[Albion] Do Brighton have a bigger problem than they realise? (Four Four Two article)

[elwheelio]

Excerpt:

There is a point when it stops feeling unfortunate or the sort of run of poor luck that, as the cliché has it, will even itself out over a season. It reflects on what might be fundamental failures in both penalty boxes: the previously impressive Mat Ryan has been dropped with a 50 per cent save rate that even Kepa Arrizabalaga might deem unsatisfactory. An 8.8 chance conversion rate is one indication of profligacy. That Neal Maupay usually underperforms his expected goals is a factor, but there is a wider issue: too many of Potter’s technical players are insufficiently clinical in front of goal. The finishing touch can come with time; or maybe Brighton just are not good enough in front of goal.

Full article: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/do-brighton-have-a-bigger-problem-than-they-realise

 

[BN41Albion]

I think more and more of us are thinking the same now, and certainly more pundits are saying similar - a marked switch from early season praise we received.

Fewer and fewer fans now peddling the 'results will come...' line... (they may still be proved right, but my feelings certainly sway towards the 442 article's.)

 

[Dorset Seagull]

Nailed it

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Do Brighton have a bigger problem than they realise?

By Richard Jolly


A side who look forever on the cusp of taking a leap forward risk taking a giant step backwards.

The final sentence answers the question. I reckon that is how most of us see it. We're so close to being a really decent side but we're at risk of ballsing it all up. So in that sense, no we don't have a bigger problem than we realise. We realise exactly where we're at.

 

[Jam The Man]

Can’t argue with that.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Nothing we don’t know although some don’t want to see it

 

[BadFish]

I've not yet given up hope of us taking that step.

Only time will tell.

Sent from my Redmi Note 7 using Tapatalk

 

[vegster]

All pretty true sadly, ultimately, its all about results and we ain't getting many.

 

[dazzer6666]

Decent article and might inform someone who doesn’t watch us much but doesn’t tell most of us anything we didn’t already know............

I reckon we’ll plough on, and hope the stats start to translate into points. Can’t see the philosophy changing as it runs right through the club.

 

[*Gullsworth*]

Very good article. Hundreds of our supporters could have penned it.

 

[tigertim68]

It looks like we are a good team , but with a manager who does not know how to win football matches

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

I've not yet given up hope of us taking that step.

Only time will tell.

Sent from my Redmi Note 7 using Tapatalk

One striker short of being comfortable, Potter’s football is thoroughly enjoyable at times but right now it’s toothless and it’s costing us dearly, we may end up paying the ultimate price. My worry is that Potter doesn’t know how to adapt to a more gritty or resolute style, something that Dyche and Allardyce can do with their eyes closed, I’m not sure we’re capable of a battle and will continue the pretty possession stuff until the death.
It might be an incredibly binary way of looking at it but I honestly believe a decent striker equals safety, failure to do so means almost certain relegation.

 

[Seasider78]

It’s the margins at this level that make the league so unforgiving. If you remove just a couple of the numerous missed chances or lapses in concentration we probably have another 3-4 points and would be about where most of us would expect and be happy with.

The consistency of that failure is what the article is calling out and the source of most fans frustration. GP called it in the interview yesterday saying we were working to turn those margins in our favour but he is right it is fine margins.

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

What this piece does, amongst all the opinion, is highlight what we already know. Nothing else.

'too many of Potter’s technical players are insufficiently clinical in front of goal.'

No shit, but is this the managers fault?

Let's not forget what Potter was left with when he took over, and the transformation that has taken place in a season and a half.

Remember when Klopp took over at Liverpool, it took him 3 seasons to get them playing his way. And even then he had to sell his best player, Coutinho, and sign the final couple of pieces of his jigsaw, Van Dijk and Alisson, before they took thier leap forward.

That's where we're at, we need a top striker and we may need to sell a gem to fund buying one.

 

[Silverhatch]

A good article. Stick with Maupay & Welbeck. Play Lallana behind them (for as long as he’s on the pitch). Get Lamptey fit and refine him very slightly. Do NOT play White at wingback. Find someone who can really compliment Biss in midfield and pray that Moder is the real (elite) deal. And if we really are zonal marking, change it and give responsibility back to the Captain to organise the defence because we are truly Shit at set pieces.

 

[knocky1]

Problem with scoring is that you immediately lose possession and the Gaffer will not be happy with that.

 

[elwheelio]

What this piece does is, amongst all the opinion, is highlight what we already know. Nothing else.

'too many of Potter’s technical players are insufficiently clinical in front of goal.'

No shit, but is this the managers fault?

Let's not forget what Potter was left with when he took over, and the transformation that has taken place in a season and a half.

Remember when Klopp took over at Liverpool, it took him 3 seasons to get them playing his way. And even then he had to sell his best player, Coutinho, and sign the final couple of pieces of his jigsaw, Van Dijk and Alisson, before they took thier leap forward.

