[Albion] De Zerbi was NOT “sacked”

[Swegulls]

Both GP and RDZ were great managers, but were very different and had very different trajectories.

GP followed on from CH, who took us to the PL after half a season of dour survival in the Championship, followed by two scintillating seasons playing both pragmatic and attacking football. The first of these seasons was just delightful but ended in the most glorious failure. The next season, we were just like a machine (in a good way) and got promoted with several games to spare. We were pragmatic in the first PL season under CH, but became increasingly dour in the second season and only just survived. We had an old, unathletic and slow squad and were heading in one direction -- Bloom sacked CH the day after the season ended.

GP transformed the way we played immediately and, gradually, the profile of the squad began to shift. We played exciting football and went toe-to-toe with any team in the PL (whereas we had been timid prior to that against the top teams, despite picking up the odd positive result). Our points total didn't improve that much for two seasons, but we were clearly heading upwards. That became manifest in the third season under GP, where our quality really shined. That was continued into the next season, but GP left taking many of the coaching team with him.

RDZ took a while to get going but the WC winter was kind to him, giving him a bonus 'pre-season' to work with the players in Nov + Dec. Thereafter we were devastating for a year, finished sixth, qualified for Europe and played the best football the club has experienced. You're aware what went on in the second half of the season.

Most importantly, BHA fans have a propensity to rewrite what former players/managers did while here. You might just have witnessed this happening gradually to RDZ in recent months; it was far more dramatic with GP, in no small part due to the circumstances of the departure.

Thanks for the summary, much appreciated! Looking forward to the start of a new chapter tomorrow!

 

[amexer]

Whatever the rights and wrongs of RDZ I am certain if he was still here and had been given £100m plus to strengthen the side we would be looking forward to an outstanding season.

 

[Monkey Man]

My view on RDZ: I'm glad he was here, and I'm glad he's gone.

I think his rather childlike passion for football and his hot-headed ambition rubbed off on everyone at the club, from Tony Bloom and Paul Barber down to the coaching staff, players and supporters.

In hindsight it was never going to be a long-term project. His worldview seemed at odds with the club's, and managers as single-minded and inflexible as he is will inevitably risk alienating some players and maybe terrifying others.

It was in everyone's interests that he moved on at the end of last season. He'd clearly got exasperated and lost interest, our form was atrocious, and I don't think Tony Bloom would have felt comfortable spending the kind of dosh he's done this summer with RDZ at the helm.

I wish him well at Marseille and I'll be intrigued to see where his career takes him.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

My view on RDZ: I'm glad he was here, and I'm glad he's gone.

I think his rather childlike passion for football and his hot-headed ambition rubbed off on everyone at the club, from Tony Bloom and Paul Barber down to the coaching staff, players and supporters.

In hindsight it was never going to be a long-term project. His worldview seemed at odds with the club's, and managers as single-minded and inflexible as he is will inevitably risk alienating some players and maybe terrifying others.

It was in everyone's interests that he moved on at the end of last season. He'd clearly got exasperated and lost interest, our form was atrocious, and I don't think Tony Bloom would have felt comfortable spending the kind of dosh he's done this summer with RDZ at the helm.

I wish him well at Marseille and I'll be intrigued to see where his career takes him.

Not sure it's even with hindsight, lots of people said he'd probably only last a couple of seasons when he joined and lots of people were saying he was on his way out for large parts of his second season.

I don't mean that in a judgemental way, some people just aren't set up or in it for the long haul but do perfectly good work wherever they are at a given time.

 

[rippleman]

I’m getting all dizzy, beeing an outsider here, used to shit football and shitty managers at QPR since the late 70’s.

Here’s a manager that didn’t even did one full season (honestly you can’t count this spring) hailed as the best ever.

The second best is regarded ”by the majority”, as many point out, as a more or less judas or paria.

Well, wonder what’s left to the number three, four or five? Sureley they weren’t that bad?

Anyway, looking forward to Fabian, a bold move by Bloom et al. With a bit of luck he’ll be the new number 1, he certainly got the players to do it!

Well, it is possible to appreciate what Potter did at the club but still think he was a total and complete four-letter fellow for the way he walked out on us mid season taking the majority of the coaching staff with him. It is also possible to find his total and abject failure to manage a "big club" absolutely, totally and completely hilarious.

You want an example of ambition triumphing over ability, Potter's (very brief) reign at Chelsea is a good start.

 

[Flounce]

Well, it is possible to appreciate what Potter did at the club but still think he was a total and complete four-letter fellow for the way he walked out on us mid season taking the majority of the coaching staff with him. It is also possible to find his total and abject failure to manage a "big club" absolutely, totally and completely hilarious.

