Poyet: Same old story (From The Argus)

relegation form

Beat Barnsley 5 - 1 then sign 4 players = great man management skills = 2 pts in last 4 games = idiot in managers seat = someones going to get really hurt quotes ruthless gusset = in gusset we're a thick muppet

Annoying as played much better today and created more chances. Did okish but need more bite to stay in the party.

Same old , no plan B, passing only means something if its converted into goal scoring .. Sadly we have one forward who can play one way, Reading won promotion on having options, Roberts from the bench was one.. Lua one trick won't do it at this level.

ps blame the referee

Yes,same again,Birmingham,.Ip
swich and now Boro.We start out slowly concede a goal around the twenty min mark,usually against the run of play and then continue with the same tempo missing chance after chance. Yet again we did not manage to get a head to any corner or freekick and again the final ball is lacking.
Teams know how to play us and I know its the same old chestnut but when the hell are the club going to get a striker,18 months there has been talk and only this week Ipswich who are limited financially managed to secure Nigel Reo-Coker on 3 month loan with possible extension.This guy has had 7 seasons in the premiership,should we not be after this kind of player,especially as we should still have money left in the transfer kitty.
Gus has done a great job but his achilles heel has been since last season being able to attract a decent target man.

What manager playing at home and wanting to win would play one foreward up front and with two wide men sitting on the bench.Only when we are 1-0 down and much too late in the game does the manager try to win the game,just shows that Gus is still a rookie manager.

Fact is we need to look (and be) capable of scoring 2 or 3 (or as WHU did today, 4) in matches - really stretch sides down the flanks - perfectly possible with Bruno and Bridge, Buckley and Lua Lua - it didn't happen - 1 goal in 6 hours - let's not let the season drift too far before we sort this please. Fans, once again, far too quiet from the start of the match too and therefore partly to blame - we should do more to cheer on the boys - playing well or struggling

mark by the sea wrote:
Same old , no plan B, passing only means something if its converted into goal scoring .. Sadly we have one forward who can play one way, Reading won promotion on having options, Roberts from the bench was one.. Lua one trick won't do it at this level.

Crofts and Hammond in the same midfield away from home will work,but not at home, Buckley on the bench is crazy, and Barnes playing deep again,why? We needed width and pace today to get the 26,000 fans fired up, the atmosphere was flat because we played the wrong side and the wrong formation.

Same old story? Managers seeing the way we play and setting themselves up to take points is good management. We need to pass the ball quicker and take our chances, quite simple really. Why do we only start playing in the 2nd half? I think the issue is in the middle of the park.

Could not make the game today so relied on Radio Sussex - Johnny Cantor and Johnny Byrne are excellent.
I shall peruse all comments from those attendees, with interest.
I did suggest a couple of weeks ago that the manager's four transfer deadline signings had not as a whole, exactly sent the fans pulses raising. With Orlandi excepted, how did the other three fare today?

Perhaps we should give Gus the OBC out by Christmas.

Simply unbelievable posting so far. Some are muppets trying to stir up a storm and so I will simply ignore them, but some of the others are plain ridiculous. Get a grip people. we play good football with a good manager. Yes, it has been frustrating of late, but all we need to do is up the tempo and a little more diagonal movement instead of sideways. But that's easier said than done. We are an ever evolving club. And all those that talk of a plan B and would rather see us hoof the ball long, then please try and understand the footballing principles Poyet has instilled in the club. Their keeper made 2 great saves today and an amazing piece of defending prevented CMS from scoring from 6 yards. On another day we win 3-1. Get over it and support the team!

mark by the sea wrote:
Same old , no plan B, passing only means something if its converted into goal scoring .. Sadly we have one forward who can play one way, Reading won promotion on having options, Roberts from the bench was one.. Lua one trick won't do it at this level.

Disagree Mark about Lua lua, he may be technically limited but he has strength and power, and invariably when he comes on he creates disorder in the opposition penalty box as he cuts inside and shoots or hits the ball into the box with power. He should be given more time, although not a starter he is an asset. He was excellent against Liverpool away last year, just needs to play more.

I also agree with Neville that it seems astounding some of the signings other clubs make when it seems unlikely they have much more financial power than us....e.g. Simon cox and billy sharp to Forest (ok I know they have money now), dj Campbell, reo-Coker and others to Ipswich. I know a big name isn't necessarily the answer but these players have been successful at this level and higher. We really need someone to win the ball in the air, ridiculous how many crosses/corners come to absolutely nothing.

Boro played well today and deserved the points sadly.

I had a bad feeling about the game, full squad to pick from (I don't count VR, it's a waste of time to include him), Middlesbrough hot striker out.

Team selection was poor Crofts and Hammond together and Buckley on the bench.

As soon as we gave away the goal it was obvious it was game over. Boro are a very capable side, Woodgate looked a class act in spite of being crocked.

We put together a few slick moves but didn't really threaten. We needed someone like Emnes who was fantastic.

They were smarter than us and we just didn't know what to do to break them down.

Plays on your mind, get a goal behind and there is no way back. We don't get late goals. Not sure any of the last day signings made are up to it.

Really poor and I am not sure where the solution lies and I am pretty sure GP doesn't either!

Alfie T has it spot on! Away team for home match! If you play Hammond & Crofts you need to play with Buckley & KLL. Buckley MUST play every home game at least. When Barnes played up front with CMS against Barnsley 5 goals.

Frustrated GRRRRRR!

Same old Gus says he is going to sign a goalscorer then signs 6 that can't score.
The misses from Hammond, CMS, Barnes, Dobbie & crofts were all Dreadful.
If they had fallen to Buckley he would have got a hat trick but the only goalscorer in the last 4 games was benched at the time. Good call

namgo49 wrote:
I had a bad feeling about the game, full squad to pick from (I don't count VR, it's a waste of time to include him), Middlesbrough hot striker out.

Team selection was poor Crofts and Hammond together and Buckley on the bench.

As soon as we gave away the goal it was obvious it was game over. Boro are a very capable side, Woodgate looked a class act in spite of being crocked.

We put together a few slick moves but didn't really threaten. We needed someone like Emnes who was fantastic.

They were smarter than us and we just didn't know what to do to break them down.

Plays on your mind, get a goal behind and there is no way back. We don't get late goals. Not sure any of the last day signings made are up to it.

Really poor and I am not sure where the solution lies and I am pretty sure GP doesn't either!

Sounds like a good report from you on the game.
Radio Sussex were fulsome in their praise of Woodgate and Emnes. If the manager in his wisdom does not start with Buckley, surely he needs to be on quickly from the bench? Noting the managers comments, it really does feel that he is running out of ideas on how to turn things round.Need a win out of the next two away games.

Another utterly utterly dismal performance by The Albion. Poyet and co havn't got a clue as I've been saying for over a year now. You might hate Palace but at least there playing exiting stuff and up there with a good shout for automatic promotion. The Albion are heading for automatic relegation without a doubt unless things change imediately starting with a new manager. Wake up and smell the coffee Albion fans before it's too late and stop all the silly excusses that I normally have to suffer on these pages.”

Funny how every one here seems to know more about football and management than the people that have actually played the game .
I dont think anyone posting these nonsense comments , have actually been a involved in professional footy ?
Why dont you all turn up to training on Monday ...im sure Gus and Tanno would love your imput !!

We have lots of new players but this season is an extra replica of the last one. Very good start, everyone gets excited but we are quickly sussed as a very ordinary Championship team who can’t score goals, can’t win matches once we go behind and have no Plan B. Only 2 wins in 6 home matches (hardly a fortress is it Gus?), only 1 goal in the last 4 matches (3 of them at home) and incredibly the fifth time in only 11 league matches that we have failed to score. Sadly the truth is that our strikers are not good enough and we have no goal threat whatsoever from midfield. Our defence is absolutely fine but today we had 16 shots apparently, only 4 of them were on target and another 2 sitters were missed. It certainly is déjà vu Gus!

HOVEPARKRESIDENT wrote:
Another utterly utterly dismal performance by The Albion. Poyet and co havn't got a clue as I've been saying for over a year now. You might hate Palace but at least there playing exiting stuff and up there with a good shout for automatic promotion. The Albion are heading for automatic relegation without a doubt unless things change imediately starting with a new manager. Wake up and smell the coffee Albion fans before it's too late and stop all the silly excusses that I normally have to suffer on these pages.”

It was not an 'utterly utterly dismal performance'..at all.
We just couldnt score .
And for the rest of your crap post...the usual zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

My god your a bore of the highest order . Go and watch Palarse and **** off from here !

Still think we will make the premier league this or next season.

Home form is a concern, all the oppo need to do is score first and that is game over. Think Gus got the team wrong we have so much pace in Buckley and LuaLua and to start with both on the bench is a strange decision especially knowing that 'Boro had injury problems. Hopefully can pick up a few points away at Leicester and Blackpool

SecondReserve wrote:
We have lots of new players but this season is an extra replica of the last one. Very good start, everyone gets excited but we are quickly sussed as a very ordinary Championship team who can’t score goals, can’t win matches once we go behind and have no Plan B. Only 2 wins in 6 home matches (hardly a fortress is it Gus?), only 1 goal in the last 4 matches (3 of them at home) and incredibly the fifth time in only 11 league matches that we have failed to score. Sadly the truth is that our strikers are not good enough and we have no goal threat whatsoever from midfield. Our defence is absolutely fine but today we had 16 shots apparently, only 4 of them were on target and another 2 sitters were missed. It certainly is déjà vu Gus!

Certainly nothing controversial in what you say. A succint, if rather depressing factual summary!

wenners wrote:
Funny how every one here seems to know more about football and management than the people that have actually played the game .
I dont think anyone posting these nonsense comments , have actually been a involved in professional footy ?
Why dont you all turn up to training on Monday ...im sure Gus and Tanno would love your imput !!

But you seem to think the game is complicated, we have one way to play, and that's pass it, sides come here and leave us going square because we won't hit the back stick with someone like lambert coming in from a wide position, beating the fullback in the air and creating uncertainty in the defence.. The game is simple, all great sides play it simply, pass and move, but with the ability to not allow teams to sit on the 18 yard line and close the game out.. Saints and Reading did it last season, lambert and Roberts changing the game with their strength and power . Emmes a clear example today.

Reasons to be cheerful, good football game, great pies, brilliant crowd, 1 point off play-off place, 4 points from automatic promotion spot,

mark by the sea wrote:

wenners wrote:
Funny how every one here seems to know more about football and management than the people that have actually played the game .
I dont think anyone posting these nonsense comments , have actually been a involved in professional footy ?
Why dont you all turn up to training on Monday ...im sure Gus and Tanno would love your imput !!

