[Football] Chris Hughton new Ghana manager

[Triggaaar]

Small countries like Scotland and Ireland haven't been able to really do what countries like Switzerland Netherlands or Belgium have done. They have great immigration policy which has allowed them to tap into migrant population.

I thought Switzerland had very strict rules on immigrants becoming nationals - does that go out the window if they're good at sport (or have a fine collection of nazi gold)?

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

Small countries like Scotland and Ireland haven't been able to really do what countries like Switzerland Netherlands or Belgium have done. They have great immigration policy which has allowed them to tap into migrant population.

There are strict rules on immigration in Switzerland - but half their squad is from an immigrant background (a lot of Eastern Europeans - former Yugoslavia and Albania)

Holland and Belgium are different - they recruit based on old colonial ties - Suriname has been a breeding ground for Dutch internationals - the Congo for Belgian internationals. Lukaku, Batshuayi, Openda, Lukebakio, Tielemans, Onona, Mangala, Vranckx, Denayer, Boyata, Lavia, are all of Congolese decent and there are several others from immigrant families originating in other West African countries.

18 of the French Squad who won the world cup are from immigrant backgrounds (mostly former colonies in West Africa)..

 

[nickjhs]

You don't know what Hughton would have done if he had the squad that Potter was given -

The very first game against Watford it was night and day in comparison, that performance wasn't due to Maupay (Webster and Trossard stayed in the bench) it was a completely different mindset and style of play. Sure we didn't do any better that season but the change in attitude and play was there for all to see.

 

[NooBHA]

I don't follow all of them - I do like watching the Irish underage teams and I do go to LOI games when I get the opportunity - not easy because of distance and the time the games are on. There are several internet forums where people involved with clubs, particularly schoolboy set-ups participate and they flag players to keep an eye on (and they tend to be spot on with the ones they flag). It was someone from St. Kevin's that said to look out for Ferguson when he was twelve (same with Omobamidele - it was someone from Leixlip very early on that said keep an eye on the kid).

I'd love Chris to get the opportunity to manage Ireland - however, I don't think the timing will work out. Chris is not going to leave Ghana before AFCON finals and I expect Kenny to be gone well before that - possible as early as Sunday night if Ireland get beaten by Holland. I also think that they will go more for a younger 'tracksuit' coach for want of a better description - someone they think can relate to the younger players. Whether they can find one is the issue.

The FAI really have to get the next appointment right -

The Kenny era has been a disaster - 5 wins in 25 competitive matches - Beating Armenia, Latvia and Scotland at home in the Nations League and Azerbaijan and Luxembourg in the WC qualifiers.

Before that was McCarthy's second stint - but that was really a caretaker role waiting for Kenny (to do I don't know what).

O'Neill was a bit better - but the combination of himself and Roy Keane always seemed to rub the players up the wrong way. I never wanted O'Neill and didn't rate him.

Before O'Neill was Trappatoni who was going through the motions padding his retirement fund and was interested in one thing only - not losing - he wasted so many good players.

Before that was the disaster that was Steve Staunton - less said about that the better. Arie Haan was linked with the job after Staunton was sacked - it would have been interesting to see what he could have done with it.

Before Staunton was Brian Kerr - a very underrated manager (who later worked wonders with the Faroe Islands) - he was never given a proper chance by the FAI top brass.

Before that was McCarthy's first stint - where he was inexperienced but had a good squad - Ireland could have done really well if the mature McCarthy of the second time around had the squad of his first run.

Now - Ireland has the best crop of kids coming through since Brian Kerr's kids came third in the World Youth Championships and won the U16 and U18 Euros in the late 1990s. Pick the wrong guy and the opportunity will be wasted - pick the right guy and Ireland could be headed for a second 'golden era' with Evan Ferguson leading the line.

It wan interesting you referencing the FAI and the Brian Kerr Era.

I obviously had to deal with FAI during that time because Chris was his Assistant.

The FAi and SFA have been very similar in their outlook to Managers. In periods they have thrown Millions at the job. Ireland with Trappatoni and Scotland with Berti Vogts. Other times when they have been constrained financially they have gone with Brian Kerr and Craig Levein respectively.

