can somebody explain.

[Barham's tash]

Not at all to me ' to act' as to sign better players than we had not similar or less ability. Kayal = Stephens, Best = COG, Halford = Hughes, are they improvements, I dont think so. Hypia = Hughton that is the only improvement which may prove the answer.

Kayal = Stephens + experience and attitude (plus we had no clear picture of the timescale of Stephens likely return to first team action)

Best = COG + pace, awareness and experience (plus at the time there was a strong possibility that COG was on his bike to Sheff Utd and it was unclear whether CH wanted him)

Halford = Hughes+ age + versatility - the square root of long throws

Yes I accept the above might be too mathematical for someone of your intellectual calibre but all just goes to evidence that TB HAS invested, and WILL invest in any given situation. The situation we're in now is one of the need to bolster a squad low on moral, which he did by employing a straight talking motivational and organised manager, alongside bringing in one player with immense promise on a permanent contract at the right age (26) to stay here for a few years and cement a first team place, and adding options for the manager via the loan market.

I am undoubted in TB's ability to call the majority of things right and so far I think if I were evaluating his performance I would do so on the basis of the below:

Training ground investment = HUGE tick

AMEX Expansion and development = HUGE tick

Allowing Gus to convince him that Murray wasn't worth a better and long term contract = red cross

Letting Gus go = solid tick. It was never going to work in the long term and I would not want to watch his prettier game a la Sunderland this season if we had gone up - see the Mike Bailey years for reference

Employing Garcia = tick

Not convincing Garcia to stay = No score draw

Employing Hyypia = Massive fail

Employing Hughton = solid tick

A chairman that has a strike rate of 75% correct decisions over his tenure should be very pleased with himself. For one that's also a massive fan of the club where his head must nearly be vetoed by his heart a lot of the time I find it staggering. How anyone doubts him is unbelievable. We're just incredibly lucky that he remains committed and a fan at the same time.

If/when we make the Premier League under his tenure then so many people will have massive humble pie to eat as far as TB is concerned and I for one am happy to sit and wait for us to get it right rather than bleat on and moan about what we haven't done, who we haven't bought etc.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

At what point did Hyypia think the playing side was 'sorted'??
He looked in despair from day one and if rumours are to be believed he tried to resign almost immediately.

Nothing to do with the playing side.
It was because he realised he had made a mistake. He was out of his depth and knew that the job was beyond him. He struggled on but it was painful to watch, like a wounded beast that needed to be put down. Most of us knew it was futile but four points from Wigan and Blackburn delayed the inevitable. Eventually, his own self-respect forced his hand. He couldn't keep up the pretence any longer. If anything, he's learnt that management is not for him. It took the best part of half a season and a lot of damage done for the message to get home.

 

[BensGrandad]

Kayal = Stephens + experience and attitude (plus we had no clear picture of the timescale of Stephens likely return to first team action)

Best = COG + pace, awareness and experience (plus at the time there was a strong possibility that COG was on his bike to Sheff Utd and it was unclear whether CH wanted him)

Halford = Hughes+ age + versatility

Thanks for your patronising post which has nothing whatsoever to do with mathematics and me having an A level in it. It is all about football ability and opinions and in my opinion not one of your assertions about increased ability in relation to cost and our needs stand up to scrutiny or to put it in basic language none of the additions are appreciably better than we already had.

 

[Barham's tash]

Thanks for your patronising post which has nothing whatsoever to do with mathematics and me having an A level in it. It is all about football ability and opinions and in my opinion not one of your assertions about increased ability in relation to cost and our needs stand up to scrutiny or to put it in basic language none of the additions are appreciably better than we already had.

Ok, so, you don't think any of my assertions re the above players hold any weight at all? That's fine but I respectfully disagree and think your OP reeked of delusion and bed-wettery.

