Match Day Bournemouth v Brighton, Friday 15th September 20:00

Costello

Active Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2015
Messages
515
Reaction score
99
Points
28
Supports
Brighton
Really looking forward to this one, especially off the back of Saturday's result. Would definitely take a point still, not sure I've ever seen us beat an Eddie Howe side.
 

AFCB_Mark

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2014
Messages
3,514
Reaction score
1,063
Points
113
Supports
A single unitary authority for urban Dorset
Given our start and some upcoming tough fixtures, this has suddenly become quite a big game. Another defeat would leave us potentially rooted to the bottom for the foreseeable. Brighton is usually a good game, and a fixture that has been good to us back through recent years. Seems a bit funny this being a Premier League game. And we've got them again a few days later in the cup!

Most of our problem stems from a similar issue we had at the start of last season - not knowing our best 11 or formation. So far in 4 games we've played 4 different systems, with different back lines. The resulting confusion isn't surprising. It took us a couple of months to settle down last season and it seems like being similar this time, all be it worse! So who knows what'll line up with tomorrow night. I know what I'd like to see: certainly Lewis Cook in midfield, probably dropping former Brighton man Steve Cook from defence at the moment, probably start Jordon Ibe who's looked the most creative so far.

Good luck to the Brighton lot coming across the coast for this, on a Friday night, those roads are abysmal. Set off about 2pm and you might make it in time for a pre-match pint.
 

Costello

Active Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2015
Messages
515
Reaction score
99
Points
28
Supports
Brighton
I'm fairly sure we've played the exact same system and save for a couple of changes, the exact same 11 in all four games. So by contrast, the players knowing their roles etc has never really been the issue with us - more just a lack of quality up against sides with way more expensively assembled teams! But the West Brom win gave us plenty of reasons to believe on that front.

Is Ibe back from injury then? Definitely wary of his pace - always liked the look of what I saw of him for Liverpool. It'll be a different sort of test for us this evening up against the speed of the Bournemouth attack. Our full backs aren't the quickest so can only hope we're able to read/cut off most counter-attacks before they truly get started.

We're hitting the road around 3ish this afternoon. I've only ever take the train to Bournemouth so I've no real idea if that gives us enough time or not
 
Last edited:

Abertawe

Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
4,168
Reaction score
1,420
Points
113
Supports
Swansea
Is this a derby?
 

AFCB_Mark

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2014
Messages
3,514
Reaction score
1,063
Points
113
Supports
A single unitary authority for urban Dorset
Is this a derby?

Nah. Not only is it not especially local mileage wise, but the connections between the two mean the travel time is dire, and the support bases don't really overlap. It may as well be a game versus someone in the midlands. Not even us who like to prod Southampton with the derby line, would call it a derby.

It is however a fixture with lots of history and good battles between two not dissimilar clubs. I expect another decent hard fought game tonight.

Costello If you can get to Southampton for around 5 before the traffic hits it's worst, you'll get to Bournemouth before 6 no problem. Just don't hit Southampton at 5.30, cos the world and their wife are heading west through the New Forest at that time on Friday.
 

Costello

Active Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2015
Messages
515
Reaction score
99
Points
28
Supports
Brighton
Yeah, it's literally just because we're both on the south coast that the media try to promote it as a derby. They might as well start trying to fabricate East coast and West coast derbies if they're doing it with this one!

But yes, we have had a lot of decent tussles down the years. First I went to was a 1-0 defeat at Dean Court around 2006/07 ish, Brett Pitman scored a last minute winner after Wayne Henderson cocked up big time. Still yet to see us beat them! The 1-1 draw at Withdean during our L1 promotion season with the ridiculous Elphick handball/penalty still makes me angry..
 

Abertawe

Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
4,168
Reaction score
1,420
Points
113
Supports
Swansea
My knowledge of all things south is pretty shit. Just checked and it's about a 100 mile divide :hesk:
 

Benji

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Messages
2,357
Reaction score
1,054
Points
113
Supports
Expected Goals
My prediction is that whoever loses this will get relegated. Also whoever wins this will get relegated. And if it's a draw, they'll BOTH get relegated.
 

Super_horns

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2014
Messages
10,383
Reaction score
1,306
Points
113
Supports
WATFORD
Well worked goal by Bournemouth.
 

