[Albion] Brighton & Hove Albion vs Wolverhampton Wanderers *** Official Match Thread ***

[One Teddy Maybank]

Thought we were shocking for the second game in a row.

 

[Gwylan]

Bissouma? Looks like the match sponsors got their money's worth on the booze

 

[crookie]

That was a painful watch. Wolves just sat back, let us play pretty passing in front but rarely ever let us on behind, and on those rare occasions, we never got on any crosses. When they broke it was with a pace, power and intent totally absent from our team. Set pieces absolutely atrocious, and Lamptey seemed strangely reluctant to run at their defence. They could have scored 3 or 4. Don't remember their keeper making a proper save. Mwepu sitter, and March and Lampteys off target efforts all we could rustle up. Any positives ? Sanchez had a good game, and Richards showed promise. Also I was late home from work, so only had to endure it from the sofa. Massive improvement needed if we are to get anything from the next 4 games.

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[Dave the OAP]

I think Bissouma got it

I assume you are joking and I have been wooshed

Ever since his arrest he has been dire. His mind is not on it at the moment


Btw. All this “ oh we had so many injuries “. Last night apart from burn and collony that was more or less the first team out there! Yes veltman was playing centre back, but he played there in Holland for a while.

Thank god Newcastle and Norwich ( who we failed to beat spectacularly, are so shite as we looking to be reverting to type

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Just seen Mwepu's miss on the extended highlights.

It looked pretty bad from the North last night, but oh my god!
Presumably that was a 0.99 Xg chance.

 

[banjo]

We should try and get Man Utd called off but we're too nice/naive.

Apparently we tried to get this game called off.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Apparently we tried to get this game called off.

We did. Spurs and Leicester have tried to get their game called off tonight as well but have been told to play it. The Brentford manager is now calling for all this weekends games to be postponed, wonder if the other managers will join him and try to force the Premier Leagues hand.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...weekend-postponed-to-break-the-chain-on-covid

 

[banjo]

We did. Spurs and Leicester have tried to get their game called off tonight as well but have been told to play it. The Brentford manager is now calling for all this weekends games to be postponed, wonder if the other managers will join him and try to force the Premier Leagues hand.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...weekend-postponed-to-break-the-chain-on-covid

I’m assuming a couple more players out for us will justify us not playing Saturday.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

I’m assuming a couple more players out for us will justify us not playing Saturday.

Man Utd reported further cases last night taking their total to 19, not all playing/coaching staff though, which is going to put our game at serious risk of being postponed. Which given Bissouma being suspended and Veltman limping off at the end of the game last night could be a blessing.

 

[JJ McClure]

First half I thought we looked OK (without being threatening) and were unlucky to go in a goal down.
Second half, feck me we were rancid. No shape and no idea. Utterly ponderous passing that was never going to break Wolves down.

 

[paulfuzz]

Not good enough at this level that’s the difference


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I think he will end up being a good player, that is what I hope. Only time will tell.

 

[paulfuzz]

I admire your loyalty but did you actually watch the 2nd half?
They could easily have scored 3 more and looked like they really intended to score every time they attacked. We could still be playing now and not look like scoring.

As torturous as is was, yes I did. I saw a really disciplined defence by a Wolves team set up not to lose and an Albion team that found it as difficult as Liverpool to break down, with much less quality.
The couple of opportunities that we did create fell to the wrong player on the night.

 

[Curious Orange]

Wolves just sat back, let us play pretty passing in front but rarely ever let us on behind, and on those rare occasions, we never got on any crosses.

I counted how many players were in the Wolves back line for one of our goal kicks in the second half... and it was 7 (SEVEN).

The only way to counter that sort of defending is to try and draw the opponent on to you and break quickly down the wings once you've turned over possession so you can get in behind them. We very rarely did that last night, allowing Wolves plenty of time to re-form their defensive lines.

 

[Washie]

I counted how many players were in the Wolves back line for one of our goal kicks in the second half... and it was 7 (SEVEN).

The only way to counter that sort of defending is to try and draw the opponent on to you and break quickly down the wings once you've turned over possession so you can get in behind them. We very rarely did that last night, allowing Wolves plenty of time to re-form their defensive lines.

The one time we got through was from a long kick from Sanchez which then Wolves weren't prepared. We need to switch our styles during the game. Even City do that if they're losing.

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[Napper]

Worst thing about it was Wolves that first half were diabolical.

2nd half they were a bit better and as a result should of scored 3 or 4.

We tried the rw , the lw , through the middle. Never ever looked like would open them up.

