[Albion] Article - Football Changed and Chris Hughton Didn’t Keep Up

[Guinness Boy]

If Graham Potter can get Shane Duffy to spend more time in poetry recitals and less time in Katie Price, Molly Malones and the casino then fair play to him.

I’m not 100% convinced Potter will use Duffy. We’ll see though,that’s pure crystal ball work right now.


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[Guinness Boy]

Don't be silly. Or do you think Brighton are one of the 4 best teams in England?

No because England has more than one tournament


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[El Presidente]

I’m not 100% convinced Potter will use Duffy. We’ll see though,that’s pure crystal ball work right now.


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That will certainly put down a marker, binning off the player of the season and second highest goalscorer will be showing who's boss.

I'm sure Shane would find a bar in which to drown his sorrows should it happen though.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I’m not 100% convinced Potter will use Duffy. We’ll see though,that’s pure crystal ball work right now.

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Indeed. He wants defenders to be comfortable on the ball, and capable of engaging in pass moves.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I’m not 100% convinced Potter will use Duffy. We’ll see though,that’s pure crystal ball work right now.

If he doesn't and we haven't made a significant signing at centre half, then I'm 100% convinced Potter will take us down.

It won't happen though, no new manager is knowingly breaking that partnership unless they've been forced to sell or they've made a signing.

 

[Triggaaar]

No because England has more than one tournament

The FA cup is the main tournament for all clubs in England. Saying that we're better than Brazil, because Brazil had to play Belgium in the quarter finals, is just daft.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

If he doesn't and we haven't made a significant signing at centre half, then I'm 100% convinced Potter will take us down.

It won't happen though, no new manager is knowingly breaking that partnership unless they've been forced to sell or they've made a signing.

Who knows? He's got a history of altering formation and personnel game by game depending on who they were playing. I can see Duffy / Dunk / Burn playing different games.

 

[El Presidente]

As opposed to crashing out of a group with Costa Rica in it...


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We got a well earned point off them though!

 

[Machiavelli]

If he doesn't and we haven't made a significant signing at centre half, then I'm 100% convinced Potter will take us down.

It won't happen though, no new manager is knowingly breaking that partnership unless they've been forced to sell or they've made a signing.

It'd be interesting to see what happens to D&D. I've heard a (relatively well-sourced) rumour that Dunk will be off this window. He'll fit in just fine with Potter, as not only is he an excellent defender (with one weakness), he's quite a footballer too. I'm not convinced by Duffy's footballing ability, but am willing to have that view shifted. Duffy shares the same weakness that Dunk does.
Given an ideal world this window, and if we could get decent money for him, I would much rather we lost Duffy rather than Dunk, and bought in a far more rapid and mobile CB to enable us to play higher up the pitch (Liam Moore?). I do recognise that this might not be the most popular view on here.

 

[Bozza]

There's no way Duffy is going anywhere through our desire not to play him.

A "can't say no" kinda bid, maybe, but it would have to a lot.

 

[Machiavelli]

Who knows? He's got a history of altering formation and personnel game by game depending on who they were playing. I can see Duffy / Dunk / Burn playing different games.

It's not just game by game, it's also within games. The players are going to have to take on board a lot of information. It'll be interesting to see whether he gradually introduces this flexibility, or just goes for it from the off. He has got a long close season to work on things. Given his predilection for education, he might well be sending the players some homework to swot up on while they're on their break.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

It's not just game by game, it's also within games. The players are going to have to take on board a lot of information. It'll be interesting to see whether he gradually introduces this flexibility, or just goes for it from the off. He has got a long close season to work on things. Given his predilection for education, he might well be sending the players some homework to swot up on while they're on their break.

And I'd imagine some players won't like that.

 

[Guinness Boy]

That will certainly put down a marker, binning off the player of the season and second highest goalscorer will be showing who's boss.

I'm sure Shane would find a bar in which to drown his sorrows should it happen though.

Would he be player of the season or do so much excellent defending if we're up the other end of the field though?

Indeed. He wants defenders to be comfortable on the ball, and capable of engaging in pass moves.

Absolutely key to it. Would Duffy had played for the other GP? Maybe, maybe not. However...

If he doesn't and we haven't made a significant signing at centre half, then I'm 100% convinced Potter will take us down.

It won't happen though, no new manager is knowingly breaking that partnership unless they've been forced to sell or they've made a signing.