But you seem to think the game is complicated, we have one way to play, and that's pass it, sides come here and leave us going square because we won't hit the back stick with someone like lambert coming in from a wide position, beating the fullback in the air and creating uncertainty in the defence.. The game is simple, all great sides play it simply, pass and move, but with the ability to not allow teams to sit on the 18 yard line and close the game out.. Saints and Reading did it last season, lambert and Roberts changing the game with their strength and power . Emmes a clear example today.

When did i say the game was complicated? Gus says that ! Ive never talked tactics here. Your doing it for me , and as i said before.....why dont you go to training on Monday and give Gus and Tanno your invaluable insight. Im sure they will appreciate it If your tactics are so good...put your cv in for Tony Bloom to have a look at .

For me it's a little simpler, play the way we do in the final 25 minutes from the first minute. There's no doubt that for long periods of time Boro had their backs to the wall and a little bit of luck and as stated we could've scored several. Why though do start we start so slowly? We all know that the opposition will look to nick a goal and then defend it, so why not start fast, spread the ball wide and make them work from the off, with such a wide pitch, most teams will tire more quickly. Then with 30 minutes to go introduce Lua Lua and stretch them further, gaps will appear and more opportunities occur. We have a quality Team, up the tempo, more pace on some of the passes and I'm convinced we'll open teams up and score more. Still think top 8 by seasons end. UTA!

Reasons to be hopeful, only club not to concede 2 goals in one game, equal best goal difference, CMS goals per game ratio 2nd best in league.

wenners wrote:

mark by the sea wrote:

wenners wrote:
Funny how every one here seems to know more about football and management than the people that have actually played the game .
I dont think anyone posting these nonsense comments , have actually been a involved in professional footy ?
Why dont you all turn up to training on Monday ...im sure Gus and Tanno would love your imput !!

But you seem to think the game is complicated, we have one way to play, and that's pass it, sides come here and leave us going square because we won't hit the back stick with someone like lambert coming in from a wide position, beating the fullback in the air and creating uncertainty in the defence.. The game is simple, all great sides play it simply, pass and move, but with the ability to not allow teams to sit on the 18 yard line and close the game out.. Saints and Reading did it last season, lambert and Roberts changing the game with their strength and power . Emmes a clear example today.

When did i say the game was complicated? Gus says that ! Ive never talked tactics here. Your doing it for me , and as i said before.....why dont you go to training on Monday and give Gus and Tanno your invaluable insight. Im sure they will appreciate it If your tactics are so good...put your cv in for Tony Bloom to have a look at .

Actually, Mark's point seems quite reasonable to me. And why can't he express it. He acknowledges the good stuff when he sees it too.

HOVEPARKPRESIDENT. wrote:
Still think we will make the premier league this or next season.

Ok - I'll bite, troll. No.. possibly not. But Ive sat through years of dismal rubbish at Withdean in lower divisions, Ive stood through miserable defeat after defeat at the Goldstone in the final years in the bottom division... Where we are now is paradise compared to that - I'd love us to make the Premiership, but its not my reason for going... so please, stick your trolling negativity up where nobody can see it.

To those who thought today was dismal - it was frustrating, yes, but not dismal. We created chances - their keeper made some key saves. They won with a massively deflected shot. We have problems converting chances, yes, but its not doom and gloom. I'm happy at the moment being a mid to upper Championship side. To put it into context, 10 years ago yesterday, I watched us lose a 10th game in a row, to SHeffield Utd at Withdean in a season when we were always bottom or thereabouts.

This is paradise in comparison!

So, HoveP... Im sick of your dismal windups - you obviously have no love for the club at all. Just go away, eh?

tooncgull wrote:

HOVEPARKPRESIDENT. wrote:
Still think we will make the premier league this or next season.

Ok - I'll bite, troll. No.. possibly not. But Ive sat through years of dismal rubbish at Withdean in lower divisions, Ive stood through miserable defeat after defeat at the Goldstone in the final years in the bottom division... Where we are now is paradise compared to that - I'd love us to make the Premiership, but its not my reason for going... so please, stick your trolling negativity up where nobody can see it.

To those who thought today was dismal - it was frustrating, yes, but not dismal. We created chances - their keeper made some key saves. They won with a massively deflected shot. We have problems converting chances, yes, but its not doom and gloom. I'm happy at the moment being a mid to upper Championship side. To put it into context, 10 years ago yesterday, I watched us lose a 10th game in a row, to SHeffield Utd at Withdean in a season when we were always bottom or thereabouts.

This is paradise in comparison!

So, HoveP... Im sick of your dismal windups - you obviously have no love for the club at all. Just go away, eh?

Please note the following initials HPR & HPP, there is a difference!

Willie, Willie Irvine wrote:

wenners wrote:

mark by the sea wrote:

wenners wrote:
Funny how every one here seems to know more about football and management than the people that have actually played the game .
I dont think anyone posting these nonsense comments , have actually been a involved in professional footy ?
Why dont you all turn up to training on Monday ...im sure Gus and Tanno would love your imput !!

But you seem to think the game is complicated, we have one way to play, and that's pass it, sides come here and leave us going square because we won't hit the back stick with someone like lambert coming in from a wide position, beating the fullback in the air and creating uncertainty in the defence.. The game is simple, all great sides play it simply, pass and move, but with the ability to not allow teams to sit on the 18 yard line and close the game out.. Saints and Reading did it last season, lambert and Roberts changing the game with their strength and power . Emmes a clear example today.

When did i say the game was complicated? Gus says that ! Ive never talked tactics here. Your doing it for me , and as i said before.....why dont you go to training on Monday and give Gus and Tanno your invaluable insight. Im sure they will appreciate it If your tactics are so good...put your cv in for Tony Bloom to have a look at .

Actually, Mark's point seems quite reasonable to me. And why can't he express it. He acknowledges the good stuff when he sees it too.

Problem is simple,we don't have power and pace through the middle.. We play wingers who cross the ball only. On the deck, never do we see it chipped in or sent to back stick..
Hammond and croft look uncertain together in going forward....they with bird tut look really solid, but we are playing at home.
The football. We create is outstanding, what we need is a centre forward, big and strong.. Then lua gets a chance to cross the ball rather than doing the same thing, which seems head down and get into the box.
I am not down hearted whatsoever... Only three years ago we had white booker and hInsh controlling the football style and coaching, the club have the players , we need a more adaptable style, which means someone like Roberts sitting on the bench , coming on with lua lua with 30 mons to go.

Crofts today was a passenger and no good to us; looked unfit. Hammond just keeps playing short passing game with no imagination and no end product. As for Barnes; what a waste of space. We really needed Buckley on from the start because all our football was played in front of Boro'. And I am sorry to say that from what I have seen of Dobbie he is very average. Our form has dipped badly since the 4 new signings. Having said I did think that Lopez showed up well; combining well with Bruno. No doubt Gus will tell us that Buckley was not in the starting eleven because he was not 100% fit. Lets get back to the quick starts and goals that we managed before the additions.

Same old story, deja vu, yes I quite agree, it's the same as last season!!! A singular inability to put visiting teams to the sword. Lets be honest here, Brum, Ipswich, Derby, M'boro, all below us and we have only scored one goal against all 4 of them. As soon as the team was announced I had a feeling we wouldn't score. We are the home team and we play with one out and out forward and three holding midfield players. For Christ's sake the onus is for us to take the game to the opposition. We are the home team. It was such a negative line-up with no threat up front. Boro must have thought it was Christmas come early. Our tactics gave them confidence. We should be at their throats, peppering their goal with shots and crosses, but instead we make 10 passes to get across the halfway line and rely on one forward to beat their defence. It was depressing to watch. It's not possession that wins matches it is goals and to score goals you have to have a presence in and around your opponents box. Gus must realise that visiting teams will come here and be happy to hold out for a goalless draw. The only way we can wreck this tactic is to score an early goal and force them to then come out, which in turn may create more opportunities for us. With no threat to their goal, there is always the chance they may sneak one, like Brum and today, which then makes them even more defensive because they have something to hang on to. We have to score the first goal, so why not start with Buckley & Dobbie alongside CMS and Lopez. We can always sub one of the forwards after we have taken the lead but we are never going to take the lead with a line-up like the one we had today. Gus got it wrong today. I hope he gets it right for the Leeds game.
Today was "same old story" so he should learn from it !

i'm concerned.....

focus on stadium development will be deemed a waste if success on the pitch doesn't match the strides the club has made to enable those who wish to watch the club week in week out.

the millions being spent though won't encourage those supporters when the team fail to even bring the joy of scoring a goal to celebrate, which is the reason why we all chose to go to matches.

i go with my ten year old son when i can, and nothing brings him pleasure than seeing his heros score ...even in defeat. the general play and build up he doesn't understand... he wants goals.

so in that respect surely the hunt for goal scorers that can put the ball away when chances come must be a priority. in the last four matches we have created more chances than the opposition...yet we have only scored once....frustrating for the team the management and us the supporters.

yet it has been reported that we are unable to compete for the sort of quality striker we require

yet no mention of any up and coming strikers from the lower leagues who put the ball away on a regular basis. an example is pope in div2 playing for port vale... looked a class above the other night on sky. surely there must be others like him. yes i know the window is shut... but can't you loan before you buy.

we must encourage fans to keep buying their tickets with hope that an end product of all the play ends in the joy all fans want to celebrate. otherwise the spaces created by building of extra seats will all become apparant when they are seen as empty spaces

Gus has lost the plot midfield to much the same.The team just is not the same no passion and can only play one way.There was never 26000 at todays game.

Vince says...
11:27am Sat 20 Oct 12

If my luck is anything to go by, todays game will be either a 0-0 draw or a 0-1 defeat.

I had to miss 2 games this season. The ones I was "lucky" enough to see were:-

Cardiff 0-0
Birmingham 0-1
Ipswich 1-1

I had to wait nearly 5 hours for my first Albion goal of this season.

If Gus doesn't play Dobbie, CMS and Will from the start, then I guess we'll be struggling to score yet again.
Why do we have to be so negative from the word go, and only bring on the "impact" players when it is still 0-0 or we are 0-1 down. By then it is often too late, as the opposition has grown in
confidence, and has the measure of us.
I can't believe it that in 18 months we haven't brought in a "finisher" in the mould of a "Beckford" "Blackstock" or "Boothroyd". They have been available, but it seems we are "cheap-skates" in the transfer market when it comes to strikers (CMS being the exception).
Having said that, if we had brought one of them, it probably would have been at the expense of Dobbie or CMS, because Gus seems incapable of playing more than one striker at a time, until the last (desperate) 20 minutes.

Much as I love Gus and his philosophies and I think he has done an incredible job here, he has too often been safety conscious at home, which has encouraged the opposition to play higher up the pitch, (or when they do sit back like Birmingham they know we don't have too much attacking "muscle"). It's very hard to breakdown a packed defence when you don't have a physical presence up front.

