Difficult to say at the moment. If Welbeck plays more games and this Undav chap can score goals this might more than offset the loss of Biss and Cucurella. As someone else said, we lost Ben White but got better.
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[Albion] Stronger or Weaker
- Thread starter Munchkin
- Start date
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
Because we signed Cucurella that’s why we progressed. Mwepu was a sick note last season and still a bit of an enigma.
Mike Small
Well-known member
- Dec 26, 2008
- 2,977
Weaker unless we sign a left footed full back to replace Cucu then that might change
I don’t believe the difference between finishing 16th and 9th was purely down to Cucurella.
Indeed. Definitely wasn't.
The PL stood still compared to previously IMHO, but the Brighton squad kept developing. This year we have several "weak" (a.k.a. pretty ****ing good but by usual PL standards ordinary) teams - we have Everton and Fulham that haven't been able to recruit due to FFP, Brentford facing a difficult second year, Wolves and even Leicester in a downwards spiral, CP with no replacement for Gallagher, Nottingham with a question mark squad, a Leeds side that won't be able to cope with injuries, and a Bournemouth not looking all that. And god knows where Aston Villa will end up. Reaching 9th again will be difficult unless the club can find a really, really good replacement for Cucurella, but 10-11 seems very likely. Don't see us go back to 15th-16th.
Main difference last year was probably the somewhat unlikely development of older players like Veltman, Gross and Welbeck, coupled with Caicedo and Mac Allister bringing new midfield dynamics. Cucurella obviously played a part but its not like he was scoring and assisting for fun and the way we played for the last few months, Adam Webster is his real replacement I have a lot of faith in him if he can keep... alive.
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
No but it helped, we were on the normal Potter trajectory start ok mid season drop off followed by some form at the back end of the season. After the dismal run GP dropped Maupay and we looked like a team again.
Covering Bissouma and Cucurella by using current squad players is ok in an injury crisis but for the long term it just seems like bad planning. What do you then do in an injury situation in those positions, the squad would start looking rather thin.
Last edited:
sydney
tinky ****in winky
financially in a good place , Mr Bloom will be happy but aware that we may be 2 or 3 players shy , we will see how we go against Utd tonight , it's all about confidence.
i would say we are marginally weaker on the pitch.
i would say we are marginally weaker on the pitch.
HalfaSeatOn
Well-known member
I recall we had our fair share of injuries last season. A favourable injury free wind would make us stronger.
bobbysmith01
Well-known member
- Feb 6, 2015
- 806
Stronger Squad, but might need a few weeks to deal with losing Biss and Cucurella, pretty happy with window as made club stronger and has followed the clubs methodology.
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This is agree with. I’d put a bit more emphasis on the midfield as well; it was no coincidence that when Mwepu and Caicedo started playing our fortunes improved.
OzMike
Well-known member
Surprised to see Andone given a squad number !
Perfidious Albion
Well-known member
No , there was Biss as well.... of course the whole team played excellent to get to 9th but I have no doubt that our squad is weaker now... The club is richer .
Agreed - but I think Caicedo could be even better
Kneon Light
Well-known member
I think Caicedo is the one the big clubs will be trying to sign this time next year. Having him means midfield is not weaker than most of last season imo.
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Silverhatch
Well-known member
Yes. Reckon he’ll be Brighton’s first £100m transfer
We are weaker, surely. But it's part of the business model so I'm comfortable with that. Selling world class players we've discovered is like taking a step back in order to take the two steps forward that invariably come from excellent recruitment.
Anyone moaning should remember how far we've come in the ten Amex years by following this strategy. I honestly don't think we've reached our ceiling yet either.
Anyone moaning should remember how far we've come in the ten Amex years by following this strategy. I honestly don't think we've reached our ceiling yet either.
Moshe Gariani
Well-known member
- Mar 10, 2005
- 12,199
Obviously much weaker.
Evidence today. We beat Man Utd 4-0 last season.
Evidence today. We beat Man Utd 4-0 last season.
nicko31
Well-known member
Manure just weren't quite as bad after spending squillions on new players
But ........ but, but, but - they've lost Cavani, Matic, Mata, Lingard and Pogba, poor lambs. They did so well just to put out a team. To be fair, that Tierney bloke looked a pretty good bit of recruitment though.