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Well it's a fast turnaround for this one. After a hard fought, but somewhat disappointing point at Old Trafford, we head to the south coast for an arguably more difficult looking game on paper.
Brighton have been a bogey side since they arrived in the division, as well as being the envy of many fans for their progressive owner and stellar recruitment model.
Teamwise, Nuno gets to 'bring' Paqueta back (I won't use the term 'welcome'), and the messaging around Summerville remains opaque at best. Plus as to what happened to Guilherme who knows, but with both him and Igor missing we went from a squad of 3 Braziliians to none versus Man Utd in one fell swoop.
This leaves at least a decision around Soucek, but if Summerville (or Guilherme) were to be available, another decision around 2 of 3 from Fernandes, Magassa, and Potts.
Predicted Lineup
I'm working on the basis that Paqueta will come back in, and Summerville will at best be fit for the bench:
Brighton remain high up in the current form table, scoring twice as many as they concede. West Ham are midtable over the last 5 games, are at a scoring ratio of roughly 1:1.
Hard to see anything but a defeat here, but we have a punchers chance (all be it, the blows themselves are fairly lightweight and will need to find the Brighton chin with surgical precision to knock them out).
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 22:40
by stubbo-admin
Massive Attack" wrote: ↑07 Dec 2025, 22:24
Putting the handball part of it to one side, I've got no issue with the overhead kick. Looking at it again (felt it at the time in real time) the Brighton player only had eyes for the ball and has no idea where a West Ham player is (wasn't like he was already grappling with someone), let alone Mavropanos all alone until Mavropanos comes to challenge for the ball. As the ball comes closer he begins his action and it executes it by getting the ball. What happens during that time Mavropanos tries to get to the ball first but just misses out before nutting his calf. Brave of Mavropanos but I don't see a foul made by the Brighton player. Otherwise are we now saying players cannot attempt and achieve to perform an overhead kick in the Box anymore.. Haller and Carroll spring immediately to mind.
I think the thing is the onus is on the player performing the action to ensure that they're aren't creating a dangerous situation.
Once he contacts the head, deliberate or not, it's a foul. Mavro is entitled to go for a ball at head height with his head, and entitled not to get kicked in the face when doing so.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 22:24
by Massive Attack
Putting the handball part of it to one side, I've got no issue with the overhead kick. Looking at it again (felt it at the time in real time) the Brighton player only had eyes for the ball and has no idea where a West Ham player is (wasn't like he was already grappling with someone), let alone Mavropanos all alone until Mavropanos comes to challenge for the ball. As the ball comes closer he begins his action and it executes it by getting the ball. What happens during that time Mavropanos tries to get to the ball first but just misses out before nutting his calf. Brave of Mavropanos but I don't see a foul made by the Brighton player. Otherwise are we now saying players cannot attempt and achieve to perform an overhead kick in the Box anymore.. Haller and Carroll spring immediately to mind.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 21:52
by nerd2
The overhead kick in there with mavs head ,anywhere else on the pitch is a yellow or red for dangerous play, in fact a defender does it the other way its a penalty , why is this not the same for an attacker he is certainly not in control . It's wrong.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 21:11
by ragingbull
Oh dear that is handball and I don’t care what VAR say they should have intervened. The handball resulted in an incorrect goal.
From the bloke who sent off Gale.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
What is tedious is your endless insults, as you're clearly incapable of discussion. Just put me and others on ignore and you won't have to loose your rag ever 5 seconds because it's not an echo chamber of your own opinion.
I can’t discuss things with people who cry every time we don’t win 5-0 . You and your knicker wetting crew are a sad, pathetic bunch.
And to prove my point you double down with another insult. Again. If you dislike my opinions so much, put me on ignore. I don't mind.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Jaan Kenbrovin" wrote: ↑07 Dec 2025, 17:45
I don’t understand why they spent so much time checking the handball if it was irrelevant?
The overlooking of the foot up and dangerous play was highly questionable as well.
Still, it’s all on Nuno, as they hadn’t registered a shot on target until he decided to park the bus on our six yard area.
Another “ park the bus “ wanker. Tedious.
What is tedious is your endless insults, as you're clearly incapable of discussion. Just put me and others on ignore and you won't have to loose your rag ever 5 seconds because it's not an echo chamber of your own opinion.
I can’t discuss things with people who cry every time we don’t win 5-0 . You and your knicker wetting crew are a sad, pathetic bunch.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Jaan Kenbrovin" wrote: ↑07 Dec 2025, 17:45
I don’t understand why they spent so much time checking the handball if it was irrelevant?
The overlooking of the foot up and dangerous play was highly questionable as well.