Sometimes it just depends on the pool of players Managers have at their disposal at the time as opposed to the calibre of manager or the money they pay out.

Both Scotland and Ireland are these teams who get within touching distance and then fall at the final hurdle. I actually remember Chris leaving me tickets for a match in Basel in Switzerland. It was the last Gabe of the qualifiers and Ireland needed only a draw to qualify and lost. Or they needed a win and drew. But it was quite close right till the eng. Robbie Keane missed a gilt edged chance right at the end of the match.

Scotland and Ireland are serial letter downers but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. I've learned not to let it worry me.

The only thing I fear now in football is if England win the World Cup. I just don't think I could cope with constant re-runs if an updated version of " They think it's all over"

It would be a good feel good factor for the people in the country. But the media would drive me nuts.

 

[NooBHA]

I thought Switzerland had very strict rules on immigrants becoming nationals - does that go out the window if they're good at sport (or have a fine collection of nazi gold)?

It's not that strict. What they allow in immigration per capita isn't that low.

I don't want get into the history of how Switzerland acquired it's wealth because I certainly don't approve of their history

 

[Justice]

I had managed to block out the majority of the first two years of PL away performances until this post reminded meGoing to any of the ‘big 6’ felt like such a waste of time. Still, needs must and all that.

Have you watched Burnley ‘ going for it ‘ this season? With the squad he had back then it would have been insane to give it a go.

He knew goal difference could play a part come the end of the season. People moan about it although if CH hadn’t of been cautious back then today there may have been no RDZ our fantastic squad and Europa league football.

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

The very first game against Watford it was night and day in comparison, that performance wasn't due to Maupay (Webster and Trossard stayed in the bench) it was a completely different mindset and style of play. Sure we didn't do any better that season but the change in attitude and play was there for all to see.

The year before Brighton beat Man Ure in the second game of the season.

After Potter beat Watford - Brighton drew at home to West Ham, then lost at home to Southampton and then got hammered by Man City.

In Hughton's first season in the PL Brighton finished 15th with 40pts

In Potter's first year Brighton finished in 15th with 41 pts.

Again - I am not suggesting that Potter was a failure - I am suggesting that we do not know what Chris would have done if he had the money that was made available to Potter that season (and it wasn't just Maupay, Webster and Trossard - it also included Mooy and Lamptey and then McAllister coming into the team as well). Eight of the team that played the last game under Hughton did not play in the last game of the following season - eight of them.

 

[Javeaseagull]

The year before Brighton beat Man Ure in the second game of the season.

After Potter beat Watford - Brighton drew at home to West Ham, then lost at home to Southampton and then got hammered by Man City.

In Hughton's first season in the PL Brighton finished 15th with 40pts

In Potter's first year Brighton finished in 15th with 41 pts.

Again - I am not suggesting that Potter was a failure - I am suggesting that we do not know what Chris would have done if he had the money that was made available to Potter that season (and it wasn't just Maupay, Webster and Trossard - it also included Mooy and Lamptey and then McAllister coming into the team as well). Eight of the team that played the last game under Hughton did not play in the last game of the following season - eight of them.

I agree with a lot of what you say and personally have a lot of time for Chris but that last six months was dire. Were you watching?

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

I agree with a lot of what you say and personally have a lot of time for Chris but that last six months was dire. Were you watching?

It was dire - the club were in trouble - second season syndrome - and job that was needed was whatever was necessary to keep the club in the PL - and he succeeded in doing that. The club owner chose to go in a different direction - that was their right - and it has worked out well.

Doesn't mean that Hughton wouldn't have changed things up a bit and got the team back to the way he had them playing in the Championship.

 

[nickjhs]

The year before Brighton beat Man Ure in the second game of the season.

After Potter beat Watford - Brighton drew at home to West Ham, then lost at home to Southampton and then got hammered by Man City.

In Hughton's first season in the PL Brighton finished 15th with 40pts

In Potter's first year Brighton finished in 15th with 41 pts.

