Yes. Despite the result, despite the disappointment, and despite the below-par performance - that's our first ever European game, and I can't help but be proud. I think there was a combination of nerves, not knowing quite what to expect and losing Dunk. But, to be honest - I still enjoyed it. I don't get depressed at defeats nowadays - because I'm always confident that we can win against the odds later on. Still wouldn't be surprised if we qualified from the group. We'll learn from this.
[Albion] Brighton & Hove Albion vs AEK Athens *** Official Match Thread ***
- Thread starter Dick Head
- Start date
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Hey-ho. Bit shit in places, but not a disaster by any means. 15 points to play for.
Shame. Just weren’t at it at all tonight. Other than Joao Pedro and Adingra’s cameo, no one can say they had a good game.
Hopefully a bit of a lesson for the players and coaching staff and we’ll put what we’ve learnt into the next five games to get the results we need.
Positives - what a night for the club and - Joao Pedro! A future Brazil number 9 and superstar. What a player!
Hopefully a bit of a lesson for the players and coaching staff and we’ll put what we’ve learnt into the next five games to get the results we need.
Positives - what a night for the club and - Joao Pedro! A future Brazil number 9 and superstar. What a player!
Si Gull
Way Down South
Wasn't like watching Albion of late. Shame for our first European game. Tbf, AEK did a job on us but we didn't help ourselves with some poor defending and lack of penetration up front. Probably a couple of changes too many. Ajax and Marseille now looking even more scary.
razer
Well-known member
Sloppy passing throughout the whole game. I can't say that any of the team covered themselves in glory.
St Leonards Seagull
Well-known member
- Jul 10, 2012
- 554
Missed Dunk massively. Igor and van Hecke looked total strangers
Mustafa II
Well-known member
Mediocre performance, but I think more credit should go to the opposition.
A seasoned European club, used to winning in their domestic leagues, displayed a tenacious and determined performance with a game plan that done us.
We weren't terrible, or even poor, but their aggressive man-marking was something we just don't know in the Premier League.
We just couldn't break them down. Our top performers such as March and Mitoma, just had no joy, as they marked us out of the game.
Missing Dunk was the difference tonight IMO. Not just his defensive qualities, but also his captancy. We gave away 3 really poor goals, although credit to their set pieces, which were top drawer. Can't see this happening if he was on the pitch.
Fati barely put a foot wrong, decent debuts for him and Igor, didn't really put a foot wrong.
All in all, we deserved to lose. This was an eye opener to European football, which is a completely different flavour to Premier League football.
I don't think we should feel too downhearted though, as all ties are winnable in this competition. I'd rather a defeat came here than in the Premier League. I am still optimistic that we will still qualify.
All in all, well done AEK Athens, deserved win. Looking forward to the next tie, as we have learnt a lot tonight.
A seasoned European club, used to winning in their domestic leagues, displayed a tenacious and determined performance with a game plan that done us.
We weren't terrible, or even poor, but their aggressive man-marking was something we just don't know in the Premier League.
We just couldn't break them down. Our top performers such as March and Mitoma, just had no joy, as they marked us out of the game.
Missing Dunk was the difference tonight IMO. Not just his defensive qualities, but also his captancy. We gave away 3 really poor goals, although credit to their set pieces, which were top drawer. Can't see this happening if he was on the pitch.
Fati barely put a foot wrong, decent debuts for him and Igor, didn't really put a foot wrong.
All in all, we deserved to lose. This was an eye opener to European football, which is a completely different flavour to Premier League football.
I don't think we should feel too downhearted though, as all ties are winnable in this competition. I'd rather a defeat came here than in the Premier League. I am still optimistic that we will still qualify.
All in all, well done AEK Athens, deserved win. Looking forward to the next tie, as we have learnt a lot tonight.
Auckland seagull
Well-known member
- Aug 26, 2016
- 241
Same old story really, failing to break down an organized defence. I also think the occasion got the better of us. A hard lesson to take but there will be more enjoyable European nights in the future.
- Feb 22, 2014
- 2,829
Well that was a sobering wake up call and no mistake. I thought they looked like a team of bouncers and worked their socks off to spoil our game. Fair play to them they did a job on us which teams will do if they work hard enough. I thought they would run out of steam but they didn’t until very near the end. They could give Aston Villa lessons on time wasting but that’s Europa football for you. Grudgingly they can play a bit as well, a good team imo.
Mancgull
Well-known member
Difficult night. Poor defensively. Just not sure the balance of the selection was right.
We really needed Ferguson for the last 20 minutes or so.
Also, we didn’t have the break of the ball tonight. Just see the third goal... deflection off Steele back to their player and straight in the corner.
Still, it’s very Brighton.
Win at Man United. Lose to AEK.
We really needed Ferguson for the last 20 minutes or so.
Also, we didn’t have the break of the ball tonight. Just see the third goal... deflection off Steele back to their player and straight in the corner.
Still, it’s very Brighton.
Win at Man United. Lose to AEK.
Dunk and Veltman look better and better with every absence though don’t they?!
KZNSeagull
Well-known member
Well they are really having never played together before. Igor impressed me on the ball and I would like to see him play alongside Dunk. Mitoma was the most disappointing for me.
Jackthelad
Well-known member
- Mar 31, 2010
- 1,074
AEK were good, they had studied us well. Fati showed glimpses of promise, Gross has a bad game, his passing was really sloppy. Defence looks lost without Dunk.
slimes
Well-known member
Our set pieces are beyond laughable..
We needed a proper right back (Veltman)
I've already moved on.. Bournemouth next...
We needed a proper right back (Veltman)
I've already moved on.. Bournemouth next...
Mike Small
Well-known member
- Dec 26, 2008
- 2,980
United are terrible though. Can barely run.
Actually - we weren't too bad at the corner taking aspect tonight. For a change, most of them beat the first man. It's just we didn't get on the end of them.
Good post - sums up my thoughts really.
Mike Small
Well-known member
- Dec 26, 2008
- 2,980
I think we played ok overall and better in the second half when they were tiring (a bit). That said, we've got to do better at keeping the ball out of our f***ing goal. Fold like a deck chair. Powder puff.
Please beat Bournemouth on Saturday. Would be great with Dunk, Ferguson and Veltman to come in.
Please beat Bournemouth on Saturday. Would be great with Dunk, Ferguson and Veltman to come in.
Coldeanseagull
Opinionated
That's funny, I thought Pedro was another below par. Trying too many flicks and tricks! AEK did get the rub of the green, but you make your own luck by being in the situations. Hey ho
1066familyman
Radio User
- Jan 15, 2008
- 15,235
Spot on.