But they could equally have been injured or got shitter. I find it extraordinary how optimistic all these extrapolations are.Because the team got better during the season and were still very young and learning when we lost two of the mainstays
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[Albion] How many players away from a top 4/ title challenge?
- Thread starter BrianSwan
- Start date
Precisely.
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 31,262
I don't think we will be top 4 contenders until we can keep clean sheets, and that means having a regular starting keeper, JPVH improving and a power DCM like Caicedo or Biss.
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
All the time we play a keeper who can’t make a save never.
Weststander
Well-known member
Does that mean handing Verbruggen the gloves delivers top 4?
- Aug 8, 2005
- 27,221
Yep. That said I think without Europa This season this seasons team would be very close as well.
US Seagull
Well-known member
I'll add a world class medical staff capable of working literal miracles would probably be worth a couple of points this season.
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
A step in the right direction I suppose
Ben White has played 88 times for a good Arsenal team, surely he’s doing something of note.
Mac Allister starts (when fit) for top of the table Liverpool. Again surely he’s doing something right.
The others, well Chelsea!!
Ben White was not with us last season. He has been quite good Arsenal. Hasn't had an England cap sine 2022.
Mac Allister is doing OK. One goal in 14 this season. Ten goals in 35 for us in his last season. The trajectory is not up.
I would be surprised if none of the players we have sold for a quarter of a billion pounds had made some appearances and not disgraced themselves.
But it isn't anything to us like what it would have been like had we sold Ward in 78 or Zamora in 2001.
We now have the best functioning squad in the club's history. Glass is more than half full. People need to stop 'what iffing' about players we have sold, pull up their knickers and make me a cup of tea. Fact.
The Grockle
Formally Croydon Seagull
Not a big fan of what it's in football but I suspect we'd only a be a few points better off had Mac, Caidedo and Colwill stayed. Much like Newscastle we'd probably still have picked up quite a few injuries.
We were fantastic last season but we were helped by a number of top teams having poor seasons. I'd argue that with our European adventure we're actually doing better than at this stage last season, points wise we're on par but it's looking much more competitive at the top.
We were fantastic last season but we were helped by a number of top teams having poor seasons. I'd argue that with our European adventure we're actually doing better than at this stage last season, points wise we're on par but it's looking much more competitive at the top.
sussex_guy2k2
Well-known member
- Jun 6, 2014
- 4,079
The issue is the squad. The drop off in quality from our first 11 is still too big in some positions, and we’ve not adequately replaced the players we lost in the summer.
But that’s to be expected. We’re still doing very well
To answer the OPs question though, I’m still not sold on either keeper, although I think Bart has potential, so maybe an upgrade there. We’d need good left back cover, RB cover, a starting DM, a top drawer striker, and cover on the right wing in particular. So not much.
But that’s to be expected. We’re still doing very well
To answer the OPs question though, I’m still not sold on either keeper, although I think Bart has potential, so maybe an upgrade there. We’d need good left back cover, RB cover, a starting DM, a top drawer striker, and cover on the right wing in particular. So not much.
sussex_guy2k2
Well-known member
- Jun 6, 2014
- 4,079
Mac Allister’s played as a 6 for Liverpool mainly. It’s no surprise his goal record isn’t as good as it was for us.
And White hasn’t had an England cap since leaving the WC - clearly he annoyed Southgate, who clearly has his favourites.
albionfan37
Well-known member
If we can keep who we’ve got and add 2/3 I think we can challenge top 4 but it really depends on who of the traditional big 6 can perform as they should
Currently I can’t see arsenal Liverpool Man City not being in the top 4 spuds Man U and Chelsea could be anything and if they are all on song It’ll be very difficult to break into
Especially if villa and Newcastle keep/improve their current squads
Currently I can’t see arsenal Liverpool Man City not being in the top 4 spuds Man U and Chelsea could be anything and if they are all on song It’ll be very difficult to break into
Especially if villa and Newcastle keep/improve their current squads
The Fits
Well-known member
- Jun 29, 2020
- 10,106
I’m a firm believer that almost any team would compete at the highest level if they added three players- a CB, a CM and a striker at least as good as their best player in that position. If we had, for instance, Braithwaite, Palinha and Watkins we’d be top three. Also agree with earlier comment, this squad plus Colwill, Mac and Moises I suspect we’d be top.
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Side issues. I am keeping the small onion firmly in my pocket, and the thought of sobbing uncontrollably hasn't even begun to suggest itself as a possibility of flitting across what passes for my mind.
And while we are insisting on what-iffery, if we all supported Man City we would be treble winners! Hooray!
"Blue moon, la la la la la, dum de dum....."
Pathetic club, selling players and that. Barber OUT. Sack the board. Woe is me. We are doomed. If only we hadn't sold all those players. We are weak, weak. If only we could turn back the clock.
Oh.
Oh.
I agree . . . .those players with a years more experience under one of the top 4 coaches . . . .
The fact we're as good, or better, since all the mentioned kick ballers cashed in and ran, says everything we need to know.
we could buy loads and be chelsea , bang avarage in beige spades
we'll continue to be Brighton. Proud . . . Respectful, And finish . . .wherever. it'll be better, regardless. .