Match Ratings Match Ratings vs Brighton and Hove Albion (A)

[Singayid]

just posted this in MD thread:

Gold claimed Doherty had a solid defensive display at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday and given Brighton didn’t manage a shot on target that could appear true.
The stats do not exactly back up the argument, though. Doherty did not record a single tackle, clearance or interception and was unable to land a successful cross or key pass, as well as losing possession 15 times (via SofaScore).

I was also getting a little frustrated with Hojbjerg with his 5 yard one-two's which seemed to happen quite a few times. Did anyone else notice this?

 

[EastLondonYid]

For me:

9 - Hojbjerg
8 - Bentancur, Romero, Kane, Dier
7 - Kulu, Davies
6 - Lloris, Reguilon, Doherty, Son

Hojbjerg has been overlooked by most on here for his performance lastnight, maybe not fashionable to praise him.

I thought he was excellent .

 

[Pebble Dash]

Terry Butcher motm.
Romero was very good but you have to wonder about him sometimes hanging around up front.
Is him having a free role a master tactical move by conte?

This is quite likely tactical as we’ve seen 2 sit back and 1 CB drive the ball forward into midfield and beyond. In Italy especially it’s common for a CB to push upfield. The difference between Italy and England, which is often reflected in International football is their tactical discipline. A defender may be very high up the pitch but you’ll struggle to find any gaping holes in his natural position. Whereas in England you would be in danger of being sucker punched on the counter.

 

[stewartd]

According to so many on here our last three wins were against very poor sides Leeds Everton and Brighton where we scored 11 and didnt let in any. They are certainly not top sides but maybe just maybe we made them look very poor and we dont get the credit we deserve, in fact I dont think I can recall the last time it was said on here we were magnificent even when we beat the best team in the world twice. We are not the double side which I rember well, but given the short time and resources Conte has done well and we are much better than a lot of you think we are.

 

[C1w8]

According to so many on here our last three wins were against very poor sides Leeds Everton and Brighton where we scored 11 and didnt let in any. They are certainly not top sides but maybe just maybe we made them look very poor and we dont get the credit we deserve, in fact I dont think I can recall the last time it was said on here we were magnificent even when we beat the best team in the world twice. We are not the double side which I rember well, but given the short time and resources Conte has done well and we are much better than a lot of you think we are.

I'm glad we took the wins the way we did, but it's not just us, everyone is putting these teams to the sword right now if you check the form last 6 games...

The only green above is when they beat each other/beat norwich, not even a draw in the mix....i do think it's fair to say these teams are fodder right now....better beating them than losing though

 

[Arden]

Watched the game on tv, and as I said in match thread, first half I thought we were a bit flat but then the atmosphere seemed a bit flat and Brighton weren't exactly firing either. 2nd half Brighton had 10 mins of huffing and puffing before we took control of the game.

Thought the back three were generally good. Kane grew into the game but sometimes tries to do too much.
Bentancur and PEH both excellent.
Son poor, Doherty poor in possession.

We could and should have had that one sewn up a lot earlier and in the end more convincingly but a wins a win.

 

[HedgieSpur]

Bentancur clearly MOTM for me.

Whoever voted for Son....you need Jesus in your life

 

[PLTuck]

Difficult to call between Dier and Bentancur. Dier was fantastic. Romero and Davies both very good as well, apart from Romero's customary rash moment.

Bentancur is like we've finally got a Carrick replacement. Not a 100% like for like obviously but he gets forward to support the attack, he drops back when Dier, Romero or Davies bombs on. He's very tidy on the ball and covers ground very quickly when pressing. He allows PEH do be more dynamic and get into more forward positions.

I think he's going to prove to be a bargain and a very important player for us.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Brighton are absolute shite atm, can’t hit a barn door, have no aerial threat or target man up front and yet lots of people give Dier MOTM

Blimey, how bad must we have been for him to have been so busy and crucial to our victory?

 

[whitesocks]

Brighton are absolute shite atm, can’t hit a barn door, have no aerial threat or target man up front and yet lots of people give Dier MOTM

Blimey, how bad must we have been for him to have been so busy and crucial to our victory?

Brighton's target was to stay up and with a quarter of the season to go, it is pretty much mission accomplished.
Their fans know this and are finding better things to do with their time.

You're right - we did make hard work of it, and I just hope they were saving themselves for the spammers.

