[Albion] Fans Forum

[hans kraay fan club]

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

We actually spent close to £100m, on Joao Pedro, Baleba, Igor and Verbruggen.

 

[chaileyjem]

2 things to note.......(1) the kids asked the best questions. (2) for all the RBZ bashing over the last 72 hours he got the most incredible welcome and goodbye from the 300+ people.

yep. the crowd did a pretty raucous spontaneous chant of "Roberto Di Zerbi" when left 5 mins early. (He left 5 minutes early at the FF in September - why is that ? What is it at 8pm that he has to nip off to ...watch the Champions League SF ? Does he not like being there at the end - cos he'll get caught up doing selfies / fan chat etc ?

 

[Commander]

Agree although it’s slightly annoying to know thousands will desert when players move on. I just don’t understand this as a ‘legacy fan’, not having any emotional attachment to a club. Our club. But then not everyone’s an Uber like you and I

I don't understand this. 'Thousands will desert when players move on'. Will they? Which players?

 

[Mancgull]

Totally agree with this but wouldn’t be surprised if the club are already sounding out potential replacement, succession planning. Would’ve thought this needs to be resolved soon as new player choice would be dependent on style of coaches play, plus if the worse were to happen & last 4 games saw no wins, no points no more goals is RDZ really the future?

I’m sure we won’t sack RDZ but we need succession planning in place if he wants out.
I think we are probably already doing this. Eg rumours that we’ve had informal initial discussions with Kompany and R Martin. ( no smoke without fire)
However, it’s clear from the Fans Forum that RDZ is still focused on the job but we need a good transfer window to keep him engaged.
The recruitment of the new senior medical guy is a great statement of intent.
I’m sure we have done a ‘drains up’ on why we have fallen back a bit this season. Very simplistically this could be put down to a drop in player quality ( losing MacAllister and Caicedo in one window and not properly replaced) and the huge extent of our injuries.
The recruitment of a new medical team addresses the injuries ( not going to stop injuries but shows we are doing our best to reduce them).
A strong summer transfer window will hopefully address the squad strength issue.
Will be an interesting summer.

 

[Bozza]

yep. the crowd did a pretty raucous spontaneous chant of "Roberto Di Zerbi" when left 5 mins early. (He left 5 minutes early at the FF in September - why is that ? What is it at 8pm that he has to nip off to ...watch the Champions League SF ? Does he not like being there at the end - cos he'll get caught up doing selfies / fan chat etc ?

I assumed it's exactly as you suggest - let him get away without being mobbed for selfies and the like.

Edit: that's not to say he doesn't like it, as such, just it would take up a fair amount of time.

 

[Bryanw42]

First time I've been to one of these and I took my eldest boy also. I thought it was a good event and some sensible questions, particularly from the kids - and I am a deeply cynical person. Very pleased there were no long intros from those posing the questions about how much of a superfan they are / making clear how local they are.

Although there was a lack of breaking news (as expected) - apart from the news on De Zerbi's chef, what came across to me was, looking into the whites of his eyes., he seems brutally honest. Obviously everyone (the fans, the media etc) always read between the lines of his broken English and often dour facial expressions but his answer in respect to his future was a good one. He came across as honest, that regardless of the club he is at, he needs to feel motivated - by the owner, ceo, players, club, fans - all the factors that combine. It is clear that he has been and he feels that connection with this club. Of course any of those factors may change, and he may lose his mojo. I personally hope he keeps it for next season (and beyond).

Interesting also he said the fans are good / the atmosphere is good and implied that recently the team are disappointed not to have created some atmosphere. He said the home game vs Marseille was a great atmosphere that stuck with him (I thought it was a good atmosphere but there have been better whilst he's been here).

 

[aardvark]

Just wanted to congratulate you on making that all-important first post after nearly 11 years.

Don't leave it so long before the next one, eh?

Will try not to lose password for another 11 years

 

[amexer]

Have always felt it was a shame so few youngsters are able to get autographs and that is adults in attendance have spoilt it for them. Hopefully they can work something out because such a big thing for kids

 

[Dave the OAP]

Did anyone ask how much to get in the new fanzone? Will it be home fans only? How much will a decent pint be?

