[Albion] Fabian Hürzeler **SINGED 15/06/2024**

[nickjhs]

Do you honestly think we need to be the size of Chelsea and have a squad that size in order to have a succession list that bails us out if our first choice managers aren’t available? - you don’t know our club very well or have much faith in TB, if you think that. RDZ knew our recruitment policy and how we were run - he was happy to join the Club on that basis as other development managers of his calibre will in the future.

For all intents and purposes, any manager under existing contract isn’t available until they get an offer that interests them.

You are completely missing the point about the list of managers I gave you - I didn’t name those as possible managers for us - you said all “decent managers” are under contract and settled with a team during the season - the example list I gave is just that, an example, of decent managers that were not under contract during the season - you conveniently ignored me saying plus those you’ve not heard of …which is where our scouting data for succession purposes sets us apart from other clubs and from where we typically recruit.


I’m not going to engage with you further because you keep changing the parameters of the argument and introducing further points into it to prolong a senseless argument. We’ll end up going on indefinitely at this rate.

Suffice to say, on the original point you made which is what I was addressing, is that you have no basis for suggesting our succession planning would have failed if RDZ hadn’t have been available or saying it was unlikely “any quality coaches” are available mid-season. Managers if not already unemployed, will often become “available” if the right offer comes along, even for an established Premier League club like us, one of the best run clubs in the League in argubly the best football league in the World.

If you disagree with that despite having no grounds for doing so, then we’ll have to agree to disagree.

Oh my what a dummy spit. All I have done is point out why in my opinion we were incredibly fortunate to get RDZ and had he not been available I think we would have struggled or as I put it been f***ed. No change in parameters, no moving the goal post just me explaining the reasons for my position. You don't agree, great, like me you are untitled to your opinion. I have not been stating objective facts just what I think.

 

[Hugo Rune]

He had several years left on his contract and keeping him wouldn't have been a problem in that sense. The club didn't want him to stay…..

……..because he could not accept the way we do transfer business! It was a take it or leave it scenario.

Obviously the sulking didn’t help but I get the impression he’d still be our manager if he’d have accepted what is going to happen this summer with players coming and going*. He had the option to stay.



*The expected departure of Pascal Groß to a German Champions League team may have been the straw that broke the Italian back.

 

[Zeberdi]

……..because he could not accept the way we do transfer business! It was a take it or leave it scenario.

Obviously the sulking didn’t help but I get the impression he’d still be our manager if he’d have accepted what is going to happen this summer with players coming and going*. He had the option to stay.



*The expected departure of Pascal Groß to a German Champions League team may have been the straw that broke the Italian back.

Please don’t let HS turn this into yet another “RDZ was shit” and Potter was better” thread so “we should have taken him back”. As soon as Hürzeler produces less than perfect results, no doubt that will be the line of argument that pops up again.

Both managers had a part in our football development at the right time for us to progress - Hürzeler is the next progression - I for one would like to move on and enjoy the new era, with RDZ and Potter out of my mind.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Please don’t let HS turn this into yet another “RDZ was shit” and Potter was better” thread so “we should have taken him back”. As soon as Hürzeler produces less than perfect results, no doubt that will be the line of argument that pops up again.

Both players had a part in our football development at the right time for us to progress - Hürzeler is the next progression - I for one would like to move on and enjoy the new era, with RDZ and Potter out of my mind.

I think moving on is a good idea.

But for reference, I agree with @Lenny Rider. RDZ was our greatest manager of all time.

They are big (expensive) shoes to fill but we have a man who can do it.

 

[Justice]

And the problem there is?

Did I say it was a problem

 

[Zeberdi]

I think moving on his a good idea but for reference, I agree with @Lenny Rider. RDZ was our greatest manager of all time.

They are big (expensive) shoes to fill but we have a man who can do it.

Completely agree and one of the reasons I felt so down when we couldn’t work out a way forward but seeing Hürzeler literally gave me hope we could even find an improvement.

- If we judge managers purely on the football we play (not on personality flaws etc) then what we were doing in 2022/23 surpassed any level we’ve ever played in our history and was sublime to watch.

If TB/PB is right (and I obviously think they are because I feel the same), Hürzeler could make de Zerbi football even more successful with the Fabi-tweaks to the system both in defence and attack because it’s what he achieved great success with at St Pauli..

One always hopes that each progression of management surpasses the previous appointment because we always hope the level of our football is continuing to improve (as it needs to just to stay competitive on our budget) and we hope that will be the case again with FH once he’s had a chance to settle in and bed in his new shape.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Completely agree and one of the reasons I felt so down when we couldn’t work out a way forward but seeing Hürzeler literally gave me hope we could even find an improvement.

- If we judge managers purely on the football we play (not on personality flaws etc) then what we were doing in 2022/23 surpassed any level we’ve ever played in our history and was sublime to watch.

If TB/PB is right (and I obviously think they are because I feel the same), Hürzeler could make de Zerbi football even more successful with the Fabi-tweaks to the system both in defence and attack because it’s what he achieved great success with at St Pauli..