In Div 1 we were successful because we often had Murray, Wood, Barnes and Bennett as well as Noone all playing attacking roles.

My forecast today is a 1-1 draw, but I don't hold out much hope of seeing more than one Albion goal today if Gus doesn't play CMS, Dobbie and Buckley from the off.”


The above was this mornings view which got criticised for its negativity. I think the post mortem reveals total realism, and an optimistic (not pessimistic) forecast of 1-1. That it wasn't 1-1 is down to our failure to be more ruthless in front of goal, some bad luck, great goalkeeping and the referee for failing to give even one out of 3 good penalty claims - particularly when CMS was flattened from behind by 2 defenders.
The performance was good, but we are clueless in front of goal at the moment, and with crosses no one is capable of getting above the ball and heading it down into the net rather than over the bar (Hammond was particularly guilty in the 1st half), andd the others are too small to get in meaningful headers.

We still need that creative midfielder and clinical finisher. Unless we are willing to pay the going price for these "priceless" players, there is only one place we are heading for and that's mid-table obscurity.

pablobrowno wrote:

mark by the sea wrote:
Same old , no plan B, passing only means something if its converted into goal scoring .. Sadly we have one forward who can play one way, Reading won promotion on having options, Roberts from the bench was one.. Lua one trick won't do it at this level.

Disagree Mark about Lua lua, he may be technically limited but he has strength and power, and invariably when he comes on he creates disorder in the opposition penalty box as he cuts inside and shoots or hits the ball into the box with power. He should be given more time, although not a starter he is an asset. He was excellent against Liverpool away last year, just needs to play more.

I also agree with Neville that it seems astounding some of the signings other clubs make when it seems unlikely they have much more financial power than us....e.g. Simon cox and billy sharp to Forest (ok I know they have money now), dj Campbell, reo-Coker and others to Ipswich. I know a big name isn't necessarily the answer but these players have been successful at this level and higher. We really need someone to win the ball in the air, ridiculous how many crosses/corners come to absolutely nothing.

Boro played well today and deserved the points sadly.

DID THEY ****!!!!MORON

To expect players to return from being out for a few weeks and pick up where they left ff is risky at best and dumb at worst.

The best 18 players Brighton have have seen several of their number out injured and the new comers in the squad need time to get used to
playing with those players.
.
To say that Dobbie will not work out well when playing with CMS is not on as he has not had much chance to do so. Apart from our constant back 5 the rest of the best 18 have hardly had a chnce to find out what the best combinations are, injuries cost more than just missing a player, it's also time that player loses when trying to forge new patterns.

Today we lost, take it and learn from it, draw out the positives and take then into the next match. The squad learned things today, maybe small things but they are still useful. It is still very early in the season and I am confident that if we can get a decent run of games without injuries we will come good again.

Poyet needs to look at himself here. Lets face it he has needed a striker for a season and a bit now and is still nowhere near. What is the actual point of Barnes?
Todays game was awful and other than Bruno and Cms there really is no passion in the side to get the team going.
We also need to get rid of Vicente at the end of the season as it really is just a waste of money!

Vince wrote:
Vince says...
11:27am Sat 20 Oct 12

If my luck is anything to go by, todays game will be either a 0-0 draw or a 0-1 defeat.

I had to miss 2 games this season. The ones I was "lucky" enough to see were:-

Cardiff 0-0
Birmingham 0-1
Ipswich 1-1

I had to wait nearly 5 hours for my first Albion goal of this season.

If Gus doesn't play Dobbie, CMS and Will from the start, then I guess we'll be struggling to score yet again.
Why do we have to be so negative from the word go, and only bring on the "impact" players when it is still 0-0 or we are 0-1 down. By then it is often too late, as the opposition has grown in
confidence, and has the measure of us.
I can't believe it that in 18 months we haven't brought in a "finisher" in the mould of a "Beckford" "Blackstock" or "Boothroyd". They have been available, but it seems we are "cheap-skates" in the transfer market when it comes to strikers (CMS being the exception).
Having said that, if we had brought one of them, it probably would have been at the expense of Dobbie or CMS, because Gus seems incapable of playing more than one striker at a time, until the last (desperate) 20 minutes.

Much as I love Gus and his philosophies and I think he has done an incredible job here, he has too often been safety conscious at home, which has encouraged the opposition to play higher up the pitch, (or when they do sit back like Birmingham they know we don't have too much attacking "muscle"). It's very hard to breakdown a packed defence when you don't have a physical presence up front.

In Div 1 we were successful because we often had Murray, Wood, Barnes and Bennett as well as Noone all playing attacking roles.

My forecast today is a 1-1 draw, but I don't hold out much hope of seeing more than one Albion goal today if Gus doesn't play CMS, Dobbie and Buckley from the off.”


The above was this mornings view which got criticised for its negativity. I think the post mortem reveals total realism, and an optimistic (not pessimistic) forecast of 1-1. That it wasn't 1-1 is down to our failure to be more ruthless in front of goal, some bad luck, great goalkeeping and the referee for failing to give even one out of 3 good penalty claims - particularly when CMS was flattened from behind by 2 defenders.
The performance was good, but we are clueless in front of goal at the moment, and with crosses no one is capable of getting above the ball and heading it down into the net rather than over the bar (Hammond was particularly guilty in the 1st half), andd the others are too small to get in meaningful headers.

We still need that creative midfielder and clinical finisher. Unless we are willing to pay the going price for these "priceless" players, there is only one place we are heading for and that's mid-table obscurity.

If i had predicted an Albion defeat (which would NEVER happen) i would`nt mention it as some sort of football knowledge,and take credit.UP YOURS MATE,keep any future predictions to our opponents .UTA

tug509 wrote:

Vince wrote: Vince says... 11:27am Sat 20 Oct 12 If my luck is anything to go by, todays game will be either a 0-0 draw or a 0-1 defeat. I had to miss 2 games this season. The ones I was "lucky" enough to see were:- Cardiff 0-0 Birmingham 0-1 Ipswich 1-1 I had to wait nearly 5 hours for my first Albion goal of this season. If Gus doesn't play Dobbie, CMS and Will from the start, then I guess we'll be struggling to score yet again. Why do we have to be so negative from the word go, and only bring on the "impact" players when it is still 0-0 or we are 0-1 down. By then it is often too late, as the opposition has grown in confidence, and has the measure of us. I can't believe it that in 18 months we haven't brought in a "finisher" in the mould of a "Beckford" "Blackstock" or "Boothroyd". They have been available, but it seems we are "cheap-skates" in the transfer market when it comes to strikers (CMS being the exception). Having said that, if we had brought one of them, it probably would have been at the expense of Dobbie or CMS, because Gus seems incapable of playing more than one striker at a time, until the last (desperate) 20 minutes. Much as I love Gus and his philosophies and I think he has done an incredible job here, he has too often been safety conscious at home, which has encouraged the opposition to play higher up the pitch, (or when they do sit back like Birmingham they know we don't have too much attacking "muscle"). It's very hard to breakdown a packed defence when you don't have a physical presence up front. In Div 1 we were successful because we often had Murray, Wood, Barnes and Bennett as well as Noone all playing attacking roles. My forecast today is a 1-1 draw, but I don't hold out much hope of seeing more than one Albion goal today if Gus doesn't play CMS, Dobbie and Buckley from the off.” The above was this mornings view which got criticised for its negativity. I think the post mortem reveals total realism, and an optimistic (not pessimistic) forecast of 1-1. That it wasn't 1-1 is down to our failure to be more ruthless in front of goal, some bad luck, great goalkeeping and the referee for failing to give even one out of 3 good penalty claims - particularly when CMS was flattened from behind by 2 defenders. The performance was good, but we are clueless in front of goal at the moment, and with crosses no one is capable of getting above the ball and heading it down into the net rather than over the bar (Hammond was particularly guilty in the 1st half), andd the others are too small to get in meaningful headers. We still need that creative midfielder and clinical finisher. Unless we are willing to pay the going price for these "priceless" players, there is only one place we are heading for and that's mid-table obscurity.

If i had predicted an Albion defeat (which would NEVER happen) i would`nt mention it as some sort of football knowledge,and take credit.UP YOURS MATE,keep any future predictions to our opponents .UTA

I forecast a 1-1 draw. Learn to READ before you start ranting.

The old football adage that great strikers hunt in pairs is as true today asit ever was.
Huddersfield manager Simon Grayson says : "James Vaughan and Jermaine Beckford - as a pair, have plenty of credentials to suggest they could be one of the best striking partnerships in the league".
"Playing like that they will be a handful for teams in any league."

Lets hope Gus gets the message, because Tony Mowbray said afterwards that "Brighton are AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD TEAM".

As Gus said "We have the best defence in the league. All we need to do is put the ball in the net".

So, Tug, i'm going to put my neck out and say that if we can get the striker problem sorted soon, we will finish in the top 2 this season.

Lets get some perspective here that two years ago we were playing in front of a few thousand at Withdean. Now it is 26,000 at a stadium many teams can only dream of. However the concern is that simply Gus has been sussed out and his fellow managers know he has no plan B. It could well be this period that defines him as a manager. The players bought in on deadline day have on the whole disappointed. Dobie looks like another Barnes and how he plays week in week out amazes me. To start the game with the midfield picked today sends out a negativity that the crowd pick up on and I suspect that if we ever sign this promised striker Gus will never play him and CMS together. I don't think the GusBus has broken down but it sure as hell has a puncture.

suffolkseagull wrote:
i'm concerned.....

focus on stadium development will be deemed a waste if success on the pitch doesn't match the strides the club has made to enable those who wish to watch the club week in week out.

the millions being spent though won't encourage those supporters when the team fail to even bring the joy of scoring a goal to celebrate, which is the reason why we all chose to go to matches.

i go with my ten year old son when i can, and nothing brings him pleasure than seeing his heros score ...even in defeat. the general play and build up he doesn't understand... he wants goals.

so in that respect surely the hunt for goal scorers that can put the ball away when chances come must be a priority. in the last four matches we have created more chances than the opposition...yet we have only scored once....frustrating for the team the management and us the supporters.

yet it has been reported that we are unable to compete for the sort of quality striker we require

yet no mention of any up and coming strikers from the lower leagues who put the ball away on a regular basis. an example is pope in div2 playing for port vale... looked a class above the other night on sky. surely there must be others like him. yes i know the window is shut... but can't you loan before you buy.

we must encourage fans to keep buying their tickets with hope that an end product of all the play ends in the joy all fans want to celebrate. otherwise the spaces created by building of extra seats will all become apparant when they are seen as empty spaces

I think you make a very good point viz a viz strikers from the lower leagues. Most of the big target men mentioned are well known names - and I'm as guilty as other posters being pre-occupied with those. I cannot recall much comment about our scouting network other than reference to watching players in European leagues etc. Is there a chief scout in situ clutching detailed dossiers on every big striker in the lower leagues here or am I being a bit naive ? I always remember Kevin Keegan being found at Scunthorpe by Liverpool. Good bit of scouting there!

