The Footie Thread

[HomecountiesJohn]

Do you think Brighton can kick on in the next few seasons? Sadly I think they’ll have their couple of good years and then just scrap it out with the rest like West Ham, Wolves etc etc constant relegation battles until one year they finally succumb.
Happens all too often, only the huge clubs can sustain top football these days it seems, apart from Chelsea obviously

If they can continue to unearth the standard of players at the prices they currently are then i think they can. They look like they have got a great set up. My only concern keeping hold of players is the ability to pay the wages when the top teams come asking and unsettling. European football can be a distraction in the league as West Ham and plenty of other clubs in years gone by have shown. I hope Brighton make a real attempt to establish themselves. As the team becomes more successful the fans expectations become greater, that could be a negative.

 

[Billysboots]

If they can continue to unearth the standard of players at the prices they currently are then i think they can. They look like they have got a great set up. My only concern keeping hold of players is the ability to pay the wages when the top teams come asking and unsettling. European football can be a distraction in the league as West Ham and plenty of other clubs in years gone by have shown. I hope Brighton make a real attempt to establish themselves. As the team becomes more successful the fans expectations become greater, that could be a negative.

It’s not just the players they need to keep hold of. The manager has been an absolute revelation. He’s manager of the season for me.

 

[HomecountiesJohn]

How do you fluke a 38 game season

Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea,Arsenal and Liverpool massively under performed that season. The only challengers Spurs, reverted to type, Spursy'd it and ended up finishing 3rd!

 

[HomecountiesJohn]

It’s not just the players they need to keep hold of. The manager has been an absolute revelation. He’s manager of the season for me.

One would hope the Manager shows the level of commitment and lead by example to his players to try and build some sort of dynasty at Brighton. If there successful on the pitch i see no reason why they couldnt attract investment, greater sponsorship to be able to compete.

De Zerbi should definitely be in the running for MOTY, i wouldnt argue against it.

 

[Orikoru]

Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea,Arsenal and Liverpool massively under performed that season. The only challengers Spurs, reverted to type, Spursy'd it and ended up finishing 3rd!

Agree with the first part but the part about Spurs is a common misconception. We were never really likely to win, it was Arsenal who were top at Christmas/New Year or something like that. They fell away and we were just the 'best of the rest' for a while but we were always several points behind. Us bottling was a media invention, I don't think we were ever even top of the league.

 

[HomecountiesJohn]

Agree with the first part but the part about Spurs is a common misconception. We were never really likely to win, it was Arsenal who were top at Christmas/New Year or something like that. They fell away and we were just the 'best of the rest' for a while but we were always several points behind. Us bottling was a media invention, I don't think we were ever even top of the league.

Being top at Christmas/New Year is irrelevant, no trophies are given out for that. Spurs were 5pts behind with 4 games to play and finished 11pts behind. Thats the evidence of Spurs being Spursy.

 

[Orikoru]

Being top at Christmas/New Year is irrelevant, no trophies are given out for that. Spurs were 5pts behind with 4 games to play and finished 11pts behind. Thats the evidence of Spurs being Spursy.

That doesn't even mean anything. Being 5 points behind with only 4 games left is not exactly a strong position is it? Coming 2nd or 3rd is inconsequential if you're not able to win anyway, the prize is the same - Champion's League football.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

If they can continue to unearth the standard of players at the prices they currently are then i think they can. They look like they have got a great set up. My only concern keeping hold of players is the ability to pay the wages when the top teams come asking and unsettling. European football can be a distraction in the league as West Ham and plenty of other clubs in years gone by have shown. I hope Brighton make a real attempt to establish themselves. As the team becomes more successful the fans expectations become greater, that could be a negative.

Unfortunately I think Brighton will be in that place where they will always be having to sell their best players ,

This summer they will prob lose MacAllister and Caciedo - and clubs are already circling over Mitoma and Ferguson.

Other clubs can pay the big wages and over the regular European football

Also the manager will also prob look to move on

But I hope they continue to recruit well bringing in the very good players to keep them a solid top half table team.

 

[Tashyboy]

I would say this Brighton Team is technically a better team than that Leicester side that won the league. They have played some outstanding football this season and are the only team to have played football at the standard that Manchester City and Liverpool have produced between them over the last 5yrs. The club seems to be operating like a top 4 club. I've really enjoyed watching Brighton this season and i hope they continue to improve next season.
Leicester's league win was a great acheivement but i also think it was a fluke.

I saw Leicester when they came to the Etihad. They battered City that day 3-1 and it could have been more. That season was as open as any I can remember and is probably how we would like the Prem to be every year ( unless you’re a city fan).
I honestly don’t think Leicester got the credit they deserved

 

[Piece]

Grealish in and KDB out?

Grealish has certainly started playing with more freedom at City to do what he does best - but he's no KDB (less goals, assists, appearances, mins played, passes, shots, touches)

KDB had a right dodgy patch mid-season, so versus the ones I've selected he has missed out. BUT, an on-form KDB gets in...

 

[HomecountiesJohn]

That doesn't even mean anything. Being 5 points behind with only 4 games left is not exactly a strong position is it? Coming 2nd or 3rd is inconsequential if you're not able to win anyway, the prize is the same - Champion's League football.

