Best Excellent Content
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Word Games for December
Wordle 1,280 2/6
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Lucky guess! -
Brighton (H) 3pm Saturday 21 December not on TV
Like Bournemouth Brighton have an impressive scoring record, 14 games since they failed to hit the back of the net, 26 in the league, just 2 less than City, and 9 in the Carabao (5 against Premier League opposition0 with 12 different players scoring.
Unlike Bournemouth they've not won in the last four with draws with Saints and Leicester, losses against Palace and Fulham. Ironically their last win was over Bournemouth
Some major changes over the summer, the biggest being Roberto De Zerbi leaving on a mutual (took over at Marseille 6 weeks later) and replaced by Fabian Hürzeler He normally plays 4-2-3-1 but tried 4-4-2 at home to Saints and 3-4-2-1 away at Fulham
There have been a few injuries recently, especially among the new arrivals, but apart from CB Adam Webster hey are all reported to be close to returning.
The biggest question mark is whether top scorer Danny Welbeck (7 goals in 13) will be fit. He picked up an ankle injury against Southampton, missed the game against Fulham, came on as a sub for 15 minutes against Leicester and was missing again against Palace because the wasn't “100%”
In his absence Hürzeler has tried Joao Pedro and Evan Ferguson up front but neither seems to haven't been a success.
Kaoru Mitoma has started 15 out of 16 EPL matches, more than any other player and is always a major threat down the left
The only new arrival to have a major impact is former French U21 FW Georginio Rutter, signed from Leeds for £40m who has started 12 of the last 13. He normally plays on the right but can also play up front or in the hole.
20yo Gambian RW Yankuba Minteh (£33m Newcastle) was settling in well, started five of seven then missed six games with a muscular problem followed by illness but returned to the starting line up at the weekend
RW Solly March has been out with a sever ACL since October 2023
As Oscar Wilde famously said “To lose one of your first choice central midfield duo may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness” but Pascal Gross (47 appearances last season, 6 goals in 12 games against us) and Billy Gilmour (41 appearances) both left in the summer
Brighton did splash some cash to replace them with Hounslow-born Danish CM Matthew O'Riley joining from Celtic for £25m while Dutch DM Matts Wieffer become Feyenoord's record outgoing transfer at £25.4m.
O'Riley lasted 8 minutes of his debut against Crawley in the Carabao before he was the recipient of an “agricultural” tackle that required surgery on his ankle. He returned at the start of November but suffered a knock and was left out of the squad at the weekend.
Wieffer started against Everton on the opening weekend then missed four matches with a thigh but while he has been available since then he has only been given three starts
England U21 LB/CM/DM Jack Hinshelwood has been out with a knee since the beginning of November while James Milner has been out with a hamstring since the end of August but will hopefully b fully fit for his 39th birthday in January.
With all these injuries Brighton have dipped into their almost endless supply of young players with Cameroon's 20yo DM Carlos Baleba and Swedish U21 CM Yasin Ayari starting as the central midfield two.
Hürzeler has played the same back four of Lamptey, van Hecke, Dunk and Estupinan for the last two games. CB/RB Joel Veltman has missed the last four games with a “minor issue” while Turkish LB Ferdi Kadioglu (Fenerbahce £25m) started five of the seven games he was available but has missed the last six games with a toe
In goal Bart Verbruggen has started 14 EPL games in a row while Jason Steele has been on the bench -
Bournemouth (A) 8pm Monday 16 December Live on Sky
It must be pretty dispiriting for Andy Irving to be stuck on the bench while kids get a chance
Not sure he’s begrudge kids who are playing different positions to him.
Just 60 minutes this season, wouldn't be surprised if he's off in January
I’d like to see more of him as he has looked composed on the ball during the minutes he’s had but he’s competing with Paqueta, Soler, Soucek, Alvarez and Guido rather than the kids.
We might not have produced too many stars in a long time but we never will if we don’t give them chances. I don’t think it’s as simple as saying a player wasn’t good enough because he didn’t pull up any trees after he’s left. The change of environment and the hit to your confidence will play a part.
And we don’t need to produce a new Joe Cole or Declan Rice but I think there was a lot of value in players like James Tomkins who gave us very good cover for several years that was consistent, unlike the signings we cycle through and who disappoint more often than not. Even Ben Johnson gave us decent coverage in so many positions for several seasons.
