[Albion] Lack of squad depth will cost us

[Springal]

Most squads get one long term injury (Moder), to get a career ender alongside it (Mwepu) is tragic and unfortunate. But to expect a majority of Lamptey, Lallana, Welbeck, Webster and Sarmiento to be fit is a big ask. You sign sicknotes you get injuries, unfortunately.

Some of this is a bit silly. Lamptey wasn’t a sick note before we signed him. Welbeck has only missed being in the squad 6 times since his major surgery 18 months ago. Webster yes perhaps but his record wasn’t as bad for ‘niggles’ - only 1 major injury I believe. Sarmiento has missed way too many games, but not sure you can really blame him for his current injury.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Some of this is a bit silly. Lamptey wasn’t a sick note before we signed him. Welbeck has only missed being in the squad 6 times since his major surgery 18 months ago. Webster yes perhaps but his record wasn’t as bad for ‘niggles’ - only 1 major injury I believe. Sarmiento has missed way too many games, but not sure you can really blame him for his current injury.

I'm not blaming the individual. But we have 5 players who are frequently injured. 2 of them who were famously injury prone when we signed them.

As you well know, Welbeck is frequently on the bench because he's not fit enough to start, he can't manage 2 games in a week.

Ok, we didn't know until this season that Sarmiento would absolutely love an injury, but it's nothing new with Lamptey or Webster.

Interesting fact - we've used more players in the Premier League than Manchester City this season. I don't think they are carrying 5 sicknotes though

 

[Springal]

I'm not blaming the individual. But we have 5 players who are frequently injured. 2 of them who were famously injury prone when we signed them.

As you well know, Welbeck is frequently on the bench because he's not fit enough to start, he can't manage 2 games in a week.

Ok, we didn't know until this season that Sarmiento would absolutely love an injury, but it's nothing new with Lamptey or Webster.

Interesting fact - we've used more players in the Premier League than Manchester City this season. I don't think they are carrying 5 sicknotes though

Also an interesting fact that we’ve used the same or more players than Villa & Brentford who just seem to be getting on with it with similar sized and capable squads.

 

[Springal]

The Gilmour thing is a bit baffling. RDZ played him against Arsenal & Liverpool in the cups and seemed more than capable the minutes he has had since.

 

[pb21]

Unbelievable. Where did anyone say they can’t play those games? Being 1 or 2% off the pace in elite level sport makes a massive difference.

Absolutely this, which is why it's concerning we go again in a couple of days.

 

[giveusfalmerplease]

I think the problem started on Sunday when RDZ only used 3 see subs for 132 minutes of football whilst United used the full complement of 6 allowed ( 1 extra in extra time ) which no doubt contributed to too many knackered players

And for those saying players should be fit enough, on a recent 90 minute match Mitoma sprinted for EIGHT MILES. He'll in 90 minute I doubt 3/4 on here could run 8 miles let alone whilst playing football

 

[dazzer6666]

We started the season aiming for top 10 - our squad was good enough and big enough to achieve that……but ambitions have been dragged higher by outperforming that, and by RdeZ, and that, combined with injuries - some very unfortunate like Mwepu - have left us looking a bit thin now. Work to be done between now and the summer to determine what we need for either next season’s campaign including Europe to give us a better chance of an even higher finish next season.

 

[Nobby]

I agree, not rotating Gilmour in throughout the season (so he's match ready) has been one of RDZ's few mistakes IMO.

yes but wee Billy isn't very good unfortunately

 

[raymondo]

We made 719 passes but our completion rate was below its normal level, something like 87% meaning over 90+ passes gave the ball back to the opposition. It did look like tired minds a bit, as @Commander said in elite sport you only need your levels to dip slightly.

Ta for the stats

 

[raymondo]

We started the season aiming for top 10 - our squad was good enough and big enough to achieve that……but ambitions have been dragged higher by outperforming that, and by RdeZ, and that, combined with injuries - some very unfortunate like Mwepu - have left us looking a bit thin now. Work to be done between now and the summer to determine what we need for either next season’s campaign including Europe to give us a better chance of an even higher finish next season.

Very much this. A top 10 finish this season, given the injuries we've had, will be a success.

 

[southstandandy]

Last night was highly predictable as the players looked absolutely out on their feet after last Sunday's game, and with Forrest desperate for the points the game just came at the wrong time for us. That is why I wanted one or two more of the fringe players to be given some game time yesterday like Ayari.

As long as we learn from this season, which has still been fantastic, and continue to slowly develop next season again then that is fine by me. We know Big Mac and Caicedo in all likelihood will be on their way and with a decent transfer kitty hopefully RDZ will use his contacts to attract a little more experience into the club in the summer to supplement all the promising youngsters we have. The only thing I slightly disagree with is Lallana and Welbs getting another year. I just can't see them playing much next season, especially with their injury records, and I for one would have let them move on.

Still excited about next season with some RDZ additions, seeing whether Adingra, Sima, Moder or Alzate can cut it in the Prem, and another year of good experience for so many players this season like Fergusson for example. Glass still very much half full.

 

[raymondo]

Last night was highly predictable as the players looked absolutely out on their feet after last Sunday's game, and with Forrest desperate for the points the game just came at the wrong time for us. That is why I wanted one or two more of the fringe players to be given some game time yesterday like Ayari.

As long as we learn from this season, which has still been fantastic, and continue to slowly develop next season again then that is fine by me. We know Big Mac and Caicedo in all likelihood will be on their way and with a decent transfer kitty hopefully RDZ will use his contacts to attract a little more experience into the club in the summer to supplement all the promising youngsters we have. The only thing I slightly disagree with is Lallana and Welbs getting another year. I just can't see them playing much next season, especially with their injury records, and I for one would have let them move on.

