Dear Nicky Forster

[severnside gull]

always sorry to see a good player leave and even more so when the circumstances are less than positive but I am surprised that so many supporters seem to have jumped (perhaps unwittingly) onto the "Nicky Forster is bigger than the club (and its management)" bandwagon.

He created the situation in the first place by going direct to the press when he wasn't given the contract he wanted when he wanted. One suspects he realised at that time that he was not a shoe-in for a new deal (let alone one on his terms) and he very cynically manipulated the situation and in doing so he manipulated the club's fanbase.

In any other walk of life this would be recognised as unacceptable and - as here - probably unforgivable. It was Forster's action in going public which created the potential for an unsavoury parting of the ways and not the club's reaction to it.

Fortunately we now have a manager who is not only talented but who has the necessary tenacity and strength to succeed plus the backing of the Board.

Good luck Nicky but don't expect every Brighton fan to cry. In my view you are one with the likes of Harding and Hammond and others who have gone before in seeking to be bigger than the club and discovering that not to be the case. What you have achieved where others have failed is to retain a high level of personal support from fans and thus to be a more divisive influence

 

[SirDouglasLoft]

thanks for everything, but every dog has his day.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

always sorry to see a good player leave and even more so when the circumstances are less than positive but I am surprised that so many supporters seem to have jumped (perhaps unwittingly) onto the "Nicky Forster is bigger than the club (and its management)" bandwagon.

He created the situation in the first place by going direct to the press when he wasn't given the contract he wanted when he wanted. One suspects he realised at that time that he was not a shoe-in for a new deal (let alone one on his terms) and he very cynically manipulated the situation and in doing so he manipulated the club's fanbase.

In any other walk of life this would be recognised as unacceptable and - as here - probably unforgivable. It was Forster's action in going public which created the potential for an unsavoury parting of the ways and not the club's reaction to it.

Fortunately we now have a manaager who is not only talented but who has the necessary tenacity and strength to succeed plus the backing of the Board.

Good luck Nicky but don't expect every Brighton fan to cry. In my view you are one with the likes of Harding and Hammond and others who have gone before in seeking to be bigger than the club and discovering that not to be the case. What you have achieved where others have failed is to retain a high level of personal support from fans and thus to be a more divisive influence

Best post of the day

 

[sagaman]

One hell of a clear out - hopefully Mr Poyet knows what he is doing

Obvously the Club is bigger than any one player but Forster put in a great shift at the Albion and should be remembered for that. Also an intelligent, articulate man who hopefully will make it in football management idc. Best of luck Nicky.

 

[drew]

So Your real problem is actually the fact that Adam El Abd got a contract then?

The Psychobilly man gets it.

Wrong, I don't begrudge El Abd a contract. What pissed me off and caused the whole problem was the double standards from the club. If the club hadn't given El Abd a contract having previously announced they weren't discussing contracts then would those comments have been made by Forster or his agent to Sky Sports, I doubt it.

always sorry to see a good player leave and even more so when the circumstances are less than positive but I am surprised that so many supporters seem to have jumped (perhaps unwittingly) onto the "Nicky Forster is bigger than the club (and its management)" bandwagon.

He created the situation in the first place by going direct to the press when he wasn't given the contract he wanted when he wanted. One suspects he realised at that time that he was not a shoe-in for a new deal (let alone one on his terms) and he very cynically manipulated the situation and in doing so he manipulated the club's fanbase.

In any other walk of life this would be recognised as unacceptable and - as here - probably unforgivable. It was Forster's action in going public which created the potential for an unsavoury parting of the ways and not the club's reaction to it.

Fortunately we now have a manager who is not only talented but who has the necessary tenacity and strength to succeed plus the backing of the Board.

Good luck Nicky but don't expect every Brighton fan to cry. In my view you are one with the likes of Harding and Hammond and others who have gone before in seeking to be bigger than the club and discovering that not to be the case. What you have achieved where others have failed is to retain a high level of personal support from fans and thus to be a more divisive influence

What did Forster go public about. Everyone knew his contract was up at the end of June. Everyone knows that if you are not offered a new contract then from the preceding January you are allowed to talk to other clubs. Was there some other great reve'ation that Forster disclosed to embarrass the club. Not as far as I am aware.

As for your comments about him thinking he is bigger than the club demonstrate how pathetic you are. Are you one of these blinkered fans who worship the ground the current manager treads, until of course they leave to better (or worse) things? You seem to think Poyet can do no wrong, isn't capable of making a mistakes. Open your eyes. He is human and therefore fallible.

