[Albion] Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion *** Official Match Thread ***

[jcdenton08]

Lallana and Milner really shouldn't be starting a premier league game at their age.

Praying they don't on Thursday.

We have a squad. People are saying our squad is too inexperienced, so we pick experienced heads and they are past it.

We are 2023’s Brighton, a great club - but one who makes stars. We make and sell them. Our squad HAS to be young because we can’t afford to go out and buy 28 year old top players - and probably never will.

So we either start with a team of very young and inexperienced players, or we augment our squad with experienced heads for the young players to learn from and to get us nouse.

 

[willalbion]

God we've been hyppia poor

I would suggest you have forgotten just how bad we were under Sami.

 

[jcdenton08]

NONE of these moans about our players would be happening if Groß had flicked in that completely undeserved equaliser.

Take it for what it is. A loss to the best side in the league presently after a very intense month.

 

[Dibdab]

End of the day lost to probably the second best team in the country. From inside the ground we did ok until Bart did his usual once a game pass to the oppo on the 18 yard line which led to a corner we defended horrendously. Was pretty even from then until Gross missed an absolute sitter and then not long after they got one on the break. It was far from an awful performance but we deserved to lose. For me
Personally I’d have Steele playing every game until Bart gets his passing game up to scratch. He’s miles worse than Jason at the moment at enabling our tactics at the back.

 

[lawros left foot]

Well, that was like being a Palace fan, without the totally undeserved spawney goals, obviously.

 

[willalbion]

That’s it - very brave performance from our lads - asked a few questions at the end - we are a depleted and fatigued team - I don’t think we played badly overall at all and had moments where we played very well - both Dunk, VH and Verbruggen were so good under the pressure we’ve been under. Two very good chances failed to convert from Gross and Hinshelwood. Declan Rice too much for our MF, Saka too good for Milner. Not at all ashamed of that scoreline.

Easy there! Way too sensible a post

 

[Affy]

Estupinan and Velts are our only quality FB’s.

Lamptey’s brief prime was years ago, always injured.

Milner at his age shouldn’t be up against top internationals on his own.

Igor’s a great defender and player, but no PL left back.

Agree re Lamptey and Milner. Happy to differ on Igor. But the point of foreseeing all the longterm injuries remains. we could make do with cover for a month for a niggle but missing pervis has really hurt us the most imo. And saying that, we’re still in the top half of the table within reach of Europe again and top of the group in EL. Think how high we’d be if we didn’t have the injuries… whilst we may sign a FB in Jan, I highly doubt it’ll be someone who can slot straight in regardless. We still aren’t playing Baleba and he’s been here 4 months!

 

[jcdenton08]

Welbz being back is massive IMHO. Bit too much pressure on Evan atm.

Thought he looked very sharp in his minutes today.

 

[Springal]

We have a squad. People are saying our squad is too inexperienced, so we pick experienced heads and they are past it.

We are 2023’s Brighton, a great club - but one who makes stars. We make and sell them. Our squad HAS to be young because we can’t afford to go out and buy 28 year old top players - and probably never will.

So we either start with a team of very young and inexperienced players, or we augment our squad with experienced heads for the young players to learn from and to get us nouse.

£150M+ in sales in January & the summer - can we really ‘not afford’ a bit more experience (although we did sign Dahoud who should be doing a bit more)

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Verbruggan hasnt been great today, poor positioning/flapped at first, second straight through him and shouldve done better, thats not to blame him for Arsenals superiority on the day, but dont feel massively confident in either of our competing number ones tbh, theyre both OK but not much more than that, or at least not yet.

Think that's harsh on him

Did look like he flapped at it, however the defender took it out of his hands and flicked it on to Jesus

 

[Dibdab]

Also wondering where Moder is at regards fitness. An old version of Moder would have made a big difference in the middle today.

 

[Littlemo]

£150M+ in sales in January & the summer - can we really ‘not afford’ a bit more experience (although we did sign Dahoud who should be doing a bit more)

The problem is wages I think. It’s one thing shelling out on more expensive players, but those players want wages that probably rip up our wage structures.

 

[SeaGullBum]

Shouldn't be all Doom and Gloom, lost away with a depleted Squad to a Title contender after a difficult night in Marseille.

Arsenal we're so much stronger then they we're last year, Rice has helped them massively.

 

[peterward]

Welbz being back is massive IMHO. Bit too much pressure on Evan atm.

Joao Pedro is the man, total class, links the play, looks dangerous, runs all day, Keeping him on the pitch for as many minutes as possibe is our challenge

 

[jcdenton08]

£150M+ in sales in January & the summer - can we really ‘not afford’ a bit more experience (although we did sign Dahoud who should be doing a bit more)

The club runs as a huge operating loss, you realise? Take a look at the accounts - also consider where we’d be without Bloom’s very generous unsecured loans.

The sales are to balance the books and to work towards become sustainable financially.

We invest for the next group of prospects, with room for development and growth, use our facilities and excellent coaching recruitment to better them, then sell when their value is highest.

By default, our purchases are going to be young and green, but very talented. Without the old heads in the team, there is no leadership or experience in managing games.

We can’t buy a world class midfielder for £70m aged 28 because we can’t afford their wages and keeping a long term expensive asset who may very well flop.

Instead we get experienced heads for free (Milner, Lallana, Welbeck) to work alongside younger players and add know how to their youthful talent.

 

[Littlemo]

That said, it might be time to give up being the retirement club for elderly and infirm players. Injuries happen but we do give contracts to people who they do seem to happen to on a frequent basis.

 

[Springal]

The problem is wages I think. It’s one thing shelling out on more expensive players, but those players want wages that probably rip up our wage structures.

Maybe but our wages have increased season over season so it’s not impossible - especially knowing we’ve pocketed £20M from Europa League so far

 

[Dibdab]

It Barts fault there was a corner to concede from at all. Horrible defending at the back post though.

 

[SeaGullBum]

Do think it's time we move on from signings like Milner and those of that Ilk, not bad players at all, but just can't handle the pace nowadays.

 

[Littlemo]

Maybe but our wages have increased season over season so it’s not impossible - especially knowing we’ve pocketed £20M from Europa League so far

Yeah but they’ll increase with what’s affordable. Bring in someone who has bigger wages and not only does it put the structure under pressure but other players in the team find out and start wanting bigger wages (understandably)