[Albion] RDZ exploring the depth of his squad

[amexer]

Manager with so many points has earned the opportunity to try some youngsters. We all love his attacking play and substitutions. It is points on board that gives him this opportunity. Every chance if we had 18 points going into Saturdays game Webster would have been on in 70th minute to protect a valuable point.

 

[Bold Seagull]

You’ll have to get used to life without iMackie and Moises because they’re both gone in the Summer window.

It was obvious back in August-November when we first started serious talks for Buonanotte that he would go straight into the first team and would be debuted very soon after signing - RDZ will likely be seeing him as our replacement for Mackie (who’s been playing much higher behind the forwards recently to great effect) and there was nothing in the Cherries cameo that would make me concerned here that Facu would not be up to the job by the Summer in that respect.

Pervis was excellent on Sunday and Sarmiento also showed great promise. We also signed Ayari in January (and don’t forget Moder may be back soon from his ACL injury if his rehab is still on course) - it’s half way through the season so not surprising there’s a few injuries - we have a lot of promise also out on loan too. There’s no cause IMO for complaining about Brighton’s recruitment strategy or our squad when we are doing so well - when we start loosing games and drop down to 11th place then I’ll jump on board with the moaning Minnie’s (or if we qualify for Europe, I’d then question whether the current depth of our squad will impact on our EPL season’s performance)

One thing that needs to be borne in mind is you need to keep players happy, that means them not sitting on the bench too much or not getting enough starts - the deeper the squad the tougher that becomes.

Given you are the 2nd person to mention a moan or complaint, I've read through my opening post again and can't pinpoint where it is moaning, complaining or criticising - it was just an observation that with injures and suspensions, we explored the depth of our squad on Saturday. And we won the game doing so. I ended the post with how exciting it was to have those subs coming on.

 

[Zeberdi]

Given you are the 2nd person to mention a moan or complaint,

Jesus - I wasn’t quoting you - lighten up. A lot of people recently have been moaning that we didn’t spend a load of money in the January window - it’s a general observation that we have moaning Minnie’s amongst the fans.

As I stated, unless we qualify for Europe or have a run of loosing games, I won’t be joining them!

 

[Greg Bobkin]

But isn't that the whole point of a squad? A #TeamLikeBrighton isn't going to have 25 AMAZING players who would get into the first team of any other PL team. I see Saturday as being a bit of a perfect storm of injuries, suspensions and other (Caicedo) meaning that it was partly a second-string team and a partly chucking players in who hadn't had much game time.

And they got the job done!

Meanwhile, Lallana – who, as has been highlighted on here numerous times, can make or break performances – was a big miss but will be back soon hopefully, while Moder is set return, potentially be like a new player. Ferguson the same. Plus the players who stepped in on Saturday will only get better the more they adapt and get minutes (you'd hope).

 

[Bold Seagull]

Jesus - I wasn’t quoting you - lighten up.

Okay.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Our reported attempt to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara would suggest the club tried to mitigate for an absence of our best Midfield combination.

But the rest of the squad looks well balanced.

Left back cover?

 

[Icy Gull]

Who is moaning? Just an observation. I think I stated above it was really exciting to see those 3 come on.

Not directed at your post in anyway, just my feelings

 

[Zeberdi]

Edit - Also Mackie on suspension Lallana injured etc

I do think, as stated on the match thread, the fact we beat one of our our bogie teams that put up an annoyingly low block, (but looked very dangerous on the counterattack), and who were desperate to get points to avoid relegation while we fielded a load of youngsters, were missing some of our key players - all suggests we are not as thin as some people would suggest.

I think Palace will be a big test for our progress - if we can put this to bed comfortably (using young Ferguson, young Buonanotte etc) I’ll relax for the rest of the season!

 

[Berty23]

This all makes me wonder how much our side would cost if a team wanted to buy the complete first team (talking a liberty picking lamptey over gross). Obviously it is hypothetical but bear with me. Is this fair?

1. Sanchez - 40 million
2. Pervis - 45 million
3. Lamptey - 25 million
4. Dunk - 10 million (old and no sell on but deffo do a job)
5. Colwill - 50 million
6. Caicedo - 100 million
7. Alexis - 90 million
8. Lallana - 3 million
9. Mitoma - 60 million
10. Ferguson - 50 million (this feels high based on a few games but he is going to be so good - maybe make 40)
11. March - 15 million

So that is a side that would cost almost 500 million.

We need to stop thinking we are over performing. That is a top 5/6 team value. For sure.

 

[Taybha]

Well we're still shit at scoring from corners,and the only other valid moan I can think of is the senior players need to cut out sending the youngsters to Coopers for their haircuts.

 

[Zeberdi]

This all makes me wonder how much our side would cost if a team wanted to buy the complete first team (talking a liberty picking lamptey over gross). Obviously it is hypothetical but bear with me. Is this fair?

