[Albion] Stoke City vs Brighton & Hove Albion *** Official Match Thread ***

[Nobby Cybergoat]

We were all shown videos about RDZ before he joined and shortly afterwards. What they all revealed is that he favours a ball-playing, left-footed CB who acts a playmaker. Our best performances have been with Colwill in that role. We know how good Dunky is both defensively and on the ball, and we know he can play on the left, but to expect him to fill THAT role is pushing his skillset to the absolute limit.
It's not his fault. I think he's done remarkably well, but i guarantee both he and RDZ are counting down the days to his return over to the right.

This is absolutely it. To be fair Alex Neill is a clever manager and he absolutely targeted Dunk, trying to make him play on his left.

I agree Colwill likely to come straight back in when available.

A left sided centre back is absolutely the top priority signing in the summer. In fact I predict we'll try to sign two of them. I can see Webby and Van Hecke moving on in the summer.

 

[dolphins]

With the Quarters taking place over the weekend of March 18th, it means our home game (on Sky) against Man Utd will be moved.

(yep, didn't spot Bozza's separate thread about this!)

 

[A mex eyecan]

I don't think we can make him run faster though. As others said, Gross is quicker.

that’s easy, get some frigging deep heat in his jock strap when he’s not looking

 

[Swansman]

Not a great game but not terrible either. Winning is what mattered and that was delivered.

Stoke looked decent and should be able to climb in the Championship.

 

[The Fits]

This is absolutely it. To be fair Alex Neill is a clever manager and he absolutely targeted Dunk, trying to make him play on his left.

I agree Colwill likely to come straight back in when available.

A left sided centre back is absolutely the top priority signing in the summer. In fact I predict we'll try to sign two of them. I can see Webby and Van Hecke moving on in the summer.

Yup you target Dunk. Block off the pass to his right. Make him go backwards or to the left. He's done fantastically well IMHO and will have improved enormously over the last few weeks despite his age. It's going to be a breeze for him when he gets back on the right.

 

[A mex eyecan]

Lester gone...

Piggott?

 

[AmexRuislip]

 

[oldboyroy]

Just got back to Birmingham, glad of the win but awful game.

 

[kevo]

I reckon every free kick or corner he headed out. Yes he gave the ball away twice cheaply and got done once but other than that was class. In stoppage time he won 3 or so headers and just attacked the ball. I do wonder if people miss the little things sometimes…

Also a brilliant pass in the build up to the goal.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Hmm

‘’After that, there was only frustration for the hosts, whose manager Alex Neil felt too many of their attacks were slowed down by the visitors either time-wasting or making the most of limited contact. When they did get in a position to threaten, the final pass let them down.’’

 

[LamieRobertson]

I reckon every free kick or corner he headed out. Yes he gave the ball away twice cheaply and got done once but other than that was class. In stoppage time he won 3 or so headers and just attacked the ball. I do wonder if people miss the little things sometimes…

From the bbc report

Roberto de Zerbi's men failed to reach the heights that allowed them to beat Liverpool in the previous round, but with skipper Lewis Dunk turning in another impressive defensive display on his 400th appearance for the club

 

[Eeyore]

Hmm

‘’After that, there was only frustration for the hosts, whose manager Alex Neil felt too many of their attacks were slowed down by the visitors either time-wasting or making the most of limited contact. When they did get in a position to threaten, the final pass let them down.’’

In fairness, when Lamptey went down after a tiny brush there were more rolls than the local bakery.

 

[SanchoMitoma]

Dunk attempts 3 or 4 passes like the one he made to Mitoma because he knows he can work with Kaoru and if he executes it right, it’s almost lethal. It’s a good threat, that opponents are gonna fight off even harder now, and it should be opening more situations on the other side of the pitch if it gets less crowded.

 

[LamieRobertson]

In fairness, when Lamptey went down after a tiny brush there were more rolls than the local bakery.

LOL…..once

 

[ac gull]

Well the ground seems to have improved re corners filled in and new seats and disabled areas all round - but the team the locals up there go to watch has got worse to me - bits of it seemed like a training ground game in slow motion - they tried to target Dunk all game and he still made the chance for the goal - one match from Wembley now as RDZ said recently ...

 

[Mancgull]

Van Hecke was excellent second half.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

I have to disagree with those who felt nervy as I thought we had good control of the game.

I do agree with those who felt the South American youngsters were pretty poor, bar Caicedo who is on another planet.

 

[Flagship]

Just got back home from the match which was a terrible, terrible game. It was as bad as some of the worst in the early days at the Amex when Poyet was in charge. We just hung onto the ball for the sake of it. There was no imagination, no invention and we seem to be going backwards in style as well as in practice. Tonight we had three gears, slow, slower and backwards. What has happened to the slick interchanges out wide, do we miss Trossard that much that we have changed our style so much?
As for man of the match, it would be very difficult to pick one.
For me it was like watching the 5th form taking on the fourth form at school. Everyone posing around opting for the easy ball to feet, stop, look up, sideways, sideways, backwards and repeat.
God, it was crap.

 

[WhingForPresident]

 

[ozzygull]

Just got back home from the match which was a terrible, terrible game. It was as bad as some of the worst in the early days at the Amex when Poyet was in charge. We just hung onto the ball for the sake of it. There was no imagination, no invention and we seem to be going backwards in style as well as in practice. Tonight we had three gears, slow, slower and backwards. What has happened to the slick interchanges out wide, do we miss Trossard that much that we have changed our style so much?
As for man of the match, it would be very difficult to pick one.
For me it was like watching the 5th form taking on the fourth form at school. Everyone posing around opting for the easy ball to feet, stop, look up, sideways, sideways, backwards and repeat.
God, it was crap.

Well done for going to the game as I only watched on TV, I agree that it was definitely not a game for the neutral. But I think we played a few young players who were just a little bit off the pace and position, and the things we were trying did not come off, and if they had the score would have been more comfortable. Stoke‘s press were just hoping we would make a mistake, but the players are pretty calm and are used to playing that way to create the space against much better players.

Glad you had a safe trip back and saw a win For the good guys however it was achieved.