[Albion] Fab OUT

[dazzer6666]

I think the biggest issue with the City win, and I said this at the time, was that the thing he did that day was bring on our best team. He didn’t do anything miraculous tactically. He just brought on better players.

But the first 30 minutes was the most one sided 30 minutes of football we’ve had against us all season. City totally dominated.

Hilariously, they only stopped dominating when Guardiola changed the structure of their side after their goal, ceding control over midfield to us. So FH didn’t actually have to do anything, apart from bring on Baleba and JP.

Think our ‘best team’ would also be a lot better if we had Welbeck, Veltman, Ferdi, Hinshelwood and O’Riley to potentially include in the starting lineup. Suspect all or most of them would be in a ‘first choice’ XI. The inability to select a more or less settled starting eleven is really frustrating.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Find it strange the manager is coming in for so much stick and it’s a lazy deflection from what have been some woeful individual performances and mistakes over recent weeks which at this level cost you games. The whole team were a yard off the pace yesterday and defensively we don’t have a single player in any sort of form. Manager has a role to play but I am far more frustrated with some of the players at the moment who need to step up and start putting in some of the high energy performances we saw earlier in the season.

This is a naive post at best. We did have defensive players in form. That got broken up by injury, but the back 4 we started the season with, which FH was forced to play because they were the only fit players, was in form.

We then established a back line that was getting used to playing together, with JPVH and Igor at the back, and then he broke it up. Then he broke it up again, whilst switching to a back 3 to shoehorn Dunk into the team. Then he continued to break it up, shoe horning Dunk into a 4 and dropping Igor, who dropped a bo**ock the next game, when Dunk’s looked below his usual levels for most of the season.

He’s basically played our defence out of form.

But the bigger issue is he’s yet to spot the fact that his own tactics leave our defence totally exposed in this 4-1-0-0-0-5 formation he’s so desperate to play, that’s spread across every inch of the pitch, making pressing and counter pressing next to impossible, and leaving us one pass from being smashed on the counter.

And the thing is, this isn’t an overreaction to the Palace defeat. These questions arose in our (lucky) win against Man Utd. In fact, they’ve been there in every home game of the season that I’ve been to.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Think our ‘best team’ would also be a lot better if we had Welbeck, Veltman, Ferdi, Hinshelwood and O’Riley to potentially include in the starting lineup. Suspect all or most of them would be in a ‘first choice’ XI. The inability to select a more or less settled starting eleven is really frustrating.

It is, but how long do we go on blaming injuries for our poor results?

Call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure we’ve been having this issue since the COVID season.

 

[GoldstoneVintage]

Could it be that FH is actually very ambitious technically with quite complicated tactics that are brilliant when they work, but make us look like amateurs when they don't come off? If this is the case, maybe our recent problems stem from the players having not got to grips fully with his ideas yet. I'm hoping this is the case and that it'll come good in due course.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Having slept on it I feel bad/embarrassed about quite a few of my post match posts and comments yesterday. My disappointment at being schooled by Palace coupled with drinking more than I should as the nightmare unfolded, a match I wanted to lose less than any other than the return fixture, led to an over reaction. I hate how football can do that to me, it really shouldn’t matter that much. Well done to those that kept their cool and just walked away accepting that shit happens

Fair play to you.

For some, losing a football match ruins they day/week - and losing against Palace is even worse. I'm neither of those, but I do get the reactions - to a point. As I said before, fans are looking for someone or something to blame. For many, that's the manager because a defeat against rivals is the easiest of targets.

I'll continue my approach of expecting defeat and anything else is a bonus - and taking it one game at a time

 

[Javeaseagull]

Oh how we laughed when Chelsea spent shedloads of money on lots of new players then sacked Potter for failing to smash the league. I thought we were better than that. Apparently not.

 

[Kosh]

Here’s the rub…

If, theoretically, we were looking for a new coach today… does our data driven model pull up Fabian as a prime candidate based on his numbers/stats at Brighton ?

Well?