Vince wrote:

tug509 wrote:

Vince wrote: Vince says... 11:27am Sat 20 Oct 12 If my luck is anything to go by, todays game will be either a 0-0 draw or a 0-1 defeat. I had to miss 2 games this season. The ones I was "lucky" enough to see were:- Cardiff 0-0 Birmingham 0-1 Ipswich 1-1 I had to wait nearly 5 hours for my first Albion goal of this season. If Gus doesn't play Dobbie, CMS and Will from the start, then I guess we'll be struggling to score yet again. Why do we have to be so negative from the word go, and only bring on the "impact" players when it is still 0-0 or we are 0-1 down. By then it is often too late, as the opposition has grown in confidence, and has the measure of us. I can't believe it that in 18 months we haven't brought in a "finisher" in the mould of a "Beckford" "Blackstock" or "Boothroyd". They have been available, but it seems we are "cheap-skates" in the transfer market when it comes to strikers (CMS being the exception). Having said that, if we had brought one of them, it probably would have been at the expense of Dobbie or CMS, because Gus seems incapable of playing more than one striker at a time, until the last (desperate) 20 minutes. Much as I love Gus and his philosophies and I think he has done an incredible job here, he has too often been safety conscious at home, which has encouraged the opposition to play higher up the pitch, (or when they do sit back like Birmingham they know we don't have too much attacking "muscle"). It's very hard to breakdown a packed defence when you don't have a physical presence up front. In Div 1 we were successful because we often had Murray, Wood, Barnes and Bennett as well as Noone all playing attacking roles. My forecast today is a 1-1 draw, but I don't hold out much hope of seeing more than one Albion goal today if Gus doesn't play CMS, Dobbie and Buckley from the off.” The above was this mornings view which got criticised for its negativity. I think the post mortem reveals total realism, and an optimistic (not pessimistic) forecast of 1-1. That it wasn't 1-1 is down to our failure to be more ruthless in front of goal, some bad luck, great goalkeeping and the referee for failing to give even one out of 3 good penalty claims - particularly when CMS was flattened from behind by 2 defenders. The performance was good, but we are clueless in front of goal at the moment, and with crosses no one is capable of getting above the ball and heading it down into the net rather than over the bar (Hammond was particularly guilty in the 1st half), andd the others are too small to get in meaningful headers. We still need that creative midfielder and clinical finisher. Unless we are willing to pay the going price for these "priceless" players, there is only one place we are heading for and that's mid-table obscurity.

If i had predicted an Albion defeat (which would NEVER happen) i would`nt mention it as some sort of football knowledge,and take credit.UP YOURS MATE,keep any future predictions to our opponents .UTA

I forecast a 1-1 draw. Learn to READ before you start ranting.

The old football adage that great strikers hunt in pairs is as true today asit ever was.
Huddersfield manager Simon Grayson says : "James Vaughan and Jermaine Beckford - as a pair, have plenty of credentials to suggest they could be one of the best striking partnerships in the league".
"Playing like that they will be a handful for teams in any league."

Lets hope Gus gets the message, because Tony Mowbray said afterwards that "Brighton are AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD TEAM".

As Gus said "We have the best defence in the league. All we need to do is put the ball in the net".

So, Tug, i'm going to put my neck out and say that if we can get the striker problem sorted soon, we will finish in the top 2 this season.

Talking of strikers hunting in pairs, I'm sure there must be some posters who remember Warboys and Bannister (nicknamed Smash and Grab) I think it might have been at Bristol Rovers circa 1970's?.... and of course MacDougall and Boyer at Bournemouth.

Wiseman says:-
Talking of strikers hunting in pairs, I'm sure there must be some posters who remember Warboys and Bannister (nicknamed Smash and Grab) I think it might have been at Bristol Rovers circa 1970's?.... and of course MacDougall and Boyer at Bournemouth.”

And of course the great Crawford and Phillips who propelled Ipswich from the lower reaches of the second division to the League Championship with a huge number of goals between them, many of them set up by a small, spindly nondescript looking player called Jimmy Leadbetter, who Ipswich "nicked" from 3rd Division South Brighton and Hove Albion.

keswick wrote:
Lets get some perspective here that two years ago we were playing in front of a few thousand at Withdean. Now it is 26,000 at a stadium many teams can only dream of. However the concern is that simply Gus has been sussed out and his fellow managers know he has no plan B. It could well be this period that defines him as a manager. The players bought in on deadline day have on the whole disappointed. Dobie looks like another Barnes and how he plays week in week out amazes me. To start the game with the midfield picked today sends out a negativity that the crowd pick up on and I suspect that if we ever sign this promised striker Gus will never play him and CMS together. I don't think the GusBus has broken down but it sure as hell has a puncture.

Could not agree more. Buying another striker with physical power would help but probs with gus formations issue not all personnel .lopez ok today but dobbie another dreadful cameo. Bruno and cms only difference from brum and Ipswich games.

Far gull wrote:

keswick wrote: Lets get some perspective here that two years ago we were playing in front of a few thousand at Withdean. Now it is 26,000 at a stadium many teams can only dream of. However the concern is that simply Gus has been sussed out and his fellow managers know he has no plan B. It could well be this period that defines him as a manager. The players bought in on deadline day have on the whole disappointed. Dobie looks like another Barnes and how he plays week in week out amazes me. To start the game with the midfield picked today sends out a negativity that the crowd pick up on and I suspect that if we ever sign this promised striker Gus will never play him and CMS together. I don't think the GusBus has broken down but it sure as hell has a puncture.

Could not agree more. Buying another striker with physical power would help but probs with gus formations issue not all personnel .lopez ok today but dobbie another dreadful cameo. Bruno and cms only difference from brum and Ipswich games.

Hammond and Crofts were supposed to provide that power in midfield and the extra goals from midfield. Both spurned great opportunities to score today, and I fear that they may not be the answer that gus was hoping for. Having said that, I thought Hammond played much better than he did against Ipswich, Crofts looked like he was still recovering from his lay off, and was very cross with himself for his failure in front of goal.

We need impact players at the start and end of games, so I suggest we start with more men going forward (CMS, Buckley, Dobbie/Hoskins/Barne
s and Orlandi/Lopez and if necessary later use Lua Lua and Vicente (as soon as we can get him on the pitch) as late impact players.

Today the "impact" substitutions were made too late as usual, so we played for the most part with only one striker. Just not good enough I'm afraid to unlock a defence as good as Boro's.

I'm a bit frustrated - but mostly with the so-called "experts" who post on here, who know exactly what is wrong, who know, for example, that "Dobbie isnt up to it", or "Crofts and Hammond arent good enough"....

Frankly - for what its worth - I quite like Dobbie - skillful player, needs a few games, but for heavens sake, let the guy settle in a bit before slating him!
SOmeone above has said he doesnt rate Crofts... I totally disagree with that too. DO you honestly think that all of your ALbion heroes of yesteryear played great football ALL the time, in winning teams ALL the time, and never needed time to settle in, lose a few games etc? I mean, frankly, if they had all been so perfect, the ALbion would have won every game in thos classic seasons. eh? Give the team a chance!! Its ONLY October FFS!

Frustrated, Frustrated, Frustrated. Why oh why has GP built one of the best ever teams BHAFC have had from the back only to stop when he crucially reaches the final third.
2 quotes from other teams forums stand out for me and say it all.. "Thank goodness the Brighton players can't shoot" and "Brighton are 2 thirds Premiership and 1 third Division 1" I do believe in our leader and think he is the man to take us to the promised land, I just wish he would finish the job he started so superbly. Uta

Today's game really demonstrated the need for the club to sign a target man. Someone with physical presence who can provide an aerial threat and get on the end of 'crosses'.
The most consistent advocate over the last 16 months for such a player to be acquired has been Poyet's.
The question I have is why having identified the need we are still waiting for such a player to be signed.
Surely somewhere in the UK or Europe there is one suitable player who could join the Albion.

ballantrrae wrote:
Today's game really demonstrated the need for the club to sign a target man. Someone with physical presence who can provide an aerial threat and get on the end of 'crosses'.
The most consistent advocate over the last 16 months for such a player to be acquired has been Poyet's.
The question I have is why having identified the need we are still waiting for such a player to be signed.
Surely somewhere in the UK or Europe there is one suitable player who could join the Albion.

i am that man,,, u can call me f*ckmeat if u like

Played some good stuff again today and had enough good chances to win the game BUT....... If Gus insists on playing Bridcutt deep as the holding midfield player he"s really no option but to only play one upfront. And is CMS (at five foot nothing) really suited to the lone striker role? With both Crofts and Hammond in the centre we have two hard working tacklers to win the ball and distribute it safely - generally sideways or backwards. Where's the guile to unlock the opposition defence with a cunning pass? That meant inevitably the route to goal is wide - via two great fullbacks, or wingers - and crosses into the box - to our five foot striker!

And with that midfield today we could afford our two best wingers. And does Barnes qualify as one of our two best wingers?!!

Bridcutt, Crofts and Hammond is too safe Gus. Lots of possession but no guile.

The guile, is called Vicente, we need a play maker who the opposition cannot read. Someone who can play a creative ball to release CMS or Buckley to feet, to beat their 10 men behind the ball plan, everything we do at the moment has been seen before and planned to be counteracted by the opposition.

No one has mentioned Spanish Dave today, not once did he drive past his man, he plays so safe, without any confidence, he is not what we need unless he gains confidence. Buckley links better with Bruno.

Tactically, we had no plan today, as good as Barnes is, he being something to everything, his role is wasted. I would still play him, but central midfield. Whilst Vicente is still out, move Bridcutt forward as a playmaker, he has much more vision than anyone else currently, play Hammond or Crofts deep, allowing 2 wide men from the start, to create more chaos in the box. We have a wide pitch to accommodate 2 wide players yet play 1?

Today I would have played:-

Kus

Bridge, Greer, El Abd, Bruno
Hammond
Bridcutt Barnes
Buckley, CMS, Lopez

Tactically we were wrong, who plays long straight balls through to a short guy? Diagonal yes, but there were none of them today, which has been the prevailing theme for 3 matches now. Poyet must understand his best 11 at any one time, and employ them to best effect, where today he did not.

