[Albion] Going too early?

[Bozza]

The Athletic emailed me (and possibly you) the below, which is the start of an article that sits behind their paywall...

Multifaceted Brighton making a mockery of perceived No 9 weakness

Brighton’s flying start to the season is confounding the critics who insist they needed to splash out on a striker in the transfer window.

It’s still early days but the way Graham Potter is using the players at his disposal has been handsomely rewarded by three wins from his team’s opening four matches.

The unprecedented nature of the club’s eye-catching launch to their fifth campaign in the Premier League is highlighted by one outstanding statistic — they already have nine points following Saturday’s 1-0 victory away to Brentford and they’ve never had more than nine points after eight games in any of their four previous seasons in the top flight.​

Whilst I'm absolutely delighted with our start, isn't it a wee bit early for such triumphalism?

 

[albionfan37]

Wins breed confidence so I’m hoping that we can build on each one

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Whilst I'm absolutely delighted with our start, isn't it a wee bit early for such triumphalism?

Not really. We ARE England's top club.

 

[BBassic]

It's wonderful and I'm obviously beyond chuffed with the return from our first four games but, as we all know, the table doesn't properly take shape this early on.

Long, long, long way to go.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

The Athletic emailed me (and possibly you) the below, which is the start of an article that sits behind their paywall...

Multifaceted Brighton making a mockery of perceived No 9 weakness

Brighton’s flying start to the season is confounding the critics who insist they needed to splash out on a striker in the transfer window.

It’s still early days but the way Graham Potter is using the players at his disposal has been handsomely rewarded by three wins from his team’s opening four matches.

The unprecedented nature of the club’s eye-catching launch to their fifth campaign in the Premier League is highlighted by one outstanding statistic — they already have nine points following Saturday’s 1-0 victory away to Brentford and they’ve never had more than nine points after eight games in any of their four previous seasons in the top flight.​

Whilst I'm absolutely delighted with our start, isn't it a wee bit early for such triumphalism?

I actually agree with the article and was one of only a few on here who wasn't bothered whether we did sign a striker.

But it clearly is too early for this type of article and is actually just Naylor having one of his subtle digs at the fans again as he so loves to do.

 

[Uter]

Fantastic start, but part of me is thinking those 9 points could come in very handy keeping us out of the bottom 3 at season's end. Not dreaming of Europe just yet.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Going much too early

We've only played one team who aren't nailed on relegation strugglers and we didn't score (nor look much like scoring).

Had we secured a Nunez or Eduoard, we'd have a whole new dimension. Ah well, we've got Locadia to come in.

 

[Bozza]

The "see - they didn't need to buy another striker" is the point I feel it's a bit too soon to be making a call on.

(I didn't really get that across very well in the opening post)

 

[Pavilionaire]

It's wonderful and I'm obviously beyond chuffed with the return from our first four games but, as we all know, the table doesn't properly take shape this early on.

Long, long, long way to go.

Except that if you swap us and Arsenal you'd have the Top 4 most predicted, the next 6 most predicted, and Burnley, Norwich and Newcastle in the bottom 3 that many predicted.

 

[albionfan37]

It's wonderful and I'm obviously beyond chuffed with the return from our first four games but, as we all know, the table doesn't properly take shape this early on.

Long, long, long way to go.

I dunno the top6 places look fairly standard to me

 

[Guinness Boy]

We'll only know after some harder games. If we can pick points up from a few of those, while continuing to beat the teams in our "mini league", then over 50 points and comfortable mid table mediocrity will be ours - in other words our best season EVER

 

[Uter]

The "see - they didn't need to buy another striker" is the point I feel it's a bit too soon to be making a call on.

(I didn't really get that across very well in the opening post)

Thanks for clarifying. I get your point now. And I agree. Still a non-trivial chance we'll be desperately looking for another striker at Christmas.

 

[GT49er]

It sort of goes aling with what some have been suggesting on her - Potter is happy playing with attacking players, or forwards if you like, rather than a precisiely labelled 'striker'. Not that I think he'd mind one any more than the rest of us!

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

It's wonderful and I'm obviously beyond chuffed with the return from our first four games but, as we all know, the table doesn't properly take shape this early on.

Long, long, long way to go.

Very much this, and much harder tests to come yet, starting with Leicester this Sunday. Win that and people will seriously start to take notice.

 

[A1X]

Looking forward to revisiting this article when we're trying to salvage a point against (e.g.) Palace by pumping long balls into the box to be met by Trossard and Connolly

 

[Brovion]

I'll start by saying yes of course I'm EXTREMELY happy with our flying start and with the league table ...

But ...

I'd be happier if the nine points had been against Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool. Or even say, Spurs, Everton and Villa. The fixtures computer was kind to us, and yes we've taken full advantage, and yes we didn't do too well against the bottom clubs last season - but we're only one point ahead of where we 'expect' to be. It's all relative.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

We're doing pretty well, in that we're taking 3 points off our natural competitors at the foot of the table. Also seem to be getting the rub of the green earlydoors. And Potter's lucked into the Dunk-Duffy-Webster invincible triumverate that he would never have chosen through, er, choice

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

I'll start by saying yes of course I'm EXTREMELY happy with our flying start and with the league table ...

But ...

I'd be happier if the nine points had been against Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool. Or even say, Spurs, Everton and Villa. The fixtures computer was kind to us, and yes we've taken full advantage, and yes we didn't do too well against the bottom clubs last season - but we're only one point ahead of where we 'expect' to be. It's all relative.

Wins against the bottom clubs are the ones to have, those that traditionally have been in the mix with us when it comes to relegation places.

If we can manage to get smaximum points from most of those, then we can relax, and games against the big boys will just be free hits.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Yes

 

[BBassic]

Except that if you swap us and Arsenal you'd have the Top 4 most predicted, the next 6 most predicted, and Burnley, Norwich and Newcastle in the bottom 3 that many predicted.

Which only backs up my point doesn't it?

The very fact that we are where we are suggests we won't be there come May.