Post-match thoughts v Brighton

Written by kirsikka

New blood, new look? There was an air of hope that maybe things would look different with the new arrivals to give Gary O’Neil options and put pressure on the incumbents to up their game.

We didn’t concede from a set piece. We didn’t give away a penalty. We didn’t get a VAR decision. Meatloaf would have us believe that two out of three ain’t bad. I say he’s a loser that settles too easily.

As we’re here, let’s talk VAR and penalties for a sec. The defender completely wiping out Ouattara in the first half? Nothing. Really? Hmm. Then, in the second half, a cross is deflected away by the outstretched hand of a Brighton defender. Now, let’s be clear here. I’m not a fan of giving those as penalties but when we’ve had multiple (yes, multiple) pens given against us for that very offence this season then it seems utter bollox that we don’t get it for us. Not a clear and obvious error and the ref missed it? Go look at the penalty given against Lerma for Newcastle against us. VAR decreed it was clear and obvious then so it should be in this game. The fact that we still haven’t been awarded a penalty yet is bordering on scandalous. If an XPen stat existed, we’d be on an expected total of at least five but with zero still given. It’s starting to enter conspiracy theory territory.

Onto other matters. It was a classic away game. They had more of the ball, but we looked decent on the break (when we bothered to leave someone up… more on that later). There was a world of difference between this and some of the other defeats. After those, I thought ‘we could have won that game but never tried’ but after this, I think ‘we actually could have won that game’, in that we looked dangerous at times.

We didn’t create a mass of clear-cut chances, but there was enough attacking threat that we might have scored on another day. Also, we got bodies in the box. Instead of Moore standing isolated and surrounded by four defenders when the ball was out wide we often had three of four men in the danger zone waiting. That’s a huge and positive difference.

There was a clear gap in confidence of movement and play. In the first half, Brighton played one beautiful one-touch move to get a player into space that had opened up down our left flank. Then we had an opportunity to take advantage of a similar opening up the left flank a bit later but we played an unneeded interim ball that slowed it all down and meant the space was closed out. That’s the kind of thing we need to work on. Fair enough that maybe the understanding isn’t there yet with all the new players, but we need to get it in place, and soon. Training ground work to be done.

I think everyone probably winced at the thought of Billing in a deeper role but he was more than decent there today. I hope he can keep up those levels as we’re going to need him. Also, fair play to GON for calling it.

There was a lot to be positive about that performance, with movement and pace all over. I’m not ignoring those but I have to AGAIN shake my head and sigh at GON’s tactics in the final quarter of the match. Never mind that he needs time to learn, he isn’t learning and simply makes the same mistake again and again.

I know Brighton would push forward but there were multiple times that we had 11 men in our defensive third. All 11. Why? Apart from making them so relaxed they can push onto us and pin us back. We had the pace to burn across the front line but Mr I’ll Keep Us Defending Deep In Every Single Bloody Match Even When It Never Works pulled his trick again. I’m sick of him. Keeping a man pushed up gives them questions to answer at all times in case they lose the ball, yet he’s always so desperate to hold onto a draw. It failed again.

It’s harsh on a day when the performance was so much better than many we’ve seen of late but it’s a day when the point(s) was once again thrown away on the sideline. Yes, we saw more on the pitch. Yes, the attacking intent was, by an order of magnitude, better than it has been. In the hands of a decent manager, I think this squad could do alright. Does anybody have Foley’s mobile number?

—– Focus on the new guys —–

Traore: Ok, I already love this guy. Always showing for the ball, skilful and strong on it and also tries to get his foot in defensively. One performance is only one performance, but he looks very good already.

Semenyo – Pace, power and movement. A bit lacking with his actual ball skills, apart from in one breakaway, but lots of positives to take from the way he caused problems just from the positions he was taking up and the way he hassled defenders.

Outtarra – Outing two and lots to like again. A bit unlucky not to get a penalty when the Brighton player literally shoved him over in the area when he would have collected the ball on the byline. Sadly, he’ll soon learn that nothing short of GBH will get us a penalty this season.

Vina – Didn’t see enough of him to give a fair judgement at this point.

—– Positive performances (excluding the new players above) —–

Neto – One dodgy clearance which nearly cost us but apart from that was excellent. Very quick to intercept a through ball in the first half and tried to make his presence felt on corners. Very unlucky with the goal, his performance deserved a clean sheet.

Billing – Whisper it quietly but he looked good out there in the deeper role. His defensive work was excellent. He’s matured as a player since we last used him there, could it be he’s now ready for it? Let’s hope so given our paucity of options.

—– Room for improvement —–

Smith – Had a torrid time out there, and look embarrassingly out of his depth when he desperately lunged to try and push a player over in the area but, luckily for us, was so far away completely missed.

—– GON Watch —–
I’m sitting here writing this bit at half-time and it’s an interesting challenge for him. We’ve done well but the first 15-20 was much better than the latter period. The longer it went on the more Brighton controlled the game. Therefore, it was in his court to change the momentum.

In reference to the above para, he bottled it again. Chose not to try and push them back with tactical changes, instead continuing to soak up pressure and try and hit them on the break. That’s ok to a point, but when your team is instructed to get everybody behind the ball then you aren’t going to have too many breaks. Cost us once again.

So, were the improvements we saw down to GON or the new players? I didn’t see a lot when it came down to the wire to tell me GON has improved his tactical approach or understanding so I’m pointing at the players for a better show. GON can take credit for Billing, but not much else.

Please replace him this week. To borrow an Americanism, he must now be the losingest manager in PL history.

Your say…

AFCB_Liam wrote…

First half today we were decent. Traore looked good, with some promising breaks and good pressing from the front. Great chance for Lerma. Having said that they had 2 or 3 glorious chances and we were still opened up too easily.

2nd half we started on the back foot and stayed there. Just like in almost every other game under GON. We instantly looked poorer with Traore removed. Brighton didn’t have to do a huge amount as we just parked the bus and in that situation, a decent side is likely to break through eventually. It was oh-so predictable, we all called it at half-time. Once again a team playing nowhere near their best takes 3 points off us.

Positives were Neto, Traore and Semenyo. Senessi and Mepham did OK and handled quite a few corners.

Smith struggled a bit and JZ was a bit careless at times without showing that much-attacking intent.

GON is just not up to the task of keeping us up sadly, yet we’ve handed him £75m of new players. – To join the conversation, click here.