[Albion] Brighton & Hove Albion vs Arsenal *** Official Match Thread ***

[zefarelly]

Cost Adringa a goal today and Minteh did it twice last week in scoring positions.
It can’t be too hard to select studs that allow you to stand up ?

I blame the dick that turned the bloody sprinklers on before the game . . .why do they do it?

Longer stud must increase digging/stwisting etc, certainly what did my knees in my 20's, albeit on crap park pitches.

clever players clear the grass from their studs . . . .

 

[dolphins]

BBC website:

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I repeated myself the last two, three four weeks when I said that we should have won this game or that game, and again today, that is what frustrates us.

"We are not able to play consistently, to press consistently, we cannot go for 90 minutes with the intensity that we showed in the second half.

"We are not clear enough with goalscoring chances. We have to work hard on ourselves and look in the mirror and see that we are responsible for the result.

"Arsenal did not create that many goalscoring chances. The only shot on goal was their goal, therefore we also see the positives. But we have to work on consistency.

On the penalty decision: "Clear penalty."

On Joao Pedro: "He had a tough period but we know his quality. He is one of our leaders, he is in the leadership group. He was our captain today when Lewis [Dunk] was injured and he showed his quality.

"He got the goal but more importantly his performance was about how he led this young team. He was a role model, his work against the ball, counter pressing and sprinting back."

On the coming games: "We want to be fitter and sharper, so we have to be physically and mentally on a different level and we need to work hard to get there. We as staff have to be ready to push the players so they are as ready as they can be. "

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We think we deserved more. We had the better chances and weren't able to score the second goal. In the end we have to take the positives.

"It was a clear penalty. It is head to head but if it is another piece of the body everybody would say it was a penalty. Joao Pedro places the ball with his head and Saliba comes to late, therefore it was a clear one."

On Joao Pedro's form: "Joao is a key player and also one of our leaders. Today he was our captain. Every player has bad phases in his development and we are there to help him and give him the right support and advice and I'm sure he'll come back really strong."

On strong showing after the break: "It is a big challenge for us to play consistently with this intentisity. We are only able to play in phases of the game. We have to improve and get fitter. We have to be mentally ready to play intense for 90 minutes. If we are not able to do it it will be difficult to win games."

 

[dangull]

It's amazing how a soft silly and unnecessary penalty can completely change the mood of everybody from half time and previous games

 

[dolphins]

Again, from the BBC website:

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, speaking to Sky Sports: “I feel like I have to repeat myself all the time, which is a disappointing feeling. In the first half we weren’t as intense as we wanted to be. After the goal it was much better. The big word for us is consistency.

“When we look at Arsenal’s chances, they had one [big opportunity] during the game. Of course they were always dangerous from set pieces. We did well to come back but weren’t clean enough in the final third. Against Arsenal, you need to use your momentum to win the game.

“The game we want to play is intense, [we want to] press high. If you want to attack the box, you need to invest in deep runs. We’re not where we should be, but it’s a process.

“We have to accept [the result], keep working hard and do better than we did before. We need a lot of physicality for [our] kind of game. We were not able to hold that physical level for 90 minutes. We’re still working on that.

“It’s not that easy to make the players fitter, but it’s a long-term process.”

On the penalty: “Looking back, I think it’s a penalty.”

 

[GoldstoneVintage]

I'm old enough to remember when we were being linked with Postecoglou. 4 points clear of Spuds now.

 

[ChickenDipper]

It's amazing how a soft silly and unnecessary penalty can completely change the mood of everybody from half time and previous games

You mean the Villa one I assume? It’s football and we moved on…

 

[portlock seagull]

Very good Second half and we should have edged the win really if our finishing was better. Thought Webster played well when he came on considering he hasn’t played for a while and put the team on the front foot more with fresh legs on the Wing with Mitoma. Shocking first half performance in my opinion by A Taylor. How he only allowed 4 minutes extra time (thought it should have been 7) only he knows.

Worst ref in a long time, especially the first half I agree. Buffon!

 

[Seagull58]

Worst ref in a long time, especially the first half I agree. Buffon!

Gigi?

 

[OzMike]

1 just woke up !
Good point or 2 dropped ?
I have read the match commentary, looks like it could have gone either way.
Will watch replay for breakfast.

 

[portlock seagull]

1 just woke up !
Good point or 2 dropped ?
I have read the match commentary, looks like it could have gone either way.
Will watch replay for breakfast.

Good morning
Arguably 2 dropped
But yes could gone either way
Least you can fast forward through the Arsenal time-wasting. Only 7 mins of actual football in 1st half because of this. Pathetic from a supposed title challenger (they’re not, they really aren’t). Ref was appalling btw. As was the weather.

 

[NorthstandRacoon]

The decision to give Joao Pedro the captaincy paid off brilliant IMHO.
Raised his game with the added responsibility.

Pleased to read this, I was a bit baffled by that at first as I find him a bit childish at times. But he is just passionate, so it's great he raised his game.

Couldn't watch today as was away, however, am very pleased to see the positivity.

 

[The Fits]

Fab, love the fire in your belly here but if your players aren’t STARTING the game with the desired intensity and/or not sustaining it for 90 minutes some of that IS down to you.

 

[GT49er]

Arteta is a complete dick.
Hope Arsenal finish 5th.

Three dicks on MOTD absolutely rubbishing the idea that it should have been a penalty!

 

[NorthstandRacoon]

Trust the process whatever that is? Sleepwalk into fighting it out for 16th 17th in the table?

I know we had a much better 2nd half. however, my quote of FH was put out there due to frustrations of our decline. I'm sure we have to be patient, but I haven't warmed to him really and that's annoying for me because I want too. I really don't think we'll get Europe this year, and that for me is down to the manager, although injuries haven't helped. I SO hope I eat these words and look a mug at the end of the season, mind.

 

[The Fits]

I know we had a much better 2nd half. however, my quote of FH was put out there due to frustrations of our decline. I'm sure we have to be patient, but I haven't warmed to him really and that's annoying for me because I want too. I really don't think we'll get Europe this year, and that for me is down to the manager, although injuries haven't helped. I SO hope I eat these words and look a mug at the end of the season, mind.

Do you think Europe was the aim this season?

 

[Super Sub]

Like others have said… we were far better second half once the substitutions were made. Lots more physicality and pace to our game.
I do genuinely wonder if this was a FH plan… Contain them first half them hit them with raw pace and energy second half

 

[jcdenton08]

Like others have said… we were far better second half once the substitutions were made. Lots more physicality and pace to our game.
I do genuinely wonder if this was a FH plan… Contain them first half them hit them with raw pace and energy second half

I doubt it, FH has said many times he wants 100% intensity for the whole game, not just one half or the other, which has consistently been the case.

 

[Super Sub]

Do you think Europe was the aim this season?

I’m of the opinion that we are More hoping for Europe this season. The bosses are realistic men and will know it will take time for all of the new guys (FH included) to settle in.

 

[Oh_aye]

I know we had a much better 2nd half. however, my quote of FH was put out there due to frustrations of our decline. I'm sure we have to be patient, but I haven't warmed to him really and that's annoying for me because I want too. I really don't think we'll get Europe this year, and that for me is down to the manager, although injuries haven't helped. I SO hope I eat these words and look a mug at the end of the season, mind.

DECLINE?

Blimey.

 

[Super Sub]

I doubt it, FH has said many times he wants 100% intensity for the whole game, not just one half or the other, which has consistently been the case.

Agreed but I thought he had also said that our fitness levels were not there yet. With this in mind, playing the half’s with a different plan would seem viable.
We will no doubt get there at some point