Still excited about next season with some RDZ additions, seeing whether Adingra, Sima, Moder or Alzate can cut it in the Prem, and another year of good experience for so many players this season like Fergusson for example. Glass still very much half full.

I think keeping Lallana and Welbz is beneficial for their mentoring of younger players as much as their limited game time. Lallana could become an important coach for us one day...

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

To be honest, I do think the lack of squad depth has hit us, as has the way the fixture list has played out. And I still think our decision to not supplement the forward line has proven to be a bad one on countless occasions this year.

But we’ve been brilliant overall. We have a lot of exciting young talent, an exciting manager, we play great football usually, we’re on for our highest ever finish and we reached another semi final. Things are positive overall.

If we do get into Europe though, we absolutely need to add to this squad.

 

[raymondo]

To be honest, I do think the lack of squad depth has hit us, as has the way the fixture list has played out. And I still think our decision to not supplement the forward line has proven to be a bad one on countless occasions this year.

But we’ve been brilliant overall. We have a lot of exciting young talent, an exciting manager, we play great football usually, we’re on for our highest ever finish and we reached another semi final. Things are positive overall.

If we do get into Europe though, we absolutely need to add to this squad.

Spot on

 

[Yoda]

Is there any word on Lallana's progress for fitness? Seem's to have been back in full training with the rest of the squad for about the last 2/3 weeks.
Was half expecting a surprise return to the bench for the FA Cup semi final.
We could do with his cool, experienced head on the pitch atm.

 

[holybanjo]

Is there any word on Lallana's progress for fitness? Seem's to have been back in full training with the rest of the squad for about the last 2/3 weeks.
Was half expecting a surprise return to the bench for the FA Cup semi final.
We could do with his cool, experienced head on the pitch atm.

Lallana should be back towards the end of the season. Could prove pivotal if we’re still in the hunt. Things look a bit bleak now and we have been stretched but there’s no reason to lose hope and ambition just yet. Some people on here are being too harsh on thr young players coming in. They’re not going to improve without game time. It’s a fine balancing act.

 

[holybanjo]

What looked like a formality based on our form not too long ago is admittedly looking like quite the tall order now given the quality of opposition yet to face. I wonder if De Zerbi’s approach to set such high targets might backfire through injuries and fatigue. Only time will tell. Of the remaining eight games I think we need at least 4 wins. I think we get those from Everton, Southampton, possibly Arsenal away and one other. Wolves is massive now!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

For lack of squad depth to have 'hit' us requires that we have always had a lack of squad depth, meaning that a few injuries or a fixture pile up will cost us more than it will cost other clubs. Clubs without a lack of squad depth.

Manchester City, then.

So, yes, I wholeheartedly agree that the ever-increasing points gap between ourselves and Manchester City is due to our relative lack of squad depth.

I also agree that, like every club (except Manchester City), having some extra top quality players in the squad will increase the overall achievement.

I will also concede that clubs run by nation states or ludicrously rich oligarchs will have bigger squads than ours. Always. More 30-80 million pound signings than us.

And I will also concede that clubs with greater history and cachet than Brighton will find it easier to recruit 'name' players. That encompasses more than half the EPL.

These are all unfixables. These are things we cannot change. Unless Tony Bloom sells the club to a nation state.

The rest, and the implication that we, Brighton, are uniquely weak compared with perhaps the entire division (because we are way down the salary table) because of active decisions of our owner to not spend money he could afford to spend is bollocks. Silly, silly bollocks.

If you accept that our owner has spent what he regards as sustainable (as I do), then there is nothing to see here.

If people want to start a new thread every time we lose a bit of our current nose-bleedy position in the table, for the sole purpose of implying (or encouraging respondents to imply) that either imply Bloom is tight (and why-oh-why won't he spend a bit more money), or wistfully sobbing about poor us and our never-to-be-fulfilled dreams with all those rich big boys trampling on us, give your heads a wobble, FFS.

 

[Bold Seagull]

In terms of PL minutes played not a single Brighton player gets into the top 20 players list. There are players like Kevin DeBruyne who have made over 40 appearances already this season in all competitions. Just food for thought at the notion some of our squad are being overplayed.

A selection of examples (PL mins only):
1. Kilman 2970 mins
7. Rice / Ward Prowse / Tarkowski 2880 mins
16. Bowen 2858 mins
22. Saka 2790 mins
25. Hojbjerg 2773 mins
28. Odegaard 2731 mins
31. Mings 2700 mins
34. Dunk 2699 mins (Brighton's first player on the list)
38. Pereira 2656 mins
39. Gross 2636 mins (Brighton's 2nd player on the list)
42. Xhaka 2626 mins
47. Fernandes & March 2608 mins (Brighton's 3rd player on the list)
50. Palhinha 2586 mins
57. Caicedo 2530 mins (Brighton's 4th player on the list)
60. Soucek 2491 mins
80. Mac Alister 2339 mins (Brighton's 5th player on the list)
88. De Bruyne 2266 mins
100. Eze 2192 mins
122. Estupinan 2007 mins (Brighton's 6th player on the list)
126. Veltman 1995 mins (Brighton's 7th player on the list)
160. Paqueta 1760 mins
167. Mitoma 1718 mins (Brighton's 8th player on the list)

 

[WATFORD zero]

We've lost a game where we didn't play well.

If this is the stating the bleedin' obvious thread, then in addition to lack of squad depth you may want to add not signing Erling Haaland, not having a 60,000 capacity stadium, not having an annual income of 500M and not having a manager who has experience of winning numerous trophies across Europe as very obvious limitations that we will have to work within for now.

The squad depth and quality is far beyond anything we had two years ago (and my wildest hopes) and, like everything else, is being gradually improved based on our results and hopefully, will be that much better again in 2 years

I was going to make a sheet joke but really can't be arsed