[Albion] De Zerbi: 'We deserved to lose...I understood the problem in January!"

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I don’t think his team selection was bizarre at all. Roma is a huge game in the context not just of this season but the club’s entire history. Plus several players clearly need protection in the schedule: Welbeck with his injury issues, Veltman only just back, Enciso not up to 90 minutes yet, Lallana never up to 90 minutes, Moder only just back, Fati with a long injury record, Adingra knackered after AFCON, Gross getting cramp at Wolves. He could have played a few of those from the start and lost them to more serious issues… we certainly wouldn’t be beating Roma OR finishing 7th in the Premier League then.

Bielsa would have selected all those players, and made them run and run and run. And run.

And run.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

That’s the bit that riles the ostriches (“our squad is still incredible, EL games add absolutely no workload”) .

Our squad is incredible, because of De Zerbi.
We get carried away with our recruitment team's success and think Tony is handing RDZ, premier league ready talent, that ensure top half finishes.

Enciso, Buanonotte, Adingra, Hinshelwood, Van Hecke have all been improved by him having faith in them.
But they are all still, to varying degrees, inexperienced players.

 

[Weststander]

One thing I'm struggling with is that for me, this isn't a change of narrative from RDZ, he's been banging on about squad rotation, squad depth etc. since September and save our fantastic start to the season, as the table posted for the period between matchweeks 7 and 27, we have been a bang average side for a while now, for whatever reason, as the table doesn't lie. What has masked this has been our performance in Europe (and let's hope this continues this week!)

What was the catalyst for the bun fight on here for the last 24hrs - primarily his team selection. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, if RDZ had played Gross, Welbeck et al (he can't pick WBG or JP btw) and we'd have been beaten, would there have been the same reaction? The table between matchweeks 7 and 27 suggests that was entirely possible!

We can harp back to those draws that we "should have won" back in Oct/Nov, but the common theme with both those matches and our recent form is that we still can't put sides away who play the low block where we have 70% possession and 20 shots.

I also picked up from the Fulham presser that there were a few questions relating to fans thinking this, that and the other - RDZ didn't take well to this, but wouldn't most of us if someone is trying to tell you how to do your job?

Lastly loved the lazy journalism from Shearer on MOTD - only reference to Brighton was the goalkeeper rotation which came across as the reason why we lost (like plenty on here) Goalkeepers always take the blame when sides don't win whilst having 70% possession and 20 shots while being left ruthlessly exposed on the counter!

View attachment 177894

That table reiterates what I’ve been saying, for the period post 3-1 win over Plucky. A footballing epoch back in time.

I’d add that our defensive unit is far worse than peak last season, giving us mini mountains to climb when we concede. Last season we often had this or similar, when not in possession. Pace, power, nous, covering each other, Albion nectar .

Veltman - Dunk - Colwill - Estupinan
———Mac Allister - Caicedo

I recall actual passages of play where Caicedo covered Estupinan for example, when pacy opponents counter attacked.

 

[Javeaseagull]

This isn't about his ego, or other jobs he is being linked with.
This is the reality of having an ambitious, tactically astute, passionate manager, being asked to compromise on what he needs.

He won't be able to do that.
And no reason why he should.

If the club won't stand in the way of players bettering themselves.
They stand no chance of holding onto de Zerbi.

That the thing isn’t it. The club won’t stand in the way of anyone bettering themselves, including managers. Just pay the right price and that is where Barca fall down. They don’t have a pot etc and try to get managers to agitate to join them.That won’t work with Tony so they will sign a “free.”

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Sold the midfield and did not replace it. Endless injuries to key players, playing in 4 competitions for the first time and 37 games 16 wins 10 draws 11 defeats. De Zerbi has done a superb job, again

 

[Uh_huh_him]

That the thing isn’t it. The club won’t stand in the way of anyone bettering themselves, including managers. Just pay the right price and that is where Barca fall down. They don’t have a pot etc and try to get managers to agitate to join them.That won’t work with Tony so they will sign a “free.”

I wonder what would happen if De Zerbi resigned?

I'm sure there would be legal consequences, but presumably we couldn't stop him.

 

[Weststander]

Our squad is incredible, because of De Zerbi.
We get carried away with our recruitment team's success and think Tony is handing RDZ, premier league ready talent, that ensure top half finishes.

Enciso, Buanonotte, Adingra, Hinshelwood, Van Hecke have all been improved by him having faith in them.
But they are all still, to varying degrees, inexperienced players.

My “still” meant it isn’t so much now due to the list of key injuries.

Definitely. Potter then RDZ hugely improved players. Fact. Dunk has mentioned this about RDZ more than once. He creates stars.

 

[Zeberdi]

I’m wondering if his style and intensity has a short shelf life for both him and his players. Given his CV is full of short spells, doing less than 2 full seasons here wouldn't buck that trend either

I think his training sessions are very intense and yes, it is a very energy consuming and physically demanding style of play for the team as a whole, not just for a few players key areas. The intricate passing techniques are tough on ankles and feet too. We are not the only team in the Premier League playing fast, attacking style football though and not the only team with a high injury list this season so there must be more to it.

The shelf life of managers is another issue and in top flight football can be short (and getting shorter as we know) - The average top-flight manager tenure across top divisions in Europe last season was less than 16 months (as per Uefa).

