[Albion] RDZ on rotation.

[AmexRuislip]

Roberto De Zerbi exclusive: Brighton manager praises players after heavy rotation this season ahead of derby against Crystal Palace

Roberto De Zerbi takes charge of his 50th Premier League game as Brighton manager on Thursday; goalkeepers Jason Steele and Bart Verbruggen have rotated this season; Watch Crystal Palace vs Brighton live on Sky Sports Premier League from 7pm on Thursday; kick-off 8pm

www.skysports.com

"It has not always been an approach welcomed by Seagulls fans, but De Zerbi explained why he has used such heavy rotation and, in his view, why it is working"

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Roberto De Zerbi exclusive: Brighton manager praises players after heavy rotation this season ahead of derby against Crystal Palace

Roberto De Zerbi takes charge of his 50th Premier League game as Brighton manager on Thursday; goalkeepers Jason Steele and Bart Verbruggen have rotated this season; Watch Crystal Palace vs Brighton live on Sky Sports Premier League from 7pm on Thursday; kick-off 8pm

www.skysports.com

"It has not always been an approach welcomed by Seagulls fans, but De Zerbi explained why he has used such heavy rotation and, in his view, why it is working"

Someone tell him we are not playing three games a week. FFS.

 

[The Fits]

The only thing I’d really question is GK. I totally get why you’d rotate outfit players, especially young ones. But GKs are elite cardiovascular athletes who barely have to move some games. And yes they stretch and take impact etc but it’s hardly a game of rugby.
After Arsenal signed Raya there’s been a huge amount of focus on rotating keepers and all the ex pros have questioned it. Even Arteta seems to be sticking with Raya. So rotation, fine- I get it. GK? That seems unusual.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

The only thing I’d really question is GK. I totally get why you’d rotate outfit players, especially young ones. But GKs are elite cardiovascular athletes who barely have to move some games. And yes they stretch and take impact etc but it’s hardly a game of rugby.
After Arsenal signed Raya there’s been a huge amount of focus on rotating keepers and all the ex pros have questioned it. Even Arteta seems to be sticking with Raya. So rotation, fine- I get it. GK? That seems unusual.

Unfortunately for us and RDZ the stats on Bart and Steele aren’t justifying his decision. Certainly in the league at least.

 

[chickens]

With regard to rotating GKs, I think it seems odd until one gets an injury. Then the benefit of having another GK who is playing regularly in the league and is up to speed becomes apparent.

What most teams do is effectively promote a player who hasn’t played a first team league match in (sometimes) several seasons to a key position on the pitch.

 

[brighton_tom]

The only thing I’d really question is GK. I totally get why you’d rotate outfit players, especially young ones. But GKs are elite cardiovascular athletes who barely have to move some games. And yes they stretch and take impact etc but it’s hardly a game of rugby.
After Arsenal signed Raya there’s been a huge amount of focus on rotating keepers and all the ex pros have questioned it. Even Arteta seems to be sticking with Raya. So rotation, fine- I get it. GK? That seems unusual.

For our goalkeepers it’s less about rotation because of fitness, and more to do with easing in a young goalkeeper, & also because they have slightly different attributes RDZ might select a keeper based on opposition…. I would say.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

The only thing I’d really question is GK. I totally get why you’d rotate outfit players, especially young ones. But GKs are elite cardiovascular athletes who barely have to move some games. And yes they stretch and take impact etc but it’s hardly a game of rugby.
After Arsenal signed Raya there’s been a huge amount of focus on rotating keepers and all the ex pros have questioned it. Even Arteta seems to be sticking with Raya. So rotation, fine- I get it. GK? That seems unusual.

I think Arteta is sticking with Raya as Ramsdale is a bit of a knob?

 

[Zeberdi]

Unfortunately for us and RDZ the stats on Bart and Steele aren’t justifying his decision. Certainly in the league at least.

Our level of GAs are largely due to the style of high press, attacking football we are playing - not down to the incompetence of either player imo. We are not getting a £50m GK so we need to suck it up while they need to develop further into the keepers RDZ is needing for that role. Part of that ‘playing out from the back’ development also requires a backline that isn’t leaky - us conceding too many goals this season isn’t all about the GKs - but we can’t do that without a fully fit squad or buying in more replacements for key defensive positions.

