[Albion] De Zerbi Thoughts?

[Titanic]

It's very easy to misremember the past. I think we are guilty of looking back at every Potter game as an enormous success - they weren't. Aside from the last 8 games where we did really well it was largely patchy.

The bigger issue, as mentioned by others, is the quality of the next batch of loanees/youngsters coming through that will need to replace Tross, Caicedo and maybe Sanchez. It's a bit thin.

Fulham was a pretty poor performance.

 

[Beanstalk]

It's very easy to misremember the past. I think we are guilty of looking back at every Potter game as an enormous success - they weren't. Aside from the last 8 games where we did really well it was largely patchy.

The bigger issue, as mentioned by others, is the quality of the next batch of loanees/youngsters coming through that will need to replace Tross, Caicedo and maybe Sanchez. It's a bit thin.

This. As others have mentioned Potter went 11 without a win and had 6 losses on the bounce in two separate runs LAST SEASON. We were dire at times in those runs. We were pretty abject at Fulham this season as well.

RDZ is doing fine. The performances have been good so far despite us being toothless. People need to check their heads, we are unbelievably unlikely to go down after our great start, we have kept a commitment to playing positive possession-based football and once RDZ has had time with the current squad and been able to add a few talented signings we'll be on a new exciting path.

 

[Acker79]

I'd also note that Potter's 2020/21 season had a similar strong early and late, weak in the middle pattern, so I'm not sure we can look at ending 2021/22 strong and starting 2022/23 strong means he has solved the issue and we wouldn't suffer the same mid season dip.

 

[Zeberdi]

This is de Zerbi's way of playing. It's to draw the opposition into a high-press that creates space in more attacking positions. We were actually pretty good at it on Saturday. It's brave, progressive and exciting and ultimately, something we're going to have to get used to as fans.

Hi new to the nothstandchat (although I first started watching BHA in the Northstand at the Goldstone 40 years ago now travel down to the Amex from where I now live in Norfolk!!)

i love this shift in style - it will become more brave, fluid and proactive and a joy to watch - a style of play that I think would not be possible without the Potterball foundation firmly already in place. Zerbiball does not come as an alternative but a logical progression. The problem with the NFFC match to my mind was how do you tactically respond in match time to an opposition team that clearly has dug itself in to play for a 1 point 0-0 draw against a team they ‘knew’ they probably couldn’t beat? These are moments where Zerbi could perhaps apply a bit more on the hoof flexible/creative/ lateral thinking - something Potter was very good at.

 

[Weststander]

Hi new to the nothstandchat (although I first started watching BHA in the Northstand at the Goldstone 40 years ago now travel down to the Amex from where I now live in Norfolk!!)

i love this shift in style - it will become more brave, fluid and proactive and a joy to watch - a style of play that I think would not be possible without the Potterball foundation firmly already in place. Zerbiball does not come as an alternative but a logical progression. The problem with the NFFC match to my mind was how do you tactically respond in match time to an opposition team that clearly has dug itself in to play for a 1 point 0-0 draw against a team they ‘knew’ they probably couldn’t beat? These are moments where Zerbi could perhaps apply a bit more on the hoof flexible/creative/ lateral thinking - something Potter was very good at.

Although we were far more often than not toothless at home under Potter too. Sometimes crying out for a striker to finish off a stack of half-chances, or just plain awful for half a match.

It only truly gelled from April 2022 onwards.

 

[Zeberdi]

Hi

My (unqualified!) thoughts on Zerbi:

The challenge for the squad (and coaches) is to progress into the new Zerbi style of possession-based attacking from the back without loosing the foundational pattern Potter built and which is necessary for Zerbi’s plan to work. At the moment it’s all looking a bit messy still because it’s in transition. I do think there a general view there is a need to improve team clarity/player communication and role comprehension in the top 25 yards (hence lack of goals) and which I think will be Zerbi’s main focus for improvement. I absolutely believe Bloom et al really knew what they were doing by bringing Zerbi in. We just have to hold on for a slightly bumpy ride while the team transitions to the next stage in its development. That could take a season (it is a work in progress!) but the longterm strategies are the most sustainable and I think that ethos is reflected in every aspect of the Club not just on the pitch. Nervous and booing fans need to get with the program and trust it’s going in the right direction and PL position at the moment (as long as its above the dark side!) is not as important as getting the longterm football strategy right imo.