 

[BensGrandad]

This so called delusion and bed wettery will become obvious when the ST renewals come up. I could well be wrong but expect there to be 5000 that do not renew. Just talking to fellow supporters many are disallusioned with the poor performances this season on the field and in the transfer market in the light of a relegation battle and so will not renew using the excuse that seats on the day will be readily available. I have been supporting the club for 65+ years so wont change irrespective but then I am not a new supporter that has joined since The Amex.

 

[chaileyjem]

why has he neglected the playing side.

The playing budget (ie: wages) is larger than it was in 2013/14 and some estimates put it in the top 7 or 8 in the Champ this season as it was in 2013/14 and 12/13.
Its increased every year substantially since Withdean and this is largely down to TB's investment - still rising and currently estimated at £205m.
Last year TB also sanctioned in Stockdale and Baldock two of our biggest signings of all time. He also accepted the resignation of his manager when it was clear that
things weren't working and sacked David Burke in what can only be a very public admission that the summer recruitment had been a disaster.

He's also funding a world class academy with an u18s team holding their own this season in the Prem league equivalent and beating the likes of Chelsea, Spurs and Southampton and we've a Dev squad thats produced first team squad (also England) regulars such as Ince, March, JFC, Walton and recently Rea.

What else should he be doing given he doesn't pick the team, coach the players or find the players and also there's no guarantee that TB funding a substantial playing budget must equal promotion. He's come close twice in 2 out of the last 3 seasons and there's no reason why this won't happen again (Ask Boro or Derby for how poor seasons / change of manager can be followed by success...)

Any other suggestions that he has other motives are ludicrous. There's no way he'd get even a fraction of his money back if sold the club for example...

 

[Rookie]

Thanks for your patronising post which has nothing whatsoever to do with mathematics and me having an A level in it. It is all about football ability and opinions and in my opinion not one of your assertions about increased ability in relation to cost and our needs stand up to scrutiny or to put it in basic language none of the additions are appreciably better than we already had.

But obviously the man that matters, Chris hughton, thinks differently otherwise they wouldn't be here. The objective is to stay in the division this year and rebuild in the summer. If hughton thinks we have enough to do that why spend extra on players who might be cheaper in the summer or when he has the chance to get better in?

 

[chaileyjem]

This so called delusion and bed wettery will become obvious when the ST renewals come up. I could well be wrong but expect there to be 5000 that do not renew. .

Where's the delusion ? Of course the club have a tough fight on their hands to encourage supporters to renews ST given the poor performances this season and the fact that we're still in a relegation fight. However it beggars belief that TB, the board don't discuss this both formally and informally probably all the time and they've so far let a manager go, sacked the bloke responsible for recruitment, signed new players, recruited probably the most experienced Championship manager out there.
I'm sure we could all argue they should have done x or y instead but this idea that TB of all people (or the board or the manager) are going round literally expecting every season ticket holder to renew, for Albion to definitely stay up, and everything is all going to be fine, nothing to worry about is nonsense.

 

[BensGrandad]

But obviously the man that matters, Chris hughton, thinks differently otherwise they wouldn't be here. The objective is to stay in the division this year and rebuild in the summer. If hughton thinks we have enough to do that why spend extra on players who might be cheaper in the summer or when he has the chance to get better in?

I wouldnt argue with any of that but it would appear to supporters that we seem to miss out on many signings for whatever reason and obviously fans do not know all the reasons for this. The biggest threat at the moment is obviously the threat of relegation.

 

[chaileyjem]

it would appear to supporters that we seem to miss out on many signings for whatever reason and obviously fans do not know all the reasons for this.

There's 2 main reasons. We're currently a) 20th in the league. and b) although we have a big playing budget we can still be outspent by clubs with parachute payments.
What are the other reasons you're hinting at ?

 

[Arkwright]

TB has done a fantastic job, the Amex is a case in point of "Build it and they will come".

It's all well and good comparing us to Brentford and Bournemouth on wages but they don't have our overheads off the pitch. Maybe you could argue with the ground that we built too big too quick but I think it was the right decision and in general the ground is full(ish).

