[Albion] No criticism of RDZ ?

[Cowfold Seagull]

Yes l agree that yesterday's game didn't go to plan and that it was a poor result. But it's football, it happens now and again. I certainly don't think the man deserves criticism for it. Let's hope we bounce back nest Saturday.

Yes Newcastle will set a stern test, but at least they come out and play football, it's when teams play with ten men behind the ball that we seem to struggle.

 

[Icy Gull]

No criticism from me, we were always going to lose occasionally against low block teams and we will again. The club have been very slow, for whatever reason, in replacing Moises. If we don’t replace him these results will become pretty commonplace, against teams that don’t press us and have tricky, strong, quick forwards.

Have we reached our peak? Maybe we have

I’m not criticising manager or board, we have punched well above our weight for two seasons now. Playing in Europe will probably not help.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Of course the manager will take some responsibility…but individual errors for all there goals, inspired goal keeping and less than clinical finishing (unlike the opposition), and an opposition that defended probably better than any WH team have against us in the PL played a bigger part imo

 

[Weststander]

Please don't take this as a pointed aggressive retort, as it's not, but were you saying the same before the Luton and Wolves games where our right side was exactly the same?

Nsc isn’t a record of all my football thoughts. I don’t think I posted much prior to each game? Taking all 3 games:

Luton - early doors in the game I was saying to my son that their big units on our right were causing lots of problems, opening us up. Old Milner was unfairly left on his own to manage them.

Wolves - I was out for the day until near the end of the game. No idea of the line up.

West Ham - on the park n ride we saw the team announced at 4:30. We were concerned about a lack of pace, especially down our right. All told - Gilmour, Gross, Milner. It seemed glaring. I say as someone who believes in sewing up the flanks defensively …. this goes back to Hoyte, later Montoya. I love combo’s on the wings who prevent openings.

 

[BluesRockDJ]

Is Steele injured ? Wrong game to debut a young goalkeeper imo............don't mention Webster............what's happened to Igor ?

 

[Surf's Up]

Was RDZ making a point that he needs a couple of additional players

Probably not although he can certainly point to the result and the manner of the result to re-enforce his case for additional players and quickly!!

 

[brighton_tom]

We score first and it’s a whole different game.

No, I don’t think RDZ set us up wrong. I think Webster’s errors cost us.

Exactly this. It's nothing to do with how RDZ had us set up. It's the situation he was forced into. Getting that first goal changes the entire dynamic of the game.

 

[willalbion]

I said when the team announced that I didn’t like it, but of course had total trust in RDZ.

Has Ferguson and Welbeck up top together ever worked before? We instantly lose some control in midfield. Very easy in hindsight, of course, but I’d have played Dahoud or Lallana in there.

I love both Ferguson and Welbeck but for me they’re competing for one spot in the team. Neither of them can replace what Enciso gives us, so I think we need to either find a new signing or replacement from our existing group.

Every time we lost possession, we looked so exposed. There was more than one reason for that though, obviously.

Yeah agreed, change of keeper was a bit odd as well, any one know why?

 

[Weststander]

Exactly this. It's nothing to do with how RDZ had us set up. It's the situation he was forced into. Getting that first goal changes the entire dynamic of the game.

Milner started as our RB, but was ambitiously positioned 70 yards up field.

 

[willalbion]

Exactly this. It's nothing to do with how RDZ had us set up. It's the situation he was forced into. Getting that first goal changes the entire dynamic of the game.

As soon as West Ham scored I thought we were done, they targeted Miilner/Webster to great effect.

 

[brighton_tom]

Milner started as our RB, but was ambitiously positioned 70 yards up field.

Not so much before they scored.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Dyche worked out RDZ’s Achilles Heel last season and Moyes (followed by others) will do the same.

It’s easy.

1. Low block
2. Defensive row of 5 in front of penalty area.
3. Compact midfield row of 4 protecting them.
4. No real width.
5. Fast, powerful and strong forward camps at left wing.
6. All players instructed to get the ball to the forward if possession is gained.
7. At least 2 runners from midfield will support forward once he gains the ball.
8. Take your chances
9. Keeper plays a worldie
10. Pray Albion miss their chances.

RDZ needs a rethink against this tactic. I don’t know what he is going to do it but the opposition’s low block/quick break tactic is obvious and effective.

A suggestion for yesterday. Instead of playing Webster, play Igor man-2-man on Antonio. Antonio would not be bulldozing a man with these thighs:

 

[GT49er]

Exactly this. It's nothing to do with how RDZ had us set up. It's the situation he was forced into. Getting that first goal changes the entire dynamic of the game.

Yes, of course, that has to be the explanation, doesn't it.

When de Zerbi jumps ship, and leaves us for a huge club and a mahoosive salary I suspecr the after-timing might reach epic proportions - but for now I suspect it's a case of criticise RDZ on NSC at your peril!

 

[Hornblower]

Our set pieces have been woeful for some time now. JWP had three corners in succession and nearly scored from the first two, we had 17 corners that Gross (and March) simply lofted into the box and were easily cleared. We could really do with a dead ball specialist.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Unfortunately there was a bloody great Caicedo-sized hole in our midfield, and god did it show. He was the perfect shield to cover in front of the back line, and there was nobody there performing that role. Easier said than done, but we need to find a replacement for him pronto.

This. Going into the season without replacing Caicedo is the issue, not RDZ. We need a ball winner / receiver to play his way.

 

[BadFish]

Managers often stick doggedly to their philosophy. I think that RDZ should learn and adapt to what has now happened three times.

Yes we can all accept that his way will in the long run be a positive for us. At the same time surely it is worth having a 'if they do that's plan up our sleeve for games like these.

Surely 10 men behind the ball is where we need Lallana?

I would also like us to do more from set pieces. To me this is a part of the plan b up our sleeve.

Of course I love RDZ and wouldn't swap him.

 

[portslade seagull]

Unfortunately there was a bloody great Caicedo-sized hole in our midfield, and god did it show. He was the perfect shield to cover in front of the back line, and there was nobody there performing that role. Easier said than done, but we need to find a replacement for him pronto.

Putting snail paced Gross in there wasn't the answer. Not sure if him or Billy ( who has a good game ) were meant to cover the back four but it didn't work and a solution needs to be found for the Maggie's otherwise they will tear us a new one

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Changing goalkeepers for the sake of it adds a defensive alteration that can only introduce the opportunity for some element of doubt (even subconciously) to the defensive unit as a whole. RDZ said he was going to do this pre-season but I think it's a terrible idea. Hopefully that's the end of it except for cups or if he's making a permanent change.

James Milner is an inferior right back to Joel Veltman than we can get away with against crap sides but boy were we punished yesterday. MOTD highlighted how West Ham targeted Milners area of the pitch. I just really hope RDZ doesnt treat Milner like another Gross that has to play regardless of where he shoe-horns him in as I think it could cost us over the season. Veltman has been part of a defensive unit that as performed magnificently for 3 seasons.

Yeah, I was surprised to see Milner playing again when we had Veltman as an option. I thought he was signed as a squad player and mentor. The change in goalkeeper also can’t be underestimated. We improved dramatically when Sanchez took over from Ryan and similarly with Steele who has done nothing (as far as I am aware) to lose his place.

 

[BN41Albion]

We score first and it’s a whole different game.

No, I don’t think RDZ set us up wrong. I think Webster’s errors cost us.

Easy to say that and you're right, but the op's point still stands: we were continously exposed down the right and RDZ didn't change anything to counter that.

 

[One Love]

Many similarities with the Everton 5-1 drubbing at home last season.

Lots of teams will be using that as their blueprint to beat us.