[Albion] Exactly how long has this season been petering out for?

[pb21]

Definitely since losing to wolves in the FA Cup then Roma in a week.

 

[Exilegull]

The 3 straight 1-1 results against Wolves Fulham and Sheffield was very sure after seeing them that we would not go places this year

 

[Bozza]

Petering out? Harsh. We have injruies, we've played more matches than any season ever before and we are in 10th, we lost to the team on the top of the table yesterday. What actually is it that you want? Perfection every match?

This.

It's been one step forward then two steps back for much of this calendar year.

We started the year with a ridiculous injury list, but with hope that many players were close to returning and by the time we reached February we'd have every chance, Solly March aside, of being at full-strength.

Since then we've had injury after injury meaning we've always been playing a patched-up side made up of many players who are far from 100% as they are either just returning from injury, are knackered from the number of match minutes in their legs or dreadfully out of form but with little option but to play them again.

I don't doubt the side have given absolutely everything they have, match after match, but with the handicaps we've had, it's just not been enough on many occasions.

They deserve respect, not ridicule.

 

[chickens]

We’re going to struggle through until the end of the season. Annoyingly I think a lot of our players are going to get back to full match fitness about a week before the season ends, Pervis and Enciso both showed flashes of their previous form yesterday, which shows they’re on the way.

I think it’s massively disrespectful to our squad to accuse them of all being on the beach, they’re either learning what’s required at this level, or returning to fitness.

Similarly this hysteria over RDZs future has to stop. At the end of the season either RDZ and Tony will have a shared path forward or we’ll part ways, the club will be in good hands either way.

You’d think we’d just been thrashed by non-league opposition on a run of 20 without a win the way this board seems to have reacted to yesterday. Arsenal are quite good, you know? Title contenders and all.

 

[pb21]

Losing to Wolves and then bundled out of the EL in the space of 10 days or so.

This is it reallyt. At this point we were essentially safe from relegation, with league qualification for Europe very unlikely, morale would have dropped, numerous injuries etc. Not surprising really.

 

[Wozza]

We’re not done yet.

A lot of our squad are playing for their futures (at other clubs).

 

[Stat Brother]

We always seem to struggle in those games, but have made up for it by performing in the tougher games. We now seem to have lost that fight too.

That's what I'm getting at.
Away from the boardroom a feeling of 'what's the point' has seeped in.

Those saying Roma away are missing the point and might not understand the precise and very accurate thread title.

 

[GJN1]

Petering out? Harsh. We have injruies, we've played more matches than any season ever before and we are in 10th, we lost to the team on the top of the table yesterday. What actually is it that you want? Perfection every match?

No, just every game seems the same these days, with a pre-ordained performance and result.

 

[tedebear]

No, just every game seems the same these days, with a pre-ordained performance and result.

That makes no sense at all. Not sure what you've been watching.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Welbeck
If we had added Kudus & KDH things would have been a whole lot different.

In terms of the goals it's been.Welbeck x 2, Dunk and an OG in those 9 games I reference.

You might have a point re Kudos and KDH. Our run of low scoring games has coincided with Mitoma's injury. That said, there is still quality in wide positions. Buonanotte, Fati Adingra, Enciso, Pedro and Welbeck to name a few can play wide accepting that in most of those cases they are better in a 9 or 10. We've also got a lad whose good enough to play for Argentina but can't seem to get in a Brighton side.

This is where I get a bit frustrated with RDZ. Fati was trusted for about 15 minutes in the last 2 games, Barco barely got a minute against Liverpool. It doesn't feel great motivation to those players when he bemoans the absence of our best players time and again in press conferences. As the man says himself, he is supposed to be improving young players here. I don't see how that achieves it by basically saying what he has isn't good enough.

For all the talk about wingers, it's Ali Mac and Caceido that we really miss. There was oceans of space at times in midfield yesterday. Arsenal gave us none.We are too easy to play against.

 

[essbee1]

In terms of the goals it's been.Welbeck x 2, Dunk and an OG in those 9 games I reference.

You might have a point re Kudos and KDH. Our run of low scoring games has coincided with Mitoma's injury. That said, there is still quality in wide positions. Buonanotte, Fati Adingra, Enciso, Pedro and Welbeck to name a few can play wide accepting that in most of those cases they are better in a 9 or 10. We've also got a lad whose good enough to play for Argentina but can't seem to get in a Brighton side.