Our best chances were from dead balls and we had oads of chances to deliver quality. Dead ball delivery was embarrassing last night

Frustrating performance

 

[HalfaSeatOn]

Bruno Lage looks to be doing a good job. More resilient. They came over as one of those successfully sh*t 0-1 away teams.

 

[pure_white]

what i can never understand is why we have a keeper and a system that plays it around the back back and firth (gets closed down and we nearly give a goal away last night) and then lumps it forward for a 50/50 ball that we win less than our opponents and that applies for second balls thereafter too. We have game stats analysts so why dont we stop this? You look at game stats overall and a lot of Albion possession is this stiff and what does it count for? How does it progress the ball for attacking play? ok if we are winning but how often has that happened in the last doz matches?

 

[jcdenton08]

what i can never understand is why we have a keeper and a system that plays it around the back back and firth (gets closed down and we nearly give a goal away last night) and then lumps it forward for a 50/50 ball that we win less than our opponents and that applies for second balls thereafter too. We have game stats analysts so why dont we stop this? You look at game stats overall and a lot of Albion possession is this stiff and what does it count for? How does it progress the ball for attacking play? ok if we are winning but how often has that happened in the last doz matches?

Right, so we play with a deep lying midfielder, known as a "pivot" - Bissouma. What is meant to happen is, the centre backs split, the wing backs push forward to occupy the opposition wingers, and the centre backs pass into the pivot, who then look for a wide pass, or a ball into the attacking midfielder. When this pass is consistently not available, the second midfielder will drop too, and become a "double pivot", to give us another option.

What teams have worked out is if they have their midfielders fairly high, they can stand on the pivot(s) and deny our key out ball. Meanwhile, one of their strikers presses the centre back in possession, and the other attacking player(s) cut the passing lanes.

This leaves two options;

1. Keep possession, moving the opposition from side to side, looking for the short out ball. Essentially this often involves a risk of dispossession, given that the pivot is receiving the ball back to goal. This is why we see the following pattern of play:

Dunk short pass to Duffy, back to Dunk, looks forward, sees both Lallana and Groß man marked. Sees striker closing him down. Turn and pass back to Sanchez.

Sanchez plays either short pass out to free defender (usually Veltman, or whoever is playing at right centre back), or if there is no pass available, sends the ball long. Ball is lost, as we have no physical presence without Welbeck.

2. The "free" centre back is able to advance, and aim a direct diagonal pass for either Lamptey or Cucurella to chase. This is our main method of gaining territory, due to their pace. We then win a throw in, and attempt to "play our style" from within their half, while they have everyone behind the ball.

At this point, our play depends on how much they press and how low their block is - IE. how deep they sit and defend.

 

[Mike Small]

Apparently we tried to get this game called off.

Yeah I read that this morning too. The PL is so murky with their decisions, it only makes everyone assume it favours certain clubs. Have seen that United have had more cases now. Surely this game is off.

 

[Mike Small]

Right, so we play with a deep lying midfielder, known as a "pivot" - Bissouma. What is meant to happen is, the centre backs split, the wing backs push forward to occupy the opposition wingers, and the centre backs pass into the pivot, who then look for a wide pass, or a ball into the attacking midfielder. When this pass is consistently not available, the second midfielder will drop too, and become a "double pivot", to give us another option.

What teams have worked out is if they have their midfielders fairly high, they can stand on the pivot(s) and deny our key out ball. Meanwhile, one of their strikers presses the centre back in possession, and the other attacking player(s) cut the passing lanes.

This leaves two options;

1. Keep possession, moving the opposition from side to side, looking for the short out ball. Essentially this often involves a risk of dispossession, given that the pivot is receiving the ball back to goal. This is why we see the following pattern of play:

Dunk short pass to Duffy, back to Dunk, looks forward, sees both Lallana and Groß man marked. Sees striker closing him down. Turn and pass back to Sanchez.

Sanchez plays either short pass out to free defender (usually Veltman, or whoever is playing at right centre back), or if there is no pass available, sends the ball long. Ball is lost, as we have no physical presence without Welbeck.

2. The "free" centre back is able to advance, and aim a direct diagonal pass for either Lamptey or Cucurella to chase. This is our main method of gaining territory, due to their pace. We then win a throw in, and attempt to "play our style" from within their half, while they have everyone behind the ball.

At this point, our play depends on how much they press and how low their block is - IE. how deep they sit and defend.

Great post. Options very limited as bar Lamptey in forward areas we have no-one who can go past people. Trossard can but usually goes back on himself. Frustrating that we have Moder, Macallister, Mwepu, Maupay, Lalanna, Gross often on the pitch who, while good players, cannot take people on and bar maybe Mwepu, run beyond. Poor planning and recruitment.