“Be careful what you wish for Brighton fans” - How the football world owes us an apology

[Weststander]

I kind of agree with you both, but isn't it time we moved away from thinking we can't compete and take a leaf from Bloom's book and aspire to be top ten,

Bloom's ambitions are far from modest and who knows he may be engineering something even greater than promotion to the PL.

The next couple of seasons will be the acid test but I'm confident Potter will come good now he's got a season under his belt and if he doesn't Bloom will take the appropriate action.

I do aspire to that. It will certainly be good for all our stress levels. Wolves, Burnley and Leicester show what can be done.

It’s just in my own make up to favour an ‘under the radar’, non-bullish, approach to many things in life.

With football, I’ve seen so many loudmouth owners over the years, boasting of being CL club within 2 or 3 years. Fulham’s Khan and QPR’s sundry gaggle of arrogant chancers spring to mind.

Luckily for me, TB and PB are a great duo, who quietly walk the walk.

 

[Eeyore]

Okay then - let's have at it

I am not going to go back over each post on this thread because they are mostly a rehash of older stuff from last year and it would be a pain trying to quote everything individually.

But let's take this 'huge vindication' - Bloom made a decision to sack Hughton - it was a risky decision, sacking a proven coach to replace him with an unproven coach with little resume. Hughton had a remit of getting the club to the PL and keeping them there - something which he did incredibly well. Those who supported the sacking of Hughton have little understanding of how difficult it is to keep a team in the PL (just look at Bournemouth this season) - and Hughton did it with few resources and a bottom three budget. I have posted previously of how difficult it is for newly promoted teams to stay in the PL (two are likely to go down this season) - and for teams that don't get relegated the first season to survive for a second season (have a look at where Huddersfield are today). Again, I made this point before - last season Southampton finished just above Brighton - yet had 11 players earning more money that the highest paid player at Brighton.

It takes a minimum of three years to consolidate any club in the PL - and to do it you have to spend a lot of money - and even then there are no guarantees. To keep a club in the PL you have to spend - and spend big - and even then you can get relegated - look at Fulham last season and Villa this season. During the two seasons Hughton managed Brighton in the PL, the club was down near the bottom in terms of spending on players. The weakness of the squad that Hughton had is demonstrated by even a cursory look at the players who Hughton had to rely on and who are now plying their trade in lower level football - Knockhaert, Kayal, Locadia, Andone, Hemed, Bong. At the same time some of the transfers, which Hughton did not have control over, proved to be dodgy at best - Jahanbakhsh, Izquierdo. The job that Hughton did in keeping the club in the PL was quite remarkable - and that is openly recognised across all levels of the PL.

Now Bloom made his decision - and he was entitled to do that as owner of the club. But let's look at the difference with Potter in his first season - three signings - all of whom broke the club record - and a fourth (Mooy) who was effectively another record signing (he would have been if signed last August - and Brighton were lucky to get him on the relative cheap in January). Bloom spent nearly as much last off-season as he had spent in the previous two seasons under Hughton - and he let Potter bring in the players he wanted. On top of that Potter had the advantage of being able to use two very good younger players - Alzate and Connolly (and picked-up a nice signing in Lamptey) that Hughton did not have at his disposal. Effectively, Potter had half of a new team on the pitch for most games. We have no idea what Hughton could have done with those resources at his disposal (and the guff that Hughton wouldn't have changed is nonsense - he had proven that in the past when he had better players available to him).

Now - Potter (and Brighton) started the season very well - with a win away to Watford (over what has proven to be a very poor Watford team) - and all of a sudden people on here were praising Potter and Bloom for appointing him. Then no win in six games and the doom and gloom set in - then Connolly hits the scene against Spurs and Potter is a genius (and Connolly is going to be sold for £50million). Seven points in the next 3 games - Brighton are up to 8th - and Bloom gives Potter a six year contract. At that point opposition coaches start to figure out how Potter sets his team up - inconsistency sets in - some poor loses, a couple of lucky wins (Arsenal should have won) and then from New Year's day to the lockdown in March not a single win. Brighton are pretty much in exactly the same position as they were the previous season under - and the mood on here is dour. The lockdown came at just the right time for the club and for Potter. First game back and a very lucky win at home to Arsenal - and the rest of the relegation competition are going backwards. Watford lose three players - Fraser refuses to play for Bournemouth, the wheels come off at Aston Villa, West Ham struggle and 7 points from three games mean that Brighton are safe and will likely finish in roughly the same position as Hughton did in his first season in the PL with Brighton. The pressure is off now and the Brighton players can enjoy themselves on the pitch - they deserve it - they have put in a good shift this season.