Just to name a few of ours over the years …

Potter 3.3 years; Poyet 3.6 years; Hughton 4.3 years; McGhee 2.8 years; Chris Caittlin 2.5 years. We’ve only really had two or three longer serving managers in our history - Billy Lane 1951-61, Alan Mullery 1976-81 + 6 months and Barry Lloyd 1987-93.

RDZ left Sassulo after 3 years but not before getting them to within a whisker of Europe

De Zerbi: 'I am leaving Sassuolo' - Football Italia

Sassuolo coach Roberto De Zerbi confirms he has already told ‘the club and players that I have decided to leave,’ with reports of a Shakhtar

football-italia.net

I think, if he leaves sooner than later, it will be for the same reason - ie not being able to take us further on the resources available and feeling he has done as much as he can. I don’t think we can blame him for having an ambition but it is not one driven by money imo. He is a conviction manager who clearly has a unique style of football that he has developed that he believes will one day be vindicated by getting a team to the highest levels in Europe. I can’t see him leaving just for a fatter wage check during the course of an on-season and definitely not if he has the belief he will get the players he needs to fulfil his ‘plan’ - unlike Potter.

(Obviously we can’t blame his style of management for an early exit from Shahktar - but the fact he stayed until all his players were safe is a testament to his level of commitment to a club as a coach.)

 

[Javeaseagull]

I wonder what would happen if De Zerbi resigned?

I'm sure there would be legal consequences, but presumably we couldn't stop him.

Wouldn't he have to buy himself out of his contract? Something like that rings a bell. A dullard would know

 

[Weststander]

Wouldn't he have to buy himself out of his contract? Something like that rings a bell. A dullard would know

How much is the alleged figure, £12.5m?

 

[raymondo]

If it's as sunny where you lot are as it is here in Wiltshire ... can I suggest we all put our phones away for an hour and go for a walk... enjoy this brief Interlude of blue sky

 

[Javeaseagull]

How much is the alleged figure, £12.5m?

Possibly. Can't see Barca even paying that, they really are a basket case. Swap for Fati

 

[dwayne]

I though we dealt with that the other day.

RDZ is not f***ing Bielsa.

RDZ is not a whiner.

RDZ does most of his presser himself. In English.

Apart from that, spot on.

This is who you remind me of:

View attachment 177895

RDZ is not a whiner .... What are you smoking ?

And

Lopez: 'De Zerbi similar to Bielsa' - Football Italia

Sassuolo midfielder Maxime Lopez said coach Roberto De Zerbi ‘gave me my confidence back’ and compared him to Leeds tactician Marcelo Bielsa. The

football-italia.net

(This is from a player who has played for both!)

 

[Springal]

This isn't about his ego, or other jobs he is being linked with.
This is the reality of having an ambitious, tactically astute, passionate manager, being asked to compromise on what he needs.

He won't be able to do that.
And no reason why he should.

If the club won't stand in the way of players bettering themselves.
They stand no chance of holding onto de Zerbi.

Tactically astute ?? Not sure about that given he’s suffered heavy defeats to managers like Moyes & Dyche when he didn’t change anything and the same goals kept going on

 

[Uh_huh_him]

My “still” meant it isn’t so much now due to the list of key injuries.

Definitely. Potter then RDZ hugely improved players. Fact. Dunk has mentioned this about RDZ more than once. He creates stars.

Agreed

But RDZ is being forced to play with a first team consisting of 30-40% of U21s.
That isn't optimal.
We are relying too much on De Zerbi's ability to play high risk football, with inexperienced players.

 

[trueblue]

Like most things in life, it’s not a convenient black & white argument. Can see why RDZ wanted to be backed because he’s very ambitious and clearly a terrific coach. On the flip side, can see why Albion wouldn’t want to spend a fortune to pursue the dream when they feel they can supply a conveyor belt of outstanding young talent.

Maybe they should have splashed the transfer money on a few expensive signings and all the new deals our existing top players would then demand. Maybe we would have broken the domination of 6 or 7 ludicrously wealthy club for years to come before Bloom unveiled the RDZ statue in a decade’s time outside our European trophy room.

More likely, if we were that successful, he’d be off to Barca/Real Madrid/Liverpool within a year (like anyone else) and we’d be left to pick up the pieces.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Tactically astute ?? Not sure about that given he’s suffered heavy defeats to managers like Moyes & Dyche when he didn’t change anything and the same goals kept going on

Sure you're right he's clueless.

My mistake.

 

[A1X]

FWIW, and I stress I didn’t follow the game in detail as was out and only really saw the updates on Twitter, I think the biggest issue is Evan’s loss of form. We have no JP, Welbz needs careful game management so Ferguson’s barren run couldn’t be happening at a worse time. He seemed to have at least two very presentable chances yesterday and missed both, a confident Evan from the last month of last season and we could be looking at a different outcome.

 

[Billy the Fish]

Sold the midfield and did not replace it.

This is the biggest point for me.

I said it on one of the pre-season threads and got told off for being negative.

 

[Springal]

Sure you're right he's clueless.

My mistake.

I wouldn’t say he’s astute. He has a very specific way of playing that works a lot of the time with the right personnel. But I'm not sure you’d describe him as ‘astute’