[Albion] Are Albion genuinely in danger of being in a relegation battle next season in your opinion

[holybanjo]

New manager, team used to losing, poor start, signings take time, young players don’t develop, current injured players take time coming back, fresh injuries ……. It’s not difficult to see how it could pan out.

But we’ve TB. So anything could happen.

TB’s data-driven model has been the bedrock of the club’s success but it has also been down to key appointments up and down the club. There’s no one at the club in charge of recruitment currently and the club is distracted by a new manager hunt. Unlike before, this window could pass us by.

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

Pervis was ok. Even good considering the absolutely hopeless job he had.

Every and any left back we sign are going to be completely shit if he's expected to usually be in a LW position on the field with no player covering spaces behind him. Every time we lose the ball he needs to make a 60-70 meter run and usually have to catch up with some winger or striker making a run to abuse the space we left open because we don't play 3 at the back and also don't use our defensive midfielders to provide cover behind our attacking runs.

It works ok if you have Mitoma, who with his work rate can make some of these draining ten-twenty 60-70 meter sprints Pervis is supposed to do, but in general it is suicide tactics and bound to make any wing back look shit. EVEN Pervis, who imho is top class.

Pervis was injured for most of the season, even when he played, and way below his previous high standards, much like Ferguson.

Both have now had surgery to sort out those niggles and should be back to their best next season.

 

[JetsetJimbo]

Are we expecting any of the newly promoted teams to do as badly as Sheffield United and Burnley did? I suspect they'll do better, which in turn means a more open relegation fight. Maybe one of the three will stink the place out, but I'd be surprised if we had all three go back down, and more surprised still if two of the relegation places were effectively sewn up as early as Sheff Utd's and Burnley's were.

I'm speculating there. But if I'm right about that, then any club that might reasonably expect to finish in the bottom half is gonna have to be careful.

Are we one of those clubs? That's the big question. Two top half finishes in a row under Potter and RDZ suggested not, but then we finished in the bottom half of the season just gone.

If we start badly under the new manager and have a run of injuries like the season just finished, things could come apart very quickly. But I think last year was a freak occurrence injury-wise, and our squad should be easily good enough see us to safety - even without the additions that we all hope are coming.

 

[holybanjo]

Are we expecting any of the newly promoted teams to do as badly as Sheffield United and Burnley did? I suspect they'll do better, which in turn means a more open relegation fight. Maybe one of the three will stink the place out, but I'd be surprised if we had all three go back down, and more surprised still if two of the relegation places were effectively sewn up as early as Sheff Utd's and Burnley's were.

I'm speculating there. But if I'm right about that, then any club that might reasonably expect to finish in the bottom half is gonna have to be careful.

Are we one of those clubs? That's the big question. Two top half finishes in a row under Potter and RDZ suggested not, but then we finished in the bottom half of the season just gone.

If we start badly under the new manager and have a run of injuries like the season just finished, things could come apart very quickly. But I think last year was a freak occurrence injury-wise, and our squad should be easily good enough see us to safety - even without the additions that we all hope are coming.

I think the key is our mentality going into the new season. And momentum. Up until now it’s been steady incremental progress. Until 2024. We need to get back to a healthy squad where there is competition for places.

 

[southstandandy]

TB’s data-driven model has been the bedrock of the club’s success but it has also been down to key appointments up and down the club. There’s no one at the club in charge of recruitment currently and the club is distracted by a new manager hunt. Unlike before, this window could pass us by.

I agree I think this summer's window might indeed 'pass us by' but I'm still confident that we have sufficient depth to compete next season even without any new additions. Maybe more in the pot to spend the following summer if that's the case. One wonders whether things are not so rosy as we might like to believe, even with the 'recorded' profits from last year?

 

[heathgate]

Whats your argument for March not playing another PL game? Do you know something we don't or are you just... stupid?

Well, he is approaching 30, he has had three different knee operations in the last three seasons, all of which has meant he has missed close to 60 games ... it feels to me that he may need super human effort to get back to the levels required for the PL... I would guess that the club may offer him a half season loan somewhere.... that's just my view.

So, no, not effin stupid.

 

[Han Solo]

Well, he is approaching 30, he has had three different knee operations in the last three seasons, all of which has meant he has missed close to 60 games ... it feels to me that he may need super human effort to get back to the levels required for the PL... I would guess that the club may offer him a half season loan somewhere.... that's just my view.

So, no, not effin stupid.

Ok. We'll see.

 

[Zeberdi]

It is a cop out answer imo as it’s a blindingly obvious fact! I’d rather hear what people think is more likely than choose the “cover all bases” answer which that option is

It thought you were ignoring my posts because they annoy you . Honestly though - why have a poll with that option on if you don’t want anyone to select it (unless of course, you just want people to affirm your negative thinking?) - as it happens, I didn’t vote until just now as my answer was more nuanced. If you’d actually read my post more carefully, you’d realise I was actually saying “No trust in TB” and nothing to do with “copping out”, our squad is above relegation level, provided we don’t have another horrific season for injuries - hopefully the new head of medics and performance staff can prevent that.

