[Albion] Are YOU falling out of love with Roberto De Zerbi?

[Berty23]

Blame him for his strange team selections. Why drop Verbruggan and pick treacle Lallana against the paciest midfield

This was bizarre.

It is strange he spent months saying Barco not ready and then gives full debut vs city.

It is almost like he is trolling at times. Adam L and gross simply can’t be in the same team.

 

[The Fits]

This was bizarre.

It is strange he spent months saying Barco not ready and then gives full debut vs city.

It is almost like he is trolling at times. Adam L and gross simply can’t be in the same team.

At full back. Against City. Play the kid higher up.

 

[Bry Nylon]

He, like every manager, is relying on the information from the medical team as to who can play and for how long.

We’ve strengthened the medical team recently, hopefully that starts to lead to fewer injuries going forward.

When you don’t have depth in your squad, you NEED players back, so I understand him reaching for players as soon as they’re available, but he relies on the medical staff to tell him they’re ready to play. This isn’t the manager’s fault.

Our long-standing medical team and the Club doctor all left the club within days of each other to pursue alternative career opportunities at (among others) Charlton and Fulham, last November.

It’s obviously been an interesting working relationship between the football staff and the medical staff this season.

 

[chickens]

Bloom’s not going to sign three top flight quality CM’ers, a RB and LB.

RDZ might as well try elsewhere.

The next manager can see if he can get back a PL winning machine including Lamptey, Dunk, Milner, Gilmour, Baleba, Webster, Moder. Solly and Mitoma won’t solve issues of a squad where issues are mounting. We’re be rebuilding over 2 or 3 summers.

I don’t think we need three, I think we need one, and two would give us depth in the squad.

I’m not sure we need a LB, but much as I love Veltman, I’ve started to feel that perhaps we could use an upgrade at RB.

What I feel most, looking at us against Man City, is that we look physically underdeveloped compared to other PL squads. We have some great young players, but they’re not being mentored by players at their peak, they’re being mentored by players who are on the other side of their careers. There are only a couple of players for us who look like they could genuinely compete physically with established teams.

I like to think that we retain some ambition, but if not, perhaps you’re right. My preference remains for RDZ to be here next season.

 

[METALMICKY]

Unfair on Barco.... Steele had two chances to pass wide to Veltman... unnecessary extra pass

I wasn't blaming Barco.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Bloom has a choice. Back him with money and bring in the players that can make De Zerbi ball work.

Or, get rid and find a manager that can work within the budget we want to/can spend.

All that depends on whether Bloom believes RDZ is the real deal.

I don’t see Bloom backing him with the players he wants in the summer unless his contract is extended

 

[Jim in the West]

He's just mad isn't he? He thinks you can play one way against anyone with any players. And I love him for that. But he's insane. I reckon it's touch and go that he ever gets a really big job. It would be a huge punt for those clubs..

His mentality is pretty much the same as Postecoglou….you stick to your principles whatever. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

 

[Weststander]

I don’t think we need three, I think we need one, and two would give us depth in the squad.

I’m not sure we need a LB, but much as I love Veltman, I’ve started to feel that perhaps we could use an upgrade at RB.

What I feel most, looking at us against Man City, is that we look physically underdeveloped compared to other PL squads. We have some great young players, but they’re not being mentored by players at their peak, they’re being mentored by players who are on the other side of their careers. There are only a couple of players for us who look like they could genuinely compete physically with established teams.

I like to think that we retain some ambition, but if not, perhaps you’re right. My preference remains for RDZ to be here next season.

LB - Estupinan’s complete loss of form, showed our weakness there. Barco’s a young prospect.

CM - excluding the inept and painfully slow, to me we’re left with the prospect Baleba and slow Gilmour. Imho we’re need more than one with pace/power for next season, should that newbie get injured, we’re back to square one.

Yep, there’s an experience/age gap in the middle age group. Several outstanding young players, a small army of incredibly slow players in their 30’s.

 

[The Fits]

His mentality is pretty much the same as Postecoglou….you stick to your principles whatever. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Which is fine with a fit and very talented squad. To an extent.

 

[Seagull1989]

Today was very similar to the Roma game, whilst I didn’t expect us to win either, we played directly into the opposition hands.

The 3rd goal tonight was RDZ’s fault, not any of the players. Now, as the guy next to me said, “it’s the players who make the decision”. Would that goal have ever been conceded under someone like Dyche?

Would I want Dyche as a manager ? No ! But RDZ played right into their hands tonight.

To go back to the OP’s question. Have you fallen out of love with RDZ? Yes, I have ! If you’d have asked me this October 2023, I wouldn’t have even contemplated this question.

But RDZ has recently been looking elsewhere for jobs and I can’t see now where the next win is coming from.

Looking at our run in, I genuinely think we will end up finishing below Palace.

 

[chickens]

LB - Estupinan’s complete loss of form, showed our weakness there. Barco’s a young prospect.

