[Albion] Our Chances

[perseus]

The Lua Lua thing is insane and basically ignores actually watching him play. He's been played through the middle on occasion and it doesn't work even slightly. He looks lost and get shut down. Playing him on the wing with instructions to cut inside and shoot when possible (i.e. how he's being played this season) is by far the better option.

He has won us eight points from the inner channels this season. I agree with WA (independent thought though), because he goes both ways he wasted out wide. 12 shoots from both feet this season.

He needs more guile to avoid his shots getting blocked. If he plays the false number 9 position he is allowed to go deep and go wide to draw the defence out.

NB: That Blackman did not do any tracking back for Reading so he could concentrate on attack. Crossing he ball is not the Lualua strong point although he has been OK in the past.

Not only that it means we can play an wide man/winger as well.

PS: 2012-13 Lualua scored only 3 goals and two of them came in the last game of the 46. He was playing out wide then.

The disadvantage though is that Lualua is not inclined to run into space for balls he might not get.

 

[knocky1]

...

Not low enuff!

Best bet for Sunderland and Newcastle to be below Chelsea.

Opponents playing two banks of four against them I suspect. Then it requires a mistake by the opposing defence or a piece of individual skill to prose the opposing defence open.

Compare
The second tier has always been tricky. Defenders usually competent not to make mistakes and teams without players with the flair to break the opposition down. Passing it around and wait or try and contrive an opening. Getting the ball forward quickly is good as it does not give the opposition time to get organised. But getting the ball forward runs the risk of losing it with being too quick.

I fancy Arsenal this season as they have quick players throughout their team. Even their ordinary passing it around is quick. I think Arsenal we should aspire to, not Chelsea. Hence CH is a better bet than Poyet.

Chelsea are ****. Excellent analysis.

 

[OzMike]

We haven't won a match now for 14 long days !!

I meant against SW.

 

[Justice]

2012-13 v 2015-16


Ulloa/Barnes v Hemed/Zamora comparable (10 + 9 goals)
Buckley/Lualua v Lualua/March less goal threat (8 + 3 goals)
Mackail-Smith/Hoskins v Baldock comparable (11 + 1 goals)

Lopez/Orlandi v Rosenoir/Murphy comparable ? (9 + 7 goals)
Hammond v Stephens better (2 goals)
Bridcutt v Kayal better (0 goals)
Vicente/Crofts/Dicker v Crofts/Ince/Holla/Forster-Caskey could be comparable (except for 12 games Vicente played) (3 goals)

Bruno/Calderón v Bruno/Calderón comparable if Bruno stays fit
Bridge v Bong comparable (but no cover then and now) (3 goals)

El Abd/Upson v Dunk better
Greer v Greer/Hünemeier comparable ?

Kuszczak v Stockdale nearly as good

Poyet v Hughton to be judged

Opponents: stronger this season for the autos?

Cardiff v Derby better
Hull v Hull same
Palace v Sheff Wed weaker
Watford v Middlesbro comparable
Leicester V Burnley comparable, maybe better


I predicted 6th pre-season with a strong start because the games were easier.
I still did not predict the 8 extra points that Lualua won on his own. (they can't be taken away.)

As is generally agreed, our central midfield is now stronger.
Not sure if our wide play is as strong, probably not
Not sure if our attack is as strong. (after January compared.)
Defence is probably a bit ahead.

2012-13
Brighton 14 5 5 4 18 11 7 20 (Mackail-Smith 5 Barnes 3)

2015-16
Brighton 14 8 6 0 19 11 8 30 (Hemed 4* Stephens 4) (*5-3 if the Stephens free kick is given to Hemed)


Summary: a stronger midfield has given us a stronger platform to attack. But forwards are not clinical enough.
Set pieces haven't been so good but that applies to most clubs this season as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012–13_Brighton_&_Hove_Albion_F.C._season

Did your really need to think about and type all of that just to come to the conclusion a better striker would benefit the team

 

[LlcoolJ]

More importantly perseus have you managed to win the Champions League with Brighton yet on the latest FM, and how many times have you seen Moneyball?