BFTG Brighton

[Ark Royal]

What a bitter bunch of schoolkids they are on NSC; and WTF does that banner mean on their web site: 'Were Loose'?????? Or are they just a bunch of apostrophe-cunts?

Anyway, great result against a team - or rather their fans - that I am beginning to loathe more than the Shits and the Jerkies.

[Ian Royal]

Just what the actual fukk is going on?!?!

3 away wins in a row, unbeaten in 7 including 5 wins out of the last 6. This is strange.

I thought were pretty damn good yesterday in the first half. There were a couple of moments of nervousness and miscommunication but for the most part we were comfortable and dominant. Some of our play was excellent and despite a much changed side the link up play was very good. The movement was so much more noticeable.

Then came the red card which I thought was harsh. Same as Barnsley I'd file under it under "seen them given" but felt a yellow would have sufficed especially considering their initial challenge. On the referee, I thought he was truly abysmal. So quick to blow up in favour of them and yet reluctant to do so for us. Indeed one of the biggest cheers of the night was when he brandished a yellow for one of their players cynically bringing us down when he could have and should have done so at least twice previously.

As for Brighton they largely untroubled us though with the amount of balls they were pumping into the box towards the end and with Murray on the pitch you always worried they'd knick it. I was mightly relieved to see Norwood on set piece duty as we all know first hand how utterly useless he is, tame shots free kicks, corners that hit the first man, or free kicks floated to the back post. Their best player on the night was Elvish Manu (no.19) and although Watson coped with him fairly well I was still fairly surprised yet happy to see him go off. How they gave MOM to Baldock over him (or the ref) I don't know.

We were fantastic and everyone put such a shift in. Poor old Mendes ran himself into the ground but he'd be the only negative for me. All he has is raw strength and running. He's not fit enough, not intelligent enough and his finishing is awful. It was frustrating at the end when the balls just kept coming back and he was walking but you could see how dead he was. He kept trying though and I'll applaud that.

Well done to the fans that travelled and I felt we really helped get the team over the line the last 5 or so minutes.
There really feels like a more togetherness this season and especially between the fans and the players.

Do you think Stam was right to keep Mendes on and take Samuel off for Gravenberch, or do you think, in hindsight, it might have been better the other way round?

Mendes obviously has more strength and physical presence, but I'd hope Samuel is fitter and my impression is he'd have offered more goal threat. No opinion either way here, just curious for your view.

[Franchise FC]

Do you think Stam was right to keep Mendes on and take Samuel off for Gravenberch, or do you think, in hindsight, it might have been better the other way round?

Mendes obviously has more strength and physical presence, but I'd hope Samuel is fitter and my impression is he'd have offered more goal threat. No opinion either way here, just curious for your view.

We won - Stam was right - end of.

All up for the Stampede !!

[CountryRoyal]

Do you think Stam was right to keep Mendes on and take Samuel off for Gravenberch, or do you think, in hindsight, it might have been better the other way round?

Mendes obviously has more strength and physical presence, but I'd hope Samuel is fitter and my impression is he'd have offered more goal threat. No opinion either way here, just curious for your view.

It's difficult to say. I was initially surprised when he took off Samuel instead under the same reasoning, but also worth considering Samuel hasn't had a full 90 in some time I don't think. That being said I was also surprised Samuel was playing on the left with Mendes up front through the middle as I thought the latter played on the left for a lot of last season.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and we will never know if Samuel would have had more stamina and could have been more effective in the latter stages. At one stage Mendes broke free, ran to the corner and about 20 feet away got tackled and lost the ball tamely.

You'd have to say given the final result it was probably the right decision and I suppose Stam sees more of Samuel's/Mendes' fitness to make that judgment. I think anyone bar Shane Long would have struggled up front yesterday but you could see how knackered he was.

So basically the short answer is... I don't know.

[Ian Royal]

Do you think Stam was right to keep Mendes on and take Samuel off for Gravenberch, or do you think, in hindsight, it might have been better the other way round?

