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[Albion] When did things last feel this bad?



A1X

A1X

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 1, 2017
21,435
Deepest, darkest Sussex
sussex_guy2k2 said:
There’s always this separation in our fans between those that want to progress and those in the ‘remember where we came from’ group who will forever be grateful as long as we aren’t in the relegation positions, and many of this group would still be happy as long as we’re not getting relegated from L2.

Both are respectable positions to hold, but the lack of empathy from the latter group is something I personally find strange.

The reality is that the 3 teams at the bottom of this league are dreadful and were never likely to pick up enough points to survive. We have far too much quality now to be pushing down with them, even with this manager in charge.

So whilst the latter group don’t appreciate this point, for many of us the expectations have changed, and therefore what is acceptable has changed, and us being clear of the relegation positions doesn’t really change just how bad this season has been, for a lot of reasons.
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And what exactly is it we’re expected to progress to achieve? Winning the league?

We’ve become established as a mid-table PL club who have found ourselves qualifying for Europe already (a feat many clubs of a similar size or even bigger than us have either never achieved (Palace) or only achieved relatively recently as the European competitions have expanded (Leicester)). I don’t wish to go all Gus Poyet and start talking about glass ceilings, but as a reality check we are never, ever going to be able to compete consistently with the likes of Liverpool or Man City. Unless we get bought out by the Chinese government or something, and frankly f*** that.

The issue seems to be that people are cross because we’re not qualifying for Europe every season. Which seems to ignore the reality that we’re competing in one of the richest and toughest leagues in world football, if not the toughest and richest. There’s a difference between “wanting the club to progress” and delusion.
 




Poskettspurpose

Poskettspurpose

Active member
Jun 18, 2021
102
junior said:
Trying to think of a time since the end of the Goldstone when things have felt this gloomy from an Albion point of view.

I know Gillingham was a ball ache and there was some wet and windy nights at Withdean, but what is going on with our club at the moment feels farcical.

Ferguson going from a £100m striker to being sent to a direct rival on loan.

Barco farce.

Rumoured discontent within the dressing room.

The board making calamitous decision after decision on transfers whilst popping up on a new podcast each week sucking up the plaudits.

A clueless baffoon of a manager.

Never ending injuries (which I think might be down to the players not being motivated to play/get fit for manager).

Endless crap performances at home.

Loosing 7 - 0 to a #teamslikeforest

I could go on...
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I don’t think things are gloomy, I think you feel a bit gloomy and you want to create an entire thread devoted to letting everyone know just how gloomy you feel?
 


Easy 10

Easy 10

Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Jul 5, 2003
62,571
Location Location
junior said:
Trying to think of a time since the end of the Goldstone when things have felt this gloomy from an Albion point of view.

I know Gillingham was a ball ache and there was some wet and windy nights at Withdean, but what is going on with our club at the moment feels farcical.

Ferguson going from a £100m striker to being sent to a direct rival on loan.

Barco farce.

Rumoured discontent within the dressing room.

The board making calamitous decision after decision on transfers whilst popping up on a new podcast each week sucking up the plaudits.

A clueless baffoon of a manager.

Never ending injuries (which I think might be down to the players not being motivated to play/get fit for manager).

Endless crap performances at home.

Loosing 7 - 0 to a #teamslikeforest

I could go on...
Click to expand...
If you can't even spell the word "BUFFOON", then you have no place using it.
 


B

Balders

Well-known member
Aug 19, 2013
431
sussex_guy2k2 said:
There’s always this separation in our fans between those that want to progress and those in the ‘remember where we came from’ group who will forever be grateful as long as we aren’t in the relegation positions, and many of this group would still be happy as long as we’re not getting relegated from L2.

Both are respectable positions to hold, but the lack of empathy from the latter group is something I personally find strange.

The reality is that the 3 teams at the bottom of this league are dreadful and were never likely to pick up enough points to survive. We have far too much quality now to be pushing down with them, even with this manager in charge.

So whilst the latter group don’t appreciate this point, for many of us the expectations have changed, and therefore what is acceptable has changed, and us being clear of the relegation positions doesn’t really change just how bad this season has been, for a lot of reasons.
Click to expand...
Your expectations have changed, but the Club's haven't for this season for many reasons. Remember like most things in life, progress is definitely not linear and there will be bumps in the road, we are now in one of those bumps in the road.

If your expectations are based on linear progression, prepare to be disappointed......
 








S

sussex_guy2k2

Well-known member
Jun 6, 2014
4,604
Balders said:
Your expectations have changed, but the Club's haven't for this season for many reasons. Remember like most things in life, progress is definitely not linear and there will be bumps in the road, we are now in one of those bumps in the road.

If your expectations are based on linear progression, prepare to be disappointed....
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Absolutely. But as a paying fan, I have a right to my expectations, and to the frustrations with the current manager that I see, and have seen from the get go.
 


S

sussex_guy2k2

Well-known member
Jun 6, 2014
4,604
A1X said:
And what exactly is it we’re expected to progress to achieve? Winning the league?

We’ve become established as a mid-table PL club who have found ourselves qualifying for Europe already (a feat many clubs of a similar size or even bigger than us have either never achieved (Palace) or only achieved relatively recently as the European competitions have expanded (Leicester)). I don’t wish to go all Gus Poyet and start talking about glass ceilings, but as a reality check we are never, ever going to be able to compete consistently with the likes of Liverpool or Man City. Unless we get bought out by the Chinese government or something, and frankly f*** that.

