Grand my arse, up the Whites! - Brighton (H) 15/3/14

[SmokinFrazier]

What was the point in bringing Ream into central defence in order to play Baptiste on the left? Ream has always been a good player but it annoys me the way managers just move him around and rarely allow him to have consistency. Ream has done well at left back and Knight has been playing well too, so the change makes no sense. It was just a poor decision, as it was to play Trotter instead of Danns.

Far too negative today. Yet again.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I'm trying to think of an analogy and the best I can come up with is my managerial debut.
I played, absolutely feckin shit hot at pool, aged 18.
The next year I was asked to be captain, and like a cretin, I said sure.
We came bottom of the league, and all because every time I made a change somebody would complain, so I made more changes to try and assuage the folks pissed off the week before. It's like Dougie's a teenager...

[Relentless09]

In general I thought Ream and Wheater did fine together and that Hutton/Baptiste showed decent attacking and defensive capabilities. I do however understand why people are upset at the decision to leave out Knight but how much difference did it make ?

[DJBlu]

In general I thought Ream and Wheater did fine together and that Hutton/Baptiste showed decent attacking and defensive capabilities. I do however understand why people are upset at the decision to leave out Knight but how much difference did it make ?

Who knows. Thats the infuriating thing we'll never know.

[Harry Genshaw]

Feck me - it's a sure sign of how far we've fallen if we're now getting upset when Knight's been left out.

[BWFC_Insane]

What was the point in bringing Ream into central defence in order to play Baptiste on the left? Ream has always been a good player but it annoys me the way managers just move him around and rarely allow him to have consistency. Ream has done well at left back and Knight has been playing well too, so the change makes no sense. It was just a poor decision, as it was to play Trotter instead of Danns.

Far too negative today. Yet again.

Ream isn't a left back. We played exactly the same way, the same system as we did at Leeds and against Blackburn.

We just missed Davies and didn't play as well. It happens.

[bobo the clown]

Poor performance ... it had an air of Coyle's Wigan match 3 years ago.

If anyone, fckg anyone can give me one sensible reason why the moron would pick Trotter in preference to Danns then let's hear it. It's not like it's the first time either. He did it from the time he took him. He only changed it because we played Millwall & it was, and is, clear that Danns is by by the more mobile, the more athletic, the more capable player.

Once that decision was made winning was a pipe dream. We all knew it in the stands ... how come that gormless nice person didn't ??

[Gravedigger]

Probably because he wants to keep them all match fit and keep us mid table this season and improve next season...it's all so bloody predictable. We'll never get promoted while there is no heart left in the club. It's like everyone has given up. Oh well, better get Missus GD to put the kettle on.

[TANGODANCER]

Watched my first game for a while. Not sure what, if anything our manager has taught anyone. Still far too much ariel ball (look at their approaches in comparison), too many sloppy passes. How many times did we get the ball and give it right back? We take far too long on build ups and ,frankly, we were well second best on the day. That's about it. I never had that win feel right from early on.

[Nicko58]

All I can think is that he felt Danns needed a rest as, when he does play, he generally covers every blade of grass.

Trouble was, he replaced him with Trotter who ran into the same areas as the Juke meaning that neither of them had much of an effect on the game.

[William the White]

We missed Davis. But preferring first Trotter to Dans, then Hall to Dans, when midfield dynamism was missing is, well, baffling.

But - we did not play badly. This is not like ten weeks ago. But Brighton defended very competently and our front two never really got going. Three stunningly good saves kept their clean sheet, incidentally.

I don't know if Rob Hall can play football - but there was little sign of it today. I don't know why Trotter at all.

This is a puzzlingly poor season, leaving many more questions than answer.

[bobo the clown]

All I can think is that he felt Danns needed a rest as, when he does play, he generally covers every blade of grass.

Trouble was, he replaced him with Trotter who ran into the same areas as the Juke meaning that neither of them had much of an effect on the game.

Which, for a professional footballer at this stage of a season I simply can't accept.

However, your theory could have held water if he hadn't done this from the time Trotter arrived at the club. Despite Danns being 3 times the player Trotter is he replaced him until he wasn't abled to, in the Millwall match. On his return we began our best football of the season. He then reverts to it and we return to playing like donkeys.