Again - I am not suggesting that Potter was a failure - I am suggesting that we do not know what Chris would have done if he had the money that was made available to Potter that season (and it wasn't just Maupay, Webster and Trossard - it also included Mooy and Lamptey and then McAllister coming into the team as well). Eight of the team that played the last game under Hughton did not play in the last game of the following season - eight of them.

As I stated the attitude is what changed. And what a relief that was

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

As I stated the attitude is what changed. And what a relief that was

And may well have under Hughton as well - we don't have a crystal ball.

 

[jonny.rainbow]

I agree with a lot of what you say and personally have a lot of time for Chris but that last six months was dire. Were you watching?

We had two awful runs that season that both coincided with injuries to Pascal Gross.

Pascal came back in after the 0-5 Bournemouth defeat and performances and results improved.

Hughton was backed in the transfer market. Sadly, during our Premier League tenure, those players were largely duds such as Locadia and Jahanbakhsh.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

It wan interesting you referencing the FAI and the Brian Kerr Era.

I obviously had to deal with FAI during that time because Chris was his Assistant.

The FAi and SFA have been very similar in their outlook to Managers. In periods they have thrown Millions at the job. Ireland with Trappatoni and Scotland with Berti Vogts. Other times when they have been constrained financially they have gone with Brian Kerr and Craig Levein respectively.

Sometimes it just depends on the pool of players Managers have at their disposal at the time as opposed to the calibre of manager or the money they pay out.

Both Scotland and Ireland are these teams who get within touching distance and then fall at the final hurdle. I actually remember Chris leaving me tickets for a match in Basel in Switzerland. It was the last Gabe of the qualifiers and Ireland needed only a draw to qualify and lost. Or they needed a win and drew. But it was quite close right till the eng. Robbie Keane missed a gilt edged chance right at the end of the match.

Scotland and Ireland are serial letter downers but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. I've learned not to let it worry me.

The only thing I fear now in football is if England win the World Cup. I just don't think I could cope with constant re-runs if an updated version of " They think it's all over"

It would be a good feel good factor for the people in the country. But the media would drive me nuts.

I think it would drive quite a few of us English nuts too. I'd never really noticed it until we made the Euros final. It was incessant, over the top bollocks for days leading up to the game. I love football and I love England and it drove me nuts...and I don't even live in the uk!

 

[Machiavelli]

The year before Brighton beat Man Ure in the second game of the season.

After Potter beat Watford - Brighton drew at home to West Ham, then lost at home to Southampton and then got hammered by Man City.

In Hughton's first season in the PL Brighton finished 15th with 40pts

In Potter's first year Brighton finished in 15th with 41 pts.

Again - I am not suggesting that Potter was a failure - I am suggesting that we do not know what Chris would have done if he had the money that was made available to Potter that season (and it wasn't just Maupay, Webster and Trossard - it also included Mooy and Lamptey and then McAllister coming into the team as well). Eight of the team that played the last game under Hughton did not play in the last game of the following season - eight of them.

You're clutching at straws on this one.
We were in decline. We played dire football in PL season two. We had an old, slow, unathletic squad, and certain players were automatics on the team sheet -- most of these got moved on within a year of Potter arriving. Hughton would have been involved in assembling that squad. We had players that did enough to keep us up in the PL (by the skin of our teeth in the second season) but they were never going to transform us into a different, ball-playing team. We did have Bissouma, but Hughton didn't use him much. It was the right moment to move him on, and he did a fantastic job for us for four years, but he'd been found out by the last six months.
Of course we don't know which players he'd have bought if he had stayed that window, but we've got a pretty good idea of the sort of profile given what came before -- we wouldn't have got Trossard, for instance, as he publicly stated that he joined because of Potter. I'd be amazed if he'd have change tactics. The point about how similar the points and position profile is between our PL2 and PL3 covers up the fact that there was a transformation across the club -- in recruitment, in playing style, in the age and profile of the squad.

