HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Wednesday night’s game by delving into their forums.
"Someone has put the wheels back on our chariot. Optimism is returning”, "I feel confident that we should climb clear of the dreaded dotted line above 22nd place, but it’s too early to tell if we are just experiencing a ‘dead cat bounce’”, "This sorry season is all about keeping above 22nd place now.”
Brighton’s defeat to a solitary Andre Gray goal at home to Brentford on Saturday was their loss first in six games. London away wins at Charlton (1-0), the Bees in the FA Cup (2-0) and Fulham (2-0) have boosted morale and pulled them clear of the relegation places under new manager Chris Hughton.
"The verdict on [former manager] Sami Hyypia was reached some time ago. Massive damage was done to the confidence of both players and fans. The only issue is why he didn’t go earlier”, "Our target this season, thanks to Sami, is just to get one point more than the relegation places.”
"There are two schools of thought of thought among Albion fans. One is that Hyypia was to blame and he brought everyone down around him. The second is that he was just a part of the first half-season catastrophe and the players and management were just as much at fault.”
"There is no mystery as to why we are struggling this season. We simply don’t have the same calibre of players we had in the last two seasons”, "We’re a bit like Trigger’s broom from Only Fools, a new handle but the same brush. We’re better organised but the same rubbish is just in a neater pile.”
Many Seagulls simply believe that the team has not recovered from the loss in the last two seasons of players of the calibre of strikers Ashley Barnes and Leonardo Ulloa, midfielders Will Buckley and Liam Bridcutt and defenders Stephen Ward and Matthew Upson.
Chris Hughton has started by setting the team up in a cautious 4-2-3-1 formation with two holding midfielders providing solidity. This has cost the team some of their cutting edge, with the team lacking pace and natural width in attack.
"Some people are delusional about the strength of our squad. We need to play two defensive midfielders to try to keep clean sheets and pick up points”, "With the position we are in, the tactics Hughton is employing are spot on.”
"We did not have one holding midfielder good enough to do the job on his own and Brentford attacked in numbers, getting men forward”, "Two defensive midfielders protecting the back four mean at least that the team is less likely to lose.”
"Pace is always a problem for us, isn’t it?”, "We’re largely controlling the Charlton game, but with no cutting edge we are slow going forward”, "The main problem seems to be the lack of creativity in midfield and not getting the ball forward quickly enough.”
Albion have scored just 27 goals in 26 league games this season. "It must be easy to defend against a complete lack of pace or urgency”, "Our problems lie up front and in attack in general with no pace”, "It was apparent how Brentford pressed high up the field as a unit whereas we didn’t.”
"Our inability to get bodies into the box is shocking. There was one occasion when the ball was crossed into the usual one person in the box. The rest of our midfield hadn’t got past the halfway line and were jogging”, "We are so slow on the break that it is painful to watch.”
"We have improved a lot since Sami left, but we were never going to start winning every game straight away”, "We had zero pace as per usual, zero! It took us half an hour to get up the pitch when we had the ball. Brentford, on the other hand, were up and down like yo-yos.”
Saturday’s defeat to the Bees in the rematch of their Cup game was a reality check. Their midfield struggled to get a foothold in the game when harassed by Brentford pressing, and any opportunity for a fight back was lost when centre-back and top scorer Lewis Dunk was red-carded after an hour.
"Many other teams use pace whilst we have a strategic discussion and a picnic in the build-up to our attacks”, "Our midfield had so little craft and fluidity that it was unsurprising our strikers became isolated. When Brentford attacked, they committed four or five forward and were always a threat.”
"In spite of the defeat I feel much more positive than in the Hyypia days and I’m confident Hughton can get us out of trouble. The team played with much more purpose and energy”, "Our shape was much better. I was not convinced by the choice of players but he kept faith with a winning team.”
"Nineteenth! I’ve got a nosebleed”, "Yay — we’re on our way to mid-table mediocrity”, "This is a good weekend. Up the Albion!”, "We’re beginning to get a bit of red back in our cheeks. Well done Chris”, "Three wins in a row — I didn’t see that coming before Christmas.”
"It wasn’t that long ago that we were four points from ‘safety’, wasn’t it?” Many Seagulls saw the win over the Addicks in what was an evenly-contested game as just the type of result needed to see their team clamber away from the relegation places.
"Considering we have no new signings, our run of three consecutive wins without conceding a goal and going five games unbeaten shows what the present squad is capable of, when played in a system that works and with decent motivation.”