Gazza by the sea wrote:
Played some good stuff again today and had enough good chances to win the game BUT....... If Gus insists on playing Bridcutt deep as the holding midfield player he"s really no option but to only play one upfront. And is CMS (at five foot nothing) really suited to the lone striker role? With both Crofts and Hammond in the centre we have two hard working tacklers to win the ball and distribute it safely - generally sideways or backwards. Where's the guile to unlock the opposition defence with a cunning pass? That meant inevitably the route to goal is wide - via two great fullbacks, or wingers - and crosses into the box - to our five foot striker! And with that midfield today we could afford our two best wingers. And does Barnes qualify as one of our two best wingers?!! Bridcutt, Crofts and Hammond is too safe Gus. Lots of possession but no guile.

No guile, no goals, no good for Gulls

Yes, we need an intelligent player who thinks about his passes, is aware of players around him, has vision and can deliver.

Whilst we all bang on about a big, bruising, bustling striker, "little" CMS when at Posh had a brilliant strike partner in little McClean (now of Hull). What about asking Craig who he would play best with? I'm guessing, but maybe Gus is not totally sure what type of striker he wants, hence the hesistancy in going for some players who have been available. For example, Beckford is probably too similar to CMS, and they would possibly be going for the same balls. I think that whoever is signed should have a good football brain, and be good at playing quick, incisive passes with CMS and others. To my mind, a player like Middlesbrough's Emnes would be a brilliant link-up player with CMS.

Addressing the midfield, too often our final ball is telegraphed or not delivered quickly enough, allowing defenders time to intercept or block shots.

Also some of our players are maybe too individualistic like Lua Lua, our old friend Nooney and sometimes even Vicente who get caught up in their own amazing dribbles and try to score themselves.

Watching Swansea and Wigan tonight I was struck at how thoughtful and inventive their attacking moves were. They weren't running around at full pace, no they were playing little one twos, subtle passes, looking around to see who was making a run, sometimes playing it, other times using the runner as a decoy and changing the play to the other side, playing into space where forwards could run into, (not direct to their feet where they would be tackled by a close-marking defender). This is the type of play Arsenal and Chelsea are so good at. It's not all "helter-skelter" stuff.

We need to stop and think a bit more, but when an opening arrives be aware and capable of immediately delivering the killer through ball to unlock the defence. This is a type of player we need... as well as a good striker like Emnes.

However, I think we are only a couple of players away from being the best side in the division. Just a bit more class, finding the right formula, getting our forward players to gel and bingo watch us go!

Far be it for me to pretend to be an expert in championship football management although I suspect my man management skills could do as well as certain others. For what it's worth I would drop any plans there are for Will Hoskins to have a couple of warm up matches in the reserves (maybe alongside Vicente if it's not too cold and wet,)and plunge him straight back in the mix. And forget trolling through the lower leagues for possible strikers - not until those in the development squad are proven to be unsuitable in which case the ensuing repercussions are obvious. With a 7 man bench there should be a place for at least one of them. And one final observation - we are not the Spanish national team, we cannot play 6 midfield players and expect to walk the ball into the net, if CMS is not firing on all cylinders there must be an alternative option sitting on the bench.

That's it - I think I have shown remarkable restraint given my sentiments after the match. I shall now sit down with yet another cup of tea and wait for all the experts to highlight the error of my ways...

Far be it for me to pretend to be an expert in championship football management although I suspect my man management skills could do as well as certain others. For what it's worth I would drop any plans there are for Will Hoskins to have a couple of warm up matches in the reserves (maybe alongside Vicente if it's not too cold and wet,)and plunge him straight back in the mix. And forget trolling through the lower leagues for possible strikers - not until those in the development squad are proven to be unsuitable in which case the ensuing repercussions are obvious. With a 7 man bench there should be a place for at least one of them. And one final observation - we are not the Spanish national team, we cannot play 6 midfield players and expect to walk the ball into the net, if CMS is not firing on all cylinders there must be an alternative option sitting on the bench.

That's it - I think I have shown remarkable restraint given my sentiments after the match. I shall now sit down with yet another cup of tea and wait for all the experts to highlight the error of my ways...

Sorry folks, that wasn't me at all - blame the Argus website... Sounds a bit like Blame the Ref - as if I would say such a thing...!!!

Ref was poor. So were Greer and Dobbin. CMS had chances, Barnes should have scored, but was still my MoM. Subs should have come on sooner. Missed Dicker. Bruno and Bridge both off-form. Chicken pie not as nice as last season.

Jonathan Mouette wrote:
Far be it for me to pretend to be an expert in championship football management although I suspect my man management skills could do as well as certain others. For what it's worth I would drop any plans there are for Will Hoskins to have a couple of warm up matches in the reserves (maybe alongside Vicente if it's not too cold and wet,)and plunge him straight back in the mix. And forget trolling through the lower leagues for possible strikers - not until those in the development squad are proven to be unsuitable in which case the ensuing repercussions are obvious. With a 7 man bench there should be a place for at least one of them. And one final observation - we are not the Spanish national team, we cannot play 6 midfield players and expect to walk the ball into the net, if CMS is not firing on all cylinders there must be an alternative option sitting on the bench. That's it - I think I have shown remarkable restraint given my sentiments after the match. I shall now sit down with yet another cup of tea and wait for all the experts to highlight the error of my ways...

the developement squad is what it is. players with no track record but potential. lower league players are still regarded as having potential but crucially the ones we should look at have a track record for scoring goals. such players are a gamble but you can unearth the gem that can get you 20 or 30 goals a season. examples Holt at Norwich or Lambert at Southampton and currently Austin at Burnley.

I'm no football managing expert either but one thing that is painfully obvious is that if you don't score goals you don't win games. Why oh why do the players keep putting long high crosses into the box when there is nobody to get on the end of them? The number of times Borough just kept heading them away was countless. The best football by the Albion yesterday was when a player attacked the penalty area with the ball on the ground. Just like last season at this stage, for the life of me I can't see where the next goal is coming from. I'm afraid that this sorry state of affairs will continue right up to Christmas as it did last season. I'm not a defeatist or an Albion knocker but the forward line must be sorted with the utmost priority. For the next half dozen games or so I feel that our best chance of picking up points will be away from home where the opposition will not be so stifling in defence. It's all so frustrating but I'm also optomistic that it will come good.

I blame Bloom, all he has to do is fire GP come on this comments page choose from all the available managers on this page! Yes is it frustrating, but its all work in progress and very close to us having a team capable of getting us into the premiership. In the meantime, its all still bloody good stuff and very entertaining. Now, I am going to have a moan.. So, a self proclaimed, so called out and out seagulls supporter who sat next to me and just wanted us to 'boot' the ball up front and then left to his seat 10 minutes before half time to get his coffee and again,before full time, his seat immediately taken by another moaning git who was on his way ou of the ground early, all this defies belief. I really hope that all our future goals come in the last 5 minutes before half and full time. Sod the pies, beer and coffee and the apparent need to catch a frigging bus!

Vince wrote:
Wiseman says:- Talking of strikers hunting in pairs, I'm sure there must be some posters who remember Warboys and Bannister (nicknamed Smash and Grab) I think it might have been at Bristol Rovers circa 1970's?.... and of course MacDougall and Boyer at Bournemouth.” And of course the great Crawford and Phillips who propelled Ipswich from the lower reaches of the second division to the League Championship with a huge number of goals between them, many of them set up by a small, spindly nondescript looking player called Jimmy Leadbetter, who Ipswich "nicked" from 3rd Division South Brighton and Hove Albion.

I also remember ''Smash & Grab'' of Bristol Rovers. What a pair they were, just like Spider Mellor and Wardy. I remember a game at The Goldstone against Rovers when the pair turned us over with seven goals between them. I think we lost the game 2-7 Is it not possible that what CMS requires is a player like Spider along side him with CMS playing the Wardy role. Someone like Peter Couch maybe where they would play off each other to great effect.

wenners wrote:
Funny how every one here seems to know more about football and management than the people that have actually played the game .
I dont think anyone posting these nonsense comments , have actually been a involved in professional footy ?
Why dont you all turn up to training on Monday ...im sure Gus and Tanno would love your imput !!

So, Are supporters not allowed to have a view and to express it on here? That's what debate, argument and opinion is about, it's got nothing to do with knowing more about football and management than the people who have actually been involved in the professional game. I'm not a politician, but I still take an interest and have a view.
You obviously were not at the Amex yesterday!

saraman wrote:

Vince wrote:
Wiseman says:- Talking of strikers hunting in pairs, I'm sure there must be some posters who remember Warboys and Bannister (nicknamed Smash and Grab) I think it might have been at Bristol Rovers circa 1970's?.... and of course MacDougall and Boyer at Bournemouth.” And of course the great Crawford and Phillips who propelled Ipswich from the lower reaches of the second division to the League Championship with a huge number of goals between them, many of them set up by a small, spindly nondescript looking player called Jimmy Leadbetter, who Ipswich "nicked" from 3rd Division South Brighton and Hove Albion.

I also remember ''Smash & Grab'' of Bristol Rovers. What a pair they were, just like Spider Mellor and Wardy. I remember a game at The Goldstone against Rovers when the pair turned us over with seven goals between them. I think we lost the game 2-7 Is it not possible that what CMS requires is a player like Spider along side him with CMS playing the Wardy role. Someone like Peter Couch maybe where they would play off each other to great effect.

I remember that game as well. I think from memory it was 8-2. I also remember Brian Clough's comment on how he felt about the score. Amusingly he said (tongue in cheek) that it wasn't that bad because Brighton were the first team that season to score twice against Rovers.

born again seagull wrote:
I blame Bloom, all he has to do is fire GP come on this comments page choose from all the available managers on this page! Yes is it frustrating, but its all work in progress and very close to us having a team capable of getting us into the premiership. In the meantime, its all still bloody good stuff and very entertaining. Now, I am going to have a moan.. So, a self proclaimed, so called out and out seagulls supporter who sat next to me and just wanted us to 'boot' the ball up front and then left to his seat 10 minutes before half time to get his coffee and again,before full time, his seat immediately taken by another moaning git who was on his way ou of the ground early, all this defies belief. I really hope that all our future goals come in the last 5 minutes before half and full time. Sod the pies, beer and coffee and the apparent need to catch a frigging bus!

Love your comments ref moaning gits. But I can improve, we have a couple who sit right in the middle of a row who for every game so far and this for all who have to stand up find very annoying , arrive 20 mins late, get up 5mins before halftime and wait for this leave 15 mins before the end. Now I know last three games frustrating but why do they bother :-)

dave from bexill wrote:

saraman wrote:

Vince wrote: Wiseman says:- Talking of strikers hunting in pairs, I'm sure there must be some posters who remember Warboys and Bannister (nicknamed Smash and Grab) I think it might have been at Bristol Rovers circa 1970's?.... and of course MacDougall and Boyer at Bournemouth.” And of course the great Crawford and Phillips who propelled Ipswich from the lower reaches of the second division to the League Championship with a huge number of goals between them, many of them set up by a small, spindly nondescript looking player called Jimmy Leadbetter, who Ipswich "nicked" from 3rd Division South Brighton and Hove Albion.

