Unbelievable 4th

[CAPTAIN GREALISH]

When I think back over the season all I am reminded of are the numerous matches where we have ended up dominating play and yet somehow only drawn the game. Yet considering all these draws we are currently sitting 4th in the league in what may well be considered our greatest season for decades.

All things considered it could have been a little sweeter, Gus has done excellent to put us in a position where we will probably finish above Blackburn, Wolves, Blackpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Bolton, Leicester and Crystal Palace.

JUST LOOKED AT THE TABLE and unbelievable is the right word!!!were we have come in two years is amazing.what ever happens 4 the rest of the season we should b very very proad

 

[Gullflyinghigh]

what ever happens 4 the rest of the season we should b very very proad

Agree with you completely but you know that if we fall out of the playoffs/don't get promoted there'll be a fair few on here trying to convince everyone that the club/team/Gus have failed. Tiresome but inevitable.

 

[clippedgull]

Because of various things that have happened this season, it doesn't feel like it could be one of our greatest seasons;

- Murray leaving us for our arch rivals
- missing out on a star striker in the summer
- badly times injuries/suspensions
- poyet heavily linked with a move away
- the court case

All of the above have resulted in a lot of bad feeling and negativity on here and has taken away from the fact that we are incredibly hard to beat and very entertaining when we click in to our game.

This basically means we have slipped under the radar, not only to those looking in, but to our own fans too.

Murray left us last season!

 

[Wozza]

Murray left us last season!

Indeed. It's like nobody noticed him last season...

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Because of various things that have happened this season, it doesn't feel like it could be one of our greatest seasons;

- Murray leaving us for our arch rivals
- missing out on a star striker in the summer
- badly times injuries/suspensions
- poyet heavily linked with a move away
- the court case

All of the above have resulted in a lot of bad feeling and negativity on here and has taken away from the fact that we are incredibly hard to beat and very entertaining when we click in to our game.

This basically means we have slipped under the radar, not only to those looking in, but to our own fans too.

If these sort of things depress you so much I'd suggest following a football team might not be the type of thing you would want to do !

- Murray leaving us for our arch rivals - players leave all the time and it was last season
- missing out on a star striker in the summer - but got one in January
- badly times injuries/suspensions - happens every season
- poyet heavily linked with a move away - always going to happen while we're doing well
- the court case - really not sure what this has to do with anything, none of the players, even Dunk, are really regular first teamers now

 

[JBizzle]

Because of various things that have happened this season, it doesn't feel like it could be one of our greatest seasons;

- Murray leaving us for our arch rivals
- missing out on a star striker in the summer
- badly times injuries/suspensions
- poyet heavily linked with a move away
- the court case

All of the above have resulted in a lot of bad feeling and negativity on here and has taken away from the fact that we are incredibly hard to beat and very entertaining when we click in to our game.

This basically means we have slipped under the radar, not only to those looking in, but to our own fans too.

To be honest it's this statement that reflects most about some sections of Brighton fans i.e. This IS our best season in 20-odd years and people still pick a focus on the negatives!!

Whatever happens, although I'd be disappointed hugely to not finish in the top 6, we should be very pleased with this seasons work. I still think we've overachieved.

4th and Laughing.

 

[Weststander]

We've been bloody unlucky this season - so many dropped points due to freak occurrences

I would like to think we have been unlucky, but I truly believe that luck has evened itself out:

For all the bad luck,
We rode our luck in away wins against Cardiff and Watford, Hull home, draws away at Blackpool and Bristol C, when in many of those the opposition had a host of great chances after Albion defensive or team failings.

When we blew it, for example, Bolton at home it was our own fault, and Dunk handed 3 points to CP away.


Chuffed with this unexpected 4th position and nice to see the likes of Hull, Leicester and CP, who kept winning with all the luck on their side during the Autumn and Winter, have recently slipped up so many times. All evens out.

 

[Stat Brother]

We've been bloody unlucky this season - so many dropped points due to freak occurrences

I would like to think we have been unlucky, but I truly believe that luck has evened itself out:

For all the bad luck,
We rode our luck in away wins against Cardiff and Watford, Hull home, draws away at Blackpool and Bristol C, when in many of those the opposition had a host of great chances after Albion defensive or team failings.

When we blew it, for example, Bolton at home it was our own fault, and Dunk handed 3 points to CP away.


Chuffed with this unexpected 4th position and nice to see the likes of Hull, Leicester and CP, who kept winning with all the luck on their side during the Autumn and Winter, have recently slipped up so many times. All evens out.

I had a 'moment' this morning, probably a damn site later than everyone else.

Being the team that draws nearly half it's games, in a league where everyone can and do beat everybody else, is pretty impressive.
I definitely underplayed the value of points earned esp through Oct-Dec, the value of not losing seems to (just) outweigh the roller coaster the rest of the division are on.

I doubt it would hold up too many years, but this division this season seems a bit freaky, while we have 'swanned' our way to fourth.

 

[scousefan]

It's been a weird season and a weird league. Only the top 8 teams are safe from relegation and someone may get relegated with around 54 points! It's been incredibly tight and we are where we are because of our defensive record. Its no surprise that our defence is notably stronger than last year.

We should not be too pleased with ourselves. We won't score many points more than last year. However unlike last year we have dominated most games. The striker crisis in the last few games could have wrecked the season but we have done well. To get through the playoffs though we have to score and win games against quality opposition. Being optimistic - our firm against the better clubs has improved from last year.

