[Albion] Graham Potter

[timbha]

Yeah, a bit sliding doors.
We will never really understand why Bruno joined Potter - could be that he had a short time to make up his mind with an uncertain future at Brighton. On reflection DZ would probably have included him in his team, as he did with Crofty, but we just don’t know. Bruno was a bigger personality that Crofty and maybe DZ would have had a problem with that. Who knows? I would never hold that situation against Bruno who still holds high status in my own Albion list of favourites. At least if he returned in some capacity he would be an extremely safe pair of hands.

I can’t believe for one moment that it all happened so quickly. I’m sure Potter and Chelsea had been plotting for some weeks with Potter then plotting with those he wanted to take. Bruno would’ve had plenty of time to think about it, and if he didn’t go into it with his eyes wide open he shouldn’t have jumped ship.

Money is one thing, but success, pride and a legacy mean a lot more to some people.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

When you judge Poyet, there's nearly 2 eras. Withdean Poyet, for those lucky enough to see it, was incredible. And that momentum took us into The Amex with a brilliant first season of fun. But after that it fizzled out, a lot of games (particularly away) became boring, we plainly missed Glenn, Poyet got increasingly Petulant, and despite a ridiculously good side we blew the play-offs when really we should have been competing for automatic. And the fallout from the Palace debacle was a disgrace.

2 full seasons under Hughton were incredible, eventually culminating with promotion and I'd go as far as saying the 3rd was as well bar a rotten run in the middle. Expectations were more than met, we dismantled West Brom, Swansea, West Ham (twice), scored breathtaking a goal at Stoke, beat Arsenal and Manchester United at home in two of the best ever Amex home games...it was only really the following season the football went pair shaped, a lot of fans (youngsters in particular spoiled by a few years of us winning) struggled with the undeniably negative performances away from home, and bar a handful of special moments (Palace away and a first proper trip to the new Wembley anyone?) his time was probably up, only loyalty would have given him another season at that point. Bloom instead gave him the boot and it doesn't sound like it was handled especially well, but it was the right call in the end.

Anyway the point again is to enjoy things as they often come in cycles...I for one hope we haven't reached our peak under De Zerbi yet and who knows what European football might bring.

Exciting times.

 

[Icy Gull]

I never thought I’d type this, as I was a big Potter fan following CH, but Potterball is Poundland De Zerbiball

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

No coincidence by the way that our worst seasons at The Amex have coincided with poor recruitment. Bennett, Gardner, Ogrady and co did for Hyppia and Hughton was unfortunate that the algorithm started a little, er, rusty with Locadia and Ali J

 

[Javeaseagull]

When you judge Poyet, there's nearly eras. Withdean Poyet, for those lucky enough to see it, was incredible. And that momentum took us into The Amex with a brilliant first season of fun. But after that it fizzled out, a lot of games (particularly away) became boring, we plainly missed Glenn, Poyet got increasingly Petulant, and despite a ridiculously good side we blew the play-offs when really we should have been competing for automatic. And the fallout from the Palace debacle was a disgrace.

2 full seasons under Hughton were incredible, eventually culminating with promotion and I'd go as far as saying the 3rd was as well bar a rotten run in the middle. Expectations were more than met, we dismantled West Brom, Swansea, West Ham (twice), scored breathtaking a goal at Stoke, beat Arsenal and Manchester United at home in two of the best ever Amex home games...it was only really the following season the football went pair shaped, a lot of fans (youngsters in particular spoiled by a few years of us winning) struggled with the undeniably negative performances away from home, and bar a handful of special moments (Palace away and a first proper trip to the new Wembley anyone?) his time was probably up, only loyalty would have given him another season at that point. Bloom instead gave him the boot and it doesn't sound like it was handled especially well, but it was the right call in the end.

Anyway the point again is to enjoy things as they often come in cycles...I for one hope we haven't reached our peak under De Zerbi yet and who knows what European football might bring.

Exciting times.

I don’t know how it was handled but I remember Chris saying he was shocked to be sacked. I thought WTF the football in the last months of that season was terrible but then remembered he always did meet his targets. Those being at the time, keep us in the Premier League and a Wembley trip to boot. Only lost 1 - 0 to Man City so I could see why he thought that. He doesn’t watch football like a fan, as Tony does, and was sure he had done the job required, which is not unreasonable. Anyway, fond memories from me and wish him well.

 

[Icy Gull]

I don’t know how it was handled but I remember Chris saying he was shocked to be sacked. I thought WTF the football in the last months of that season was terrible but then remembered he always did meet his targets. Those being at the time, keep us in the Premier League and a Wembley trip to boot. Only lost 1 - 0 to Man City so I could see why he thought that. He doesn’t watch football like a fan, as Tony does, and was sure he had done the job required, which is not unreasonable. Anyway, fond memories from me and wish him well.

I only heard recently, he allegedly turned up at the training ground the day after the City game to find his pass to get in had been disabled. Bad taste for me and no surprise he has no ambition to come back to the Amex…if true

 

[Javeaseagull]

I only heard recently, he allegedly turned up at the training ground the day after the City game to find his pass to get in had been disabled. Bad taste for me if true and no surprise he has no ambition to come back to the Amex…if true

Wow, never heard that before. Yes that would piss you off big time.

 

[Justice]

Yeah, a bit sliding doors.
We will never really understand why Bruno joined Potter - could be that he had a short time to make up his mind with an uncertain future at Brighton. On reflection DZ would probably have included him in his team, as he did with Crofty, but we just don’t know. Bruno was a bigger personality that Crofty and maybe DZ would have had a problem with that. Who knows? I would never hold that situation against Bruno who still holds high status in my own Albion list of favourites. At least if he returned in some capacity he would be an extremely safe pair of hands.

