[Albion] Fab OUT

[jackalbion]

Fair points, but it's not THAT unusual for a new manager to not fancy existing players, is it? Plus, from all we hear about the setup at the Albion, the decisions are influenced by the DoF, loans teams, etc, etc – it could be the case (I'm certainly not going to speculate) that, in the case of Barco, it wasn't purely down to FH that he went on loan.

With Enciso, there was clearly a difference of opinion on what role he should play (I actually think a loan might do him some good because he tries SO hard sometimes) and Ferguson has been injured/not on a great run of form, going back to the RDZ days. I wouldn't be surprised if he either went out on loan by the end of the month, or became a part of the squad and found his goal-scoring form...

If it’s not that unusual, why did we decide that we needed to part ways with the old manager, and undo all our previous work? How many of the signings are FH’s? I think if we are to be solid in the top 6 short term, like some who no longer want FH want, we need to look at a lot more than just the manager. The reason a team like Villa have built upon European success to get champions league, is not solely down to Unai Emery.

 

[Hamilton]

I have it on good authority that Hurzeler IS liked and respected within the dressing room, despite some fans being critical about his age and experience when they speak to players. Yes there have been opinions voiced about certain players that have caused further conversations with senior members of the squad, but they remain as a close squad.

I'm not going to reveal MY source, but I can assure YOU that there is nothing to worry about at the moment (relatively speaking) and everyone is aware of the process and the potential within the squad.

Did you pick this up at the Cliftonville while tucking into a SAUSAGE and chips with brown SAUCE?

 

[Greg Bobkin]

If it’s not that unusual, why did we decide that we needed to part ways with the old manager, and undo all our previous work? How many of the signings are FH’s? I think if we are to be solid in the top 6 short term, like some who no longer want FH want, we need to look at a lot more than just the manager. The reason a team like Villa have built upon European success to get champions league, is not solely down to Unai Emery.

Eh? You've lost me.

RDZ left, FH came in. When that happened, there is a chance he had a different opinion about the players at his disposal to the previous manager. I was just pointing out that situation is hardly unique in football. Not that it's got anything to do with that scenario, you could argue that RDZ was already undoing the previous work from January 2024 to the end of the season where he was sacked/not sacked (delete depending on what you believe).
How many of the signings are FH's? I have no idea – I don't work for the club

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Did you pick this up at the Cliftonville while tucking into a SAUSAGE and chips with brown SAUCE?

No.

 

[zefarelly]

But it's this model of buying young and selling that has got us into the upper half of the Premier. As we progress we can expect to hold onto players a little longer and pay a bit more, but we can't and will never be able to compete financially with the top 6, so we have to find another way

Maybe this is as far as we can go and we've hit Gus's 'ceiling', a dozen years later than he thought, but I suspect TB thinks differently. I thought upper Championship, occasional forage into the Premier was our limit

I think a good few of us agreed at the start of the season that this was a free hit season, big changes in players and a new manager.

There's no danger of relegation but european qualification is unlikely.

next season we will hopefully see some fruit. It takes time . . . . With that seasons experience comes the consistency.

 

[zefarelly]

After 23 games tactics haven’t improved. What are they? We don’t particularly suck in the opposition and break the lines. We are so slow in transition pressing is half arsed yesterday was a complete mess.
What are we waiting for with this manager? There is no clear direction.
In my opinion he wanted to make the stupidly high line work until senior players rebelled after Chelsea.
We go into each game with no clear identity and sadly not a lot of fight.

We're top half, safe as houses . . . . In the top flight . . . its a bit patchy . . . . You'd have sold your mum for this 4-5 years ago

we have lost less than 1/4 of our games, not half of them.

 

[Flounce]

We're top half, safe as houses . . . . In the top flight . . . its a bit patchy . . . . You'd have sold your mum for this 4-5 years ago

we have lost less than 1/4 of our games, not half of them.

Don’t bother, he’s still pining for RDZ

 

[portslade seagull]

The thing that worries me is the possible sales of players to keep the money going around and disruption this causes

 

[dazzer6666]

The jump from Championship to Premier League to Europe, as much as we like to act like we’re the only club to have ever done it, has been done many times before, and will likely be done again. Solidifying yourself as a consistent top 6 club for a club of our size has never been done. I’m not saying it can’t, but it’s going to take a lot more time than a few years to do it, and there will have to be a point where we stop selling players on, if we are to achieve this.

Top ten club with an occasional top 6/Europe qualification is where we’re aiming, and represents punching above our (financial) weight.

 

[Brian Fantana]

Another shit show from Hurzeler.

Not starting Rutter and Minteh just shows how clueless the bloke is.

Would you suggest that Minteh shouldn't have been punished for turning up an hour late then?

 

[BrianWade4]

Seeing him take off our best player, Baleba, and replace him with Webster to play up front for the last ten minutes really tested my faith. He better not try that sh!t again

A young manager getting to know his squad, maybe he is the next big thing in management, or maybe he’s not all that

# Fraudian Fraudzeler

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

We should bin him off now so someone else has got time to bed in before the summer. This season's a write off now anyway.

 

[willalbion]

or bottom five, with his slapped arse face

I miss RDZ, but that’s funny

 

[papajaff]

No Fab out here but an open letter to all other PL managers.
Dear.......
At home, we play shit first half, will let you boss us. You may even take the lead.
Second half, we start playing

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Seeing him take off our best player, Baleba, and replace him with Webster to play up front for the last ten minutes really tested my faith. He better not try that sh!t again

A young manager getting to know his squad, maybe he is the next big thing in management, or maybe he’s not all that

# Fraudian Fraudzeler

Pretty much every substitution he made yesterday was mind blowing.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

I have my reservations about FH but you can't use Ferguson as a stick to beat him with. He simply hasn't been good enough when he's been on the pitch or injured this season (unless the man management rumours are true).

There's plenty to get stuck in on but that's not one avenue for me. I'd also argue the recruitment has been massively lopsided. Too many 10s and Right wingers. Of course that's going to piss off the ones not playing.

Lastly, how many contract extensions have we announced? Enciso won't sign, Lamprey is a free agent this summer and no one seems to be committing their futures elsewhere. That's a worry in itself. It would suggest it isn't the happiest of camps albeit that's pure speculation.

 

[Milano]

Would you suggest that Minteh shouldn't have been punished for turning up an hour late then?

Punished = yes. Dropped from the starting 11 less than a couple of hours before KO = no.

Fine him. Completely OTT reaction from someone who is starting to come across as authoritarian because he thinks he needs to be.

 

[Justice]

Who else do we get then? What manager is going to be better? It’s just going to be an endless cycle of a manager trying to get quality out of a squad who so far have shown me nothing to indicate they have the technical ability to create the amount of chances to be top 6.

Next on the list I suppose.

 

[Justice]

Don’t bother, he’s still pining for RDZ

At least it’s not Potter

 

[jackalbion]

Next on the list I suppose.

But this is it, the problems that everyone is claiming to be seeing on here won’t be solved with a new manager and new system. The only decision that I am unsure was the right one, is the decision to move on RDZ in May. For whatever reasons that had to happen according to the club.