Pope John XXIII
Vital Football Legend
Something very special happened over the last week. Yes, we won at Anfield, which is incredibly special. But something else- the media started to respect us, for the first time really in over 2 years in the Premier League.
A whole bunch of talking heads, who had all predicted us to either struggle or be relegated (often through wishful thinking about Ipswich and Leicester), started taking notice that we, to quote a notable previous manager, "are a good side".
It's a respect we have not had before and has had to be hard earned. It will be easily lost. Momentum is everything. We are unbeaten in the PL, but from mostly quite comfortable fixtures. If we can remain unbeaten from 5 including Liverpool and Brighton away, then it points to some massive progress.
Brighton are an inoffensive club. I don't think anyone begrudges their success. I've seen us play them in three different divisions and I don't think I've ever had anything but kind words for their fans or their club. I'd like us to beat them of course, but as a club they are one I would wish all the best to.
Brighton Style
I would say Brighton are a better side than the Whoscored stats say- although whoscored's team of the week had not a single Forest player in it, so there we go.
They are an attacking possession side. Under Hurzeler they are all about fluidity in possession, midfield control and seamlessly linking the build up. They are aggressive in defence, pressing and disrupting opposition build up play.
For anyone interested, a full tactical analysis is here: https://totalfootballanalysis.com/h...ler-brighton-202425-tactical-analysis-tactics
Brighton Formation
Generally a 4-2-3-1, although at home to Ipswich they set up a 4-4-2- which didn't really work. I would expect the above.
However, this is fluid. In build up they transition to a kind of 4-2-4 and at times a 4-3-3 with a single pivot and two number 8s. This creates a kind of attacking triangle and overloads.
However, they can be susceptible to the counter in these positions; catch them on the turnover and with wingbacks so far forward you could be attacking essentially a 2-5-3 formation and catching them out.
Brighton Players
Brighton have spent a very large amount of money this summer- one of the highest in Europe, after several seasons of huge net profits. Consequently there are some new and emerging faces.
Up front they have a few choices.
Danny Welbeck is one of the most successful and ensuring low-scoring strikers in PL history, with 16 seasons of single digit goal returns to his name. Not trying to provoke a Popism here, but everytime I've seen him I thought he was poor.
They also have Evan Ferguson who is NOT poor- but isn't playing much. Only 19, he had a purple patch last season that unfortunately included an outstanding strike at the CG. I thought he was the real deal, but that was one of only 15 games he started.
Another who scored in their win at our place last year was João Pedro, £35m from Watford. He can play up front or in the attacking midfield and is... Really good. But because he is positioned in the attacking midfield he isn't a big scorer- I think he got two against us and only 9 for the season.
New £40m signing from Leeds Georginio Rutter could be in ACM. Not one I really get to be honest. His stats were good but not breathtaking for the championship. They see something in him I guess.
We didn't see Kaoru Mitoma last season at the CG, but we managed to keep him quiet the season before. He is outstanding quality on the left wing, so tricky and intelligent. But injuries limited him to 15 starts and 7 goal contributions last season in the PL. At 27 he is a lot older than I thought as well.
New signing Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle looks fantastic on the right wing. Taking advantage of Newcastle's PSR problems, they got him and we got Anderson. Our deal was a lot cheaper with a crap goalkeeper going the other way, and I love Anderson. But Minteh is not one Newcastle wanted to lose, even though he has only one assist so far.
They have lost Pascal Groß, which is massive in DCM as he really ran the show against us last year. As a replacement they signed Mats Weiffer for £25m from Feyenoord. He has been one of their best players so far, being excellent in the air and in almost all aspects of defence.
Next to him is James Milner who is close to approaching old Testament kinds of ages (maybe that's an exaggeration but he does turn 39 this season). Milner is just... Milner.
At the back it's the usual. Lewis Dunk who should have had his testimonial a couple of seasons ago. Jan Paul van Hecke who is a great passing and aerial defender.
Estupinan has hardly played so may still have injuries, which is great- as he is outstanding. In which case it's Veltman who is ok with a young 19 year old Jack Hinshelwood having deputised all season on the left.
Here are the players
Form
Same points as us, probably from harder games. They easily beat Everton away; I thought they were extremely lucky to beat Man Utd. Amazing draw at Arsenal, disappointing one to Ipswich.
Head to Head
Extended to show how we have played these in three different divisions with pretty even success between us- they did the double last season (and didn't deserve to), and kept beating us when they were challenging for promotion
Who's the ****** in the black?
King ****** today - Rob Jones, Scouser, absolute tool who sent Boly off against Bournemouth for being stamped on, couldn't decide if a handball was in the area or not and consequently engineered a 3-2 home defeat defeat
His record for us before that though is pretty good. Reffed our first PL home against West Ham, was called to the screen to view a penalty for them and didn't give it. Disallowed Burnley's goal at home last year too.
