Brighton v AFC Bournemouth

billythekid

UTC Legend
Another Tough Away Game

After a two week break the Cherries are back in action again in the Premier League this Saturday. It is an away game with the relative short trip to the Falmer Stadium to play in form Brighton at 3 pm. With our last game at home ending in a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest, though disappointing to only get a point after conceding a late goal, it was a welcome relief after four consecutive league defeats.

Brighton since we last met them have a new manager, this was after Graham Potter after three seasons in charge, left to take up the vacant managers job at Chelsea. In his place Brighton appointed the Italian Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager. He was previously at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukraine, but due to the war there he left. It was reported he was also on AFCB’s list of managers, before Gary O’Neil was appointed on a permanent basis.

De Zerbi first Premier League game in charge was away at Anfield and his side came away with a point in a 3-3 draw. Since then in league games, Brighton have W 5, D 2, L 5. In their home games under De Zerbi, Brighton beat Potter’s new club Chelsea 4-1 and Liverpool 3-0. They have drawn 0-0 with Nottingham Forest. Lost 0-1 against Spurs, 1-2 against Aston Villa and 2-4 against league leaders Arsenal. Away from home under their new manager, they beat Wolves, Saints and Everton. Drawn with Liverpool (mentioned above) and Leicester City. Lost against Brentford and Manchester City.

The last time our team visited Brighton, was the 2019-20 season, AFCB lost 2-0. AFCB in their previous five visits have a reasonable record, winning two and drawing two and losing one.

In all our away league games against Brighton, AFCB have W 12, D 15, L 26.

All competitions, AFCB have W 44, D 29, L 38.

Brighton Team News
They have signed two midfield players, Facundo Buonanotte an 18-year-old from a club in Argentina, Rosario Central for an unknown fee and 19-year-old Swedish player Yasmin Atari from AIK Solna for £3.5 million. Amongst the players leaving, was Belgium international player Leandro Trossard who joined Arsenal for £27 million. On the injury front, their young forward Evan Ferguson was injured late in the FA Cup game against Liverpool, so will probably miss this game. Also out injured, Adam Lallana, Jakub Molder, Levi Colwill, Enoch Mwepu and Facundo Buonanette. There may be a doubt if Moises Caicedo will start after the recent transfer saga. Mac Allister is suspended.

Brighton Player To Watch
Their two wingers, Solly March has been in good form, 4 goals and 2 assists in his last five league games. The Japanese international Kaoru Mitmona has scored 3 in his last four league games. Alexis Mac Allister who was in the Argentina World Cup winning team has 5 goals and Pascal Gross, he has scored 6 goals and had 4 assists this season. They have an 18-year-old forward Evan Ferguson who has made a good impression since he has come into the team. Scored 3 goals and 2 assists in the recent two starts and three substitute appearances.

AFCB Team News
Gary O’Neil mentioned he was hoping to have a number of injured players back after the two week break for the Brighton game. What with the six new signings, it will be interesting to see who are in the starting eleven. Possibly see some new faces on the bench.

AFCB Player To Watch
With a number of new signings we may see one or two start. But will be hoping to see Marcus Tavernier back, we have missed him, he made things happen.

The Referee
Michael Oliver who we saw refereeing in the World Cup is in charge. He was our referee in the comeback away win against Nottingham Forest.
 
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Every game is important obviously at this point in the season, and I would take a point right now easily. Brighton deffo in top form since the hiring of De Zerbi; hats off to them, performing way better this season than I thought they might.

Key will be to attack,attack,attack and don't have costly mistakes. Not going to be easy, but we can get a result here. To all the traveling Cherries, I know you will make sure the guys know you are there for them:utc:
 
We are 6 wins ahead of them in the club histories...that matters more than anything !
No, the only thing that matters is saturday.
Apart from that the most important games between us were 71/72 when they got promoted instead of us, with the 2 matches between us crucial in that. The other stuff is trivia !!!!!
 
No, the only thing that matters is saturday.
Apart from that the most important games between us were 71/72 when they got promoted instead of us, with the 2 matches between us crucial in that. The other stuff is trivia !!!!!

OK ..but if it goes pear-shaped around 1645 the trivia is all we have...no points.

However..I've predicted we win 3-1 on the strength of our signings ...with the break giving us time to reorganise and they might be drained from the cup game with Liverpool...
. plus Trossard gone and Mac Allister out ....:loser:
 
OK ..but if it goes pear-shaped around 1645 the trivia is all we have...no points.

However..I've predicted we win 3-1 on the strength of our signings ...with the break giving us time to reorganise and they might be drained from the cup game with Liverpool...
. plus Trossard gone and Mac Allister out ....:loser:
And Caciedo sulking.
 
Hi all,

I've tried to provide some stats on our opposition and BTK's thread seemed most appropriate. I didn't go overboard, some data are copyrighted so I couldn't reproduce them, and I'm not sure how useful any of this is!

I’ve gone back to look at the last 4 league games for Brighton. These were against Liverpool and Arsenal at home and Leicester and Everton away. They picked up 7 points from these games, which if anything could be slightly poor returns based on xG. They have scored 11 goals (from an xG of 7.42) and conceded 7 from an xG of 6.26; we’ve yet to see if this is just a lucky spell or whether the forwards are better than average.

GoalsxG.JPG


The average position of the starting line-up has changed during the 4 game period. Against Arsenal and Leicester the team are contained within a narrow band near the halfway line. Against Everton there was a cluster in the centre circle, whilst the players were more spread out against Liverpool

Av Pos.JPG

Ferguson, March and Mitoma have 3 goals each, with none having xGs of more that 1.65. None of these players are traditional centre forwards, with Ferguson playing in centre-midfield, and with March and Mitoma playing as attacking midfielders on the right and left flanks respectively.

There’s no particular pattern in Brighton’s goal attempts, although slightly more shots are conceded down its right side. From Brighton’s corners all of the danger is from its left side (no chances created from the right in the last 4 games)

The Brighton team may line up differently positionally as World Cup winner MacAllister is suspended. Caicedo may still be in bad books when his transfer did not happen, and Ferguson could be suffering from Fabinho’s tackle at the weekend. It would improve our chances should this two not make it.

Up the Cherries.
 
Welp my lady said if we get a result she will let me pick her out something at Victoria Secret for our anniversary coming up next month. However, if we lose I have to go to her cousin's wedding who she knows I can't stand as she's one stuck up...well you know.

Come on Cherries, do it for me!:cool:
 

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