[Albion] Chris Hughton leaves with immediate effect

[Reddleman]

I thinks deep down the majority of us feel a slight sense of unease because CH was such a good man and we have seen teams in the past burnt by changing a manager that kept them up. It’s also not very pleasant having us so widely critised in the media, something we aren’t used to. But...

1. We only won 9 games all season and if we are really honest four of those were fairly fortunate (Newcastle away, Wolves/West ham home and Huddersfield away)
2. The approach to away games, and the repeated lack of success.
3. Hughton had run out of ideas as evidenced by the team and performance against Wolves. Yes job done but not sustainable.
4. Something was wrong behind the scenes as evidenced by Steve Sidwell and his comments about just get over the line and ‘deal with it’ in the summer.
5. Playing people out of position - Locadia being the prime example
6. He had lost all confidence is attacking even at home against lower teams. The first half performance against Newcastle was one of the most bizarre and awful I have seen from a top flight team. Retreating behind the ball in a game to keep us up. His nerve had completely gone after BMuff and Cardiff.
7. The media and other fans, despite the faux outrage over sacking, were starting to turn on our anti-football .

Sad to say but right decision.

 

[pork pie]

I thinks deep down the majority of us feel a slight sense of unease because CH was such a good man and we have seen teams in the past burnt by changing a manager that kept them up. It’s also not very pleasant having us so widely critised in the media, something we aren’t used to. But...

1. We only won 9 games all season and if we are really honest four of those were fairly fortunate (Newcastle away, Wolves/West ham home and Huddersfield away)
2. The approach to away games, and the repeated lack of success.
3. Hughton had run out of ideas as evidenced by the team and performance against Wolves. Yes job done but not sustainable.
4. Something was wrong behind the scenes as evidenced by Steve Sidwell and his comments about just get over the line and ‘deal with it’ in the summer.
5. Playing people out of position - Locadia being the prime example
6. He had lost all confidence is attacking even at home against lower teams. The first half performance against Newcastle was one of the most bizarre and awful I have seen from a top flight team. Retreating behind the ball in a game to keep us up. His nerve had completely gone after BMuff and Cardiff.
7. The media and other fans, despite the faux outrage over sacking, were starting to turn on our anti-football .

Sad to say but right decision.

No unease here. I have been saying he was past his sell-by date for months. Glad to see the back of him. Really disgusted at the references to him picking us up as a struggling Championship team, given the fact that Nathan Jones has already shown we were in a false position due to Soppy Herpies.

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

Another brilliant stat. Simply not true.

Spurs were quite often bottom half
As were Everton
West Ham finished 10th this year, have been relegated
Man City (you know, the team that won it)


And then you have one offs like Bournemouth and Burnley.

You're very good at making stuff up.

Everton are an established PL team - since 1992 they have ranged between 4th and 17th in finishes - with 14 finishes in the top half (finishing in the top half in 8 of the last 11 seasons) - including one 4th place and 3 5th place finishes in the past 11 seasons.
Spurs are in the same boat - except they have finished in the top half in 21 seasons since 1992 - and haven't been out of the top 6 in the last 10 years.
West Ham were relegated twice and outisde of that have finished 15th or higher in every other season bar one - their average finish has been 11th
Man City were promoted to the PL in 2002 - and before the Shiek bought the club in 2008 they finished an average 12th - since 2008 Man city have spent more than £1billion on players. So if Tony Bloom wants to blow the rest of his money then Brighton might make top 4.

Bournemouth have had one 'good' season - in 2016-2017 when they finished 9th - 6 points ahead of Watford in 17th place but 15 points behind Everton in 7th. Bournemouth got 11 points from the last five games to go from 16th to 9th. The following season they spent 10 weeks in the relegation zone until a run of 4 wins and 3 draws got them out of trouble - they then limped through the rest of the season finishing 4 points ahead of Brighton. In net terms Bournemouth have actually spent more than Liverpool since they were promoted.

