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

[Guinness Boy]

We’re in a downward spell on a generally upward trajectory…….no big drama, as frustrating as it seems at the moment.

Agreed.

It is frustrating though, in that we're in the last 16 of a European competition, top ten in the EPL and could have had Coventry at home between us and another trip to Wembley, all of which talks to upward trajectory.

We're also one injury to Billy Gilmour away from the season being over. If I was RDZ that would keep me up at night.

But just typing the second paragraph of my reply shows how far we've come, just in the Premier League era. It'll come back, whoever the coach is next season. I really hope it's RDZ but it doesn't have to be.

 

[Insel affe]

At the end of the day, everyone loves the way we are playing, injuries and suspensions, and winter tournaments have hit us hard, the only thing I can really question RDZ on to be honest is the goalkeeper rotation at the moment. I think we will add to the squad in the summer with countless bargains to be had, I genuinely think RDZ would be silly to move in the summer, I think next season with additions in the right areas, we will have a better season than this, if he does go, the next manager will have one hell of a squad.

 

[raymondo]

I prefer De Zerbi ball. There were very few goals, for either team under Potter. Though I don't like watching us be hammered, I do enjoy hammering other teams more than I hate us losing.

One thing I can explain more clearly, is that I would much rather us be the team who are trying to take the game to the opposition than the team who are trying to low block and hit on the counter, even if it works sometimes, it must be horrific to pay money to watch West Ham or Everton every week. F that. Let's lose trying to score and trying to entertain.

Spot on . I too would love to win more, but we do play football and not Anti-Football.

 

[Hiheidi]

Three big clubs way ahead of us in the pack all looking for a new coach in the summer. He'll be on at least one of the shortlists, if not more, and then we'll have to appoint from left field again as those three hoover up established or brilliant new coaches.

That, and the possibility of some or all of Man United, Chelsea and Newcastle also shopping for a new Manager.

 

[Seasider78]

I think we have a defensive fragility the manager needs to resolve as needing to score 2 goals to win a game catches up with you in the end. However the amount of forced chopping and changing of personnel and systems due to injuries is what’s really hampering us with our most impactful players in his system all on the treatment table.

It has felt like a weekly patching up to put something competitive on the pitch which is not down to the manager. I can also see why bloom held back in January as it looked like we had players returning and who could have foreseen the season ending injuries to Mitoma and Hinshelwood.

As for RDZ comments I am fine with him sounding off he is hugely competitive and he will be as frustrated as anyone as his options get more limited as the season progresses.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I think we have a defensive fragility the manager needs to resolve as needing to score 2 goals to win a game catches up with you in the end.

Well. In recent weeks, we would have needed 4 or 5 quite frequently

 

[EliasTaproot]

This is how I see it too. It also doesn’t necessarily mean the club haven’t done the right thing. Being the right side of FFP compliance could enable us to have a strong transfer window in more favourable conditions this summer, and chasing a dream last summer could have been very dangerous in the long term

It feels like a lose/lose/lose to me.

Lose: you sold the family silver last summer on the eve of our best and most historic season in our history and simply refused to spend it to reinforce adequately despite one of the best managers in your clubs history begging for the bare minimum of players such as more than two natural full backs in the entire squad, or a proper replacement for his most important duo the double pivot and doubled down in January after seeing the struggles.

Lose: RDZ stays. You see how bad this season went with squad quality and spend more this summer, with no European adventure, and possibly losing Mitoma and Pedro as well, you have to hope RDZ can lead us back to Europe. But you never know if you get a season of opportunity like this again, it all feels too little too late. You're now chasing the dream you already let go last season and the danger is there.

Lose: RDZ goes either to a bigger club or flat out resigns. One or both of Mitoma and Pedro leave. The club don't do much business this summer other than a few youth signings "to ensure the new manager can fully evaluate his squad this season".

Lose: RDZ goes either to a bigger club or flat out resigns. We keep our best players, we splurge £200m for our new manager chasing Europe again, but couldn't stand to spend a penny or two for one of our best ever managers, we rightfully look like idiots for not backing the manager who got us to Europe but splurging for a new unknown entity to dangerously chase the dream.


