[Albion] Fans Forum

[macbeth]

today has knocked my albion mojo up a few degrees actually. although i’m fed up with people using the injuries as a catch-all excuse for the poor form, it’s good to see the club are being proactive in getting in new medical staff. also really good to see barber acknowledge that roberto needs the tools to succeed and that the ambition is very much still european football. and roberto’s response to being asked about staying was less of a ‘come get me’ plea and more of a ‘motivate me!’ plea to bloom and barber.

certainly sounds as though each department knows what their task is for the upcoming months. the key, obviously, is going to be following through after talking the talk, but in getting a new medical team in and already signing osman, the board have made a good start. they now need to be relentless and efficient in getting hold of the players we need to fill the gaps, and from there it’s up to de zerbi to a) show in the final few games that he’s worth being motivated, and b) that he can get that confidence back and not let this debacle carry on into the new season

 

[Is it PotG?]

RDZ looked non committal to me, much like the team at the moment. Paul looked awkward when asked for commitments to spend Tony’s money. Why would and should the club change its very successful policy to meet the ambition of a transient manager and some fans. I’m proud of the way we do business. Success isn’t a constant upwards trajectory.

Absolutely.

 

[Zeberdi]

Catching up late watching the fans forum. Great PR for Roberto and so pleased he had such a warm welcome.

I got the impression that everything RDZ has said at pressers the past months has been totally honest - frustrated but still happy to stay if we can improve the squad. Sounds like the Club very much wants him to stay. We are clearly not going to change our financial strategy of the Club nor should we but Roberto won’t be happy unless we really improve the squad so thats what all the tension revolves around.

Listening to Paul talk. It seems clear both Paul and Roberto are on the same page in wanting keeping the club competitive though and I got no sense from Paul that Roberto is being blamed at all for the poor results either but a recognition that it has been the combination of injuries and playing Europe for the first time making it a very challenging season. Let’s see what happens - still all up in the air but I feel hopeful that Tony and Paul are doing what they can to improve things including getting in Performance specialist and a highly qualified chief medic..

 

[Guinness Boy]

Brutal honesty.

In my opinion, we have a manager who could inspire his team to win the Premier League but he is just too honest, emotionally. If he does not believe he has the right players to succeed, he really struggles. He can’t be disingenuous and perhaps ‘professional’ like Potter could be.

If we’re not going to give him these players in the summer, it’s clearly best for everyone that he moves on.

However, if the club targets top 6, Europe and a cup final and provides him with the half dozen players he needs (and I’m talking about the likes of Ross Barkley & KDH not Rodri or KDB) then there is not a better manager for this club.

Massively this. Great post,

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I’ve been to a lot of these fans forums and refrained from asking my usual nonsense question. However, De Zerbi walked past me on his way to stage. I’ve never seen an Albion manager with his ‘presence in a room’ before. The hair stood up on the back of my neck. He just has that X factor. Can’t put my finger on it but he is just an astonishingly inspiring in person.

RDZ clearly felt the same. The hairs stood up on the top of his head

 

[Berty23]

Paul b is such an impressive speaker. Didn’t learn too much. Let’s hope for a fun summer.

 

[macbeth]

Barbs OBE clearly stated that we have a business model and wage structure that will not change.

you don’t mention this in your post but for me it’s not an either/or scenario. we don’t need to break the wage structure or model to give RDZ what he needs. all it required last summer was a better replacement for mac allister, spending more than the £0 which we did, buying a more experienced mentor for baleba, which again wouldn’t have broken the bank, and getting fullback and right wing cover, as opposed to the nobody that we signed in those departments.

 

[Doc Lynam]

today has knocked my albion mojo up a few degrees actually. although i’m fed up with people using the injuries as a catch-all excuse for the poor form, it’s good to see the club are being proactive in getting in new medical staff. also really good to see barber acknowledge that roberto needs the tools to succeed and that the ambition is very much still european football. and roberto’s response to being asked about staying was less of a ‘come get me’ plea and more of a ‘motivate me!’ plea to bloom and barber.

certainly sounds as though each department knows what their task is for the upcoming months. the key, obviously, is going to be following through after talking the talk, but in getting a new medical team in and already signing osman, the board have made a good start. they now need to be relentless and efficient in getting hold of the players we need to fill the gaps, and from there it’s up to de zerbi to a) show in the final few games that he’s worth being motivated, and b) that he can get that confidence back and not let this debacle carry on into the new season

Why was the medical team dispensed of after over a decade? Always thought we managed that side pretty well.

 

[London Irish]

So easy to read things in that aren't there.
The bit that surprised me was the 'keeper rotation.
Will it continue next year?
'I don't know'?
Who does then?!?!

I'm still clueless as to his future, which was the plan I guess.