I admire Burnley - a small town team - a population of under 75,000. They had a tremendous record in the old first division - however - like all small clubs they have struggled to stay in the PL - they have finished 18th, 19th, 15th, 7th and 15th. Even the season they were seventh they were particularly poor against the top 6 teams. One swallow doesn't make a summer - Burnley will continue to struggle because they simply don't have the money. In terms of net spending - the only teams that have spent less than Burnley are Spurs (in part because they got £45million for Walker) and Southampton (4 years ago they took in £90million and the year before they took in £100million).

 

[LIKE]

I think what it seems most people are overlooking in this discussion is that Chris is the first manager who has had to do the job hamstrung by a flask and bottletop ban.


Since the ban
Played 18
Won 5 (27.8%)
Drawn 5 (27.8%)
Lost 8 (44.4%)

Before the ban (premier league only)
Played 20
Won 8 (40%)
Drawn 8 (40%)
Lost 4 (20%)

LIKE.

 

[BN41Albion]

I thinks deep down the majority of us feel a slight sense of unease because CH was such a good man and we have seen teams in the past burnt by changing a manager that kept them up. It’s also not very pleasant having us so widely critised in the media, something we aren’t used to. But...

1. We only won 9 games all season and if we are really honest four of those were fairly fortunate (Newcastle away, Wolves/West ham home and Huddersfield away)
2. The approach to away games, and the repeated lack of success.
3. Hughton had run out of ideas as evidenced by the team and performance against Wolves. Yes job done but not sustainable.
4. Something was wrong behind the scenes as evidenced by Steve Sidwell and his comments about just get over the line and ‘deal with it’ in the summer.
5. Playing people out of position - Locadia being the prime example
6. He had lost all confidence is attacking even at home against lower teams. The first half performance against Newcastle was one of the most bizarre and awful I have seen from a top flight team. Retreating behind the ball in a game to keep us up. His nerve had completely gone after BMuff and Cardiff.
7. The media and other fans, despite the faux outrage over sacking, were starting to turn on our anti-football .

Sad to say but right decision.

Starting to turn! We'd become heavily criticised regularly when they bothered to mention us on motd and the like. By largely the same pundits now criticising the decision.

Your post sums up my thoughts exactly. Its such a shame, but I feel it was the right time for change.

 

[Nobby]

https://twitter.com/henrywinter/status/1128408366387212288?s=21

Top Man [emoji22]

 

[pork pie]

https://twitter.com/henrywinter/status/1128408366387212288?s=21

Top Man [emoji22]

Nice guys win nothing. Who cares if his competitors declare eternal love for him. It is us fans that are forced to endure his boring brand of so called football.

 

[atfc village]

Managers come and go it's a sad part of the game . Take us at Aldershot 3 years ago playing awful dull Football,then Gary Waddock the man who took us to the EFL came back and led us to 2 Play off campaigns. Then this season led us on a streak of 2 wins in 26 on a spiral to relegation . Nobody wanted to see him go like that after all he'd done for the club . The Chairman even refused to sack him at christmas as he still believed GW would still get us to the play offs. Gw had been sussed with no plan B ,no attacking ideas .

 

[Don Tmatter]

https://twitter.com/henrywinter/status/1128408366387212288?s=21

Top Man [emoji22]

Just seen on SSN the reception CH got before presenting the award, anyone would think he’d won the PL.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

The defence of Hughton and criticism of Bloom from the media and a lot of fans is getting ridiculous. Some wet wipe on Albion Unlimited tonight said something stupid like they can’t believe how we’ve treated poor Chris, they thought we were a family, community club and after years of supporting the club they’re disgusted. WTF?!

An underperforming employee who was very well rewarded for the job has been moved on and will be suitably compensated, why does that mean we’re not a community club anymore?! Some people need to get a grip.