Gracias.

 

[Clive Walker]

Have always felt it was a shame so few youngsters are able to get autographs and that is adults in attendance have spoilt it for them. Hopefully they can work something out because such a big thing for kids

They do a pre match session for a selct number of you g seagulls. Really well organised and everyone gets time with each of the payers.

For what its worth I know that one grown man literally hounded Solly March all the way to his parked car. Solly was with his Family including his very young baby. When I heard that I thought the club had no choice.

 

[Dave the OAP]

I don't understand this. 'Thousands will desert when players move on'. Will they? Which players?

Gross. When gross goes I am leaving to support gillingham.

 

[Hiheidi]

I don't understand this. 'Thousands will desert when players move on'. Will they? Which players?

This guy for a start!!

 

[Stat Brother]

I don't understand this. 'Thousands will desert when players move on'. Will they? Which players?

In fairness it's normally around the 70 minute mark.

 

[raymondo]

I agree that RDZ won’t get the perfect shopping list any manager in his position would want but personally I think he only needs enough to maximise our chances to qualify for Europe again - I know tough ask but it wasn’t all about Caceido last season or ‘surprising’ the oppo with ’de Zerbi ball’, our first games in this season were impressive as was some of our Group matches.

I think with a few tactical purchases, the system of football we were playing so successfully at the beginning of this season and last season will be enough to make us really competitive but much will depend on whether Barber is prepared to buy some ‘now’ talent instead of ‘oodles of potential but won’t be ready for another 18 months’ talent.

It will be a sustainability/financial assessment as much as anything else too - eg we could lose over £22m in merit revenue by dropping half a dozen places this season and a low place finish will possibly effect our potential TV coverage next season too - there needs to be a balance but because of a few recruitment target failures last summer/January, my very unqualified opinion from looking on the ‘outside’ is that we probably could have spent more without undermining our sustainability ethos. I do think, our best chance of getting back into Europe next season is with De Zerbi though - otherwise it could take another 2 or 3 seasons under a new manager where he rebuilds the squad in his image.

Yep, I agree with that.
The big question will be what 'now talent' becomes available and what competition will we have? Our wage structure is relatively low, so that will also limit our desirability to some.

Mitoma must be near certain to be back for pre-season if the club are planning to go to Japan then.

Yes, it'll be disappointing for Japanese seagulls if he's only signing shirts

 

[Gwylan]

Gross. When gross goes I am leaving to support gillingham.

I thought you already supported Huddersfield

 

[raymondo]

They should have a kids Fan Forum as they asked the best/most interesting questions !

I didn't get Barber's answer as to why the kids can't get close to the players. It's relatively easy, shirley, no signing, no signed shirts etc, just chat between players and kids and maybe a selfie... what's so hard

 

[Justice]

Stomach? The relevance is that we are a club that has gone from the very bottom of the football league to the elite end of the Premier League. That’s f***ing historical perspective. Some of us just can’t be f***ing arsed to join in with the wankfest about how shit everything is when it clearly is not.

We’ve been in the top flight before it was called Division 1.

 

[el punal]

I may be sailing this ship alone but I am not impressed by a manager appearing to be holding a gun to the head of the club, however charismatic or good he is or could be

Is he though? He’s just being honest and upfront about progression for himself and the team. In fact he has always been that. There is no harm in stating what is required to move forward even if, to some people, that it’s too forceful. With Roberto that’s the nature of the beast, besides he’s still got a lot of credit in the bank.

 

[BNthree]

We actually spent close to £100m, on Joao Pedro, Baleba, Igor and Verbruggen.

Think they specifically meant spend on midfield but Baleba is a midfielder so they weren’t entirely correct.

 

[el punal]

I didn't get Barber's answer as to why the kids can't get close to the players. It's relatively easy, shirley, no signing, no signed shirts etc, just chat between players and kids and maybe a selfie... what's so hard

Better ask Mitoma that one. He’s still outside the players car park with his Japanese followers.