18 Sep 2024 21:53:07
2nd half report
Much better but please don't let the score mask the fact that we were v poor going forwards and defensively, especially in the first half, a disaster.
2nd half we had chances and lot of positions that should have led to chances but a lack of composure, poor decision making and/or poor touches meant that many of them did not lead to chances and we butchered those that did.
A wasted opportunity to get a confidence boosting win.
Sadly what it also shows is that there is v little depth outside the first 11.
Given how Doherty is regarded it must be a worry that he was one of our best players
Equally worrying is that Hwang was probably our worst.

1.) 19 Sep 2024
18 Sep 2024 23:23:42
None of this comes as a surprise TFIOG. I didn't see the game but I'm guessing we lacked someone driving our attack forward with skill and pace and someone with good footballing skills stabilising our defensive line.

Yes, this was the toughest possible draw for a team in our position right now being the only pairing of two Premier League teams in the round, I believe. However, still a good opportunity to break the losing habit, nevertheless.

From reading the comments over the last few games the team seems to lack fitness, motivation, organisation and the ability to find a way to win. Relegation form no doubt so unless GON gets the nose up soon he will be GONE before Xmas. Even though I don't think its necessarily his fault, other than trying to play 4 at the back without the right personnel.

For me accept that, return to a 3/5 system, at least until those personnel are found and start Guedes more instead of Hwang.

2.) 19 Sep 2024
19 Sep 2024 06:32:08
The trouble is Long, the more the losing streak continues, the lower the squad morale deteriorates and it is ever downward spiral.

3.) 19 Sep 2024
19 Sep 2024 06:44:56
The scoreline flattered us. Second half better yes but still very disjointed. Agree regarding Hwang. Forgot he was playing. Positives were RG, Guedes and Doyle. Looking at both teams though we're light years behind Brighton.

4.) 19 Sep 2024
19 Sep 2024 07:21:12
It seemed a motivational problem to me. As you say Tfig sarabia didn't want to be out there, petulant in kicking the ball away earns him a needless yellow. Hwang, where was he? They seemed to have little idea as to move collectively. Ok Lima, r gomes, pond (who I thought performed very well on his debut) were the obviously nervous, but others were just playing individually.
The second half we were energised, closing down and instead of the tedious playing out from the back we were getting the ball over and out to the wing, sadly we didn't get the players in the box or the the ball in was not good enough.
Lima had learnt his lesson and was much improved, doyle had become the dynamo we needed. Yes we should have equalised before they struck the killer 3rd and maybe have snatched a win but I'm afraid it did show up our frailties and its hitting home how difficult the season will be.
It's a conundrum in some ways, we have a lot of very good players, we have a decent manager, it's getting everything to gel. Forbes showed something in his short spell on the pitch and must be a starter for us.
Pressure on for vile now, but we need a victory soon.

5.) 19 Sep 2024
19 Sep 2024 09:34:23
Guedes has to play against Villa, and how about giving Doyle the captain's armband, he has more drive in him than the rest put together. Get shot of Sa and Hwang they are an embarrassment.

6.) 19 Sep 2024
19 Sep 2024 09:51:44
AbbeyWolf, this was one of my arguments if that's the right term for selling or allowing players to leave if they get their heads turned by the bigger clubs. I think Hwang, Sa and Sarabia fall into that category. There were some positives out there last night, not least Guedes who appears to be making an effort. A good run in the team and his sharpness will improve. You can't play with 8 v 11 though and expect anything other than what we got.

I'd be surprised if either of the 3 mentioned above make the subs bench on Saturday. GON really needs to get a grip of this because there were players out there not putting in the effort, hiding and it will affect the moral of the squad. I think now once we concede, I can't see a way back for us. At least RG, Forbes, Lima, Doyle have put themselves forward to be in Saturday's squad.

7.) 19 Sep 2024
19 Sep 2024 10:29:02
Long you do need to split the halves either because GON sorted out some of the problems or sadly more likely Brighton took their foot off the pedal.
In the first half we had no outball as Sarabia was absent and Hwang sadly has reverted to pre purple run Hwang and is just out of his depth. Consequently we struggled to get out of our half and other than Guedes had no threat whatsoever going forwards.

Defensively we tried hard with lots of running about - but no discipline or organisation. Given we were playing 11 v 9 (Sarabia and Hwang were non events) they had lots of space and cut through us at will scoring 2 and having 1 disallowed (stupidly as the shot was probably going in before the offside player touched it).
We needed to keep shape and the ball but worryingly did neither - players diving in or over pressing - like watching 9 year olds at the park the ball had 3 or 4 players chasing it like a comet with a trail of gold shirts behind it.

The commentators were effectively laughing at how bad we were!
I am certainly starting to worry what GON does in training?
Second half it improved but despite having lots of the ball and Brighton seemingly playing as badly as we did in the first half for 30 mins or so we failed to score.
We in fact found numerous ways not to score when it really was easier to do so.

The lack of composure was dreadful and the player's touch was often very poor.
For me the biggest crime though was the continual "passing" to Steele when put through and had options. Doherty for the goal had the courage to hold the ball and pick a pass, everyone else just blindly hit it first time straight to Steele with no thought!

The lack of quality is not GON's fault, the lack of organisation and the basic errors are. I don't beleive Doyle for example didn't know that his position was horrendously wrong when Newcastle scored their second. So why was he, (and Gomes J for that matter), standing still in what was clearly the wrong place as Barnes scores!

8.) 19 Sep 2024
19 Sep 2024 11:16:20
Firstly I'm not going to jump on the 'GON is a bad manager; bandwagon- not that long ago Nuno led us to successive 7th place finishes yet still there were 'fans' who criticised. What I will say though is there's a stubbornness on display here where he's determined to make this back 4 format work- if it works fine but if it continues like this he'll lose his job and his reputation.

Comments like 'we were the better side' from last night don't help and can surely only be made to try and keep confidence up, though as other have said with every defeat that becomes harder. A better second half display (albeit without the necessary finishing) doesn't cover up for the obvious problems and we need to turn things around soon.

9.) 19 Sep 2024
19 Sep 2024 11:21:37
Morning guys. I didn't see any of the match, so reading your posts.
Agree with the point. The more the losing streak goes, the more it gets to their mindset, and it becomes difficult to get out of.
I can't see it, but we need a win against one of our next three opponents, and that may get us believing.

As I've said earlier, lose the next three, that will be one point from seven LGE games which in any situation, is untenable, and fosun will, make a change,
Hope we can do it.
Coyw