"This is bloody Brentford. How are they so much better than us? "They are cutting through our defence at will”, "They have pace and strength on the ball”, "We’re having a bit of a nightmare”, "It sounds like we are getting a hiding.” "This is awful. Early days, but let’s see what Plan B is like.”
"All hail Chris Hughton’s mighty muggers!” The Seagulls were well under the cosh for much of their Cup game against the Bees, only snatching a win courtesy of two very late goals from Lewis Dunk and Chris O’Grady. "Well done boys - a battling win”, "It’s better to be lucky than good.”
"Hughton [in his first game in charge] made pointed changes to counteract problems that were happening and these actually worked. I don’t remember that happening earlier this season”, "Hyypia was tactically out of his depth.”
Hughton switched to a 4-4-2 formation and greatly improved the balance of the team by removing the ineffective João Carlos Teixeira and Craig Mackail-Smith and partnering Sam Baldock up front with Chris O’Grady. Utility player Greg Halford was put at left midfield to help nullify the Bees right-wing threat.
"Halford and O’Grady are coming on. Aha — Plan B — long throw ahoy!”, "This looked worryingly like a Plan B and it actually worked. I think I need to sit down”, "Sounds like a substitution masterstroke”, "It seems that the tedious Norwich supporter on our forum was talking rubbish.”
"We are in no position to judge Chris and the team at this early stage, but at least there is some optimism in the club and that’s good”, "I think Chris knew the mess he was walking into. He hinted as much in a press interview. There are too many lightweights in the squad for this league.”
"We set up for a home game like the away team.” A few visiting Canaries warned about negative tactics when he was appointed. "It was back to the Oscar Garcia days on Saturday, one up front and a distant midfield and defence”, "Sami spent so much time attacking and look where that got us.”
"Hughton called the team out correctly after the Brentford defeat. It was refreshing hearing a manager giving an accurate assessment of the match. This guy knows that is required to put things right”, "He’s probably the steady hand we need for the long term.”
"We cannot expect the manager to turn water into wine. It’s going to be relatively easy to improve our defence from Sami’s reign. More conventional full-backs and Rohan Ince’s presence protecting the defenders will ensure that. Chris will earn his corn if he makes our attack effective.”
"Hughton’s first job is to stop leaking goals and avoid the drop. Let’s get that done first, as we can think about our future style of play when we’re safe”, "Our full-backs pushed miles forward under Sami, leaving the centre-backs dreadfully exposed.”
The one-time Ipswich loan signing is praised for his shot-stopping as well as his distribution. "The Brentford goal took a vicious deflection”, "Stockdale is one of the few who look to move the ball forward quickly without lumping it”, "I’m delighted Stockdale is playing well.”
"Get it upfield, man.” He was criticised for delaying his clearances in the Brentford Cup game, but some thought he was taking the pace from the game. His parrying has also been queried. "His saves gave Brentford the chance to score when he pushed the ball back into the danger area.”
"Gordon Greer was poor and off the pace of the game on Saturday.” The 34-year-old former Swindon centre-back "was awful. He sold himself in tackles and his distribution caused Brentford’s goal”, "Balls behind the right-back that pull him out of position are the way to hurt this team.”
"Greer is a great stalwart, but age has caught up with him. Opposing forwards destroy him for pace and he gets caught out of position with no hope of recovery”, "His constant Gerrard-esque passes work once in a blue moon. He’s becoming slower and more error-prone every week.”
With Dunk suspended, utility player Greg Halford may partner Greer at the back, although he had "calf discomfort” at full-time on Saturday. The 30-year-old ex-Colchester man is on loan from Forest. "He’s a fine utility player and didn’t look out of place at left-midfield”, "He should be starting.”
"Halford is solid at the back and a battering ram up front. Every time he dribbles out of defence past an attacker is a heart-in-the-mouth moment”, "He must be scary to play against”, "He is less energetic when put up front”, "He set up O’Grady well for our second Brentford goal.”
"Joe Bennett can be pulled out of position but is a reliable left-back and a good outlet.” The 24-year-old Villa loan signing "is a quality player who doesn’t always make good decisions”, "He was guilty of ball-watching against Charlton, but was very good going forward”, "He’s solid but unspectacular.”
"Bennett’s quick feet get him away from trouble.” He played conservatively against the Bees’ right-wing threat on Saturday. "He coped well against a good winger”, "Joe had more defending to do which stopped him getting forward”, "Was rarely troubled, but showed less desire to push on.”
