That first half was utter gash and truly showed up some weaknesses in this team. I will try and keep this focused on the positives though - I admire Xisco's boldness to go all out to grab it back, we've seen many "Plan B's" and they've been really stale in the past. I honesty felt we'd get one back, but that was an organised Brighton side who could sit back, but that was what I expect when it comes to "throwing the kitchen sink at it". We need that in this league - no crap like "We need to focus on goal difference" - it's about points and i'd rather lose by 3 or 4 while fighting for a draw. King. I didn't know he had a more physical side to his game. Sticking a CB on his ar5e first game is good to see. I knew his was quick, but he has that bottle to him - good to see. Dennis. I like this guy. Was worried by some of the off pitch antics, but he's player. Let him sit where ever he wants on the coach (bar the drivers seat). Chucho - Great touches, seems to want to be here and play. Would like to see him start against Palace. Alright I will hit on negatives. Louza - I know it's only 45 minutes, but I think he has a lot of adapting to do. He's young and i'm sure will grow into the league, but I don't think he's a starter option right now. Hope Tufan is better. Why the hell isn't Ngakia starting? I like Craig as a person and has served us well, but he isn't a RB. Masina - Clumsy and really isn't good at decision making. Is a squad player in my eyes, but hope Rose can offer more once settled? CB's - Is Sierralta just tired/not 'match fit' right now? I'm not all negative, we've seen the good and the ugly in 2 games so far, but I hope we haven't finished in this window.
This reminds me of Life of Brian which I rewatched quite recently, in that in the argument sketch part of the joke is that the argument was never five minutes (which indeed it wasn't) and in LoB the crazy crowd of worshippers complain that Brian isn't allowed the full minute to address them - but I timed it, it is actually exactly a minute!
Wasn't me - but assuming this wasn't from the start, I can understand it. I felt nervy watching the CBs play it out. We were awful with passing and movement in the 1st
On another note. Earlier today I was accused of borderline homophobia on this thread. Got a rebuke from a mod. Diddums. Apparently the term Gaytown was taken offense to. Or taken offense to by those acting on behalf of the potentially offended even though that intervention hadn't been requested. And despite that all the gays in Gaytown would probably have loved the moniker seeing as that's their preferred referential terminology. And gay lgbt flags flying in Sainsbury's. Whereas "piers and queers" in the first sentence of the o.p. is apparently OK. So which of those two would you judge to be most acceptable to the 'alternative community' in this town? Gay or Queer? Anyway, then Smudger (who was responsible for the o.p.) then had the audacity to weigh in on behalf of the offended. Never have I seen a more blatant bit of hypocrisy. So, to be clear, I really couldn't give a monkey's about the gay communities' preferences or indeed their sensitivities. I'm really not a fan of those with rice paper for skin, either their own, or suspecting that someone they might need to 'save' is similarly challenged. Just get on and live your own life. No axe to grind from me. But I'll be damned if I'll be lectured to on here along the lines of being de-platformed by Sussex University. You'll continue to get similar content from me. Then you'll have to decide what to do with it. Won't you?
Ok, who had 2 games as the number it would take before a Troost EKong pass cost us a goal? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I was impressed with the way they defended in the second half, against other teams like Burnley, Newcastle and even a much improved West Ham side we might've stood a chance, though given we've rarely overturned even a one goal deficit in the Prem no matter how hard we've tried, I wonder how much of that was down to us? Even with more attacking intent, we only managed one shot on target.
Clevs is qualitee, jus wish we had gozzers to go along wiv him n cathers n king ken today n we wud hav won! Gd to c all our proven prem boys slottin str8 bak in!
Nobody going to give me a special mention then ? Comfortable win Infront of the cameras for us. That Duffy header had me creaming. You don't save them. NEVER. What a start to the season for us. Top 10 finish anyone?
is there any point? re-read what you wrote. think about it. then, ask yourself why you're complaining about others complaining about your homophobia. after that, come back to me if you've realised why you come across as such a moron
Perhaps 4231 could be the answer? King up front Cucho in behind him, with Sarr to the right and Dennis to the left perhaps these two could also interchange throughout the game or possibly all three including Cucho could interchange? Then we could have Etebo and Kucka sitting in front of a back four of Kiko, Kabaselle, Serrialta and Massina. Not forgetting Bachmann of course. Bench: Foster, Tufan, Chalobah & Hughes if available if not Cleverly or Gosling & or Louza, Cathcart, WTE, Rose, Sema, Pedro.
Even if Cleverly did call for the ball, WTE did not pass it to him properly or make him aware that the Brighton player was right up his arse
I'll give you Cathcart (but even there it seems it's because Sierralta played in the Copa America and still needs to rest to get to full match fitness, and Kiko for some reason still isn't fit) but honestly, who would you pick in place of the other three? We're not exactly blessed with options down the left side and there's no one else we can pick in the centre until any of Chalobah and Hughes come back. And how are Sema and Cleverley "proven failures"? Sema only made nine starts the last time we were up here, Cleverley 14 in the two seasons combined before relegation. He made more than that (15) in the same number of opening games in 2017/18, when we had one of our best starts and were playing our best football in the Prem. Coincidence? Or maybe Silva, for all his faults knew how to use him best (time will tell with Munoz) and/or he just fell down the pecking order when we had admittedly superior midfielders in Capoue and Doucoure, who we are no longer blessed with.
Honestly what is wrong with you? Everyone was disappointed at half time but the pleasure you seem to get from abusing practically every member of the team and the hyperbole of your abuse is so weird and uncomfortable. You honestly seem happier when we lose.