I also remember ''Smash & Grab'' of Bristol Rovers. What a pair they were, just like Spider Mellor and Wardy. I remember a game at The Goldstone against Rovers when the pair turned us over with seven goals between them. I think we lost the game 2-7 Is it not possible that what CMS requires is a player like Spider along side him with CMS playing the Wardy role. Someone like Peter Couch maybe where they would play off each other to great effect.

I remember that game as well. I think from memory it was 8-2. I also remember Brian Clough's comment on how he felt about the score. Amusingly he said (tongue in cheek) that it wasn't that bad because Brighton were the first team that season to score twice against Rovers.

You are right Dave, it was 2-8 and it was said that Clough sacked a tea lady for laughing at The Albion's performance. Yesterdays game was no laughing matter. What drives me mad when I get home is that when my wife asks me the score she replies. ''Oh never mind dear, it's only a game'' GRRRRRR

tug509 wrote:

Vince wrote:
Vince says...
11:27am Sat 20 Oct 12

If my luck is anything to go by, todays game will be either a 0-0 draw or a 0-1 defeat.

I had to miss 2 games this season. The ones I was "lucky" enough to see were:-

Cardiff 0-0
Birmingham 0-1
Ipswich 1-1

I had to wait nearly 5 hours for my first Albion goal of this season.

If Gus doesn't play Dobbie, CMS and Will from the start, then I guess we'll be struggling to score yet again.
Why do we have to be so negative from the word go, and only bring on the "impact" players when it is still 0-0 or we are 0-1 down. By then it is often too late, as the opposition has grown in
confidence, and has the measure of us.
I can't believe it that in 18 months we haven't brought in a "finisher" in the mould of a "Beckford" "Blackstock" or "Boothroyd". They have been available, but it seems we are "cheap-skates" in the transfer market when it comes to strikers (CMS being the exception).
Having said that, if we had brought one of them, it probably would have been at the expense of Dobbie or CMS, because Gus seems incapable of playing more than one striker at a time, until the last (desperate) 20 minutes.

Much as I love Gus and his philosophies and I think he has done an incredible job here, he has too often been safety conscious at home, which has encouraged the opposition to play higher up the pitch, (or when they do sit back like Birmingham they know we don't have too much attacking "muscle"). It's very hard to breakdown a packed defence when you don't have a physical presence up front.

In Div 1 we were successful because we often had Murray, Wood, Barnes and Bennett as well as Noone all playing attacking roles.

My forecast today is a 1-1 draw, but I don't hold out much hope of seeing more than one Albion goal today if Gus doesn't play CMS, Dobbie and Buckley from the off.”


The above was this mornings view which got criticised for its negativity. I think the post mortem reveals total realism, and an optimistic (not pessimistic) forecast of 1-1. That it wasn't 1-1 is down to our failure to be more ruthless in front of goal, some bad luck, great goalkeeping and the referee for failing to give even one out of 3 good penalty claims - particularly when CMS was flattened from behind by 2 defenders.
The performance was good, but we are clueless in front of goal at the moment, and with crosses no one is capable of getting above the ball and heading it down into the net rather than over the bar (Hammond was particularly guilty in the 1st half), andd the others are too small to get in meaningful headers.

We still need that creative midfielder and clinical finisher. Unless we are willing to pay the going price for these "priceless" players, there is only one place we are heading for and that's mid-table obscurity.

If i had predicted an Albion defeat (which would NEVER happen) i would`nt mention it as some sort of football knowledge,and take credit.UP YOURS MATE,keep any future predictions to our opponents .UTA

Uncalled for outburst on my part,let my frustrations get the better of me.Apologies Vince.UTA

wenners wrote:
Funny how every one here seems to know more about football and management than the people that have actually played the game .
I dont think anyone posting these nonsense comments , have actually been a involved in professional footy ?
Why dont you all turn up to training on Monday ...im sure Gus and Tanno would love your imput !!

As you lads and maybe lassie's know I am not a big contributor but always enjoy the banter from the regulars. As I don't get to many games either, generally only the ones in the Midlands, but have supported the Albion since I was about 10....I have just had my 65th birthday!! I have some sentiment in "wenners" comment. I shall be at City on Tuesday night with a personal friend who played nearly 300 games for them in the late 60's we will be amongst some of his former team mates. To be among people who played against some of the greats of our beautiful game it is an education, to listen to the comments at half time and full time! I have to admit they often see the game differently to me because as a "supporter" it is a different emotion and by god have had some emotion over the Albion!!! Last season the general concensus was we would hold our own and probably finish in the top half. I was happy with that......but prayed we would finish above City and look what happened in the last game they pipped on goal difference was I sick!!
Our support at these games is tremendous and is always commented on with compliment so it makes me feel proud to be an Albion supporter in my own way!! Obviously not getting to the games some of you get to, please keep up the comments I love reading them. So I look forward to Tuesday, unfortunately I will have remain very composed win we score, and maybe I will come back with some of the professional comments on our glorious team even if all the players are older than me!!! So good luck to the tavelling lads on Tuesday I will be proud again to say I support the Albion!!!

i dont want to s.ound like a stuck record. lets buy a decent proven striker with goals in him and pay his worth.again i question bha,s lack of ambition.which is a shame because they are 2 players away from a promotion squad.gus wll be saying were not ready for promotion this season after xmas again?.he will be off if his hands are tied by bloom.were getting good gate receipts,if we have a good run that will continue. i feel.glenda was the answer.pure quality.uta

mark by the sea wrote:

Willie, Willie Irvine wrote:

wenners wrote:

mark by the sea wrote:

wenners wrote:
Funny how every one here seems to know more about football and management than the people that have actually played the game .
I dont think anyone posting these nonsense comments , have actually been a involved in professional footy ?
Why dont you all turn up to training on Monday ...im sure Gus and Tanno would love your imput !!

But you seem to think the game is complicated, we have one way to play, and that's pass it, sides come here and leave us going square because we won't hit the back stick with someone like lambert coming in from a wide position, beating the fullback in the air and creating uncertainty in the defence.. The game is simple, all great sides play it simply, pass and move, but with the ability to not allow teams to sit on the 18 yard line and close the game out.. Saints and Reading did it last season, lambert and Roberts changing the game with their strength and power . Emmes a clear example today.

When did i say the game was complicated? Gus says that ! Ive never talked tactics here. Your doing it for me , and as i said before.....why dont you go to training on Monday and give Gus and Tanno your invaluable insight. Im sure they will appreciate it If your tactics are so good...put your cv in for Tony Bloom to have a look at .

Actually, Mark's point seems quite reasonable to me. And why can't he express it. He acknowledges the good stuff when he sees it too.

Problem is simple,we don't have power and pace through the middle.. We play wingers who cross the ball only. On the deck, never do we see it chipped in or sent to back stick..
Hammond and croft look uncertain together in going forward....they with bird tut look really solid, but we are playing at home.
The football. We create is outstanding, what we need is a centre forward, big and strong.. Then lua gets a chance to cross the ball rather than doing the same thing, which seems head down and get into the box.
I am not down hearted whatsoever... Only three years ago we had white booker and hInsh controlling the football style and coaching, the club have the players , we need a more adaptable style, which means someone like Roberts sitting on the bench , coming on with lua lua with 30 mons to go.

Couldnt agree with you more re the midfield. Crofty and Hammond dont look comfortable together.At least Dicker does look to release the ball FORWARD . And yes.....we must keep pinching ourselves to remind us where we were only a few short years ago and how far we have come in a short space of time .
AND ..were only 4 points from the top ....everyone is beating everyone !

tug509 wrote:

tug509 wrote:

Vince wrote: Vince says... 11:27am Sat 20 Oct 12 If my luck is anything to go by, todays game will be either a 0-0 draw or a 0-1 defeat. I had to miss 2 games this season. The ones I was "lucky" enough to see were:- Cardiff 0-0 Birmingham 0-1 Ipswich 1-1 I had to wait nearly 5 hours for my first Albion goal of this season. If Gus doesn't play Dobbie, CMS and Will from the start, then I guess we'll be struggling to score yet again. Why do we have to be so negative from the word go, and only bring on the "impact" players when it is still 0-0 or we are 0-1 down. By then it is often too late, as the opposition has grown in confidence, and has the measure of us. I can't believe it that in 18 months we haven't brought in a "finisher" in the mould of a "Beckford" "Blackstock" or "Boothroyd". They have been available, but it seems we are "cheap-skates" in the transfer market when it comes to strikers (CMS being the exception). Having said that, if we had brought one of them, it probably would have been at the expense of Dobbie or CMS, because Gus seems incapable of playing more than one striker at a time, until the last (desperate) 20 minutes. Much as I love Gus and his philosophies and I think he has done an incredible job here, he has too often been safety conscious at home, which has encouraged the opposition to play higher up the pitch, (or when they do sit back like Birmingham they know we don't have too much attacking "muscle"). It's very hard to breakdown a packed defence when you don't have a physical presence up front. In Div 1 we were successful because we often had Murray, Wood, Barnes and Bennett as well as Noone all playing attacking roles. My forecast today is a 1-1 draw, but I don't hold out much hope of seeing more than one Albion goal today if Gus doesn't play CMS, Dobbie and Buckley from the off.” The above was this mornings view which got criticised for its negativity. I think the post mortem reveals total realism, and an optimistic (not pessimistic) forecast of 1-1. That it wasn't 1-1 is down to our failure to be more ruthless in front of goal, some bad luck, great goalkeeping and the referee for failing to give even one out of 3 good penalty claims - particularly when CMS was flattened from behind by 2 defenders. The performance was good, but we are clueless in front of goal at the moment, and with crosses no one is capable of getting above the ball and heading it down into the net rather than over the bar (Hammond was particularly guilty in the 1st half), andd the others are too small to get in meaningful headers. We still need that creative midfielder and clinical finisher. Unless we are willing to pay the going price for these "priceless" players, there is only one place we are heading for and that's mid-table obscurity.

If i had predicted an Albion defeat (which would NEVER happen) i would`nt mention it as some sort of football knowledge,and take credit.UP YOURS MATE,keep any future predictions to our opponents .UTA

Uncalled for outburst on my part,let my frustrations get the better of me.Apologies Vince.UTA

Apology accepted.

I'm just as passionate as you are! The Albion have been in my blood since i was 4 years old, and i'm over 60 now!