Maybe Bruno fell into the same trap many Brighton fans did thinking Potter was some kind of genius manager heading right to the top. Potter didn’t have the club all pulling in the same direction he some how managed to divide the fan base, anyone who saw through the boring pressers and endless draws was labelled a thicko by other fans and Potter himself.

For me the most satisfying thing of all was RDZ taking the reins and showing he’s at one level and poor old Graham isn’t even close.

 

[Icy Gull]

Maybe Bruno fell into the same trap many Brighton fans did thinking Potter was some kind of genius manager heading right to the top. Potter didn’t have the club all pulling in the same direction he some how managed to divide the fan base, anyone who saw through the boring pressers and endless draws was labelled a thicko by other fans and Potter himself.

For me the most satisfying thing of all was RDZ taking the reins and showing he’s at one level and poor old Graham isn’t even close.

Daft and usual slagging off. Without the the mindset and abilities of the players honed by Potter, I doubt De Zerbi would have taken the job and we would certainly not have seen the season we’ve just had. Your anti Potter stance is pretty clueless and unpleasant imo

He laid the basis for the season we have just seen. Yes De Zerbi is a better manager but that doesn’t mean Potter is the dull devil incarnate that you keep promoting

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

I only heard recently, he allegedly turned up at the training ground the day after the City game to find his pass to get in had been disabled. Bad taste for me and no surprise he has no ambition to come back to the Amex…if true

I read that story a while ago, on here.
I don't know who runs these things at Brighton, but in a lot of industries (particularly banks and anything financial) your access cards and logins are all cancelled as soon as the decision to sack you's been made (ie before you find out about it).
If I were trying to find a reason to justify it in a football club, I guess somebody (not suggesting Chris would have done) could take a load of player/target signing information before they leave? It might just be how it works for everybody.

 

[Icy Gull]

I read that story a while ago, on here.
I don't know who runs these things at Brighton, but in a lot of industries (particularly banks and anything financial) your access cards and logins are all cancelled as soon as the decision to sack you's been made (ie before you find out about it).
If I were trying to find a reason to justify it in a football club, I guess somebody (not suggesting Chris would have done) could take a load of player/target signing information before they leave? It might just be how it works for everybody.

I am no big business guru, but decency would suggest taking Chris aside and telling him rather than him finding out when he tried to get into the training ground imo.

Surely he deserved a bit of respect and I say that as someone who was 100% behind a change of manager.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Daft and usual slagging off. Without the the mindset and abilities of the players honed by Potter, I doubt De Zerbi would have taken the job and we would certainly not have seen the season we’ve just had. Your anti Potter stance is pretty clueless and unpleasant imo

He laid the basis for the season we have just seen. Yes De Zerbi is a better manager but that doesn’t mean Potter is the dull devil incarnate that you keep promoting

You'd hate him too if somebody were forcing you at gunpoint to sit through all of his boring, TEDIOUS press conferences.

 

[Icy Gull]

You'd hate him too if somebody were forcing you at gunpoint to sit through all of his boring, TEDIOUS press conferences.

What sort of moron goes to a press conference he finds boring unless it’s a job he/she is being paid to attend?

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

I am no big business guru, but decency would suggest taking Chris aside and telling him rather than him finding out when he tried to get into the training ground imo

I'd love there to be a nice way of sacking somebody, but is waiting in the car park for him to turn up any better? Is doing it over the phone a nice way to do it?
Take him out for dinner at the end of the season, thank him and then say "oh, by the way, we're sacking you. Sorry about that."
To be clear, I agree it's a shit way to find out. It's just not as unusual or inexplicable as might be thought.

As an aside, I work with somebody who started work as a principal engineer (so fairly senior) and was told
"You'll have these three people under you as line manager."
"Oh, that's nice."
"John's not up to it, he's being fired. Can you tell him please?"
He refused to sack the guy he'd never met, so somebody else had to do it. I think he was told the week before Christmas. Lovely.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Has anyone seen Graham out and about in Hove since he left Chelsea or dare I say even spoken to him?

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Has anyone seen Graham out and about in Hove since he left Chelsea or dare I say even spoken to him?

I thought I did, but he held his finger under his nose and said "I can't be Graham Potter, Graham Potter doesn't have a moustache".
The resemblance was uncanny.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I am no big business guru, but decency would suggest taking Chris aside and telling him rather than him finding out when he tried to get into the training ground imo.

Surely he deserved a bit of respect and I say that as someone who was 100% behind a change of manager.

If CH hasn't already had a fan-initiated 'Evening With...' in a restaurant somewhere in B&H, then it's one that he fully deserves. Someone could make that happen shirley?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Has anyone seen Graham out and about in Hove since he left Chelsea or dare I say even spoken to him?

Saw him up on the Downs recently. Tho his handlers tried to make me sign a Non Disclosure Agreement

 

[Justice]

Daft and usual slagging off. Without the the mindset and abilities of the players honed by Potter, I doubt De Zerbi would have taken the job and we would certainly not have seen the season we’ve just had. Your anti Potter stance is pretty clueless and unpleasant imo

He laid the basis for the season we have just seen. Yes De Zerbi is a better manager but that doesn’t mean Potter is the dull devil incarnate that you keep promoting

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

Great. So we are all agreed. Potter was our coach once upon a time and it was extremely satisfying watching the chavs' season go as badly as it did.

I think the rest is just minor differences