[Albion] Thoughts on that missing killer instinct

[dwayne]

He touched the ball two times (one failed pass, one shot attempt on goal) so "a couple of times" is a bit exaggerated.

He is also pretty well-known throughout his career to be wasteful in front of goal. Dont know why he at the age of 30 and losing his main asset (pace) would suddenly turn into someone who "takes his chances".



Indeed. Midfield goal production is not what it should be considering the way Brighton play, a style that creates a lot of space and opportunities just outside the box.

Yer agreed wellbz is not the answer. I actually think he's been a waste of money. After having high hopes. He's done.

It would be great if andone looks half useful when he's back. I would be happy then to sell maupay and try and being in a couple more with the proceeds. I would also loan out zeqiri or Connolly.

Shake up needed next season in attack.

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[Charity Shield 1910]

I don't want to give up on Maupay, he is a good player but his finishing has just been shocking this season. I think they have to work on it in training, see if he can turn it around. If not then yes the club will have to bite the bullet, sell and look to buy. Same goes for Connolly.

 

[Dolph Ins]

Since Sanchez took over in goal and (seemingly) cured our defending problems we have been playing 2 games a week. That surely means most of the teams time would be spent recovering, dealing with niggles and light training. We are now into 1 game a week or less and the coaching team can turn their attention onto how to improve our attacking instead (maybe, perhaps).

 

[Uncle C]

I did think that too. As I said before, most fans will say their team is wasteful in front of goal and certain players can’t finish - its a classic football fan gripe with their team - it’s a narrative with many...

But its become a reputation with Brighton.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

My feelings are, in no particular order:

1) This is a long term project.
2) It’s a very young team, it’s the youngest starting line up in the EPL according to something I read today.
3) We have a young and new EPL manager
4) We are playing very well.
5) The progress in areas other than the finishing, albeit gradual, is clear and there to see.

All things considered I’m not overly worried and am sure the club will find the last piece of the jigsaw one way or another. We just need to be patient.

 

[Change at Barnham]

Our expected goals should certainly be an attractive reason for joining Brighton.

I'm sure Rhian Brewster must be laying in bed every night wondering 'what if?'

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Our goal difference is that of a mid table side, as is our goals conceded. If we had sneaked a goal in three of our many draws we would be mid table in the league, which at least where we should be. That’s THREE goals short of mid table - this on its own is not a disaster. Our current form is such that we are sneaking those wins instead of drawing them. Slowly, slowly catchy monkey.
I’m happy with the squad we have and the improvements it’s making.

Pretty much how I see things.

 

[Bodian]

What I find interesting is that everyone knows our main problem is not putting teams to the sword when we are well on top, but no pundit or fan has any idea of how to resolve that.

Get a new striker in! Well, yes but that is expensive and not a guaranteed solution.

Personally I just wonder whether it's a multitude of things. Maupay takes too many touches, Trossard tends to hit too many shots centrally from outside the box, Bissouma perhaps doesn't shoot enough, there isn't either enough variation or a clear plan from dangerously placed free kicks and so on.

I think we need competition for Maupay without breaking the bank, and another season with this settled squad and some of this will sort itself out next season.

I do think that when we dominate a game so much, the opponents edge of the penalty box gets so congested that clear cut chances are hard to some by. When we had March and Lamptey wide, we seemed to stretch things far more, something we won't see for a while

I also think that in Maupay, Welbeck, Connolly, Zeqiri and Andone (when fit) we have a good, if young, blend and should be able to fix it. I do believe that once we start, the strikers confidence will improve and they will relax. I'm not sure a £40-£50M gamble is the answer.

Agreed, Villa actually defended really well I thought. So many bodies in there and as you say Maups often with his back to goal and crowded out.

I think this is some of the problem. Lack of variation, congested penalty box, and back to the goal. I don't think it's just down to the strikers, far too often they receive the ball with defenders around them, or the final ball is placed just behind them - so they have to collect it with their back to the goal and turn. Last night in the space of about 30 seconds, we had two low crosses, both of which went slightly behind rather than in front of the front man - so by the time they have collected it and turned it's too late. We don't seem to be able to play it into space in front of the final attacker to get a shot away regularly enough.

 

[KeegansHairPiece]

I think this is some of the problem. Lack of variation, congested penalty box, and back to the goal. I don't think it's just down to the strikers, far too often they receive the ball with defenders around them, or the final ball is placed just behind them - so they have to collect it with their back to the goal and turn. Last night in the space of about 30 seconds, we had two low crosses, both of which went slightly behind rather than in front of the front man - so by the time they have collected it and turned it's too late. We don't seem to be able to play it into space in front of the final attacker to get a shot away regularly enough.

Trouble is, we’re playing that well that teams are sitting deep and packing their defence, exemplified by Fulham and Villa in recent home games. The catching teams on the break / putting the striker through / getting in behind is therefore difficult because they’re not coming out. Given Villa’s league position I thought they’d be more ambitious, but actually we didn’t really give them a chance to be. I see your point, but unless we encourage teams onto us in our own half, we are facing teams packing their defensive areas and don’t doubt Roy will do the same next week.

I think the Spurs / Liverpool wins came because they’re expected to be on the front foot against us, and we did find those spaces / chances you’ve described.