It’s not “blindingly obvious” , no - because imo, answering you question more specifically, we won’t get relegated next season on the basis of the level of football we are capable of playing with the squad we have (+ a few additions) provided several teams (eg Everton and several others below us) don’t substantially increase their investment capital and operating costs with new multi-billion pound shareholders - even then, their respective meteoric rises up the table will likely take at least another season because of the FFP/PSR - that is why anyone outside the Big 7/8 Clubs are in danger - when you consider the AV and Newcastle games at the end of this season or watch our first performances at the beginning of the season - anyone who honestly doesn’t think the standard of our existing squad with the right management (+ a successful recruitment window) isn’t enough to avoid relegation then they are really not showing much faith in PB or TB tbh and can’t see the young talent already breaking out last season. So while, yes, everyone other than the Big Clubs, are at risk every season, IMHO, it won’t be us next season for the reasons and with the provisos I stated.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

I’ll tell you come Christmas time……

 

[um bongo molongo]

Depends on recruitment (of coach and players), and on FFP for others.

ReSigning Milner (I still find that completely bizarre) and missing out on our #1 coach target is not a great start on the former. And we know Pervis and Solly won’t be fit for the start. A tough start, continuing our form from latter half of this season, with lots of young players, could be a downward spiral it’s hard to get out of.

On the latter, who knows. I expect Saints to struggle regardless. Ipswich could carry some momentum in to the next season and paying McKenna so much money to stay is a statement of intent. They’ll be in the relegation mix but not certs to go down. Leicester who knows, depends on FFP. Forest similar. But if they keep Gibbs White and have Awiniyi back I think they’ll be fine. Everton were comfortably safe last season excluding FFP. Wolves have a good manager and good core squad if they don’t have to sell many. Also a good striker who missed a lot of last season.

In short: as it stands, we’re firmly in the relegation discussion and potentially reliant on FFP sanctions for others. But that could all change with a good window.

 

[Flounce]

It thought you were ignoring my posts because they annoy you . Honestly though - why have a poll with that option on if you don’t want anyone to select it (unless of course, you just want people to affirm your negative thinking?)

It’s not “blindingly obvious” to me, no - because imo, we won’t get relegated next season on the basis of the level of football we are capable of playing with the squad we have (+ a few additions) provided several teams (eg Everton and several others below us) don’t substantially increase their investment capital and operating costs with new multi-billion pound shareholders - even then, their respective meteoric rises up the table will likely take at least another season because of the FFP/PSR - that is why anyone outside the Big 7/8 Clubs are in danger - However, guess you didn’t see the AV and Newcastle games at the end of this season or watch our first performances at the beginning of the season - if you honestly don’t think the standard of our existing squad with the right management (+ a successful recruitment window) isn’t enough to avoid relegation then you are really don’t have much faith in PB or TB tbh and can’t see the young talent already breaking out last season. So while, yes, everyone other than the Big Clubs, are at risk every season, IMHO, it won’t be us next season for the reasons and with the provisos I stated.

You may not have noticed but I am not vaguely negative about next season, I am sure that you are confusing me with someone else regularly with some of your comments and yes I saw every game last season. In fact I only recently commented that if RDZ had not gone rogue for the second half of the season until about a month before the end and lowered his sights a little we could be going into next season with him at the helm. It was very clear that he decided to implement plan B at the end of the season, shame he didn’t do it much earlier when the injury crisis was at it’s worst

 

[Han Solo]

You may not have noticed but I am not vaguely negative about next season, I am sure that you are confusing me with someone else regularly with some of your comments and yes I saw every game last season. In fact I only recently commented that if RDZ had not gone rogue for the second half of the season until about a month before the end and lowered his sights a little we could be going into next season with him at the helm. It was very clear that he decided to implement plan B at the end of the season, shame he didn’t do it much earlier when the injury crisis was at it’s worst

Couldn't have happened earlier. He pretty blatantly said he wasn't motivated and therefore couldn't motivate his players. That didn't change until it was rapidly becoming clear that none of the big teams he was linked to, like Barca and Bayern, would give him a job. When that happened, he immediately started sweet-talking Bloom & Barber (thankfully we didn't buy it, and told him to do one) whilst also making some effort to change our (sorry, his) fortunes.

 

[Braggfan]

Are we expecting any of the newly promoted teams to do as badly as Sheffield United and Burnley did? I suspect they'll do better, which in turn means a more open relegation fight. Maybe one of the three will stink the place out, but I'd be surprised if we had all three go back down, and more surprised still if two of the relegation places were effectively sewn up as early as Sheff Utd's and Burnley's were.

I'm speculating there. But if I'm right about that, then any club that might reasonably expect to finish in the bottom half is gonna have to be careful.

Are we one of those clubs? That's the big question. Two top half finishes in a row under Potter and RDZ suggested not, but then we finished in the bottom half of the season just gone.

If we start badly under the new manager and have a run of injuries like the season just finished, things could come apart very quickly. But I think last year was a freak occurrence injury-wise, and our squad should be easily good enough see us to safety - even without the additions that we all hope are coming.

