[Albion] Post-match reaction and thoughts - Bournemouth

[Icy Gull]

Disappointing result but a lot of positives still. First half was the best away performance for a very long time, I really enjoyed watching us and that doesn’t happen very often away.

2nd half was very poor. Bournemouth obviously upped it and we didn’t react. Lessons to learn hopefully.

I do hope CH sticks with the team that started for the Arsenal game but maybe swap Knockaert for Locadia. I thought JL did well first half but AK will offer us a little more protection. I do think that team is the future, it just needs a bit more confidence and time playing together.

Can’t agree with playing AK over Locadia, Locadia’s strength on the ball and willingness to just lay off the ball to Andone/Murray is likely to worry the Arsenal defence more than AK trying to run at them and losing the ball. The only benefit I can see in playing AK is his willingness to run his heart out and his defensive qualities. He is off form imo and I’d like to see Locadia given some more game time. He started really well yesterday imo and we need to show some faith in him to see the best of him.

 

[Nixonator]

Disappointing result but a lot of positives still. First half was the best away performance for a very long time, I really enjoyed watching us and that doesn’t happen very often away.

2nd half was very poor. Bournemouth obviously upped it and we didn’t react. Lessons to learn hopefully.

I do hope CH sticks with the team that started for the Arsenal game but maybe swap Knockaert for Locadia. I thought JL did well first half but AK will offer us a little more protection. I do think that team is the future, it just needs a bit more confidence and time playing together.

Thank god someone was pleased. Here's me thinking we lost to Bournemouth by a greater margin than Liverpool and Spurs, had our best centre half sent off and suspended and looked defensively frail through most of the game.

Arsenal will walk through us with that side, you must have a death wish.

 

[Icy Gull]

Thank god someone was pleased. Here's me thinking we lost to Bournemouth by a greater margin than Liverpool and Spurs, had our best centre half sent off and suspended and looked defensively frail through most of the game.

Arsenal will walk through us with that side, you must have a death wish.

So you don’t think we were in the game before the sending off, watched a different game to me in that case.

 

[beorhthelm]

That's spot on. Last week Complete Badger (he's back with a bang! ) specifically moaned that ch wasn't starting bissouma and andone, this week he does and he moans about team selection, so it just looks like a vendetta that won't be dropped.

And yes, it was an inevitable defeat. Team looked nice and played some attacking stuff and then they get the ball in midfield and run through us with propper standing off brooks and making no attempt to challenge as he scores a nice goal. 1-0 down, Howe then shores it up, shuts it down, plays for 1-0, does it well-, goals change games.

Later in the second half Fraser gets the ball, propper shadows him, stands off, doesn't attempt to tackle or close down, cross comes in and 2-0.

Irony is that its that lack of defensive ability in our defensive midfielder role that ultimately costs us the game, and yet people who are calling for Stephens to be dropped are still criticising ch for the tactics and loss. On the flip side, I'm frustrated at the lack of ds, but I believe in Chris and presume he was simply resting him as lots of players will be rotated during the Christmas period.

good analysis, twice Propper was in position and twice failed to deal with the threat (first goal just seemed to stop tracking Brookes). but he is a good player, should he be so deep? defensive midfielder is a bit of an art, better to have an average specialist that a good all rounder not suited.

 

[Nixonator]

So you don’t think we were in the game before the sending off, watched a different game to me in that case.

No, I think we tapered off in the second half and was predicting a breakaway for 2-0 as we took greater and greater risks to get back in the game. Happened slightly differently but scoreline the same. Say what you like about him, Howe's game management is very good, and not the kind of game we wanted to go behind in.

 

[Nixonator]

good analysis, twice Propper was in position and twice failed to deal with the threat (first goal just seemed to stop tracking Brookes). but he is a good player, should he be so deep? defensive midfielder is a bit of an art, better to have an average specialist that a good all rounder not suited.

Spot on.

 

[Icy Gull]

No, I think we tapered off in the second half and was predicting a breakaway for 2-0 as we took greater and greater risks to get back in the game. Happened slightly differently but scoreline the same.

We definitely tapered off I agree but I give credit to smug Eddie for outhinking CH again in the way Bournemouth set up after the break. I think Ryan only had one shot of consequence that ended up in the back of the net whilst the Bournemouth keeper had a blinder first half. You always risk going 2-0 down when chasing the game. The sending off was the final nail in the coffin.

 

[dazzer6666]

We're definitely in a transition between the old guard who got us promoted, and the new guard who look like they could be of a higher standard, but deperately need game time playing together. Hughton has a juggling act as to how to get them integrated without throwing results away. I personally think we play more attractibe football without Glenn in the side (burn him!), but then at the moment, that leaves us missing the vital element of getting the ball in the back of the net. I'm more than happy to be patient as I think the end result will be worth it.