You need luck in football - and Potter has had a fair share of it this season. In my view the teams in the bottom half this season were weaker than last season. Potter has also had much more financial support from Bloom than Hughton ever got - if Bloom was going to justify sacking Hughton and hiring Potter then he had to pump a lot more money into transfers. Is Potter the next big thing in managerial terms - the jury is still out on that one and will be for some time yet - he has managed for less than a season in the PL. Has Bloom been 'hugely vindicated'? - the jury is also out on that one. We have no idea what Hughton could have done with £80million of a transfer budget and a couple of young players coming through - Brighton might have struggled - Hughton may also have done better than Potter - we have no way of predicting this. Bloom's vindication will not be proven for some time yet.

Next season is going to be difficult - and the pandemic has made it even more so - it will be difficult for most clubs, not just Brighton. I suspect that the PL will be stronger next season - Leeds and WBA will likely have more about them than Norwich and Villa - and I wouldn't be surprised to see the third spot taken by Cardiff who have experience of a relegation dog-fight. If Bloom is committed to Potter then this off-season - short as it will be - he needs to remove the purse strings. Brighton need two strikers capable of scoring goals in the PL (Maupay still hasn't hit double digits this season and the next highest scorer is Troussard with 4) - the top 2 goalscorers for Brighton this season have 13 goals between them - the only teams with fewer are Bournemouth, Villa, West Ham and Watford. Bloom needs to spend at least £100 million this off-season - and even if he spends big on strikers there is no guarantee that they will work out. PL standard strikers are very hard to come by. Don't be surprised if next season is a struggle as well - indeed it could be a bigger struggle than this season as every club will strengthen their squads and Potter will not have the advantage of being an unknown quality. Also some Brighton players may be targeted for transfers - wouldn't be surprised to see Duffy leave and Dunk could well be targeted by one of the bigger clubs. The midfield also needs to be bolstered. Saying that - I expect Connolly, Alzate and Lamptey to make progress and it will be interesting to see what White brings to the party.

So if you want to claim that there has been a huge vindication of Bloom for sacking Hughton and hiring Potter - then I suggest that you need to wait a couple of seasons and see where Brighton are at - indeed you could argue that you need to wait out the six years of Potter's contract. It would be great to see Brighton progress, be consolidated as a PL club and, who knows, do a Leicester and win one for the little guys. But it is way to early to make any judgement on the vindication of Bloom's decision to sack Hughton last season - that would be way too arbitrary based on the evidence to date.

I disagree with some of that, but the point about it being too early to decide whether Potter is a success or not is valid. Next season we could be, historically, the least of the clubs in the league as well as in the bottom group for time spent in the league in recent years. It's going to be the toughest yet as it stands. Unless, of course, the side develops further- which is something Potter seems well adept at doing.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Link to twitter mate?

 

[Weststander]

Hughton? Poyet?

I should’ve have added “after being given many years in the job”.

Not many clubs are as stable. Someone on NSC pointed out yesterday that about 45 managers have been sacked since Potter’s appointment. Trigger happy owners, no way are they all operating a great strategy.

 

[neilbard]

I should’ve have added “after being given many years in the job”.

Not many clubs are as stable. Someone on NSC pointed out yesterday that about 45 managers have been sacked since Potter’s appointment. Trigger happy owners, no way are they all operating a great strategy.

Touché, the club couldn't be run any better we all know this, but it don't stop me having a moan.

 

[Weststander]

Touché, the club couldn't be run any better we all know this, but it don't stop me having a moan.

You seem more cheery today!

 

[vagabond]

Maybe learned a bit from that.

Appointing a manager who took a club from the fourth division in Sweden to advancing from the group stage in the Europa League isnt much of a "gamble" though - it is just a brave, wise and actually fairly "obvious" decision that other clubs didnt have the balls or knowledge to make.

Potter, after his experience with the Swansea yank owners, would have refused to sign for any PL club that didnt have a clear plan and a great owner. If a PL club with some remote, rich but incompetent club owner came for him, he would have refused to once again uproot his family to manage a club where he couldnt trust the owners, the CEO etc.

It was two wise, well-measured decisions made by two wise men and always a lot more likely to be successful than the other way around. And its just begun.

It does seem more and more that the Graham Potter appointment has been a perfect storm. He is the perfect manager for us, and we are the perfect Premier League club for him.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Many links

Good edit, I thought you were joking or hadn't spotted them.

 

[Originunknown]

Just 1 would have sufficed

John Barnes wading straight into the discussion again!

 

[vagabond]

Why on earth could you be arsed to post all that? And who on earth do you think could be arsed to read all that?

For some people reading is not a chore.

If it’s too much effort you’re more than welcome to ignore and go about your day.

 

[vagabond]

View attachment 125736

Interestingly, Hughton in his first 33 games in the PL, we scored an average of 1.82, but here is the interesting bit we conceded 1.92 so more than Potter.

Hughton first 33 games, shots Av.12.08, shots faced a staggering Av.28.25, how the **** did we not get relegated?

So the old adage of attack is the best form of defence seems to bear some truth.