Sure there’s the romanticisation of the academy but there’s also a practical benefit in trying to develop that path. But more than anything, in this soul-sucking corporate game that we have now, it’s just nice to have players come up through the system rather than being bought in for millions. -
Bournemouth (A) 8pm Monday 16 December Live on Sky
We are trying to be more proactive in games. That is clear. More aggressive. Playing with more intensity. This is led by Lop who echoes these characteristics, rightly or wrongly, on the touchline. Are we perfect? No. Have we got it wrong more than right? Yes. If you think this is a seamless & quick transition after five years of a certain, ingrained style, & 8/11 players starting yesterday here under Moyes, you are wrong.
We have a lot of yellow cards (5 different suspensions, is it?), we commit a lot of fouls, we have a much higher line, we press & are aggressive (Mavro last night), our full-backs are incredibly high, we try & pass through the lines more.
The trade is that it does lead to us being open defensively. When we lose the ball, with full-backs high, try & be aggressive to win it back & play a high line, it allows teams who can move the ball quickly to open up spaces if only one aspect of those elements is off. If our press is wrong, if not all players press cohesively, if our back four is not in line or pushed up too far, if we lose the ball through a mistake.
I saw lots of good last night, especially in the first half. I saw lots of good at Newcastle, particularly in the second half. I saw lots of good at Leicester, all game, albeit we defended badly. Wolves was a ‘grind’.
Whether a show or not, Paquetá scored, ran to Lop & embraced. Souček has stated he likes what the manager is doing. Kilman supports the manager. He threw on a couple of youngsters at key moments in a tough away game with momentum against us.
I like Lop, I want to back him & think he deserves time. I like the fact he is more ruthless, I like the fact he calls players out for not doing enough, I like the fact he is always demanding more.
Let’s stick with him. I’ve seen enough recently to say he’ll get it right, but it will take time. -
Bournemouth (A) 8pm Monday 16 December Live on Sky
From post-match shenanigans, Fab's interview.
On being the oldest player in the Premier League: "I think it's something to be proud of. It's a credit to the way I've been consistent to training and preparation and looking after myself. I will just try to continue to work and enjoy myself."
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Official new manager - Julen Lopetegui
Using Forest as an example as to why things take time.
So Nuno was there last season, didn’t pull up any trees, they struggled for prolonged periods. Was appointed December 2023. They were 17th in the table, 5 points clear of the bottom three.
By end of the season, they were 17th in the table, 6 points clear of the bottom three.
6 of yesterday’s starting 11 (Sels, Murillo, Yates, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Elanga, Wood) played the final game of last season, where they finished 17th. 2 of the 11 on that day were subs yesterday, the other starter is injured long-term (Danilo). Only one player no longer involved in the squad now who started that game.
Forest are now 4th. Nuno has been there just under a year.
I still want to give JL time & don’t see why we can’t give him the season. He’s been in charge for 16 games. -
Bournemouth (A) 8pm Monday 16 December Live on Sky
Bilic back would be a wonderful Christmas present -
Oscar Fairs
I posted about this yesterday in the "Couldn't think" thread, there's an article on the OS:
https://www.whufc.com/news/oscar-fairs-2009-2024 -
Other teams/matches
No Premier League match Saturday lunchtime but an absurd Sunday schedule with two matches kicking off at 7pm and only one on live TV
If you want some Saturday lunchtime entertainment may I recommend Leyton Orient v Burton Albion on Sky Sports plus.
The Os are 16th in League One and have won four in a row; Oldham (FA Cup), Bristol Rovers, Wigan and Charlton (EFL Trophy ex-Leyland DAF Cup). Burton are 23rd
There are a lot of happy faces in the William !V
3pm
Arsenal v Everton
Liverpool v Fulham
Newcastle v Leicester
Wolves v Ipswich
5:30pm
Forest v Villa (Sky)
Sunday
2pm
Brighton v Palace (Sky)
4:30pm
Man City v Man Utd (Sky)
7pm
Chelsea v Brentford
Saints v Spurs (TNT) -
Bournemouth (A) 8pm Monday 16 December Live on Sky
Who would you replace him with, Jay?
That’s thankfully not my decision to make. !!
Wouldn’t mind seeing Slaven return on a short term basis, but that’s more a heart than head choice… ❤️
And in honesty, I don’t know, I simply feel a change is DEFINITELY necessary 👍🏻⚒️