My only concern is that where we have fantastic facilities with the Amex and training ground and our future off the pitch is rosy, however have we financially over stretched meaning a smaller budget for the first team squad. It's fantastic when people say what a great stadium you have but I would rather the Albion be remembered for having a great football team. Running any business is tough but the main product which sells the club is football and events on the pitch, somehow we need to start attracting better players and play a better and more entertaining style of football to ensure that our great stadium is full.

How you do that, well I haven't got a clue without our Sugar Daddy digging deeper or a third party injection of cash.

Like it or not our future is firmly in the hands of TB and we have no option but to trust him and his business plan.

 

[Hampster Gull]

TB is a long standing fan who has invested millions into his club but why has he neglected the playing side. I would
have thought that would be of the utmost importance especially to a fan, so please explain to me why you think this is so as I dont understand it.

Don't agree he has neglected the playing side and running this in this industry is not easy. I am frustrated as you are but its not always going to go our way

 

[chaileyjem]

however have we financially over stretched meaning a smaller budget for the first team squad.

We don't have a smaller budget (compared to last year) for the first team squad. The playing budget has increased every year since Withdean.

 

[Arkwright]

We don't have a smaller budget (compared to last year) for the first team squad. The playing budget has increased every year since Withdean.

You can't compare budgets on or off the pitch to The Withdean days. Yes the budgets have gone up but so has the cost of players and wages they have to increase in order to stay competitive in this cut throat business.

I fully understand why our playing budget could be lower than most in the division because of the costs off the pitch. Somehow the club needs to balance the books. Radical but I would have a smaller First Team Squad and have 16 / 18 good players instead of 20 / 22 average players and give the youth more of an opportunity instead of getting in poor loan signings. I know it's a gamble but TB likes to take a punt.

 

[chaileyjem]

I fully understand why our playing budget could be lower than most in the division because of the costs off the pitch.

Of course re: Withdean.
The OP said the playing budget was less than previous seasons. Its not. Its the highest its ever been (yes. this is also due to wage inflation and other factors but also due to TB trying to fund a competitive squad. Whether he got one or not is open to question.).
You're saying its lower than most in the division. It hasn't been in previous seasons and it isn't this season.

 

[BensGrandad]

If as most seem to suggest the costs running The Amex is crippling us shouldnt this have been envisaged in the original business plan and covered or are there still areas of overspend there that PB hasnt sorted yet.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

So why didnt TB act in January? Reading did it from a relegation place at Christmas.

If you are talking about the year Reading went up you are spectacularly wrong. They were 23rd on 10 Sept 2011; 16th the end of October; 11th beginning of December and when they defeated us on Boxing Day moved up to 6th. Source Skysports Football Yearbook.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

There's 2 main reasons. We're currently a) 20th in the league. and b) although we have a big playing budget we can still be outspent by clubs with parachute payments.
What are the other reasons you're hinting at ?

I don't think we can always hide behind the parachute payment argument. We tracked Odubajo for a long time, but Brentford offered £1m+ and got their man. We desperately needed, and very much still need a player like him. Warren Aspinall has publicly said the club scouts recommended Callum Wilson, Bournemouth offered the money and got their man. That's 2 quick examples of players we could have bought but lost out to teams without parachute payments.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

I don't think we can always hide behind the parachute payment argument. We tracked Odubajo for a long time, but Brentford offered £1m+ and got their man. We desperately needed, and very much still need a player like him. Warren Aspinall has publicly said the club scouts recommended Callum Wilson, Bournemouth offered the money and got their man. That's 2 quick examples of players we could have bought but lost out to teams without parachute payments.

You could also argue that both those teams took risks on players who had never played above League 1, we went for Baldock who had.

 

[KZNSeagull]

There's 2 main reasons. We're currently a) 20th in the league. and b) although we have a big playing budget we can still be outspent by clubs with parachute payments.
What are the other reasons you're hinting at ?

There is also our location - football is a game predominantly played by people based in the midlands and the north and the attraction of uprooting and moving down south is not attractive to quite a lot of players, I would suggest.