If Brighton is going to be a contender for breaking through the glass ceiling of the ridiculously much richer clubs who can afford the Erling Haalands of this world, Brighton have to take this next step with the plan Zerbi wants to implement imo, that is if converting chances into more goals is going to be realised - I dont think Brighton will ever be a one horse pony strike force so buying in a striker at the amount we could realistically afford is not going to make a great difference imo - we have plenty of players who can score goals, the challenge is to structure and train the team so that they can hunt in a tight pack and not as individuals. Of course with Zerbiball, the risks are more GAs with (hopefully) an increase in the GFs ( and the frustration of facing teams like NFFC who will sit back with all they have to get a 0-0 point). Game on!

 

[American Seagle]

He has kept us playing and performing well. We had dips in results under Potter. It is normal. Now is not the time to throw fits and get on the team or managers back, especially as things are going well. That will only end up with poor reputation as a club that moans and does not appreciate good football.

 

[Zeberdi]

… Now is not the time to throw fits and get on the team or managers back …

Thankfully, it’s only a small minority doing that (prob same individuals who booed back in Nov ‘21 after the Leeds match). To paraphrase GP, maybe they need a history lesson?

 

[trueblue]

Seems to me there’s not much wrong so far apart from the finishing. We hit a purple patch with such high confidence under Potter that almost every shot flew in. Now the goals have stopped flowing, the old demons are back at the crucial moment, that’s all. I don’t think the reality supports complaints that we generally need to move the ball faster as we’ve created plenty of great chances and been working the keeper, which actually wasn’t always the case in previous seasons. We’re raising the tempo in bursts and, while there could be more of them, no team maintains that intensity all of the time. The passing around at the back has a purpose - to move the opposition around, create space and soften them up for the sudden change in pace. I doubt it’s anywhere close to what RDZ wants to see long term but he’s only been here 5 minutes. The bloke needs a chance to crack on with his plans & adapt them to the PL if need be. Hopefully he’s not as fragile as Potter & will understand that a minority of our fans expect entire performances to resemble the highlights of a Manchester City match.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Having watched the whole of Potter's 'project' at the Albion, and being a big fan of Him, I can't think of a single reason why anyone believes the last 4 games would have been any different under Potter

 

[raymondo]

I'd also note that Potter's 2020/21 season had a similar strong early and late, weak in the middle pattern, so I'm not sure we can look at ending 2021/22 strong and starting 2022/23 strong means he has solved the issue and we wouldn't suffer the same mid season dip.

Yep, maybe thank goodness we didn't go for Gerrard though

 

[raymondo]

Having watched the whole of Potter's 'project' at the Albion, and being a big fan of Him, I can't think of a single reason why anyone believes the last 4 games would have been any different under Potter

Exactly this...

 

[raymondo]

Seems to me there’s not much wrong so far apart from the finishing. We hit a purple patch with such high confidence under Potter that almost every shot flew in. Now the goals have stopped flowing, the old demons are back at the crucial moment, that’s all. I don’t think the reality supports complaints that we generally need to move the ball faster as we’ve created plenty of great chances and been working the keeper, which actually wasn’t always the case in previous seasons. We’re raising the tempo in bursts and, while there could be more of them, no team maintains that intensity all of the time. The passing around at the back has a purpose - to move the opposition around, create space and soften them up for the sudden change in pace. I doubt it’s anywhere close to what RDZ wants to see long term but he’s only been here 5 minutes. The bloke needs a chance to crack on with his plans & adapt them to the PL if need be. Hopefully he’s not as fragile as Potter & will understand that a minority of our fans expect entire performances to resemble the highlights of a Manchester City match.

I enjoyed this post . Support de Zerbi guys.

