Sussex Nomad
Well-known member
I can't see Huddersfield being a threat even for top six. I can't see Reading carrying this over for a whole season either. Villa and Derby are, in my opinion, the threats.
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Eye on the Championship 25-28 November
- Thread starter Bozza
- Start date
Agree Hudders and Derby but think Reading will be there or there abouts and Villa too far off to be a threat unless we implode.
Wednesday have an interesting December, 4 games I'd chalk up as wins but the other 2 are away at Reading and Newcastle ... could make or break any top 2 aspirations
Peter Grummit
Well-known member
Nice precedent - Norwich played 120 mins and then lost on pens in the last round. The subsequent match was at the Amex, and that went well for them. Newcastle have a strong enough squad, they (and Hull) will play a second string.
PG
Sussex Nomad
Well-known member
Villa are one point behind Derby, with a hefty amount of the season to go.
Postman Pat
Well-known member
They made 6 changes for the game on Saturday against Blackburn, I imagine that was a lot of their 2nd string. They may think there is a good chance of a cup semi-final here, and then who knows. Rafa may be prepared to sacrifice a few league points for a shot at a cup? Be interesting to see if the 6 rested players play tomorrow.
Machiavelli
Well-known member
Beyond our result, this weekend's fixtures haven't gone well for us. I'm less concerned about Newcastle losing, as I still suspect that they'll run away with it (and I'd rather they dropped points against relegation stragglers). I'm more concerned about all those other teams around us and those under-performing over-the-season rivals (Derby and, especially, Villa) all winning. Put like that, about the only decent result was a Norwich loss, although a draw would have been better in that game.
Marshy
Well-known member
Looking at fixture lists is a mugs game really in this division.
Indeed. On Thursday I'm sure no one thought all the teams directly under us would all pick up points but neither did they think we'd be two points behind Newcastle come Sunday.
It's wonderfully difficult to predict.
Finchley Seagull
Well-known member
I thought that was odd. Assumed the league would be their priority and they would rest players for the cup. Maybe Benitez assumed that his 2nd string would be good enough to beat Blackburn. Only shows that you can't put out a weakened team against any team in this league.
Finchley Seagull
Well-known member
You are going to get days like that. It happens. If we keep on winning, there's no way we can lose points compared to other teams.
I would say it was Newcastle missing just Lascelles and Gayle from their first choice team. Newcastle seem to be keeping clear of injuries.
Fashion is to boost Newcastle up saying how good they are (further to fall) and ignore their "obvious" weaknesses at full backs.
Last season after 18 games: http://www.statto.com/football/teams/brighton-and-hove-albion/2015-2016/table/2015-11-28
Poyningsgull
Well-known member
- Apr 12, 2007
- 1,731
I would have thought was stating the obvious
Machiavelli
Well-known member
All true. I'd still rather we've got a decent lead in the run-in and the final away games aren't turned into 'six-pointers'.
Durlston
"You plonker, Rodney!"
I've put a tenner on Nakhi Wells first scorer (4/1) tonight.
Takes penalties although a bit surprised he's only got four league goals this season considering 'udders good start to the season.
Takes penalties although a bit surprised he's only got four league goals this season considering 'udders good start to the season.
Have a look at Philip Billing? Not sure Huddersfield are going to fall away. Reading might.
Durlston
"You plonker, Rodney!"
I don't think it'll be a high-scoring match. Wigan defensively are strong but Huddersfield at home are MINT. W6 D1 L1.
Yep, I'm happy with Norwich's loss to Derby. Had Norwich won, they'd be a lot closer and with hope of turning their form around. Derby could of course catch us, but had Norwich won, I think they'd be the bigger threat.
The big thing however, is that we somehow managed to win. That was a really big 3 points IMO.
I'd also like to pay tribute to David Button. I think his time wasting turned the game around. He was doing it in the first half, then when he continued at the start of the second, the crowd were on him and the subsequent yellow card got the crowd going. We got better from there and our fortune changed.
Machiavelli
Well-known member
Give credit to the referee for that too, as he actually produced the card rather than ignoring it, or giving numerous warnings without ultimately doing anything about it. But you're right about the crowd, after a particularly quiet first half, we did manage to get going a bit before the goal in the second.
Still think it was a great game of football. Not so sure we deserved to win, but winning when the opposition play better than you is not a bad tool to have in the kit.
- Thread starter
- #60
Chris Martin seemed to fail to notice Button's time-wasting.
I say this because, later in the game when Stockdale was on a bit of a go-slow, he was counting seconds on his fingers to try and make a point to the ref.
In what was quite a niggly game, Martin's primary aged school kid style of counting was right up there with their manager throwing the ball to Hughton late in the game, again trying to make a point about time-wasting.