Always The Bridesmaid, Never The Bride - Brighton & Hove Albion

[Sam91]

Brighton & Hove Albion

Hello people. Been a few years since I posted a story on here after kinda losing my passion for the game. Anyway I'm back and have decided to take over Brighton. A team who always seem to come close to promotion but fail in the final few months!!

Background

So not too many trophies in the cabinet. But some very solid facilities for a Championship team. Also a great relatively new stadium with a capacity of just over 30,000.


Squad

A very decent squad to be fair. Three very decent strikers, a solid keeper in Stockdale too. Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk are two very good, young-ish centre backs. The only area I want to strenthen is really the right back spot.


Tactic

A 4-3-3 with a DM is how I've always played FM. Always believe its key to have a DM to shield the centre backs. My idea with this tactic is for the full backs to bomb forward and the DM to slot in and we can play like a 3 back.



I'll be back at the end of August for the first update post. Any questions please feel free to ask ​

 

[1magine]

Look forward to seeing how you get on here.

 

[Sam91]

Look forward to seeing how you get on here.

Cheers mate, been reading through your story past couple of days whilst at work absolutely loving it!!

 

[Sam91]

August

Transfers

Not much news on this front, I got two players in on loan and a couple of youth lads left on loan. My first signing was young right back Kyle Walker-Peters in from Spurs. A fantastic little player to rotate with Bruno at right back. He can also play left back which is nice.

A my second signing is the versatile Jordan Williams coming in on loan from Liverpool. Not the best player in the team but the fact he can play in 4 different positions is great.

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Results

Derby away was our first match of the season and we managed to beat them which was nice. I'd of happily taken a draw being away to our play off rivals Derby but we played really well. Solid start.

Managed to rest some of the bigger names here and we done well beating Leyton Orient. Goals from Sidewell and a late one from Norwood won us this cup tie.

Forest at home was our second game of the season and we put in another good shift. Hemed netting again after Knockaert gave us an early lead. They did make me nervous with a goal from Bendtner but Jamie Murphy scored in the second half to secure us 3 points.

Rotherham at home was a game I thought would of been nice and easy but Bruno fancied making it a bit tougher than it needed to be. But my main man Hemed scored late on then Rotherham collapsed after that.

A tough game against struggling Reading. Hemed missed a first half penalty but left back Bong managed to secure us the 3 points.

Second round in the EFL Cup and again I rested my big players but we won with ease. Sidwell with a brace and winger Manu put some gloss on a good performance.

Crashing down to Earth!!!!! Newcastle were too hot to handle and seriously punished me for thinking we could go toe to toe with them.


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Player of the Month

Tomer Hemed

The big man up top was sensational this month. His goals will be key in our chase for promotion, hopefully he can carry on this early form.


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Table

Good early start but that loss to Newcastle was rough. Aim is still the play offs but obviously I'd love a top 2 finish. Newcastle will more than likely run away with this league though they're far too good.
​

 

[1magine]

Fantastic start this mate! Newcastle are always going to be the tough one but maybe next time haha Finishing in the top two would be a cracking achievement so good luck with it. I remember Rangers trying to get Tomer Hemed before he went to Mallorca so it's good to see he's actually a good striker!! Glad to hear that you're reading through mine as well mate. You up to date?

 

[2Girls1Schlupp]

Great start mate, Is that a downloaded tactic ? I use one very similar that I downloaded and it has gave me huge success, Everytime I try make my own tactic it just doesn't work so irritating :S

 

[Sam91]

Fantastic start this mate! Newcastle are always going to be the tough one but maybe next time haha Finishing in the top two would be a cracking achievement so good luck with it. I remember Rangers trying to get Tomer Hemed before he went to Mallorca so it's good to see he's actually a good striker!! Glad to hear that you're reading through mine as well mate. You up to date?

Hemed has been unreal mate. Yeah Im aiming for a play off spot tbh. Yeah finally caught up with it all, nice to see you're still at Clyde. Superbly written mate loved it all so far

 

[Sam91]

Great start mate, Is that a downloaded tactic ? I use one very similar that I downloaded and it has gave me huge success, Everytime I try make my own tactic it just doesn't work so irritating :S

Yeah I downloaded one but I've tinkered it slightly as I found myself getting caught on the counter on my Chelsea save

 

[1magine]

Great start mate, Is that a downloaded tactic ? I use one very similar that I downloaded and it has gave me huge success, Everytime I try make my own tactic it just doesn't work so irritating :S

Hemed has been unreal mate. Yeah Im aiming for a play off spot tbh. Yeah finally caught up with it all, nice to see you're still at Clyde. Superbly written mate loved it all so far

Yeah I downloaded one but I've tinkered it slightly as I found myself getting caught on the counter on my Chelsea save

Would I be right in saying it's "The Gywnbleidd" formation?