One left-back who has struggled was the "hapless” Adam Chicksen in the Gulls cup game. "We are being ripped apart down the right.” The 23-year-old ex-MK Dons man had a "shambolic first half. He’s not Championship material”, "Jota gave him a torrid time until Halford helped out.”
"A right-back is needed”, "We cannot rely on two ageing full-backs.” This position is widely seen as an area for concern by many Gulls, as both front-line players come with considerable risks. "Bruno is hardly ever in a position to be beaten in the first place”, "He’s a liability.”
"Bruno’s appearance today [against Charlton] changed the game and not in the way we would have wanted”, "A risky choice as sub”, "He did a good spoiling role late on by breaking play up.” The 34-year-old ex-Valencia man "is a far better defender than Calderon and gets caught out less often.”
"Inigo Calderon is occasionally dangerous going forward but an absolute liability defensively. He hasn’t got the legs and is caught out of position too much.” The 33-year-old ex-Alaves man "drives forward. It’s a pity other players don’t follow his lead”, "He’s all heart, but needs legs too.”
"Calderon got done a few times at Charlton”, "This seems to come up in every game he plays”, "He was an extremely good attacking full-back but for a couple of seasons now he has been caught by pace”, "He works hard but is exposed in one-on-ones”, "He was partly at fault for Brentford’s goal.”
"Danny Holla is always available but is too slow.” The 27-year-old former ADO Den Haag man "was too ponderous on Saturday and held us back from counter-attacking at times. However, his presence seems to give Rohan Ince more assurance”, "He seemed to be a bit by-passed by Brentford.”
"Holla works hard, puts himself about and always seems to be involved”, "He never got over the half-way line after a pass to a forward. Was he being lazy or was he told not to?” "He was out of the game for long periods, but he didn’t step up when Ince had run himself into the ground.”
"How does Jake Forster Caskey waltz into the starting line-up?” "There’s a great little player in there. I just wish he could be rested.” The 20-year-old youth product, the stepson of former Blue Nicky Forster, struggled in the playmaker’s role on Saturday. "He works hard and passes nicely, but never looks like unlocking the door.”
"JFC is not the midfield general we need”, "He has some lovely touches and plays some nice balls”, "He’s better in an advanced position, but was anonymous when Brentford pressed him back”, ""He has nobody in front to use his telling passes”, "I can see why he is a Marmite player with fans.”
"Sami, what were you thinking of?”, "Ince was our Man of the Match. He’s imperious, attack-minded, creative and a powerhouse. He plays beyond his young years”, "He is clumsy and occasionally loses the ball, but to his credit he usually wins it back”, "This man will play for England.”
"He seemed to be everywhere against Brentford. He was streets ahead of everyone else in the team and scarcely put a foot wrong”, "He still can’t head a ball and he misplaces the odd pass when he tires”, "Ince is becoming more composed, which is improving his first touch.”
The 22-year-old former Chelsea youth product "is strong in the defensive midfield position. He rarely wastes possession and contributes going forward”, "He’s one of the players who sums up how useless Hyypia was. Ince rarely played under him, and he is even better now than last season.”
"Where’s Paddy?”. Many Seagulls expect Paddy McCourt to leave the club soon. "Is he what we need in a relegation scrap?” The 31-year-old ex-Barnsley man "is a fancy dan with no end product who doesn’t defend at all”, "He can bamboozle defenders but I have never seen him break into a jog.”
"Joao Teixeira is the classic ‘flatters-to-deceive’ player for me”, "Too much of his good work is undone by his keeping hold of the ball.” The 21-year-old Liverpool loan signing "is far too lightweight”, "He gets knocked off the ball too easily and needs to improve his decision-making.”
"Adrian Colunga is a decent player but is not a winger.” The 30-year-old former Getafe man "always looks to create something and has some nice touches”, "He’s still a little lightweight, but caused Brentford problems when he came on”, "He looks more dangerous when cutting inside.”
"Against Charlton, March was the best player on the pitch”, "He set Mackail-Smith off to win the decisive freekick, then whipped it in nicely for Ince to score”, "His was play quality but he bottled a few tackles and should have passed sooner”, "Great on the ball but at times needed to pass sooner.”
The 20-year-old youth product played well against the Addicks, but really struggled when denied the time and space to operate by the Bees’ high tempo and pressing. "I thought he had a shocker. He was lightweight with poor passing and decision making and getting knocked off the ball too easily.”
