BFTG - Brighton

[Snowball]

Why should we think they would lose?

They're top for a reason and we shouldn't dismiss them lightly.

The whole point of the argument is they are top because they are solid
and hard to beat AND because they have played less top eight sides than
any of the other top eight sides

IOW I'm saying, IMO had they played six top-eight sides they would have
a fair few less points. I am happy to bet they will not be top, will not be
second, but they might be 5-6-7th at the end of the season.

Happy to bet that Derby and Boro will definitely finish above them.

I think so will Hull and us, and, I suspect, Burnley


IMO if they were that good, they'd have panned at least one lowly team by now

They scraped 1-0 against a poor Forest side, ditto against Blackburn, nicked it 2-3 at Ipswich, scraped a 2-1 home to Rotherham, only managed 2-2 against a woeful Bolton, 0-0 at home to bottom 3 Preston etc etc etc, scraped in against Bristol and Leeds

There is very little to suggest they are a special side and I believe they will eventually drift downwards, probably to 6th or 7th

[Snowball]

Compare Brighton's record to RFC


RFC started poorly but should have got something at Birmingham (top 6)

They threw away a 1-0 away win at Wednesday through an individual error

They lost at home 0-1 to Derby, probably because they were playing with 10 men.

They deservedly won away to top-6 Burnley

They deservedly won at home v high-flying Middlesboro

They drew with Brighton

They had a superb win away to Brentford, trounced Ipswich, won at Bristol in a canter

By the time we are all 23+ games in, I'll be shocked if Brighton are
top 3 and equally shocked if we aren't at least 5th

[Snowball]

But, in my judgement, I think Brighton are far higher than they'll finish
so I am "nailing my colours to the mast"

Similarly I believe we are a team who ought to finish higher than we are

Why? Because we started with a silly defeat and a silly draw, got it right
and then blew just one game (Fulham away)


At least I'm being clear-cut in my opinions and predictions. I really think Derby, Boro, Hull, Burnley, Reading are all better than Brighton and will finish above Brighton.

I am not convinced by Birmingham, unsure about Cardiff and Wednesday, think Fulham and Wolves might challenge top six

It's my opinion that Derby, Boro, Hull, Burnley, Reading will make up the top 5 at the season's end
and that the exact 1-2-3-4-5 will, more than anything, depend on the 6-pointers between these clubs

You read it here first.

[loyalroyal4life]

Brighton played really well, better than anticipated.

Blackman was a class above in terms of technical ability, just lacked at times with decision making. Thought Norwood's passing was pretty exceptional, can't say the same for Hector and his woeful touches.

Mcleary needs a few more games to come good, hard to knock him after one game back

[CountryRoyal]

It has to be said, and whilst you could make a case for all teams being the same, that all of the poorer results came before deadline day.

I think it's a fairly safe statement to say that if we don't get top 6 with this squad it will be a colossal under achievement. It's still far too early to say but I'd say the top 5 by the end of the season will consist of, in no particular order; Hull, Boro, Derby, Wednesday, Reading with any number of teams sneaking the last spot on the last day. I do have a feeling Hull will walk away with it, and so they should with a proven manager and the squad they have.

[JimmytheJim]

not sure if it's been posted yet, but was anyone else at the same game as jonathan low?

- http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/footb ... s-10365844

' Royals shaded the first half but Brighton came out the brighter in the second period.

They were well on top after Jamie Murphy’s goal and could have increased their advantage.'

???

[tmesis]

They were well on top after Jamie Murphy’s goal and could have increased their advantage.'

???

they were well on top for about 5-10 minutes, as we looked really shaky after conceding, but that's a rather strange summing up of a second half which had more "how did that not go in?" moments for us than a date with a girl with curiously big hands.

[tidus_mi2]

not sure if it's been posted yet, but was anyone else at the same game as jonathan low?

- http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/footb ... s-10365844

' Royals shaded the first half but Brighton came out the brighter in the second period.

They were well on top after Jamie Murphy’s goal and could have increased their advantage.'

???

It was a bit of a nothing game in the first half, Brighton came out strong in the second half and deserved the lead and almost caught us out in a similar sort of position shortly after but then we got in control, should have equalised and then did equalise, probably looked the more likely to win the game.

