Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Hard to argue against this and I feel that the groundwork has been done along those lines already.
Match Thread Stoke away 10th August 12:30 - Opening day! (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter MusicDating
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Skyblue Bangkok
Well-Known Member
We created nothing in the match .
skybluecam
Well-Known Member
Tbh I’m somewhat baffled how we’ve spent 40 odd million pounds over the last two years and still have Jamie Allen starting in central midfield
Skyblue Bangkok
Well-Known Member
That was 2 seasons ago…I’ll just leave this here
2024/25 League 1 Champs?
Well-Known Member
because Eccles isn’t much better? he was poor today when he came on and played a big part in their goal
BlueSkiesForever
Well-Known Member
It is mad tbf, from the outside looking in, it’s like we’ve tried to strengthen everything else bar the midfield and then expect a radically different outcome to our play.
I’m sure we’re looking at midfielders, and taking the season as a one-game snapshot is obviously never fair, but it does seem odd that the only backup we’ve had in the defensive midfield area is Torp, who realistically has come from a much easier league and hasn’t had a load of game time to settle in yet, but at the same time you can only use the “gelling” excuse for so long.
Really disappointing start.
DrPoolittle
Well-Known Member
It looks like the squad is still massively unbalanced, with deficiencies in midfield, at full back and possibly in the centre of defence.
The game today was reminder of how fiercely competitive this division is, with at least 12 clubs all with a legit claim to be promotion contenders.
The sooner fans accept we are a top 10 side only, the better for everyone’s blood pressure
The game today was reminder of how fiercely competitive this division is, with at least 12 clubs all with a legit claim to be promotion contenders.
The sooner fans accept we are a top 10 side only, the better for everyone’s blood pressure
Skyblue Bangkok
Well-Known Member
I wonder if DK will take that view if we finish 8-12 th ?
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
He probably won’t, with some justification. The performances matter more than results in the first month of the season though and that’s why yesterday was so confusing and concerning.
Skyblue Bangkok
Well-Known Member
Hope the club are looking to bring in a CM player before the transfer window closes.
Otis
Well-Known Member
True, but a draw would have been a much fairer result.
Stoke were the best side in the first half for sure, but in the second, we totally controlled the game, had them on the back foot and their barely got out of their own half
The goal came completely out of the blue and totally against the run of play
Therefore, 0-0 would have been a fair reflection and that's the way it looked like heading pretty much and if anyone was going to score, you would have put your money on us .
The most galling bit about yesterday, was that once we did go 1-0 down, we spent the rest of the match in a daze and just looked baffled and stunned that we HAD gone 1 down
We all expected a much better response than that, so that was rather concerning.
lord_garrincha
Well-Known Member
Still time to part ex them all to Bramall Lane
Skyblue Bangkok
Well-Known Member
We may have had them on the back foot but created nothing .
Otis
Well-Known Member
No, very true, but look at how the game was going.
Stoke were well on the back foot and we held possession and were starting to stretch them.
Without that goal coming completely out of the blue, there was only one side that was going to win that.
We were looking a bit more dangerous and were finding more space and Saka was coming into the game much more, so we did start to look a little more dangerous. But you are right of course, up until that point, we had created next to nothing.
Can't just assume it was going to stay that way though, with us on top
I think that goal was so out of the blue, it just totally stunned us and knocked the wind out of our sails, as we were completely dominating the game at the point.
Sky Blue Harry H
Well-Known Member
Once in the second half, Saka did the defender completely and had the ball in a really dangerous position, hit a fairly dangerous low ball in, but could with composure have perhaps picked someone out. I can't really recall EMC doing that, and felt that in the shorter time Haji Wright came on, he looked more of a threat. First game, so no panic from me, but it did highlight some issues. I said throughout the first half how easy it was for Stoke to find an unmarked man in midfield, allowing them to play it straight out of defence to that man, who then took them to the edge of our box, under very little pressure. Took until half time to sort it out, which is too long imo. Surely there is a way of communicating things earlier (fake an injury and get messages out re: tactics)?
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Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
That was easy for Bremen in the friendly as well. Central midfield is actually our biggest issue at the moment, these last few games have highlighted it clearly.
