redoubtable seagull
Well-known member
- Oct 27, 2004
- 2,539
And how good Norwich have been since they appointed Alex Neil. I fancy Norwich for an automatic position whilst others will wobble as the season nears its end.
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Since Chris took over!
- Thread starter downham seagull
- Start date
And how good Norwich have been since they appointed Alex Neil. I fancy Norwich for an automatic position whilst others will wobble as the season nears its end.
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
Or striker.
Some do, good luck getting anyone to admit.
Easy 10
Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Hardly,
We've been muddling along ALL SEASON patching this squad up with loanee's because of the CALAMITOUS recruitment last summer, so regardless of the upturn since the New Year, to say this was ever a playoff-chasing squad is something of a stretch. And lets not forget one of the most frightening aspects - Hyypia walked, he wasn't pushed. How much longer would TB have stood by him ?
Bloom took his eye off the ball big time, and its been a god-awful season as a result. It happens though. Like anyone else, he's not infallible.
Nor did we have a fit Stephens, or Kayal. This "promotion chasing" squad has also under hughton conceded within ten minutes of scoring in one third of Hughton's games and is part of the reason these estimates of what the table would have been has us 11th place. Mid-table.
On December 30th (Hughton was announced December 31st), the table looked like this:
Take those games, goals, points away from todays table and you get:
Hampster Gull
New member
- Dec 22, 2010
- 13,462
This is very impressive, especially given my view of the squad.
Can I use this thread to say that I have enjoyed the last four games at the Amex more than any run of games since we started playing at the Amex
Been thinking the same. Which is strange as everyone keeps going on about how defensive we are
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
0-0 games away, & 6 clean sheets out of 10 shows we are defensive.
Very true, but most good managers start there work on teams from the back. Hes come in with the club in crisis and the aim was to avoid the drop.I can only judge him on this season so far, and im very impressed on how we have gone from one of the championships easiest away club to get points to sudenly being hard to beat. Were picking up wins at home and trying to not consede away from home.
hopefully next season with a pre season behind us , with players of ch choosing we will be a lot more adventurous. Although that remains to be seen.
sussex_guy2k2
Well-known member
- Jun 6, 2014
- 3,752
Arguably we're only defensive because we're relying on CMS to score our goals most of the time (especially since we lost Baldock) and our best right winger/midfielder at the moment is a right back who was our weakest link coming out of League One.
Nonsense.
Billy in Bristol
Well-known member
brightonrock
Dodgy Hamstrings
- Jan 1, 2008
- 2,482
Utter bobbins.
sussex_guy2k2
Well-known member
- Jun 6, 2014
- 3,752
Look, I love Calderon for his passion and commitment to the club but if anyone genuinely thinks him being on the right of our midfield isn't very representative of our drop off this season, as well as the massive imbalance in our squad, then they are using their heart rather than their head to analyse our side or they simply know nothing about football. It is one of the reasons why Bruno was brought in afterall, as we needed to improve that position.
As for the comment re CMS, I again stand by that. The reason we're defensive is because we stand a better chance of not conceding goals with the defence and keeper we have than we do of scoring them with CMS up front. Houghton is an intelligent football manager and he can see that building from the back is the best way to utilise our squad and still pick up enough points for survival.
As for the comment re CMS, I again stand by that. The reason we're defensive is because we stand a better chance of not conceding goals with the defence and keeper we have than we do of scoring them with CMS up front. Houghton is an intelligent football manager and he can see that building from the back is the best way to utilise our squad and still pick up enough points for survival.
brightonrock
Dodgy Hamstrings
- Jan 1, 2008
- 2,482
So your argument is that Calderon at right back was our 'weak link' in a dominant league 1 title winning side, and proof of that is that we're now weak on the right wing?
Our performances have been immeasurably better since he started playing RW. It's nothing to do with being a fan boy, and entirely to do with our form being turned around by his industry, and four managers picking him for over 200 appearances for the club.
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
I agree with the other comments on your comment. Rubbish and utter bobbins.
sussex_guy2k2
Well-known member
- Jun 6, 2014
- 3,752
My point is he was a weak link when we stepped up a division and that is one of the reasons we brought in a better full back than him. And you genuinely think our form has been turned around by his industry alone? Our form has turned around because we have an astute manager who has sured up our defence (which, incidentally, doesn't include Calderon) and who has built a team around a solid midfield two allowing him to free up by far our most creative player in Tex. Calderon's headless chicken role on the right has worked to some degree, I don't doubt that, but if you are honestly sitting here and telling me you want him on the right of our midfield next year (or ahead of Bruno at right back) then I'm delighted you aren't the manager of Brighton.
sussex_guy2k2
Well-known member
- Jun 6, 2014
- 3,752
You mean all of the other comments that have offered such insight and balanced views on the subject? Please, enlighten me as to why my comment was "utter bobbins" with at least some form of footballing theory or discussion rather than just offering a nonsensical throwaway comment.
Hotchilidog
Well-known member
- Jan 24, 2009
- 8,733
Spot on. The first job a fire-fighting manager has is to plug the leaks at the back, so at least you remain competitive in each match. Hughton has done this away from home very well, even if it has meant a couple of long trips for little reward. We've been able to build on this with improved home form which has seen us score multiple goals on numerous occasions. Of course we have a let a few in at home too but the games have actually been very entertaining, so I'll take that.