Where to start with a peculiar afternoon on the South Coast?
It can only be the defining 16 mad-cap minutes at the end of the first half.
Up until Diogo should have put us 2-0 ahead, Wolves were displaying the perfect away performance at the Amex.
Barcelona Brighton were not.
An organised Wolves largely soaked up Brighton’s pedestrian passing with ease, with some sloppy play at the back pounced on by our press.
One such moment led to Jonny, Diogo and Raul combining beautifully for the first goal on 28 minutes, as we saw Diogo returning to his best. He was frequently dropping into those little pockets and driving at the Brighton defence.
If only the former Porto man could have made it 2-0, I think that would have been game, set and match. Wolves were starting to overwhelm the Seagulls with some slick passing and movement in the middle and down the flanks. Our grip on the contest was tightening and we don’t usually let things slip from such dominant positions.
So, to concede two quick-fire goals in the manner we did was disappointing. Coady and Rui simply needed to be more alert to Dale Stephens’ long ball and then Neal Maupay’s shot. For the second, Dendoncker and Doc shouldn’t have allowed Aaron Mooy to squeeze in a pass from the left, with Davy Propper then afforded too much space in the box. The Donk and Saiss are doing sterling jobs but you pine for big Willy when these types of goals are conceded.
In the end, I was relieved to go into the break all square, after more poor passing from Brighton was punished by the onrushing Jonny and clinical Diogo. You know Diogo is back to his best he shows that ice cool precision in front of goal.
The second half was an odd affair, hence my lack of words dedicated to it. Neither side created any clearcut chances, despite Brighton’s more direct approach causing discomfort in our defence. Going forward, we threatened to build up a head of steam at times, but that sharpness was missing.
The disappointment of not making our dominance pay when 1-0 up is balanced out by the character to bounce back and claim a point, extending our unbeaten run in the Premier League to 11 matches in the process.
That sharpness you mention has been missing all season. When we find it someone will get a thumping.
No doubt that’s true Prawny, but given that it hasn’t happened so far then what grounds are there for thinking that it ever will?
The fact that we are sixth in the PREMIER Division – the most competitive in the World – and unbeaten in eleven games while not being at our sharpest and best, would seem grounds enough to me mate.
Yep, we’re doing for sure, well in spite our ridiculous schedule. Mind you, we might have known that we’d have that ridiculous schedule when we qualified for the Europa. Nevertheless, I agree that we have done incredibly well given our obvious disadvantages in terms of workload.
All the same, it needs to be kept in mind that although we’re on a long unbeaten run in the PL, a lot of those games, including today’s, have been draws and when you draw games, for every point gained there are 2 dropped.
I still don’t understand why we didn’t add to our squad last summer, seeing as how we knew that we’d be undertaking a much heavier workload this season compared to last. I also suspect that Nuno, no matter what he said publicly, was disappointed by our lack of activity in the market.
There are also two points dropped by the opposition when you draw.
Well that’s true Hugh, but is that important? I’m only concerned with our own overall points return. A lot is being made of the fact that we’re on a long unbeaten run, but I think a closer look at our overall league record this season is necessary. The fact is we’ve played 16 games so far and won only 5 of them – that less than a third. However, it is true that we’ve done much better recently. The last 5 games have seen us winning 3 and drawing the other 2, which is very good.
So here’s hoping that we can maintain this marked improvement.
Our pressing so high up the pitch means that we are always vulnerable to a well directed long ball.
And so it proved today.
Brighton are a decent side and pass the ball around well, but they sussed our weakness and continually tried to exploit it.
I don’t think Coady can be blamed too much for their first goal because the attacker would normally take another touch before shooting and Conor would have blocked the shot I think.
But, as well hit as it was, Rui was badly positioned and should really have kept the effort out.
Great to see Diogo get off the mark with two good goals – and just how good are Raul’s assists? He can seemingly, at will, put the ball on a sixpence for supporting attackers. And does so on a regular basis.
Another peach for Diogo’s first.
We DID look tired though and could well benefit from Nuno’s planned ‘Run to the Sun’.
Then, a reshuffled team in the week and a refreshed side next weekend will see us continue our unbeaten run.
Don’t it feel good though!
yes, so many matches in quick succession are telling, maybe we should have made some changes. However I expected goals from Brighton’s strikers, and a point’s not bad
I continue to marvel at the skills of Raul. Apart from scoring regularly, his ball skills and vision are just exceptional qualities, resulting in an endless flow of assists to colleagues.
The manner in which he set up Jota`s first goal, was world class. Drifting wide, he accelerated in perfect time to match Jota`s surge into the box, and his hard hit low cross, delivered with the outside of his right foot, was right into Jota`s stride path. As good as you`ll ever see.
This guy has to be the best central striker in the Premiership, bar none. Am I biased ? Unashamedly, of course I am. But I`m absolutely right. Period.
Bang on here Mike , what a sense of positioning and pass outside of his right.
I actually think Jota plays better when central , or taking up central positions .
Raul will set him up regularly .
How brilliant is it? Cement our place in the top six. In the premier league. Two defeats in 16. We are actually a fucking great team. I love this team to bits. My own experience several nite games Grimsby away . PNE. Aldershot. Colchester. Bin there bought the fucking t shirt.
I have to say, “that was one of the worst games of football for ages” defence was absolutely diabolical, couldn’t stop a pig up an entry. Goalkeeping was shambolic, amateurish at best and I think he needs to take a long hard look at his positioning.
Forwards spend too much time chasing shadows, running up blind alleys, firing shots over and they are generally piss poor attackers.
The midfield were atrocious, they laid the ball off far too many times in to spaces where there was no-one there.
