[Albion] how good are we, actually?

raymondo said:

I agree that the high line has 'worked' in the sense we get a number of offsides in our favour...but a good opposition get loads of chances to practise breaking through it.. and they will.
We are often on the halfway line... it's madness, fast strikers can just run from their own half.

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Hiheidi said:

It was this weekend last year (last weekend in September) that we lost 6-1 to Villa.

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oldboyroy said:

Although despite the scoreline, it flattered Villa. RDZ came out and apologised to the fans saying it was not a Brighton performance and we'll see the real Brighton back next week.

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oldboyroy said:

Indeed. While posting in the match thread once we concede the 1st I simply couldn't type 2 or 3 words before Chelsea were through on goal again! It happened around 6 times in about 10 mins and if it wasn't for offsides and hitting the post we could of conceded literally 6 goals in those 10 mins.

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Jim in the West said:

Next Sunday will be interesting….Ange’s high line v Fab’s high line. I’m imagining all 20 outfield players packed around the half way line. Genuine opportunity for a 7-6 score line!

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GT49er said:

We didn't though, really. Dry humped by Roma, and RDZ sulked out the season. We're still a good team - the only team for me - but £200M better than last season? Hmmmm................................

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Skaville said:

It’s hard to judge us. We’ve had such bad luck with injuries already given we’re six games in.

Enciso, Ferguson, Estupinan, Lamptey March and Verbruggen started the season injured and are trying to find form and match fitness.

O’Riley, Wieffer, Gruda and Kadioglu have had their integration to the squad disrupted by injury.

Pedro, JPH, Adingra and Milner have picked up knocks, Veltman and Ayari have been ill.

Yesterday looked makeshift, in September!

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Skaville said:

It’s hard to judge us. We’ve had such bad luck with injuries already given we’re six games in.

Enciso, Ferguson, Estupinan, Lamptey March and Verbruggen started the season injured and are trying to find form and match fitness.

O’Riley, Wieffer, Gruda and Kadioglu have had their integration to the squad disrupted by injury.

Pedro, JPH, Adingra and Milner have picked up knocks, Veltman and Ayari have been ill.

Yesterday looked makeshift, in September!

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Uh_huh_him said:

I think that's stretching things a little to be honest.
For most of the injured players, we had back ups that had a full pre-season.
O'Riley and Weiffer's absence have allowed Baleba and Ayari to shine and given Hinshelwood a chance to play in the middle.

The summer rebuild has given us the chance to have the most competitive Premier league squad we've ever had.

In regards to luck...
We've had more than our fair share of good luck to counter-balance any bad.

4 points against United and Arsenal - thanks to Rice's stupidity and a freak offside goal.
We've had something like 6 goals against, ruled out for offside, (many marginal).

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Skaville said:

I disagree.

There have been many enforced changes. Yes that’s given players opportunities, but we’re playing against sides who are largely at full strength in terms of quality. We’re way off.

His preferred formations are 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3. Yesterday seemed to be a 4-3-3 with a fairly uninspiring midfield 3 who all are more suited to deep lying roles. We had Samuels on the bench, presumably because there were no other senior players available and Lamptey and Moder are fringe at best right now when others are fit, Ayari too. Everyone I spoke to before the game had accepted defeat as soon as they saw the match day squad.

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Skaville said:

Hard to say, he’s always gone with a four but if he did you can guarantee JPVH would be one of them.

Tactics played a part, but injuries and lack of match sharpness was also a factor. Would anyone play a midfield three of Baleba, Hinshelwood and Weiffer by choice?

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Uh_huh_him said:

We've had more than our fair share of good luck to counter-balance any bad.

4 points against United and Arsenal - thanks to Rice's stupidity and a freak offside goal.
We've had something like 6 goals against, ruled out for offside, (many marginal).

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Skaville said:

Hard to say, he’s always gone with a four but if he did you can guarantee JPVH would be one of them.

Tactics played a part, but injuries and lack of match sharpness was also a factor. Would anyone play a midfield three of Baleba, Hinshelwood and Weiffer by choice?

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Whitechapel said:

A good offside trap that works more often than not isn’t “luck”.

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Uh_huh_him said:

JPVH has played every game so far, but hasn't been able to prevent us from being opened up with the ball through/over the back line.
Chelsea would have had a field day against him too. They are very good when playing against a high line.

I strongly suspect Baleba, Weiffer will be our centre mids for the majority of the season.
Hinshelwood has been one of our stronger performers over the past few games.

I'm not entirely sure what midfield you think would have played if not for injuries.
I suspect O'Riley will be taking that third spot eventually, but as yet he is completely unproven.
I'm not sure your argument makes as much sense as you think it does.

Is standing on the halfway line a "trap" though?
BAck in my day an offside trap was stepping up in a line, to catch the player making a run.

Leaving a 40 yard foot race against top quality pacy forwards , running forwards onto a ball over the top, isn't exactly a trap.

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Uh_huh_him said:

JPVH has played every game so far, but hasn't been able to prevent us from being opened up with the ball through/over the back line.
Chelsea would have had a field day against him too. They are very good when playing against a high line.

I strongly suspect Baleba, Weiffer will be our centre mids for the majority of the season.
Hinshelwood has been one of our stronger performers over the past few games.

I'm not entirely sure what midfield you think would have played if not for injuries.
I suspect O'Riley will be taking that third spot eventually, but as yet he is completely unproven.
I'm not sure your argument makes as much sense as you think it does.

Is standing on the halfway line a "trap" though?
BAck in my day an offside trap was stepping up in a line, to catch the player making a run.

Leaving a 40 yard foot race against top quality pacy forwards , running forwards onto a ball over the top, isn't exactly a trap.

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Weststander said:

Aspinall/Cantor said it. Chelsea didn’t need to expertly unlock an offside trap. They just ran from their own half.

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