I can’t see rotation of keepers as much as a problem some fans do - our defenders will be training with both keepers so if they are not always communicating that’s a training issue. Our match v Arsenal a case in point - a very good 3-way partnership between Dunk, Hecke and Bart who were defending better (as a trio) than they have all season imo until a communication error between Hecke and Bart led to a goal but in the context of an excellent defensive game by us - (and not something we are used to!)

As for the rest of RDZs rotation- personally I think it has been essential to sustain the level and intensity of fixtures we’ve been playing given our injury and fatigue issues in the squad as a whole. This is one of the reasons smaller clubs like ours struggle to compete in multiple competitions in one season.

 

[Algernon]

But GKs are elite cardiovascular athletes

Objection m'lud.
May I please draw the jury's attention to exhibit A:
David Stockdale.

 

[Flounce]

I am struggling to suggest I know better on any of RDZ’s decisions, even if I raise an eyebrow at team selection on a regular basis. I am enjoying watching the Albion EVERY game, win lose or draw. Heady days which probably won't last so I am loving it and accepting of whatever strange decisions and the oft repeated incorrect comments that we have been playing three games a week (wish we were )

 

[Machiavelli]

I think Arteta is sticking with Raya as Ramsdale is a bit of a knob?

I think Arteta is doing x as Arteta is a lot of a knob.

 

[Poskettspurpose]

We talk about RDZ's team selection because it's the Albion forum and that's what we do but, we're in the top half of the Prem and through to the Euro knockouts as group winners. Whatever he is doing, it's working, and that's pretty much all I have to say about that.

 

[Machiavelli]

For our goalkeepers it’s less about rotation because of fitness, and more to do with easing in a young goalkeeper, & also because they have slightly different attributes RDZ might select a keeper based on opposition…. I would say.

I would also say. Seems pretty obvious.

 

[albionalex]

The only thing I’d really question is GK. I totally get why you’d rotate outfit players, especially young ones. But GKs are elite cardiovascular athletes who barely have to move some games. And yes they stretch and take impact etc but it’s hardly a game of rugby.
After Arsenal signed Raya there’s been a huge amount of focus on rotating keepers and all the ex pros have questioned it. Even Arteta seems to be sticking with Raya. So rotation, fine- I get it. GK? That seems unusual.

We have signed Bart to be our long-term #1. He needs games to improve.

Steele knows exactly what RDZ wants and can execute it.

This is why he is rotating keepers.

 

[Justice]

We have signed Bart to be our long-term #1. He needs games to improve.

Steele knows exactly what RDZ wants and can execute it.

This is why he is rotating keepers.

Trouble is Steele isn’t to good at the keeping bit 🫤

 

[mile oak]

I really don't care who plays against the Pal@rse just so long as we beat them!

 

[willalbion]

I think Arteta is doing x as Arteta is a lot of a knob.

He really is a prize bell-end.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

It really doesn’t matter who plays in goal or what defenders are picked, the way RDZ wants to play is ALWAYS going to be dangerous enough to let in at least a goal a game. We’re just going to have to accept that and trust that his game plan will work out overall.
The main issue is that if a crap team like Arsenal can find a workaround, then others will follow. Pundits on MOTD said we should hump it now and again - I prefer to take the view that the occasional long ball may be beneficial, depending on who we can pick out up front.

 

[Beanstalk]

With regard to rotating GKs, I think it seems odd until one gets an injury. Then the benefit of having another GK who is playing regularly in the league and is up to speed becomes apparent.

What most teams do is effectively promote a player who hasn’t played a first team league match in (sometimes) several seasons to a key position on the pitch.

Yeah, look at Newcastle. Nick Pope conceding on average a goal a game - gets an injury, Dubravka comes in concedes on average 2.33 goals per game. Is Dubravka a bad keeper? No. Did he only play two games last season and now looks beyond rusty? Yes.

It's obviously in large part about allowing Verbruggen the space to bed into the side with minimal pressure, but it is also a squad wide policy of rotation to help us manage the injury and fixture load. I expect as the fixtures start to spread out a bit more in the second half of the season, there'll be slightly less rotation but I don't really think it's the root of the conceding every game issue (that is we have replaced Ali Mac, a midfielder, with an attacker - Pedro, Fati, Enciso, Facundo).

 

[raymondo]

Objection m'lud.
May I please draw the jury's attention to exhibit A:
David Stockdale.

I won't hear a word said against him - great guy, performed for us, saved at least one penalty...and he still plays