You want an example of ambition triumphing over ability, Potter's (very brief) reign at Chelsea is a good start.

Agree, it wasn’t that he left, that I get. It was the haste and the stripping of the club’s team management. f***ing Judas.

He has also lost all ambition or confidence since his dream turned into a nightmare, unless of course his bank balance has become his motivation. I no longer care but find it amusing that Chelsea are still paying him to do nothing.

 

[amexer]

I find it hard to understand so muchcriticism of RDZ but it is because of the understandable 100% backing of TB towards this. . However I am sure if we were under the ownership of non attendance Americans they would have been given unbelievable stick for letting RDZ go

 

[Guinness Boy]

I find it hard to understand so muchcriticism of RDZ but it is because of the understandable 100% backing of TB towards this. . However I am sure if we were under the ownership of non attendance Americans they would have been given unbelievable stick for letting RDZ go

The biggest cheerleader by a mile FOR letting RDZ go was a non attending Swede.

 

[AZ Gull]

The biggest cheerleader by a mile FOR letting RDZ go was a non attending Swede.

Don't think that is true at all. I, for one, was absolutely astonished at some of the garbage RDZ came out with during the second half of last season, and there were a number of other posters on here who were pretty vocal in their loss of faith in the grumpy twassock.

 

[Right Back]

Potter was brilliant. De Zerbi was also brilliant. De Zerbi took over a very good team but then took them to heights we would not have achieved with Potter. This was due to changing the mindset.
If FH can build on the work of both Potter and De Zerbi we are in for exciting times.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Don't think that is true at all. I, for one, was absolutely astonished at some of the garbage RDZ came out with during the second half of last season, and there were a number of other posters on here who were pretty vocal in their loss of faith in the grumpy twassock.

He was very popular at games though. No booing, no De Zerbi out chants, big flag, lap of honour, fans and coach together.

I appreciate the knowledge and effort you bring to the whole club, but it’s in the ground that counts for the men’s first team.

 

[dwayne]

Article...
The former Seagulls boss added he had “different ideas” from owner Tony Bloom and that being at Albion no longer suited hm.

And he added he turned down the chance to stay in the Premier League before agreeing to take charge at Marseille.

De Zerbi is preparing for the new Ligue 1 season having been given licence by his OM bosses to make sweeping changes to the playing staff.

He has so far made ten signings, including loan deals, but also seen major players in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Jonathan Clauss, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr move on.

Meanwhile, Albion have also been active in the transfer market with an unprecedented summer of spending.

Fabian Huerzeler has been given impressive backing as Albion look to build on a season which faded away badly in its later weeks.

Speaking to French sports newspaper L’Equipe, De Zerbi said: “We had different ideas from the owner.

“I love football. I love to work but I also like freedom.

“It no longer suited me. I didn’t want to accept unfair things.

“Then I chose to come to Marseille because I had the chance to stay in England but I made the choice after careful consideration.

“And I think it is the ideal atmosphere for me.

“Being free does not mean being in charge.

“It means rather that I am stimulated, that I feel strong motivation, that I feel adrenaline in my job.”

Bloom said De Zerbi and Albion mutually agreed to part ways at the end of last season.

The announcement was made ahead of the final game with Manchester United, allowing the coach and his staff chance of an emotional farewell with fans.

De Zerbi appeared sad to be leaving.

Albion have since embarked on the type of investment for which he appeared to be calling, most notably after the 4-0 defeat at Roma, when he said everyone at the club had to learn lessons, including Bloom..

The addition of Mats Wieffer in central midfield, an area weakened by the sales of Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo, was particularly important.

De Zerbi’s comments about Albion appear to have been largely overlooked in Provence, where the focus is on Marseille’s game at Brest.

The Italian, who had the chance to join OM in 2022, said: "I want to have goosebumps, to get up thinking about blowing up the Velodrome, about making Greenwood score 15 goals and Wahi 20.

“Fabrizio (Ravanelli) often spoke to me about the Marseille context. These are emotions that only football gives you.




Anyone know what he's going on about here?

"I didn’t want to accept unfair things."

“Being free does not mean being in charge.

“It means rather that I am stimulated, that I feel strong motivation, that I feel adrenaline in my job.”

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

He was very popular at games though. No booing, no De Zerbi out chants, big flag, lap of honour, fans and coach together.

I appreciate the knowledge and effort you bring to the whole club, but it’s in the ground that counts for the men’s first team.

That feels a bit No True Scotsman.

I'm sure there were plenty of people in the grounds who weren't particularly happy with some of the things he came out with, who would have been quite happy either way if he'd either pissed off or pulled his head out from his own arse. As it turned out he took the former option.