 

[Jolly Red Giant]

You're clutching at straws on this one.
We were in decline. We played dire football in PL season two. We had an old, slow, unathletic squad, and certain players were automatics on the team sheet -- most of these got moved on within a year of Potter arriving. Hughton would have been involved in assembling that squad. We had players that did enough to keep us up in the PL (by the skin of our teeth in the second season) but they were never going to transform us into a different, ball-playing team. We did have Bissouma, but Hughton didn't use him much. It was the right moment to move him on, and he did a fantastic job for us for four years, but he'd been found out by the last six months.
Of course we don't know which players he'd have bought if he had stayed that window, but we've got a pretty good idea of the sort of profile given what came before -- we wouldn't have got Trossard, for instance, as he publicly stated that he joined because of Potter. I'd be amazed if he'd have change tactics. The point about how similar the points and position profile is between our PL2 and PL3 covers up the fact that there was a transformation across the club -- in recruitment, in playing style, in the age and profile of the squad.

We have been through this before - Hughton was operating with a bottom three budget for both seasons in the PL - I pointed out at the time that the entire Southampton first eleven were all being paid more money that the highest paid player at Brighton. Furthermore, it is very difficult for newly promoted clubs to get quality players to join - in effect you have to take chances and hope that the players are a hit.

In the first season in the PL, Hughton bring in Propper (who was an important player for Potter for two seasons as well), Gross (who is still playing an important role at Brighton), Matt Ryan (who turned out to be a better goalkeeper than I expected and was only moved when Sanchez proved good enough), Locadia (who had fitness problems while he was at the club), Izquierdo (whose time at Brighton was riddled with injuries) and Gyokeres (who Potter dumped and was recently sold by Coventry for £20m).

Before the second season - still trying to put in the foundations of a PL squad - Andone (who had injuries and never really produced), Steele (is he still first choice?), Bernardo (brought in for squad depth and is still playing that role in Germany), Dan Burn (later sold by Potter to Newcastle for £10m where he is now a regular), Montoya (brought in for squad depth), Bissouma (sold to Spurs by Potter for £30m), and MacAllister (who Brighton recently sold to Liverpool for a potential £55m).

So despite the difficulties that newly promoted teams have in signing players (and Brighton did not do what Forest did - spent £160m the first season and £110m this summer - and there is no guarantee they will stay up this year) - many of the players went on to play prominent roles under Potter and RDZ.

People continue to make this false claim that Hughton was/is a conservative, defensive coach - he wasn't at Newcastle, he wasn't the first season he had with Norwich, he wasn't with Brighton in the Championship and he isn't at the moment with Ghana. He worked with what he had available - which was a Championship level squad, a bottom three budget and a number of journeymen players that are needed when you cannot splash big money.

Now the last few months were brutal and the focus was on surviving but I think with time, and with the players - and remember he brought in Propper, Gross, Bissouma, MacAllister and Burn and played Solly March and Lewis Dunk, - he would have changed his approach to the playing style. He used what he had to its maximum advantage.

Bloom decided to go a different direction - and that was his prerogative - and things have worked out well so far. But I will repeat my assertion that Chris Hughton is an underrated coach - a coach who in five seasons was never relegated from the PL despite having weak teams in four of those seasons (and we can argue the Norwich situation which again has been done before) - and is doing a decent job with Ghana.

I do wonder what would have happened if Ashley didn't act the bollix and left Chris in place at Newcastle - instead Ashley wanted a 'high-profile' manager instead of a good one (and opted for that man of great reputation, Alan Pardew).

 

[NooBHA]

We have been through this before - Hughton was operating with a bottom three budget for both seasons in the PL - I pointed out at the time that the entire Southampton first eleven were all being paid more money that the highest paid player at Brighton. Furthermore, it is very difficult for newly promoted clubs to get quality players to join - in effect you have to take chances and hope that the players are a hit.

In the first season in the PL, Hughton bring in Propper (who was an important player for Potter for two seasons as well), Gross (who is still playing an important role at Brighton), Matt Ryan (who turned out to be a better goalkeeper than I expected and was only moved when Sanchez proved good enough), Locadia (who had fitness problems while he was at the club), Izquierdo (whose time at Brighton was riddled with injuries) and Gyokeres (who Potter dumped and was recently sold by Coventry for £20m).