He obviously doesn’t think there is clear water between Verbruggen and Steele? Not surprising really given what we just saw at Bournemouth

 

[Is it PotG?]

you don’t mention this in your post but for me it’s not an either/or scenario. we don’t need to break the wage structure or model to give RDZ what he needs. all it required last summer was a better replacement for mac allister, spending more than the £0 which we did, buying a more experienced mentor for baleba, which again wouldn’t have broken the bank, and getting fullback and right wing cover, as opposed to the nobody that we signed in those departments.

When you say 'all it takes' as if it's simple.
There are many clubs out there scouting for the next bargain and unpolished gem.
It doesn't ALWAYS work, we've had several failures in addition to the great successes in the recruitment stakes

 

[Is it PotG?]

He obviously doesn’t think there is clear water between Verbruggen and Steele? Not surprising really given what we just saw at Bournemouth

I was meaning more that he didn't know if he would be there to implement such a system next campaign.

 

[Justice]

Especially from the youngsters.

Refreshing, it’s a different club now. One thing I can’t stomach now days after a defeat is remember Gillingham etc. It has zero relevance today. I’m not saying don’t forget our history by the way.

 

[AZ Gull]

So? We can get the players we need using that model and structure. We had one of the best midfields in the Premier League last season, we can do it again.

We did - we caught lightning in a bottle. Albion will NEVER be in a position to purchase (or pay the required wages to) proven players of that quality. The only way it might possibly happen - briefly - is by identifying young talent and hoping that the coaching is sufficient (and the player is willing to be patient enough to stick around before forcing a move) to give us a glimpse of what the Greedy 6 clubs can just go out and buy at will.

I remain unconvinced RDZ has the patience to attempt to re-build that with Albion over what is likely to be a period of more than one season (although I would love to be proved wrong).

 

[Is it PotG?]

We did - we caught lightning in a bottle. Albion will NEVER be in a position to purchase (or pay the required wages to) proven players of that quality. The only way it might possibly happen - briefly - is by identifying young talent and hoping that the coaching is sufficient (and the player is willing to be patient enough to stick around before forcing a move) to give us a glimpse of what the Greedy 6 clubs can just go out and buy at will.

I remain unconvinced RDZ has the patience to attempt to re-build that with Albion over what is likely to be a period of more than one season (although I would love to be proved wrong).

Indeed

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Mojos gone up a few notches here too!

Really decent effort tonight. Kids asked very good questions!

 

[macbeth]

When you say 'all it takes' as if it's simple.
There are many clubs out there scouting for the next bargain and unpolished gem.
It doesn't ALWAYS work, we've had several failures in addition to the great successes in the recruitment stakes

no it doesn’t always work and it didn’t work last summer. i think the recruitment wasn’t as diligent as it could’ve been, particularly igor and baleba, as neither really offer the main traits RDZ wants or needs, not to say that they aren’t decent players. but what i’m saying is, we don’t need to break the model or the wage structure to give the manager what he needs, and i will stand by that

 

[Is it PotG?]

Nothing on selling the crappiest away tickets first

 

[London Irish]

Brutal honesty.

In my opinion, we have a manager who could inspire his team to win the Premier League but he is just too honest, emotionally. If he does not believe he has the right players to succeed, he really struggles. He can’t be disingenuous and perhaps ‘professional’ like Potter could be.

If we’re not going to give him these players in the summer, it’s clearly best for everyone that he moves on.

However, if the club targets top 6, Europe and a cup final and provides him with the half dozen players he needs (and I’m talking about the likes of Ross Barkley & KDH not Rodri or KDB) then there is not a better manager for this club.

Surely we’ve no option. The board must know they’ve f***ed up. They won’t admit it but turning our best ever team into a bunch of shambling zombies desperately trying to get past fixture 38 is poor

 

[Doc Lynam]

We did - we caught lightning in a bottle. Albion will NEVER be in a position to purchase (or pay the required wages to) proven players of that quality. The only way it might possibly happen - briefly - is by identifying young talent and hoping that the coaching is sufficient (and the player is willing to be patient enough to stick around before forcing a move) to give us a glimpse of what the Greedy 6 clubs can just go out and buy at will.

I remain unconvinced RDZ has the patience to attempt to re-build that with Albion over what is likely to be a period of more than one season (although I would love to be proved wrong).

Spot on, I think there’s literally no point in buying proven players at this level. If they’re or Moses or Macs quality in their prime they ain’t coming here. So why spend a large chunk of cash on a player who does really well and wants to leave, possibly running his contract down. If we want top, top players the only way we’re going to get them is very young and or near the end of their career. Then sell them for a very tidy profit. We’ve literally done the hardest part build a model and have a global reputation; it’s brilliant from and football and financial sense. If we’re lucky a few might want to stay because of the club and city. If we can win a trophy even better. We can’t and shouldn’t change this policy to meet one managers desires. This won’t be changing nor should it. If RDZ goes good luck to him he’s been brilliant, it might just be we can’t meet his demands which is fine; we move on and grow.

 

[Commander]

So are well all back to RDZ IN then?