Today’s Football 2019/20 Season

[Nymzee]

Brighton under Potter are trying to imitate what Howe has done down the road at Bournemouth for several seasons, that being to bravely try to 'play Football' with young, talented players but far less capable & experienced than those at the top end of the table.

It's generally been accepted in the past that, to stay up in the Premier League (without significant investment), you have to become hard to beat, play pragmatic Football that produces few chances and mostly narrow wins. The "anti-Football" stuff that Allardyce has built a career on. Teams like Brighton and Bournemouth are generally well liked because they give kids a chance and frequently field the youngest teams in the league, swerve the pragmatic stuff and focus on playing the high-tempo, pressing and / or possession based systems associated with the top teams.

To execute these systems typically requires a better, more experienced calibre of Footballer that they don't have and aren't readily available to teams on budgets, lower down the league. Because of this, they frequently make costly mistakes which can be damaging to the team in the short-term. But the long-term goal for both is that they are seen by ambitious young players as true stepping stones to the top level, that's enabled them to attract some excellent young players that they may otherwise not have been able to.

I think that approach warrants praise. It's certainly brave. They are a much better team to watch because of it and, if those managers can successfully keep them up, they'll be stronger as a Football club.

Dunno about Brighton fielding young teams like: https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/pre...ttsalter/wettbewerb/GB1/saison_id/2019/plus/1

 

[Jamo Martinez]

@Jamo Martinez congrats Jamo. Fancy Athletic to grab another cup now

Hope so mate. Don't know when the draw for the semis is. Basque final Would be nice.

 

[Deleted member 38674]

Dunno about Brighton fielding young teams like: https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/pre...ttsalter/wettbewerb/GB1/saison_id/2019/plus/1

I was speaking more about Bournemouth in terms of young teams. Bournemouth have regularly fielded the youngest XI's in the league, but they are 5 or 6 years in to that journey.

Brighton are just starting on that path and they regularly field the likes of Alzate and Connolly, (both of whom I rate very highly) plus Maupay and Bissouma. Not to mention the likes of White, Ostigard and Baluta who are top quality young players out on loan.

 

[Nymzee]

I was speaking more about Bournemouth in terms of young teams. Bournemouth have regularly fielded the youngest XI's in the league, but they are 5 or 6 years in to that journey.

Brighton are just starting on that path and they regularly field the likes of Alzate and Connolly, (both of whom I rate very highly) plus Maupay and Bissouma. Not to mention the likes of White, Ostigard and Baluta who are top quality young players out on loan.

All I know is they're both likely to go down soon just as Norwich will. Zero balance in their styles of play.

 

[Deleted member 38674]

All I know is they're both likely to go down soon just as Norwich will. Zero balance in their styles of play.

I personally think the current bottom 3 are the ones that will go down (Norwich, Watford and West Ham).

Villa may get dragged into it but I think Bournemouth and Brighton have enough about them to stay up.

 

[Nymzee]

I personally think the current bottom 3 are the ones that will go down (Norwich, Watford and West Ham).

Villa may get dragged into it but I think Bournemouth and Brighton have enough about them to stay up.

Reckon Watford will get out of it myself. West Ham's run in is apalling so they're gone.

Hope Villa stay up myself.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Brighton under Potter are trying to imitate what Howe has done down the road at Bournemouth for several seasons, that being to bravely try to 'play Football' with young, talented players but far less capable & experienced than those at the top end of the table.

It's generally been accepted in the past that, to stay up in the Premier League (without significant investment), you have to become hard to beat, play pragmatic Football that produces few chances and mostly narrow wins. The "anti-Football" stuff that Allardyce has built a career on. Teams like Brighton and Bournemouth are generally well liked because they give kids a chance and frequently field the youngest teams in the league, swerve the pragmatic stuff and focus on playing the high-tempo, pressing and / or possession based systems associated with the top teams.

To execute these systems typically requires a better, more experienced calibre of Footballer that they don't have and aren't readily available to teams on budgets, lower down the league. Because of this, they frequently make costly mistakes which can be damaging to the team in the short-term. But the long-term goal for both is that they are seen by ambitious young players as true stepping stones to the top level, that's enabled them to attract some excellent young players that they may otherwise not have been able to.

I think that approach warrants praise. It's certainly brave. They are a much better team to watch because of it and, if those managers can successfully keep them up, they'll be stronger as a Football club.

Eddie Howe has had "signficant investment"

This idea that he's working on a shoestring budget is an utter myth

He's spent money, quite a bit of it, he's just used it to buy poorly (Ake aside)

 

[Deleted member 38674]

Eddie Howe has had "signficant investment"

This idea that he's working on a shoestring budget is an utter myth

He's spent money, quite a bit of it, he's just used it to buy poorly (Ake aside)

He's had investment comparable with the sides around him, comparable with a Premier League side anyway. He's had to recycle basically his entire squad in a short period of time and he's kept them up while doing it, he's earned that backing.

If you look at the majority of his side, it's comprised of players either brought up with him from League One and the Championship like Francis, Gosling, Cook, Wilson, Fraser, Daniels or young players signed from those leagues for relatively cheap like King, Brooks, Kelly, Stacey, Billing, Mepham, Lewis Cook and Ramsdale - all of whom have vastly increased in value.

Before last season, the only big money they'd really spent was on the likes of Ake and Begovic. They've also recouped a fair chunk of cash on the likes of Ritchie, Mings, Mousset and Afobe during that period.