 

[AZ Gull]

He was very popular at games though. No booing, no De Zerbi out chants, big flag, lap of honour, fans and coach together.

I appreciate the knowledge and effort you bring to the whole club, but it’s in the ground that counts for the men’s first team.

Don't be so patronising.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Article...
The former Seagulls boss added he had “different ideas” from owner Tony Bloom and that being at Albion no longer suited hm.

And he added he turned down the chance to stay in the Premier League before agreeing to take charge at Marseille.

De Zerbi is preparing for the new Ligue 1 season having been given licence by his OM bosses to make sweeping changes to the playing staff.

He has so far made ten signings, including loan deals, but also seen major players in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Jonathan Clauss, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr move on.

Meanwhile, Albion have also been active in the transfer market with an unprecedented summer of spending.

Fabian Huerzeler has been given impressive backing as Albion look to build on a season which faded away badly in its later weeks.

Speaking to French sports newspaper L’Equipe, De Zerbi said: “We had different ideas from the owner.

“I love football. I love to work but I also like freedom.

“It no longer suited me. I didn’t want to accept unfair things.

“Then I chose to come to Marseille because I had the chance to stay in England but I made the choice after careful consideration.

“And I think it is the ideal atmosphere for me.

“Being free does not mean being in charge.

“It means rather that I am stimulated, that I feel strong motivation, that I feel adrenaline in my job.”

Bloom said De Zerbi and Albion mutually agreed to part ways at the end of last season.

The announcement was made ahead of the final game with Manchester United, allowing the coach and his staff chance of an emotional farewell with fans.

De Zerbi appeared sad to be leaving.

Albion have since embarked on the type of investment for which he appeared to be calling, most notably after the 4-0 defeat at Roma, when he said everyone at the club had to learn lessons, including Bloom..

The addition of Mats Wieffer in central midfield, an area weakened by the sales of Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo, was particularly important.

De Zerbi’s comments about Albion appear to have been largely overlooked in Provence, where the focus is on Marseille’s game at Brest.

The Italian, who had the chance to join OM in 2022, said: "I want to have goosebumps, to get up thinking about blowing up the Velodrome, about making Greenwood score 15 goals and Wahi 20.

“Fabrizio (Ravanelli) often spoke to me about the Marseille context. These are emotions that only football gives you.




Anyone know what he's going on about here?

"I didn’t want to accept unfair things."

“Being free does not mean being in charge.

“It means rather that I am stimulated, that I feel strong motivation, that I feel adrenaline in my job.”

Seeing as that’s the third time that’s been shared on this thread, I’m sure an expert will be along with the correct analysis any minute now.

I’m going to guess he wanted a bigger say in transfers and Tone “unfairly” (and correctly) said no.

Best to wait for the Swedish oracle to pronounce though in case I’ve missed something.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

The biggest cheerleader by a mile FOR letting RDZ go was a non attending Swede.

Empty vessels and all that

 

[Flounce]

I thought he was a stroppy and disrespectful git from the January window on. He reined it in about a month from the end of the season and performances improved due to him not continuing to play suicide football after a couple of stuffings and it becoming clear that no BIG club was coming for him. I was very pleased when TB announced he was leaving by mutual consent. He gave us the best of times but his ego led him to turn into a dick when he couldn’t impose his will on TB. I think this dawned on him too late.

He does himself no favours with that interview to the French press either.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

RDZ did not leave the club on good terms, which is a shame, as he could have been a legend.

His disgruntlement with the way the club was run clearly showed in our performances, which was really disappointing as we could have gone further in Europe, at least, or even qualified for Europe again.

He undoubtedly was the leader and mastermind of the greatest Albion team to date, which of course Potter was greatly responsible for as well, and we should all be grateful for that... but like with a lot of talented staff in the history of BHAFC, it didn't really end well, which tarnished the memories somewhat.

I think it's pretty clear that RDZ and TB were at an impasse, both unwilling to budge with their positions. TB wanted him to move on, he wanted to move on, and the rest is history.

RDZ left the club on very good terms with the huge number of fans who stayed behind to give him a proper send-off after the ManU game. His farewell address in the North West corner was quite emotional.

RDZ = Legend

 

[jcdenton08]

@ManOfSussex

I get the feeling Swansman/Han Solo wants to take Graham Potter to see his brother in Leeds. Have that pint.

“I’m just a fan, Graham… your biggest fan”

 

[Flounce]

RDZ left the club on very good terms with the huge number of fans who stayed behind to give him a proper send-off after the ManU game. His farewell address in the North West corner was quite emotional.

RDZ = Legend

View attachment 187279

And chants of “we want you to stay”? Misguided loyalty, he was toxic by this stage, just imo. His recent interview backs that up.

But yes, a legend for the season before