The issue seems to be that people are cross because we’re not qualifying for Europe every season. Which seems to ignore the reality that we’re competing in one of the richest and toughest leagues in world football, if not the toughest and richest. There’s a difference between “wanting the club to progress” and delusion.
Click to expand...
You’ve just supported everything I’ve written. So thanks 👍
 








B

Balders

Well-known member
Aug 19, 2013
431
sussex_guy2k2 said:
Absolutely. But as a paying fan, I have a right to my expectations, and to the frustrations with the current manager that I see, and have seen from the get go.
Click to expand...
So can we agree that FH has performed no worse than RDZ in the first 24 games and has the opportunity to improve on RDZ's return from the last 14 games, where let's face it, the bar is set very low. If FH outperforms RDZ in the last 14 games then we can agree that our progress is indeed linear but not at a rate that suits your personal expectations, if he doesn't that's the time to ask questions, as opposed to pandering to a fan mid season who is entitled by paying to attend matches to set the Club's expectations?
 




maltaseagull

maltaseagull

Well-known member
Feb 25, 2009
13,585
Zabbar- Malta
junior said:
Trying to think of a time since the end of the Goldstone when things have felt this gloomy from an Albion point of view.

I know Gillingham was a ball ache and there was some wet and windy nights at Withdean, but what is going on with our club at the moment feels farcical.

Ferguson going from a £100m striker to being sent to a direct rival on loan.

Barco farce.

Rumoured discontent within the dressing room.

The board making calamitous decision after decision on transfers whilst popping up on a new podcast each week sucking up the plaudits.

A clueless baffoon of a manager.

Never ending injuries (which I think might be down to the players not being motivated to play/get fit for manager).

Endless crap performances at home.

Loosing 7 - 0 to a #teamslikeforest

I could go on...
Click to expand...

We lost a football match.
It could be worse. You might live in Gaza or Ukraine.
Get real ffs.
 


chickens

chickens

Have you considered masterly inactivity?
NSC Patron
Oct 12, 2022
2,939
junior said:
You need to open your eyes and see the bigger picture. It's apologists like you that'll watch this club walk into the championship.
Click to expand...

I think perhaps it’s you failing to see the bigger picture. I’m absolutely in agreement that we’re playing poorly and our manager and squad are having a tough time.

Despite that we’re safe in the Premier League, and have a lot of talent gaining experience elsewhere (or out on the treatment table)

Do I believe our board have suddenly become clueless? No.

Barco didn’t work out, lots of players don’t. Ferguson is suffering an extended loss of form, a loan is the right solution.

It’s not being an apologist to suggest that we’re doing ok. The club keep on top of this stuff and will act should action become necessary.

All of these posts have appeared post a 7-0 tonking, so they’re understandable, but to claim that someone suggesting it’s not all doom and gloom is the one not seeing the bigger picture feels myopic at best.
 


Dave the OAP

Dave the OAP

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
46,975
at home
A1X said:
For context, at the moment the opening post above was written, Brighton are 10th in the Premier League table and at no real risk of relegation.
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Which of course is the goal.

to remain in the prem…perhaps have a decent cup run in the FA Cup, but primerily remaining in the prem. nothing else matters.

i think we have had our day of buying young players from South America and turning them into world beaters and cash cows! I would have thought with our treatment of barco, and now the other South Americans, they would think twice about signing.
 




Eeyore

Eeyore

Colonel Hee-Haw of Queen's Park
NSC Patron
Apr 5, 2014
26,872
junior said:
Trying to think of a time since the end of the Goldstone when things have felt this gloomy from an Albion point of view.

I know Gillingham was a ball ache and there was some wet and windy nights at Withdean, but what is going on with our club at the moment feels farcical.

Ferguson going from a £100m striker to being sent to a direct rival on loan.

Barco farce.

Rumoured discontent within the dressing room.

The board making calamitous decision after decision on transfers whilst popping up on a new podcast each week sucking up the plaudits.

A clueless baffoon of a manager.

Never ending injuries (which I think might be down to the players not being motivated to play/get fit for manager).

Endless crap performances at home.

Loosing 7 - 0 to a #teamslikeforest

I could go on...
Click to expand...
You asked when things last felt this bad. I guess I'm struggling because I don't feel bad about things at the Albion at the moment. The most difficult time in recent years would have been how close they came to relegation in 2019.

If we argue how this rates in 'badness' in wouldn't even enter the Top 100. In fact, given that we are 10th and have only finished above that twice in our history, you may find these times in the Top 10.

Now, if for any reason our situation at present is of turmoil to you, given our history, I genuinely would advise a break from football. Your bar is too high to enjoy it. We might like to chat about the team selection and tactics of the manager. We might like to debate the impact of recent signings and their contact purchase vales. But bad times- no. 1996/97 was bad times. Not this.

As regards a 7-0 humbling. I've been laughing and joking about it among friends. These things happen. It was our turn.
 
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Perkino

Perkino

Well-known member
Dec 11, 2009
6,063
I responded to a friend yesterday who was similarly wishing for an axe to fall. However our aim is to be a profitable club that plays possession based football by playing young talent and giving them opportunities to excel.

Finishing in the top 10 is ideal and pushing for a European spot is always exciting but ultimately we will never challenge for titles regularly with our infrastructure but will have plenty of highs along the way
 




southstandandy

southstandandy

WEST STAND ANDY
Jul 9, 2003
6,234
It's sport - these things can happen.

Woke up this morning and have put yesterday in the past. Looking forward to next week already.

I refuse to ever let a result (however awful like yesterday's) ruin my weekend. Had a lovely evening with a few beers and we move on.

Never get too down if we lose - never get too carried away when we win. It's ONLY a GAME.
 








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