Albion the away end, will you? Brighton (A) 13/02/16

[Prufrock]

Bollocks man, absolute bollocks. Mavies has come looking to get it off him and is in space, it's not like he's already being closed down. If I'm Mark Davies and Vela punts that down the line to no one I'm rightly giving him a bollocking. He's trying to play. That Mavies cocks it up first doesn't retrospectively make it the wrong pass.

[thebish]

Bollocks man, absolute bollocks. Mavies has come looking to get it off him and is in space, it's not like he's already being closed down. If I'm Mark Davies and Vela punts that down the line to no one I'm rightly giving him a bollocking. He's trying to play. That Mavies cocks it up first retrospectively make it the wrong pass.

nope - that's it - BWFCi simply will never, ever forgive him. It was unforgivable.

[Worthy4England]

Bollocks man, absolute bollocks. Mavies has come looking to get it off him and is in space, it's not like he's already being closed down. If I'm Mark Davies and Vela punts that down the line to no one I'm rightly giving him a bollocking. He's trying to play. That Mavies cocks it up first doesn't retrospectively make it the wrong pass.

Quite...

[BWFC_Insane]

Vela is facing upfield, he can see that Davies is getting closed down. Davies isn't facing the direction of play. What is to be gained from Vela playing that ball? It is risky to do that at any time, and I see no benefit to that ball. For me it typifies why we are struggling. Passing balls into midfield when we shouldn't. Trying to play football when we're not really good enough.

Perhaps I'm harsh on Vela but it is incredibly frustrating to watch. Of course Davies was piss poor there and frankly I'd not have him in the side. But I still see that ball as dangerous and ultimately with no upside. It is a pointless pass. At best Davies would end up giving it back to Vela.

[jonnycooper]

Vela is facing upfield, he can see that Davies is getting closed down. Davies isn't facing the direction of play. What is to be gained from Vela playing that ball? It is risky to do that at any time, and I see no benefit to that ball. For me it typifies why we are struggling. Passing balls into midfield when we shouldn't. Trying to play football when we're not really good enough.

Perhaps I'm harsh on Vela but it is incredibly frustrating to watch. Of course Davies was piss poor there and frankly I'd not have him in the side. But I still see that ball as dangerous and ultimately with no upside. It is a pointless pass. At best Davies would end up giving it back to Vela.

Would anyone kindly post a link to the goals? Many thanks!

[Jugs]

I think you're being a bit harsh on Vela there, Insane. As soon as Vela releases it to Mavies - who is clearly asking for the ball - their number 7 is onto him like a rash. Mavies panics, can't see an option, and loses it. It's good pressing from Brighton but Mavies should have just hoofed it into the stands or something.

[StaffsTrotter]

I think you're being a bit harsh on Vela there, Insane. As soon as Vela releases it to Mavies - who is clearly asking for the ball - their number 7 is onto him like a rash. Mavies panics, can't see an option, and loses it. It's good pressing from Brighton but Mavies should have just hoofed it into the stands or something.

or do what is done dozens of times in a game and just lay it off back to vela - the mistake or crime (dependent on how high you want to hang em) was getting caught on the ball and vela not staying in position/ showing for the ball

[Dr Hotdog]

Pick The Bones out of That.

Third Goal. I'll say it again. Game Management. 2-2. Take a point. Keeper has ball in hand. He waits for the outfielders to settle into a vague formation of readiness and hoofs the feck* into their half. He doesn't roll it to the right back with everyone strolling about thinking their job is done for the time being.

[Prufrock]

Vela is facing upfield, he can see that Davies is getting closed down. Davies isn't facing the direction of play. What is to be gained from Vela playing that ball? It is risky to do that at any time, and I see no benefit to that ball. For me it typifies why we are struggling. Passing balls into midfield when we shouldn't. Trying to play football when we're not really good enough.

Perhaps I'm harsh on Vela but it is incredibly frustrating to watch. Of course Davies was piss poor there and frankly I'd not have him in the side. But I still see that ball as dangerous and ultimately with no upside. It is a pointless pass. At best Davies would end up giving it back to Vela.

The Brighton lad isn't even in the picture when Vela plays that. If you're only going to play it to someone when there isn't anyone within 30 fecking yards of them you're going to struggle to create much.

What's to be gained? Not aimlessly lumping it at fecking Heskey with no-one near him. Giving it to one of the few we have who can actually play football. Trying to score? Not panic-fannying and giving it away cheaply. Pick one.

You want him to chuck it up the line by the way, but there are nine of our lot holding hands in the middle, a group from which Mavies comes looking for it. There's no-one to chuck it up to.

I have some sympathy for criticism of Amos for not keeping hold until we were set, and of Vela for that run he makes (not sure what he's trying to do, it's not like he's Captain Lightening look for a quick 1-2. But seriously, you can't legislate for Mavies getting it, turning into trouble, getting away with it, then turning into trouble again. I like Mavies, still do, but that one's squarely at his feet (insert joke about him tripping over it).

