As I recall he played well v Burton in the cup setting up Kabasele for a goal. He did ok in the Tottenham game - in fact he was about only encouraging sign in that awful performance from our point of view.
To be honest I thought we we're quite lucky with a point yesterday. BHA had the better chances and should have really punished us for only having 10 men. Highlight of the game for me was Richarlson's feigning injury for a free kick during the 2nd half. My. Word.
Surprised no one has thought that perhaps Silva played Britos as a veiled message to Gino? 'I've asked for a LB for a long while and you still haven't delivered...' I'm sure he believed he could still do a job and you cannot legislate for what Britos did, but maybe Silva didn't want Gino thinking we don't need a LB if he played Mason. Considering the sum of its parts, that defence did a sterling job yesterday. But I also wouldn't want to rely on our current defensive unit for a whole season. Needs quality reinforcements.
It seems off the back of the TV coverage of yesterday's challenge , Britos has got himself a movie deal with Dreamworks
Would be a bit weird given that by all accounts the Gibbs deal was all but done on Friday. And I don't think Gino is daft enough to think that Mason is adequate cover for a PL side, unlike some on here.
Disappointing result, but ultimately under the circumstances it was probably a good point. I'd probably be more disappointed as Brighton fan, knowing that they can't beat a mid-table team with 10 men. Britos - ******* idiot, absolutely no need to make the tackle considering the positions of his team mates and the fact that there was only one Brighton player in an attacking position. Richarlison - Absolutely fantastic, I can't wait to see him play alongside Pereyra for a whole match. Cleverly - Special shout to Cleverly yesterday, played 3 positions in the end and never stopped running. Chalobah & Doucoure - Fantastic as ever, few sloppy passes from Chalobah but with overall performances like that it doesn't matter. Gray - I thought he was **** yesterday, think he had 18 touches all match? Amrabat had 19. Was frustrating watching Doucoure and Richarlison taking the ball up the pitch for Gray to be no where to be found - I cry ******** to points previously made about lack of service. Okaka managed it just fine against Liverpool. Fortunately he'll come good and probably bag 10-15 goals this season, probably just needs the one to get things going.
I always remember reading Roy Keane's autobiography and the chapters about his time in charge of Sunderland and their struggles in his second season, and he said that it's too easy sometimes to forget the value of draws. Often football has become simply win or lose, but to cement yourself in the PL just picking up 1 point here and there really makes a difference. I think yesterday's heroic effort will prove to be a valuable point gained, and the team will also benefit too from the 'mental boost' it should give them. Modern day life seems to always require a scapegoat or somebody to blame. I've read people moaning at Silva this week, but my take is this. Players have to take responsiblity. Silva picked Holebas to try and help us win a cup tie so just for once lol we could try to have a decent run in it. Holebas got sent off. His fault! Silva then picked Britos to cover the left-back role yesterday. Yes people can criticise that idea and suggest other solutions, but ultimately Britos was to solely blame for the challenge and his red card. It's like hiring a car for the day, getting done for speeding then blaming the rental company for giving you one with a fast top speed.
There were people on here saying before the beginning of the season that we didn't and that Mason was good enough to act as cover to Holebas. I see you're still going with the 'Britos deliberately and premeditatedly took out Knockaert because he was playing in a position he doesn't usually play in, but has proved himself to be able to comfortably play in in the past' angle. Admirable.
As I said, Mason looks ok coming forward but his primary role is as a defender and his positioning is terrible. He may learn this, but we can't let him learn it in the Prem. He was caught out of position v Spurs at least twice in a brief cameo (it may have been a bright point on the day but that was tallest dwarf syndrome as everything else was ****). He was hopelessly exposed at Millwall in the cup, but again, decent coming forward. Personally, I think he will end up as a left sided midfielder, rather than a left back
I havent seen anybody post that Britos planned to deliberatley take out Knockaert. Britos knew that he would be beaten for pace by Knockaert and lunged in. In the moment it can happen. You seem to be ignoring the points that Britos does not hold any of the attributes to play that position in Silva's set up. I feel that for this one occasion Mason would have coped and would have been a better choice, not as back up for the season. If we don't sign another LB, would you be happy with Britos providing back up to Holebas all season? I would not, I think he's a good player, but full back is not his position.
Oh poor Gray. He was **** yesterday and every game I've seen him in, still *\\: insert excuse:// \\He was isolated \\It's his first game \\The wind was coming from the wrong direction \\ he put the wrong socks on \\ He saw a gay in the crowd and it put him off all game Bang average championship level player at best. Not fast. No first touch Not big enough to play off the second ball and bully the defence How many more useless performances without goals until the apologists realise we have bought a diamond encrusted dud
He's scared to score incase his team mates give him a big hug afterwards. Notice he doesn't join the team huddle before a game?