[SmokinFrazier]

What was the point in bringing Ream into central defence in order to play Baptiste on the left? Ream has always been a good player but it annoys me the way managers just move him around and rarely allow him to have consistency. Ream has done well at left back and Knight has been playing well too, so the change makes no sense. It was just a poor decision, as it was to play Trotter instead of Danns.

Far too negative today. Yet again.

Ream isn't a left back. We played exactly the same way, the same system as we did at Leeds and against Blackburn.

We just missed Davies and didn't play as well. It happens.

Ream isn't a left back, you're right, but neither is Baptiste. Why move him to left back, Ream to the centre and leave out Knight when you can go with something more proven? I'm a firm believer in partnerships in football and to mix up your back line seems strange because it'll almost always lead to confusion.

And yeah, we missed Davies but Trotter instead of Danns? Why? Danns is the much better player and suited to a four man midfield, particularly because if his ability going forward.

We're never going to win every game but poor decisions still need to be addressed.

[William the White]

What was the point in bringing Ream into central defence in order to play Baptiste on the left? Ream has always been a good player but it annoys me the way managers just move him around and rarely allow him to have consistency. Ream has done well at left back and Knight has been playing well too, so the change makes no sense. It was just a poor decision, as it was to play Trotter instead of Danns.

Far too negative today. Yet again.

Ream isn't a left back. We played exactly the same way, the same system as we did at Leeds and against Blackburn.

We just missed Davies and didn't play as well. It happens.

Ream isn't a left back, you're right, but neither is Baptiste. Why move him to left back, Ream to the centre and leave out Knight when you can go with something more proven? I'm a firm believer in partnerships in football and to mix up your back line seems strange because it'll almost always lead to confusion.

And yeah, we missed Davies but Trotter instead of Danns? Why? Danns is the much better player and suited to a four man midfield, particularly because if his ability going forward.

We're never going to win every game but poor decisions still need to be addressed.

Both Ream and Baptiste had decent games today. Do you disagree?

[bobo the clown]

We played exactly the same way, the same system as we did at Leeds and against Blackburn.

We just missed Davies and didn't play as well. It happens.

No ... we really didn't. He may have played Mason and the Juke but not in the same way. He held them back. They didn't operate as a pair at all.

Trotter got in the way, in the manner Danns doesn't and we lost both Danns AND Mavies' movement and guile.

Compare today with the Blackburn game. The midfield was everywhere, fluid and challenging for every loose ball in that match. Today they got in each others way.


Ream was good, again. He's a revelation tbh. Baptiste was good ... possibly as good as I've seen his this season. Hutton did nothing especially wrong. It was midfield where we lost it and, via that, the lack of supply to the forwards who seemed to play quite differently than recently.

[Worthy4England]

Trotter got in the way

That's all I've had him down as doing all the games I've seen him in. Just gets in the way and I have no clue where he's supposed to be playing or what he's supposed to be doing half the time. Waste of a shirt.

[Nicko58]

All I can think is that he felt Danns needed a rest as, when he does play, he generally covers every blade of grass.

Trouble was, he replaced him with Trotter who ran into the same areas as the Juke meaning that neither of them had much of an effect on the game.

Which, for a professional footballer at this stage of a season I simply can't accept.

However, your theory could have held water if he hadn't done this from the time Trotter arrived at the club. Despite Danns being 3 times the player Trotter is he replaced him until he wasn't abled to, in the Millwall match. On his return we began our best football of the season. He then reverts to it and we return to playing like donkeys.

Oh, I know.

Trying to second guess Dougie's team selection was a little foolish of me, I admit.

[bobo the clown]

... well, it's ambitious I'll give you that !!

[Worthy4England]

Can we get our "What we would be happy with" in so we can all feel ok at full time.

England win, Bolton win, France win, lottery win and a pair of blonde nymphomaniac twins please.


I think it's going to be a disappointing day.

So you wouldn't be watching the games then Worthy or do the nymphos arrive afterwards?

So Bolton and France let me down - said it was going to be disappointing.

[Annoyed Grunt]

^^ If that's your only disappointment........