UTA

Anyone know why the Argus has opened a new thread on this subject - post your replies on the new one; I get very confused very quickly...

suffolkseagull wrote:
i'm concerned.....

focus on stadium development will be deemed a waste if success on the pitch doesn't match the strides the club has made to enable those who wish to watch the club week in week out.

the millions being spent though won't encourage those supporters when the team fail to even bring the joy of scoring a goal to celebrate, which is the reason why we all chose to go to matches.

i go with my ten year old son when i can, and nothing brings him pleasure than seeing his heros score ...even in defeat. the general play and build up he doesn't understand... he wants goals.

so in that respect surely the hunt for goal scorers that can put the ball away when chances come must be a priority. in the last four matches we have created more chances than the opposition...yet we have only scored once....frustrating for the team the management and us the supporters.

yet it has been reported that we are unable to compete for the sort of quality striker we require

yet no mention of any up and coming strikers from the lower leagues who put the ball away on a regular basis. an example is pope in div2 playing for port vale... looked a class above the other night on sky. surely there must be others like him. yes i know the window is shut... but can't you loan before you buy.

we must encourage fans to keep buying their tickets with hope that an end product of all the play ends in the joy all fans want to celebrate. otherwise the spaces created by building of extra seats will all become apparant when they are seen as empty spaces

Very good summary SS, keep them coming mate! Hard to understand why Gus persists with lone striker up front, it's patently NOT working. Second whinge, why Crofts and Hammond.......? Rant over, in Gus we trust, erm? I love the Championship, on the day any team can beat anyone else. Who needs the Premiership, lets just stay where we are, lol. UTA for ever

Its all gone last season already ...what i can't understand is that we have signed new players yet we are still making same mistakes as last season .. and not scoring again ! So if its not the players ..must be the manager ? I still cant believe that we are playing one upfront at home ! I think Crofty and Hammond is a strong midfield but without wide man wheres the attacking options ? If we have such a strong defensive midfield why do we need Bridcut playing infront of the back four ? Hate to say it ... and i know im repeating myself but would like to see JFC (after Xmas) and a fit Vicente playing together in midfield...with two front players ... Dear Santa please can i have ..... lol GG

last 4 games have been frustrating but we still only four pints of the top... how bad???? stop yer whinging ppl

Why oh why do we keep harping on about where we were 3 years ago at Withdean etc: when we are having a bad time at the moment. Yes remember but do not keep making as an excuse all the time. Its past; end of story. Quite honestly we have to many injury prone players and as a result we are going to struggle to keep a settled side. Vicente and Lua Lua, and even Buckley are forever doubts. As stated Hammond and Crofts are not suited together; Dicker has his knockers but he has to play with either Crofts or Hammond. Why we are still talking about a new striker even now when everybody knows that one should have been signed in the summer is crazy. What is Gus thinking. Another creative midfielder and striker and our worries are over. Please Gus sort it out .

johnboy144 wrote:
Simply unbelievable posting so far. Some are muppets trying to stir up a storm and so I will simply ignore them, but some of the others are plain ridiculous. Get a grip people. we play good football with a good manager. Yes, it has been frustrating of late, but all we need to do is up the tempo and a little more diagonal movement instead of sideways. But that's easier said than done. We are an ever evolving club. And all those that talk of a plan B and would rather see us hoof the ball long, then please try and understand the footballing principles Poyet has instilled in the club. Their keeper made 2 great saves today and an amazing piece of defending prevented CMS from scoring from 6 yards. On another day we win 3-1. Get over it and support the team!

Yes absolutely. Middlesborough came for a point and got three!

"SHOOT on sight was Tony Mowbray’s instruction to Marvin Emnes ahead of the trip to Brighton – and the strategy paid dividends as the striker proved to be Middlesbrough’s match-winner yesterday.
Emnes also scored in the corresponding match last season and Mowbray said he had been encouraging him to shoot at every opportunity despite being handicapped by a foot injury.
The Boro boss said: "Emnes has been reluctant to shoot as he has had a sore right foot, but if you don’t shoot you don’t score and it was an important goal for us."
Mowbray admitted it was the perfect way to celebrate his century of games in charge, but emphasised he felt the win was all down to the preparation that went into it.
He said: "You have to prepare properly to face Brighton as they have an exceptionally good side.
"They are going to be frustrated, but I’m sure they will have a good season.
"We had a lot of the ball early on and Brighton came at us as the game wore on."
Boro’s victory takes them above faltering Brighton but Mowbray is backing Gus Poyet’s side to come back stronger." Perhaps we should do more of this too - better than last season, but even more - goalies forever seem to spill catches or a deflection occurs

Jonathan Mouette wrote:
Anyone know why the Argus has opened a new thread on this subject - post your replies on the new one; I get very confused very quickly...

Something very strange is happening here - the new thread has disappeared and so we are back at square one... so, as I was saying, maybe GP could use his magic to acquire the unsettled Adebayor on the same terms he negotiated for Wayne Bridge... this would render headlines such as Same Old Story useless and keep us quiet until BZ returns home. Now that would be a really good story, so fingers are therefore optimistically crossed.

On paper we have the best team in the Championship.We have some very good players but the thing is Gus is not playing them.Yesterday we had too many in midfield and we could not break Bough down when they packed thier deffence.Gus needs to think again and have a few plan B and C.

I am starting to think that maybe Gus has run out of ideas and maybe it is time we looked for the next stage manager. I sat through the Boro game and we looked out of ideas and never looked dangerous in the last 3rd. Top 10 might be a stretch after all.
Fortress Amex! Laughable.....I think the better teams have worked us out and we look staid and predictable and toothless....

Crofts and Hammond are like Gerrard and Lampard. Should never be seen together in the same team. I understand why El-Abd came off, but really it was Greer had the poorer game.

wenners wrote:

mark by the sea wrote:

Willie, Willie Irvine wrote:

wenners wrote:

mark by the sea wrote:

wenners wrote:
Funny how every one here seems to know more about football and management than the people that have actually played the game .
I dont think anyone posting these nonsense comments , have actually been a involved in professional footy ?
Why dont you all turn up to training on Monday ...im sure Gus and Tanno would love your imput !!

But you seem to think the game is complicated, we have one way to play, and that's pass it, sides come here and leave us going square because we won't hit the back stick with someone like lambert coming in from a wide position, beating the fullback in the air and creating uncertainty in the defence.. The game is simple, all great sides play it simply, pass and move, but with the ability to not allow teams to sit on the 18 yard line and close the game out.. Saints and Reading did it last season, lambert and Roberts changing the game with their strength and power . Emmes a clear example today.

When did i say the game was complicated? Gus says that ! Ive never talked tactics here. Your doing it for me , and as i said before.....why dont you go to training on Monday and give Gus and Tanno your invaluable insight. Im sure they will appreciate it If your tactics are so good...put your cv in for Tony Bloom to have a look at .

Actually, Mark's point seems quite reasonable to me. And why can't he express it. He acknowledges the good stuff when he sees it too.

Problem is simple,we don't have power and pace through the middle.. We play wingers who cross the ball only. On the deck, never do we see it chipped in or sent to back stick..
Hammond and croft look uncertain together in going forward....they with bird tut look really solid, but we are playing at home.
The football. We create is outstanding, what we need is a centre forward, big and strong.. Then lua gets a chance to cross the ball rather than doing the same thing, which seems head down and get into the box.
I am not down hearted whatsoever... Only three years ago we had white booker and hInsh controlling the football style and coaching, the club have the players , we need a more adaptable style, which means someone like Roberts sitting on the bench , coming on with lua lua with 30 mons to go.

Couldnt agree with you more re the midfield. Crofty and Hammond dont look comfortable together.At least Dicker does look to release the ball FORWARD . And yes.....we must keep pinching ourselves to remind us where we were only a few short years ago and how far we have come in a short space of time .
AND ..were only 4 points from the top ....everyone is beating everyone !

This was the first time that Crofts and Hammond had played together and I hadn't expected everything to 'click into place' the moment Poyet for the first time had virtually a full squad to choose from. I will reserve judgement until this time next week.
I wasn't surprised that Buckley started on the bench after his latest injury. I thought Poyet might want to ease him back in once he was fit again.
I hope that Orlandi is in the mix for Tuesdays game since we need his (or Vicente's) skills.to help open up these massed defences. Of course it would also help imo if we had another striker supporting CMS.
Some on here have mentioned how much we have missed GM but I feel we have missed Bennett even more.
With stats like 69% possession and 16 shots we really ought to be winning matches but if you only score one goal every other game you are going to be hard pressed to do so.

ballantrrae wrote:

wenners wrote:

mark by the sea wrote:

Willie, Willie Irvine wrote:

wenners wrote:

mark by the sea wrote:

wenners wrote:
Funny how every one here seems to know more about football and management than the people that have actually played the game .
I dont think anyone posting these nonsense comments , have actually been a involved in professional footy ?
Why dont you all turn up to training on Monday ...im sure Gus and Tanno would love your imput !!

But you seem to think the game is complicated, we have one way to play, and that's pass it, sides come here and leave us going square because we won't hit the back stick with someone like lambert coming in from a wide position, beating the fullback in the air and creating uncertainty in the defence.. The game is simple, all great sides play it simply, pass and move, but with the ability to not allow teams to sit on the 18 yard line and close the game out.. Saints and Reading did it last season, lambert and Roberts changing the game with their strength and power . Emmes a clear example today.

When did i say the game was complicated? Gus says that ! Ive never talked tactics here. Your doing it for me , and as i said before.....why dont you go to training on Monday and give Gus and Tanno your invaluable insight. Im sure they will appreciate it If your tactics are so good...put your cv in for Tony Bloom to have a look at .

Actually, Mark's point seems quite reasonable to me. And why can't he express it. He acknowledges the good stuff when he sees it too.

Problem is simple,we don't have power and pace through the middle.. We play wingers who cross the ball only. On the deck, never do we see it chipped in or sent to back stick..
Hammond and croft look uncertain together in going forward....they with bird tut look really solid, but we are playing at home.
The football. We create is outstanding, what we need is a centre forward, big and strong.. Then lua gets a chance to cross the ball rather than doing the same thing, which seems head down and get into the box.
I am not down hearted whatsoever... Only three years ago we had white booker and hInsh controlling the football style and coaching, the club have the players , we need a more adaptable style, which means someone like Roberts sitting on the bench , coming on with lua lua with 30 mons to go.

Couldnt agree with you more re the midfield. Crofty and Hammond dont look comfortable together.At least Dicker does look to release the ball FORWARD . And yes.....we must keep pinching ourselves to remind us where we were only a few short years ago and how far we have come in a short space of time .
AND ..were only 4 points from the top ....everyone is beating everyone !