I think Forster has done us proud over the last two years. Wouldn't say he has achieved legendry status but then again there are a lot of people who never saw real quality players at the Albion and therefore it is no surprise that some of the superlatives are over the top. We will be hard pressed to replace him, as was proven with the Davies and Dickinson signings. Still, wish him well for what remains of his career and who knows, one day he may be back, with his coaching badges, sitting in the hot seat.

 

[severnside gull]

Wrong, I don't begrudge El Abd a contract. What pissed me off and caused the whole problem was the double standards from the club. If the club hadn't given El Abd a contract having previously announced they weren't discussing contracts then would those comments have been made by Forster or his agent to Sky Sports, I doubt it.



What did Forster go public about. Everyone knew his contract was up at the end of June. Everyone knows that if you are not offered a new contract then from the preceding January you are allowed to talk to other clubs. Was there some other great reve'ation that Forster disclosed to embarrass the club. Not as far as I am aware.

As for your comments about him thinking he is bigger than the club demonstrate how pathetic you are. Are you one of these blinkered fans who worship the ground the current manager treads, until of course they leave to better (or worse) things? You seem to think Poyet can do no wrong, isn't capable of making a mistakes. Open your eyes. He is human and therefore fallible.

I think Forster has done us proud over the last two years. Wouldn't say he has achieved legendry status but then again there are a lot of people who never saw real quality players at the Albion and therefore it is no surprise that some of the superlatives are over the top. We will be hard pressed to replace him, as was proven with the Davies and Dickinson signings. Still, wish him well for what remains of his career and who knows, one day he may be back, with his coaching badges, sitting in the hot seat.

Forster aired his "grievance" with SSN

No other player who had been told that contract discussions were on hold chose this course of action and it was clearly designed to put very public pressure on the club to concede to his demand for a contract offer there and then

That is the action, in my view ("pathetic" or not), of someone who has a very high opinion of his personal worth and correspondingly low respect for his employer. I applaud the former but in any normal employee-employer relationship the latter is unacceptable.

 

[auschr]

Wrong, I don't begrudge El Abd a contract. What pissed me off and caused the whole problem was the double standards from the club. If the club hadn't given El Abd a contract having previously announced they weren't discussing contracts then would those comments have been made by Forster or his agent to Sky Sports, I doubt it.



What did Forster go public about. Everyone knew his contract was up at the end of June. Everyone knows that if you are not offered a new contract then from the preceding January you are allowed to talk to other clubs. Was there some other great reve'ation that Forster disclosed to embarrass the club. Not as far as I am aware.

As for your comments about him thinking he is bigger than the club demonstrate how pathetic you are. Are you one of these blinkered fans who worship the ground the current manager treads, until of course they leave to better (or worse) things? You seem to think Poyet can do no wrong, isn't capable of making a mistakes. Open your eyes. He is human and therefore fallible.

I think Forster has done us proud over the last two years. Wouldn't say he has achieved legendry status but then again there are a lot of people who never saw real quality players at the Albion and therefore it is no surprise that some of the superlatives are over the top. We will be hard pressed to replace him, as was proven with the Davies and Dickinson signings. Still, wish him well for what remains of his career and who knows, one day he may be back, with his coaching badges, sitting in the hot seat.

Well said, had a pleasure to watch Forster, we were blessed to have such a prolific striker over the years and who knows how long it will go until one of Poyet's signing turns out to have a better goal to game ratio as him.

 

[drew]

Forster aired his "grievance" with SSN

No other player who had been told that contract discussions were on hold chose this course of action and it was clearly designed to put very public pressure on the club to concede to his demand for a contract offer there and then

That is the action, in my view ("pathetic" or not), of someone who has a very high opinion of his personal worth and correspondingly low respect for his employer. I applaud the former but in any normal employee-employer relationship the latter is unacceptable.

.

Out of interest, could you actually quote what was said by Forster in this interview or at least what was aired. The following was taken from SSN on the 2 Jan and can hardly be seen as a grievance.

Brighton & Hove Albion captain Nicky Forster is hoping to be offered a new contract to stay at the club next season.

Forster's current deal expires at the end of the campaign and the 36-year-old is waiting for possible talks regarding an extension.

The striker is the Seagulls' leading scorer this season and admits his goals could help to secure another club if he is not offered terms to stay at the Withdean Stadium.

"I'm up at the end of the season contract wise, so I don't know where I shall be," Forster told The Argus. "It's also a good advert for me if I am not wanted here.