....yes we'd have to sign a ball playing centre half and you'd likely only fund that by selling Duffy. Another risk.

 

[Seasidesage]

I’m not 100% convinced Potter will use Duffy. We’ll see though,that’s pure crystal ball work right now.


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A big call that one if it happens. I'd suspect that we'll either go with a three or sell Dunk and bring in a ball playing CD personally. I think we would suit a three for a variety of reasons and I think he will look to bring in another CD who can play a bit. Bernardo is undoubtedly better going forward than defending, Montoya too. Midfield might be where we see some changes and CF of course.

If he sold Duffy it would be a brave call as CD is probably the one area we have look decent in the last two seasons but if he wants to play out from the back he is going to need to give some options to Ryan who are capable of decent distribution under pressure and for all Shane's good qualities that sure as hell isn't one of them.

 

[El Presidente]

Would he be player of the season or do so much excellent defending if we're up the other end of the field though?

On a bottom three budget? Is that realistic?

I would love it ((c) Kevin Keegan) if that is the case next season and want GP to be successful.

 

[Bold Seagull]

A big call that one if it happens. I'd suspect that we'll either go with a three or sell Dunk and bring in a ball playing CD personally. I think we would suit a three for a variety of reasons and I think he will look to bring in another CD who can play a bit. Bernardo is undoubtedly better going forward than defending, Montoya too. Midfield might be where we see some changes and CF of course.

If he sold Duffy it would be a brave call as CD is probably the one area we have look decent in the last two seasons but if he wants to play out from the back he is going to need to give some options to Ryan who are capable of decent distribution under pressure and for all Shane's good qualities that sure as hell isn't one of them.

I'm not sure what Montoya is better at to be honest, he lost his place to a 38 year old who looked 10x better. Montoya always appears to panic when he gets the ball, even more so when in tight areas in their half. Think he's really struggled with the pace of the premier league.

 

[El Presidente]

A big call that one if it happens. I'd suspect that we'll either go with a three or sell Dunk and bring in a ball playing CD personally. I think we would suit a three for a variety of reasons and I think he will look to bring in another CD who can play a bit. Bernardo is undoubtedly better going forward than defending, Montoya too. Midfield might be where we see some changes and CF of course.

If he sold Duffy it would be a brave call as CD is probably the one area we have look decent in the last two seasons but if he wants to play out from the back he is going to need to give some options to Ryan who are capable of decent distribution under pressure and for all Shane's good qualities that sure as hell isn't one of them.

Why not give it to Shane who gives it to a Bridcutt style defensive midfielder?

I think it is unrealistic to have two ball playing centre halves, Lewis Dunk is capable of taking on a more dynamic role and has done so last season at times. In which case it would be more of a Lawrenson/Foster or Stevens/Foster pairing, which did us okay 'back in the day'.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Duffy's place is not under any threat at all, he's not a good passer of the ball but he can pick out Stephens just fine. If we continue to play 4-3-3 next season, I'm sure our core will remain the same with Ryan, Duffy, Dunk and Stephens - no investment needed there at all. Our starting full backs, Montoya and Bernardo, are both more than capable of not having their hand held defensively all game. No investment needed there either. Izquierdo on the left and Jahanbakhsh on the right are a real and consistent threat, with March and Knockaert waiting in the wings as other options. No immediate investment needed there either.

Central midfield will need some work though. Stephens, Propper, Gross, Bissouma and Kayal are all good players but I think we need some more attacking quality in there. Stephens can pick out a pass (Knockaert's goal at Palace being an example) and Propper will thrive in a more attacking team. Bissouma's class but I think Kayal is the one I'd be looking to upgrade now, get someone better able to unlock a defence. It's not cheap, but I'm sure we can find someone in our budget. Alternatively, if we switch back to playing a number 10 then Gross will thrive again. Propper would be good in that role too.

Up front we've got Murray, Locadia and Andone with Aaron Connolly looking to get in as well. Good options, very different players to suit different tactics.

On the face of it, I don't actually think we need to spend too much money. We need a new right back, and Suttner's return from his loan means we're well stocked at left back. Assuming Balogun and Burn are happy to continue as defensive backup, we're well set. I'd bin off Steele and relegate Button to third choice goalkeeper, in favour of Walton being the number 2.

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

You seem very sure of your figures. Care to tell us where you get them from?