LB - Estupinan has, I suspect, been playing with an injury to try and help the team. I don’t know that, but I can’t otherwise explain the complete lack of form. Next season, assuming that we have Estupinan, Barco, Lamptey, March, Mitoma and Adingra all available, that’s a lot of options for the left side.

CM - excluding the inept and painfully slow, to me we’re left with the prospect Baleba and slow Gilmour. Imho we’re need more than one with pace/power for next season, should that newbie get injured, we’re back to square one.

Baleba and Gilmour can both still improve. I agree we need an addition, and two would give us injury cover, but I can’t see the need for three.

Yep, there’s an experience/age gap in the middle age group. Several outstanding young players, a small army of incredibly slow players in their 30’s.

Agree completely with this. Would like to see Lallana and Milner take coaching roles, would prefer to see Undav on the pitch to Welbeck, and while Gross is incredible, I can’t see that he has more than one or two more seasons in him, we need to start using him sparingly.

I’m also not judging Moder until next season. I want him to come good, and this season is just about getting back to fitness and playing regularly.

 

[Zeberdi]

I don’t see Bloom backing him with the players he wants in the summer unless his contract is extended

I think Bloom and PBOBE will probably do whatever it needs to take the Club forward next season tbh but in line with the sustainable business strategy. Based on the Podcast that @Bozza recently posted, PBOBE is clear, he prefers that will be with RDZ but if not, it will be with another manager (they have already scouted) that will build on what we have achieved under RDZ. Also, RDZ does not need to extend his contract, unless he wants to renegotiate a better wage deal and the Club want a higher release clause- he is contracted until 2026 (25/26 season) - he could quite easily start next season (24/25) without renewing it this summer. I think we stand an excellent chance of qualifying for Europa 25/26 with a few purchases in the summer provided we can hang on to key players. Facu, Barco, Hinshelwood, Ferguson, , maybe Baleba all players not yet reaching anything like their full potential but by halfway through next season, I think star players all of them. Gross may go back to Germany, a few may retire but March and Mitoma will be back. Just hoping we can hang onto players but if they or members of staff want to go, nothing can do about it. Difficult getting older players established in EPL (ie 25-30 year olds) for prices we can afford - they in are high demand I think (not just by the registered clubs but by all the mid-table teams)

 

[LamieRobertson]

No.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

I really, really don't get Lallana tonight. If we're 1-0 down against a team who are prepared to give us the ball in a low block he is ideal. Against city, the fittest team in the league? Er no. Like playing with 10 in that game. Ridiculous selection.

 

[Weststander]

I really, really don't get Lallana tonight. If we're 1-0 down against a team who are prepared to give us the ball in a low block he is ideal. Against city, the fittest team in the league? Er no. Like playing with 10 in that game. Ridiculous selection.

He’s finished, offers us next to nothing for a very long time now. Like it or not, the PL is about pace. Opponents would welcome his name on our team sheet.

A huge talent in his day, but time caught up with him.

 

[jackalbion]

Bring back McGhee

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

I really, really don't get Lallana tonight. If we're 1-0 down against a team who are prepared to give us the ball in a low block he is ideal. Against city, the fittest team in the league? Er no. Like playing with 10 in that game. Ridiculous selection.

Gross and Lallana against a team that breaks is mental

Cover wise it’s like being a man if not more down.

Can’t think of a success game we dominated where they have both played

 

[Simster]

I've fallen out of love with RDZ but to be fair I've fallen out of love with the season. It can't end soon enough, we've got injuries all over the place, a decent manager blotting his copybook by moaning and being touted for big roles every five minutes, and it's all made for crap form for too long.

The best thing would be to write it off, reset over the summer and let's see if RDZ can show how good he is with a fully fit, improved squad next season.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Gross and Lallana against a team that breaks is mental

Cover wise it’s like being a man if not more down.

Can’t think of a success game we dominated where they have both played

If Gross had his legs cut off, RDZ would not leave him out of the team.

He has not been in form for three months.

 

[GloryDays]

I've fallen out of love with RDZ but to be fair I've fallen out of love with the season. It can't end soon enough, we've got injuries all over the place, a decent manager blotting his copybook by moaning and being touted for big roles every five minutes, and it's all made for crap form for too long.

The best thing would be to write it off, reset over the summer and let's see if RDZ can show how good he is with a fully fit, improved squad next season.

I’ve been RDZ cautious for a long time. Having an Italian girlfriend has taught me a lot.

But also I’m tired of the season, too. Just said it in another post but the Wolves cup defeat exposed a lot of our problems and that’s just working its way through the NSC machine in real time now. Rdz should stay. I like him and I think this 1/3 of a season of misery will be good for all of us.

Remember we’ve missed March, a lot. (Many ppl would never have said that a season or two ago). And Mitoma. Big Ev is learning and the squad has been stripped. Happy for RDZ to stay.