I think we just need to face facts, the club have made a very rare, but absolute mess of this season off the pitch with the exception of Pedro, thank god for unexpected talents suddenly rising to the occasion like Facundo and Hinsh, and Pedro himself being so influential, because if RDZ hadn't been able to get these talents up to speed as quickly, and Pedro wasn't so good in the pivotal moments, we'd be in the bottom six, out of all the cup comps and in a genuine spiral.

 

[Insel affe]

It feels like a lose/lose/lose to me.

Lose: you sold the family silver last summer on the eve of our best and most historic season in our history and simply refused to spend it to reinforce adequately despite one of the best managers in your clubs history begging for the bare minimum of players such as more than two natural full backs in the entire squad, or a proper replacement for his most important duo the double pivot and doubled down in January after seeing the struggles.

Lose: RDZ stays. You see how bad this season went with squad quality and spend more this summer, with no European adventure, and possibly losing Mitoma and Pedro as well, you have to hope RDZ can lead us back to Europe. But you never know if you get a season of opportunity like this again, it all feels too little too late. You're now chasing the dream you already let go last season and the danger is there.

Lose: RDZ goes either to a bigger club or flat out resigns. One or both of Mitoma and Pedro leave. The club don't do much business this summer other than a few youth signings "to ensure the new manager can fully evaluate his squad this season".

Lose: RDZ goes either to a bigger club or flat out resigns. We keep our best players, we splurge £200m for our new manager chasing Europe again, but couldn't stand to spend a penny or two for one of our best ever managers, we rightfully look like idiots for not backing the manager who got us to Europe but splurging for a new unknown entity to dangerously chase the dream.


I think we just need to face facts, the club have made a very rare, but absolute mess of this season off the pitch with the exception of Pedro, thank god for unexpected talents suddenly rising to the occasion like Facundo and Hinsh, and Pedro himself being so influential, because if RDZ hadn't been able to get these talents up to speed as quickly, and Pedro wasn't so good in the pivotal moments, we'd be in the bottom six, out of all the cup comps and in a genuine spiral.

Pedro is going nowhere in the summer, where has this come from....

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Somehow I still prefer watching de Zerbi ball. Maybe that's my memory playing tricks...but I prefer it so far.

And that’s fair enough.

Personally I preferred it under Potter as I felt we were in control of nearly every game, I loved the way we set up and our passages of play building from the back. Obviously we lacked cutting edge so dropped points which I felt was more to do with team personnel at the time rather than Potter’s tactics but I went into every game feeling confident we would get a result. I just don’t feel like that under De Zerbi, I quite often end up fearing the next implosion and not that enthralled by our attacking play this season either - Joao Pedro and Mitoma individual brilliance aside.

 

[BadFish]

This! I think we can get there with Baleba and Gilmour...but it's months away.

I reckon next season is going to be brilliant. All this crap will be forgotten. Injuries will clear up and our kids will have gained more experience.

We just have to hold our nerve and not shit the bed.

More pragmatic Pah.

 

[Nobby]

It feels like a lose/lose/lose to me.

Lose: you sold the family silver last summer on the eve of our best and most historic season in our history and simply refused to spend it to reinforce adequately despite one of the best managers in your clubs history begging for the bare minimum of players such as more than two natural full backs in the entire squad, or a proper replacement for his most important duo the double pivot and doubled down in January after seeing the struggles.

Lose: RDZ stays. You see how bad this season went with squad quality and spend more this summer, with no European adventure, and possibly losing Mitoma and Pedro as well, you have to hope RDZ can lead us back to Europe. But you never know if you get a season of opportunity like this again, it all feels too little too late. You're now chasing the dream you already let go last season and the danger is there.

Lose: RDZ goes either to a bigger club or flat out resigns. One or both of Mitoma and Pedro leave. The club don't do much business this summer other than a few youth signings "to ensure the new manager can fully evaluate his squad this season".

Lose: RDZ goes either to a bigger club or flat out resigns. We keep our best players, we splurge £200m for our new manager chasing Europe again, but couldn't stand to spend a penny or two for one of our best ever managers, we rightfully look like idiots for not backing the manager who got us to Europe but splurging for a new unknown entity to dangerously chase the dream.