People point at the money spent on Solanke and Ibe and that's fair enough, no manager has a perfect transfer record in the league, but he's done very well.

 

[COYBL25]

He's had investment comparable with the sides around him, comparable with a Premier League side anyway. He's had to recycle basically his entire squad in a short period of time and he's kept them up while doing it, he's earned that backing.

If you look at the majority of his side, it's comprised of players either brought up with him from League One and the Championship like Francis, Gosling, Cook, Wilson, Fraser, Daniels or young players signed from those leagues for relatively cheap like King, Brooks, Kelly, Stacey, Billing, Mepham, Lewis Cook and Ramsdale - all of whom have vastly increased in value.

Before last season, the only big money they'd really spent was on the likes of Ake and Begovic. They've also recouped a fair chunk of cash on the likes of Ritchie, Mings, Mousset and Afobe during that period.

People point at the money spent on Solanke and Ibe and that's fair enough, no manager has a perfect transfer record in the league, but he's done very well.

The English Martinez, who`s been sussed out and whose team is now following the near same downward trajectory as Wigan under Martinez.

What excuses do you have lined up if they get relegated ?

 

[Deleted member 38674]

The English Martinez, who`s been sussed out and whose team is now following the near same downward trajectory as Wigan under Martinez.

What excuses do you have lined up if they get relegated ?

In what way is he similar to Martinez?

Martinez didn't bring Wigan up. He took over a Wigan team that had been established in the Premier League for 4 years previously and had just finished 11th in the Premier League under Steve Bruce. He then finished 16th, 16th, 15th and 18th, taking them down - with the one saving grace being a great FA Cup win.

Howe took over a Bournemouth side that had just finished 11th in League One in 2012 and promoted them to the Championship at the 1st go. He then took them up to the Premier League within 2 years in the Championship and has kept them in the Premier League ever since, without ever being in real trouble of going down, up to now.

As for excuses, none whatsoever. I've said I think they'll stay up. I've even had a charity bet with @MarcelsGoat to that effect.

If they go down, so be it. I still think he's an excellent young manager and I still think he'll manage at the highest level one day.

 

[davids]

He's had investment comparable with the sides around him, comparable with a Premier League side anyway. He's had to recycle basically his entire squad in a short period of time and he's kept them up while doing it, he's earned that backing.

If you look at the majority of his side, it's comprised of players either brought up with him from League One and the Championship like Francis, Gosling, Cook, Wilson, Fraser, Daniels or young players signed from those leagues for relatively cheap like King, Brooks, Kelly, Stacey, Billing, Mepham, Lewis Cook and Ramsdale - all of whom have vastly increased in value.

Before last season, the only big money they'd really spent was on the likes of Ake and Begovic. They've also recouped a fair chunk of cash on the likes of Ritchie, Mings, Mousset and Afobe during that period.

People point at the money spent on Solanke and Ibe and that's fair enough, no manager has a perfect transfer record in the league, but he's done very well.

Brooks has been a big miss for them and they have had some injuries to deal with,but then so have we.Think they'll just have enough to stay up,but only just.

 

[Deleted member 38674]

Brooks has been a big miss for them and they have had some injuries to deal with,but then so have we.Think they'll just have enough to stay up,but only just.

In terms of injuries, they've been the worst hit in the league, by some distance.

Brooks, Mepham and Kelly, all of whom would probably start for this Bournemouth side have been out for most of the season. Fraser had his head turned by Arsenal and admitted as much. King and Ake have been out quite a bit.

They've not really had the rub of the green, which is why if they do stay up, Howe will have pulled off another miracle down there.

 

[MikeH72]

I personally think the current bottom 3 are the ones that will go down (Norwich, Watford and West Ham).

Villa may get dragged into it but I think Bournemouth and Brighton have enough about them to stay up.

*faints*

 

[artetas_biggest_fan]

In terms of injuries, they've been the worst hit in the league, by some distance.

Brooks, Mepham and Kelly, all of whom would probably start for this Bournemouth side have been out for most of the season. Fraser had his head turned by Arsenal and admitted as much. King and Ake have been out quite a bit.

They've not really had the rub of the green, which is why if they do stay up, Howe will have pulled off another miracle down there.

100%.

They have been ridiculously unlucky with injuries. Usually bringing up injuries is not a legitimate excuse as it’s a squad game now, so if four or five are out you should be able to cope, but Bournemouth have had almost an entire XI out. You even see opposing managers bring it up when playing them which they would normally never do.

Howe has done an incredible job. For a club with a capacity of 11k they shouldn’t be in any of the first two divisions. He has defied the odds for years so if they can somehow get out of this season they should be fine while he’s in charge,

 

[MarkHollis]

In terms of injuries, they've been the worst hit in the league, by some distance.

Brooks, Mepham and Kelly, all of whom would probably start for this Bournemouth side have been out for most of the season. Fraser had his head turned by Arsenal and admitted as much. King and Ake have been out quite a bit.

They've not really had the rub of the green, which is why if they do stay up, Howe will have pulled off another miracle down there.

They had significant issues last season too which makes me wonder if they've actually been unlucky or it's due to some other reason.

No idea how Kelly would perform at this level since he's been out for the entire season. Mepham seemingly couldn't nail down a spot in the first XI even when fit.

Not having King or Brooks is a big loss though and Fraser seems to be improving again after being dreadful for months.