That's where we're at, we need a top striker and we may need to sell a gem to fund buying one.

The trouble is that you can't just buy a top striker. You can spend 20m+ on someone and hope it works but it will be a punt (McBurnie, Brewster, Haller, Joelinton). Anyone proven at that price range will be old or injury prone (Ings, Wilson) and be on huge wages. Anyone costing more than that who is willing to come here will have been looked at and dismissed by better clubs as not being up to it. Bottom 6 clubs don't have top strikers they have to rely on defensive resolve and solidity to survive.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Do Brighton have a bigger problem than they realise?

By Richard Jolly


A progressive footballing philosophy and exciting young players mean Graham Potter's Brighton are often praised – but results aren't matching their promise

In their final games before Christmas, Burnley Burnleyed their way to a win and Brighton Brightoned their way to a draw. Burnley, seemingly trapped in a four-way battle for the three relegation places, went above Brighton.

Only one has received much praise this season and it isn’t Burnley, with their eternally unfashionable style of play. Brighton feel the progressive club. Except that they are not progressing, which rather raises the question of when they will. The last 18 months have been revolution, transition and stasis at the same time, ending up in a similar part of the table while playing a radically different brand of football that promises a brighter future.

Brighton ride high in the possession charts (seventh), shot count (also seventh) and expected goals (10th). They have the fourth-best expected goals against. They are a very good team; if, that is, definitions of being good do not require winning games.

Last Sunday, Brighton came from behind to draw 1-1: it is something they have already done three times this season. Yet it was against 10-man, winless Sheffield United. It felt symbolic, highlighting a lack of ruthlessness of a team who get plaudits but fail to win many of the winnable games.

Especially at home. Under Chris Hughton, Graham Potter’s more pragmatic predecessor, Brighton had a respectable record at the American Express Stadium. Under Potter, they have beaten one team there in Premier League action in 2020 which, as their victims were Arsenal and the remaining visitors are the Gunners, will remain the case. In a way, too, it illustrates the peculiarities of this Brighton, a team capable of defeating Arsenal twice last season, of drawing with Liverpool this year and of doing everything but beat Manchester United on an afternoon when Leandro Trossard hit the woodwork three times, but who can only collect three points from home games against West Brom, Burnley and the Blades.

There is a point when it stops feeling unfortunate or the sort of run of poor luck that, as the cliché has it, will even itself out over a season. It reflects on what might be fundamental failures in both penalty boxes: the previously impressive Mat Ryan has been dropped with a 50 per cent save rate that even Kepa Arrizabalaga might deem unsatisfactory. An 8.8 chance conversion rate is one indication of profligacy. That Neal Maupay usually underperforms his expected goals is a factor, but there is a wider issue: too many of Potter’s technical players are insufficiently clinical in front of goal. The finishing touch can come with time; or maybe Brighton just are not good enough in front of goal.

And it is tempting to wonder if, while Brighton are an evolving team, they nonetheless have the characteristics of Potter’s previous side. In some respects, he did an excellent job with Swansea, taking the wreckage of a relegated team, playing fine football and developing young talent. Yet his side came 10th with Oli McBurnie and Daniel James; a year later and after selling each, Steve Cooper’s side finished sixth.

There is a parallel with Brighton, with the development of Ben White, Tariq Lamptey and Aaron Connolly. In each case, a manager’s work is not purely reflected by results. But while some of Brighton’s best results – wins at Newcastle and Aston Villa – have been excellent and emphatic, there have been too few of them. The evidence of the eye is that they are a far superior side to two years ago; the table suggests they are similar. It is beginning to feel like underachievement and should a resurgent Fulham emulate Burnley by leapfrogging Brighton, it will become particularly costly. A side who look forever on the cusp of taking a leap forward risk taking a giant step backwards.

Hot air from an evident smart arse. To make a point that if we beat Arsenal in our next game we have still beaten only one side at home in 2020 is asinine.

Also to invoke 'fashion' (as in eternally unfashionable Bumley) smacks of sneery journalism from someone who can talk all the talk about the game but, in fact, is clueless.

In summary, people say we play very attractive football but we don't win enough games and, who knows, we could get relegated. Someone get me a chair to sit on and a warm mug of cocoa while I attempt to come to terms with this Shocking News.

 

[fleet]

You are where you deserve to be in the table after this many games. One game against the stats is unlucky. Most games against the stats is a major problem.

 

[vagabond]

Good, informed article, but all of us here know this.

Make lots of chances. Not clinical enough. Individual mistakes at the back.

The more pressing question is, is it the fault of the manager or of recruitment? (As he doesn’t buy the players). That’s what’s causing all the arguments here.

The fact we’re being set up nearly every match to dominate possession and create bags of chances indicates to me the manager is doing his bit. It just feels like we’re a striker short of being a good team.