[Albion] Brighton & Hove Albion vs Fulham *** Official Match Thread ***

[Sheebo]

Christ almighty why do you bother?

Thanks for restoring my faith in…..

My eyes.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Yep. You've got it.

(VAR could and should help by reviewing it - was he actually touched, for example, or was the point of contact anywhere near that face he is clutching)

More VAR, you say?

In fact, I agree with that. I like VAR, and am hoping that eventually the wankaz overseeing it will learn how to do it properly.

However a ref cannot let play go on when a player is acting as if injured. especially a head injury. The ref has an obligation to oversee health and safety on the pitch.

The issue is what type of injury. When their keeper went down with cramp - half way to the half way line, the ref should have let play go on. When our player went down with a head injury (possibly) he let play go on and they scored. That was complete madness, and makes a mockery of the seriousness of the game.

Still, I can't complain about the result, Better than last year's so those who are suggesting we are going backwards might perhaps give their heads a wobble, whoever they are.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

VAR

I assume this is a joke?

 

[jimhigham]

Just back.

Frustrating, Very frustrating. First half was fine. We weren’t playing scintillating stuff but we had a lead and were in total control. Igor was looking solid as a rock. Dunky imperious as always. Baleba pulling strings nicely and winning back possession on the rare occasion Fulham had it.

Second half we allowed our soft underbelly to be exposed again. They pushed higher, with more intensity and, crucially, they employed the dark arts to completely disrupt our flow. We began to look rattled. Baleba seemed to tire a little but I like him a lot. We woke up in the final quarter and could have come away with all three points if we’d had a lucky bobble or two in the box. Disappointing but not catastrophic I guess. At least we’ve extended the gap on United, West Ham and them this weekend if nothing else.

Refereeing? Abysmal. Bought every trick being sold.

 

[chickens]

What like we did last season against Fulham?

Exactly, we got done both times if my (poor) memory serves me correctly. 1 point > 0 points. It’s still progress.

 

[nwgull]

He should really have got to that...

Their goal? I’m not sure. Haven’t seen the replay properly, but it seemed to be an excellent strike. Maybe Sanchez in his prime form for us might have got a glove to it.

We do seem to be conceding more from outside or from the edge of the box that we used to though. Don’t know if the stats back this up or it’s my prejudice that notices it more. Steele’s XGa stats compared to actual goals aren’t great though.

 

[GT49er]

More VAR, you say?

In fact, I agree with that. I like VAR, and am hoping that eventually the wankaz overseeing it will learn how to do it properly.

However a ref cannot let play go on when a player is acting as if injured. especially a head injury. The ref has an obligation to oversee health and safety on the pitch.

The issue is what type of injury. When their keeper went down with cramp - half way to the half way line, the ref should have let play go on. When our player went down with a head injury (possibly) he let play go on and they scored. That was complete madness, and makes a mockery of the seriousness of the game.

Still, I can't complain about the result, Better than last year's so those who are suggesting we are going backwards might perhaps give their heads a wobble, whoever they are.

VAR doing its job properly ....... still, guess that's too much to ask. The suggestion made earlier, that video evidence should be examined and retrospective bans should be given is probably a better way forward. A player writhing about cluctching his face when the video clearly shows that such contact as there was was nowhere near his face? Retrospectve red card - job's a good 'un.
Likewise a clear dive that the referee missed and the incompetant match day VAR couldn't be bothered to stop watching babe station to look at.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

VAR doing its job properly ....... still, guess that's too much to ask. The suggestion made earlier, that video evidence should be examined and retrospective bans should be given is probably a better way forward. A player writhing about cluctching his face when the video clearly shows that such contact as there was was nowhere near his face? Retrospectve red card - job's a good 'un.
Likewise a clear dive that the referee missed and the incompetant match day VAR couldn't be bothered to stop watching babe station to look at.

Babe Station doesn't start broadcasting till 10 pm.

 

[Farehamseagull]

Goal aside I thought Ferguson was pretty awful today. Every ball bounced off him and he seemed to fall over rather easily. Pedro held the ball up more in his little cameo.
Baleba is looking good and is very strong, shooting a bit wayward but hopefully that will come

Ferguson has been poor pretty much all season, obviously Newcastle aside.