This is where I get a bit frustrated with RDZ. Fati was trusted for about 15 minutes in the last 2 games, Barco barely got a minute against Liverpool. It doesn't feel great motivation to those players when he bemoans the absence of our best players time and again in press conferences. As the man says himself, he is supposed to be improving young players here. I don't see how that achieves it by basically saying what he has isn't good enough.

For all the talk about wingers, it's Ali Mac and Caceido that we really miss. There was oceans of space at times in midfield yesterday. Arsenal gave us none.We are too easy to play against.

Agreed. When Barco came on against Wolves - he was bloody brilliant.

 

[oldboyroy]

Petered out? Wins against Burnley, Bournemouth, Villa, Newcastle, Chelsea and United will soon change our minds. I'll forgive a loss against City!

 

[oldboyroy]

Agreed. When Barco came on against Wolves - he was bloody brilliant.

And only had a few mins at Liverpool, had the ball a couple of times and lost it which for Roberto, perhaps wasn't good enough?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

This.

It's been one step forward then two steps back for much of this calendar year.

We started the year with a ridiculous injury list, but with hope that many players were close to returning and by the time we reached February we'd have every chance, Solly March aside, of being at full-strength.

Since then we've had injury after injury meaning we've always been playing a patched-up side made up of many players who are far from 100% as they are either just returning from injury, are knackered from the number of match minutes in their legs or dreadfully out of form but with little option but to play them again.

I don't doubt the side have given absolutely everything they have, match after match, but with the handicaps we've had, it's just not been enough on many occasions.

They deserve respect, not ridicule.

This.

(On an otherwise self-absorbed 'poor little me' thread.)

 

[METALMICKY]

Also agree. Mitoma makes a massive difference and we have to keep him. When he marauders down that wing drawing 2 or 3 players out to stop him, we have space to create those chances to put away!

Paradoxically that injury is what will keep him here for at least one more season I think. His potential suitors wont have seen quite enough of him to splash the cash yet. Similarly Pedro wont be going anywhere.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Maybe petering out results wise but I thought yesterday that some of our playing out from the back was sublime. We beat their press several times and transitioned quickly, only for it to go wrong in the final third but their defending as a team was exceptional. It certainly wasn't all doom and gloom.

 

[nwgull]

Petering out? Harsh. We have injruies, we've played more matches than any season ever before and we are in 10th, we lost to the team on the top of the table yesterday. What actually is it that you want? Perfection every match?

Point of order: We used to play 46 league games, as opposed 38 + the 8 additional Europa games, so not sure this is correct.

Higher intensity and loads of our squad being involved in the international breaks is probably a factor though.

 

[Justice]

In terms of the goals it's been.Welbeck x 2, Dunk and an OG in those 9 games I reference.

You might have a point re Kudos and KDH. Our run of low scoring games has coincided with Mitoma's injury. That said, there is still quality in wide positions. Buonanotte, Fati Adingra, Enciso, Pedro and Welbeck to name a few can play wide accepting that in most of those cases they are better in a 9 or 10. We've also got a lad whose good enough to play for Argentina but can't seem to get in a Brighton side.

This is where I get a bit frustrated with RDZ. Fati was trusted for about 15 minutes in the last 2 games, Barco barely got a minute against Liverpool. It doesn't feel great motivation to those players when he bemoans the absence of our best players time and again in press conferences. As the man says himself, he is supposed to be improving young players here. I don't see how that achieves it by basically saying what he has isn't good enough.

For all the talk about wingers, it's Ali Mac and Caceido that we really miss. There was oceans of space at times in midfield yesterday. Arsenal gave us none.We are too easy to play against.

People are saying Baleba has improved, has he really? He runs with no purpose yesterday Enciso was free to his left and Adingra to his right and the ball ended up high in the east stand. Give RDZ decent players and he will win games I think that’s all he has been saying.

 

[oldboyroy]

Paradoxically that injury is what will keep him here for at least one more season I think. His potential suitors wont have seen quite enough of him to splash the cash yet. Similarly Pedro wont be going anywhere.

Hopefully yes.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Also agree. Mitoma makes a massive difference and we have to keep him. When he marauders down that wing drawing 2 or 3 players out to stop him, we have space to create those chances to put away!

Player retention is becoming more and more of a challenge for the club. And the better the player we fail to retain, the harder it becomes to recruit a replacement of similar quality. All eyes on the Mitoma situation over the Summer...