- Jul 5, 2003
- 1,495
Managed to snaffle a ticket for last nights game as it was a midweek match and for many a reason they're about the only ones i can make at the moment.
I just wanted to say what a thoroughly enjoyable game it was. Comparing this side to what we've seen over the past few years at Withdean and indeed under Poyet last season, my what a difference. They look so comfortable on the ball, from the defence right through to the strikers. You can actually see that they want to play it on the deck and enjoy their football, yet 90% of the time realise that sometimes you just have to lump it to ease the danger. Now when i saw Painter and Calderon last season i don't think i've seen a better pair of full backs at the Albion since i've been supporting them since '94, but what struck me was how much Elphick and El-Abd have grown in stature, confidence and footballing intelligence. Both were utterly comfortable in knocking it around the back, to the keeper, the little one-twos Kish and then Bridcutt to try and draw an opening from Brentford to start an attack. One fella behind me was screaming at them to 'stop f***ing around and get on with it', but i have to say the keep ball was excellent and i guess the old adage if you keep the ball then the opponent can't score was very apt last night. Ok so we got caught a couple of times around the 70 minute mark after Bridcutt came on from not calling out the danger, but both attacks were mopped up with ease and El-Abd should great strength of character to take a yellow card for the team, yet stay on his feet and ensure it wasn't a red. The lad has really blossomed under Poyet. I remember a time that as soon a striker started to put the defence under pressure the ball went sky high and hopeful that we could pick it up again.
Ankergren. Commanded the defence very well, lots of talking, pointing out the danger, didn't have much to do, but did what he needed to when Brentford showed a little effort. I think he might need to think more about pushing the ball away from the danger, even out for a corner if necessary as there was a couple of occasions in the second half he stopped a shot, but it stayed in the danger area in the box and if Brentford had a decent fast winger he could've pounced quite easily.
Midfield. I think they had such a tough job last night as Brentford set their stall out very well. 4-5-1, Forster providing the extra striker in a counter-attack if the big lump up front could hold onto it. Not likely with Elphick and El-Abd having him in their collective pockets. Brentford stiffled the midfield and you have to say their tactics worked for the main part, but you gotta give the lads credit, they plugged away still trying their passing game, but it didn't quite come off. The one thing i got a little frustrated by was the way the wingers were left open on a few occasions and they weren't picked out as Calderon and Bennett had the racking of Brentford's left side. Just need to be a bit quicker in picking them out. It improved a lot when Dicker came on and he just slotted those balls out to the right and left and straight away we were on the attack with balls going into the box. Kaz, got snuffed out in the first half, but much more lively when Murray came on and gave him a better target, so many chances in that last 20 minutes. Bennett really is a revelation isn't he. Does he ever stop running? Covers a heck of a lot of ground and whilst he might not get the ball he was always giving the Brentford midfield something to think about, unsung hero last night and boy can he swing a ball in the box, such accuracy. I can only imagine that he'll blossom even more with Poyet and Tano's knowledge and flair instincts. I felt a little sorry for Matt Sparrow, not his best game from what i've heard, couple glaringly poor passes that gave the ball away, but i guess he's only really had a couple of matches in the team and is still finding his feet. He's done it for Scunthorpe, so very confident he'll do it for us. Had to come very deep to collect the ball due to Brentford's tactics and just didn't create much from it. There were quite a few runs from the strikers in the first half that weren't picked out and yeah they may have been offside for most, but just the one slotted through would've been enough.
The strikers. Well i guess i've only seen the one game, but from watching highlights as well Barnesy looks class. I know i said it on another thread, but he just has an eye for goal from wherever he is, the shot and turn in the first half, back post, near post, in the 6 yard box, he was always looking for something and quite unselfishly looks to set up other people. Certainly got talent and you can understand why Gus was eager to get him in. Ran his socks off as well, put himself about and made sure the defenders knew he was there. Really wasn't on the same wavelength as Sandanza though, they both kept trying to fill the same area of the pitch, but that'll come in time i'm sure. When Murray came on you could just see they click and enjoy playing alongside one another. I actually think he's a great foil for Murray who we all know isn't the most energetic of strikers when he doesn't want to be, but Barnes's enthusiasm seems to infect him and get him going as well. Reckon we've got a great partnership forming there. If the keeper hadn't been in fine form we'd have battered them in the end. Loved the way Murray was winding up the Brentford 22, really got stuck into him physically and verbally and rattled him big time. Sandanza, well he tried bless him, ran alot, put himself about in a crowd pleasing way getting stuck in, but early doors for him i think, trying to click with the wingers about where the ball is gonna be played so he can get onto the end of it. Ran the line pretty well though, made a few good runs to break the offside trap, but just wasn't picked out.
Poyet. Made the subs at the right time, knew he had to change it and wasn't frightened to do so. Love the way him and the coaching staff have got the team playing, its enjoyable even if it was a little frustrating due to Brentford's tactics. As the season goes on we're going to face that a lot more from teams and the last two games have shown we can still get the results, whereas Plymouth proved that if we're allowed to play we can rip teams apart. 59% of the possession last night tells its own tale, yet last season we'd have drawn that match.
Rose tinted glasses? Maybe a little bit, simply because i've not seen us play that confidently for a very very long time. Here's hoping for loads more as i can seriously see us still being able to step up a few gears yet and if we grind out results like last night we'll definitely be in the mix at the end of the season.
