Our Slump in Form

[Insel affe]

Hughton is a DULLARD who hasn't a CLUE

there be an old saying i think it goes like this.....

"takes one to know one"

 

[dejavuatbtn]

I don't really see a slump in our form. Give or take a few goals either way, our change in fortune is due to a few goals either way.

 

[warmleyseagull]

Not sure it is as binary as the poll suggests; tactics are forced by circumstances induced by injury. Get short of wingers, have to play Crofts who is not a winger so go 4-5-1.

What we can never know is what would have happened without the injuries. Let's be honest, the unbeaten run was great but there were no games where we were in control and cruising. This alone reflects that the team was just on the right side of the margin, as CH put it early in the season. It doesn't take much - teams like Ipswich and Wolves setting themselves differently, plus some bad luck - to change the fine margins the other way. It is less likely that this would have happened as significantly as it has if all players were fit, but not impossible.

 

[Brighton Mod]

It's arguable that the squad that CH has had to pick from since early December has been weaker than the one he inherited last January. So it's definitely injuries, and not his tactics.

2-0 up at QPR and no changes from the bench until he was forced to,
Charlton spotted our weakness on the right with Bruno pushing up and caught us on the counter four or five times, that was a plan before they arrived.
Boro should have been respected more and did exactly what Charlton did to us down the right hand side.
Ipswich came to beat us on the counter and did so
Wolves worked it down the right came for the counter attack and succeeded.

Its neither one or the other but a combination of injuries and tactics. When the north stand is singing for Zamora to come off the bench and its patently obvious that Hemed is going nowhere, I question the manager.

Ch has a tough task with an over performing squad, but remember he did not select Solly until he had too, doesn't want to play Elvis and Chicksen even when we lack pace in both positions. His substititions are generally late and when given a chance to rest players in a depleted squad he has stuck with those on the field. Listening to his interview yesterday with Radio Sussex he said nearly ten times that we need to find a way through, it sounded to me as though he has no idea at the moment of how to do it. Three points from eighteen is disastrous and he should be looking closely a how he has approached games. Who is our free kick specialist, what is te strategy other than lumping it into the middle and who is telling Murphy to cut in when there is a five man line across the middle. I really could go on. The Championship is marginal and we have been the right side of the margin for a while until recently, but I cannot accept that our situation is totally down to injuries.

 

[BensGrandad]

2-0 up at QPR and no changes from the bench until he was forced to,
Charlton spotted our weakness on the right with Bruno pushing up and caught us on the counter four or five times, that was a plan before they arrived.
Boro should have been respected more and did exactly what Charlton did to us down the right hand side.
Ipswich came to beat us on the counter and did so
Wolves worked it down the right came for the counter attack and succeeded.

Its neither one or the other but a combination of injuries and tactics. When the north stand is singing for Zamora to come off the bench and its patently obvious that Hemed is going nowhere, I question the manager.

Ch has a tough task with an over performing squad, but remember he did not select Solly until he had too, doesn't want to play Elvis and Chicksen even when we lack pace in both positions. His substititions are generally late and when given a chance to rest players in a depleted squad he has stuck with those on the field. Listening to his interview yesterday with Radio Sussex he said nearly ten times that we need to find a way through, it sounded to me as though he has no idea at the moment of how to do it. Three points from eighteen is disastrous and he should be looking closely a how he has approached games. Who is our free kick specialist, what is te strategy other than lumping it into the middle and who is telling Murphy to cut in when there is a five man line across the middle. I really could go on. The Championship is marginal and we have been the right side of the margin for a while until recently, but I cannot accept that our situation is totally down to injuries.

Well said a very true post.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Well said a very true post.

I love the fact that despite being shown that in excess of 98% of Brighton fans disagree with you, there is not the slightest doubt in your mind that you are right and they are all wrong. Even Ernest's 'real' account has voted against you

 

[Bold Seagull]

2-0 up at QPR and no changes from the bench until he was forced to,
Charlton spotted our weakness on the right with Bruno pushing up and caught us on the counter four or five times, that was a plan before they arrived.
Boro should have been respected more and did exactly what Charlton did to us down the right hand side.
Ipswich came to beat us on the counter and did so
Wolves worked it down the right came for the counter attack and succeeded.

Its neither one or the other but a combination of injuries and tactics. When the north stand is singing for Zamora to come off the bench and its patently obvious that Hemed is going nowhere, I question the manager.

Ch has a tough task with an over performing squad, but remember he did not select Solly until he had too, doesn't want to play Elvis and Chicksen even when we lack pace in both positions. His substititions are generally late and when given a chance to rest players in a depleted squad he has stuck with those on the field. Listening to his interview yesterday with Radio Sussex he said nearly ten times that we need to find a way through, it sounded to me as though he has no idea at the moment of how to do it. Three points from eighteen is disastrous and he should be looking closely a how he has approached games. Who is our free kick specialist, what is te strategy other than lumping it into the middle and who is telling Murphy to cut in when there is a five man line across the middle. I really could go on. The Championship is marginal and we have been the right side of the margin for a while until recently, but I cannot accept that our situation is totally down to injuries.

Crikey, what a load of nonsense. Solly was playing crap and you could argue Hughton persevered and got the best out of him. At QPR we got forced back, but who would you have changed exactly? Had Dunk not had a moment I fancy we'd have seen it out. Unlucky with Derby's late pen too, and Murphy's onside goal v Ipswich. Such are the fine margins.

Tactically he is showing flexibility and a willingness to try things with who he has available. We are playing differently to our start because of the injuries not inspite of them. There is no doubt we've gone longer recently, but I think that is reflective of playing the percentages.

