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So....on to the seagulls. Soler is suspended for this one, and Emerson is back...although I'd say Coufal was very good in the last game. Not clear yet if Todibo is recovered from his damaged toe.
My lineup
Fabianski
Coufal. Todibo. Kilman. AWB
Soucek
Alvarez. Paqueta
Bowen (c). Fullkrug. Kudus
Prediction:
The team once again has motivation through tragedy, with JLo's father passing away this week...I'd expect to seem them come out the blocks in this game. Could be a basketball style match with us at home, Brighton playing a very high line, and also looking to get back with a win.
Keep dreaming" wrote: ↑22 Dec 2024, 16:07
That's a fluke pass under pressure.
Why doesn't he do the same when he isn't under pressure? Because it's not in his nature.
I've literally just given you another clear example of Soucek quickly playing it into Bowen where we scored from when he's not under pressure below.
And that definitely wasn't a fluke pass yesterday, weighted perfectly right in front of Bowens stride.
What's more interesting to me after they made the Fullkrug/Bowen change up top, I recall Bowen talking directly to Soucek and pointing about balls being played in to that exact channel he ran in too and it came off prior to the goal. It happened instantaneously and they took ownership of the change up top.
Massive Attack" wrote: ↑22 Dec 2024, 15:01
Under-rated 1st time pass of the match by Soucek leading to our only goal...
His passing game has come on leaps and bounds since the Summer.
Like when Bowen got played through in Prague, except Soucek made the pass this time instead of mistrapping it to Paqueta!
Shows his importance to the Team winning back possession before it goes to another Team mate. He does it a lot. 1st goal we scored against Ipswich this season was very similar in the build up to Antonio's goal that day...
Pshyco scored all 4" wrote: ↑22 Dec 2024, 14:34
Our midfield in 85/86 wasn't particularly quick . But the front two were . I doubt if we'll ever see it. but a front two of Bowen and kudus playing on the shoulders of defenders would be an absolute nightmare for the opposition . Bowen looks proper rapid ATM and kudus is seriously quick as well. Get the ball forward quicker and we will thrive I suspect.
I used to love a quality functioning old fashioned 4-4-2 as well. I'd give it a try.
Problem is, you need another identical Bowen on the right of Midfield to make it work, I could see Summerville on the left.
true, but we did have true width and a couple of unselfish players that set up so many chances. also, frank held the ball up so well and had an instant telepathic relationship with cottee. coaches/managers these days haven't got the courage to try such a system. It's all about (for our one at least) slowing things down, trying to control the pace of the game and having as little risk as possible. like being on mogodon, watching it
Our midfield in 85/86 wasn't particularly quick . But the front two were . I doubt if we'll ever see it. but a front two of Bowen and kudus playing on the shoulders of defenders would be an absolute nightmare for the opposition . Bowen looks proper rapid ATM and kudus is seriously quick as well. Get the ball forward quicker and we will thrive I suspect.
Maybe there weren't plenty of crosses but we had a few corners the first half, and I can't remember Fullkrug getting near to them? In fact, I didn't know the cսnt was playing until I heard his name on being substituted.
Rusta wrote: ↑22 Dec 2024, 12:49
Fullkreg didn’t look at all good yesterday but let’s hope it’s a matter of fitness. He seems very capable in the air but not once with Bowen n Kudus playing wide did we get a cross in for him
Also noticed how high our back line was which would be okay if we were pressing the ball. At one point there centre back was casually bringing the ball forwards with loads of space and our back line was really high. Basically ready to be picked off…
Thank Fullkrug for that lack of pressing from the front. As for not crossing to him, I can see why when almost all the other balls in the air sent up to him, he either lost or worse fouled their man for no reason at all.
Antonio's cardboard cut-out would have been a lot more useful up front.
Fullkreg didn’t look at all good yesterday but let’s hope it’s a matter of fitness. He seems very capable in the air but not once with Bowen n Kudus playing wide did we get a cross in for him
Massively gappy in central midfield at times which is school boy stuff really. Should have a formation where someone is always anchoring in there.
Also noticed how high our back line was which would be okay if we were pressing the ball. At one point there centre back was casually bringing the ball forwards with loads of space and our back line was really high. Basically ready to be picked off…
Its central midfield and transitions that are our biggest problem by far. Tactics have been changed so we no longer play the high line with advanced wing backs which means we are no longer totally open when teams counter.
We dont have the speed and strength needed in the middle to counter press, to break thru the opposition press. So we now rely on long diagonals and balls over the top for Bowen and Kudus to run onto. Not dissimilar to Moyes tactics in that sense. But we do keep it a little better and try to tempt the opposition to try and press us deep in our own half to then open up some space behind them.
Lop has implemented a survival strategy and the tactics and set up far more pragmatic with the old, slow squad we have in many positions.
The recruitment in summer was not appropriate. Steidten, Sullivan and Lop having 3 each is not how you run a club. Sullivans veto of turning down Duran because he was too young and inexperienced and deemed as too expensive despite the Tech Director and analysts identifying him as one to go after is not the way to lead / run a modern Prem club. Listening to Will Salthouse, a favoured agent, who advised that Duran was too risky is not the way to run a Premiership football club. Ignoring the Tech Director and Sporting Directors choice of coach and going with your choice ( recommended by Salthouse?) is not the way to run a Premiership football club.
inviting and sitting alongside Will Salthouse, your favoured agent, who you the owner always recruits thru is not the way to run a Premiership football club.