I keep banging on about it but he has played a ridiculous amount of high level/intensity football for club and country this year for an 18/19 year old and he really needs a break for both Brighton and Ireland. He shouldn’t be starting games for us IMO, especially ahead of our best forward Pedro.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

The answer is SO simple and has been for ages - physio is allowed on whilst the play continues. They'd jump back up like a jack in the box.

Done to death never will work.

Certainly for head injuries there should be an appointed doctor who attends the poor soul. He then is removed from the pitch (ALWAYS) for a proper assessment. A temporary sub can come on 1 minute after the restart. If VAR proves no contact the player is sent off for cheating.

 

[GT49er]

Babe Station doesn't start broadcasting till 10 pm.

You learn something new every day on NSC!

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

I agree that retrospective punishment should be the way ahead. Clubs will soon work out ways for physios th 'influence'mthe game when running on or off, and the refs are too weak to enforce rules like 30 seconds (or however long) off the field after treatment. Also, there's a danger that someone might actually be seriously injured and need immediate treatment, and no referee will want to be the one that prevents that.

One game retrospective suspension for the first offence, three match ban for the second - and three match ban plus a one point deduction for the third That should do it.

FA appointed doctor and physio. Not club ones allowed on the pitch. You want treatment by your own physio get off the pitch.

 

[GT49er]

FA appointed doctor and physio. Not club ones allowed on the pitch. You want treatment by your own physio get off the pitch.

I've seen worse suggestions.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Done to death never will work.

Certainly for head injuries there should be an appointed doctor who attends the poor soul. He then is removed from the pitch (ALWAYS) for a proper assessment. A temporary sub can come on 1 minute after the restart. If VAR proves no contact the player is sent off for cheating.

Yep. We have discussed this to death too. If a player claims they are so injured they need instant treatment they should be taken off the pitch for at least 10 minutes, or subbed, and not allowed to get up and play on (not even leave the pitch) as happened today. The referee was a disgrace. You can't cure a life-threatening injury with a wet sponge. The players are cheating.

 

[Surf's Up]

Fulham should have been down to 10 men, disappointing VAR didn't intervene even to get ref to review.
Steele is not an elite Premier league keeper, but nothing he did today cost us a goal and in fact he saved us at the end.
Gross and Mitoma need a rest, both poor by their own high standards today.
Veltman should always start when fit.
Buonanotte has bulked up, needs to play to improve and he will.

Agree with this - he was excellent when he came on v Ajax - there is a player there for sure but he needs to play.

 

[ozzygull]

just back from the game.

Pleased we did not lose, but Fulham are *ucking cheats, pretending to be injured every time we had momentum.

At least they only cheated their way to point this time. The referee was abysmal as well.

 

[drew]

I agree, they should leave the field, which they do now in some cases and should be increased.

You can not get refs to book players for going down.

I agree that ref's can't book a player for faking an injury but by making every player that causes a stop in play to go off the field then that would reduce the incentive to fake an injury.

 

[boik]

Watched the match and thought we were good at times, poor for about 15 minutes. Reading this thread makes it sound like we are crap all of the time at the moment. Then I remembered Giraffes tracker. Consulted it and decided to make a cuppa instead of reading this any more. We're doing fine at a difficult time.

 

[Surf's Up]

We were excellent first half - really played well. Fulham’s tactics then helped to disrupt our flow which is annoying and the ref played a huge part in it too by buying it. Did us no favours today. We are slightly off the high pace of last season due to losing players, rotation and injuries. It’s not quite as consistent and not quite clicking yet.

Loads of positives to take but 2 points dropped imo.

Excellent summary, I think the constant but necessary rotation is making it more difficult for the players as they're not used to playing together and it's noticeable that our passing and interplay, particularly in the final third, is slower and a bit more ponderous and predictable than last year

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

FA appointed doctor and physio. Not club ones allowed on the pitch. You want treatment by your own physio get off the pitch.

A player can still just say "my knee/head/neck/calf etc hurts"

Does not matter who is going on the pitch, maybe they could scan them on the pitch?