Otis
Well-Known Member
Yeah, agree. We allowed Stoke so much space on that first half and they were pushing through midfield with ease.
Their movement was very good, which helped, but we didn't half allow them a lot of space for sure.
The Torp/Allen combination just didn't work. Allen is a bit lightweight and Torp was barely noticeable.
I really think we should have considered changing tactics, or bringing a sub on in that first half, because Stoke were well on top
Gint11
Well-Known Member
I did see yesterday coming to be honest. I was hopeful we’d turn up and look like Brazil but it is Stoke (who I knew would be difficult) and we haven’t won an opening day game since 2007/2008 season (4-1 at Barnsley)
Allen and Torp were poor but I still think 1 shot on target with our front line is something to correct. What we have to do is make this defeat turn into a good thing but wakening up the players and we tweak things.
If, and it’s a big If, the players think they just need to rock up to win then that was a rude shock. This division is brutal and even the ‘shit’ teams are capable on any given day.
Our mentality wasn’t right first half which worries me.
Allen and Torp were poor but I still think 1 shot on target with our front line is something to correct. What we have to do is make this defeat turn into a good thing but wakening up the players and we tweak things.
If, and it’s a big If, the players think they just need to rock up to win then that was a rude shock. This division is brutal and even the ‘shit’ teams are capable on any given day.
Our mentality wasn’t right first half which worries me.
Sky Blue Harry H
Well-Known Member
If we play with 2 wingers, I want them to keep taking the full back on to try and get the better of them. If it's in an attacking position, then if they lose it, it generally shouldn't be in a dangerous position for us, so it's a low risk strategy. If the wingers aren't having a lot of joy, switch sides to see if that helps, and only of that doesn't work you can look at switching things up re: systems/personnel. We know how dangerous we can be from out wide, so for what happened (or rather didn't) yesterday was poor (although some of Bobby Thomas' passing out to Saka's side didn't help)!
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Para1140
Well-Known Member
We may have controlled most of the second half until their goal but we never had one shot on target in 90 minutes and created nothing. We can have possession and play tippy tappy football backwards and sideways all game but unless we score we are never going to win a game
Northeast sky blue
Well-Known Member
I think we miss a Liam Kelly like figure, someone who can protect the back four and keep it simple, just win the ball back and let the more progressive players worry about creating chances
Cally Fedora
Well-Known Member
Squad analysis seems to have swung from stellar to crap based on one game. I had the impression we believed our own hype a bit and turned up strolling about and thought that would be enough. It never is in the Championship. But we have the players.
Skyblue_CP
Well-Known Member
We’re just incredibly weak in midfield depth. It has to be accepted, Allen shouldn’t be starting. Torp with high expectations simply hasn’t performed, and Eccles is “ok” with Sheaf in there, but again won’t impose himself on a match. If we’re to be as good as people expect us to be this season and want to get out of this division then we desperately need to bring in another CM to play with Sheaf and Rudoni.
Sick Boy
Super Moderator
EMC has only played one game so it's a bit harsh but I do think he's been majorly over-hyped on here and will need time to adjust to the Championship. 100% agree about the others, especially Kitching and Torp.
Otis
Well-Known Member
Yeah, completely agree.
I am saying the goal, which was totally against the run of play and totally out of the blue, completely changed the game.
We hadn't had a shot on target, but we in control and starting to prise them open a bit.
It's all ifs and buts isn't it
That goal obviously totally tipped the balance back in their favour
At 0-0 and us in control, we can't just assume that we would have continued to still not have a shot on target for the rest of the game
Stoke the thing half the teams in the league do, little niggles and fouls in every battle but then ask for a foul on them and most of the time get it. Players end up scared to make a challenge.
BlueSkiesForever
Well-Known Member
Is that correct?! I cba to check but that’s absolutely mad if so, surely not? So we’ve gone 17 seasons without having won an opening day game? Seems like we’re destined to always start shit
Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
It is
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Yeah early call but for the fee you’d expect him to show instant impact. Same as Kitching.
Frankly I’d be telling the recruitment department no League One players over £2m until they figure it out. The jump is huge and no one who is over 21 and hasn’t played at a higher level is worth that much. Always a huge gamble whether they’ll be able to step their game up.