 

[Japhet]

Some excellent performances v Brighton. Kane worked very hard, Kulusevski caused plenty of problems and put in a great shift. Hojbjerg looked more at home in a pivot than I've seen him before and worked tirelessly. Romero was quality both defensively and getting forward. Eric Dier was completely in control. My MOM was Bentancur. He was everywhere and makes those around him play better (notably Hojbjerg). As a CB there's nothing better than a CM in front of you who continually mops up and also gets himself into positions to receive a pass. He wasn't at his best v Utd but he's immediately come back with a MOM performance.

 

[whitesocks]

This is quite likely tactical as we’ve seen 2 sit back and 1 CB drive the ball forward into midfield and beyond. In Italy especially it’s common for a CB to push upfield. The difference between Italy and England, which is often reflected in International football is their tactical discipline. A defender may be very high up the pitch but you’ll struggle to find any gaping holes in his natural position. Whereas in England you would be in danger of being sucker punched on the counter.

Interesting. As Romero moves into midfield, he looks even better than he does in defence.
He looks good up the wing, interchanging passes.
But when he stays in their box, he looks like a spare part.
He is certainly enthusiastic there and more bodies in the box has to be a good thing, but at this level, a forward is such a specialised position and anyone not well drilled in the patterns or isn't instinctive, will struggle to be involved.
He scored, so what do I know, but if we want to throw an extra man in there to cause chaos, then Doherty has long experience of this at both ends of the pitch... He does make things happen.

 

[SpursSince1980]

I'm glad we took the wins the way we did, but it's not just us, everyone is putting these teams to the sword right now if you check the form last 6 games...

View attachment 107627

The only green above is when they beat each other/beat norwich, not even a draw in the mix....i do think it's fair to say these teams are fodder right now....better beating them than losing though

I dunno. I am one of those idiots who believe there really aren't an easy games in the PL. Perhaps this season, you can argue Norwich is way overmatched. But the rest of the teams in the bottom 5 can get a result against anyone in the league (with the exception of City, Pool and Chelsea), and it wouldn't come as a huge surprise. EG: If Man UTD or the Gooners were held to a 1-1 draw away at Burnley or Brighton, I wouldn't be in the slightest bit surprised. Likewise, is Everton go on a four game win streak, it wouldn't be a shock. As the squad they have is perfectly capable of doing so.

Lastly, it should not be overlooked that these same teams we are beating, are in a fight. It's not like they're showing up at these games with nothing to play for.

Sadly, I feel that the Burnley and UTD games have skewed some perspectives. Both of which could have been drastically different results, with a little bit more luck. We didn't deserve to lose either of those games. In both instances we were either slightly better than the opposition, or at least on par and deserved to split the spoils. If both of those games had ended in a draw, I think the narrative around us would be very different. Not just from the media, but from the fans too.

Personally, I feel that our form since the City game has been solid. We've definitely improved a lot since those home games against Soton and Wolves.

 

[tippspur59]

Romero, a real fighter. imagine the shithousing if we Lamela and him together on the pitch.

 

[carpediem991]

7, 6, 7.5, 7.5, 7, 7, 8, 8, 7, 6, 8

 

[VoteMe4Prez]

Sadly, I feel that the Burnley and UTD games have skewed some perspectives. Both of which could have been drastically different results, with a little bit more luck. We didn't deserve to lose either of those games. In both instances we were either slightly better than the opposition, or at least on par and deserved to split the spoils. If both of those games had ended in a draw, I think the narrative around us would be very different. Not just from the media, but from the fans too.

So many missed chances in both games but at least we played quite well in both. It's the 2 home games against Saints and Wolves that still vex me. Antonio kept Winks on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes in both games. Failure to make top 4 might hang on those 2 games and that is entirely on Conte. Also, I want to add I like Winksy in a midfield 3 but in a 2 man middle with out Skipp about is virtually midfield suicide.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Brighton are absolute shite atm, can’t hit a barn door, have no aerial threat or target man up front and yet lots of people give Dier MOTM

Blimey, how bad must we have been for him to have been so busy and crucial to our victory?

Dier was by far the best player on the pitch in the first half, didn't go off when given the opportunity that most modern day players would take after getting that split on his head. And he marshalled the defense superbly throughout.

Goals is what gets the headlines, but they don't come without the right foundation behind them. That's what Dier provided, and why he got so many votes for MOTM.

It's not so long ago that people were claiming Hojbjerg to be an absolute warrior, calling him the heartbeat of this team because he carried on after he got a graze on his shin.

You're just annoyed because a player you've never stopped slagging off has been pretty much our standout player all season.

Salt stings doesn't it!