[Albion] De Zerbi was NOT “sacked”

[Cheeky Monkey]

We have other highly driven perfectionists in the club. PBOBE will famously reply to emails at all times of day and in great detail to set out how a decision is for the best of the club.

You don’t get to be a billionaire without working almost constantly. TB demands very high standards at the football club and his other businesses and, when crossed (e.g. Benham) is not to be messed with.

No one would have them any other way and yet here people are trying to retrospectively “fix” someone they hired

And arguably TB might have breathed a sigh of relief that RDZ was no longer his 'problem' to manage. You don't get to be a billionaire without sucking a lot of crap along the way, but there are limits, even with PB as a buffer DMZ in between.

 

[pigmanovich]

Yes - the vacuum of a big, fat contract elsewhere. Lol.

That was surely part of their calculations but I expect RDZ wasn't interested in making an effort to keep them at the club. His way or the highway -- which seems to have worked just fine until things went to shit on the pitch.

 

[Guinness Boy]

And arguably TB might have breathed a sigh of relief that RDZ was no longer his 'problem' to manage. You don't get to be a billionaire without sucking a lot of crap along the way, but there are limits, even with PB as a DMZ in between.

Oh, I agree with that. RDZ must have been exhausting. I’m sure that would have been taken into account when discussing the future.

Ultimately, though, I think it was differences on recruitment that were never going to be resolved, hence “mutual”.

 

[Hotchilidog]

RDZ was driven, passionate and demanding, that is what you need to raise the bar for your expectations. Roberto certainly did increase our ambition and gave us the belief we could accelerate our progress, he was just what we needed at the time. I think that we have parted ways at the right time for both parties as the financial reality we face would not mesh well with Roberto's ambition.

Hürzeler is cut from some of the same cloth. When he arrived at St Pauli, whilst respectful of the club's ethics he basically said that is all well and good, but we need success on the pitch in addition to the values of the pitch, and boy did he deliver on that.

 

[Zeberdi]

Hürzeler is cut from some of the same cloth. When he arrived at St Pauli, whilst respectful of the club's ethics he basically said that is all well and good, but we need success on the pitch in addition to the values of the pitch, and boy did he deliver on that.

Just posted a related comment on the Hürzler thread but one of the big challenges for RDZ was he implements a system that is very positional orientated (down to the 3rd man in possession and controlling the spaces) rather than one that is determined by the individuals you have available and more role orientated.

De Zerbi ball produced fantastic flowing football which gave a football lesson to most of the big teams in the PL in 2022/23 but after a not very successful recruitment window, excessive injuries combined with Europe, he was left with a highly specific and technical system that was wedded to certain players who were no longer available.

FH did the opposite at St Pauli, he built and implemented a system that uses individuals in roles that best suit the individuals - (ie rather than impose a system onto them) as Nagelsmann has now done in his second season at Bayern.
FH lost key players, relied on development players and older more experienced players to take his team from the bottom of 2.B into the Bundesliga in 18 mnths all without spending money on expensive players.

RDZ, in the end was stuck with a system he couldn’t use in 2023/4 because he didn’t have the players to execute it successfully - the only possible solution for him was to fill those positions with like for like in both quality and experience.
The players knew that too.

But that is not our policy at Brighton.

 

[Monkey Man]

Just posted a related comment on the Hürzler thread but one of the big challenges for RDZ was he implements a system that is very positional orientated (down to the 3rd man in possession and controlling the spaces) rather than one that is determined by the individuals you have available and more role orientated.

De Zerbi ball produced fantastic flowing football which gave a football lesson to most of the big teams in the PL in 2022/23 but after a not very successful recruitment window, excessive injuries combined with Europe, he was left with a highly specific and technical system that was wedded to certain players who were no longer available.

FH did the opposite at St Pauli, he built and implemented a system that uses individuals in roles that best suit the individuals - (ie rather than impose a system onto them) as Nagelsmann has now done in his second season at Bayern.
FH lost key players, relied on development players and older more experienced players to take his team from the bottom of 2.B into the Bundesliga in 18 mnths all without spending money on expensive players.

RDZ, in the end was stuck with a system he couldn’t use in 2023/4 because he didn’t have the players to execute it successfully - the only possible solution for him was to fill those positions with like for like in both quality and experience.
The players knew that too.

But that is not our policy at Brighton.

Interesting and intelligent analysis. I'm not qualified to offer any expert insight but your version of things rings true. For what it's worth, it also seemed to me that not only were other teams more aware of the RDZ system in the season just gone, they were even imitating bits of it.

 

[AZ Gull]

It reads to me as though he thinks RDZ will be a great success [when he has unlimited $$$ to spend on the best players in the world].

Surely true of almost any half-decent to great manager in the world? And perhaps a few rubbish ones as well?

Well exactly - the bit in the square brackets was my editorial. If a manager can't be successful at a club with more money than Albion then they probably don't deserve to be called a manager.

 

[Austrian Gull]

Strongly linked with Marseille today - a marriage made in heaven (and then hell after six months).

 

[Bridcutt]

Strongly linked with Marseille today - a marriage made in heaven (and then hell after six months).

I'm happy if we don't have to face him in the PL

 

[dwayne]

Strongly linked with Marseille today - a marriage made in heaven (and then hell after six months).

Wow that will be fireworks.

Psychos all round.

 

[ozzygull]

Strongly linked with Marseille today - a marriage made in heaven (and then hell after six months).

Odd he already turned them down once, before joining us.

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Opening at Dortmund, could see him there

 

[Dorset Seagull]

Opening at Dortmund, could see him there

Depends how far down the road the Marseille situation is. Wonder where the Dortmund manager will pitch up as its all a bit short notice so something must be in the pipeline

 

[Rookie]

RDZ at Marseille will be incredible

 

[chrisg]

Deal nearly done apparently. 6MM comp instead of 15MM , so 9MM down on him leaving early.

Strange one , as can’t see OCM have tens of millions spare to buy the players that he clearly wanted BHA to spend

 

[dwayne]

Deal nearly done apparently. 6MM comp instead of 15MM , so 9MM down on him leaving early.

Strange one , as can’t see OCM have tens of millions spare to buy the players that he clearly wanted BHA to spend

Easier in the crappy french league though. All relative.

I have this sneaky feeling OM will not want to pay the 6M.

 

[pigmanovich]

Easier in the crappy french league though. All relative.

I have this sneaky feeling OM will not want to pay the 6M.

Why reach out to RDZ at all if so? At least at this point, before the clause expires in mid-August?

 

[Dorset Seagull]

Why reach out to RDZ at all if so? At least at this point, before the clause expires in mid-August?

Maybe to negotiate the figure down with us or wait till it expires when we will get nothing. I am sure TB would rather get something than nowt

 

[pigmanovich]

Maybe to negotiate the figure down with us or wait till it expires when we will get nothing. I am sure TB would rather get something than nowt

The fee has already been reduced significantly, I'd be surprised if Bloom agreed to an even smaller amount. And two months is quite a wait for both RDZ and Marseille.

 

[ozzygull]

Deal nearly done apparently. 6MM comp instead of 15MM , so 9MM down on him leaving early.

Strange one , as can’t see OCM have tens of millions spare to buy the players that he clearly wanted BHA to spend

Maybe you don't need that amount to compete in League 1 in France. Apart from PSG are all the ones below that if you get it right achievable?

Good luck to him I really hope it works out well for him.

The last two seasons have been the best I have ever witnessed as an Albion fan (Up until March) and I am so grateful that he managed to convince the players, the club and the fans that we could play in Europe and compete.

Cheers Reberto