Weststander
Well-known member
I like Mac alot, but thought he was a 0/10 in that first half. My son said he didn’t realise he was on the field.
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[Albion] Brighton & Hove Albion vs Everton *** Official Match Thread ***
- Thread starter Dick Head
- Start date
I like Mac alot, but thought he was a 0/10 in that first half. My son said he didn’t realise he was on the field.
Couldn't have put it better - it was a performance devoid of anything good which is very concerning. A good time for the international break perhaps, with players coming back from injury and (hopefully) a couple of new signings - but one of our worst performances in many months, we didn't really land a glove on them and at home too.
In general Potterball (yes, sorry, I just called it that again) can't really be blamed when you have no pace and no fit wingbacks or fullbacks. But that was more than a good day.
Their tactics were obvious. Sit a little deeper most often and let us pass ourselves into a slumber before breaking it up with a good press and setting Grey or Townsend free. And because those players are fast and direct and have a solid gold finisher in DC-L in the middle waiting it worked every time. But.....
1) We didn't react to it. The game followed the same pattern despite the changes we tried to make.
2) Some very interesting decisions by players. Duffy chose to back off every break. I'd love to see their first back again because from the WSU it looked like the ball was just played into space and Grey wanted to get it and Duffy wanted to back off. It seemed a nothing ball that they wanted more. And then we bring on Taylor Richards, presumably to change the game, and all he does is slow it down further. There was a moment when we were on the break and he got it just past the halfway line on the east side of the ground with 20 yards of space in front of him. And turned back inside, slowed the whole move down and played it sideways. It's really hard to muller a kid who's just made his PL debut for that but it's clearly been coached or talked into him. He was the impact player and yet had very obviously been told to keep in simple. Arrgh.
Still, in the Potter credit, 6 points from three games with an injury (and transfers out) weakened squad is probably better than anyone expected, and we've got that out of the way. But my word, this squad is one dimensional without March and Lamptey.
pb21
Well-known member
- Apr 23, 2010
- 6,687
The sort of player who is a nasty little kunnt when he plays against you and a nasty little kunnt when he plays for you.
BN41Albion
Well-known member
- Oct 1, 2017
- 6,826
It's a shame we were so outclassed today. First 15 mins were quite even. Crowd was buoyant, atmosphere was really good. You could see the game turning in Everton's favour almost in slow motion though. They gradually cut us off and then picked us off as we lost confidence and made more and more silly mistakes. Bissouma getting a knock didn't help either.
Second half continued in the same vain despite the changes. Was painful to watch really - we were so outclassed and 0-2 almost flattered us really.
We desperately need more pace in our squad and more options on the wings. The lack of height up top was noticeable today too. Wing backs who aren't wing backs and with little pace, plus lack of height and pace up top, meant so few options when moving the ball forward. So painfully easy for Everton to crowd the midfield, stay organised in their defensive shape and force us to rotate the ball time after time. Felt very PL Hughtonesq and Championship Poyet today, as you said.
Wardy's twin
Well-known member
- Oct 21, 2014
- 8,866
but what about having someone who can take the ball forward without having to pass it.
midnight_rendezvous
Well-known member
It’s baffling that we still haven’t bought in cover for two injury prone players that are so key to the way we play
Weststander
Well-known member
I knew the answer already, but asked my lad on 25 minutes “Which team are running the game?”. The answer, obviously “Everton, they’re all over us”.
And were to final whistle. As one sided a 2-0 win you’ll ever see.
Rafa proactive throughout, a great football brain, coaching his players through.
I’m loyally pro Potter, but today from afar he seemed back to the rabbit in the headlights mode. I actually don’t blame him, as the 6th or 7th best team in the EPL were masterfully taking a wooden, slow team apart. He didn’t exactly have a team or subs bench to put fear into a CL and La Liga winning coach with far better players.
Clive Walker
Stand Or Fall
I love that we’re normally defensively sound but I’d be ecstatic if we were dangerous on the attack. Bit like Leicester.
We’re so pedestrian in the final third.
We’re so pedestrian in the final third.
brighton_tom
Well-known member
- Jul 23, 2008
- 5,512
Anyone know why they’ve stopped having Sky sports on the concourse TVs? Noticed today but pretty it was the same against Watford.
Agree with almost all the previous comments. Not a good day. However both goals were easily preventable (Dunk's poor pass lead directly to the first; Veltman did not need to make the challenge for the second) and we could have hung on for an undeserved 0-0.
GoingUp
Well-known member
We looked so slow and pedestrian today, we really need some pace on the wings to run and take players on.
Lamptey, March and dare I say Knocky may have given us something extra today and created some chances for the forwards.
With that being said, Rafa had Everton really well defensively organised.
Lamptey, March and dare I say Knocky may have given us something extra today and created some chances for the forwards.
With that being said, Rafa had Everton really well defensively organised.
GoingUp
Well-known member
What was annoying, last season you looked at the bench and thought wow, theres a lot of options for us, a real strong bench........ today though other than Welbeck I didn't see who we could bring on to change the game.
Neville's Breakfast
Well-known member
Covid. They want people to head straight to their seats but aren’t enforcing it so all a bit pointless
BN41Albion
Well-known member
- Oct 1, 2017
- 6,826
Im very pro Potter too. Almost felt sorry for him today though. Simply didn't have the players at his disposal to even attempt to lay a glove on Everton. And two of our three subs were playing their first minutes of the season. Also imo saw the first glimpses of missing White today. He at least might have had an impact in the pace of our play through the middle.
BN41Albion
Well-known member
- Oct 1, 2017
- 6,826
On the other hand they easily could've scored a couple more and it could've ended 0-4 or so
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Nailed it. Agree with every point.
This was a stroll in the park for Everton. With no pace we had zero threat down the flanks. Moder at LB and Gross at RB was absolutely painful to watch. I was happy to see Moder pushed further forward when Veltman came on - until I saw what Veltman brought to the party, ie the same attacking "impetus", and then making the game irretrievable with his dopey positioning and clumsy challenge on Coleman that put the game to bed. I cannot BELIEVE people around me were grizzling about that decision, it was stone wall.
As an aside, and I am sure this is covered elsewhere, but what a highly enriched, weapons grade 24-carat BELLEND that prick Richarlison is. A snide clip from behind on Bissouma that sent him sprawling, then stroked his face to try and get a reaction. Then a stand-up hissy-fit row with his captain after DCL picked up the ball for the spot kick. Amongst numerous other examples of shithousery trying to con free kicks (and a pen) out of the ref.
I hope he gets malaria.
Agree just a day to forget, move on to the next.