Even so, we're bloody unlucky with 2 late goals against and an equaliser chalked off and a freak og. You get your fair share over a season but just a little in December could have seen us 5 or 6 pts better off.

 

[aolstudios]

The injuries to 4/5 first team players would batter any team. Let alone the lack of competition in the squad in the past few games. Wingers and striker(s) have to be the targets now.

7 first team, close to first eleven players

 

[ferring seagull]

Hughton is a DULLARD who hasn't a CLUE but to BLAME a FEW injuries for his OWN tactical INEPTITUDE

Footballwise, I am not a hugely knowlegable sort of person and obviously you have been around the block for some time.

Who or what sort of manager do you think the Albion should go for ?

 

[Ernest]

I am not a hugely knowlegable sort of person and obviously you have been around the block for some time.

Who or what sort of manager do you think the Albion should go for ?

One who does not have a track record of this sort of thing

 

[aolstudios]

One who does not have a track record of this sort of thing

Winning the Championship?..

 

[Ernest]

Winning the Championship?..

I could have managed Newcastle with their resources to win the Championship

 

[chairman]

The early success was based on pace down the wings and solid ball winners in midfield. With kaz and solly both injured that balance was lost,teams have defended deeper thus taking the space making us play in front of them. We all know pacey wide men get behind defences and defending facing your own goal is much harder. We have over achieved so far, but if and when injuries improve or players come in there is no reason why we can't maintain a top six place, and preseason we would have all taken that. It will also be interesting to see how Towell performs, he is a goal scoring midfielder, and could give us a boost we need

 

[Acker79]

I don't think it can all be chalked up to injuries.

Look at the players we've used over the last couple of weeks

Goal keeper - regular first choice
Right back - regular first choice
Centre back - regular first choice
Centre back - fourth choice has started the last two games only, 1st and 2nd choice available before that
Left back - 3rd choice
Right Winger - Loan signing we were impressed by and are hoping to bring back to provide an option in most games
Centre Mid - First choice, considered one half of the best centre mid pairing in the division by many on here just a month ago
Centre Mid - First choice, considered one half of the best centre mid pairing in the division by many on here just a month ago
Left Winger - Almost certainly going to be considered an option for the first team, getting regular minutes, even if he doesn't start
Centre Forward - regular first choice
Centre Forward - loanee who has a good chance of being a regular starter even when Baldock returns


Even with the shoring up of midfield with Crofts it's another player of quality who would be pushing for a starting spot, if not being a key option on the bench who sees regular actions.

Only Goldson and Calderon are likely to disappear completely from the matchday squad when everyone is fit, the others are likely to still see regular first team action should all our players regain fitness. We're not fielding awful nobodies who are only getting action because of the injuries.

These players should not be on a six game winless run, they should not be on a run of 4 and a bit games without scoring.

The players we are using are better than their performances they have delivered. Yes, the injuries has limited our options on the bench, and perhaps have led to more players playing more minutes, but the starting 11 we field should be producing more than they are, so the injuries only mitigate so much.

So, does that mean it has to be Hughton's fault? Contrary to the poll options, it isn't either or.

Look at how we dominated wolves. Look at what has cost us games and points recently - player errors (and usually first choice players like Dunk and our attacking players) whether it be letting the ball roll past you, getting sent off, conceding penalties, scuffing shots, missing the target etc.

There's only so much a manger can do, when players side foot it into the opposition goal keeper's chest, or defenders think it's wise to try to remove an opponent's shirt.

 

[AZ Gull]

I love the fact that despite being shown that in excess of 98% of Brighton fans disagree with you, there is not the slightest doubt in your mind that you are right and they are all wrong. Even Ernest's 'real' account has voted against you

What is Ernest's "real" account?

 

[BBassic]

Tactical choices are informed by the players available. Injuries reduce the players available and thus the tactical choices are changed accordingly.

*cough cough* conveniently forgetting I drunkenly raged that yesterday was a joke despite the injuries *cough cough*

 

[Thunder Bolt]

What is Ernest's "real" account?

Bozza.

 

[bobbysmith01]

Think it is quite simple why, when all fit we have the best team, when we have 6/7 injuries other teams squads are better. Improve on the squad with players coming back and new players then we will start winning again. Simple this football thing!

 

[30209]

It's neither. All teams have injuries and can't see much tactical deficiency from CH.

It's just the reversion to the mean. We were lucky / things went our way on average over the first 20 odd games - we weren't as good as our position said. Then the last few games we have been unlucky - ball hits post and doesn't go in for us but does for our opponents, ogs, silly mistakes etc. there's so much chance involved an an individual result and even in a run of three matches you can't read anything in to it.

 

[Tooting Gull]

It is a combination of factors, but I have to say none of them leave me pointing any real accusing fingers anywhere - not at Hughton, the board, or the players.

You get ups and downs in a season in any campaign. We enjoyed a fair share of luck in the first few months, we haven't had much in the past few weeks.

It makes me laugh when I see people slagging off other teams for time-wasting when they are ahead. If we had managed the game out slightly better at various times (Derby and QPR, obviously) we would have had even more insurance when the bad run came.

Not only have we suffered a lot of injuries, but they have come to key players who were at the time playing really well. That is always going to hurt.

And I still maintain that if you have 11 single-goal wins, it stands to reason that it isn't going to take much to see results go against you in a tight league. We weren't putting teams away 3 and 4. Middlesbrough and Derby have done that.

Now is the time for the board to do their bit in the market, Hughton to do his bit in rousing the players, and the players to find a way to get a win somehow and end this run. They could still have won a few of these games, it's not like they have downed tools at all.