"The club, I think it is fair to say, leave contract negotiations fairly late. As of this moment in time, nothing has been said to any of the players as far as I am aware.

"I, like others, have got to look to my future and see what I am going to do. With my age I am not 100% sure what I am going to do, whether I will retire or look for another club.

"But at the moment I am enjoying football and enjoying scoring, so I think I have still got something to offer playing wise. My intention at the moment is to keep playing.

"Nothing has been spoken about here, so at some stage I am going to have to look and see what my options are.

"I want to stay. I enjoy the club, I like it here, but I am no different to anyone else. I have a family to support and I need to be earning."

Now if you can point me in the direction of any other articles directly quoting Forster then please do. As for your comments regarding no other player talked to the press, I'm not sure any of those up at the end of the year command the attention of the press. Forster was at the time club captain.

 

[Miami Seagull]

Thanks for all the goals Nicky, lots of great memories.

Really suggest you write a book or something in a few years and explain to everyone what actually happened.. Hope to see you back at the club in some capacity one day.

 

[lasvegan]

Thanks for all the goals Nicky, lots of great memories.

Really suggest you write a book or something in a few years and explain to everyone what actually happened.. Hope to see you back at the club in some capacity one day.

A book? There's hardly enough material there for a column in the Argus...and how many people would read it anyway? Nicky went "all in" with a weak hand and lost all of his chips. He just wasn't smart enough to realize who he was playing against.

Thanks though for putting in a decent shift, and best wishes for the future.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Did a great job while here for us and for that I thank you for your services.

Can't help but think looking at this thread people throw the term "legend" around a bit to easily.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

.


Now if you can point me in the direction of any other articles directly quoting Forster then please do. As for your comments regarding no other player talked to the press, I'm not sure any of those up at the end of the year command the attention of the press. Forster was at the time club captain.

Either Fortser or his agent went to SSN and leaked the fact that he had handed in his transfer request ... a meaningless and futile act which caused nothing but angst. Forster isn't stupid, neither is his agent, they knew exactly what they were doing. He could have nipped things in the bud but he didn't say anything for what, four days.
He tried to take on Poyet and lost, also by taking on Poyet he took on Bloom as Poyet was Bloom's first major decision, obviously apart from spunking £95m (which he'll not get back) on the stadium and the club. Bloom must have sat there a thought ... '36 year old player or up and coming manager' ....no brainer really.

To me his actions were crass and premeditated. Poyet was obviously decided on El-Abd, the others he is not hence the way it was done.

The best person to aks regards Forster is DW as I've heard that Forster was the catalyst for the DW debacle,

 

[Poyetry In Motion]

I don't think anyone else has used this word yet to express how a lot of supporters feel about you moving on......

gutted

 

[Insel affe]

£10 first goal on sat if in line up for Charlton......has to be just for spite

 

[drew]

Either Fortser or his agent went to SSN and leaked the fact that he had handed in his transfer request ... a meaningless and futile act which caused nothing but angst. Forster isn't stupid, neither is his agent, they knew exactly what they were doing. He could have nipped things in the bud but he didn't say anything for what, four days.
He tried to take on Poyet and lost, also by taking on Poyet he took on Bloom as Poyet was Bloom's first major decision, obviously apart from spunking £95m (which he'll not get back) on the stadium and the club. Bloom must have sat there a thought ... '36 year old player or up and coming manager' ....no brainer really.

To me his actions were crass and premeditated. Poyet was obviously decided on El-Abd, the others he is not hence the way it was done.

The best person to aks regards Forster is DW as I've heard that Forster was the catalyst for the DW debacle,

Fair enough, I can see that your ignorance is why you make the dumb comments you do. Exactly where and when did Forster hand in this alleged transfer request? Even Poyet agreed that no transfer request had ever been made yet there are still posters on here, including you, who bang on about it. Please can you get on Google and try and find the article which says Forster handed in a transfer request. There were stories that he had done it on the team bus but again this, according to Poyet, is also a complete fabrication. It seems that some people, possibly NSC posters and possibly the media have interpreted his statement that he is allowed to talk to other clubs as being a transfer request. It isn't.

It seems that because of your location you don't get to many games these days and therefore haven't been fully aware of Forster's contribution to our last two seasons as opposed to that of El Abd, fair enough.

I am also intrigued by your comment about Dean Wilkins. I take it your comments are once again based on hearsay rather than evidence!

