[Albion] Brighton & Hove Albion vs AEK Athens *** Official Match Thread ***

[Jolly Red Giant]

I warned against under-estimating AEK - they have a long history of playing European football - and they know what they need to do to get a result in Europe.

Bad loss and its going to make it tough to get out of the group - Ajax and Marseille are no slouches in Europe either.

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

It’s got past the stage where set pieces are embarrassing. WTF is going on with them . It just so clearly shows there is not a lot of effort or thought going into them The Gross March fee kick being the worst ever yet .

Bring back Shane Duffy

 

[dwayne]

I warned against under-estimating AEK - they have a long history of playing European football - and they know what they need to do to get a result in Europe.

Bad loss and its going to make it tough to get out of the group - Ajax and Marseille are no slouches in Europe either.

I mean we only have to finish 3rd to get out of the group and continue playing European foota so not too worried. It's only one game. Ajax and Marseille are rubbish at the moment, but like Athens they have the pedigree.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

I warned against under-estimating AEK - they have a long history of playing European football - and they know what they need to do to get a result in Europe.

Bad loss and its going to make it tough to get out of the group - Ajax and Marseille are no slouches in Europe either.

Tougher than it was, yes, but every team is allowed to have one bad result and still win the group or certainly finish second. We just have to hope that this was Albion's one and only slip. Fortunately RDZ is a proud man who takes defeat badly. I'm convinced that we'll get at least one and possibly 2 away wins -- but we need to learn the lessons quickly.

 

[heathgate]

After dropping one off in Lancing and another in Worthing, the remaining three of us made it back to Somerset at 02:15 am..... still soaked through by the by the biblical rain on the way to the car.... thanks to my nephew for a zone D parking permit...

Summary:
Mitoma marked out of the game.
Estupinian very off the pace.
JPVH poor overall.. at least compared to some recent games.
Milner anonymous.
Gross average compared to his normal standards.
Wellbeck needed earlier.
Lamptey looked dangerous.
March too negative and too one footed.

 

[Hudson Hawk]

I thought we were far from terrible but certainly not our usual selves.

Few players were off par and It was one of those nights where we didn't get the rub of the green, a few times they were getting the rub of random ricochets , especially their 3rd goal.

AEK were up for it too and pressed very well. but on the whole we didn't deserve to lose really but that's football!

Europe is a fun new experience for us, but priority one is the league, followed by this and the domestic cups. When/if you get to the later rounds then that can change but for now, beat Bmuff and continue finishing as high as we can.

PS, like some other i see mentioned, i have no idea why Milner is getting picked at right back over Veltman and Lamptey!

 

[Curious Orange]

They played a very aggressive man-to-man press all over the pitch, which disrupted our usual smooth passing.

Yes, they were better at that than any Premier League team I've seen this year.

 

[El Turi]

We’ll beat AEK away and pick up some points against Marseille and Ajax. I’m still confident we can qualify.

 

[Bodian]

Indeed.

The freekick just outside the box, when Pascal rolled it to Solly, who gradually went wider and wider, until he had to pass it backwards was frustrating as hell.

Although I could see what they were trying to do. But, credit to AEK again - they came out so quick that Solly had to take an extra touch - then again.

 

[Mont-Colt65]

Just when it feels like we're well on our way to becoming an elite football team that might potentially challenge for major trophies (an absolutely bonkers thing to be able to say, granted), you're reminded how machine-like teams like Man City are, who have an abundant threat from set-pieces in addition to everything else they do almost flawlessly.

Looking at the Optus stats on Set Play so far Brighton is one of the worst teams. With regard to xG, we are worse than Luton Town. Surely, the coaching staff must be aware of our dreadful record. We should try with different set piece tactics and takers. Gilmour, for example, should take on the role more often.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Tougher than it was, yes, but every team is allowed to have one bad result and still win the group or certainly finish second. We just have to hope that this was Albion's one and only slip. Fortunately RDZ is a proud man who takes defeat badly. I'm convinced that we'll get at least one and possibly 2 away wins -- but we need to learn the lessons quickly.

He's still going on about Charlton!!

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Looking at the Optus stats on Set Play so far Brighton is one of the worst teams. With regard to xG, we are worse than Luton Town. Surely, the coaching staff must be aware of our dreadful record. We should try with different set piece tactics and takers. Gilmour, for example, should take on the role more often.

I understood that we'd brought in a specialist set piece coach?

 

[Pondicherry]

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere but I forgot to ask at the time. Did anyone notice AEK Athens fan (lady I think) standing down the front in the gap between the plastic sheet covering the seats at the front, holding up a sign above her head for about a hour before the game and during a lot of the actual game. She had to rest occasionally due to circulation problems. Did anyone see what the sign said? I presume it wasn't "Please can I have your shirt Giorgos". May have been in Greek.

 

[Dave the hatosaurus]

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere but I forgot to ask at the time. Did anyone notice AEK Athens fan (lady I think) standing down the front in the gap between the plastic sheet covering the seats at the front, holding up a sign above her head for about a hour before the game and during a lot of the actual game. She had to rest occasionally due to circulation problems. Did anyone see what the sign said? I presume it wasn't "Please can I have your shirt Giorgos". May have been in Greek.

I did see her but as i was in the upper west on the right hand side it was sideways on to me. Like you though i admired her stamina and was intrigued, maybe someone at their end of the lower east might be able to help. The fact that she held it up even though none of their players were out made me think she perhaps was trying to get it on the tv coverage?

 

[schmunk]

Looking at the Optus stats on Set Play so far Brighton is one of the worst teams. With regard to xG, we are worse than Luton Town. Surely, the coaching staff must be aware of our dreadful record. We should try with different set piece tactics and takers. Gilmour, for example, should take on the role more often.

We are, apparently, the shortest team in the PL, so it's hardly surprising...