[Albion] Brighton & Hove Albion vs AFC Bournemouth *** Official Match Thread ***

[The Optimist]

Well, the pundit on 5live this morning (ex-Arsenal but I didn’t get the name) thinks Bournemouth will win easily despite them having the ‘2nd highest amount of injuries in the Premier League’, no mention of our injury list (1st place thanks). He said they are the perfect side to play us because they’ll low block us and hit us on the break.

He spoke of our possession game that gives opponents the advantage.

He spoke of Bournemouth’s brilliant attack.

He did not speak of FH’s tactics against Chelsea (30% possession).

He did not mention that Bournemouth could be playing two midfielders in defence, let’s see how watertight their low block will be tonight without
Senesi, Zabaryni, Hill (maybe?), Smith and Araujo?

Sorry, do you expect pundits to be informed with their opinions?

 

[sydney]

Michael Oliver is the ref. Has apparently reffed us at the Amex 13 times, we have won none of them

Am I right in thinking he was the ref who had a shocker of a game a few years ago against Liverpool?. He gave us nothing all game, every 50/50 went to Liverpool and a very very dubious penalty was given to Salah

say no more.

 

[Redinpeace]

Looking forward to this one, comfortable home win please, thanks.

 

[Oh_aye]

Really looking forward to this one. A real test. 2 really good young sides.

Genuinely haven't seen much of them this season but their results (wolves aside) speak for themselves and they've had some impressive big wins against good sides. Hammering Forest and Newcastle.

A real statement of European intentions if we win here.

 

[One Love]

Michael Oliver is the ref. Has apparently reffed us at the Amex 13 times, we have won none of them

Am I right in thinking he was the ref who had a shocker of a game a few years ago against Liverpool?. He gave us nothing all game, every 50/50 went to Liverpool and a very very dubious penalty was given to Salah

14 apparently

 

[dwayne]

Home win 21/20
Draw 14/5 (54/20)
Away win 9/4 (45/20)

bet365 make us more than twice as likely to win, than Bournemouth.

Crazy. Makes no sense to me. Can't call this game. I would have a win lose or draw at about same odds.

 

[Justice]

Michael Oliver is the ref. Has apparently reffed us at the Amex 13 times, we have won none of them

Am I right in thinking he was the ref who had a shocker of a game a few years ago against Liverpool?. He gave us nothing all game, every 50/50 went to Liverpool and a very very dubious penalty was given to Salah

I thought that was not our friend Kevin Friend. In the same game he spent four minutes of injury time talking to Robertson because he abused the family stand or something and then blew the whistle. That ref was horrendously bad.

 

[Milano]

Well, the pundit on 5live this morning (ex-Arsenal but I didn’t get the name) thinks Bournemouth will win easily despite them having the ‘2nd highest amount of injuries in the Premier League’, no mention of our injury list (1st place thanks). He said they are the perfect side to play us because they’ll low block us and hit us on the break.

He spoke of our possession game that gives opponents the advantage.

He spoke of Bournemouth’s brilliant attack.

He did not speak of FH’s tactics against Chelsea (30% possession).

He did not mention that Bournemouth could be playing two midfielders in defence, let’s see how watertight their low block will be tonight without
Senesi, Zabaryni, Hill (maybe?), Smith and Araujo?

If we set up as we did v Chelsea then it could be like watching a tennis match as no side will over commit anyone.

Muff would be crazy if they tried to push up with Mitoma and Minteh looking to run past our strikers at every opportunity, so I fully expect them to sit in. As you point out can they do that with a makeshift back 4? We need to take the game to them to try to put that back 4 under pressure but in a controlled manner.

They will look for breaks and set pieces. Just no stupid mistakes tonight please Albion and do not give that ref any chance to give anything to them or to be the centre of attention, because he will in a heartbeat.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Home win 21/20
Draw 14/5 (54/20)
Away win 9/4 (45/20)

bet365 make us more than twice as likely to win, than Bournemouth.

Then they are more confident than me

 

[Jimmy Come Lately]

I'm feeling optimistic about this one.

After the Forest game I retired my long-serving and clearly no longer lucky t-shirt. (To be honest, I'd had my doubts about its powers to bestow good fortune since Rome last year. Sorry, I should have acted sooner.) Since then we've scored nine goals and our opponents have scored none.

