Over the Rainbow, but Under the Radar

[Bozza]

Also, it wasn't all that long ago that Derby were trying to buy Dale Stephens for lots of money - they can't be THAT unimpressed with our team.

Indeed.

A comment I read on their forum was that not one of our players would get into their starting XI. I'll admit to not knowing much about some of their players, so I'm not entirely sure what their first choice XI would be, and there's clearly going to be bias from this side but is that really the case?

 

[edna krabappel]

This thing that keeps popping up saying we haven't beaten anyone in the top 6 is starting to annoy me. For a start, I seem to recall that when we beat Ipswich away followed by Hull at home, both those games were 1st v 2nd. There is a reason teams we have beaten are not in the top 6, and that reason is partly because we've beaten them.

Well quite. When you're at that stage of the season where so few games have been played, a single defeat can drop you miles down the table. Twenty games in, and you'll have a better idea of who the "top teams" are, as new players have bedded in and class starts to tell.

 

[Stat Brother]

Unless I'm completely missing the coverage I'm getting a little titsy about the lack of recognition about being the only undefeated team.

I'd say the Championship is the hardest division to be undefeated in, we're the only undefeated team in the country, and yet the silence is deafening.

 

[brightn'ove]

Indeed.

A comment I read on their forum was that not one of our players would get into their starting XI. I'll admit to not knowing much about some of their players, so I'm not entirely sure what their first choice XI would be, and there's clearly going to be bias from this side but is that really the case?

I go on about Kayal quite a bit, but fact is he would walk into ANY XI in the championship at the moment. The man is a machine.

 

[edna krabappel]

Indeed.

A comment I read on their forum was that not one of our players would get into their starting XI. I'll admit to not knowing much about some of their players, so I'm not entirely sure what their first choice XI would be, and there's clearly going to be bias from this side but is that really the case?

I'd have Stockdale over Lee Grant in goal any day of the week, and probably over Scott Carson too. You'd presumably have to pick Chris Martin up front given his record in recent years. Will Hughes in midfield when fit. Probably Tom Ince, even though he's only good in the Championship. Weimann on paper is PL quality, and Christie the full back is decent, I think. Richard Keogh at centre half is past it, we must have a better option amongst ours.

Stephens should get in on current form. Probably LuaLua before he got injured. Murphy might be good enough for a shout too. There are others.

 

[Mattywerewolf]

I go on about Kayal quite a bit, but fact is he would walk into ANY XI in the championship at the moment. The man is a machine.

Except ours on Saturday after a 5th yellow

 

[Foolg]

Indeed.

A comment I read on their forum was that not one of our players would get into their starting XI. I'll admit to not knowing much about some of their players, so I'm not entirely sure what their first choice XI would be, and there's clearly going to be bias from this side but is that really the case?

I'd imagine most of their fans would have said the same about Bournemouth last season. Apart from perhaps Matt Ritchie they probably would't have taken many of their players, seeing as they were mid-table the year before (Callum Wilson had 1 previous good season at Coventry, remember). The likes of Steve Cook, Elphick, Surman, Arter, Daniels were hardly that well regarded by other teams.

 

[jgmcdee]

This thing that keeps popping up saying we haven't beaten anyone in the top 6 is starting to annoy me. For a start, I seem to recall that when we beat Ipswich away followed by Hull at home, both those games were 1st v 2nd. There is a reason teams we have beaten are not in the top 6, and that reason is partly because we've beaten them.

Not really, unfortunately. The only team who we've played that would be in the top 6 if we'd lost instead is Cardiff. And Hull is there regardless.

Still not a terrible situation, but not quite the "they're only in the top 6 because we haven't played them yet" one that some people are projecting.

 

[KZNSeagull]

I'd imagine most of their fans would have said the same about Bournemouth last season. Apart from perhaps Matt Ritchie they probably would't have taken many of their players, seeing as they were mid-table the year before (Callum Wilson had 1 previous good season at Coventry, remember). The likes of Steve Cook, Elphick, Surman, Arter, Daniels were hardly that well regarded by other teams.

Agreed. It is not the individuals in the team that count, it is how they play together as a team. At the moment, we seem to be doing that bit rather well.

 

[The Fifth Column]

I'd have Stockdale over Lee Grant in goal any day of the week, and probably over Scott Carson too. You'd presumably have to pick Chris Martin up front given his record in recent years. Will Hughes in midfield when fit. Probably Tom Ince, even though he's only good in the Championship. Weimann on paper is PL quality, and Christie the full back is decent, I think. Richard Keogh at centre half is past it, we must have a better option amongst ours.

Stephens should get in on current form. Probably LuaLua before he got injured. Murphy might be good enough for a shout too. There are others.

Its interesting isnt it when other teams fans make comments about what players they would or wouldn't have in their own teams. Its quite simplistic because more often than not the success of a team is all about the sum of all its parts rather than one or two individual players. Bournemouth were a prime example of this last season as they had a decent starting 11 and did not suffer many injuries and something clearly just clicked for them in all departments oh and referee Hoops of course helped them out on several occasions!

