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

[AmexRuislip]

If we don’t get an equaliser early, prepare yourself for some insane levels of shithousery and timewasting!

Are you talking on the pitch or NSC

 

[GoingUp]

Didn't realise Igor is already 25yr.

 

[BN41Albion]

They have been extremely good at totally disrupting our normal fluent moves and not letting us settle at all. This is more down to them than us playing badly.

I think that too. Plus us missing Dunk at the back. I wouldnt say it's quite the same as West ham - they haven't quite sat back as much - they've successfully disrupted our play in the middle of the park a lot

 

[Eric the meek]

Very impressed with AEK. We should sign Amrabat.
Their first goal was shocking. He was unmarked. I'd have to see it again but I think Mitoma was at fault for not picking him up.
Pedro is a real gem. Better than Fati.
Igor looks a find. He looks like he's played there for years.
But our midfield is getting bypassed. I can't work out why.

 

[Berty23]

Van Hecke either looks world class as he did vs United and Newcastle or non league as he does tonight. Hopefully he will relax second half.

March off for Adingra would be my change and Milner for an actual right back. I am not having him there.

 

[Berty23]

Very impressed with AEK. We should sign Amrabat.
Their first goal was shocking. He was unmarked. I'd have to see it again but I think Mitoma was at fault for not picking him up.
Pedro is a real gem. Better than Fati.
Igor looks a find. He looks like he's played there for years.
But our midfield is getting bypassed. I can't work out why.

Mitoma was sleeping. It was really really poor.

 

[Bridcutt]

Very impressed with AEK. We should sign Amrabat.
Their first goal was shocking. He was unmarked. I'd have to see it again but I think Mitoma was at fault for not picking him up.
Pedro is a real gem. Better than Fati.
Igor looks a find. He looks like he's played there for years.
But our midfield is getting bypassed. I can't work out why.

Because we have no pace there and very little aggression. Milner and Gross being on the same side means we can get ran through quite easily

 

[Bodian]

There's been times where I've been at games, thought it was great atmosphere, come on here and folk watching on telly moaning that the atmosphere was poor. I'm up north so couldn't go tonight but I can't believe how quiet it's sounded considering it's our first ever European game etc. But then now I'm the one watching on telly and criticising- maybe it's actually half decent at the game?

Commentator said the atmosphere was excellent. I think the TV mikes are too far to to the south!

3-3 is my prediction.

 

[swindonseagull]

We are not quite clicking at the moment. Either Veltman or Webster need to come on

Webster? hes been a liability recently

 

[dejavuatbtn]

We’re hardly making it hostile for them. Team and fans needing to step up?

 

[jcdenton08]

Very impressed with AEK. We should sign Amrabat.
Their first goal was shocking. He was unmarked. I'd have to see it again but I think Mitoma was at fault for not picking him up.
Pedro is a real gem. Better than Fati.
Igor looks a find. He looks like he's played there for years.
But our midfield is getting bypassed. I can't work out why.

No time for a proper detailed analysis but in short they drop, which allows our centre backs to have the ball mid way into their half. Passing lanes are cut by their forwards and the midfielders and defenders go man to man. In short, they’ve done their homework and are letting our defenders have the ball higher up, rather than Gilmour/Groß, then do us quickly down the sides on the break.

 

[macbeth]

We can't defend but are mostly immense with the ball and in attack. Over a season, in the league, we will do very well. Cup games- just depends doesn't it? If we have one of those games too often we are going to struggle.

we are definitely missing dunk’s coordination at the back. it’s been all over the shop. this is going to be one of those “we just need to score more than them” type games. and if we do that too much, we won’t go very far in this competition. and that’s okay, we’re obviously very happy to be here, but if we do want to compete, which i imagine RDZ does, then it needs addressing. defence has to be the area we spend on next. there just isn’t enough pace

 

[Seagull27]

I can't tell if Igor has been at fault defensively for any of the goals, but he is absolutely Rolls Royce bringing the ball out of defence into midfield.

Agree, love those passes at 90 degrees across his body, very confident on the ball too. Reckon he's got a couple of howlers in him though across the season

Fati is clearly a very good player, but a bit quiet tonight. Not quite linked up with the rest of our attackers.

 

[The Fits]

We’re hardly making it hostile for them. Team and fans needing to step up?

I do think there is some truth in this.
They're bang up for it and feels like we've rolled out the red carpet

 

[Reddleman]

Another level isn’t he?! Frighteningly good.

Need to get him some support second half, very much felt like a one man attack that half.

You are watching a different game to me. He’s been awful. Given it away so many times with these ludicrous flicks

 

[Washie]

Has anything Pedro has tried come off? So many flicks putting us in danger

 

[macbeth]

Veltman in for Milner so we actually have a proper RB on the pitch, Fati has been poor.
We've been too slow, Athens are closing us down quickly.
I hope we wake up a bit as we had moments when we looked like we were going to batter them.

to be fair, i don’t really know why veltman didn’t start tonight. obviously RDZ has his reasons but aside from milner he has the most european experience in our squad.

 

[Dr Q]

Pedro needs to give up on those fancy flicks. At least 3x have given the ball away.

 

[Bodian]

Yellow for Igor. Deserved!

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I must be watching a different game because I thought we'd played some decent stuff. Maybe a bit naive for the goals - and they are disrupting the normal flow - but it's not horrendous.

I'm just enjoying the evening