VAR is Peter Bankes, another Scouser not allowed to ref Liverpool or Everton
A whole bunch of talking heads, who had all predicted us to either struggle or be relegated (often through wishful thinking about Ipswich and Leicester), started taking notice that we, to quote a notable previous manager, "are a good side".
It's a respect we have not had before and has had to be hard earned. It will be easily lost. Momentum is everything. We are unbeaten in the PL, but from mostly quite comfortable fixtures. If we can remain unbeaten from 5 including Liverpool and Brighton away, then it points to some massive progress.
Brighton are an inoffensive club. I don't think anyone begrudges their success. I've seen us play them in three different divisions and I don't think I've ever had anything but kind words for their fans or their club. I'd like us to beat them of course, but as a club they are one I would wish all the best to.
Brighton Style
I would say Brighton are a better side than the Whoscored stats say- although whoscored's team of the week had not a single Forest player in it, so there we go.
They are an attacking possession side. Under Hurzeler they are all about fluidity in possession, midfield control and seamlessly linking the build up. They are aggressive in defence, pressing and disrupting opposition build up play.
For anyone interested, a full tactical analysis is here: https://totalfootballanalysis.com/h...ler-brighton-202425-tactical-analysis-tactics
Brighton Formation
Generally a 4-2-3-1, although at home to Ipswich they set up a 4-4-2- which didn't really work. I would expect the above.
However, this is fluid. In build up they transition to a kind of 4-2-4 and at times a 4-3-3 with a single pivot and two number 8s. This creates a kind of attacking triangle and overloads.
However, they can be susceptible to the counter in these positions; catch them on the turnover and with wingbacks so far forward you could be attacking essentially a 2-5-3 formation and catching them out.
Brighton Players
Brighton have spent a very large amount of money this summer- one of the highest in Europe, after several seasons of huge net profits. Consequently there are some new and emerging faces.
Up front they have a few choices.
Danny Welbeck is one of the most successful and ensuring low-scoring strikers in PL history, with 16 seasons of single digit goal returns to his name. Not trying to provoke a Popism here, but everytime I've seen him I thought he was poor.
They also have Evan Ferguson who is NOT poor- but isn't playing much. Only 19, he had a purple patch last season that unfortunately included an outstanding strike at the CG. I thought he was the real deal, but that was one of only 15 games he started.
Another who scored in their win at our place last year was João Pedro, £35m from Watford. He can play up front or in the attacking midfield and is... Really good. But because he is positioned in the attacking midfield he isn't a big scorer- I think he got two against us and only 9 for the season.
New £40m signing from Leeds Georginio Rutter could be in ACM. Not one I really get to be honest. His stats were good but not breathtaking for the championship. They see something in him I guess.
We didn't see Kaoru Mitoma last season at the CG, but we managed to keep him quiet the season before. He is outstanding quality on the left wing, so tricky and intelligent. But injuries limited him to 15 starts and 7 goal contributions last season in the PL. At 27 he is a lot older than I thought as well.
New signing Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle looks fantastic on the right wing. Taking advantage of Newcastle's PSR problems, they got him and we got Anderson. Our deal was a lot cheaper with a crap goalkeeper going the other way, and I love Anderson. But Minteh is not one Newcastle wanted to lose, even though he has only one assist so far.
They have lost Pascal Groß, which is massive in DCM as he really ran the show against us last year. As a replacement they signed Mats Weiffer for £25m from Feyenoord. He has been one of their best players so far, being excellent in the air and in almost all aspects of defence.
Next to him is James Milner who is close to approaching old Testament kinds of ages (maybe that's an exaggeration but he does turn 39 this season). Milner is just... Milner.
At the back it's the usual. Lewis Dunk who should have had his testimonial a couple of seasons ago. Jan Paul van Hecke who is a great passing and aerial defender.
Estupinan has hardly played so may still have injuries, which is great- as he is outstanding. In which case it's Veltman who is ok with a young 19 year old Jack Hinshelwood having deputised all season on the left.
Here are the players
Form
Same points as us, probably from harder games. They easily beat Everton away; I thought they were extremely lucky to beat Man Utd. Amazing draw at Arsenal, disappointing one to Ipswich.
Head to Head
Extended to show how we have played these in three different divisions with pretty even success between us- they did the double last season (and didn't deserve to), and kept beating us when they were challenging for promotion
Who's the ****** in the black?
King ****** today - Rob Jones, Scouser, absolute tool who sent Boly off against Bournemouth for being stamped on, couldn't decide if a handball was in the area or not and consequently engineered a 3-2 home defeat defeat
His record for us before that though is pretty good. Reffed our first PL home against West Ham, was called to the screen to view a penalty for them and didn't give it. Disallowed Burnley's goal at home last year too.
VAR is Peter Bankes, another Scouser not allowed to ref Liverpool or Everton
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