[Albion] Brighton 4 Man U 0 - is it best team we have ever fielded?

[Dave the OAP]

it probably was.

 

[Braggfan]

it would be hard to pick a better team. that team beat a Man Utd team containing Christian Ronaldo, the GOAT, 4-0!!

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

We could have had 6 or 7 goals that day. What a breathtaking performance! Ronaldo could only laugh at ManU's utter ineptness

 

[Thunder Bolt]

it would be hard to pick a better team. that team beat a Man Utd team containing Christian Ronaldo, the GOAT, 4-0!!

After the goals, my highlight of the day was Ronaldo standing in midfield, shaking his head and chuckling. He couldn't believe it either.

 

[nicko31]

The greatest win in the Potter era and revenge for 83 finally, a superb day

The twats couldn't help themselves when they went 4-0 down.

 

[Reddleman]

Great thread and really good points. Although I’ve kind of forgotten the game so will go and watch the highlights now to remind myself. I think that’s the strongest we’ve put out that I can see.

Edit - reminded myself of the game - had hazy memories - f*** knows why! Sad thing is 6/11 of those players aren’t with us now. We need to try keep hold of players for longer - although that may be next to impossible.

I watched that match on TV with my dad who is in his mid 70’s now. It was actually a little bit emotional. To that point it was the best team and arguably performance I had ever seen (wasn’t around in the late 70’s!). Almost unbelievable.

 

[The Fits]

I watched that match on TV with my dad who is in his mid 70’s now. It was actually a little bit emotional. To that point it was the best team and arguably performance I had ever seen (wasn’t around in the late 70’s!). Almost unbelievable.

I watched it in the pub and cried.

 

[AlbionBro]

The result was great, Utd were poor and had nothing about them. Yes our midfield were great that day, but I really couldn't say that was our best team.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

A bit mean about Potter there. It's one thing having good players, it's quite another to get them working together. From the Arsenal away win on the Potter penny had finally dropped with the players and we had a scintillating few months that was just as goal heavy as RDZ's opening spell.

Your second point does stand though, RDZ does not have anywhere near the same level of talent available to him in the midfield and what he has achieved has been remarkable.

Agree it's unfair on Potter. RDZ did have more developed Caicedo and Mac Allister for all of last season. And he's also had Mitoma (who Potter only had for a very short period of time), Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati - a world class talent he desperately wanted. And in fairness to Potter, he developed those players and our way of playing over time and I still don't believe he gets enough credit for that. RDZ came in, did well but he also took a lot of the glory of Potter's work IMO.

The football we played under Potter at the end of that season and start of the following season against quality opposition was the best, most complete football I've seen us play. I genuinely don't believe we've hit those heights since. The Liverpool 3.0 win last season was special but that 4.0 Man United game was the most complete performance I've ever seen from a Brighton team and the Spurs and Arsenal away wins in the same period were close to it.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Yes we've lost good players from that side against Man Utd

But we've added quality as well. Joao Pedro and Mitoma would have walked into that side. Estupinan had a great season last season and looked a serious improvement to Cucurella. Surely his form will return.

In addition, we've bought through youth players who have improved and might get in. Van Hecke looks an international standard player. Hinshelwood looks an outstanding prospect. Enciso and Buonanotte are improving nicely.

Incredibly, if anything Gross has improved since then.

This is another "let's look wistfully at the past" type thread. But I also think the difference is about the virtue of having a relatively fit squad. That Man Utd team is an example of what you can achieve when you can get your key players fit and get them a run of games. We've hardly been able to get a full side out at points this season and the injuries we've had are to absolutely key players.

 

[Questions]

That midfield 4, of Bissouma, Caicedo, Groß and MacAllister wouldn't lose many games against any opposition. The rest barely matter.

Let’s stop now…. It’s unreal that group. I’m glad I saw it.

 

[Wozza]

The result was great, Utd were poor and had nothing about them. Yes our midfield were great that day, but I really couldn't say that was our best team.

OK then, name Albion's best-ever team...

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Have a look at the 20/2021 side which finished 16th, probably second best if you consider White and Burn

 

[Reddleman]

Yes we've lost good players from that side against Man Utd

But we've added quality as well. Joao Pedro and Mitoma would have walked into that side. Estupinan had a great season last season and looked a serious improvement to Cucurella. Surely his form will return.

In addition, we've bought through youth players who have improved and might get in. Van Hecke looks an international standard player. Hinshelwood looks an outstanding prospect. Enciso and Buonanotte are improving nicely.

Incredibly, if anything Gross has improved since then.

This is another "let's look wistfully at the past" type thread. But I also think the difference is about the virtue of having a relatively fit squad. That Man Utd team is an example of what you can achieve when you can get your key players fit and get them a run of games. We've hardly been able to get a full side out at points this season and the injuries we've had are to absolutely key players.

No it’s not. It’s a thread to ask objectively what is the best 11 we have fielded. I believe it’s this 11 but am open to other ideas, hence the thread.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

The team we put out against them in the FA Cup semi was pretty strong too.

Also the team away to Arsenal when we won 3-0. I still think that’s the best result we’ve had in the Premier League when you factor in the significance it had in terms of us finishing 6th.

 

[Reddleman]

The result was great, Utd were poor and had nothing about them. Yes our midfield were great that day, but I really couldn't say that was our best team.

Well what in your opinion would say was our best team? That’s the whole point of the thread. If not this 11 then what?

 

[The Optimist]

For no apparent reason I started thinking about when we beat Manchester United 4-0. To remind myself I looked up the team that day.

Looking at the side it got me thinking, is this the best side we have ever fielded. I knew the following season we achieved greater things but that team is almost flawless.

It does also emphasise how light we are in powerful midfielders. To think, Mwepu didn’t even make the squad for this match. We really need to get busy in the summer.

Is this the best team we have ever put out or am I missing one from last season?

View attachment 179525

I feel like there might have been lineups the following season that might have been better. Lost Bissouma and Cucurella but gained Estupinan and Mitoma.

 

[Sheebo]

I watched that match on TV with my dad who is in his mid 70’s now. It was actually a little bit emotional. To that point it was the best team and arguably performance I had ever seen (wasn’t around in the late 70’s!). Almost unbelievable.

Yeh I was there and everything and now I sort of remember it but also don’t - so weird

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Yes - (great thread @Reddleman)

Can’t agree about best coach though….. sorry @Farehamseagull
Potter was great and what he achieved in terms of the change of playing style was fantastic, however RdZ, IMO, just took it on to another level.

I look forward to our next appointment, as presumably that will be CL

Seriously, what a team….

 

[The Optimist]

Mac Allister, Groß, Bissouma and Caicedo all featured in the Albion side on just SIX occasions. These are the results:

Arsenal 1 - 2 Albion
Spurs 0 - 1 Albion
Wolves 0 - 3 Albion (Groß only as a late sub)
Albion 4 - 0 Man Utd
Leeds 1 - 1 Albion
Albion 3 - 1 West Ham

But for a really poor late miss from Danny Welbeck at Elland Road, would be a perfect 6 from 6, despite some really tough fixtures on paper. Incredible Albion midfield (Mwepu also featured in games 1,2,3, and 6 of that run).

Wasn’t there also quite an impressive statistic of result before Caicedo and with Caicedo?