Also, on their second goal, we were poor but that touch from their striker is absolute filth.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I started writing a match report, got about 800 words in, saved it to drafts, it didn't save, I'm not sure i can be arsed again.

In short, per player:

Amos 6. Should have been out quicker for the first goal. Came out quicker later and it worked. Couple of regulation-to-impressive saves.
Vela 6. I thought he was a bit more than OK, especially as we were pushing the full-backs on and he's a midfielder really. Far from being a main problem.
Dervite 3. I'm aware this may be confirmation bias but I expected him to f*ck up and he frequently obliged. Brighton targeted his channel and he's too leaden to do anything about it. He's not necessarily terrible at anything (like Ream for strength, Wheater for speed) but he's substandard at most things and good at nothing much.
Holding 8. Sure-footed, good on the ball, strong in the air, confident. Build the defence round him, assuming he stays. I hope so.
Derik 5. Missing for the second goal, as was Vela, but was generally OK as left-footed right-back because Knockaert was a left-footed right-winger and kept cutting inside, where he'd usually lose to a combination of Derik and Holding.
Spearing 7. Very good at tidying up, very hard-working, well-taken goal. Was at the centre (literally) of our attempts to pass and probe, although he'll never be a Busquets for changing the angle of attack from side to side. We look better with him in the side. Pity he couldn't get the clear opportunity to take the Makelele yellow when chasing Knockaert for the second goal.
Pratley 5. Busy bastard, as ever, and seemed key to geeing them up each time we went behind. Not his most effective day in the final third though.
Davies 5. Usually wants to get the ball, usually wants to link up with people, frequently on a different wavelength. Absolutely at fault for the match-winner. Marooned on the left after Clough's introduction. The cleverest passer we have but I'm not sure the management know how to play him and Clough in the same team.
Feeney 6. Another Wanderer to put in a typical performance - always working in defence and available in attack but not always productive. Was put up front for approximately two minutes. Had a chance he probably should have converted.
Wellington 6. Starting to get more end product. Attracts players towards him so he needs the option to lay it off. Disappointed to be "replaced" by Davies when Clough came on, and I can understand why.
Heskey 4. Got a deflected goal, for which we were thankful. Will give you his all, but this ran out after 55 minutes. Sadly Lennon kept him on, which allowed Brighton to play a high line, which strangled any space available to our creatives. At one point, he was stood forlornly in right midfield looking longingly at the tunnel while Lennon tried Feeney up top and left Woolery kicking his heels on the bench (until about ten to five).
Sub: Clough 4. Couldn't get into the game, for the aforementioned tactical reasons.

Lennon got the first big call right: Derik was the correct choice at left-back, rather than repositioning the impressive Holding. But the manager flunked the second big question, namely how to get Zach Clough into the team.

Clough thrives in the space afforded by defenders playing deep; to do that we need a fast forward. Heskey was dead on his feet and might as well have been replaced by Woolery after an hour; especially with Liam Ridgewell going off, a front line of Feeney, Woolery and Wellington would have terrified a Brighton team who very rarely win heavily and certainly didn't look 20 places better than us. It's to Lennon's credit that we came from behind twice; it's to his discredit that we weren't wiser at how to do it again.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I started writing a match report, got about 800 words in, saved it to drafts, it didn't save, I'm not sure i can be arsed again.

In short, per player:

Amos 6. Should have been out quicker for the first goal. Came out quicker later and it worked. Couple of regulation-to-impressive saves.
Vela 6. I thought he was a bit more than OK, especially as we were pushing the full-backs on and he's a midfielder really. Far from being a main problem.
Dervite 3. I'm aware this may be confirmation bias but I expected him to f*ck up and he frequently obliged. Brighton targeted his channel and he's too leaden to do anything about it. He's not necessarily terrible at anything (like Ream for strength, Wheater for speed) but he's substandard at most things and good at nothing much.
Holding 8. Sure-footed, good on the ball, strong in the air, confident. Build the defence round him, assuming he stays. I hope so.
Derik 5. Missing for the second goal, as was Vela, but was generally OK as left-footed right-back because Knockaert was a left-footed right-winger and kept cutting inside, where he'd usually lose to a combination of Derik and Holding.
Spearing 7. Very good at tidying up, very hard-working, well-taken goal. Was at the centre (literally) of our attempts to pass and probe, although he'll never be a Busquets for changing the angle of attack from side to side. We look better with him in the side. Pity he couldn't get the clear opportunity to take the Makelele yellow when chasing Knockaert for the second goal.
Pratley 5. Busy bastard, as ever, and seemed key to geeing them up each time we went behind. Not his most effective day in the final third though.
Davies 5. Usually wants to get the ball, usually wants to link up with people, frequently on a different wavelength. Absolutely at fault for the match-winner. Marooned on the left after Clough's introduction. The cleverest passer we have but I'm not sure the management know how to play him and Clough in the same team.
Feeney 6. Another Wanderer to put in a typical performance - always working in defence and available in attack but not always productive. Was put up front for approximately two minutes. Had a chance he probably should have converted.
Wellington 6. Starting to get more end product. Attracts players towards him so he needs the option to lay it off. Disappointed to be "replaced" by Davies when Clough came on, and I can understand why.
Heskey 4. Got a deflected goal, for which we were thankful. Will give you his all, but this ran out after 55 minutes. Sadly Lennon kept him on, which allowed Brighton to play a high line, which strangled any space available to our creatives. At one point, he was stood forlornly in right midfield looking longingly at the tunnel while Lennon tried Feeney up top and left Woolery kicking his heels on the bench (until about ten to five).
Sub: Clough 4. Couldn't get into the game, for the aforementioned tactical reasons.