[Gunny Fishcake]

Not sure if anyone has posted this already, but Brighton have only played 1 out of the top 6 side in the division so far this season, whereas we've played 5 out of the top 6. So I think that Brighton's position is misleading and they won't be their much longer.

Personally I wasn't that impressed with Brighton yesterday, they looked solid but their defence panicked on several occasions with several mis-kicks. On another day I think we could have easily have beaten them though we seemed to always be looking to play an extra touch too many times in front of goal.

League table never lies

[Snowball]

League table never lies

When all the teams have played all the teams, maybe

[leon]

League table never lies

When all the teams have played all the teams, maybe

And we're talking about a one off game where we were better than them.

They looked solid but absolutely not spectacular. Nothing wrong with that often purely well organised teams get promoted but I didn't see anything special about them yesterday.

We created more than enough chances to win. They will come away from that happy not to have been beaten (actually they won't because they think they're the biggest team in the world)

[Sanguine]

I thought Brighton started very well - they were the paciest and most technically sound team we have played this season. But once we got used to that extra pace and their mobile midfield, I thought we adapted very well and were at least their equal for much of the game.

Easy to see why they are top and why they are unbeaten, they'll be thereabouts in May. Hopefully alongside us.

[melonhead]

I thought Brighton started very well - they were the paciest and most technically sound team we have played this season. But once we got used to that extra pace and their mobile midfield, I thought we adapted very well and were at least their equal for much of the game.

Easy to see why they are top and why they are unbeaten, they'll be thereabouts in May. Hopefully alongside us.

agree with the first bit, and sort of with the second.
they did really peg us back for 20 mins and we struggled to get a foot on the ball. but they didn't create all that much in terms of cast iron opportunities.
then we came into it, though we were very pedestrian and slow with our build up and tried to walk it into the net
second half we came out with a much better tempo, and looked good until the sucker punch goal.
impressed with the way we fought back and dominated the 2nd half. cant believe we missed some of those chances, but im happy enough with the draw, even if anyone deserved to win it, it was us.

blackman was brilliant, great to see mattie get a goal.

mcleary was a bit off the pace and struggled to beat a man.
hector was a bit shaky
taylor looks a better defensive option than obita, though offers less going forward

[Sanguine]

Agree on Blackman, he really is a different player this season - ball seemed glued to his foot for a couple of those mazy runs. He does have a habit though of hitting shots high, which looks great when it comes off (Rotherham), but he blazed over a couple of times too many. We saw the benefit of hitting a shot hard and low in his assist for Vydra.

And on Vydra, great to see him bag his first. I really like him, even if he hasn't been spectacular for us yet.

[Maguire]

they did really peg us back for 20 mins and we struggled to get a foot on the ball

I think it was probably more like 5 or 6 or maybe 7 minutes tbh. They defo domin8ed the opening but after that we were back at them.

McCleary was really disappointing, needs some confidence and match fitness as I rate him as a player. Hurtado didn't convince me he's a good alternative - neat and tidy but not ambitious getting forward. Can't help that he doesn't speak English.

Was going to end my post here but might as well say how good Blackman was again.

[handbags_harris]

Not reading all of this, but it seems nobody is mentioning the huge element of luck their goal had. Unfortunately the highlights online don't show it, but the ball infield from Bruno was misplaced quite poorly, with Kayal I think the recipient. Bruno is clearly attempting to play the ball to feet, and Taylor (I think) reacts to this in order to get close, but because the pass is misplaced Kayal sticks his leg out and just gets a toe-end knick on the ball which takes the ball away from Taylor and straight to another Brighton player. Taylor is then out of position, the ball is one-two'd into the path of Kayal who, let's be fair, takes full advantage of the good fortune offered him and puts a quite superb ball across for the otherwise totally ineffective (in an attacking sense) Jamie Murphy.

