All Activity

No way Palmer plays in midfield alongside Lavia

What a bizarre lineup even more bizarre than some of the lineups I saw under £land Pep

Well that’s some midfield pivot. How did it come to this just two games in?

James can’t play as a WB, and he ball watches too much to be trusted as a RCB. Only place I see him fitting in is as a CM, which I am not a fan of. Think they will keep sticking him somewhere for the next 4yrs

BBC has it as Martinez Fofana - Lacroix - Colwill Gusto - Lavia - Palmer - Hato Neto - Rogers Joao Pedro. I think we're all guessing though. Something ive already noticed is that defensive positions seem fairly fluid in the build up, so who knows. Its defensively i'd be worried about, don't think the understanding is there yet for everyone to be so comfortable filling in where needed

James shouldn't be playing in midfield and we're only starting 1 midfielder. Assuming Enzo and Essugo go we're left with Lavia, Barco, Caicedo and Henderson that are actual midfielders. Lavia is an injury waiting to happen and we still don't know when Henderson is back.

That's a crazy midfield again. If James can't play this game, then he shouldn't have played against Luton. I expect it to be as open as Fulham, but Brighton will do more damage because they are a better team than Fulham.

Can you lot not wait til matchweek 3 to start bitching?

Chelsea 4-2 Brighton Palmer 18

Yeah, he isn't even listed on the injured players list... I don't mind the conservative approach as I expected it until Alonso gets his players up to speed, but holy f**k Gusto must be prime Dani Alves in training.

Starting today. If there was an actual chance he leaves, talks with Liverpool for example, no way we start him under Alonso. He won't play distracted/not committed players.

Hang on, what happened to Quenda? Didn’t feature v Luton, and has disappeared off the bench. He has Caicedo, Barco & even James on the bench. Squad is still way too big IMO

Don’t understand why he wouldn’t just play Barco rather than shoehorning a fullback into midfield

If Barco, James, and MC are fit enough to be on the bench but you don’t think they have 90mins or whatever with 5 subs play half each. They get minutes under their belts and we get actual midfielders in midfield. If he is sending a message I don’t like it, Brighton are no mugs we have a game to win. Don’t like the look of the right hand side if it’s Neto with Fofana.

Brighton missing players also

Could well be Alonso is sending a message he needs a new CM.

Don't forget to get your predictions in. @Zeta @Munkunku @Valerie etc etc https://www.theshedend.com/topic/37602-pre-match-predictions-week-2-brighton-and-hove-albion-h/#comment-2213850

Chelsea 3 - 0 Brighton Joao Pedro 12'

Yeah we need midfielders. Shame Barco isn't starting he looked really good midweek.

I dont mind Neto at LWB (hes better then Gusto, yet Gusto finds himself still in the team, WHY?) but why is Alonsos wanted player sitting on the bench

I'd sooner it is Hato... I think...

Chelsea 2 - 1 Brighton De Cuyper 7'

Chelsea 3, Brighton 1. Palmer 17'

Gusto

Good grief the midfield and wing backs make for horrific reading. Very concerning. I guess Neto to Liverpool is not a thing then given he starts.