One always hopes that each progression of management surpasses the previous appointment because we always hope the level of our football is continuing to improve (as it needs to just to stay competitive on our budget) and we hope that will be the case again with FH once he’s had a chance to settle in and bed in his new shape.

I don't expect any manager to match the football we played under De Zerbi in 22/23, until we have players to match those who left at the end of that season.

I think Hurzerler can do a very good and creditable job even if we never quite hit those levels.

 

[Zeberdi]

I don't expect any manager to match the football we played under De Zerbi in 22/23, until we have players to match those who left at the end of that season.

I think Hurzerler can do a very good and creditable job even if we never quite hit those levels.

I agree but another way to look at it, is that the players that left at the end of that season were no better when they first signed with us than some of the youngsters we already have on our books when they were at that stage/age in their careers. It took several seasons for Caicedo and MacAllister to be come the players they were and for the squad to peak as it did in 2022/23.

It will take another season at least for players like Barco, Buonanotte, Ferguson, Hinshelwood, Baleba to develop as I believe they will as it will for FH to develop as a Premier League manager.

We will have another peak season but I’m prepared for that not to be 2024/25.

 

[Hiheidi]

St Pauli taking USG's manager

 

[Zeberdi]

St Pauli taking USG's manager

That was unexpected (and very funny in a poetic justice sort of way if true) but seems a little too coincidental for that not to have come up as a potential sweetner/softener between Bloom and Bornemann as part of the Hürzeler negotiations.

 

[Swegulls]

Yep, ”a little too coincidental”!

 

[Paul from Pauli]

That was unexpected (and very funny in a poetic justice sort of way if true) but seems a little too coincidental for that not to have come up as a potential sweetner/softener between Bloom and Bornemann as part of the Hürzeler negotiations.

You're probably right.

 

[brighton_tom]

But i thought Bloom's influence at USG was much less these days? Does he have the power to tell the majority owners at USG they have to lose their manager in order for Tony's main club to get their target?

 

[Hiheidi]

But i thought Bloom's influence at USG was much less these days? Does he have the power to tell the majority owners at USG they have to lose their manager in order for Tony's main club to get their target?

I agree, and it wouldn't be a good look.

 

[Zeberdi]

But i thought Bloom's influence at USG was much less these days? Does he have the power to tell the majority owners at USG they have to lose their manager in order for Tony's main club to get their target?

I agree, and it wouldn't be a good look.

Strange twist on what I said. TB would never have acted like that even when he was the majority holder.

Bloom is no longer the majority holder on paper due to FIFA compliance but that does not mean he can not still give an agreement for St Pauli to approach the Club or act as a go between...or let St Pauli know that Blessin might be open to a move.

No one here is suggesting he has strong armed the Belgium club to release their manager to help Brighton ffs.

 

[brighton_tom]

Strange twist on what I said. TB would never have acted like that even when he was the majority holder.

Bloom is no longer the majority holder on paper due to FIFA compliance but that does not mean he can not still give an agreement for St Pauli to approach the Club or act as a go between...or let St Pauli know that Blessin might be open to a move.

No one here is suggesting he has strong armed the Belgium club to release their manager to help Brighton ffs.

I was asking a question...

 

[Han Solo]

I agree but another way to look at it, is that the players that left at the end of that season were no better when they first signed with us than some of the youngsters we already have on our books when they were at that stage/age in their careers. It took several seasons for Caicedo and MacAllister to be come the players they were and for the squad to peak as it did in 2022/23.

It will take another season at least for players like Barco, Buonanotte, Ferguson, Hinshelwood, Baleba to develop as I believe they will as it will for FH to develop as a Premier League manager.

We will have another peak season but I’m prepared for that not to be 2024/25.

Agree with all of this.

This is also one of the advantages with Hurzeler - he is 31, he is going to be a young manager for the next 10-15 years, whereas Potter and De Zerbi both probably felt "well, in five years I'm old and no one wants me". Creates a different hurry and pressure to get that fat, life changing contract. Potter (burnt by the big clubs), a really young (no hurry) or really old manager (even less hurry) was the only real options if we wanted someone around to manage the team a full 3-4 year "cycle".

Next season will be a little bit similar to this one probably, but hopefully with better football and a clearer sense of direction.

 

[Fiskmås]

St Pauli taking USG's manager

Wow! I'd be optimistic about that move if I was a St Pauli fan.

And now USG can snap up Rydström and everyone's happy

(except for Malmö FF, but screw them)

 

[jackanada]

OT but does anyone know why St Paoli just have ST PAOLI on the back of their shirts?
They definitely had names in the past and I can't find answer elsewhere (and haven't tried very hard)

 

[Zeberdi]

OT but does anyone know why St Paoli just have ST PAOLI on the back of their shirts?
They definitely had names in the past and I can't find answer elsewhere (and haven't tried very hard)

They do but it’s in smaller print at the bottom under the number and under “St Pauli”