Two clean sheets in a row; yesterday with a make shift back four. We would have lost (or at a minimum conceded) last year. I think the superior management of Silva is already on display, as we look a better coached side to me. Let's hope none of the big teams come sniffing around for him. Mind you out of the top five after Sunday's results so needs to pull his socks up. Four points from the next three games would be an excellent return in September.
I agree entirely. Just played for five hours in the heat against players half my age but twice as cocky,blaming everything but their own shortcomings. Sometimes in sport it's about mental strength and not getting beaten. Tough it out and make the other team/player beat you.Their fault if they fail. I would like to have been in the dressing room at the end of the game. Britos let his team down but I'm sure he knows this more than anyone.
I know it was poor (and a sending off) but I have a seen a lot worse tackles that that (England v Portugal , Alves Kung fu kick), shame if we had 11 on the pitch we would have scored a few. Hard to say about performance as everybody seemed to be in a weird position, however for me Chalobah , Doucoure, Richarlison and femenia looked superb a real class above last year. On TV Gray looked poor (but you could see he was running around a lot to make up for it), Bat looked dangerous and I actually think if we had brought deeney on at 1/2 time we would have won. Oh and the commentators seemed to absoloutly love Doucoure and Richarlison
Britos lost his race for the ball and, I suspect, was trying to block the ball down the line. He was beaten for pace even for that. He should never had lunged through the air like that: There is no getting away from it, it was a terrible tackle, but I do suspect it was not originally meant to turn out like that. Nobody will ever believe that, of course. If Watford play a team who takes them on I think we will see an entertaining game, albeit one that is difficult to predict. But I don't they are yet ready to break down well-organized defences. Their defence worries me; they get 'lost' too easily and fail to mark tightly enough and lose attackers who are mobile - far too many unmarked opposition in the two matches I've seen so far. Apart from Prodl I don't think they look convincing in the air, either. Silva has got his work cut out in the next few weeks. It's not all doom and gloom, we have a stronger squad in more depth this season, although it's not the finished article.
When interviewed Britos comes across as quietly-spoken & a gentle sort. And he's not a particularly dirty player in his general play. However he occasionally seems to have a brain-faze, loses he head & does something completely mental. When he doesn't he's a good player, when he does he's a liability.
The modern game is very quick and has also become almost a non-contact sport. Saying that is no excuse of course for Britos' wild lunge but very few players are intentionally dirty nowadays a la Roy Keane/ Norman Hunter. The speed of the game often makes everything seem worse, including both contact and non-contact injuries. Reckless or negligent studs up tackling is still there but intent to hurt - is rare I think in the professional game. As Martin Keown said today it is now extremely difficult for defenders. Just look at the ridiculous sight of defenders putting their arms behind their backs due to ludicrous handball decisions. Used to look at intent - now is it ball to hand or hand to ball? Most of the pundits would themselves struggle today because of the pace - something Keown frankly acknowledged when he said it was so difficult for defenders.
He didn't have a good game on Saturday, but there were some very obvious and very undeniable mitigating factors contributing to that. He literally got an assist in the previous game thanks to his running/movement, and he definitely is fast, certainly much faster than any other striker we have. To me it's odd to be coming to any judgement about him after a sub appearance, a very successful first start he got an assist in, and a ludicrous anomaly of a game thanks to the Britos brainrot.
Whether or not Britos' excuse for a 'tackle' had any intent (maybe he was wound up by the obvious hatred towards Knockaert emanating from the crowd) or whether it was just criminally reckless is immaterial. Neither does it matter whether it was the 'worst tackle ever' as according to Garth Crooks or simply something to be shown on Crimewatch as per Shearer's opinion. It has been roundly condemned across the football world and rightly so. I'm ashamed that a player for our football club committed it and I hope he gets the book thrown at him.
New players, new system, he's got to find his feet. However, judge him on last week and what he brings to the team. Last week Chalobah, Doucoure and Cleverley found those pockets in the final third because of the running Gray did, pulling defenders out of position so midfielders have to drop back, giving our midfielders time and space. The main reason Deeney and Ighalo became so easy to play against is because they were statues, they stopped running so all we had was the long lump up field. I think we underestimate and underappreciate how much running he does off the ball for the team.
No chance. You can tell from even his run towards the 'tackle' that he's gone in to do exactly what he ended up doing. I hate Knockaert as much as the rest but taking that aspect out if it, he's extremely lucky his leg wasn't planted firmly and he made a slight move away from Britos, else Britos would be looking at an extremely lengthly ban. It was a horror tackle that has no place in the game, but if ever a player was deserving of the tackle....well...thats another matter. Did Brito mean to get sent off?! I don't think so. I think he knew after the first 20 minutes that he was in for a torrid afternoon unless he let Knockaert know what he was up against - and he horribly misjudged his attempt to do that.
Fair point. I've changed my mind in light of what others have said. I'll keep an open mind and watch out for the bits of his play I haven't seen - for 3 more games mind