Brighton, Bournemouth teams with far less resources talk of the key to “punching above their weight” as having a football philosophy or style across all teams, recruiting for now but also for the future and developing players. Picking these players based on their profiles ( physicality, technique, psychological profile) to fit the philosophy. Choosing coaches to align with the philosophy and long term strategy. All execs and board members aligned to said strategy and philosophy. Thats the way to run a football club and leading by facilitating the people employed to do their jobs without interference.
We have the opposite. A commander who “divides and conquors” , has veto on all recruitment, actively involves himself in recruitment and footballing matters via a very influential set of agents who guide him. Are they motivated by self interest. You bet they are.
We will never get to the next level with sustained progress under David Sullivan.
All very well but at least 50% of the time yesterday those passages ended up with Fabianski going long anyway. If you didn't see that you weren't watching very closely....
This. And not just yesterday. And, to be fair, not just us.
I think it’s good to mix it up. The clangers Forster at spurs got into the other day. It’s not worth it. You can’t always play out from the back.
Far Cough UKunt" wrote: ↑22 Dec 2024, 10:28
"I look around the league and I can’t see one manager that managed to turn around a club instantly or didn’t take half a season at minimum."
Unai Emery at Villa not Arsenal.
I suppose Unai proves it’s not normal. He didn’t do it at Arsenal but he did it Villa so it’s not a given, even with a good squad and a top manager like him.
I was also thinking about this seasons roster. Liverpools job is not a rewrite and neither was Chelsea as their form was good last season.
I feel like this transfer window will show if JLO really knows what he’s doing. He’s got an opportunity to fix the squad. I hope he can see the problems we all see.
I looked up the Premier league form table ( results obvs). We are 11th. Kinda same form as Newcastle. If we had ( unlikely but ) won these last two games we would be fourth.
All very well but at least 50% of the time yesterday those passages ended up with Fabianski going long anyway. If you didn't see that you weren't watching very closely....
This. And not just yesterday. And, to be fair, not just us.
Far Cough UKunt" wrote: ↑22 Dec 2024, 10:28
"I look around the league and I can’t see one manager that managed to turn around a club instantly or didn’t take half a season at minimum."
Unai Emery at Villa not Arsenal.
The man we should have replaced Moyes with but dragged our heels and our loss is Villas gain.
I’d probably take a different manager right now. I don’t think he’s “wowed” me in any way and he wasn’t on my mind to replace Moyes at all.
However, what is the main gripe?
is it the style of football?
the poor transfers / money spent?
our league position?
personally I think unless your battling relegation the style of football is the no1 priority. I’m not in the stands to meet mates and have a beer with the actual match being in the background. I’m spending 90 minutes watching the game and I need entertainment.
That’s my priority.
I look around the league and I can’t see one manager that managed to turn around a club instantly or didn’t take half a season at minimum. I’ve seen many false dawns of managers coming in and being the hot thing only to crash months later. Seen Viera do it, ange is getting it, current palace guy was great now he’s a bit shit etc
so what are we really expecting to happen?
Nuno is doing well now but that’s his second season.
I don’t see a strategy problem with Loppy, I just see someone who thinks he’s got better players than he has. Will January come to his rescue? I think another creative mid and a pacy striker might solve some things.
What a very dull afternoon. Only positive was we didn’t lose but basically means Lop limps on again to I guess another “must win” versus the Saints.
Brighton who themselves were also pretty poor first half were the only team trying to win in the second.
Not sure how they didn’t win the game.
Not quite sure what the formation was in the end.
We do need a new centre half and striker (as per every season) but the real issue is the midfield. Soucek and Alvarez too slow and can’t pass the ball quickly enough.
can we recall JWP?
we are arguably worse under Lop than Moyes or at the very least just as bad but playing in slightly different way.
we now face probably the worst premier league in history on Boxing Day. Nothing but a 2 or 3 nil win would surely save the manager?
onsideman wrote: ↑22 Dec 2024, 00:05
Regarding those passing stats, try removing all the passes between Mavropanos, Kilman, Alvarez and Fabianski and then give me the revised numbers and tell me we've improved.
It was largely garbage
I fully expect us to lose on Boxing Day and then beat the scouse because that's what we do, but if Lopetegui is the answer I dread to think what the question is
The thing is those passes are what allows us to play out from the back and retain possession further up the pitch. That’s the point. We couldn’t play out from the back before, far too nervous and inaccurate with passes. If you go long all the time you’re just giving back possession most of the time. Moyes liked doing that because then he’d allow our players to park the bus again waiting for the next wave of attacks. It was by design. He didn’t want us to have the ball.
All very well but at least 50% of the time yesterday those passages ended up with Fabianski going long anyway. If you didn't see that you weren't watching very closely....
We were.also fortunate in that Brighton's press was a bit disorganised. Seldom did Mitoma join and it was often only Rutter or only Joao Pedro
...there was only one team that repeatedly broke the press and played through the lines and it wasnt us