I'm starting to get a sense of this with the Albion this season and it runs all the way through the club, there is stability, consistency and momentum throughout and it really can't be understated. We may not necessarily have the best players on paper but if everything else clicks and we all play our part I truly feel the whole thing takes on a life of its own and you just surf the crest of the wave and hope to stay on top of it. I think Hughton has a good understanding of this and is proving to be a good manager in every sense of the word. One last point is that there isnt any real pressure at our club to get promoted, unlike many other teams around us we have not been in the PL and so none of us think we have a god given right to be there, it all still feels fairly normal and relaxed around the Albion. Compare that to the expectation and pressure at the likes of Derby, Middlesboro etc.

 

[Simster]

Great thread, this.

I'd have Stockdale over Lee Grant in goal any day of the week, and probably over Scott Carson too. You'd presumably have to pick Chris Martin up front given his record in recent years. Will Hughes in midfield when fit. Probably Tom Ince, even though he's only good in the Championship. Weimann on paper is PL quality, and Christie the full back is decent, I think. Richard Keogh at centre half is past it, we must have a better option amongst ours.

Stephens should get in on current form. Probably LuaLua before he got injured. Murphy might be good enough for a shout too. There are others.

I'd agree with most of that. But put simply, this idea that our players wouldn't get into their team is an absolute crock:

We're top by miles
We're seven points and five places clear of Derby
No-one has beaten us
We have 2 or 3 players who would be in the PFA team of the year, never mind Derby, if it was selected now. Would anyone seriously argue against Kayal or KLL? And Stephens, Bruno, Bong and now Zamora have all seemed unplayable at times.

 

[Smirko]

http://dcfcfans.uk/topic/20536-when-will-brighton-lose/ some derby views...

 

[looney]

So far so good.

I get the feeling a couple of injuries and we will tumble but a couple of good signings and we will piss it.

The win by one goal argument would hold weight but there doesn't appear to be any side that can regularly stuff other teams and not consistently either.Thats why the goal diffeences are so close and also pointwise.

if 2nd 3rd and 4th were clocking up between plus 14 and 20 GD then I would be worried.The only thing that stands out so far is us.

So far so good.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

http://dcfcfans.uk/topic/20536-when-will-brighton-lose/ some derby views...

Some great posts on there and some gibberish. There aren't any "easy" games in this league and none of the other top 6 contenders they mention are setting the league aflame. I am not worried about the unbeaten run as its too easy to get hung up on that but I'm sure we can get a result against Derby, Reading or Sheffield fracking Wednesday.

Let's see where we are at Christmas. I have a feeling that we'll still be top. If so. We're going up.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

I think King Kayal and Stephens will both be close to being in the Championship team of the season.

Some Derby fool reckoned that Stephens wouldn't even get into their matchday midfield 4

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

This thing that keeps popping up saying we haven't beaten anyone in the top 6 is starting to annoy me. For a start, I seem to recall that when we beat Ipswich away followed by Hull at home, both those games were 1st v 2nd. There is a reason teams we have beaten are not in the top 6, and that reason is partly because we've beaten them.

Hull are 4th so this 'not beating anyone in the top 6' is foolish delusion anyway.

And we are 1st.... so we can't beat ourselves...

 

[Jim D]

...... I am not worried about the unbeaten run as its too easy to get hung up on that ........

I'm starting to think that it has a lot to do with our will to win (or not to lose) at the moment. The players seem very proud of it and none of them wants to be the one that loses it.

 

[dazzer6666]

Great thread, this.


I'd agree with most of that. But put simply, this idea that our players wouldn't get into their team is an absolute crock:

We're top by miles
We're seven points and five places clear of Derby
No-one has beaten us
We have 2 or 3 players who would be in the PFA team of the year, never mind Derby, if it was selected now. Would anyone seriously argue against Kayal or KLL? And Stephens, Bruno, Bong and now Zamora have all seemed unplayable at times.

You forgot statistically the best goalkeeper in the division........

 

[perseus]

I have extracted some stats for what they are worth:

Brighton & Hove Albion

SPG H & A

2015/16 16.2 (9.5)
2014/15 14.5 (8.4)
2013/14 13.5 (7.8)

Home

2015/16 17.0 (10.7)
2014/15 16.6 (10.2)
2013/14 16.1 ( 9.5)

Bournemouth last season

Total 16.7 ( 9.6)
Home 17.3 (10.2)

(zone: penalty area + goal area)

SPG against

2015/16
Reading 7.9 Brighton 10.2

2014/15

Norwich 9.4
Brighton & Reading 12.5 (6th) Wigan 11.8 (4th)


Flair or scoring goals through individual moments of skill separates us from the bunch of chasers through Lualua getting us 8 pts and Zamora 4 pts separates us from the challengers. We also lost goals of exceptional skill from Cairney (consolation) & Butterfield (cost us 2 pts). Solly March made a goal with individual skill for another 2 pts as well. And Baldock at Huddersfield was worth a point extra.

Lots of room for improvement (lots of incentive as well) as this season we have just one headed goal and one from a set piece, whereas last season Dunk beat the total for headers on his own. Our breakaways have been a bit better in the recent past as well.

Top six general play and lots of danger up front compared to the other clubs. Stats bear this out. We need the resilience in midfield to give the flair players a chance to shine.

Unless Lualua keeps up his scoring prowess we haven't got a Vardy/Ings/Calum Wilson of recent promoted clubs.

We haven't really looked like losing for any moments this season.

If we can go on a run of 12 games without defeats so could a few other clubs? But we have done it already!

 

[Surrey_Albion]

Bournemouth were in a false position that won't last until November....Christmas.....JAnuary. .and so on and so on, I was guilty of saying it myself