Its all opinions. But I expect all three promoted clubs to struggle badly. Leceister have financial issues, so they either have to sell which will weaken their team or potentially face sanctions, either way they have problems. People seem to think Ipswich are going to be fine, but they were league one a season ago. Not only is that a big step up in a footballing sense, but financially their revenue over the last 3 years for FFP is based on 2 seasons in league one and 1 season in the championship. Financially the promoted teams are disadvantaged, but Ipswich even more so. I can't seem them doing anything other than being relegated, UNLESS other teams get hit with FFP sanctions like Forest and Everton. And lets not forget that Burnley who came up last year with 101 points, finished 2nd bottom this year with 24 points. There is nothing about these promoted teams that suggests they are even a tiny bit stronger than those who came up last year.

All the worry about us going down, is based on stuff that hasn't happened yet. "If a prefect storm happens", "if we make the wrong appointment", "if we don't sign the right players". None of that has happened yet. What we do know, is traditionally the 3 teams who come up struggle. At least 2 out of the 3 this year have significant problems of their own. There are also other prem teams that could be facing sanctions. I think being unsettled after losing De Zerbi is fine, I get that, but panicking and the whole "we're already in a relegation battle" is just crazy talk. For those people, calm down, take a deep breath and have a cup of tea.

 

[dwayne]

Interesting that no one is talking about Brentford in the relegation discussion. Theyve been pretty rubbish for a while and will lose Toney and maybe mbeuno.

 

[chaileyjem]

There’s no one at the club in charge of recruitment currently and the club is distracted by a new manager hunt. Unlike before, this window could pass us by.

Several posters still convinced that this is the case. So an ex Head of Player Development and Academy Director stepping into the role - reporting into Weir - who ultimately heads up recruitment - and leading a team of (what ? Hundreds of scouts , specialists etc ? ) doesn't count in your view ?

Brighton’s slick succession planning takes effect after Jewell’s Chelsea switch

Brighton find themselves back in familiar territory after Jewell's departure - but this is a club with ready-made replacements in-house

www.nytimes.com

 

[Justice]

Interesting that no one is talking about Brentford in the relegation discussion. Theyve been pretty rubbish for a while and will lose Toney and maybe mbeuno.

Toney hasn’t been great since his return, his spell out must have wiped millions of his price tag.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I guess the OP based his question on our form since January,so a fair point I think.
Hopefully new season new things and all that and we start as we started last season,which turned out to be vital as without the great start we would have been down amongst it.Lets hope we start well,have fewer injuries and are able to sustain good steady form for the whole season

The OP started a carefully worded poll that he can’t lose to try to prove a point he made on another thread. As per.

 

[Justice]

Several posters still convinced that this is the case. So an ex Head of Player Development and Academy Director stepping into the role - reporting into Weir - who ultimately heads up recruitment - and leading a team of (what ? Hundreds of scouts , specialists etc ? ) doesn't count in your view ?

Brighton’s slick succession planning takes effect after Jewell’s Chelsea switch

Brighton find themselves back in familiar territory after Jewell's departure - but this is a club with ready-made replacements in-house

www.nytimes.com

Last summer Pedro apart terrible window surely we can all agree on that.
Let’s see how we do this summer.

 

[Fiskmås]

I for one am super excited about next season.

Many seem to have forgotten just how brilliant we were first half of last season, before the injury woes set in with multiple players out in the same positions. Give the boys a summer to heal, and our starting eleven will be just as fierce. Considering how many games we started with Pascal and Milner as fullbacks it's a miracle we were even sniffing at a top-half finish.

Of course we are looking for a new DM, right winger to cover for Solly (playing Adingra out of position there isn't a long term solution, and I don't know enough about Osman to have an opinion), probably a central defender and a fullback. And with hard work and a bit of luck we'll manage to fill at least two out of those four gaps this summer, which should be more than enough (with a margin) to stay out of a relegation fight with the guys already available.

Imagine being a goalie and seeing Solly and Hinshelwood, Pedro and Fergusson (both fit and pain free again after their surgeries), Mitoma and Estupinian barreling towards you. I'd shit a brick. Then Adingra and Barco get subbed on, and I'd shit another.

As for the coach, it's only June 4, and hundreds of exciting coaches hiding in all corners of the world. It was in my humble opinion the right time to part with De Zerbi (other clubs figured out how to counter our tactics, and he's too set in his way to be pragmatic when needed), so it will be very exciting to see who takes over.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Whats your argument for March not playing another PL game? Do you know something we don't or are you just... stupid?

Mitoma will always be a target but I think his injury makes it more likely he'll stay than not. Same with Pervis who was probably quite likely to be a big target otherwise.

As for Joao Pedro, we payed £30m to get a striker who ended up scoring five league goals from open play. He's young so if we're selling, we want to make a fine profit. How many clubs do you think are interested in paying £50m for a striker who scored five goals from open play in 31 league appearances? Joao Pedro is 99% staying imho, if we can improve him maybe we can/will sell him next year.. or the year after that.

if the details I’ve heard about his op and recovery process are true he’s basically 50/50, and I’ve no reason to doubt the person who told me.