I will once again say that this whole issue could have been avoided had the club not announced that they were going to deal with contracts later and then immediately give one to El Abd. The double standards was the catalyst for this sorry affair and I doubt it is a mistake that Poyet will make next year.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Pretty disappointed with some of the mealy-mouthed crap on this thread which I thought was a thank you to our best player of the last couple of seasons. Fair enough if you have a view on the manner of his departure, but there are other places on the board to discuss that. Leave this one alone.

Whatever your thoughts on the events of earlier in the season you cannot deny he has been the best striker at the club since Zamora and has never given less than 100per cent on the pitch. He has been a model professional throughout his career serving many clubs with distinction and quite frankly deserves better treatment from fans suffering from short memory syndrome.

Personally I think he deserves another year, but can quite understand that Poyet does not see a player of his age as part of his future plans. I fully expect to Gus backed by Bloom to find an adequate replacement in the summer, after all in most things his judgement has not been to shabby.

I wish Nicky well at Charlton and hope he can find another club to see what will probably be the final year of his career at this level.

 

[Hungry Joe]

Fair enough, I can see that your ignorance is why you make the dumb comments you do. Exactly where and when did Forster hand in this alleged transfer request? Even Poyet agreed that no transfer request had ever been made yet there are still posters on here, including you, who bang on about it. Please can you get on Google and try and find the article which says Forster handed in a transfer request. There were stories that he had done it on the team bus but again this, according to Poyet, is also a complete fabrication. It seems that some people, possibly NSC posters and possibly the media have interpreted his statement that he is allowed to talk to other clubs as being a transfer request. It isn't.

It seems that because of your location you don't get to many games these days and therefore haven't been fully aware of Forster's contribution to our last two seasons as opposed to that of El Abd, fair enough.

I am also intrigued by your comment about Dean Wilkins. I take it your comments are once again based on hearsay rather than evidence!

I will once again say that this whole issue could have been avoided had the club not announced that they were going to deal with contracts later and then immediately give one to El Abd. The double standards was the catalyst for this sorry affair and I doubt it is a mistake that Poyet will make next year.

Your arrogance is breathtaking. You have your opinion based on what you believe you know and others have theirs. That doesn't make them any more ignorant, dumb or pathetic than you are. For the record - just because people have a less than favourable view on Forter's recent actions doesn't mean they have some sort of pro-Gus love-in agenda. Wind your neck in.

 

[Mendoza]

What did Forster go public about. Everyone knew his contract was up at the end of June. Everyone knows that if you are not offered a new contract then from the preceding January you are allowed to talk to other clubs. Was there some other great reve'ation that Forster disclosed to embarrass the club. Not as far as I am aware.

Erm, the news was broken by Sky Sports News that he handed in a transfer request, this before anyone at the club knew about it and before any official statement from Forster and the club was made.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

Fair enough, I can see that your ignorance is why you make the dumb comments you do. Exactly where and when did Forster hand in this alleged transfer request? Even Poyet agreed that no transfer request had ever been made yet there are still posters on here, including you, who bang on about it. Please can you get on Google and try and find the article which says Forster handed in a transfer request. There were stories that he had done it on the team bus but again this, according to Poyet, is also a complete fabrication. It seems that some people, possibly NSC posters and possibly the media have interpreted his statement that he is allowed to talk to other clubs as being a transfer request. It isn't.

It seems that because of your location you don't get to many games these days and therefore haven't been fully aware of Forster's contribution to our last two seasons as opposed to that of El Abd, fair enough.

I am also intrigued by your comment about Dean Wilkins. I take it your comments are once again based on hearsay rather than evidence!

I will once again say that this whole issue could have been avoided had the club not announced that they were going to deal with contracts later and then immediately give one to El Abd. The double standards was the catalyst for this sorry affair and I doubt it is a mistake that Poyet will make next year.

1. SSN stated that Fortser had handed in his transfer request (this is fact), if it was untrue then why didn't Forster deny it immediately? Who ever it was who went to SSN, new exactly what they were doing.... and so did Forster by not denying/correcting/distancing himself from the leak.

2. Funnily enough I'm a season ticket holder, and I'm aware of his contribution and like everyone else on here know that without his contribution we'd be screwed. This isn't under debate and in my book never was, what is under debate is the manner in which he has departed.

3. Of course it's hearsay (*sake), but when you hear it from diverse people some of who have an inside line either with players or the club then you start to wonder.

4. Double standards, I don't think so. What it says is that El-Abd was defintely in his plans, he was as yet undecided about the remaining players hence the wait until then end of the season. Interestingly the others took it on the chin ....

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Wind your neck in.

Word.

Forster is the architect of his departure from the Club.