I think we just need to face facts, the club have made a very rare, but absolute mess of this season off the pitch with the exception of Pedro, thank god for unexpected talents suddenly rising to the occasion like Facundo and Hinsh, and Pedro himself being so influential, because if RDZ hadn't been able to get these talents up to speed as quickly, and Pedro wasn't so good in the pivotal moments, we'd be in the bottom six, out of all the cup comps and in a genuine spiral.

What an absolute load of tosh

The "Family Silver" wanted to leave and we got ridiculous sums for them.
Facundo and Hinsh are nor unexpected talents. They were part of the squad. They slotted in, some don't some do.
We have had an unprecedented injury list - happening at all the wrong times in all the wrong places. Never been as bad as this - ever.
We've just been hugely unlucky - with a full squad we could be challenging for the Champions League.
You can't just replace Mitoma, March, Enciso, Veltman, Pedro, Estupinan all in one go. You would need literally hundreds of millions.
These players have been out for long periods of the season or all of it. But at different times, so no planning can make that better.

You reckon if a new manager comes in, we might splurge £200m - ok then.

Flippin eck - get a grip

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

There’s a lot to get through on this thread and lots of rewriting of history. Any manager would struggle with the number of injuries to attacking players. There is nothing wrong with the RDZ style. I would argue the opposite given the injury situation. Perhaps everyone needs to stop having a breakdown and get behind the management team.

 

[Originunknown]

It feels like a lose/lose/lose to me.

Lose: you sold the family silver last summer on the eve of our best and most historic season in our history and simply refused to spend it to reinforce adequately despite one of the best managers in your clubs history begging for the bare minimum of players such as more than two natural full backs in the entire squad, or a proper replacement for his most important duo the double pivot and doubled down in January after seeing the struggles.

Lose: RDZ stays. You see how bad this season went with squad quality and spend more this summer, with no European adventure, and possibly losing Mitoma and Pedro as well, you have to hope RDZ can lead us back to Europe. But you never know if you get a season of opportunity like this again, it all feels too little too late. You're now chasing the dream you already let go last season and the danger is there.

Lose: RDZ goes either to a bigger club or flat out resigns. One or both of Mitoma and Pedro leave. The club don't do much business this summer other than a few youth signings "to ensure the new manager can fully evaluate his squad this season".

Lose: RDZ goes either to a bigger club or flat out resigns. We keep our best players, we splurge £200m for our new manager chasing Europe again, but couldn't stand to spend a penny or two for one of our best ever managers, we rightfully look like idiots for not backing the manager who got us to Europe but splurging for a new unknown entity to dangerously chase the dream.


I think we just need to face facts, the club have made a very rare, but absolute mess of this season off the pitch with the exception of Pedro, thank god for unexpected talents suddenly rising to the occasion like Facundo and Hinsh, and Pedro himself being so influential, because if RDZ hadn't been able to get these talents up to speed as quickly, and Pedro wasn't so good in the pivotal moments, we'd be in the bottom six, out of all the cup comps and in a genuine spiral.

Got to be a new troll!

 

[raymondo]

And that’s fair enough.

Personally I preferred it under Potter as I felt we were in control of nearly every game, I loved the way we set up and our passages of play building from the back. Obviously we lacked cutting edge so dropped points which I felt was more to do with team personnel at the time rather than Potter’s tactics but I went into every game feeling confident we would get a result. I just don’t feel like that under De Zerbi, I quite often end up fearing the next implosion and not that enthralled by our attacking play this season either - Joao Pedro and Mitoma individual brilliance aside.

Yes, fair points. RDZ ball is certainly more cavalier, and so it's fantastic when it works, and can look a catastrophe when it doesn't .
Agreeing with your point about team personnel: RDZ also needs certain personnel to play the way he wants, and his method is missing AliMac and Caicedo. It frustrates me when we don't have a more solid plan B.

Anyways... onwards and upwards, or possibly sideways for a while .

 

[tigertim68]

At the beginning of the season RDZ rotating the team every match in an attempt to keep everyone fresh and fit , now seems to be misjudgment, maybe if he would of picked the best team for every match we might not of had so many injuries,
now he can only pick a team with the players who are fit

 

[EliasTaproot]

What an absolute load of tosh

The "Family Silver" wanted to leave and we got ridiculous sums for them.
Facundo and Hinsh are nor unexpected talents. They were part of the squad. They slotted in, some don't some do.
We have had an unprecedented injury list - happening at all the wrong times in all the wrong places. Never been as bad as this - ever.
We've just been hugely unlucky - with a full squad we could be challenging for the Champions League.
You can't just replace Mitoma, March, Enciso, Veltman, Pedro, Estupinan all in one go. You would need literally hundreds of millions.
These players have been out for long periods of the season or all of it. But at different times, so no planning can make that better.

