blue-shifted
Banned
I'm calling the three promoted sides to go down next season
26 / 27 enough for safety.
Gap is growing
26 / 27 enough for safety.
Gap is growing
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[Albion] When we were safe
- Thread starter Bozza
- Start date
Tom Bombadil
Well-known member
I hadn't noticed how bad Burnley had finished the season. They are looking pretty vulnerable for next year without a squad overhaul, and with the constant gossip around Dyche.
I suppose it is natural for some supporters to look backwards and forwards rather than just keeping minds on the present, but I really don't get it.
For football and everything else, the past is gone and the future is uncertain.
Thankfully I think the management at the Albion is 'grounded' and focuses on what needs to be done in the present.
For football and everything else, the past is gone and the future is uncertain.
Thankfully I think the management at the Albion is 'grounded' and focuses on what needs to be done in the present.
I agree, although again -who can say; Burnley have been defying the odds for several years now, just like us!
Way beyond the 28th game, we had a small but vocal group on here, convinced we were going down as we were not good enough. It just looks fear driven nonsense now.
Newcastle's strong finish was W5, D3, L2
The 5 wins include Sheff Utd, Fulham and Burnley plus a home win v WHU and a shock away win at Leics
A full scale Fulham revivial would have required victories over Newcastle and Burnley, you soon get the picture, how difficult it would have been for us to get drawn into it, before we even look at goal difference.
If you go back to the 1970s, where pitches were bad and squads and substitutions were limited, you could see much bigger variations in form. Teams would rise and plummet dramatically, based on player availability. Modern football has smoothed this out considerably, despite all the Sky drama hype.
Newcastle's strong finish was W5, D3, L2
The 5 wins include Sheff Utd, Fulham and Burnley plus a home win v WHU and a shock away win at Leics
A full scale Fulham revivial would have required victories over Newcastle and Burnley, you soon get the picture, how difficult it would have been for us to get drawn into it, before we even look at goal difference.
If you go back to the 1970s, where pitches were bad and squads and substitutions were limited, you could see much bigger variations in form. Teams would rise and plummet dramatically, based on player availability. Modern football has smoothed this out considerably, despite all the Sky drama hype.
nickbrighton
Well-known member
- Feb 19, 2016
- 2,127
One thing that has puzzled me from the season we were promoted, and ever since is why there is a perception from the media in particular (and thus a lot of fans from other clubs who don't follow us on a regular basis) that we are always just a game away from certain relegation.
Whilst we don't exactly trouble the table much above 14th place, we also have only appeared once in the relegation zone after a full round of matches for about one week in 4 whole seasons , and that was in the first season after promotion and at the very start of the season.
I recall a Garth Crooks comment (last season I think) about how Brighton have "somehow clawed" their way out of the relegation zone when in reality we hadn't been in it for over 2 years.
This constant belittling of Brighton in turn feeds the #teamslikebrighton frenzy that follows whenever we get a good result against a top half team, even though this season in particular we always give a good account of ourselves.
I do think that this perception is starting to alter with the pundits now beginning to say we win because how good we are rather than how bad the opposition played. The MOTD comments after the city win were particularly notable for the lack of "City were dire" type comments and the "They played one at the back-against City!" and "City did what City do, but Brighton just did it better" examples of how this perception has maybe changed in some of their minds
It will be interesting next season if things revert to the former or if this growing acceptance that we actually belong in the division is a one season thing
Whilst we don't exactly trouble the table much above 14th place, we also have only appeared once in the relegation zone after a full round of matches for about one week in 4 whole seasons , and that was in the first season after promotion and at the very start of the season.
I recall a Garth Crooks comment (last season I think) about how Brighton have "somehow clawed" their way out of the relegation zone when in reality we hadn't been in it for over 2 years.
This constant belittling of Brighton in turn feeds the #teamslikebrighton frenzy that follows whenever we get a good result against a top half team, even though this season in particular we always give a good account of ourselves.
I do think that this perception is starting to alter with the pundits now beginning to say we win because how good we are rather than how bad the opposition played. The MOTD comments after the city win were particularly notable for the lack of "City were dire" type comments and the "They played one at the back-against City!" and "City did what City do, but Brighton just did it better" examples of how this perception has maybe changed in some of their minds
It will be interesting next season if things revert to the former or if this growing acceptance that we actually belong in the division is a one season thing
Cowfold Seagull
Fan of the 17 bus
I was just thinking that actually. The old adage of having to reach 40 points to be safe isn't necessarily true anymore.
banjo
GOSBTS
We were always too good to go down. 
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 31,262
People also made a great deal about our 'tough run-in' but we took 7 points from our last 5 matches.
reckon Norwich and Watford will be better than any of this seasons bottom 3 were.
We will need to progress this summer to survive
blue-shifted
Banned
Possibly. Norwich will be interesting. Plenty sniffing around Buendia. They might come into the season weaker than they went up. Watford I think will be the strongest of the promoted clubs.
Swansea or Brentford will have to strengthen a lot to have a chance.
Cowfold Seagull
Fan of the 17 bus
Norwich especially, still have the bulk of the squad that they went down with, they will be that much stronger for their experience in the Premier League.
albionalex
Well-known member
They won 12 games.
albionalex
Well-known member
Didn't we only win one game between August and December?
albionalbino
Well-known member
Very insightful. My point was that after 30 matches they were in 17th and 3 points above a relegation place.
Whenever I saw them play they looked Championship level and devoid of any quality.
The rise up the table seems to coincide with the return from injury of Saint Maximin and the form of Joe Willock.
An impressive end of season for them.
Mellor 3 Ward 4
Well-known member
albionalbino
Well-known member
- Jun 27, 2012
- 14,612
To be fair nobody else won a game in August either.
albionalex
Well-known member
I think the Willock goals were a major factor (Arsenal must be rubbing their hands at the fee they can ask for now) but ultimately they managed to win games, rather than draw them.
I have no doubt that we're a better side than them (even if we ignore our wins against them this year) but they found ways to win where we could only draw.