Mendes obviously has more strength and physical presence, but I'd hope Samuel is fitter and my impression is he'd have offered more goal threat. No opinion either way here, just curious for your view.

It's difficult to say. I was initially surprised when he took off Samuel instead under the same reasoning, but also worth considering Samuel hasn't had a full 90 in some time I don't think. That being said I was also surprised Samuel was playing on the left with Mendes up front through the middle as I thought the latter played on the left for a lot of last season.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and we will never know if Samuel would have had more stamina and could have been more effective in the latter stages. At one stage Mendes broke free, ran to the corner and about 20 feet away got tackled and lost the ball tamely.

You'd have to say given the final result it was probably the right decision and I suppose Stam sees more of Samuel's/Mendes' fitness to make that judgment. I think anyone bar Shane Long would have struggled up front yesterday but you could see how knackered he was.

So basically the short answer is... I don't know.

Ta, I don't know isn't a bad answer.

[lewesroyal]

My first live game since the Arsenal Semi-Final.

Very impressed. Completely controlled everything iup until the sending off (which i thought was justified) and even then Brighton weren't in it until the second half.
I like the posession game, controlling the tempo, waiting for an opportunity to move it up the field. Players dropping deeper looking for the ball, wanting to be involved. It was great to watch and we looked threatening when we did release forwards too.
Swift was outstanding, setting the rhythm for the team throughout the first half along with Kelly who impressed me. Quinn was great through the second half, getting stuck in, putting his head/foot in where necassary. Anssi Jaakkola mad some smart stops too and looked comfortable enough with the ball at his feet too.
Watson had a tough time with Manu but coped in the most part. Would love to be able to make more games, but as this was on my way home from work it was an opportunity not to miss, especially as i blagged a lift to the ground with an Albion supporting colleague

[parky]

Had seats in hospitality so a decent beer and food for me. Thought we looked really good before the sending off and were really controlling the game excluding Quinn's moment of madness passing back to Jaakola (I miss the beard) without looking and giving the ball straight to Baldock.

At half time I expected them to come out flying and really put pressure on us to stop us playing. They didn't, the Brighton players really didn't look like they gave a shit. Then even after Swift's goal they didn't really cause us any pressure. Once they eventually found a way through they couldn't go through the gears quick enough to cause us problems and get an equaliser, although from where I was sat they had a fairly good shout for a penalty when Gravenberch went through the back of one of their players.

I nearly got kicked out hospitality after both my dad and I jumped up surrounded by Brighton to celebrate the second goal. Awkward with so few in the ground.

Stat of the game: Brighton's starting 11 had more appearances for Reading than the Reading squad combined.

[stealthpapes]

half of our own fans have bee saying much the same as them for most of the season tbf

That will be the season that's just started?

Didn't think it needed 'so far' at the end

Any season, ever, would probably work.

[Maneki Neko]

[Mr Optimist]

It sounds as though our future is bright with our youngsters coming through, emphasised by the under 23 result v Chelsea earlier in the week too.

As for the Fannies of Eastbourne, I think the penny is starting to drop that they may have a half decent starting eleven but their squad seriously lacks depth, and take a couple of first teamers out and they are bang average and wont be good enough to finish top six this season. Blew their best chance for years last season. It is also sad to see Sidders' Sussex retirement, was a great player in his prime.

[Top Flight]

What a bitter bunch of schoolkids they are on NSC; and WTF does that banner mean on their web site: 'Were Loose'?????? Or are they just a bunch of apostrophe-cunts?

Anyway, great result against a team - or rather their fans - that I am beginning to loathe more than the Shits and the Jerkies.

Brighton are not the only club from Brighton that act like utter pr*cks. Wealdstone FC have the same problems with Whitehawk fans. They make exactly the same complaints against them. Most of the Whitehawk fans are Brighton fans as well. Dual season ticket holders.

When Wealdstone went away to Whitehawk this season, they segregated the two set's of supporters to the dismay of the Stones fans.

[CountryRoyal]

Thanks for that TF.

Valuable information as ever.

[brighton_royal]

You want some?