[Albion] The waning power of Fortress Amex

Bozza · Apr 23, 2022

Yes, yes - I know a lot has been written about our woeful home form this season, but having looked back at our home record since we reached the top flight, there has been a steady decline in our points return at the Amex, season-on-season.

To halt that, we need to pick up at least six points from our remaining three home fixtures, Southampton, Manchester United and West Ham.

2017/18 - Won:7 Drawn: 8 Lost: 4 Points: 29
2018/19 - Won:6 Drawn: 5 Lost: 8 Points: 23
2019/20 - Won:5 Drawn: 7 Lost: 7 Points: 22
2020/21 - Won:4 Drawn: 9 Lost: 6 Points: 21
2021/22 - Won:3 Drawn: 6 Lost: 7 Points: 15

Curiously though, last season, which was our worst points return at home in our four completed Premier League seasons, is the only season where we didn't have a negative goal difference at home (F:22 A:22).

In some ways I fancy us to reach 21 points at home before the season is out, but then my mind wanders back to the numerous games we could easily have won at the Amex already, and 21 points could already be in the rear view mirror.

Stat Brother · Apr 23, 2022

Can GPott overtake Mr Hughton's home win record before the end of his extra season?

dejavuatbtn · Apr 23, 2022

Let’s jet off back to Withdean where our record must have been well impressive. Didn’t we beat City there? Oh yes, I remember, they didn’t like playing at a local park. Give these teams a decent pitch and warmly accommodate their fans - what do we expect in the premier league?

Bozza · Apr 23, 2022

Stat Brother said:
Can GPott overtake Mr Hughton's home win record before the end of his extra season?

That first season at home looks absolutely extraordinary now, doesn't it?

It was the 8th best home record in the league that season, beaten only by the usual six plus Everton.

It was almost the complete reverse of this season, of course, as we had the worst away record in the league that year. This season our away record is the sixth best.

Stat Brother · Apr 23, 2022

Bozza said:
That first season at home looks absolutely extraordinary now, doesn't it?

It was the 8th best home record in the league that season, beaten only by the usual six plus Everton.

It was almost the complete reverse of this season, of course, as we had the worst away record in the league that year. This season our away record is the sixth best.

The big question is:-

Which two halves will be put together?

Thunder Bolt · Apr 23, 2022

dejavuatbtn said:
Let’s jet off back to Withdean where our record must have been well impressive. Didn’t we beat City there? Oh yes, I remember, they didn’t like playing at a local park. Give these teams a decent pitch and warmly accommodate their fans - what do we expect in the premier league?

We've beaten City at the Amex.

Tom Hark Preston Park · Apr 23, 2022

Player motivation blows hot and cold. The MORIBUND Amex atmosphere doesn't really seem to do it for them all that often

Wozza · Apr 23, 2022

Didn't players meet at a hotel/go in by coach to break a poor home run last season? Or the season before?

Perhaps they need to do more of that?

Justice · Apr 23, 2022

Tom Hark said:
Player motivation blows hot and cold. The MORIBUND Amex atmosphere doesn't really seem to do it for them all that often

Disagree most games the effort is put in at the start unfortunately the performance doesn’t match and like most grounds in league football the atmosphere drops off. Hopefully with the new midfield two we can break quicker than walking football.

dazzer6666 · Apr 23, 2022

Chicken and egg situation of atmosphere helping performances and vice versa…….

Would no doubt be a bit livelier if we actually scored now and again, but the empty seats, numerous rules, position of away fans, competing NS sections and all the other stuff could be improved with a bit of thought. Think the club want the ‘nice’ customer experience though - the balance between that and having a more febrile atmosphere has got a bit out of kilter.

Very fine margins though - if we’d just beaten Leeds and Norwich (as we should have done easily) the stats would be unremarkable :shrug:

AmexRuislip · Apr 23, 2022

Aren't we a victim of our own success

We don't score, which gives the pundits fodder bollox to spout in their Andy Warhol moment.
Then we're all caught up in the moment, starting to ponder and worry, whether there's an issue ourselves.
All IMO of course

Guinness Boy · Apr 23, 2022

AmexRuislip said:
Aren't we a victim of our own success

To an extent.

