Our defence/defensive tactics are the issue.

[stss30]

This may sound silly after we've conceded three goals, but after watching Watford dominate us for most of the game playing the same style, I've realized our defensive tactics seriously cost us. When the play breaks down, we should be looking to move the ball on fast whilst opposition players are still out of position, instead we pass it in a line on the edge of our box for 30 seconds whilst all their players can get back behind the ball. Watford on the other hand, play it faster and on several occasions this resulted in 2+ of their midfielders having free runs at our defence which resulted in us conceding two goals, yes their strikers also took their chances better than ours, and El-Abd had an absolute nightmare, but this a serious issue with our style of play.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Can't disagree with any of that.

CMS rarely has any room to run into because he's hardly ever afforded a fast break like Watford were today because we let the other teams set up camp by the time we get near the opposition box.

 

[Normandy seagull]

agree with all of that. Poyet did say in his interview that the game was too open- well why did he not tighten up the Midfield but bringing on Hammond.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

The half a dozen passes at the back work with players of Serie A or La Liga calibre , we just give the opposition time to stick 10 players behind the ball.

 

[Seagull kimchi]

Horrible way to write off our season.

January doesn't seem to matter much now. Our preparation so far has been dire and I'll take 18th place now.

Sorry, that was so hard to watch.

 

[RexCathedra]

Defense per se, no. Otherwise you'd not see the GA and GD stand where they are.

 

[stss30]

Defense per se, no. Otherwise you'd not see the GA and GD stand where they are.

I think you've misunderstood. I'm not criticizing the defenses abilty to defend, although they were poor tonight, I'm criticizing the fact that seeing as all our forward play seems as though it has to go through them, they need to play the ball to our midfielder much quicker as it has a negative impact on our attacking play. We have players who largely rely on their pace (CMS, LuaLua) who are our main attacking threats and they're not getting the ball fast enough where space is.

 

[Phat Baz 68]

In simple terms we had a filthy great gaping hole between the back four and midfield and Vydra ? was allowed to do more or less what he wanted no cover, no common sense no passion utter bollocks today.
But i will never ever leave early or boo an Albion side !!
In my book that is f***ing contemptible !!!

 

[Mutts Nuts]

This may sound silly after we've conceded three goals, but after watching Watford dominate us for most of the game playing the same style, I've realized our defensive tactics seriously cost us. When the play breaks down, we should be looking to move the ball on fast whilst opposition players are still out of position, instead we pass it in a line on the edge of our box for 30 seconds whilst all their players can get back behind the ball. Watford on the other hand, play it faster and on several occasions this resulted in 2+ of their midfielders having free runs at our defence which resulted in us conceding two goals, yes their strikers also took their chances better than ours, and El-Abd had an absolute nightmare, but this a serious issue with our style of play.

have to disagree lack of goals is the problem our keeper and defence are outstanding,the service to the forwards is also top notch our forwards could not score on an empty pitch, that is the problem and Gus refuses to admit this which is another problem.Gus is our manager but what the fcuk are Tarrico and oatway doing,fcuk all from what i can see they both need to go

 

[Ernest]

We are simply too predictable now, every team has us well scouted and know how to play us. The results at the AMEX do not lie and maybe the 2010/11 championship winning season was a fluke and simply due to the fact that several of the team then (Murray, Bennett, Noone etc) are way above League 1 standard.

 

[stss30]

have to disagree lack of goals is the problem our keeper and defence are outstanding,the service to the forwards is also top notch our forwards could not score on an empty pitch, that is the problem and Gus refuses to admit this which is another problem.Gus is our manager but what the fcuk are Tarrico and oatway doing,fcuk all from what i can see they both need to go

We need better strikers I agree

 

[Lethargic]

Brighton tactics - Slow, slow, slow slow, then a bit slower.
Opposition tactics - hang on for 30 minutes then 2 banks of 4 wait until we make a mistake and then counter at speed score goal.
It is more predicable than the Eastenders plot and we have been found wanting in so many games at home ...we need more pace.

 

[beorhthelm]

well, im not going to disagree with the analysis as wasnt there and conceding 3 at home is always bad, but i am going to point out that we have conceded the 4th fewest at home (2nd before today) and 2nd fewest away. clearly, scoring is the root of our problems, not the defence and today was an aberration. (curiously, Watford have scored for fun away with 27, 10 more goals for than the rest of the top 7 bar Cardiff on 22)

 

[Freddie Goodwin.]

Brighton tactics - Slow, slow, slow slow, then a bit slower.
Opposition tactics - hang on for 30 minutes then 2 banks of 4 wait until we make a mistake and then counter at speed score goal.
It is more predicable than the Eastenders plot and we have been found wanting in so many games at home ...we need more pace.

A very apt name for our performance and a very astute summing up. We take an age to move the ball forward and our forwards suffer because they cannot run into space when balls are not played up quicker so, by the time we do play forward, they are pretty much shackled.

Watford showed it yeasterday, slickly moving with 3 or 4 passes from defense to attack.