 

[Guinness Boy]

It's very nice to have a sense of loyalty to our players. The Matt Ryan and Chris Hughton debates were the same, but sometimes you need to be ruthless to succeed.

The club will know we need a better lead striker and you can be sure they are making enquiries behind the scenes to put that right.

We’re talking about a strike force where Maupay has been here one and a half seasons, an U23 player has been promoted and we have a new buy this season and another recalled from Belgium in January. These are not old players getting the CH vote of confidence. These ARE our new players.

You have to accept that if they’re not good enough now they either need to be given more time or the club and Potter have made recruitment errors.

Personally I like Maupay. His all round game is key to our performances. But his decision making is weak and I’m not sure that’s something you can work on


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[albionalex]

Ha, this literally makes zero sense.

It's very simple, what don't you understand?

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

We’ve only scored in the opening 20 minutes in 5 league matches this season. We won 4 and drew one of those matches. No losses.

Twice in the 3-0 win away at Newcastle.
One in the away win at Villa.
One in the 3-3 draw at home against Wolves.
One in the away win at Leeds.
One in the home win against Spurs.

So all of our wins this season have come when we’ve scored early.

Gary Neville says that when he played against Liverpool you knew you had a chance if you could survive the first 20 minutes without conceding because Liverpool always pummel you at the start.

So bearing that in mind and seeing how much more successful we are when we score early, should we be making a concerted attempt to be more direct in the first 20 minutes?
Maybe take a few more risks in attack early doors, knowing that it can make the difference between winning and losing?

 

[sydney]

We’re talking about a strike force where Maupay has been here one and a half seasons, an U23 player has been promoted and we have a new buy this season and another recalled from Belgium in January. These are not old players getting the CH vote of confidence. These ARE our new players.

You have to accept that if they’re not good enough now they either need to be given more time or the club and Potter have made recruitment errors.

Personally I like Maupay. His all round game is key to our performances. But his decision making is weak and I’m not sure that’s something you can work on


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see previous comments re being continually crowded due to ponderous build up and continuous backward play allowing opposition to flood penalty area with bodies thus robbing us of space and restricting us to bouncing balls off the defenders/woodwork/ goalkeeper from the top of the penalty area.

 

[DavePage]

Don’t beat yourselves up, they defended with their lives yesterday, throwing their bodies at everything and whatever got past them Martinez either brilliantly saved or luckily blocked.
We were not toothless.

One day, maybe soon we will score a bucketload.

 

[KeegansHairPiece]

see previous comments re being continually crowded due to ponderous build up and continuous backward play allowing opposition to flood penalty area with bodies thus robbing us of space and restricting us to bouncing balls off the defenders/woodwork/ goalkeeper from the top of the penalty area.

See post #109 for a counter argument why the above might not be the case.

Even when we did pass around our half to try to draw Villa out, they didn’t come. We actually got in behind / exploited space with fast attacks against Spurs and Liverpool because they did come out.

If a team is tactically sitting in, how do you draw them out? Perhaps by some of the play you’re describing.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Trouble is, we’re playing that well that teams are sitting deep and packing their defence, exemplified by Fulham and Villa in recent home games. The catching teams on the break / putting the striker through / getting in behind is therefore difficult because they’re not coming out. Given Villa’s league position I thought they’d be more ambitious, but actually we didn’t really give them a chance to be. I see your point, but unless we encourage teams onto us in our own half, we are facing teams packing their defensive areas and don’t doubt Roy will do the same next week.

I think the Spurs / Liverpool wins came because they’re expected to be on the front foot against us, and we did find those spaces / chances you’ve described.

Yep, we create more clear cut chances against the better sides, but of course those are also the sides that are better able to score against us. That's the conundrum, but a good one to have I guess. Part of me thinks that having two strikers against these teams would help us, one big one small. Would also mean we saw less of the ball in midfield and this might get more space to attack. But the other part of me enjoys the all-passing - no - scoring performance art project and is excited about what happens when we do find a consistent way of scoring against deep lying teams.

Someone else pondered last week where we be with Kane and Son in the side, and watching last night makes me think we'd be f*cking brilliant.

 

[b.w.2.]

In time. Might take new players, but I'd wager he can get closer with the current lot. Scoring is the hardest thing in football, so makes sense it takes the longest to get right.

The idea that he's FINALLY accepting he needs to work on strikers is absurd. He's a football manager. In the Premier league. He's not some fool who's stumbled into the managers office by mistake.

Okay show me where the improvement in our finishing is. Absurd!? The only absurd thing is our lack of progress in this area.


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[b.w.2.]

How has he not worked on it? He’s tried so many combinations from what he has available. He’s tactically tried different ways of going at games, whether no out and out strikers v Arsenal, to 2 up front, 3 up front, lone striker. Maupay, Connolly, Welbeck (when fit), Tau, Zequiri; all given game time, he had them all in the squad last night. I’m not sure what else he can do when we create 26 chances with 9 on target needing saving? Comes down to the individual quality of the players in the end when you’re in a game you completely dominate and create in.

He also insisted he is happy with our strikers: hmmm [emoji848]


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[KeegansHairPiece]

He also insisted he is happy with our strikers: hmmm [emoji848]

What’s he going to say, he’s not happy publicly? Yeah that’s going to help their already fragile confidence isn’t it.

 

[barmyarmy]

It is still a major worry for me. We just cannt convert our chances and i am hoping this wont cost us.