Pundits spend so long fawning over our style of football that many teams now come to Brighton to defend, knowing that they can let us have the ball and pack the centre and we'll struggle to put goals away. The irony being that the nice football can't beat the block.

In the first PL season most teams would have seen us as relegation fodder and a side where getting three away points was possible. I don't remember many parking the bus and #TeamsLike Swansea and West Brom were blown away.

Stat Brother · Apr 24, 2022

.
If IF we score a goal against West Ham

and

If IF we open the 22/23 season with a home win.

That will still be a shorter period of time we've gone without seeing a goal at Fortress AMEX, than the waking nightmare we are currently being subjected too.

Stat Brother · Apr 24, 2022

dazzer6666 said:
Chicken and egg situation of atmosphere helping performances and vice versa…….

Would no doubt be a bit livelier if we actually scored now and again, but the empty seats, numerous rules, position of away fans, competing NS sections and all the other stuff could be improved with a bit of thought. Think the club want the ‘nice’ customer experience though - the balance between that and having a more febrile atmosphere has got a bit out of kilter.

Very fine margins though - if we’d just beaten Leeds and Norwich (as we should have done easily) the stats would be unremarkable

On ITV Hub they have The Big Match revisited Brighton v Liverpool 3-3 1981.
There for all to see.

It's the occasion all the rosy-specced posters eulogise over.
The Goldstone is rammed.
Not an inch to move.
Massive opposition.
A stand out result.

Every time we talk about how shite the atmosphere is now.
'They' tell us it wasn't like that in the old days.
I tell them they are talking bollox.
'They' won't have it.

Not once but twice the commentator makes reference as to how quiet we are in the stadium.
(I'm gonna assume the commentator was wrong as well)

We are a reactive crowd, not proactive.
We haven't had anything to react too, for 96 days.

Oh and chapeau to the fella who kept his white motorcycle helmet on, for the game!

Surf's Up · Apr 24, 2022

Tom Hark said:
Player motivation blows hot and cold. The MORIBUND Amex atmosphere doesn't really seem to do it for them all that often

And this hits the nail on the head. We are part of the problem and part of the solution.

trueblue · Apr 24, 2022

Bozza said:
That first season at home looks absolutely extraordinary now, doesn't it?

It was the 8th best home record in the league that season, beaten only by the usual six plus Everton.

It was almost the complete reverse of this season, of course, as we had the worst away record in the league that year. This season our away record is the sixth best.

I know it's not been the best at home this year but, on balance, I much prefer it to the seasons where we had little interest in even crossing the halfway line when playing away.

I think there's a distinction to be drawn too between the current team that always sets out to score goals but struggles in the final third, compared to one that wasn't that bothered about trying as long as we could average a point per match.

um bongo molongo · Apr 24, 2022

Under GP we’ve become a side who likes to play through the press. Which is great, unless the oppo don’t press us, at which point we struggle. You could argue that GP needs to evolve his style to break down sides at home, or that we need to buy him some better quality attackers to unlock packed defences. Probably a bit of both in truth. But think this is a bigger factor than atmosphere. Atmosphere is often s**** at the Etihad but doesn’t seem to do them much harm.

raymondo · Apr 24, 2022

Wozza said:
Didn't players meet at a hotel/go in by coach to break a poor home run last season? Or the season before?

Perhaps they need to do more of that?

This is key - they need a 4 hour coach trip round the M25, playing cards, listening to the DJs mixes, then arriving in dark glasses at the Amex, bread rolls thrown at the coach, totally believing they are away. Then we'll win.

Pavilionaire · Apr 24, 2022

In football the onus is always on the home team to attack. This suits us away because defence is our strength and when we do attack we have more space in behind.

However at home the onus is on us, we have a poor goalscoring records and this creates pressure. This is amplified in certain players, like Maupay, March and Connolly, Locadia, Ali J before them.

The only way to break this is to have attacking players who are brave and have a bit more pace. They will give the crowd something to cheer about, that will relax the players and all will be well.

crodonilson · Apr 24, 2022

Is it coincidence that the atmosphere amongst the home audience has got progressively worse during these years?

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[Albion] The waning power of Fortress Amex

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