Anyone who says the style yesterday wasn't different from the sit back and defend deep is blind. And yes - I am aware that the result was the same.

Nailed it.

 

[maltaseagull]

We will beat Liverpool for their first defeat of the season.

And I will be there to see it.

 

[GT49er]

For the benefit of someone (me) who wasn't at the game, and didn't have a stream, can somebody please tell me what we did differently yesterday? Yes, I know we had some personnel changes, but were we still playing 4-4-1-1 as usual, or did we actually change to something different?

 

[Bodian]

For the benefit of someone (me) who wasn't at the game, and didn't have a stream, can somebody please tell me what we did differently yesterday? Yes, I know we had some personnel changes, but were we still playing 4-4-1-1 as usual, or did we actually change to something different?

Basically we started off as if we were playing at home in attitude and approach. Not so much personnel or formation differences - just the way we went about it.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

For the benefit of someone (me) who wasn't at the game, and didn't have a stream, can somebody please tell me what we did differently yesterday? Yes, I know we had some personnel changes, but were we still playing 4-4-1-1 as usual, or did we actually change to something different?

We played 2 footballers in Central midfield and no real wingers, instead had locadia, gross and march roaming behind andone. We had quite a bit of possession and made several chances as a result. Unfortunately they also sliced through our midfield several times, creating some clearcut chances before they eventually scored by going straight down the middle. Missed Stephens. Once we were behind they pulled their players narrower, ceding the wings to us, but without Murray's instincts and aerial ability the crosses all looked poor - and in many cases were poor.

In summary - we played a more expansive game, it could have paid off but instead it went against us, and once they had the lead Howe sat on it. Just as we were going to go two upfront with two wingers for the last 20 dunk was sent off and that was that. I did fancy our chances for 1-1 up to then

 

[GT49er]

We played 2 footballers in Central midfield and no real wingers, instead had locadia, gross and march roaming behind andone. We had quite a bit of possession and made several chances as a result. Unfortunately they also sliced through our midfield several times, creating some clearcut chances before they eventually scored by going straight down the middle. Missed Stephens. Once we were behind they pulled their players narrower, ceding the wings to us, but without Murray's instincts and aerial ability the crosses all looked poor - and in many cases were poor.

In summary - we played a more expansive game, it could have paid off but instead it went against us, and once they had the lead Howe sat on it. Just as we were going to go two upfront with two wingers for the last 20 dunk was sent off and that was that. I did fancy our chances for 1-1 up to then

Thanks. 4-2-3-1 then, apparently - what a lot of us wanted. I did wonder, from the players picked, whether we might have gone the whole hog and switched to 4-3-3.

 

[Surf's Up]

Firstly, I am far from being thick. Secondly, we capitulate to teams away from home, pretty much every time. I also have been a fan since 1955 so I have seen many manifestations of The Albion but I can't recall seeing a side in modern times where it is almost 100% certain that we're going to not win away from home. I've been to the likes of Darlington on a wet and cold Tuesday night when we were on the cusp of disappearing forever. We expected to lose every one of those games but still went, hopeful of a win. Sometimes we won, not often, but we tried These days are different. We have the personnel to compete but don't. That is what annoys.

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We do compete, but always only for 45 minutes. It's the other 45 minutes that's the problem.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

We do compete, but always only for 45 minutes. It's the other 45 minutes that's the problem.

I think if we'd have got Murray on, with two proper wingers for the last 20, we'd have got back on the front foot. But the sending off ended the game

 

[burnee54]

Although Hughton tried different players it was still the same system
That’s what needs changing two up top what we gotta lose
Locadia on the wing instead of knocky
Just not gonna work out for him
Solly so frustrating and now taking free kicks which were embarrassing


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Corrected for you.

Locadia playing as part of a front three
which was a very successful position for him at PSV.
And presumably the reason he caught our recruitment team's eye.
For what it's worth, I thought Locadia had his best game so far for us.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Brooks is 21.........he did alright yesterday.

Bissouma was 21 when he made his debut for us

 

[GT49er]

Bissouma was 21 when he made his debut for us

Probably OK because we bought him - not one of our young players, was he!

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Probably OK because we bought him - not one of our young players, was he!

Just comparing with Brooks

 

[jamie the seagull]

I think the only adjustment needed yesterday should have been Stephens in for Gross.
He should have sat behind Propper & Bissouma who are attacking midfielders.
Stephens would have covered Brooks to stop the 1st goal.
Locadia played well in the 1st half and him Bernardo and Bissouma were controlling the left side.