Pretty crystal clear looking at that.

 

[rogersix]

Is it really necessary to rehash all of this crap again ?

it seems so, you're not here by royal appointment, sweetie

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

For some people reading is not a chore.

If it’s too much effort you’re more than welcome to ignore and go about your day.

Done!

 

[Chicken Run]

Says the person who banned me for actually telling the truth - in fact if anything I was under-estimating the impact of the pandemic in the UK - yet I wa accused of 'scare-mongering'.

As for the LP - well Starmer is playing a blinder - sacking and expelling left-wing activists. You have to give the guy credit - he is doing to the left what Corbyn should have done to the Blairites. What he is not doing is showing that he is any different to Bojo.

Oh - and by the way - I was here all the time - you don't have to log-in to view the forum.

Hi, you don’t work at the Palace (Brighton) Pier by any chance do you?

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

Wrong again - the decision is done and dusted

We know what Potter did this season - we have no idea what Hughton could have done because he wasn't here. There are way too many variables.

Hughton could have done better than Potter - he could have got the same result - or he could have got the team relegated - we have no way of knowing.

It would have been a major disappointment if Brighton had been relegated given all the hard work of the last few years since Hughton was first hired and the work done this season - and fortunately that has not happened.

As for the 'non-Ablion' fan jibe - it is astonishing that just because someone holds a different point of view to you that they somehow must not be an Albion fan.

Could have done better possibly, but on the performance of the last part of last season .... no ****ing chance.

CH was magnificent it getting us up but he was getting found out. Same tactics, same subs, same defensive approach. We were so predictable it was a liability. Sadly no plan B.
Whilst past performance doesn’t predict future performance, in this case it gives you a bloody good idea of what you are going to get.

I actually find this thread depressing. CH was bloody brilliant and would get a tub of lard promoted from the championship, but sadly he just not cut out for the premier league. TBF, not many are and GP could end up being one of those but at present it’s looking good.
IMHO this season, the premier league is very much stronger outside of the top six.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[vagabond]

Just 1 would have sufficed

John Barnes wading straight into the discussion again!

It does seem to have set him off!

 

[Acker79]

I think it's also worth remembering, many of the commentators making these comments would have seen Charlton think they could do better and getting rid of Curbishley, Stoke thinking they can do better and getting rid of Pulis, Bolton thinking they can do better and getting rid of Allardyce. Newcastle when they got rid of Hughton, Norwich when they got rid of Hughton.

It wasn't the personal attack some people seem to be taking it as.

Next season is going to be difficult - and the pandemic has made it even more so - it will be difficult for most clubs, not just Brighton. I suspect that the PL will be stronger next season - Leeds and WBA will likely have more about them than Norwich and Villa - and I wouldn't be surprised to see the third spot taken by Cardiff who have experience of a relegation dog-fight. If Bloom is committed to Potter then this off-season - short as it will be - he needs to remove the purse strings. Brighton need two strikers capable of scoring goals in the PL (Maupay still hasn't hit double digits this season and the next highest scorer is Troussard with 4) - the top 2 goalscorers for Brighton this season have 13 goals between them - the only teams with fewer are Bournemouth, Villa, West Ham and Watford. Bloom needs to spend at least £100 million this off-season - and even if he spends big on strikers there is no guarantee that they will work out. PL standard strikers are very hard to come by. Don't be surprised if next season is a struggle as well - indeed it could be a bigger struggle than this season as every club will strengthen their squads and Potter will not have the advantage of being an unknown quality. Also some Brighton players may be targeted for transfers - wouldn't be surprised to see Duffy leave and Dunk could well be targeted by one of the bigger clubs. The midfield also needs to be bolstered. Saying that - I expect Connolly, Alzate and Lamptey to make progress and it will be interesting to see what White brings to the party.

I was thinking the other day, while looking at Norwich, Bournemouth, and Villa and their collapses this season, how over the summer last year people were saying things like the above. Villa were a former long-term premier league team 'coming home' to where they belong, they were gonna be a big threat, probably pushing for Europe. Norwich have been up and down, with Farke and the football they've been playing, this could be the year they establish themselves. Bournemouth have been up for three years and settling into the league. Pelligrini had settled in, and West Ham would push on. Etc. We see variations of the above every season, and will continue to do so every season we remain in the premier league. If we drop down there will be something similar explaining why it will be tough to even finish top 6 in the championship despite any parachute payments.

 

[Change at Barnham]

It's a bit embarrassing that Brighton supporter "FPL Rich" keeps referring to Hughton as Houghton!

 

[rogersix]

Last point - my apologies if you are in fact an Albion fan

he isn't, hence the "red"; oh, and gets very upset if you ask the question

 

[Icy Gull]

he isn't, hence the "red"; oh, and gets very upset if you ask the question

Yeah I have my doubts. Sounds more like a CH fan than an Albion one but