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

[dazzer6666]

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.

‘Facts’ - LOL. Hinsh has been with the club since he was about 7 and DeZ had him in the first team squad before the season started - hardly ‘unexpected’. Buonanotte was being talked about in Argentina as the next Messi before we signed him.

The ‘mess’ (if that’s what top half of the PL and last 16 of the EL after topping the group is) is down to an almost freakish run of injuries in key positions- including now, just as we were starting to get useful returnees then losing Mitoma and Pedro.

Couldn’t decide whether to use the facepalm or fishing emoji on that post.

 

[Nobby]

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.

Does he, speak to him lately? Gosh

And if did want Fecundo out on loan he made a big mistake - the guy's mint

Yes, Bloom has ambitious plans. And as a gambler and a top mathematician, he will know that sometimes on an overall upward trajectory, there will be a season that does not match expectations. Mitigating factors - injuries to half the squad.

But as long as the overall trend is up, then he will accept that.

By the way, could you ask RDZ which offer he's going to take?

 

[Muhammad - I’m hard - Bruce Lee]

Stop.
Rotating.
Goalkeepers.
Every.
Bloody.
Game.

 

[Springal]

Stop.
Rotating.
Goalkeepers.
Every.
Bloody.
Game.

To be fair it’s not every game. It’s usually 2-3 game cycles

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

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.

He wasn’t wrong to want Facundo to go out on loan. If we hadn’t had these injuries it’s entirely possible he’d not have played anywhere near as much football this season and wouldn’t have developed as he has. In that case a loan would have been a lot more beneficial. Instead, like Hinshelwood, Facundo has taken advantage of the situation the club has found itself in. Doesn’t mean the original plan for him was wrong.

 

[Mellotron]

Blimey. Isn't this the first time we've lost two in a row in De Zerbi's time here? You'd think we were 17th and hadn't won in months.

More than anything this thread makes me realise quite how good things have been, and for how long. Since Bloom took over there have been remarkably few blips - Hyypia the most obvious one, and the Potter xG season was a ridiculous one (finished 16th but about 6th in the xG table).

The question is (or one of many, anyway), should we care more about holding on to RDZ? Or do we feel that someone better will come in afterwards?

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

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.

I felt some of it was Potter’s tactics as were much narrow than we are now, and it is easier to defend against.

Out of possession we did look better, hypothetical I know, but I think we would have just missed Europe under Potter. However, we wouldn’t be where we are without him.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I don’t think there’s a wildly different plan B.

But Ange definitely doesn’t (he admits it), nor do Klopp, Moyes, Conte, Mourinho, O’Neil from what I see.

The only man with a plan B (and C) and the wit to flip during a game was (looks it up on the internet) Graham, hang on, hang on.....Potter!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Blimey. Isn't this the first time we've lost two in a row in De Zerbi's time here? You'd think we were 17th and hadn't won in months.

More than anything this thread makes me realise quite how good things have been, and for how long. Since Bloom took over there have been remarkably few blips - Hyypia the most obvious one, and the Potter xG season was a ridiculous one (finished 16th but about 6th in the xG table).

The question is (or one of many, anyway), should we care more about holding on to RDZ? Or do we feel that someone better will come in afterwards?

Someone better will come in afterwards. I am, and perhaps reluctant to admit, of the opinion that the club has gone on to 'another level' now. No longer plucky. No longer imposters. I may come to eat my words but.....I'm enjoying where we are and am not minded to fear a catastrophic, er, catastrophe is just around every corner.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

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)

I agree with you

And what I think many on here do and to a degree what the club have done, is to look at the raw numbers, which suggest we have enough, and count players who were can get 20 mins here and there out of.

We've counted, for example Lallana as a 1 full time equivalent, where we should have counted him as maybe a 0.15, to use the language of my HR team.

Again, no blame attached. But lessons I think need to be learned

 

[dazzer6666]

I agree with you

And what I think many on here do and to a degree what the club have done, is to look at the raw numbers, which suggest we have enough, and count players who were can get 20 mins here and there out of.

We've counted, for example Lallana as a 1 full time equivalent, where we should have counted him as maybe a 0.15, to use the language of my HR team.

Again, no blame attached. But lessons I think need to be learned

The one thing Bloom and Barber have shown in the last 10 years or so is that they learn quickly and act accordingly…….

 

[Weststander]

The only man with a plan B (and C) and the wit to flip during a game was (looks it up on the internet) Graham, hang on, hang on.....Potter!

He deserved a stint with a proper big club, instead he got The Chavs.

 

[Justice]

RDZ continued a run of form the side were already on stretching back to March of the previous season. He took over a side already scoring freely and challenging at the top.

Potter took over a Chelsea side already in a slump and results haven’t improved under Pochettino. If Poch had come in and had impact you might have a point.

Poch is overrated

He deserved a stint with a proper big club, instead he got The Chavs.

Did he? Is that the benchmark for a successful manager these days win a few games with Brighton.

 

[OzMike]

I remember Potter always leaving it too late putting the subs on.

 

[Weststander]

Poch is overrated



Did he? Is that the benchmark for a successful manager these days win a few games with Brighton.

There's never a bad time to mock The Chavs.

 

[Milano]

I agree with you

And what I think many on here do and to a degree what the club have done, is to look at the raw numbers, which suggest we have enough, and count players who were can get 20 mins here and there out of.

We've counted, for example Lallana as a 1 full time equivalent, where we should have counted him as maybe a 0.15, to use the language of my HR team.

Again, no blame attached. But lessons I think need to be learned

The issue is that we’re paying Lallana as a 100% FTE not a 15% FTE. I don't disagree though, I think January lack of activity was a mistake and slightly naive at board level.

 

[Peteinblack]

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

Not quite - they're 1st for poaching our players and staff!

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

The issue is that we’re paying Lallana as a 100% FTE not a 15% FTE.

Just the nature of football isn't it? And of working life? I get paid when i'm not contributing, (either through illness ... or ...ahem, some quick Albion analysis to catch up on)

 

[Flounce]

I am getting seriously pissed off with RDZ saying “We are not a big club” at every f***ing opportunity. We DO NOT need to be told this every f***ing week, we know it and we knew it before he had ever heard of Brighton and Hove Albion. Just give it a rest

He’s gone and said it again today. At least he said “we”

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I am getting seriously pissed off with RDZ saying “We are not a big club” at every f***ing opportunity. We DO NOT need to be told this every f***ing week, we know it and we knew it before he had ever heard of Brighton and Hove Albion. Just give it a rest

He’s gone and said it again today

Where did he say it? In what context?