AFCB_Mark

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2014
Messages
3,514
Reaction score
1,063
Points
113
Supports
A single unitary authority for urban Dorset
Thats what we're paying Defoe bucks for, 2 additional points like that.

But I have to say, take a bow Jordon Ibe. Comes on and immediately makes Brighton stand off, whereas they stoutly defended all other attackers Ibe has them scared. Suddenly space opened up in the final third, and there we go. Two assists and a complete game changer from Ibe

Tight, nervy game. 3 points much needed.
 

Costello

Active Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2015
Messages
515
Reaction score
99
Points
28
Supports
Brighton
(Another) tough one to take, at Dean Court, that. Defended very well for large parts and broke semi-effectively a few times & caused them plenty of problems from set-pieces, but got punished after the introduction of Ibe and for two moments of slack marking/ball-watching. Unforgiving, this Premier League - as we were warned..
 
Last edited:

AFCB_Mark

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2014
Messages
3,514
Reaction score
1,063
Points
113
Supports
A single unitary authority for urban Dorset
Tactically I though Hughton was astute. First half Brighton kept things very tight and restricted us to the odd half chance only, whilst not offering a huge amount themselves. Doubling up on the flanks basically shut out all creativity from us. Being so tight and cagey made the atmosphere quite cagey as well. Then at half time completely changing it up, Brighton coming out guns blazing - clearly all pre-planned and well executed. Brighton forced all the better chances of the game at that point and were worth their goal. Think they hit the woodwork just before hand as well. All perfect to script.

Howe's answer was Ibe and it was only his spark that unlocked Brighton, showing a certain flair that we've lacked so far this season.

I'm not sure that King and Defoe as a partnership is working at all yet, Afobe looked much more comfortable when he came on. A lesser player perhaps, but somehow a better fit in terms of the runs he makes. That's one issue for Howe to think on. Another is the midfield, whilst Surman was excellent, Arter had another stinker. How much longer does Lewis Cook have to sit and watch Arter struggle? I thought Francis and Ake as a partnership looked a bit better than Steve Cook and Ake, but Francis still made several unforced errors. Fitting Ake in and figuring out his best partner is another issue Howe has to think on.

Hughton was unlucky, tactically he got things spot on. A win for us shouldn't paper over cracks and disguise issues Howe needs to solve.
 

Costello

Active Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2015
Messages
515
Reaction score
99
Points
28
Supports
Brighton
Agreed with your tactical analysis. I mean, we didn't exactly show much ambition in the first half, but I felt it had the makings of a perfectly executed away performance and when we got the goal I was convinced we'd go on and maybe even extend our lead as the Bournemouth heads dropped etc. - but the March goal seemed to wake you up, and fair play for the response.

That combined with Ibe coming on to provide a little more ingenuity in those tight situations around the box (that we had defended very capably until that point) knocked the stuffing out of us a bit and we never really recovered or showed anywhere near enough composure in those final 15 minutes. Sticking Duffy up front as early as we did felt a bit desperate really, and meant pretty much bypassing our new £13m signing on the wing, Izquierdo, who barely touched the ball after coming on.

Still, I'm convinced Bournemouth are nowhere near as bad as their opening four defeats would have you believe - still a lot of quality in that side, especially going forwards - so I'm not too downbeat. Although it did feel if there was a time to finally beat them, this was probably it. Still, we've been right in pretty much every game so far so we're looking reasonably competitive at least, but it's gonna be a real steep learning curve for us, in terms of game management, and just doing the absolute basics defensively - the few times we've cocked up at the back or switched off for the briefest moments so far have cost us.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
16,422
Messages
1,189,910
Members
8,392
Latest member
feby2112

Latest posts

Stronger Security, Faster Connections with VPN at IPVanish.com!

SITE SPONSORS

W88 W88 trang chu KUBET Thailand
Fun88 12Bet Get top UK casino bonuses for British players in casinos not on GamStop
The best ₤1 minimum deposit casinos UK not on GamStop Find the best new no deposit casino get bonus and play legendary slots Best UK online casinos list 2022
No-Verification.Casino Casinos that accept PayPal Top online casinos
sure.bet
Need help with your academic papers? Customwritings offers high-quality professionals to write essays that deserve an A!
Top