[Albion] Pre Season Friendly vs West Brom @ Amex - Saturday 5th September, ***2pm***

[British Bulldog]

If you nodded off during the game, or turned off to do something else, well done, you missed no action, as we never looked like scoring.

I was thinking about this during the game, there seemed to be spells where the midfield started walking and inviting pressure? almost as if we were working on defensive drills?

 

[Frankworthington]

Agree with that wholeheartedly although we are still one or two short - but the midfield looked bereft of ideas until Gross came on and there’s only Propper to replace most of what we saw today. March better on the right doesn’t help any with Veltman and Lamptey returning. Bissouma at least - and Alzate if we play him centrally might get to grips with games.
How many times did Stevens give it he ball away? He’s a solid player but he will cost us goals again this season

Who is Stevens? New signing?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Missed Trossard badly today.

West Brom won't mind coming down this season after that.

They won't be playing against that team Training game. Move on.

Meanwhile, in an actual "competetive" game, England have selected one of their worst back fours in living memory.

 

[vagabond]

Agree with that wholeheartedly but the midfield looked bereft of ideas until Gross came on and there’s only Propper to replace most of what we saw today. March better on the right doesn’t help any with Veltman and Lamptey returning.
How many times did Stevens give it he ball away? He’s a solid player but he will cost us goals again this season

Agree, I’m assuming Dale won’t be first choice this year...I suspect he’ll be phased out.

You’re forgetting Alzate. He was forced to play a utility role today, but my opinion: he and Biss will becomes our goto CMs this season.

 

[GT49er]

Just need somebody to aim for in the box first

Not necessarily. Better to centre and have people running on to it rather than trying to get power on the header from a standing start. And there were plenty in a position to run on to the centre when Gross stopped and passed it back.

 

[Eric the meek]

I was thinking about this during the game, there seemed to be spells where the midfield started walking and inviting pressure? almost as if we were working on defensive drills?

Don't you come on here and pretend there was a hidden purpose behind our shitness. We were shit, period.

 

[ac gull]

Missing today were Ali J, Trossard, Veltman, Lamptey, Connolly, Molumby and assume injured Propper and long term one Izzy

We probably spent over £50m on above lot - though fair to say the two right backs were the best value

Maybe White can do a Virgo and play up front too

 

[Icy Gull]

I’m at much more pissed off that MyAlbionTV is not fit for purpose rather than the fact that we couldn’t beat WBA or even, apparently, look half useful in failing to score against them

Would have been nice to draw my own conclusions about the game rather than rely on you lot to update me

 

[amexer]

Assume Ali was on international duty

 

[peterward]

Lots of Macallister bed wetting. How many are ex Webster Wetters?

He had a bad game, but still needs more time. He wont start if he doesnt improve, but too soon to write him off. He's a good player, this league and tempo takes some getting used to.

 

[Mike Small]

Wow at people making such strong judgements on a weakened team.

No. We’re brilliant but we really need a striker and some pace if we want to be better. Only a friendly but it’s clear we struggle in the final third.

 

[Change at Barnham]

That was a very sobering performance.
I felt buoyant after last weeks display against Chelsea.

I'm trying to reassure myself at how much difference it will make to have Lamptey and Connolly buzzing about when they return and also having the reassurance of Veltman in defence.
However, today Stephens seemed to slow everything down almost as if we were protecting a 2-0 lead with only ten minutes remaining. Unfortunately he was like that throughout the game. And MacAllister seemed void of any confidence. There also seemed to be far too many sloppy passes that went astray in the second half.

There will be lots to analyse by people that know far more than any of us about tactics and setting up a pattern of play. But without a second striker and without more penetrative passing it will be another battling season rather than the expressive and exciting season I was hoping for.
I've fallen back down to earth with a bump.

Note to self: Be more realistic and don't get carried away.

Today's ratings from yet another armchair fan that has no footballing expertise:

Very Encouraging: Bissouma, Lallana
Encouraging: Dunk, March
Reasonable: Ryan, White, Webster, Alzate, Groß
Jury's out: Bernardo, Stephens, Maupay
Worrying: MacAllister.

 

[blue-shifted]

Lots of Macallister bed wetting. How many are ex Webster Wetters?

He had a bad game, but still needs more time. He wont start if he doesnt improve, but too soon to write him off. He's a good player, this league and tempo takes some getting used to.

But if he's behind the pace in that game we've got a problem with him.

Still very early days with him but the days when you had a season to settle in at a new club are gone. Improvement needed quick or he won't get near the team

 

[The Fits]

No. We’re brilliant but we really need a striker and some pace if we want to be better. Only a friendly but it’s clear we struggle in the final third.

Exactly. People aren't stupid. We understand it's a friendly, we realise certain players are on international duty, but it's still so blatantly obvious where our weaknesses are and where we need to improve.

 

[blue-shifted]

How many pass backs to Ryan did we do in that game? Jeez, we need to be braver in possession and we need to get it wide much quicker. Trying to play through the middle is just so easy for the oppo defence

 

[British Bulldog]

 

[British Bulldog]

Don't you come on here and pretend there was a hidden purpose behind our shitness. We were shit, period.

 

[Mike Small]

Lots of Macallister bed wetting. How many are ex Webster Wetters?

He had a bad game, but still needs more time. He wont start if he doesnt improve, but too soon to write him off. He's a good player, this league and tempo takes some getting used to.

The difference with Webster is that he had the attributes for his position to succeed (height, speed, tackling). McCalister doesn’t appear to have the speed, skill, power to succeed in his position in the PL in our team. If he had more pace around him that would help and I’d bet he look better in a stronger PL team but not sure he will be good enough for the starting 11. I haven’t wrote him off (believe it or not) and technically he’s good but don’t think he should be ahead of many others at the moment (Gross, Propper and even Ali J who has contributed more and is used to the tempo like you say).

 

[The Brighton Buzz]

My view in mind it was a friendly

Ryan - Not a lot to do
White - Looks class will get better
Dunk - Usual captains performance solid
Webster - Has matured and will get more confident this season
Alzate - Good first half but prefer to see him more central. Played a role today probably because of international’s missing.
March - A lot to like hopefully a break thru year for him but been saying this every year.
Bissouma - A class above. If he progresses this season then we will be lucky to hols on to him next season
Stephens - Too many mistakes that will be punished by the bigger sides. Gives the ball away too easily but is capable of a sublime pass.
Macalister - Poor can’t see him starting many games. May get better but can we afford to wait.
Lallana - Brings a touch of class to the midfield. A three of him Bissouma and Alzate will create plenty
Maupay - Poor by his standards put thru on occasions but too slow to react.
Gross - ok but needs to have pace around him if he is to be picked to start
Bernardo - There is a player in there but feel we may have seen the last of him

Yes it was a friendly but it is blatantly obvious that we need a Striker or we will again struggle due to lack of goals. Not too worried about a left back. I think we should plough that money into getting a quality striker. We look composed in most areas and we should give most teams around us a good test. Tough start to the season though.

 

[Wardy's twin]

Do bookings count towards the season's total?