Apart from that, Brighton offered little going forward, had one chance from a set piece that was going just wide but close enough for al-Habsi to have to react) and that was it. Nick Blackman impressed once again, seemed to be a man on a mission. Even with two men on him and a packed defence showing him onto his right foot he managed to get at least 4 shots away and was unlucky not to score. Bit disappointed with Vydra who should have shot when clean through, quite why he decided to pass it is beyond me (and Blackman should have laid it right instead of left), McShane was somewhat unlucky not to score right at the death.

Clear to see why Brighton are where they are, they're an incredibly well organised unit and don't give much away but they don't have any outstanding qualities in attack. Teams that last the course of a season at the top have that outstanding quality (and I look at us in 2012 as exceptions rather than rules because we were mid-table until the end of January!). When all is said and done I'm a little frustrated having not won because again it's a game we should really have won based on the chances created. We've not had too many of those this season, Birmingham we should have gained something from and we deserved a point against Derby, but looking at things in the cold light of day it's not inconceivable for them to have walked away from Saturday with a defeat, and a heavy one at that. I think had we scored a second nobody can have walked away saying we didn't deserve it, but up until now Brighton have been getting away with drawing or late winners. All of their matches have been tight so far, and I'm interested to see how they carry this on because that kind of form or style of play doesn't tend to last a season.

As far as I'm concerned, a further two points dropped, which makes it seven in three games.

[ladida_gunner_graham]

they did really peg us back for 20 mins and we struggled to get a foot on the ball

I think it was probably more like 5 or 6 or maybe 7 minutes tbh. They defo domin8ed the opening but after that we were back at them.

McCleary was really disappointing, needs some confidence and match fitness as I rate him as a player. Hurtado didn't convince me he's a good alternative - neat and tidy but not ambitious getting forward. Can't help that he doesn't speak English.

Was going to end my post here but might as well say how good Blackman was again.

This is fair comment, but the first half performance felt rather half-hearted. If we'd have got at them with more conviction (as we did after they scored), I feel sure we'd have taken the points, although it didn't help that McCleary, Sa and Williams all under-performed. It's right to give a mention to Blackman but also Norwood had a great game - his ability to accurately switch play gives us the potential to stretch defensive minded opponents. Not an easy skill, otherwise Hector would be able to do it. Let's hope some of the others can raise their performances.

[genome]

SC said that the first period was about getting the Fulham game out of our systems, so I think we were understandably cagey, rather than half-hearted.

[Maguire]

they did really peg us back for 20 mins and we struggled to get a foot on the ball

I think it was probably more like 5 or 6 or maybe 7 minutes tbh. They defo domin8ed the opening but after that we were back at them.

McCleary was really disappointing, needs some confidence and match fitness as I rate him as a player. Hurtado didn't convince me he's a good alternative - neat and tidy but not ambitious getting forward. Can't help that he doesn't speak English.

Was going to end my post here but might as well say how good Blackman was again.

This is fair comment, but the first half performance felt rather half-hearted. If we'd have got at them with more conviction (as we did after they scored), I feel sure we'd have taken the points, although it didn't help that McCleary, Sa and Williams all under-performed. It's right to give a mention to Blackman but also Norwood had a great game - his ability to accurately switch play gives us the potential to stretch defensive minded opponents. Not an easy skill, otherwise Hector would be able to do it. Let's hope some of the others can raise their performances.

Yep okay, don't disagree with any of that.

Reading were by no means spectacular in the 1st half and didn't deserve to be leading but I think Brighton's good start expands in people's minds to be 20 mins long when in fact it was nowhere near that.

[Maguire]

Not reading all of this, but it seems nobody is mentioning the huge element of luck their goal had. Unfortunately the highlights online don't show it, but the ball infield from Bruno was misplaced quite poorly, with Kayal I think the recipient. Bruno is clearly attempting to play the ball to feet, and Taylor (I think) reacts to this in order to get close, but because the pass is misplaced Kayal sticks his leg out and just gets a toe-end knick on the ball which takes the ball away from Taylor and straight to another Brighton player. Taylor is then out of position, the ball is one-two'd into the path of Kayal who, let's be fair, takes full advantage of the good fortune offered him and puts a quite superb ball across for the otherwise totally ineffective (in an attacking sense) Jamie Murphy

I think it was Tomer Hemed who crossed for the goal, although I've not seen a replay yet.