You reckon if a new manager comes in, we might splurge £200m - ok then.

Flippin eck - get a grip

Unfortunately but importantly, RDZ disagrees with you. He wanted Facundo out on loan until the very last minute and was only kept here due to injuries, he wanted 2-3 signings in the Summer and those signings might have helped mitigate the injuries, we'll never know now of course because the club disagreed with RDZ on 2-3 signings, they were happy with the squad even if RDZ wasn't.

In regards to the spending, I'd read that Bloom was looking to be more ambitious this summer: https://www.wearebrighton.com/newsopinion/bloom-has-ambitious-plans-to-establish-brighton-in-europe/

Maybe it's all a lie? I don't know.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

To back up someone’s previous point, Premier League form table, Game weeks 7-27:

Is Chelsea's destiny to be forever 10th in everything now?

 

[Weststander]

It feels like a lose/lose/lose to me.

Lose: you sold the family silver last summer on the eve of our best and most historic season in our history and simply refused to spend it to reinforce adequately despite one of the best managers in your clubs history begging for the bare minimum of players such as more than two natural full backs in the entire squad, or a proper replacement for his most important duo the double pivot and doubled down in January after seeing the struggles.

Lose: RDZ stays. You see how bad this season went with squad quality and spend more this summer, with no European adventure, and possibly losing Mitoma and Pedro as well, you have to hope RDZ can lead us back to Europe. But you never know if you get a season of opportunity like this again, it all feels too little too late. You're now chasing the dream you already let go last season and the danger is there.

Lose: RDZ goes either to a bigger club or flat out resigns. One or both of Mitoma and Pedro leave. The club don't do much business this summer other than a few youth signings "to ensure the new manager can fully evaluate his squad this season".

Lose: RDZ goes either to a bigger club or flat out resigns. We keep our best players, we splurge £200m for our new manager chasing Europe again, but couldn't stand to spend a penny or two for one of our best ever managers, we rightfully look like idiots for not backing the manager who got us to Europe but splurging for a new unknown entity to dangerously chase the dream.


I think we just need to face facts, the club have made a very rare, but absolute mess of this season off the pitch with the exception of Pedro, thank god for unexpected talents suddenly rising to the occasion like Facundo and Hinsh, and Pedro himself being so influential, because if RDZ hadn't been able to get these talents up to speed as quickly, and Pedro wasn't so good in the pivotal moments, we'd be in the bottom six, out of all the cup comps and in a genuine spiral.

Palarse or Chavski?

If trolling, what a shite attempt.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

What matters is that we learn isn’t it?

I think we’ve made mistakes in the last two transfer windows, but to me the idea that fans are taking the side of the manager or the club is unhelpful.

Within the club, what I hope is happening is an honest appraisal. We knew RDZ isn’t Potter, he’s not going to throw cup games, he’s going to want to compete for every trophy. So the club have got to be asking, “did we provide the manager with a squad to compete on all fronts? I think the answer is “yes but we would have had to have been lucky with injury”. It turns out we’ve been very unlucky.

We’ve been running most of this season with a third of the squad injured at any one time. But isn’t this the new normal? We’re not the only team suffering this badly. We need to factor this is for next season. If we’re not in Europe, I think the current squad size is fine. If we’re in Europe, I think we need about 3 more first team players. But we’ve got the right manager to be handling this number of players. With the amount he rotates, they will all get decent game time.

 

[Hiheidi]

So the club have got to be asking, “did we provide the manager with a squad to compete on all fronts? I think the answer is “yes but we would have had to have been lucky with injury”. It turns out we’ve been very unlucky.

Bear in mind that the squad going into the season included players that...
Were older so weren't going to be able to play full match programme (Lallana, Milner)
Were coming back from injuries, so needed to be carefully managed (Lamptey, Moder)
Were young, with little first team experience, so would take a long time to get up to speed (Baleba, Buonanotte)