Our home record in recent times is atrocious and we could do with turnout it around sooner rather than later. Hopefully we can start with a win against Brighton, although they will no doubt be tough opponents. 

10 hours ago, STATS said:

Honestly, this is probably one of the best times to be playing Brighton, however would have thought same with Newcastle and their injuries/suspensions and look how that turned out, however Brighton probably have the lengthiest injury list in the league and most of them are key players. March, Estupinan, Enciso, Dunk, Dahoud, Fati, Milner, Welbeck, Lamptey, Webster, Mitoma and Igor. That is a crazy list. There is a slight chance Mitoma may make our game but most of those players listed are either injured or suspended and they also have a game in Europe on Thursday in a crucial Europa league game and knowing their luck they may will pick up another injury.

Either way, with those players unavailable and us having a whole week to prepare and them having an away game Thursday night, we should be winning this and comfortably too.

I would like to see Palmer as the CAM, with Mudryk and Sterling as our wingers.

 

This group and manager don't tend to do well when they know they are heading into a match where they should win. 

Really don't know what to expect here. Performance like Newcastle isn't some anomaly. I honestly thought after the City comeback we got over all of that. Now I am at the stage of confusion again. Bounce back or capitulation in front of the home crowd again?

Edited November 27, 20232 yr by Sconnie Blue

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

This group and manager don't tend to do well when they know they are heading into a match where they should win. 

Really don't know what to expect here. Performance like Newcastle isn't some anomaly. I honestly thought after the City comeback we got over all of that. Now I am at the stage of confusion again. Bounce back or capitulation in front of the home crowd again?

Agreed. We saw this time and time again last season also but us being at home and Brighton having that away game in the week. We should be winning this and I would like to say comfortably. I am pretty sure they ended up having a makeshift midfielder playing at LB against Forest after Lamptey got injured. That is how down to the bare bones they are. Also as long as we don't concede an early goal like we did against Newcastle, the fatigue in their legs will hopefully show. 

Edited November 27, 20232 yr by STATS

4 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

This group and manager don't tend to do well when they know they are heading into a match where they should win. 

Really don't know what to expect here. Performance like Newcastle isn't some anomaly. I honestly thought after the City comeback we got over all of that. Now I am at the stage of confusion again. Bounce back or capitulation in front of the home crowd again?

Given their injury list a draw, frees us up to get beat at OT.

For those travelling into London by train, there's a strike on Sunday and certain lines won't run (among which the one I take).

Worried Gusto won't be fit for this. 

 

 

21 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Worried Gusto won't be fit for this. 

 

 

Boils down to Disasi-Thiago-Badiashile-Colwill. Fingers crossed Mitoma suffers an ingrown toenail.

In pre-season and in the league cup we've shown we have the answer to "De Zerbi ball", will be interesting to see if Brighton try to approach the game in a different way or if they stick to their normal style.

They play in Athens tonight, so they wont have had much time to prepare for us. We've had all week, injury list is continuing to shrink, and Poch will be back on the touchline. I'm quietly confident we'll look closer to the side that went into the international break than the one that turned up in Newcastle last weekend.


My preferred lineup:


Sanchez

Gusto (if fit, Disasi if not)
Silva
Badiashile
Colwill

Caicedo
Enzo

Palmer
Gallagher
Sterling

Jackson (Broja last 20 or so)


If he's ready for minutes, I'd love to see Nkunku feature off the bench, potentially in place of one of the three behind the striker.

 

Brighton played very well against us last time and I felt we were fortunate to get the win (which usually isn't the case for us). 

I fancy our chances more in this one than against Newcastle, hit them on the counter. 

1 hour ago, dermott said:

Boils down to Disasi-Thiago-Badiashile-Colwill. Fingers crossed Mitoma suffers an ingrown toenail.

Mitoma was out injured last week. Not sure whether he will be back. They will definitely be without Dunk, Lamptey, and Ansu Fati.

Where have we heard this before….

 

No Dunk for Brighton is a big one definitely no Estupinan Lamptey March Encisco Welbeck Fati and quite possibly now Pedro as well, that's a huge chunk of Brighton's starters missing,so quite possibly no better time to play them especially after their game tonight,no pressure boys.

9 hours ago, dermott said:

Boils down to Disasi-Thiago-Badiashile-Colwill. Fingers crossed Mitoma suffers an ingrown toenail.