Whoosh, right over your head. You've disputed the "Spursy" narrative.
Spurs were 2nd and drew 1-1 with West Brom and 2-2 with Chelsea respectively despite being 1-0 & 2-0 up and still finished 3rd. That is hard evidence of Spurs being "Spursy".

How did Spurs do in the Champions League the following season?

 

[HomecountiesJohn]

Unfortunately I think Brighton will be in that place where they will always be having to sell their best players ,

This summer they will prob lose MacAllister and Caciedo - and clubs are already circling over Mitoma and Ferguson.

Other clubs can pay the big wages and over the regular European football

Also the manager will also prob look to move on

But I hope they continue to recruit well bringing in the very good players to keep them a solid top half table team.

Tony Bloom just needs to set up a new company and he'll be able to sponsor Brighton to fund the wage bill.

 

[Hobbit]

Unfortunately I think Brighton will be in that place where they will always be having to sell their best players ,

This summer they will prob lose MacAllister and Caciedo - and clubs are already circling over Mitoma and Ferguson.

Other clubs can pay the big wages and over the regular European football

Also the manager will also prob look to move on

But I hope they continue to recruit well bringing in the very good players to keep them a solid top half table team.

I sort of agree with what you’re saying but it will be about what other clubs are willing to pay as wages AND will they be offering European football. Don’t forget, the top teams in the Prem already have top players in those positions. I may well(probably) be wrong but I wouldn’t say it’s 100% certain.

My concern is they do a Burnley or, to a certain extent, a West Ham. Get into Europe but the squad isn’t good enough and end up fighting relegation.

 

[HomecountiesJohn]

I saw Leicester when they came to the Etihad. They battered City that day 3-1 and it could have been more. That season was as open as any I can remember and is probably how we would like the Prem to be every year ( unless you’re a city fan).
I honestly don’t think Leicester got the credit they deserved

I remember that game, i was in Dubai watching it with my son and his work friends, his boss was there, he was a Manchester City Fan too. He wasnt happy watching Leicester tear his team apart. I think they did, more than enough credit was given.

 

[HomecountiesJohn]

I sort of agree with what you’re saying but it will be about what other clubs are willing to pay as wages AND will they be offering European football. Don’t forget, the top teams in the Prem already have top players in those positions. I may well(probably) be wrong but I wouldn’t say it’s 100% certain.

My concern is they do a Burnley or, to a certain extent, a West Ham. Get into Europe but the squad isn’t good enough and end up fighting relegation.

Having watched Brighton this season and the other English teams in the Europa, i'd be confident they can comfortably compete. There squad has the technical ability, though it lacks european experience. What they lack i think the manager more than makes up for. His experience in Europe will be vital.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I sort of agree with what you’re saying but it will be about what other clubs are willing to pay as wages AND will they be offering European football. Don’t forget, the top teams in the Prem already have top players in those positions. I may well(probably) be wrong but I wouldn’t say it’s 100% certain.

My concern is they do a Burnley or, to a certain extent, a West Ham. Get into Europe but the squad isn’t good enough and end up fighting relegation.

The top teams will always look to overload for players - they will just offload those not performing

Both Caciedo and MacAllister will start for Arsenal and Liverpool if those deals go through


And the likes of Mitoma and Ferguson will certainly challenge in any squad

But If they keep recruiting well and being careful with Europe then they will be fine - think they are certainly better run than West Ham as example

 

[Orikoru]

Whoosh, right over your head. You've disputed the "Spursy" narrative.
Spurs were 2nd and drew 1-1 with West Brom and 2-2 with Chelsea respectively despite being 1-0 & 2-0 up and still finished 3rd. That is hard evidence of Spurs being "Spursy".

How did Spurs do in the Champions League the following season?

League was already long gone when those results happened. All they did was make it a mathematical impossibility. My point is, if we were top by 5 points and then got those exact two results, that would be a bottlejob. It doesn't work if you're chasing and simply fall short.

We did poorly in Europe the following season, but achieved our highest ever points total in the league. Now that was the best Spurs side I've seen, unfortunately Chelsea were just unstoppable that season.

 

[nickjdavis]

If they can continue to unearth the standard of players at the prices they currently are then i think they can. They look like they have got a great set up. My only concern keeping hold of players is the ability to pay the wages when the top teams come asking and unsettling. European football can be a distraction in the league as West Ham and plenty of other clubs in years gone by have shown. I hope Brighton make a real attempt to establish themselves. As the team becomes more successful the fans expectations become greater, that could be a negative.

Depends on how much the identification of that talent pool was down their old technical director Dan Ashworth who has since moved on.

I'd happily take MacAllister and Mitoma to Newcastle ...they're the sort of players we need to be adding to build the squad...we don't need "marquee" big name signings at this stage of the "journey".

 

[Tashyboy]

I remember that game, i was in Dubai watching it with my son and his work friends, his boss was there, he was a Manchester City Fan too. He wasnt happy watching Leicester tear his team apart. I think they did, more than enough credit was given.

If you look at the league that season, they finished 10 points clear of Arsenal. I think they lost three games. But the amount of times I have heard it said that Leicester were lucky because it was a weak premier league that year. When has it ever been weak.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

Not sure I've seen a worse Chelsea starting 11 since pre abramovich.... And there was me hoping Chelsea could pull off a shock.