Before the second season - still trying to put in the foundations of a PL squad - Andone (who had injuries and never really produced), Steele (is he still first choice?), Bernardo (brought in for squad depth and is still playing that role in Germany), Dan Burn (later sold by Potter to Newcastle for £10m where he is now a regular), Montoya (brought in for squad depth), Bissouma (sold to Spurs by Potter for £30m), and MacAllister (who Brighton recently sold to Liverpool for a potential £55m).

So despite the difficulties that newly promoted teams have in signing players (and Brighton did not do what Forest did - spent £160m the first season and £110m this summer - and there is no guarantee they will stay up this year) - many of the players went on to play prominent roles under Potter and RDZ.

People continue to make this false claim that Hughton was/is a conservative, defensive coach - he wasn't at Newcastle, he wasn't the first season he had with Norwich, he wasn't with Brighton in the Championship and he isn't at the moment with Ghana. He worked with what he had available - which was a Championship level squad, a bottom three budget and a number of journeymen players that are needed when you cannot splash big money.

Now the last few months were brutal and the focus was on surviving but I think with time, and with the players - and remember he brought in Propper, Gross, Bissouma, MacAllister and Burn and played Solly March and Lewis Dunk, - he would have changed his approach to the playing style. He used what he had to its maximum advantage.

Bloom decided to go a different direction - and that was his prerogative - and things have worked out well so far. But I will repeat my assertion that Chris Hughton is an underrated coach - a coach who in five seasons was never relegated from the PL despite having weak teams in four of those seasons (and we can argue the Norwich situation which again has been done before) - and is doing a decent job with Ghana.

I do wonder what would have happened if Ashley didn't act the bollix and left Chris in place at Newcastle - instead Ashley wanted a 'high-profile' manager instead of a good one (and opted for that man of great reputation, Alan Pardew).

I would contradict the reason Pardew replaced Chris at Newcastle.

Pardew was a mate of Ashley. They were mates. They used drink together in London. They used to go to Casinos together. Pardew had gambling debts and I think he was out of work. Ashley essentially essentially created a job for his mate who was financially struggling.

 

[pb21]

People continue to make this false claim that Hughton was/is a conservative, defensive coach...

Just because he does play more attacking football at times doesnt mean that he isn't more inclined to be more conservative/defensive than others though, when faced with the same scenario.

 

[pocketseagull]

JRG, I agree with pretty much everything you've said but what it comes down to is that Chris wasn't a gambler and Tony is.

 

[Weststander]

Imho there’s too much talk above of Hughton and Potter signings and sales, as if they were the architects. I think of it as a collective driven by Bloom’s data, with Winstanley and others including Potter/Hughton.

Hughton’s Championship football for us over 2.5 seasons was a thing of beauty, no one can take that away from him. But exactly the same as when Poyet took us up a division, Hughton chose a pragmatic tactical course of chiselling out results. Hindered by an incredibly slow squad including Locadia, Propper, Montoya and Knockaert found that he couldn’t outpace PL full backs. It got really bad in those final 3 or 4 months, Cardiff for example outclassing us at home.

Potter too had a bottom 3 budget in that first season. Webster, Trossard and Maupay were the only transfers of note in summer 2019.

 

[zefarelly]

Imho there’s too much talk above of Hughton and Potter signings and sales, as if they were the architects. I think of it as a collective driven by Bloom’s data, with Winstanley and others including Potter/Hughton.

Hughton’s Championship football for us over 2.5 seasons was a thing of beauty, no one can take that away from him. But exactly the same as when Poyet took us up a division, Hughton chose a pragmatic tactical course of chiselling out results. Hindered by an incredibly slow squad including Locadia, Propper, Montoya and Knockaert found that he couldn’t outpace PL full backs. It got really bad in those final 3 or 4 months, Cardiff for example outclassing us at home.

Potter too had a bottom 3 budget in that first season. Webster, Trossard and Maupay were the only transfers of note in summer 2019.

I was there too, with all due respect, we weren't outclassed. Just out-shithoused.

It still happens now . . . . managers do homework and work out how to do a job.

I can/could but won't criticise CH, overall he did a great job. Better then Potter IMO. but those last 10 game he should have played it differently . . . . I'd have gone all out disco Stu . . . Played to win . . .. We would have survived, probably with the same amount of points, but with more hair!