Others have ascribed this improvement to FH's changed tactics, better midfield options being available, Mitoma and Minteh regaining their missing mojo, or just Chelsea and Southampton being rubbish. But to me it seems that a much more important factor is my substitute lucky t-shirt staking its claim to be the first item of clothing on the team sheet.

Tonight will be a sterner test for the new lucky t-shirt, but I have faith in it.

 

[dazzer6666]

I'm feeling optimistic about this one.

After the Forest game I retired my long-serving and clearly no longer lucky t-shirt. (To be honest, I'd had my doubts about its powers to bestow good fortune since Rome last year. Sorry, I should have acted sooner.) Since then we've scored nine goals and our opponents have scored none.

Others have ascribed this improvement to FH's changed tactics, better midfield options being available, Mitoma and Minteh regaining their missing mojo, or just Chelsea and Southampton being rubbish. But to me it seems that a much more important factor is my substitute lucky t-shirt staking its claim to be the first item of clothing on the team sheet.

Tonight will be a sterner test for the new lucky t-shirt, but I have faith in it.

It’s 9-1 last three games…….

 

[Hotchilidog]

I'm feeling optimistic about this one.

After the Forest game I retired my long-serving and clearly no longer lucky t-shirt. (To be honest, I'd had my doubts about its powers to bestow good fortune since Rome last year. Sorry, I should have acted sooner.) Since then we've scored nine goals and our opponents have scored none.

Others have ascribed this improvement to FH's changed tactics, better midfield options being available, Mitoma and Minteh regaining their missing mojo, or just Chelsea and Southampton being rubbish. But to me it seems that a much more important factor is my substitute lucky t-shirt staking its claim to be the first item of clothing on the team sheet.

Tonight will be a sterner test for the new lucky t-shirt, but I have faith in it.

I now have lucky pint. I shall be legging it to the Shakespeare's Head for a swift pint of Laine's Project Zest before heading to the game tonight.

 

[Simster]

Home win 21/20
Draw 14/5 (54/20)
Away win 9/4 (45/20)

bet365 make us more than twice as likely to win, than Bournemouth.

Not quite, as your calculations aren't taking the stake into consideration. According to the exchanges if you're interested:

Home win 46%
Draw 25.5%
Away win 28.5%

When written like that, it all looks far more plausible.

 

[Flounce]

I thought that was not our friend Kevin Friend. In the same game he spent four minutes of injury time talking to Robertson because he abused the family stand or something and then blew the whistle. That ref was horrendously bad.

I think you are right!

 

[Washie]

It’s 9-1 last three games…….

Maybe he changed shirt after Chelsea scored.

 

[Machiavelli]

Home win 21/20
Draw 14/5 (54/20)
Away win 9/4 (45/20)

bet365 make us more than twice as likely to win, than Bournemouth.

FWIW, I think either team winning is more likely than those odds, and the draw less likely. If bookies didn't cream off a margin, I'd be tempted to have a flutter but they do, so I won't.

 

[Machiavelli]

If we set up as we did v Chelsea then it could be like watching a tennis match as no side will over commit anyone.

Muff would be crazy if they tried to push up with Mitoma and Minteh looking to run past our strikers at every opportunity, so I fully expect them to sit in. As you point out can they do that with a makeshift back 4? We need to take the game to them to try to put that back 4 under pressure but in a controlled manner.

They will look for breaks and set pieces. Just no stupid mistakes tonight please Albion and do not give that ref any chance to give anything to them or to be the centre of attention, because he will in a heartbeat.

I know you're following on from this 'informed pundit' but Bournemouth really don't play a deep block. The phrase used for their game is organised chaos, and Iraola's game strategy is not unlike FH's which is to play with intensity, counter quickly, run more than your opponents, etc

 

[Blues Guitarist]

It’s 9-1 last three games…….

Yes, but the OP said "our opponents have scored none", which is correct as Bart scored.

 

[Miami Seagull]

Yes, but the OP said "our opponents have scored none", which is correct as Bart scored.

D'oh

 

[RandyWanger]

Can't make this one now, should get home just in time to get TNT on. This season, the couple of home games I've missed we've won. You're welcome.