 

[brighton_tom]

Having watched the whole of Potter's 'project' at the Albion, and being a big fan of Him, I can't think of a single reason why anyone believes the last 4 games would have been any different under Potter

Yep exactly. Last season under Potter we had the 6 game losing run, and was it 11 games without a win? And there were a lot of those game where we played the pretty football but failed to stick the ball in the net. If Potter had been in charge for these 4 games every chance results would have been largely the same.

Last year with Potter we drew 2-2 against Liverpool at Anfield, this year with RDZ it's 3-3.
Last year with Potter we lost 0-2 against Spur at the Amex, this year with RDZ it's 0-1.
Last year with Potter we drew 0-0 against bottom of the league Norwich at the Amex, this year with RDZ its 0-0 against bottom of the league Forest.

So therefor 3 out of the 4 games are IDENTICAL in the performance, result, points earned, and very similar in goals scored. The only real difference on results then is that last year we beat Brentford 1-0 in a tight game at their ground, this year we've played out another tight game with them but lost 2-0. If Solly scores that header, if Caicedo's shot goes in, if Welbeck's header goes in, if the penalty isnt awarded, then with those fine margins things could have been different. The fine margins have gone their way this time, that's football. But overall RDZ's Brighton seem very similar to Potter's so far.

 

[Swansman]

Thankfully, it’s only a small minority doing that (prob same individuals who booed back in Nov ‘21 after the Leeds match). To paraphrase GP, maybe they need a history lesson?

Ouch. Be careful. There are people in here who can't take that sort of criticism or any sort of insinuation that not 100% of all Brighton fans are 100% flawless 100% of the time.

 

[Beanstalk]

Although we were far more often than not toothless at home under Potter too. Sometimes crying out for a striker to finish off a stack of half-chances, or just plain awful for half a match.

It only truly gelled from April 2022 onwards.

Absolutely this. If Gross had put away his chance late on or Trossard/March had put one of their many chances past Henderson on Saturday we'd be saying it was a brilliant performance and a well-deserved win. We've lacked clinical conviction in front of goal for a long time now but I'm hopeful that de Zerbi's record of improving Sassuolo's goal scoring will foreshadow a similar improvement with us.

 

[The Fifth Column]

Jury hasn't even been chosen yet let alone considering a verdict. Let's see where we are in the New Year.

 

[Zeberdi]

Ouch. Be careful. There are people in here who can't take that sort of criticism or any sort of insinuation that not 100% of all Brighton fans are 100% flawless 100% of the time.

yeah, sorry, my post came across as a bit harsh - I just meant it was a good thing that the majority of supporters are behind (and get!) what the club is trying to do long term and prepared to give the ’new guy’ some lattitude.

If I have any real concerns its what the squad will be left looking like after the January transfer window …

 

[Acker79]

I didn't start this thread looking for final judgements, more for observations and thoughts to mark the progress of his efforts. It's still early days. This run is no different to the one under potter last season and the season before.

One thing (I don't want to say 'concern' because it seems too negative, but at the same time I don't want to act like it's not something that could be an issue) - motivation. A lot was made of Potter's degree in emotional intelligence. Under Hughton we played pragmatically, we didn't really have much of ups and downs, we just trundled along, and never really played like a team with confidence. We did that under Potter, even during poor runs we played like we believed.

I want to see how De Zerbi goes in that area. If our run continues and he doesn't have either the character or the communication skills, is there a danger we start to lose confidence, making it harder to pull out of the spiral?

I'm asking after this game because I don't think it would be an issue following a game v Man City. It's easier to brush off a loss when it's as expected as it is v City. This isn't asked because I think it's an issue now, I'm thinking about going forward, and if the run goes as long as last season's 11 game winless run and the losing streak.

 

[moggy]

I’m rather enjoying RDZ. It’s certainly coming and the fixture list he’s had would’ve seen similar results under potter. He will already know what players are needed by now so I expect to see a busier January transfer window than the normal quiet ones.
I wouldn’t mind betting we’ll get something from the chelsea game, then we’ll kick on