The manager needs to take them by the scruff of the neck and wake the buggers up.
Any way “that’s enough about Jack and the Veela”.
Our record breaking Wolves were great today, end of.
Mind the Gap Jack Lad.
Your’e delusional, you muppet.
Well put Stu,he’d jump ship in the morning !
Stu! You had me going there until I moved the page down a bit.
I won’t have a word said against Rui, he’s a top notch keeper, best we’ve had since Murray and has credit in the bank for great saves in numerous previous games.
I actually like Aaron Mooy, he always plays well against us, he’d be worth a punt and help our squad development.
I woke up the other morning and found my daughter drawing all over me. I asked what she was doing and she said she just needed a shoulder to crayon……..
I still don’t understand how teams can get away with tripping Traore so frequently with not even a warning given to the coach/manager. You would think that would be a minimum they could do.
Anybody notice they finally started passing to Cutrone high over his shoulder and let him fight it out with the central defenders and goalie. He seemed to generate a couple of chances. Not bad for only being on the pitch for about 10 minutes.
Glad for Diogo. Finally got back on the score sheetX2.
40% through the season and only 5 points off of a Champions League spot. And gaining.
If traveling for Europa League games is so hard on the players, why are they going to Marbella for a break? Is that plane travel less tiring? How so?
It’s only a two hour flight Tim, and they need the vitamin D. They’ve benefitted immensely from previous short breaks on the Costa del Sol.
I do agree about fouling Adama. They seem to have a rota system so they chop him down in turn so each one only gets one yellow. Maybe Adama should only run at players who have been carded to give himself a fighting chance.
Agree entirely, big difference in a warm weather, well organised training sessions compared to the rigours of playing a European game. With regards to Adama- just to make it clear in a fast moving game, players on a yellow should wear armbands to clearly indicate their status. That plus an independent review of all yellows post match to add further punishment for blatant fouls as against to catching a player late who has beaten you for pace or trickery.
Good draw in the end but two poor goals to concede .We miss Boly and at the end of the day Donk and Saiss are make shifts .
Nuno now calling for reinforcements .Some on the blog think Nuno wanted more in the summer .Personally I think he has a fixation with a small squad and has now finally realised it is too small .So I expect the odd addition in January .Still in light of this to be 6 th is hugely creditable .
I hope we play a decent side on Thursday as being seeded would make a big difference to our progression possibilities but to me next Sunday will tell us if atop 6 finish this year is viable .
Get your drift, Nick, but when you’re going to lift the trophy progression possibilities tend to be something of an irrelevance!
Brighton’s two goals were very well taken, and doubt they could score them again if they tried several times! But such is life! Bit disappointed that we did not close the gap on the top four to 3 points as Man U and Spurs are now playing much better. Enjoying this season to bits and someone will soon get a spanking!
Leave my mrs out of it, St Kitts.
Good entertaining game and, all things taken into consideration, not a bad point. What a boost to young Diogo’s confidence to score two goals and generally terrorise the Brighton defence throughout. With Diogo, Raul and Adama on fire, some top quality defences will get burned.
Nice break in the sun for the lads now and, although I’m coming up for the Besiktas match, I’d be fine with eleven changes as some of our main men are beginning to look a bit jaded and are pretty much running on empty.
Another fab season though.
Here’s an idea. If a team gets 3 yellow cards for cynical fouls on the same player, the team has to remove one of their players.
They can choose what player goes off but that will prevent a rotation of players fouling the same player.
I doubt we will see a better goal than our first against Brighton all season.
The pass from Raul was inch perfect, with the outside of his right boot, and Diogo’s run was, as well, inch perfect.
Brilliant.
So, we let in two poor goals, but as far as I’m concerned, all goals scored against us are poor, and every goal we score is great.
What really gets up my nose, apart from the obvious var stupidity, is the loss of momentum and advantage when our forwards, Diogo and especially Adama, get cynically chopped down in full flight.
This gives the opposition time to regroup and all chance of an out numbered break is gone.
Retro bookings and bans are as useless as chocolate teapots to us at the time, they only help the next opponent of the offending team.
This is where the sin bin should be introduced.
10 minutes for a bookable offence, as well as the card.
Red cards stay the same, off with them.
Maybe this would not be too difficult for the powers that be to bring in, experimental at first, just like var.
And not so controversial.
Just my two penneth.
Roll on the weekend,the Special One will be in town, and so will Mourinho!!
Lovely to see jack the lad poncing petulantly all over veela park, with his socks rolled down, doing absolutely nothing as usual.
No wonder he is supposedly the most fouled bloke in the Prem, what a target those lily white legs make!!
Mr Hustings, (see what I did there, Brexit)
The Sin bin is here, it’s being trialled and it’s already been used.
My 10 year old grandson who you know only to well has had it introduced this season to the Bilbrook U10’s in the Dudley and district league. One of his mouthy mates has already been sent there for arguing with the ref.
So the FA are trialling it and it should be a success if it teaches these impressionable youngsters who see the likes of Bernardo Silva and Sterling jumping in the face of the ref every time a decision goes against them.
It could be extended to such fouls as Adama was subjected to on Sunday, John Moss was near useless to say the least.
I like the look of the lad @Norwich,Todd Cantwell.He could be another Maddison and who is a match winner,as he can create chances from nothing.A type of player we need and hope he is on the clubs shopping list.
We do well with players from Norwich,apart from 2 in the present squad,the best one for me was signed for£60,000 back in the day,an all round striker,who the fans sang “was faster than lightning “. I don’t know about that but he could jump leap like a salmon,a Scottish salmon.A warrior ,my boyhood hero Hughie.