The fine margins thing is true but better teams, somewhat predictably, find those margins fall in their favour. The subs did make some difference. A couple of good crosses from Smyth and runs from Saito. I also think he should run with the 'kids'. I'd rather lose watching them have a real go as opposed to yesterday's offering. I don't usually get too despondent after a loss but, going bottom of the league has brought a new low (pun intentional!)
Now I have had an evening and night to block out anything from yesterday, I can only really try to pick out anything positive: Frey and Cook played well. Kieran Morgan did enough for me to suggest that he replaces Madsen on Tuesday. He (unlike the rest of the midfield) ran past their lines to receive a pass going forwards and looked for a pass forwards. He had energy that others seriously lacked. Saito also showed a willingness to attack. He should also start on Tuesday.
The reality is it is becoming clear Marti just doesn't know his best team because key positions are all underperforming as well as we have too many lightweights, particularly in midfield. The defenders fartarse about because there's too little movement ahead of them and we're susceptible to the press where we usually make errors. It's a chore watching this dross week after week and other teams have quickly worked out our weaknesses which are plentiful. We had 15 shots but there was an inevitability about the result once we went behind. 3 corners for a home team chasing a game says it all. The lack of confidence is palpable and the opposition feed off it, Marti has to work this out quickly or he'll be another sad statistic, something none of us thought possible at the start of the season...
Fine margins are usually what win/lose games. Fox's mistakes, in my opinion are comparable to Chair trying to chip the keeper from 3mm. All ifs and buts which becomes irrelevant at the final whistle. The bottom line is, we aren't good enough, whether it be the players, tactics, formation or all 3. I want to be entertained when I travel 50-100 miles plus with all the costs involved, I don't want to be leaving on 80 minutes because I'm bored ****less, nor do I want to wait til the 95th minute before we realise that we have to pass forwards to score a goal. We have been so easy and predictable to play against. We let opponents get back in shape by slowly moving the ball across defence back to Nardi, this enables them to set up a press quite easily. Because we are so deep, everyone comes short, towards our goal to receive the ball, generally with their back to goal and lays it off, the press starts and out only option is to lump it forwards to an isolated Frey. We ask miracles of him, the opposition win the ball and control the game with us no further than our 18 yard box.
You did enough for me to replace Madsen. It’s incredible he followed up being such an utter ponce at Derby with that.
Just a bit of humour , while we dwell in the dolldrums of despair , hope this is not Marti with his troops , but they seriously need to get their act togther very quickly
At least something positive along with Meister Frey. Has to be said that the Nourry analytics machine which we can assume has driven recruitment over the summer looks a best in dire need of a service and more likely scrapping entirely. We’ve got a load of liabilities in on the evidence to date.
These are the signings made in the summer, with my verdicts based on what I've seen to date..... Daniel Bennie (LW | £250k from Perth Glory) - Don't think I've seen him Liam Morrison (CB | undisclosed from Bayern Munich) - Hasn't looked up to much Hevertton Santos (RB | free from Estrela Amadora) - Hasn't looked up to much Paul Nardi (GK | free transfer from Gent) - Good signing Zan Celar (CF | £1.7m from Lugano) - Has looked completely out of his depth, but surely has to be better than we've seen Jonathan Varane (DM | £875k from Sporting Gijon) - Needs time Karamoko Dembele (AM | loan from Brest) - Good signing Koki Saito (LW | loan from Lommel SK) -Good signing Nicolas Madsen (CM | £3.4m from Westerlo) - Flashes of quality, but too lightweight for DM. Underperforming. Harrison Ashby (RB | loan from Newcastle United) - Decent signing Nathan Shepperd (GK | released) - Not seen A curate's egg of signings really, but far from a bunch of duds. I still maintain that Cifuentes should be doing much better with what he has.
Didn't realise Madsen cost that much, he's been the stand out disappointment to me. He allows the play to pass him so often. In the first half we had a few shots from outside the box, not one on target. His effort wasn't just high, it was so half-hearted, with no conviction or effort. Just swung a boot and got the ball as far away from himself as possible.
He's so easy to play around, very little movement. I haven't witnessed a single thing from him that shows he can play anywhere in midfield. Very poor signing
He doesn't move enough to do much to be honest. A complete passenger, one we can't keep affording to carry.
We could have the statue of Michael Jackson off the Fayed estate, at least we would have a saleable asset even if we made a loss and it would be more useful and mobile
Hayden is under contract to Newcastle until 2026, although not in their current squad. But it what was reported in the summer that they were prepared to release him. The 50K per week wages (took a pay cut whilst on loan with us last season) might have been the issue. I believe we can't sort out a transfer until January, if we are still interested and probably still in the s**t.
It wasn’t Nourry’s system. He was a consultant working for Retexo, a football strategy and analytics company. It’s almost impossible to attribute success (or failure) directly to their services, as is the way with all clever consultancies. Jamestown Analytics is the company behind Brighton’s recruitment which seems to be going ok.
Fair shout. I think you overrate Dembele and Saito a bit, but they don’t look totally useless. Ashby gets stuck in and then wanders around aimlessly. I think we have actually signed Dembele. The judge of this will be whether we get our money back plus some. At the moment the two biggest buys, Celar and Madsen, look very unlikely to be worth more at the end of the season than when we bought them. But there is time. Cifuentes has said the players brought in fit the way he wants to play so he better get it ****ing working sharpish.
I've seen Bennie play and he seemed decent in the 1 time I saw him. But he's young and looks like he'd get knocked around by some bigger players. Morrison looked very good in the one time I've seen him but he's already a sicknote? Santos looks like he shouldn't be a defender. He seems to have something as a player but I'd rather him be a right midfielder. Nardi is quality. Celar... I don't really feel like he's had much of a chance. Not in terms of minutes on the pitch but in terms of anyone delivering him a decent ball or pass. Which is the case for any striker that comes to us these last few years. Varane looks a good player, imo, from the little I've seen. Obviously, he hasn't played at all in England. He just needs to get his wearabouts. Dembele is a good little player but physically lightweight and doesn't want any responsibility. He will only play well if the rest of the team are playing well. Not a strong character, imo. Saito looks good. Good competition for the wings and/or for wingback positions if we're going down that route. Madsen... the most infuriating player. Should not be anywhere near the senior team until he can sort himself out. Might even think about sending him on loan. He probably has a decent player in him but can he cope with the physicality of this league? I'm not sure. Ashby... was the best player on the pitch in his full debut for us but has looked average since. However, I'm convinced there's a very good player in him if and when the whole team gets moving properly. Shepperd... also not seen. We have a good squad. Better than a number of teams in the league. Which is why it's disappointing we're playing this way.