Spotrac

Nevertheless you’ve picked up on one aspect and ignored another. Howe was already looking at the PL when they went up from L1 and started his first PL season with mainly Championship players.

Do you think that Hughton wasn't thinking PL when he took the Brighton job.

As for Bournemouth's first season in the PL - Howe signed 6 players for more than £40million (including 4 strikers) - and got Boruc and Distan on free transfers.

When Saints and Watford needed new coaches for their projects they weren’t hammering down our door for Hughton.

Hughton already had a job - one that he appears to have been committed to and one that he felt he had the total support of the owner.

But the direction we’ve gone in is the other modern form of coach. Potter had no money in Sweden or Swansea.

Swedish players in the top division earn an average of about £1,500 a week (there are many players in the League of Ireland on higher money than that) - the league is on a par with Algeria, Israel and Australia in terms of player wages. The average income for a club in Sweden is about £6million.

Östersund did have money - the owner is facing serious fraud charges over several companies that 'sponsored' the club and for diverting municipal housing funds to pad the club's balance sheet.

What Potter did at Östersund was commendable - however, there is a massive difference between doing it in Sweden and doing it in England. What did he do at Swansea - mid-table for a team that had been relegated. Yes they were in financial trouble - yes they sold players worth £50million - they also brought in players paying £10million in transfers - and they had parachute payments of over £40million. The big problem for Swansea was a wage bill of £100million a year. Bony was on £120K a week. Fer and Dyer were on £30k a week. The big question is not what Potter did last season - but what would have happened next season if Potter had stayed. By far the most impressive performance by a manager in the Championship over the past few years was Nigel Clough who kept Burton in the Championship for 3 years on an absolute shoestring budget. Burton had an operating loss of £300K in 2017-2018 - Wolves a loss of £65million.

Southgate took a miserable England and made them one of the top four teams in the world in FOUR years obviously without money. That is in the article.

Southgate got Middlesbrough relegated -

As for England four years ago -
John Stones was 20
Harry Maguire was 22 (and playing on loan at Wigan)
Eric Dyer was 21
Deli Alli was 19 and Spurs had just signed him from MK Dons
Ross Barkley was 21
Jessie Lindgard was 22 (and on loan at Derby)
Raheem Sterling was 20
Harry Kane was 21
Marcus Rashford was 17 and hadn't made his debut for Man Utd.

I would argue that Southgate was very lucky - he became manager of England just as a group of young English players were breaking onto the scene - a little like the class of '92 for Man. Utd.

Bloom’s whole premise is that you don’t need to break the bank, but then a Brighton fan would know that.

Competing in the PL is all about how much money you spend - if you look at the team struggling against relegation they inevitably have a transfer budget and a wage budget in the lower end of the clubs. It all comes down to money - the more money you spend the better players you get - and you have to keep spending it just to stand still. Five years ago PL clubs spent £410million during the transfer window - last season they spent over £1billion - that is nearly hyperinflation territory. In the past ten years Man City have had a net expenditure on transfers of over £1billion - an average of £100million a year, every year. Five years ago Man Utd were spending more than £230million a year on their wage bill - last year Brighton were below £40million. Chelsea currently have a debt of over £1.2billion. Some of these clubs spend more money than entire countries - that is the scale of situation and why football as it is currently constituted will eventually collapse.

 

[Seasidesage]

Why not give it to Shane who gives it to a Bridcutt style defensive midfielder?

I think it is unrealistic to have two ball playing centre halves, Lewis Dunk is capable of taking on a more dynamic role and has done so last season at times. In which case it would be more of a Lawrenson/Foster or Stevens/Foster pairing, which did us okay 'back in the day'.

I think the 'press' has evolved a bit from there? A goal kick is now seen a chance to regain the ball by a lot of sides rather than a chance to reset. Teams will press right up to the edge of the box and with the new goal kick rule you can't even spoil the goalkick by taking the ball early as once its kicked its in play. Would you really want to see Shane getting closed down by two players on the edge of our own 18 yard box as the ball is rolling towards him from Ryan? Not sure I would lol. Dunky is clearly better with the ball at his feet, but again he's no Franco Baresi is he?

I like Duffy and agreed with his player of the season award but he will come under pressure if we look to play out from the back, changing to a three would help him though. I'm not advocating a sale by the way just saying that thought will need to go into it.