Aye that's a realistic possibility to be fair! Nice one mate cheers. Also, really like the signing of Walker-Peters! Always liked the look of him.

 

[Sam91]

Would I be right in saying it's "The Gywnbleidd" formation?

Aye that's a realistic possibility to be fair! Nice one mate cheers. Also, really like the signing of Walker-Peters! Always liked the look of him.

Mines Darrens off FM Story mate

 

[Sam91]

September 2016

Results

God knows how we didn't win this one, we were all over bottom club Brentford but just couldnt put the ball in the net.

Another struggling club in Huddersfield and another poor performance from us. A stroke of luck when Wells scored an own goal and a last minute header from Duffy means we collect 3 valuable points.

Finally this month a solid performance from us. This game was done after the first 22 minutes.

We crashed out of the EFL cup on penalties!! I rested some big players again and we paid the price but now at least till January when we enter the FA Cup we can concentrate on the league.

We made tough work of it but broke them down finally after 69 minutes. Stephens made the scoreline look good late on.

A tough game against a good Ipswich side. What annoyed me was we took the lead twice and threw it away twice...


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Player of the Month


Kyle Walker-Peters

A good month from the young right back who gives us so much attacking threat down the side and has notched up a couple of assists too.


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Table

Up to second. But what I want to point out is how badly Newcastle have done this month!!! Losing all 4 of their last games. Norwich seem to be the team to beat at the minute.​

 

[dani3w]

Good luck with this Sam, should be good, shame about the EFL Cup exit, pays resting big players! But as you said, focus solely on the league now

 

[Sam91]

Good luck with this Sam, should be good, shame about the EFL Cup exit, pays resting big players! But as you said, focus solely on the league now

Cheers mate, yeah not too fussed about the cup its all about trying to get promoted this season!!

 

[Sam91]

October 2016

Results

So nearly threw this away!! But luckily we saw out a solid away win here against a good team.

Solid 1-0 win over Preston here courtesy of a Hemed first half penalty.

Tomer Hemed once more with the goals!! He's too good for this league. Duffy nets another goal and Jamie Murphy put some gloss on the scoreline. Wolves are no push over.

What a game of football!! Hemed with his standard brace. Solly March had to come on for Knockaert early on as he picked up a slight injury and March done very well.

Big win here over promotion rivals Norwich!! Could prove to be a really important win this in the title run in even though its only October.


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Player of the Month


Tomer Hemed

Who else? 7 Goals in 5 games this month. Small shout out to Jamie Murphy too though he had a sensational month.

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Table

Put some distance between us and the chasing pack now but this is the Championship and a few bad results can change everything...​

 

[Sam91]

November 2016

Results

Tight win after Kayal got himself sent off but we saw the game through and picked up an important 3 points.

Tight match but a late goal from the ginger prince Sidwell gives us the 3 points against a good Aston Villa side.

Last game of the month and another 1-0 win. Glen Murray netting his first league goal of the season after I chucked him in instead of Hemed who had a quiet month this month.


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Player of the Month

David Stockdale

Keeper Stockdale put in two really good performances inbetween the sticks against Villa and Fulham. Still weighing up whether or not to renew his contract yet though with promotion in mind...


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Table

Miles ahead now as the other teams just seem to be taking points off each other while we steam ahead. Here's the bottom 3 for those interested:

Brentford really struggling is surprising me.​

 

[Sam91]

December 2016

Results

First of two clashes against Cardiff this month, a nice brace from Dale Stephens gets us the win.

Solid win. Hemed unfortunately picked up a knock here and will miss a few weeks. Stephens nets again!!

Our winning streak comes to an end!! Hope Akpan scored a screamer here and we missed so many chances before to score:

Back to winning ways against our FA Cup 3rd Round opponents. Good signs for when we come up against them next month in the cup.

Amazing first half... not so good second half. But 3 points again still and we power on.

Second match against Cardiff, now managed by Ryan Giggs!! Tighter than before but a nice goal from Baldock wins us the game.


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Player of the Month

Dale Stephens

Signed a new contract this month and put in some stunning performances in the middle of the park.


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Table

We really are running away with it. Think its time to start planning for the Premier League

​

 

[darnho]

Great story, very enjoyable to read!

 

[Sam91]

Great story, very enjoyable to read!

Cheers mate glad you're enjoying, any advice on what to improve on the layout I'm all ears

 

[Ralph2211]

Promotion looks practically nailed on. Looking for a few Prem standard players in January

 

[Sam91]

Promotion looks practically nailed on. Looking for a few Prem standard players in January

Seems it, but just finished January and was quite an interesting month. Dont expect too many signings we dont have too much money or wage budget..