Finally back

I agree with your balanced assessment of Saturday. We have now lost four games and this was the only one in which I felt the other team were in control against us without ever fully dominating. At Ipswich, nobody could have argued if we'd gone in two up and been playing against ten men at half time. But for the width of a post we'd have gone 2-1 up at Huddersfield and gone on to win imo. And we could easily have beaten Reading with a bit of luck in the box.

The fact that we were beaten at Brighton without really looking like winning I think says more about them. They weren't overly spectacular but very organised, solid, and have improved on a near promotion team with the vastly experienced and still effective Murray. In Knockaert they have one of the stand-out players and Dunk and Duffy are probably the most solid central defence in the division.

Brighton's only apparent weakness is two dodgy full-backs and sadly we weren't able to take advantage of this, despite both getting early bookings, as Kent was on the bench and Adam, imho, had his least effective game since re-joining last year. Conor was quiet by his standards but Josh won quite a lot of ball, made and nearly took our nearest effort and impressed the Brighton fans I spoke to. We didn't lose it in midfield. Yiadom was largely fine again and I even thought Cole K did ok, despite a couple of inevitable beatings from Knockaert and having little or no help from Adam H.

This last point is really at the heart of the matter for me. We play with two wingers, they don't defend well but they are normally potent going forward. It's no surprise to me that the recent games we've lost have been against teams that attack well out wide (Knockaert for Brighton, McLeary for Reading and Huddersfield who had two attacking full backs bombing on all the time) where our full backs have been exposed. But these same wingers have also so often been the catalyst for our five marvellous victories.

In short, if you live by the sword, sometimes, particularly at this level where other teams have some good swordsmen too, you can also die by it. But I'd much rather watch the current team's often wonderful rapier like attacking play, win or lose, than living by the parked bus, zimmer frame or handbrake, employed by the managers last time we were in this division.

Hopefully, Kent will be back tomorrow and I'd like to see Marley in the middle up-front, then I think we'll be 'reight.

COYR!

 

Keith Hill has the worst managerial points per game record of any manager in the club's near 130 year history. That isn't opinion, it's fact.

 

Totally agree with that and I also think our lack of sharpness in the final third was a factor in how the game went. Goals change games, and we've scored plenty of those this season.

On Saturday we weren't as sharp in that department. Too many players wanted an extra touch and were dispossessed. The pass, lay off and shot from Scowen near the end was more what we've been accustomed to seeing from the lads.

It was always going to be difficult in this league, so we shouldn't be shocked to lose a few games. Wouldnt change places with one or two "established" teams at the moment.







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I went to Brighton in Hill's second season, we lost 5-1 and it was a disgrace of a performance.

 

Yep, was at both and the 2-0 weren't much better mate. Sunday afternoon as I recall, with a massive hangover, and we hardly had a shot!

 

I remember listening on radio to that, think it was moved due to some firework display or something. The 18 months under Hill were torture bar about 15 games, worst manager I can remember.

 

Thought we were 2nd best all over park, need to make a change up front with Winnall dropping to bench. Watkins to replace him if fully fit. Kent back on wing

 

Disliked Hill with a passion but far worse under the great pretender, Johnson.