Brighton 1 v Wolves 0 a disappointing visit to the south coast verdict thread

[Parkins left foot]

The stats will show that we bossed this - we still lost

Not going to 'slit my wrists' as a result, but we do need to get a greater clinical edge when we are dominating games. When your RWB is the most effective striker there is an issue to solve.

We have had a reasonable start to the PL journey, but there is still a way to go.

 

[Siggy]

Had most of the possession, controlled the game but utterly toothless in the final third. I honestly think it should have been Cav instead of Traore from the start, we didn't utilise his pace at all today and there were some glaring problems that you see more of when he starts ie not tracking back and marking (he got a right rollocking of Coady for it)

So a few problems, Boly is the only CB bringing the ball out, Bennett who has been excellent for most of this season just doesn't do that. Equally Otto whilst excellent defensively doesn't offer enough going forward for my money and in a game like this it was ready for Vinagre to attack up that left side and put pressure on 38 year old Bruno.

Easy to say in hindsight and with tougher games now coming up I am sure we will stick with the more defensive players but I really think we have missed a trick there.

Also Doc was dreadful, miscontrolled the ball several times and despite getting in good positions several times his finishing was terribad.

MOTM - Boly

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Shit happens at this level. We'll be back. Pas de probleme.

I really don't think a mass panic is appropriate here yet, but we do need to find some teeth up front, that's for sure.

 

[Lycan]

If the referee had made the right call with the penalty in the first half we go on to win that comfortably.

Traoré, Costa, Neves and Doherty were poor IMO. The rest of the team played well and we didn't deserve to lose.

 

[Deano]

Thought that was poor. We had a lot of the play but Brighton weren't very good and we should have definitely taken something from the game.

We started showing more urgency at the end but apart from the last 15 minutes their keeper could have bought his deck chair. Of course not time to panic but We could really have done with something from that with Spurs and Arsenal coming up. Disappointing.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

We didnt boss this at all. We looked lethargic at times and Brighton closed us down well. We came out for the 2nd half like we were asleep and practicaly gifted Brighton the goal with some poor defending.

We improved as time went on in the 2nd half, but as we all know, if you dont convert your chances, you will get punished.

Lets be honest here; many of us questioned signing Leo permanently as he hasnt scored in the League since Blues last Dec, and based on what we've seen since then, it doesnt look like he will ever score again. Did he even touch the ball once he came on today? Total waste of a shirt and it highlights how thin we are for options up front.

 

[Premier Quality]

up to the final third, we were excellent. They had two chances - a corner they headed wide and a spannered shot that fell for Murray, they offered nothing outside of that and we controlled the game.

Front third though, we were pretty poor - our final ball in particular was awful, especially second half.

Agree with the point on Bennett - he’s been excellent defensively, but when we’re pressing he always goes back to Coady and it relieves the pressure. Maybe time for the Donk...

We need to improve going forward, we won’t finish top half if we don’t start scoring more than we are at the moment.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Costa couldn't cross a road
Doc couldn't hit a cows arse with a banjo

Brighton got lucky but scored. You do that u can win games. See us v West ham.

Really really must score when we are having dominant spells.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Better check who is left handed...

 

[The Bion]

Very frustrating. Even more than Leicester as at least there we could point to the woodwork denying us, freak own goal etc. This was a bad bit of defending (thought Coady and Bennett both switched off, imo) and bang, we're done.

Doc probably the only one to come out of that in credit - few were ok, few were poor.

Not going to bang on about lack of goals as we all know it, the team and staff will as well. Unfortunately it's not something we can magically fix though. It does remind me of what some of the Porto and Valencia fans used to say about Nuno, that his teams just didn't score enough goals and are too defensive. It sounded like madness at the time but a bit more plausible now. I'm not totally against it as it's seen us good so far, and it probably will for a while yet, but we are very obviously struggling to win if we concede first. I don't think it's as simple as "buy better players" as those sort of players just aren't out there in any great quantity, nor are they cheap.

Everyone will likely be annoyed for a few days and rightly so but we all need to suck it up and get ready for Spurs next week, under the lights at the Mol should be a special occasion and they'll need our full support. Maybe being underdogs will help us a bit, who knows.

 

[malta mick]

so many poor aspects to our play, many already stated. Bennett shown up today again as can't pick a pass forward so just lumps it, We seem slow on the ball whereas they were so quick to close us down. any ball wide and our player had 2 or 3 men straight on him - made me think they had 14 on the pitch.We must start scoring, as we had several good chances, not including a certain penalty. agreed at preset Traore only works as impact sub. he was up against a 65 year old for god sake, but takes the ball from halfway where he gets crowded out

 

[Parkins left foot]

Well at least we have 2 easy games coming up with Spurs at home & Arsenal away :icon_biggrin:

Will be there for both of them so looking for a response & 6 points!

 

[Tredman]

Raul's first touch was a bit pants today, if the balls doesn;t stick to him up front our whole system doesn't work.

Actually thought Leo looked ok when he came on, was always behind play though.

 

[The Bear]

I only caught the last 30 mins but they were hanging on at times.

And yeah Bennett, goes back to him in space and he just gives it back to the keeper or Coady. Passing isn't his game though so hardly much of a criticism given his good form lately.

 

[Pablowolf]

As a loyal Northbank attendee, I turned the stream off after 80 minutes.

We don't have the striker that would thrive on us belting in crosses as we did today.

 

[Parkins left foot]

I only caught the last 30 mins but they were hanging on at times.

And yeah Bennett, goes back to him in space and he just gives it back to the keeper or Coady. Passing isn't his game though so hardly much of a criticism given his good form lately.

We possibly do need a bit more from that position though - Bennett has deserved to stay there up to now, but maybe Dendoncker should be given an opportunity to show that he can do better in that role

 

[Lord Knows]

I thought our collective play was very good until we reached the final third then our individual play took over and it became much to frantic when the requirement was calm heads.

 

[YoungWolf]

up to the final third, we were excellent. They had two chances - a corner they headed wide and a spannered shot that fell for Murray, they offered nothing outside of that and we controlled the game.

Front third though, we were pretty poor - our final ball in particular was awful, especially second half.

Agree with the point on Bennett - he’s been excellent defensively, but when we’re pressing he always goes back to Coady and it relieves the pressure. Maybe time for the Donk...

We need to improve going forward, we won’t finish top half if we don’t start scoring more than we are at the moment.

Agree with most of this.

Disappointing game to lose given our dominance. Brighton offered so little - but we only really looked like scoring in the last ten minutes. Doc’s miss in first half felt crucial. Not sure what penalty appeal we had in first half Lycan? At a corner maybe?

Positives were Jota and Cav when they came on I felt. Traore when we got the ball to him was very threatening (but still lots of work to do). Boly was absolutely immense. What a player

 

[Tredman]

Agree with most of this.

Disappointing game to lose given our dominance. Brighton offered so little - but we only really looked like scoring in the last ten minutes. Doc’s miss in first half felt crucial. Not sure what penalty appeal we had in first half Lycan? At a corner maybe?

Positives were Jota and Cav when they came on I felt. Traore when we got the ball to him was very threatening (but still lots of work to do). Boly was absolutely immense. What a player

Clear handball on Doc's shot midway through the half.

 

[YoungWolf]

Oh yes! I had no idea at the time but will take the word of those who watched online of course!