I just wanted to say what a thoroughly enjoyable game it was. Comparing this side to what we've seen over the past few years at Withdean and indeed under Poyet last season, my what a difference. They look so comfortable on the ball, from the defence right through to the strikers. You can actually see that they want to play it on the deck and enjoy their football, yet 90% of the time realise that sometimes you just have to lump it to ease the danger. Now when i saw Painter and Calderon last season i don't think i've seen a better pair of full backs at the Albion since i've been supporting them since '94, but what struck me was how much Elphick and El-Abd have grown in stature, confidence and footballing intelligence. Both were utterly comfortable in knocking it around the back, to the keeper, the little one-twos Kish and then Bridcutt to try and draw an opening from Brentford to start an attack. One fella behind me was screaming at them to 'stop f***ing around and get on with it', but i have to say the keep ball was excellent and i guess the old adage if you keep the ball then the opponent can't score was very apt last night. Ok so we got caught a couple of times around the 70 minute mark after Bridcutt came on from not calling out the danger, but both attacks were mopped up with ease and El-Abd should great strength of character to take a yellow card for the team, yet stay on his feet and ensure it wasn't a red. The lad has really blossomed under Poyet. I remember a time that as soon a striker started to put the defence under pressure the ball went sky high and hopeful that we could pick it up again.
Ankergren. Commanded the defence very well, lots of talking, pointing out the danger, didn't have much to do, but did what he needed to when Brentford showed a little effort. I think he might need to think more about pushing the ball away from the danger, even out for a corner if necessary as there was a couple of occasions in the second half he stopped a shot, but it stayed in the danger area in the box and if Brentford had a decent fast winger he could've pounced quite easily.
Midfield. I think they had such a tough job last night as Brentford set their stall out very well. 4-5-1, Forster providing the extra striker in a counter-attack if the big lump up front could hold onto it. Not likely with Elphick and El-Abd having him in their collective pockets. Brentford stiffled the midfield and you have to say their tactics worked for the main part, but you gotta give the lads credit, they plugged away still trying their passing game, but it didn't quite come off. The one thing i got a little frustrated by was the way the wingers were left open on a few occasions and they weren't picked out as Calderon and Bennett had the racking of Brentford's left side. Just need to be a bit quicker in picking them out. It improved a lot when Dicker came on and he just slotted those balls out to the right and left and straight away we were on the attack with balls going into the box. Kaz, got snuffed out in the first half, but much more lively when Murray came on and gave him a better target, so many chances in that last 20 minutes. Bennett really is a revelation isn't he. Does he ever stop running? Covers a heck of a lot of ground and whilst he might not get the ball he was always giving the Brentford midfield something to think about, unsung hero last night and boy can he swing a ball in the box, such accuracy. I can only imagine that he'll blossom even more with Poyet and Tano's knowledge and flair instincts. I felt a little sorry for Matt Sparrow, not his best game from what i've heard, couple glaringly poor passes that gave the ball away, but i guess he's only really had a couple of matches in the team and is still finding his feet. He's done it for Scunthorpe, so very confident he'll do it for us. Had to come very deep to collect the ball due to Brentford's tactics and just didn't create much from it. There were quite a few runs from the strikers in the first half that weren't picked out and yeah they may have been offside for most, but just the one slotted through would've been enough.
The strikers. Well i guess i've only seen the one game, but from watching highlights as well Barnesy looks class. I know i said it on another thread, but he just has an eye for goal from wherever he is, the shot and turn in the first half, back post, near post, in the 6 yard box, he was always looking for something and quite unselfishly looks to set up other people. Certainly got talent and you can understand why Gus was eager to get him in. Ran his socks off as well, put himself about and made sure the defenders knew he was there. Really wasn't on the same wavelength as Sandanza though, they both kept trying to fill the same area of the pitch, but that'll come in time i'm sure. When Murray came on you could just see they click and enjoy playing alongside one another. I actually think he's a great foil for Murray who we all know isn't the most energetic of strikers when he doesn't want to be, but Barnes's enthusiasm seems to infect him and get him going as well. Reckon we've got a great partnership forming there. If the keeper hadn't been in fine form we'd have battered them in the end. Loved the way Murray was winding up the Brentford 22, really got stuck into him physically and verbally and rattled him big time. Sandanza, well he tried bless him, ran alot, put himself about in a crowd pleasing way getting stuck in, but early doors for him i think, trying to click with the wingers about where the ball is gonna be played so he can get onto the end of it. Ran the line pretty well though, made a few good runs to break the offside trap, but just wasn't picked out.
Poyet. Made the subs at the right time, knew he had to change it and wasn't frightened to do so. Love the way him and the coaching staff have got the team playing, its enjoyable even if it was a little frustrating due to Brentford's tactics. As the season goes on we're going to face that a lot more from teams and the last two games have shown we can still get the results, whereas Plymouth proved that if we're allowed to play we can rip teams apart. 59% of the possession last night tells its own tale, yet last season we'd have drawn that match.
Rose tinted glasses? Maybe a little bit, simply because i've not seen us play that confidently for a very very long time. Here's hoping for loads more as i can seriously see us still being able to step up a few gears yet and if we grind out results like last night we'll definitely be in the mix at the end of the season.