If we the fans were suggesting candidates from the current PL coaches, would Fabian be a front runner ? You know, based on what he’s done on the pitch or with the group of players he has thus far ?

Well?

I suspect we ALL know the answer, at best it’s a lukewarm maybe.

For me, he’s got work to do.

 

[dazzer6666]

It is, but how long do we go on blaming injuries for our poor results?

Call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure we’ve been having this issue since the COVID season.

It’s a contributory factor

 

[POSKETT AT THE VALLEY]

Our last 4 managers have struggled against lower table teams?
I do think there is some arrogance in how we think we will just beat these teams. It seems emphasised under this manager. The basics seem to be ignored in these games. Palace today done all the basics very well. They knew they would get less of the ball but when they did get it they were intelligent and sassy. They made the most of opportunities, set pieces and keeping possession especially when attacking. This is all from the coaching set up and management. Time for Fab to get his act together and realise the importance of being pro active especially with the all important basics. Oh and our set pieces are beyond a joke!

I think it’s a case of the younger players seeing us as a stepping stone for bigger and better things, upping their game against the big boys to put themselves in the shop window. Victims of our own successful model. Too early to judge Fab though.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

It’s a contributory factor

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Of course it has. But it’s not the reason we lost yesterday. We had our first choice gk, our first choice defence apart from Lamptey, our first choice wingers, arguably our first choice midfield based on this season, although Ayari is up for debate, our record signing and our best player in JP. Yes, we missed Welbeck and Veltman, and you could argue Ayari wouldn’t start if everyone is fit, but it wasn’t far from a first choice side. Not far enough to put in that performance.

 

[Javeaseagull]

It’s a contributory factor

View attachment 193782

Was going to post something similar.

 

[timbha]

It’s a contributory factor

View attachment 193782

For us that’s about 5 players for the entire season so far. Staggering.

 

[dazzer6666]

Of course it has. But it’s not the reason we lost yesterday. We had our first choice gk, our first choice defence apart from Lamptey, our first choice wingers, arguably our first choice midfield based on this season, although Ayari is up for debate, our record signing and our best player in JP. Yes, we missed Welbeck and Veltman, and you could argue Ayari wouldn’t start if everyone is fit, but it wasn’t far from a first choice side. Not far enough to put in that performance.

I was thinking the context of season to date, not just yesterday. you dismiss my comments with ‘apart from Lamptey - but we had no effective RB as a result, which screws up the defence (for example). Welbeck also makes a huge difference when he plays. FH hasn’t at any point yet had the opportunity to play a settled team with the ‘best’ - or even the majority of them - players available, and he’s had to make constant adjustments. It’s no wonder we’re misfiring.

 

[El Presidente]

It’s a contributory factor

View attachment 193782

Please avoid using facts on NSC, unless you want a long ban x

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Picture it in the summer. Tony and PB pinpoint this YOUNG INEXPERIENCED coach from a different division whilst also targeting a spree of young players coming in, with minimal pl expereince. What do we expect the internal chat to be?

"Well, he ticks all the boxes for a manager we expect to IMMEDIATELY hit the ground running and if we are not top 6 by Christmas then he has underachieved. Sure, we finished 11th last season but that doesn't mean anything. We know the league table lies. There's NO excuse, other than the whole being inexperienced, new and never having managed here before. Now, let's buy loads of players under 23 with no PL experience and give him the oven ready squad he needs to achieve those instant results the fans expect of the mighty Brighton and Hove Albion"

Genuinely, without taking the piss, we are actually a tad higher than I expected us to be at this stage of the season considering the overhaul, be it management or the influx of new players. I expected city, Liverpool, arsenal, villa, spurs, united, Chelsea and then maybe West Ham (hugely underachieving in my opinion) and Toon to be above us. That would have us 10th and, in my mind, certainly more than 1 point off 6th after 16 games.

There are CLEAR issues. The conceding goals in quick succession is big. The issue of breaking down stubborn defences who sit in is another. But if you literally got rid of a manager every time you MET an issue rather than, you know, letting the manager maybe try and FIX it then you'd have even more managers than *insert generic mad PL club who sack a manager every 6 months*

Give the guy time to fail at least.