Lennon got the first big call right: Derik was the correct choice at left-back, rather than repositioning the impressive Holding. But the manager flunked the second big question, namely how to get Zach Clough into the team.

Clough thrives in the space afforded by defenders playing deep; to do that we need a fast forward. Heskey was dead on his feet and might as well have been replaced by Woolery after an hour; especially with Liam Ridgewell going off, a front line of Feeney, Woolery and Wellington would have terrified a Brighton team who very rarely win heavily and certainly didn't look 20 places better than us. It's to Lennon's credit that we came from behind twice; it's to his discredit that we weren't wiser at how to do it again.

Cheers DSB. Pity your save is in hyperspace.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Cheers DSB. Pity your save is in hyperspace.

I'm hoping, perhaps rather inelegantly, that it'll still be on the iPad when I get home later.

[DJBlu]

Where the feck is Dervite going for their 3rd? Zero situational awareness.

The second was a take a yellow for the team moment. Spearing though was on the line as they scored having overtaken many Bolton player to get back to defend.

Vela had attack on the mind as there was enough space for the give and go. Mark Davies could have gone down the line with a bit of quick thinking however the fact remains he dawdled and gave it away in a crucial area.

feck knows what's wrong with him, maybe he's realising the gravy train is approaching the station and he has to get off. Another week of not speaking to the old man I suppose.

However it doesn't matter who did what though as we'd have probably conceded another way as we are like an anxious ticking time bomb.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

However it doesn't matter who did what though as we'd have probably conceded another way as we are like an anxious ticking time bomb.

I dunno, didn't feel like that to me, but obviously I have steely nerves!

[Hoboh]

Surely to God a trip on the bloke for the second goal was on the cards?
Never have scored from that run and cross in Italy!

[Worthy4England]

I think you're being a bit harsh on Vela there, Insane. As soon as Vela releases it to Mavies - who is clearly asking for the ball - their number 7 is onto him like a rash. Mavies panics, can't see an option, and loses it. It's good pressing from Brighton but Mavies should have just hoofed it into the stands or something.

or do what is done dozens of times in a game and just lay it off back to vela - the mistake or crime (dependent on how high you want to hang em) was getting caught on the ball and vela not staying in position/ showing for the ball

The problem is almost certainly Mavies' 1st touch. I ran it past Andy Gray and he came up with this...

[bobo the clown]

^^^ Un-for-giv-able

[Prufrock]

Where the feck is Dervite going for their 3rd? Zero situational awareness.

The second was a take a yellow for the team moment. Spearing though was on the line as they scored having overtaken many Bolton player to get back to defend.

Vela had attack on the mind as there was enough space for the give and go. Mark Davies could have gone down the line with a bit of quick thinking however the fact remains he dawdled and gave it away in a crucial area.

feck knows what's wrong with him, maybe he's realising the gravy train is approaching the station and he has to get off. Another week of not speaking to the old man I suppose.

However it doesn't matter who did what though as we'd have probably conceded another way as we are like an anxious ticking time bomb.

Good grief. He's trying to show for Mavies to get him out of the hole he's digging for himself.

Watched this interview of Brian Clough the other day, it's long but it's worth it. One thing he complains about even then is over analysis on TV. Everyone's a bloody Alan Hansen these days. I watched a match of the day the other week where the same pundit, in the same show, criticised one defender for not anticipating the ball going near post and letting the striker across him, and then another for going too soon and getting under the ball as it went back stick. It's fecking easy afterwards isn't it? So long as you ignore the fact that you're asking human beings to make quick decisions against other human beings who don't always do the same thing. If Dervite stays where he is and they nick it, get in behind and pull it back to score, he'd get c*nted off for not showing for it.

He did the right thing. Vela had pushed on, Mavies is in trouble, he's showing for a ball to be rolled in that he can nice person up the line.

[Enoch]

If Dervite won the EuroMillions and gave it all to help the aged he'd get c*nted off by some.

20/20 hindsight, it's a f*cking bore I tell ya.

[Prufrock]

Aye, thought to be fair he has been pretty fecking woeful recently! I think there's a player in there, but I'm not convinced we've got the time to find it (though with Wheater out we'd better hope we do). He's currently go to player of blame though, albeit not entirely without reason!