Oh Please stop with the hyperbole. I asked a question, followed by a statement showing why I thought what you had said was unreasonable.
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[Albion] Reasons To Be Cheerful - Sort Of!
- Thread starter el punal
- Start date
ROSM
Well-known member
When we played wolves at home, Southampton at home, Ipswich at home, Leicester away, I thought we had pretty much a full squad available. Most of what we would now call our 1st choice 11 were in the squad with maybe 1 or 2 out or limited by injuries which is normal for all teams. Same goes for when we failed to have a shot against Brentford's reserve keeper at Xmas.
Yes we have had appalling injuries in the second part of the season but that doesn't so much explain these results.
As I've said elsewhere, this season has been a curate' s egg i.e. good in parts. But I've been very critical at not getting the best out of what was available - the last 2 games have been much much better for that. The previous 4 not so.
ROSM
Well-known member
I'm not sure it's unreasonable
It's pretty well known that the chairman aims for a cup semi final and Europa league as stretch targets. (Top 10 and quarter finals are targets)
That we haven't achieved either of the stretch means we haven't overall performed at best. On some occasions we have underperformed. On others we have over performed (beating 4 out of the traditional big 6 at home). Beating west ham, fulham and bournemouth at home is as expected. But in a season where so many of the big 6 have also underperformed it's a chance to meet those stretch goals missed.
I'm happy to engage with anybody who has different opinions. I only have a concerns when they start misrepresenting facts. Which I don't think I have done (and to be fair neither have you).
OK, this season won’t be quite as good as 22/23, our BEST EVER season in 124 years! But it’ll come close. And if you look back at 22/23, we still had a few downers (1-5 at home to Everton, 4-1 loss at Newcastle where we barely got over the halfway line). But the big thing about 22/23 was the relative lack of injuries, and an incredible midfield (Mac Allister, Caicedo and Gross played most matches).
Despite having a new, inexperienced manager, a bunch of young players new to the EPL, and horrendous injuries, we are not far off our points total from 22/23 (theoretically we could almost match it!)
Despite having a new, inexperienced manager, a bunch of young players new to the EPL, and horrendous injuries, we are not far off our points total from 22/23 (theoretically we could almost match it!)
- Jun 27, 2012
- 15,404
Not sure TB has ever said what our “stretch targets” are. (A regular top ten club, a cup run - being what I thought was the club goals widely known)
Or what failing to achieve them means for TB - is it “we haven’t performed at best” or “mediocrity”
This is very different to any of us hoping including TB , a few months ago , that we’d make the cup final or get the top 7. When ofc it looked possible that we might. And now being rightly frustrated that we haven’t. (Cos we lost or drew some games we arguably shouldn’t have done).
But the season verdict, and let’s wait three games, is judged against that longer term context I imagine. (Almost certainly a top 10 finish and a decent cup run)
- Nov 15, 2006
- 6,588
Such a shame there is so much discord amongst us fans on here when we really are still living halcyon days as Albion fans. Entrenched positions seem to be the order of the day. Me? I’m just plain fickle, especially immediately after games but standing back and looking at the big picture all is very rosey isn’t it?
Did I say, I loved NSC anyway though?
Did I say, I loved NSC anyway though?
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
It’s because people like to use stats instead of the game they have just watched. What the hell do injuries have to do with being 2-0 up against Wolves and committing so many players forward in injury time? Maybe we score if Weiffer doesn’t mess up the pass although he really should be going to the corner flag.
For clarity, do you think being content with our present standing is "accepting mediocrity" ?
Nobby Cybergoat
Well-known member
- Jul 19, 2021
- 9,862
I just think so much of the maddening inconsistency is due to the age profile of our team. Ayari is a good example. Goal and a terrific performance one week, unexplainable cock up the next week. He's learning on the job, you learn by your mistakes and in the PL, your mistakes cost you points.
Similarly players like Wieffer, that cock up was because of inexperience at this level of football. Verbruggen is very young for a first choice keeper in the PL.
The way I look at it, we play a team with 7 players younger than 24. We get all these benefits of youth. Energy, ambition, fearlessnes. Plus the lack of £200k per week salary demands and the potential to sell for a large fee. In return, we're going to have to put up with a lot of ups and downs as they learn their trade right in front of our eyes.
Similarly players like Wieffer, that cock up was because of inexperience at this level of football. Verbruggen is very young for a first choice keeper in the PL.
The way I look at it, we play a team with 7 players younger than 24. We get all these benefits of youth. Energy, ambition, fearlessnes. Plus the lack of £200k per week salary demands and the potential to sell for a large fee. In return, we're going to have to put up with a lot of ups and downs as they learn their trade right in front of our eyes.
Brian Munich
teH lulZ
- Jul 7, 2008
- 896
Honestly, if you fell into a pool full of tits you'd find something to moan about and end up sucking your thumb.
el punal
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #71
Unfortunately, several of our matches where points were dropped were caused by individual errors at crucial times (I know, stating the obvious!). Examples being Wolves at home, Leicester away, the penalty conceded against Newcastle. The critical times being in the closing minutes and therefore not having the chance to rectify the situation. It’s so frustrating but I temper that with reverse fortunes of the opposition doing similar and allowing us to take the points. Namely the home games against Fulham and West Ham.
As Gus used to say - “Thas fuba!”
Frankworthington
Well-known member
Mediocrity rules obviously
- Nov 15, 2006
- 6,588
Not good enough. Barber OUT
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
Individual errors true but why those tactics in the first place 2-0 up see the game out.Unfortunately, several of our matches where points were dropped were caused by individual errors at crucial times (I know, stating the obvious!). Examples being Wolves at home, Leicester away, the penalty conceded against Newcastle. The critical times being in the closing minutes and therefore not having the chance to rectify the situation. It’s so frustrating but I temper that with reverse fortunes of the opposition doing similar and allowing us to take the points. Namely the home games against Fulham and West Ham.
As Gus used to say - “Thas fuba!”
- Jun 27, 2012
- 15,404
Wonder what you think about the tactics, team selections and performances that steered us to 13 wins this season, only 9 defeats, and 52 points ? Any thoughts ?
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The time to judge Hurzeler is towards the end of NEXT season, IMO.
We'll surely be more fortunate with injuries next time round...?!
There is reason to believe we will see a number of players improve next season - we seem to be a really good club for players to develop at.
We'll surely be more fortunate with injuries next time round...?!
There is reason to believe we will see a number of players improve next season - we seem to be a really good club for players to develop at.
BadFish
Huge Member
- Oct 19, 2003
- 19,841
You mean give a young manager time to develop himself and the young players we have at the club?
Give a manager more than 2 transfer windows to get the players he needs so he can develop his style?
It's a bold idea but I'm not sure it will catch on (for some of our fan base anyway).
Home and Away
Well-known member
- Sep 18, 2018
- 713
Most clubs/countries in the world never win anything. We are one of those clubs. For us a win would be a place in Europe and something like League cup would be an absolutely amazing achievement.
Bournemouth lost at home to Ipswich
Fulham drew at home to both Ipswich and Southampton
This is NOT a Brighton specific thing, as much as you like to think it is, because it fits your agenda......
"That we haven't achieved either of the stretch means we haven't overall performed at best."
That's totally dependent on how you define what a stretch target actually is - if by not reaching it, we haven't performed at our best, then by definition we have to be at our best to attain a stretch target. Personally, I'm not sure that's how stretch targets work.....