 

[Seasider78]

This is a naive post at best. We did have defensive players in form. That got broken up by injury, but the back 4 we started the season with, which FH was forced to play because they were the only fit players, was in form.

We then established a back line that was getting used to playing together, with JPVH and Igor at the back, and then he broke it up. Then he broke it up again, whilst switching to a back 3 to shoehorn Dunk into the team. Then he continued to break it up, shoe horning Dunk into a 4 and dropping Igor, who dropped a bo**ock the next game, when Dunk’s looked below his usual levels for most of the season.

He’s basically played our defence out of form.

But the bigger issue is he’s yet to spot the fact that his own tactics leave our defence totally exposed in this 4-1-0-0-0-5 formation he’s so desperate to play, that’s spread across every inch of the pitch, making pressing and counter pressing next to impossible, and leaving us one pass from being smashed on the counter.

And the thing is, this isn’t an overreaction to the Palace defeat. These questions arose in our (lucky) win against Man Utd. In fact, they’ve been there in every home game of the season that I’ve been to.

There is nothing unusual about returning your club captain and (when in form) one of your best performers back to the starting line when fit and suggesting the formations are just about accommodating Dunk is more than naive. Igor (who let’s not forget everyone was saying was a flop at start of the season) is now being hailed as the steady replacement despite playing a hospital pass to our goalkeeper in the opening minutes against Fulham and costing us 3 points at Leicester. We have a bang out of form Pervis (whose poor showings extend into last season) and injured first choice replacement and a lightweight and attacking minded right back in Lamptey and an injured veltman. Let’s add onto that Van Hecke drop off in the last two games and the complete lack of any in form or quality six in the side to protect the defenders and we have an exposed, out of form and lacking in options defence.

The issue here is we have signed about 3 more attacking/wide players than we need this summer instead of a long term dunk replacement and a quality right back.

 

[Zeberdi]

These threads all go the same way.

Post match on days we play badly/drop points/lose spectacularly, the board is littered with ‘oh woe is us’ threads with angry rants calling for managers and players to be binned - attracting lots of positive reaction.

Post match on days we play well, push above our weight, the board is a flood with how great individual players are, how we will qualify for Europe, finish in the top 4
how great TB is yada yada …attracting lots of positive reaction.

Next day, we are back to being circumspect, down to earth, realistic about where we need to improve but also where we are doing well, setting our sights on a top 10 finish and being grateful for our history - attracting lots of positive reaction.

I love it!






Next day,

 

[RandyWanger]

It’s a contributory factor

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Most of that is Milner.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I would give him till Europe is no longer achievable but I’m not Bloom , I believe the module is about getting in to Europe and anything below that is a failure

Absolute bullshit – you believe wrong.

The 'module' (otherwise known as a 'model') is for the club to be a consistent top-10 club. That doesn't even mean top 10 in every season from NOW, let alone Europe. And European football every season? Fack me, some fans are seriously deluded with ideas way above their station

 

[Weststander]

There is nothing unusual about returning your club captain and (when in form) one of your best performers back to the starting line when fit and suggesting the formations are just about accommodating Dunk is more than naive. Igor (who let’s not forget everyone was saying was a flop at start of the season) is now being hailed as the steady replacement despite playing a hospital pass to our goalkeeper in the opening minutes against Fulham and costing us 3 points at Leicester. We have a bang out of form Pervis (whose poor showings extend into last season) and injured first choice replacement and a lightweight and attacking minded right back in Lamptey and an injured veltman. Let’s add onto that Van Hecke drop off in the last two games and the complete lack of any in form or quality six in the side to protect the defenders and we have an exposed, out of form and lacking in options defence.

The issue here is we have signed about 3 more attacking/wide players than we need this summer instead of a long term dunk replacement and a quality right back.

Only Verbruggen was at fault for the Fulham opener. A routine hoof was required.