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

[Blue3]

We really missed Dunk today and with Igor coming in for his first start it was a baptism of fire he’s certainly a unit and can make a good pass if given time but he didn’t seem to be able to keep up with the game, a little lost almost unsure of what his role, was mind you he did a great rugby tackle.

They played us as WHU did, we need to find a way to counter that style of physical play two banks of well drilled defender's who worked really hard and doubled up every time the ball went wide to March or Matoma.

First goal was terrible who was supposed to be marking the guy who scored, their second was a good goal from a really good cross and their third was a comedy of errors

Oh well onwards and upwards

 

[Eric the meek]

Whoever was at fault, midfield, defence or something else, this has been invaluable experience for us.

It has highlighted weaknesses that perhaps the Premier League hasn't exposed yet. This is the real value of European football.

Just to add, (and it may not be a popular view), but we miss the protection of Caicedo.

 

[Bodian]

A neutral's view (or the Guardian anyway)

However - who is this Tudor bloke?

 

[BN41Albion]

Was Veltman in the starting line up in those other shockers?

No actually... but his involvement in the first 11 has been very inconsistent for a while now..

 

[Mancgull]

I thought Lamptey did well when he came on. Igor was ok. JPVH had one of his poorer games, especially compared to his excellent performance at Old Trafford. I just thought we didn't have the right balance.Not sure that Fati is a No 10.
This was the type of game where we needed a physical defensive midfielder, with pace, to Marshall the back four.
Think Baleba will be given his chance v Chelsea in the cup.

 

[BevBHA]

I don't think RDZ 'read the room' correctly tonight, get the impression he had half an eye on Sunday and rotated the team too much. Playing Igor and JPVH wasn't a good move imo, needed some leadership & aerial prowess and would have been a game for Webster I thought (and said so before the game).

If we'd gone slightly stronger think we'd have caused them a lot more problems - makes the group a lot more tricky now.

Correct. He gambled big on this being our easiest group game and lost.

 

[AlexBH]

Very frustrating and very disappointing. 3 poor goals given away, 2 from set pieces with non existent marking. They were very well organised and took what little chances they had.

I’m not sure what was worse- our defending set pieces or our attacking set pieces, don’t mark in defence, don’t get the ball in the box or shoot from attacking set pieces and worst of all we don’t shoot on the edge of the box. Very frustrating game.

If we can’t beat what was the least difficult game on paper we might struggle in this group.

Time to focus on the Premier League now.

 

[Bodian]

This was the type of game where we needed a physical defensive midfielder, with pace, to Marshall the back four.

Caicedo. Or the Brighton version of Caicedo rather than the Chelsea version.

 

[Arkwright]

No actually... but his involvement in the first 11 has been very inconsistent for a while now..

Veltman is a proper full back, Milner isn't. We play better when Veltman is in the team he just understands the position.

 

[Bodian]

Veltman is a proper full back, Milner isn't. We play better when Veltman is in the team he just understands the position.

And he would have got at least one of them wound up and second yellowed.

 

[aolstudios]

I don't think RDZ 'read the room' correctly tonight, get the impression he had half an eye on Sunday and rotated the team too much. Playing Igor and JPVH wasn't a good move imo, needed some leadership & aerial prowess and would have been a game for Webster I thought (and said so before the game).

If we'd gone slightly stronger think we'd have caused them a lot more problems - makes the group a lot more tricky now.

I think we'd've been worse with Webster. Although passing accurately for a consecutive minute or two might've helped

 

[BN41Albion]

Veltman is a proper full back, Milner isn't. We play better when Veltman is in the team he just understands the position.

Agree totally, was just making the point that we have had some great results without him in the team lately. Can't argue the fact that the defence has looked most comfortable this season in the two games he's started though - MU and Newcastle.

 

[aolstudios]

Veltman is a proper full back, Milner isn't. We play better when Veltman is in the team he just understands the position.

Spot on. Milner absolutely isn't.
He gets away with it against weaker teams but Athens weren't weak enough

 

[Krafty]

I don't want Milner starting anytime soon, I'm sure he is a nice guy and all, but Veltman is so much better.

Also Igor wasn't great, and Dunk is a significantly better player but we all know that.

 

[banjo]

Not the right result, but still pinching myself that I actually watch us playing in a European game.

 

[stss30]

I think we'd've been worse with Webster. Although passing accurately for a consecutive minute or two might've helped

Webster had a stinker against West Ham and they were a similar sort of team tonight, but just thought his performance was out of character he was so poor that day. Conceding two goals like that from set pieces is unforgivable really, Dunk must have been pulling his hair out watching that shambles.

 

[BevBHA]

For the life of me I can’t work out why anyone with European experience didn’t start. We were rabbits in headlights first half especially.

I would have gone with

Verbruggen
Lamptey Veltman Webster Pervis
Dahoud Gross
Lallana
Mitoma Pedro Fati

 

[Arkwright]

No idea where it went wrong but we just lost to a team who are Championship League at best.
We just don't play against teams who don't press and pack midfield.
Solly and Mitoma sadly weren't really at the races tonight and yet they were always the easy outlet.
Was tonight and indication that we will take the Premier more serious than Europa League.

 

[BevBHA]

I’m not his biggest fan but the game was absolutely screaming out for Lallana to up the tempo. It was like watching us under Poyet.

 

[dwayne]

As others have said Milner is abysmal. Nice guy to have in the changing room but he is slow and rubbish and certainly not a right back.