"Give me another 10 seconds to think about Solly. Oh, the chance seems to have gone now”, "March was really poor, slow, ponderous and hesitant”, "When we broke quickly, he kept putting the brakes on”, "He always wanted that extra touch, often to move the ball away from his weaker right foot.”
"How did we go from Barnes and Ulloa to this shower of rubbish?”, "Stating the bleeding obvious — we need a class forward”, "You can’t expect good performances and wins every week when we are in a relegation battle with a League One frontline.”
"Sam Baldock covered in a defensive position too much. It’s not his fault he’s being played in a position he’s not used to”, "He is not a winger. Play him as a striker or not at all.” The 25-year-old ex-Bristol City striker "would lose his place to a fully fit [Kazenga] LuaLua”, "He looks utterly lost out there.”
"Baldock did quite a lot against Brentford, none of it any good though”, "He’s the type of forward who isn’t expected to track back and support other than at set-pieces”, "It must be frustrating for him being stuck on the wing when he scored so many up front for Bristol City last season.”
"Bless him, he tries hard. Sadly CMS doesn’t have any of the technical abilities that a Championship striker requires”, "He runs like a little train. It would be superb if he could trap a ball or shoot at the goal but not the keeper”, "He runs his socks off and would make a great spaniel.”
The 30-year-old former Peterborough striker "runs a lot when we don’t have the ball. He is a very good hassler of defenders, but he makes all the wrong runs when we have possession”, "Defenders don’t like playing against him. He gives them a tougher game than the physical O’Grady.”
He is an injury doubt, having rolled his ankle on Saturday, but many Seagulls would not miss him. A poll on one forum is running at 62% saying "sell now” and just 9% "new contract now”. "CMS is never going to score at this level unless the entire team and tactics are set up perfectly for him.”
"Who is this Chris O’Grady and what has happened to the old one?” "Are we all agreed that he is a good signing after all?”, "Put him on top of the centre-backs and he’ll make a nuisance of himself”, "He may not be the answer, but he’s making a better fist of it than anyone else at the club.”
The 28-year-old ex-Barnsley striker went on loan to the Blades in November, returning to come off the bench in the win at Fulham. "He’s a genuinely useful member of the squad, keeping the ball down at the other end when we were ahead at Charlton”, "He offers more physicality than CMS.”
"O’Grady provided a focal point to the team when we were a man down on Saturday”, "He showed what can be achieved by a strong disruptive striker with some ball control”, "An unlikely game changer in the Cup match”, "It could be just a flash in the pan but we have to give him a chance.”
"Can we lift the millstone of playing at the Amex from around our necks?”, "With the worst home record in the league [they have won just twice at home this season] can we really expect a win against high flying Ipswich? I have gone for 1-1 in hope, but my head says a heavy defeat.”
"Until the strikers hit form, we will continue to struggle at the Amex.” A number of threads have been critical of the lack of atmosphere at the Amex this season. "With the honeymoon period already over combined with home support about as passionate as a fart, a 3-0 defeat.”
Pre-match forecast polls are marginally less downbeat than those for Saturday’s Millwall game, but with 22% forecasting a home win and 42% expecting an Ipswich victory, Seagulls are very pessimistic. The most popular predicted scores are a 2-1 home win, a 1-1 draw and a 2-0 away win.
"When you think that last Saturday’s game was the easiest of three home games on paper, watching them lose three on the bounce is going to be a tad disappointing.” Albion entertain Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday.
"Ipswich are a very good side. I can only see a defeat here. Brighton 0 Ipswich 2”, "I would love to be wrong but cannot see us scoring”, "It’s difficult for me not to agree, new manager or not. They're on a very impressive run of form. Without Dunk to score the goals, it will be 0-3 Ipswich.”
"We need O’Grady to play with Baldock or Mackail-Smith as a two-man frontline against Ipswich.” Seagulls have keenly debated whether a switch to a 4-4-2 formation might work against us. There is a real concern that we might go for them if we sense that they lack a counter-threat.
"Why do people keep on about 4-4-2? It is an old antiquated formation that no team ever uses now as football has moved on. It is okay for pub teams on Sunday morning but not professional teams”, "I am pretty sure Leicester and Burnley both went up last season playing 4-4-2.”
The busiest website is the polite, knowledgeable and entertaining North Stand Chat.