Still, it’s all on Nuno, as they hadn’t registered a shot on target until he decided to park the bus on our six yard area.
Another “ park the bus “ wanker. Tedious.
What is tedious is your endless insults, as you're clearly incapable of discussion. Just put me and others on ignore and you won't have to loose your rag ever 5 seconds because it's not an echo chamber of your own opinion.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 20:15
by Massive Attack
Far Cough UKunt" wrote: ↑07 Dec 2025, 19:58
When did "phases"of play become a thing? It was never a thing when I was at school, if you were offside, you were fucking offside and a free kick given to the other team. It's all a fucking way to give certain teams an advantage, not foreseen by the originators of the sport.
Like so much of the game, they've got to keep meddling with it.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 20:04
by Sir Alf
Yep thats it Zico. Absolute illogical nonsense. Shame on the ref and VAR panel. Damn their eyes !!!
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 19:58
by Far Cough UKunt
When did "phases"of play become a thing? It was never a thing when I was at school, if you were offside, you were fucking offside and a free kick given to the other team. It's all a fucking way to give certain teams an advantage, not foreseen by the originators of the sport.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 19:51
by zico
If the handball isn't given because it's a different phase of play that then means if Areola hadn't saved the first shot and it had gone in then it would have been ruled out for handball, am I right? Baffling rules.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 19:43
by only1billybonds
Only seen a highlights package but that was enough to suggest that VAR just doesn't work. No way in any world you care to mention was their goal valid, this is exactly the kind of Incident that VAR is supposed to clear up. Fucking shambolic and we have every right to feel aggrieved this evening.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Takashi Miike" wrote: ↑07 Dec 2025, 19:13
nice interview with young Ezra at the end
He looks like a 40yr old..
fraser, he's got exceptional pace. one tackle he made against the mancs youth a few months back, he must have made up about twenty metres on the breaking forward
Yeah I just meant facially, massive bags under his eyes
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 19:36
by Mad Dog
Just seen the goal. What the fuck???? It went to var and they still gave it.??
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Takashi Miike" wrote: ↑07 Dec 2025, 19:13
nice interview with young Ezra at the end
He looks like a 40yr old..
fraser, he's got exceptional pace. one tackle he made against the mancs youth a few months back, he must have made up about twenty metres on the breaking forward
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 19:28
by fraser
Takashi Miike" wrote: ↑07 Dec 2025, 19:13
nice interview with young Ezra at the end
He looks like a 40yr old..
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 19:13
by Takashi Miike
nice interview with young Ezra at the end
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 19:11
by Tomshardware
Agree with the more positive posts on here. That performance deserved 3 points. For all their possession Brighton weren't a threat for nearly the whole game. We defended well and always looked the side more likely to score. Some solid performances, Fernandes the stand out player.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 18:41
by violator
Football is fucked, I get it cant be handball if its come off another part of the body. But, if that didn't hit his hand and allow him to shoot, its out for a goal kick. And don't get me started on the high boot in the build up. Centre circle, its a free kick. Fucking cսnt bollocks shit wankers.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 18:36
by southbankbornnbred
Robbed of two points, no question.
But we’re “in” games more often under Nuno than we were under that spineless twonk Potter. We deserved a win today.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 18:36
by scott_d
We got a point more than we really expected at Bournemouth, Man Utd and Brighton now.
It's not really moved us up the table but it has surprised me.
We do seem to be making ourselves harder to beat - which is not pretty but is important in our position.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 18:32
by Vexed
Absolute fucking robbery that today. Nuno, I apologise that went to plan, we looked OK and if it wasnt for an atrocity of a VAR decision we'd have taken the three points.
If that ball doesn't hit that cunts arm, do they score the goal? Of course they dont. It's handball. For the fuckwits talking about it being accidental or not - they're all fucking accidental on the box aren't they? It was as nailed on a handball as you'll ever see and the goal probably could have been cancelled for the bloke that nearly kicking Mavros head off.
We're staying up though aren't we?
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 18:26
by GreenStreetPlayer
Another mystifying starting line up, but in the end it purely came down to we wanted it more overall, the sliding tackles, it was good to see from that aspect.
But why bring on a young defender making his senior debut with 15 minutes to go with backs to the wall. He had more experienced players who could have stayed on to try and see it out.
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread
Posted: 07 Dec 2025, 18:23
by onsideman
Fifth Column" wrote: ↑07 Dec 2025, 17:37
The refs were correct in implementation of the laws as they stand. You can argue the current law is stupid obviously but the refs got the decision right.
As long as you agree that the handball was accidental. I dont, his arm moved towards the ball
Re: Brighton vs West Ham | PL | 7.12.25 | Predictions and Match Thread