It's still tight. I calculate that 72 points (6 more) would pretty much guarantee a top 6 finish, regardless of other results

 

[Bozza]

If the header from Crofts had gone under the bar instead of hitting it we'd only be 3 points off third.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Because of various things that have happened this season, it doesn't feel like it could be one of our greatest seasons;

- Murray leaving us for our arch rivals - LAST SEASON
- missing out on a star striker in the summer - WE HAVE A CRACKER NOW SO WELL WORTH HAVING PATIENCE
- badly times injuries/suspensions - CANNOT BE HELPED, OTHER THAN MR BARNES
- poyet heavily linked with a move away - ON HERE AND IN THE PAPERS. NOT IN THE CLUB THOUGH AS FAR AS WE KNOW
- the court case - EMBARRASSING FOR THE CLUB, SURE. HOPEFULLY RESOLVED SOON

All of the above have resulted in a lot of bad feeling and negativity on here and has taken away from the fact that we are incredibly hard to beat and very entertaining when we click in to our game.

This basically means we have slipped under the radar, not only to those looking in, but to our own fans too.

There may have been bad feeling and negativity from some on here, but the important thing is the feeling in the club amongst management and players. There has been NO evidence to suggest anything other then everything is fine and dandy (other than the court case).

 

[chucky1973]

If the header from Crofts had gone under the bar instead of hitting it we'd only be 3 points off third.

and the droped two points against Bolton (h) Forest (a) and Birmingham (a) we could have been challenging for 2nd!!

But then we got late goal last week so horses for courses....

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

I mean it's a MIRCALE isn't it?

Many orcale's of NSC informed us when we were 7 points behind Middlesborough that the playoff dreams were "OVER".

Gus has "****ed it up" as one observer so eloquently put. 7 points would be IMPOSSIBLE to overturn with ONLY 17 games remaining. IMPOSSIBLE.

and THEN Gus DARES to be wanted by another team. HOW DARE he. Clearly that shows a lack of commitment to his team. Again, eloquently, many decided he should "**** off" if he doesnt want to be here.

All this time he is SWANNING off around the country WHORING himself for the Chelsea job by DARING to be a pundit at a game. Disgraceful.

And THEN, THEN he decides to be on tv only 4 days before a CRUCIAL gamne against Palace. Somehow he managed to travel all the way back from West London in time for the fixture which we fluked 3-0 despite the manager being absent for a whole evening when he should have been (according the nsc) on his phone getting in a loan striker who was apparently just sitting at home waiting by his phone.

Miracle I tell ye. MIRACLE.

 

[The Large One]

Finishing in this position would represent our highest placing for 30 years.

 

[MattBackHome]

Said it before and I'll say it again - the Championship has SO MUCh going for it in terms of excitement, quality and sheer who-the-hell-would-have-predicted-THAT-result?ness that to not go up this season would be far from the end of the world.

4th? 4th is just RIDICULOUS. Even if it doesn't happen this year, or the next... We are really getting there aren't we?

 

[JOLovegrove]

Agree with you completely but you know that if we fall out of the playoffs/don't get promoted there'll be a fair few on here trying to convince everyone that the club/team/Gus have failed. Tiresome but inevitable.

I honestly think now, looking at the table and the position we are, if we don't get in the play offs, Gus himself will see it as a fail and I know finishing 7th would still show progress, but we are so close and throwing it away now would be absolutely gutting.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

If the header from Crofts had gone under the bar instead of hitting it we'd only be 3 points off third.

IF IF IF IF IF IF IF ... The simple fact is it didn't, and we're not!?

 

[Gullflyinghigh]

I honestly think now, looking at the table and the position we are, if we don't get in the play offs, Gus himself will see it as a fail and I know finishing 7th would still show progress, but we are so close and throwing it away now would be absolutely gutting.

I'd be concerned if he didn't see it that way considering the position we're currently in but in the broader context of the season we've done bloody well again, I just hope that wouldn't get ignored by the usual 'promotion or failure' posters.

 

[Triggaaar]

I mean it's a MIRCALE isn't it?

Many orcale's of NSC informed us when we were 7 points behind Middlesborough that the playoff dreams were "OVER".

Gus has "****ed it up" as one observer so eloquently put. 7 points would be IMPOSSIBLE to overturn with ONLY 17 games remaining. IMPOSSIBLE.

and THEN Gus DARES to be wanted by another team. HOW DARE he. Clearly that shows a lack of commitment to his team. Again, eloquently, many decided he should "**** off" if he doesnt want to be here.

All this time he is SWANNING off around the country WHORING himself for the Chelsea job by DARING to be a pundit at a game. Disgraceful.

And THEN, THEN he decides to be on tv only 4 days before a CRUCIAL gamne against Palace. Somehow he managed to travel all the way back from West London in time for the fixture which we fluked 3-0 despite the manager being absent for a whole evening when he should have been (according the nsc) on his phone getting in a loan striker who was apparently just sitting at home waiting by his phone.

Miracle I tell ye. MIRACLE.

Gus out!

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Said it before and I'll say it again - the Championship has SO MUCh going for it in terms of excitement, quality and sheer who-the-hell-would-have-predicted-THAT-result?ness that to not go up this season would be far from the end of the world.

4th? 4th is just RIDICULOUS. Even if it doesn't happen this year, or the next... We are really getting there aren't we?

Well said.

I think where we are in the league is total credit to Gus taking the unpredictability out of our matches where he can. Last night was a good example. We knew Peterborough would batter us at times, so the main thing is to not concede, don't throw the kitchen sink at them too soon as we could end up paying for it and being involved in a 3-4 goal match. That's not what he wants. Defend well, nick a goal, go home with 3 points. We very nearly did that.

I'm loving this season and I honestly wouldn't mind if we don't go up - It's such fun watching matches where two equally matched teams go up against each other and tactics play such a huge role.