1. Sanchez - 40 million
2. Pervis - 45 million
3. Lamptey - 25 million
4. Dunk - 10 million (old and no sell on but deffo do a job)
5. Colwill - 50 million
6. Caicedo - 100 million
7. Alexis - 90 million
8. Lallana - 3 million
9. Mitoma - 60 million
10. Ferguson - 50 million (this feels high based on a few games but he is going to be so good - maybe make 40)
11. March - 15 million

So that is a side that would cost almost 500 million.

We need to stop thinking we are over performing. That is a top 5/6 team value. For sure.

You’re low balling Mitoma!

Likely to be worth at least £75m by the Summer maybe more - he’s one of the best inverted wingers in the PL imo

 

[SeagullsoverLondon]

Jesus - I wasn’t quoting you - lighten up. A lot of people recently have been moaning that we didn’t spend a load of money in the January window - it’s a general observation that we have moaning Minnie’s amongst the fans.

As I stated, unless we qualify for Europe or have a run of loosing games, I won’t be joining them!

Do you really mean you are going to be a Moaning Minnie if we qualify for Europe?
I agree, it is the League and Cup Double this season or else sack RdZ

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

RDZ says he wants 20 players who can play. I guess he means 20 who are ready right now to play at the level required to challenge for Europe. This seems about right to me and I think it’s about what he has. If anything he has a couple more.

Quite possible for the next game he will be able to welcome back a fully fit …. Ferguson, Webster, Lallana as well as MacAllister back from suspension.

This means the Palace line up should have a much more experienced look to it.

That said I don’t think the fact that we had our entire South American contingent on the pitch at the end of the Muff game, was just because he had run out of players or because he was making a point to anyone ….. I think it was more … how can I put this? You needa the bigger balls no?

 

[Justice]

The one thing I would say if that game Saturday was against a much better side we could have easily lost by two or three. Bmuff couldn’t finish a dinner. Macalister and Caciedo are going to be near impossible to replace with the same level of player instantly.
For that reason one may leave in the summer cant see both tbh.

 

[Bozza]

That said I don’t think the fact that we had our entire South American contingent on the pitch at the end of the Muff game, was just because he had run out of players or because he was making a point to anyone ….. I think it was more … how can I put this? You needa the bigger balls no?

What was clear on Saturday, as if we needed telling, is that De Zerbi is happy to risk losing in order to try to win.

No complaints from me on that.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

As for the left back position, I get the point that if we lose Estupinan we’ve no natural replacement in that position. We don’t have a youth player who’s near the starting squad and so we would need to have a think about what we did there.

I’m pretty convinced that Lamptey would shuffle across and would do a fine job, as he did scoring at Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.

I’m not personally a fan of the idea of putting Solly back there or asking Webby or someone to do a job

Colwill will become an option there once fit

In the summer I think it’s sensible to pick up another specialist left back, certainly if we’re looking at getting European games in as well

 

[casbom]

If we can't get Colwill in the summer then I can see us going back in for Matvienko who can play in both left defence positions.

 

[Bozza]

As for the left back position, I get the point that if we lose Estupinan we’ve no natural replacement in that position. We don’t have a youth player who’s near the starting squad and so we would need to have a think about what we did there.

I’m pretty convinced that Lamptey would shuffle across and would do a fine job, as he did scoring at Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.

I’m not personally a fan of the idea of putting Solly back there or asking Webby or someone to do a job

Colwill will become an option there once fit

In the summer I think it’s sensible to pick up another specialist left back, certainly if we’re looking at getting European games in as well

Or Solly, possibly, depending on the specifics of the fixture/opposition.

 

[el punal]

But isn't that the whole point of a squad? A #TeamLikeBrighton isn't going to have 25 AMAZING players who would get into the first team of any other PL team. I see Saturday as being a bit of a perfect storm of injuries, suspensions and other (Caicedo) meaning that it was partly a second-string team and a partly chucking players in who hadn't had much game time.

And they got the job done!

Meanwhile, Lallana – who, as has been highlighted on here numerous times, can make or break performances – was a big miss but will be back soon hopefully, while Moder is set return, potentially be like a new player. Ferguson the same. Plus the players who stepped in on Saturday will only get better the more they adapt and get minutes (you'd hope).

Looking good isn’t it? With no smugness or complacency intended. Saturday’s game, for me, was never going to be a stroll in the park. We were facing one of our bogey sides with us having a depleted squad against a team that were desperate for a result.

It certainly proved to be a tough nut to crack, but we did crack it. As many on here have commented in previous seasons the result would have been a loss or a draw at best. The bravery of our Roberto in putting on our exciting young starlets changed everything. We got the result we deserved. Not a classic win by any means but an important one - it showed that we could dig deep and still produce the goods. That also shows the character and resolve within this wonderfully talented group of players - long may it continue.

 

[Crawley Dingo]

I agree that Buonanotte might be an Ali Mac replacement. We definitely don't have a Caicedo replacement though. We'd need to recruit one direct into the 1st team if / wen he leaves in the summer.

Having watched a couple of utubes of Buonanotte playing in Argentina I am not surprised he has gone straight in and imo will be better than either of those players.