Bloom has given far more to this club, is a life long fan and is making what he believes is the best decision for the club and let’s face it, he doesn’t usually make bad decisions in his business life or in his time at the club. He deserves better.

 

[Justice]

The defence of Hughton and criticism of Bloom from the media and a lot of fans is getting ridiculous. Some wet wipe on Albion Unlimited tonight said something stupid like they can’t believe how we’ve treated poor Chris, they thought we were a family, community club and after years of supporting the club they’re disgusted. WTF?!

An underperforming employee who was very well rewarded for the job has been moved on and will be suitably compensated, why does that mean we’re not a community club anymore?! Some people need to get a grip.

Bloom has given far more to this club, is a life long fan and is making what he believes is the best decision for the club and let’s face it, he doesn’t usually make bad decisions in his business life or in his time at the club. He deserves better.

Yeah then again it’s not their money on the line. I would of given him the boot straight after Cardiff at home and took a risk on Rusk, that performance was pathetic.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

The problem is that we are still regarded as *little old Brighton* playing way above our station. The narrative then goes that the only way this was possible was because of Chris Hughton. Therefore, we are now 'ungrateful' and, to use a version of that horrible phrase, will need to 'beware of what we have wished for'.

We are better than that, and the future still looks very positive.

 

[Seasider78]

Correction, a manager that wasn't given the right resources to let the team grow. The recruitment team has been revamped which is not a coincidence, its so frustrating as people speculate as opposed to talking to the facts. CH is collateral damage of the bad decisions made in the board, he didn't complain about his resources he worked with what he had.

When allowed to attack the resources he had were more than capable of more than 1 shot in target per game. The reality is the manager lacked belief in his players and had them sitting behind the ball like a league one team away at the big boys in the FA cup. And he would set up like that against teams lacking form or around and below us not just the top teams. He changed the system at Xmas and despite it clearly not working persisted with it continuously. We have played the same way away from home for two seasons with fruitless results but again have made no changes to how we approach away games.

Recruitment has played a part of course it has but to suggest that Chris has not had the tools to return more than 3 wins from 23 games is laughable.

 

[dazzer6666]

When allowed to attack the resources he had were more than capable of more than 1 shot in target per game. The reality is the manager lacked belief in his players and had them sitting behind the ball like a league one team away at the big boys in the FA cup. And he would set up like that against teams lacking form or around and below us not just the top teams. He changed the system at Xmas and despite it clearly not working persisted with it continuously. We have played the same way away from home for two seasons with fruitless results but again have made no changes to how we approach away games.

Recruitment has played a part of course it has but to suggest that Chris has not had the tools to return more than 3 wins from 23 games is laughable.

Agreed - we wouldn’t even attack Millwall properly until it was almost too late, let alone the big boys.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Still unhappy about the decision, but really understand it from Tony's point of view.

He has invested a fortune in the academy and training facilities. The plan has always been that the U23's /U18's etc should play the same way as the 1st team. The idea being that players can be introduced to the first team and have an easier transition.

Hughton's focus on the first team and pragmatic tactics to stay in the division has been in opposition to this philosophy in many ways. Many have bemoaned the lack of opportunity for the youngsters. Whilst I'm sure TB understands the pragmatism, he needed to see some commitment to getting the club back to this vision.
The end of the season's performances/tactics, compounded with "more of the same next season" and continued commentary of "Our level" may have been seen as being in direct opposition to Bloom's vision.

Clearly Ashworth has been brought in to oversee this side of things and make sure it bears fruit.
It isn't in Ashworth's best interest to back Hughton's approach, and CH's days were numbered as soon as DA joined the club, IMO.

 

[tedebear]

The problem is that we are still regarded as *little old Brighton* playing way above our station. The narrative then goes that the only way this was possible was because of Chris Hughton. Therefore, we are now 'ungrateful' and, to use a version of that horrible phrase, will need to 'beware of what we have wished for'.

We are better than that, and the future still looks very positive.