Think that's what it will be. Apparently Gusto hasn't been seen on the field this week. Poch will come to regret not giving Maatsen a go at left back.

One other alternative would be to play Caicedo at right back where he played for Brighton a couple of times. He would be a better right back than Disasi as Disasi is clearly a centre back but I think we really need Caicedo playing every week in the centre of the park.

On 27/11/2023 at 13:14, ozboy said:

Bob I disagree. However there are two problems (1) Gusto likely isn't really fit and that will mean pushing Disasi out to right back where Mitoma potentially could run round him very easily and (2) Poch won't pick it.

I do think Jackson could do more in aerial defence in the way that Drogba used to. Leave the fast break attack to Mudryck and Sterling.

For me Disasi Colwill Caicedo and Jackson can provide the strength in the penalty area to defend set pieces with Gusto and Maatsen covering the post areas and the others chasing the second ball.

Jackson is tall but he is awful in the air. Same with Palmer. 

Good news is a short turn around for Brighton with a couple of key players missing, bad news is they are in good form🤔 I suppose things could change a lot in a week, maybe a routine week of training we will see the same team played City. I would play Broja for Jackson, need something different than a guy who couldn't be bothered to work hard. Drop Cucu would be a no-brainer, if we have a replacement

On 28/11/2023 at 16:21, RMH said:

For those travelling into London by train, there's a strike on Sunday and certain lines won't run (among which the one I take).

And an overtime ban just to f**k it up further.

Looks like Southern rail ( my line) isn't part of the strike but no doubt the overtime ban will affect it.

The club website is advising to check before travelling.

I thought there was " no better time" to play Newcastle than last week .

But surely it really is " no better time ' to play Brighton than this Sunday. ?

They concede loads of goals, hopefully a reaction from us after that shocker last week 

1 hour ago, icecoolguy22 said:

Good news is a short turn around for Brighton with a couple of key players missing, bad news is they are in good form🤔 I suppose things could change a lot in a week, maybe a routine week of training we will see the same team played City. I would play Broja for Jackson, need something different than a guy who couldn't be bothered to work hard. Drop Cucu would be a no-brainer, if we have a replacement

Brighton were well below par last night v AEK Athens. No discernible strategy, wide open at the back. AEK played through them, could have had 3 or 4 goals but flubbed chances. Read into it what you will.

The team I'd pick:

Petrovic

Disasi - Silva - Badiashile - Colwill

Caicedo - Fernandez

Sterling - Palmer - Mudryk

Jackson

If your GK ships 4 goals in successive games then it's a good opportunity to give the understudy a go. I imagine Pochettino will stick with Sanchez though, and I think he'll play Gallagher instead of Mudryk too.

I did think about starting Broja, but Jackson did score against Brighton in the Carabao Cup so I left him in there !

Youth player will be playing LB for Brighton apparently. 

I'd drop Gallagher here and go all out attacking. 

4 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Youth player will be playing LB for Brighton apparently. 

I'd drop Gallagher here and go all out attacking. 

Reckon they'd take Cucurella on an emergency loan?

3 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

Reckon they'd take Cucurella on an emergency loan?

£80m loan fee. 

2 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

The team I'd pick:

Petrovic

Disasi - Silva - Badiashile - Colwill

Caicedo - Fernandez

Sterling - Palmer - Mudryk

Jackson

If your GK ships 4 goals in successive games then it's a good opportunity to give the understudy a go. I imagine Pochettino will stick with Sanchez though, and I think he'll play Gallagher instead of Mudryk too.

I did think about starting Broja, but Jackson did score against Brighton in the Carabao Cup so I left him in there !

I'm wondering if Mudryk and Sterling can play at the same time, would be great if possible.

2 hours ago, Gol15 said:

I'm wondering if Mudryk and Sterling can play at the same time, would be great if possible.

On paper, they are the two forwards that our opposition would fear the most ... but we haven't yet won a game in which they've both started LOL.

So no Gusto revised lineup

Sanchez

Caicedo Disasi Silva/Baddy Colwill (of course Poch will pick Silva)

Enzo Conor

   Palmer

Sterling Action Jackson Muddy

My own line up would have Colwall inside and Maatsen at left back but there is no chance of that.

4 centre backs is too ponderous and Disasi wont get up and down the touchline the way a full back needs to. We really need Caicedo in the centre of the park but playing him at right back is the best option for this game.