Another one of those games when Sarr failed to take his full back on, opting instead for pointless crosses to one medium sized forward up against two big centre backs. It’s only his pace that makes him a threat. If he doesn’t use it there’s little point him playing. In fact it felt like Ivic was back. We did everything so slowly.
I see the forum has descended once again, shame but predictable. Brighton outclassed our weak midfield, and it was likely to happen given we had 5 midfielders unavailable. Add Kucka to the mix and I don't think they have nearly as much control. We did improve second half but then Brighton aren't City and they know how precious 3 points are so sat back. Obviously WTE hasn't learned anything, and hopefully Xisco sees that it's a permanent flaw in his game like we all do. Put Rose, Femenia and Hernandez in the side and suddenly we have options out wide. Sarr is not Messi, and he shouldn't be expected to be our main threat while being double marked. Still I'm positive about what we have available to us, and I would think yesterday gave the recruitment team a stark reminder that our defence is still weak.
We seem to have forgotten what the PL is like for teams like Watford, and yes Brighton. In a great year we win about 15 games. Every other game we get our arse handed to us on a plate. Why act like the sky has fallen in? Yes the whole thing yesterday was appalling, from team formation and selection to each and every player. Out of 10 I can't think of anyone who deserves even a 1. Providing Disco and the players learn quickly, and it's obvious what those lessons are, things can only improve from here. If we learn the lessons this might have been the best thing to happen to us, because had we been playing Liverpool they would have got >10 and I'm not sure anyone comes back from that.
This post echoes my thoughts. Why is Sierralta not playing when he was, I thought, our player of the season last year? Also, unpopular opinion I know but I don’t think Sarr is as amazing as most seem to. Yes, he has great pace but his passing and decision making leave a lot to be desired. Interesting that Mr HH - a Liverpool fan who sees the game far better than I do since he played at a high level when he was younger - really doesn’t want Liverpool to buy Sarr. I was at the game - nice to be at an away match again despite the grim spectacle on the pitch, particularly the first half which was an absolute **** storm. It was a decent atmosphere considering how bad the match was from a Watford point of view. However, I hope noone on here was in the group of fans standing in the section from C86 through to E86. I don’t know where their actual seat numbers were but there were several who decided to ignore them and instead stand with their mates so they were standing in the gangway. After Brighton scored, they all started shouting “f**ing c**ts” at the fans to our right - which I believe is the family stand - and then tried to start up a homophobic chant which I am pleased to say failed. Then, when a female steward came down in the second half and asked them to move in from the gangway (didn’t question where they were supposed to be, or why they were there, just simply asked them politely to move in), the tosser who was standing at the end of row E started arguing with her and swearing at her, until it was pointed out to him by a fan who wasn’t in their group that she was just doing her job and to leave her alone.
I thought we played well second half. The front 4 of Sarr, King, Dennis and Cucho looked very exciting and given our current lack of midfield options maybe 4-2-4 could work well for us. We've played 2, won 1 and lost 1. No need to start jumping out the window yet
The contrast between the reaction to last week's result and this week's is interesting. Not everything was perfect, or solved, last week. Not everything is broken this week. Nothing in football is ever solved – the team and the way it plays is in a constant state of flux. Over the course of the week I've seen people saying the midfield will be just fine now because we've got options and Louza was still to come in. Louza looked like he'd woken up in the middle of a bad dream to find himself with his boots on chasing blue and white-striped shadows wondering what was going on. But that doesn't mean he's hopeless, it just means he's got a lot of adapting to do. Brighton are a disciplined, well-organised side. It's incredibly frustrating to watch your own team struggle against them because the impression is that they don't really do anything special or have any truly eye-catching players. They're the sort of opposition you feel yourself thinking, 'We should be beating these.' They're exactly the sort of club that will succumb to Curbishley syndrome – finish comfortably mid-table a couple of years running with Rodney Trotter in charge and then decide it's all too predictable and that they should be pushing on. Anyway, yesterday isn't even the worst away top-flight performance we've seen at the credit card arena. I remember we lost 1-0 there before Christmas in the Mazzarri season. That was a truly horrible display. Having said that, playing out from the back the way we do it is going to be punished time regularly. It's too easy to force mistakes – just close down the other centre half, forcing WTE play it out and wait, because a chance will come.
Cleverley is too old and too slow. He was just treading water most of the game. Out for me are: Cleverley - too old/slow and predictable Cathcart - Torally out of his depth. Useless Masina - doesn't like the physical side Louza (needs more time) Talent, but lightweight at the moment WTE - we all knew he would cost us goals
I think you have to balance that against the fact Brighton had the game won. We can’t have it both ways, most people were saying 3-2 flattered Villa last weekend and it did, they were better in the second half and nearly brought the game back, but it’s only because we’d already won it.
Luckily I missed it completely and only remembered it was Saturday when my mate commented on WhatsApp and I realised and looked up the score. I think this might prove a useful tactic for other away games this season.
People expect loses, but the hope is you’re competitive in every game and at least look like you’ve got a plan to try and come away from every game with something. I think the frustrating thing for most people is the manner of the defeat, not the defeat. I don’t think it’s right to just meekly accept a defeat because they’re going to happen, why did we lose? Could we have done better? Could we have prepared better? Could Xisco have done more homework? If you believe the answer to all those questions is no, then fair enough, you can shrug your shoulders and say these things happen.
Don't disagree with any of that There is a lot of work to do But what's the point in talking ourselves into a spiral of despair? It doesn't make you feel better
