MATCHWATCH : Brighton & Hove Albion (a) sponsored by Tinsmiths everywhere

[Ian Royal]

Forget the play offs you get no where playing this crap

You're such a div.

[Sutekh]

Has Mutch actually touched the ball or done anything at all yet?

[Davezk]

Let's be honest. We're pretty boring to watch. We can pass it around our defence but the moment we enter the opposition half, there is hardly any movement and the players don't seem able to pass or control the ball and so our attacks break down.

Stam is stubborn to force the players to play his way despite a lack of ball control and movement. It's not like we have a team full of cultured spaniards.

Yes we're in the playoffs so something must be going right but I don't enjoy watching us play this sort of football. We don't look dangerous.

[Ian Royal]

Has Mutch actually touched the ball or done anything at all yet?

WhoScored claim he's had 21 touches.

Al-Habsi's had more touches than McCleary or Kermorgant.

[CountryRoyal]

So sloppy. Awful defending and giving the ball away far too cheaply.

[Kitsondinho]

Anyone seen our number 12?!

[FiNeRaIn]

I watch us when I can out here in the US and have to say i've been impressed with the results and the fact we are in the playoff mix but its baffling how. We seem to pass it around with absolutely no attacking threat. There is no intensity, no one to switch up the speed of our attacks and no one capable of producing something out of nothing. Sure, we are a work in progress but its not as if Stam is working with a bunch of lower league players with no track records. He has a lot of players who should be at least in a playoff spot. I've been around enough to know that changing a style takes time but im really not sure how well this style is going to suit us in the championship. It reminds me of a much lesser version of the Swansea side that went up under Rodgers, except we don't have near the technical attacking players to pull it off. I also really don't like the fact we can't alter what we do, when it doesn't work you don't keep doing the same thing over and over again, get a plan B of being more direct.

[Ian Royal]

The system isn't wrong, we're just not playing it quite right or well enough and are up against one of the best three teams in the division.

Despite looking like drying paint, we've still had two or three decent chances. We may look clueless and pedestrian, but we will still turn it on here and now. And against lesser teams much more often.

Clearly it's a work in progress and we're in no way prepared for going up. But then that's hardly surprising 8 months after being shit for four years.

[Davezk]

The tempo of our play is too slow. We need to do one-twos and have players who can accelerate away from others whilst also able to control the ball.

I'd sell Williams. I don't think he's intelligent enough to play in this way and doesn't offer enough movement off the ball.

[CountryRoyal]

Lol that was pretty dire. Making it far too easy for them with too many sloppy mistakes.

[genome]

What you can't see when we're playing it around the back, is a lack of movement off the ball.

We need some urgency from the top - there were a few moments when we had the ball in their half and the front two were just stood there. What are the defence meant to do if there are no options?

Still, we had a few opportunities to threaten.

[RichTea94]

I'm not too worried. We've unsurprisingly been out-qualitied- Brighton have 3 strikers who would be first choice for us, and I don't know if any of our players would get into their starting XI. Perhaps Moore or Al Habsi.

[Ian Royal]

The tempo of our play is too slow. We need to do one-twos and have players who can accelerate away from others whilst also able to control the ball.

I'd sell Williams. I don't think he's intelligent enough to play in this way and doesn't offer enough movement off the ball.

I was getting frustrated watching him stand stock still in the middle of our half. But being there on his own, he is tied down a bit. He can't put in a bursting run on or off the ball because it leaves a huge gaping hole for Brighton to attack if there's a turnover ball.

Blackett, Gunter, McCleary, Beerens and Mutch all trying to play up around Kermorgant and we've got absolutely nothing in the middle of the pitch.

[Sutekh]

Its the usual story. Slow, ponderous piddling about while either the forward players don't have the brains to move and make space or the defensive players aren't good enough (or too scared) to try and make a forward pass. And as we all know Stam won't change a thing system wise.

[Jackson Corner]

Al habsi should have done better

[10539.4 Miles Away]

Personally I think Williams is having a good game and I'm not normally a fan of his. It was Mutch's poor header that led to their goal, first time I've had a chance to watch him and I'm not massively impressed

Think we need a little more fight, we are crying out for a Steve Sidwell.

Kermorgant is a champion for his never say die attitude

[Ascotexgunner]

We are still in this, and had a couple of chances. It's not over. I think we can still do this.

[10539.4 Miles Away]

Al habsi should have done better

Agreed. Although he has made a couple of decent ones to sort of balance it out!

[bcubed]

Good touch from Baldock but piss poor from McShane. I am not one of those who have been clamouring for his return

[Oilroyal]

Am I the only one who thinks we're unlucky to be a goal down? We've looked class against a team who have been top 2 top 1 for best part of the season. Close game at the Amex.