This was the first time that Crofts and Hammond had played together and I hadn't expected everything to 'click into place' the moment Poyet for the first time had virtually a full squad to choose from. I will reserve judgement until this time next week.
I wasn't surprised that Buckley started on the bench after his latest injury. I thought Poyet might want to ease him back in once he was fit again.
I hope that Orlandi is in the mix for Tuesdays game since we need his (or Vicente's) skills.to help open up these massed defences. Of course it would also help imo if we had another striker supporting CMS.
Some on here have mentioned how much we have missed GM but I feel we have missed Bennett even more.
With stats like 69% possession and 16 shots we really ought to be winning matches but if you only score one goal every other game you are going to be hard pressed to do so.

You have hit the nail on the head. If only we can hit the ball in the goal, (and I think (not sure) Gus was saying as much in his post match interview). We have 16 shots and get 0, Borough have 4 shots and score. To my mind WE should be converting 1 in 3 or 4 chances. Last year we went through a phase when we didn’t create chances, then a phase when we did but didn’t score like yesterday, then a stage when we started putting them away. If we have just left out the don’t create phase this year and go on to the putting them away part we will all be happy. Well most of us but that’s another issue.

On unrelated matters the catering provision at the ground if hopeless. Ridiculously slow and they ran out of milks for the teas and coffees the situation only improving when they ran out of coffee as well.

You have to wait ages to get in the club shop and as for getting in Dick's Bar, forget it.

So much for the club trying to extend the experience at the ground they can't cope with demand now!!

Back to the football, defeats at Leicester and Blackpool (1-0's both) will see some tough questions being asked. If you can't score goals you don't win games, if you don't win games you slide down the table and any chance of promotion goes with it, simple as!!

I see Leeds are likely to land Jones AND Jerome from Stoke. That's a tad greedy chaps.

We do have some right wallies as supporters, peed off with some of there negative comments. The slight sign of trouble and then its Gus 's fault. Grown some balls supporters

namgo49 wrote:
On unrelated matters the catering provision at the ground if hopeless. Ridiculously slow and they ran out of milks for the teas and coffees the situation only improving when they ran out of coffee as well.

You have to wait ages to get in the club shop and as for getting in Dick's Bar, forget it.

So much for the club trying to extend the experience at the ground they can't cope with demand now!!

Back to the football, defeats at Leicester and Blackpool (1-0's both) will see some tough questions being asked. If you can't score goals you don't win games, if you don't win games you slide down the table and any chance of promotion goes with it, simple as!!

If anyone wants the contact details of azure caterings general manager at the Amex its: Elliott Moore, e-mail, elliott.moore@azure.
uk.com, ( azure have a 5 year contract so there is plenty of time and don’t they know it)
Back to football .
Albion still have the best away record in the league except for Huddersfield who are only one goal better off (another reason to be cheerful and hopeful to add to my previous list :-)

Gazza by the sea wrote:
I see Leeds are likely to land Jones AND Jerome from Stoke. That's a tad greedy chaps.

Huddersfield are being tipped for back-to-back promotions to the premiership with "born again" striker Jermaine Beckford and Vaughan.

Mind you they are only on loan until January, so they will have to use the money they got for Rhodes to buy them.

As Beckford and Craig Mackail Smith are probably similar players, then we only need a "Vaughan" to partner him AND WE SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF SCORING A LOT OF GOALS!!!!

Cash Bull wrote:
I am starting to think that maybe Gus has run out of ideas and maybe it is time we looked for the next stage manager. I sat through the Boro game and we looked out of ideas and never looked dangerous in the last 3rd. Top 10 might be a stretch after all.
Fortress Amex! Laughable.....I think the better teams have worked us out and we look staid and predictable and toothless....

i said the same weeks ago.theres no strength in depth, which has been proved when cms was injured.we are predictable and devoid of ideas in the last 3rd.i dont know what the answer is if the club dont want to buy a goalscorer .kenwyne jones would be good.

the taffster wrote:

Cash Bull wrote: I am starting to think that maybe Gus has run out of ideas and maybe it is time we looked for the next stage manager. I sat through the Boro game and we looked out of ideas and never looked dangerous in the last 3rd. Top 10 might be a stretch after all. Fortress Amex! Laughable.....I think the better teams have worked us out and we look staid and predictable and toothless....

i said the same weeks ago.theres no strength in depth, which has been proved when cms was injured.we are predictable and devoid of ideas in the last 3rd.i dont know what the answer is if the club dont want to buy a goalscorer .kenwyne jones would be good.

The point is, Gus has always wanted to play the Barcelona way, which is through the midfield, with any one of a number of players capable of making incisive runs and scoring. The problem is that he is priced out of finding the players who can do that. He is therefore continuously reviewing and modifying the way the team play to achieve the optimum solution for us with the personnel at his disposal. If some players can't adapt or don't perform, then he will get replacements who can. For example, Noone could not deliver the right passes. I was very impressed by Lopez who seems to be learning what Gus wants. Barnes was sharper, but not quite there yet (a work in progress). Craig is so much better than last year

Gus is a brilliant manager and motivator, and I am sure he knows what to do to, and will get the right men in.

People moan that his tactics are too predictable, but having watched the Middlesbrough game, I was impressed at the way we played from the start, and Middlesbrough, a very good team, were hanging on for dear life. Everyone knows how Man-utd and Chelsea play, but how many teams can stop them?

I am convinced that Gus is now millimetres away from turning us into THE major force in the Championship.
Blackpool, Cardiff and others are pretty to watch, but they concede a lot of goals. Gus is working on the whole team, has made us far more fluid from the back and is now close to completing the jigsaw.

the taffster wrote:

Cash Bull wrote:
I am starting to think that maybe Gus has run out of ideas and maybe it is time we looked for the next stage manager. I sat through the Boro game and we looked out of ideas and never looked dangerous in the last 3rd. Top 10 might be a stretch after all.
Fortress Amex! Laughable.....I think the better teams have worked us out and we look staid and predictable and toothless....

i said the same weeks ago.theres no strength in depth, which has been proved when cms was injured.we are predictable and devoid of ideas in the last 3rd.i dont know what the answer is if the club dont want to buy a goalscorer .kenwyne jones would be good.

Ok.....its not a question of not wanting to buy a goalscorer... its what we are going to pay. Huddersfield got 8 million for Rhodes so they can afford loads...
we cant ..and wont pay over the top .
We go back to all the ridiculous names that were being banded about during the close season.......and no doubt will start to appear again as the January transfer window approaches.
Yes Kenwyne Jones would be good....we know that.... But we wont be able to afford his huge wages.I think we have been lulled into a state of euphoria with the loan signing of Bridge..lets not forget that Man City are paying 90% of his wages while he plays for us. Lets not begin to think he will be with us next season !!! We must be realistic ...yes
we need the goalscorer..dont you think that the management know that?

wenners wrote:

the taffster wrote:

Cash Bull wrote:
I am starting to think that maybe Gus has run out of ideas and maybe it is time we looked for the next stage manager. I sat through the Boro game and we looked out of ideas and never looked dangerous in the last 3rd. Top 10 might be a stretch after all.
Fortress Amex! Laughable.....I think the better teams have worked us out and we look staid and predictable and toothless....

i said the same weeks ago.theres no strength in depth, which has been proved when cms was injured.we are predictable and devoid of ideas in the last 3rd.i dont know what the answer is if the club dont want to buy a goalscorer .kenwyne jones would be good.

Ok.....its not a question of not wanting to buy a goalscorer... its what we are going to pay. Huddersfield got 8 million for Rhodes so they can afford loads...
we cant ..and wont pay over the top .
We go back to all the ridiculous names that were being banded about during the close season.......and no doubt will start to appear again as the January transfer window approaches.
Yes Kenwyne Jones would be good....we know that.... But we wont be able to afford his huge wages.I think we have been lulled into a state of euphoria with the loan signing of Bridge..lets not forget that Man City are paying 90% of his wages while he plays for us. Lets not begin to think he will be with us next season !!! We must be realistic ...yes
we need the goalscorer..dont you think that the management know that?

we had the ideal forward in glenn murray,and let him go because he wanted a few grand more a week.in my opinion he was worth that,we have never really replaced him.its not black and white,you cant say no player is going to earn a maximum of 10k a week.you will end up mid table championship fodder.we are getting 26000 home crowds.which in gate receipts exceeds 0,5 million.thats without the revenue from other things on top like beer,programs and of course the lovely pies.break the mould otherwise gus will be telling us all again we,re not quite ready to go up again this ,season.then he will be off and we will all be doooomed.

pjwilk wrote:
What manager playing at home and wanting to win would play one foreward up front and with two wide men sitting on the bench.Only when we are 1-0 down and much too late in the game does the manager try to win the game,just shows that Gus is still a rookie manager.

Spot on, not a formation for a home team

ShorehamBeachcomber wrote:
Same old Gus says he is going to sign a goalscorer then signs 6 that can't score.
The misses from Hammond, CMS, Barnes, Dobbie & crofts were all Dreadful.
If they had fallen to Buckley he would have got a hat trick but the only goalscorer in the last 4 games was benched at the time. Good call

Yes indeed

Vince wrote:

the taffster wrote:

Cash Bull wrote: I am starting to think that maybe Gus has run out of ideas and maybe it is time we looked for the next stage manager. I sat through the Boro game and we looked out of ideas and never looked dangerous in the last 3rd. Top 10 might be a stretch after all. Fortress Amex! Laughable.....I think the better teams have worked us out and we look staid and predictable and toothless....

i said the same weeks ago.theres no strength in depth, which has been proved when cms was injured.we are predictable and devoid of ideas in the last 3rd.i dont know what the answer is if the club dont want to buy a goalscorer .kenwyne jones would be good.

The point is, Gus has always wanted to play the Barcelona way, which is through the midfield, with any one of a number of players capable of making incisive runs and scoring. The problem is that he is priced out of finding the players who can do that. He is therefore continuously reviewing and modifying the way the team play to achieve the optimum solution for us with the personnel at his disposal. If some players can't adapt or don't perform, then he will get replacements who can. For example, Noone could not deliver the right passes. I was very impressed by Lopez who seems to be learning what Gus wants. Barnes was sharper, but not quite there yet (a work in progress). Craig is so much better than last year

Gus is a brilliant manager and motivator, and I am sure he knows what to do to, and will get the right men in.

People moan that his tactics are too predictable, but having watched the Middlesbrough game, I was impressed at the way we played from the start, and Middlesbrough, a very good team, were hanging on for dear life. Everyone knows how Man-utd and Chelsea play, but how many teams can stop them?

I am convinced that Gus is now millimetres away from turning us into THE major force in the Championship.
Blackpool, Cardiff and others are pretty to watch, but they concede a lot of goals. Gus is working on the whole team, has made us far more fluid from the back and is now close to completing the jigsaw.

Great post!