Plus the Wolves game and the debacle against the Saudi team. Noticeable change in tactics from the earlier games in the CWC when him and Doku were interchanging brilliantly. Also, the right back was inverted all game against Spurs.

 

[Marvin.]

I’d like to see a midfield 3 of Rodders, Nico G & Reijnders today, bit more solid but with Tij slightly further forward.

Try and control the game centrally, then let the two wide guys, probably Bobb and Doku, have a bit more license to link up with the fullbacks bombing on, hopefully Ait Nouri and Nunes today.

DM is an issue though without Rodri and Kovacic. Is Rodri ready to start?

 

[Gray]

Too much doom and gloom on here. Need to look at the spurs game in context. We created more than enough to be 2-0 up before they even scored. Both of their goals came from poor mistakes. Even in the second half we still created enough. When we play like that and lose I’ll take the positives out of it. The good signs are there.

We created bugger all in the 2nd half the players looked like they had been thrown together with no idea at all of what they were supposed to be doing.

 

[Rammy Blue]

DM is an issue though without Rodri and Kovacic. Is Rodri ready to start?

IMO he just needs to start now, it’s the only way he will get up to speed. If he picks up a niggle then such is life. Bear in mind he’s off on international duty after today where they will probably start him.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Basing it on he wasn’t going past the winger at all when we had them under early pressure. Plus the Wolves game and the debacle against the Saudi team. Noticeable change in tactics from the earlier games in the CWC when him and Doku were interchanging brilliantly. Also, the right back was inverted all game against Spurs.

Ait Nouri has been told to stay back as Rico has been going inverted, it’s a waste. That’s why hopefully Nunes starts today and we allow the full backs to go outside, and have the DMs looking after the backline.

 

[Marvin.]

Basing it on he wasn’t going past the winger at all when we had them under early pressure. Plus the Wolves game and the debacle against the Saudi team. Noticeable change in tactics from the earlier games in the CWC when him and Doku were interchanging brilliantly. Also, the right back was inverted all game against Spurs.

I didn't get into the ground for the Spurs match until Ait-Nouri was getting treatment so I can't comment on that but I trust your opinion on that. His side was getting attacked a lot at Wolves. In general I think of Ait-Nouri as a very attack-minded left-back.