[Albion] how good are we, actually?

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Nobby Cybergoat

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
8,624
It's chaotic and unpredictable in a good way that will always leave us vulnerable at the back.
Percentage wise I think we will get more points this way than under Potterball with it's slower more methodical style.

It's very exciting to watch, I enjoy it.
It's exciting in the same way as driving the wrong way on a motorway. But yes I like it as well
 




Hotchilidog

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2009
9,120
Blown away by how quickly the new manager has understood the club and players. The back half of last season wasn't that great, so to hit this season running is a huge positive. We have shown we can compete with anyone in the PL already. Not sure there is anything negative at this point, even room for improvement is a positive.
I'd say the room for improvement is the biggest positive. We have raised the floor for this team very high now. I also expect the ceiling to be raised along with it. The truth is it was a fractured off-season players returning at different times due to the Euros and the transfer window. Once the players were in, a very frustrating bout of injuries have again disrupted the development of Hürzeler's Brighton. Yet despite that we have gone 11 games without defeat including the friendlies, we have seen Baleba step up to stake his claim as a future star and we have the added bonus of Ayari making the most of his opportunity to secure. a first team squad spot.

If anyone is annoyed about last night's performance imagine being a Wolves fan heading home from the Amex after the game. I'm ok with where we are at right now, and I am excited about where will be come the end of the season. I am also extremely nervous about Forest at home on Sunday, that will be a tough examination of us for sure. Forest will certainly fancy their chances so anyone expecting us to roll them over should re-calibrate their expectations and let Fab get on with his job
 


Han Solo

Well-known member
May 25, 2024
2,455
Much quicker transition I think - moving the ball forward at pace, either with Baleba/others barrelling forward or pinging quick passes. More likely to go wrong as a result (higher risk) but more likely to create chances. Under DeZ it was more ‘controlled’, with seemingly almost every situation having a ‘drill’ that needed to be followed. Really interesting to see how this develops once the players we’ve signed to do this even better are fit/integrated.
The majority of open play goals in football are scored within 10 seconds of winning the ball and this is a strong part of the modern German football philosophy.

Its more about winning the ball than keeping it, which is a rather large change. We're now more likely than before to do the 75-25 pass or the 50-50 pass rather than the 90% success pass. We don't mind losing the ball because winning it back is one (maybe the most common) of our main ways of attacking.

It is more chaotic, particularly on the opponents half, but we will also have spells every game where we try to calm down the game and hold the ball to make our otherwise very intense style last for the entirety of the game.

Based on yesterday we're doing nice progress in the "cause chaos and win the ball"-department but not so much in the "control and keep cool"-part.
 


Super Sub

Well-known member
Aug 13, 2016
273
When they had 10 we battered them. Do people expect us to go and dominate. We had more possession than them first half. We had half as many shots (and one of their’s was yard offside so would not have counted) and they scored a pretty jammy goal when the ball hit Saka on the back and broke nicely.
Each to their own but imho we are not at Arsenals level
 






Guinness Boy

Tofu eating wokerati
Helpful Moderator
NSC Patron
Jul 23, 2003
37,342
Up and Coming Sunny Portslade
It's hard to answer the OP in many ways because we've spent £200 million and only really seen Minteh. Who did the injury due diligence?

But in general we're getting results and that's always my top priority. We still haven't lost a game under Fab, who is still learning Premier League football (though learning it quickly if you listen to Bloom).

The best thing for me about having those injuries though is seeing Baleba have a run of games that is finally showing everyone his potential. An absolute break out star with the possibility to be our next Caicedo.
 




brighton_tom

Well-known member
Jul 23, 2008
5,519
Didn’t RDZ lose like 3 of his first 4? Maybe let’s just leave it a little further into the season. We have had major changes to the squad, and various others coming back from injury. It really isn’t the time for questioning our overall quality.
 




Nobby Cybergoat

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
8,624
The best thing for me about having those injuries though is seeing Baleba have a run of games that is finally showing everyone his potential. An absolute break out star with the possibility to be our next Caicedo.
Caicedo still at Beerschot at age 20. Bissouma still in the Lille second team at that age.

Baleba can go past them all. The rate of improvement is extraordinary
 




brighton_tom

Well-known member
Jul 23, 2008
5,519
The positive for me is that in our current state, with playing okay, we're getting results. When the injured players are back to 100%, when the newly signed players learnt the league, when O'Riley returns, when the squad in general have had more than a handful of games to learn the new managers system, then we will see how good we are. Right now none of that has happened, and so talks of our overall quality are a bit pointless.
 




I'm not sure what to make of it so far. Last nights 2nd half showing was as bad as it gets although in a 10 min spell (80-90) we looked very good and could of scored another couple. We lost the ball so many times in that 2nd half poor spell and looked all at sea. I guess when all players are available and settled in Fabs system only time will tell but apart from City and Arsenal and maybe Liverpool, we can be as good as anyone else including Villa Tottenham Chelsea United etc etc
 


Javeaseagull

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Feb 22, 2014
2,828
I think we have been spoilt. I maintain that the football under de Zerbi was the best I have ever seen from any team. I include Brazil 1970 which is the bar I set for exciting football. Honestly I think we were that good and just had to learn to accept the risk and reward that led to ridiculous results at times. It will take time but my Albion mojo has never been higher. TB is a genius and they don’t come along very often. Enjoy.
 






brighton_tom

Well-known member
Jul 23, 2008
5,519
I'm not sure what to make of it so far. Last nights 2nd half showing was as bad as it gets although in a 10 min spell (80-90) we looked very good and could of scored another couple. We lost the ball so many times in that 2nd half poor spell and looked all at sea. I guess when all players are available and settled in Fabs system only time will tell but apart from City and Arsenal and maybe Liverpool, we can be as good as anyone else including Villa Tottenham Chelsea United etc etc
Last nights team included Webster and Igor instead of Van Hecke and Dunk, so I wouldnt read a lot into it, solid foundations and all that.
 




Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,122
Faversham
Either you are insane, a palace fan or accidentally omitted n’t from your post
I've met him.

I'm going for option 1.

(Only kidding, Westy. Change your user name to Westn'tstander and you'll never make that mistake again :wink: )
 


seagullsovergrimsby

#cpfctinpotclub
Aug 21, 2005
43,944
Crap Town
Lets wait until Sunday when we give Notts Forest a jolly good thumping.
 




Harry Wilson's tackle

Harry Wilson's Tackle
NSC Patron
Oct 8, 2003
56,122
Faversham




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