There will be a considerable population next season if the wheels fall off, who will revert back to this decision, with an "I told you so" point of view...Akin to being seen as failing to play the big boys game...

 

[dazzer6666]

Still unhappy about the decision, but really understand it from Tony's point of view.

He has invested a fortune in the academy and training facilities. The plan has always been that the U23's /U18's etc should play the same way as the 1st team. The idea being that players can be introduced to the first team and have an easier transition.

Hughton's focus on the first team and pragmatic tactics to stay in the division has been in opposition to this philosophy in many ways. Many have bemoaned the lack of opportunity for the youngsters. Whilst I'm sure TB understands the pragmatism, he needed to see some commitment to getting the club back to this vision.
The end of the season's performances/tactics, compounded with "more of the same next season" and continued commentary of "Our level" may have been seen as being in direct opposition to Bloom's vision.

Clearly Ashworth has been brought in to oversee this side of things and make sure it bears fruit.
It isn't in Ashworth's best interest to back Hughton's approach, and CH's days were numbered as soon as DA joined the club, IMO.

Great post, pretty much nails the thinking behind it I reckon.

There will be a considerable population next season if the wheels fall off, who will revert back to this decision, with an "I told you so" point of view...Akin to being seen as failing to play the big boys game...

Yep. Tony is acting (as always) in what he thinks are the best interests of the club. He knows he’ll either be lauded or vilified by Christmas (or, on here, after 10 mins of the first pre-season game more likely) depending on how things go. At least he’s got the balls to be decisive, and has acted quickly rather than sleepwalking into another season like the last (as CH seemed to imply that’s what we should expect) where we would be nailed on for relegation with current tactics and personnel.

 

[BLOCK F]

You've obviously forgotten Sami Hyypia!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I haven't forgotten Hyypia,how could I?
I thought we were referring to the sacking of Mike Bailey in the old 1st Division and being replaced by Melia.
Anyway, we all know that not all appointments in ANY job are guaranteed to work out, but in this case, I have high hopes that it will.
It looks like we have been closely following Graham Potter and like what we see. If we get him and all goes well, then excellent.
If it doesn't, then, by all means, come back and give me a great big, 'I told you so'.
Nevertheless, I really do think it was time for a change and Bloom was quite right in taking decisive action in order to give the new manager as much time as possible to plan for next season.

 

[BLOCK F]

Which one would that be?


Jumping to conclusions there -

Bloom might be ambitious - but unless he is willing to plough the rest of his reputed £1billion wealth into the club then Brighton are stuck fighting relegation - and maybe even then it wouldn't work. The only club that has been able to break out of the bottom half of the table over the last 20 years has been Leicester, bought by a company with revenue of more than $2billion a year - with a freak win of the PL and then making another £75million from the Champions League - and even they have some down times that have seen them struggle.

Jolly Red Giant?
There's nothing 'Jolly' about you!
Possibly, 'Damn' Weird Giant', maybe?
No offence intended, of course!

P.S. Are you a Human Rights activist, specialising in underpaid, underperforming Premiership managers?

 

[BLOCK F]

To be fair [MENTION=233]tedebear[/MENTION], you are making it sound a little like CH was tarred, feathered and paraded through Brighton with a sign hung around his neck reading, "were loose and it's all my fault."

I thought the statement from the club was an honest and fair summary of the reason for the decision, offered thanks and praise to CH, referred to him as one of the club’s finest and most-respected managers and said he would always be welcome at the Amex. The fact is we won 3 from 26 and that just can never be good enough. CH was in a job that only 20 people in the world can do at any one time, so to keep that job you have to be beyond exceptional. As a manager in the PL, continually putting 11 men behind the ball, giving up on playing football and hoping results go your way is just not sustainable.

In my view, most PL clubs would have jetisoned Hughton far earlier and most likely in a far more brutal manner.

Very well put, Bry!
Couldn't agree more.