[Albion] Hughton, Potter, De Zerbi, Hurzeler

[JOLovegrove]

Still recovering after Saturday. What a special, special match.

Question, how does Bloom/PBOBE, keep getting it so consistently right? We have now had 4 managers in a row who have, step by step, improved the team.

Is it down completely to Bloom/PBOBE, or is it just the ethos of the club/players? Someone like Dunk, for example, does he set a standard, that whoever we get in, the team will always give it their all.

I've said it before, we are living through special times. What a season we have ahead. Let's all enjoy it!

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

I take on board and agree with all that you are saying, but . . . Iets wait until the end of the season before we give a definitive opinion on whether our current incumbent has improved the team.

Yes stonking victories against the two Manc clubs, and Tottenham at home, yes we have struggled against the likes of Ipswich and Wolves.

Still no one can argue at being 4th in the table after Saturday's result!

 

[lawros left foot]

I take on board and agree with all that you are saying, but . . . Iets wait until the end of the season before we give a definitive opinion on whether our current incumbent has improved the team.

Yes stonking victories against the two Manc clubs, and Tottenham at home, yes we have struggled against the likes of Ipswich and Wolves.

Still no one can argue at being 4th in the table after Saturday's result!

Joint 3rd on points.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Firstly, I will say that a lot of credit should go to each of the managers, who have all done a great job in building on what their predecessor achieved.

But a whole load of credit should also go to the players who were either already here or brought in (and some subsequently sold on) during that time. They have clearly bought into what each manager is doing and many have improved beyond the wildest dreams of fans during their time at the club (March, for example).

Basically, it's a team effort (including the analysis and recruitment people) and everyone involved has seemingly taken things to higher and higher levels. You only have to look up the road at how the Messiah Glasner has managed to get the worst out of his players (old and new) in a very short space of time.

Take nothing away from the managers, but it helps when you're given the right tools for the job

 

[B-right-on]

Starts with Lord Bloom, through Sir Barber and then worked down.

Nothing would have happened or will happen without those two.

Yes lots of other higher level management, coaches and players, but it ALL starts from there.

 

[Braggfan]

Slightly off topic, but related to the club's ability to keep getting things right. I'm really intrigued by the recent appointment of Niedzkowski as assistant head coach. People outside of the club often talk about how remarkable it is what Brighton are doing, but a lot of things go under the radar. This appointment strikes me as exactly that.

The club say "he has experience getting the best out of young players, and developing them into first team players. But also that his role is to support the development of coach education and to formulate a programme to ensure the highest level of coaching from the academy upwards".

People talk about our transfer signings and managerial appointments, but this a plan to enhance the continuity of coaching with the club. Probably not glitzy or glamorous, definitely something that won't get seen by a lot of people in the media, but its something the club could really reap the rewards from for a long time.

 

[timbha]

Surely it’s down to Bloom and his no dickeads policy.

I’m sure I’ve missed many but the likes of Dunk, Gross, Welbeck, Murray (thankfully we cured him), Zamora, Hemed, Veltman, Lallana, Stockdale, Rosenior, Hunemeier, Macallister, Calderon (and even Bruno), etc, etc have set and maintained the standards.

Van Hecke, Pedro, Hinshelwood, Baleba, etc are taking it to the next level while remaining “non dickeads”

 

[US Seagull]

Other than a little wobble with Hyypiä.

 

[Stato]

When Hurzeler came in there was a lot of media scuttlebutt wondering how a group of players would react to a manager who was younger than some of them. Anyone who sees the way things operate at Brighton just kind of shrugged, knowing full well that senior players like Dunk and Milner and Welbeck and Veltman and Webster and Steele were united in a determination to work as hard as possible to ensure that the squad gets as close as it can to maximising its potential.

Picking staff and players for their character as much as for their talent minimises the risk of Man Utd-style ego wars. Think back to Lallana and Crofts stepping up when Potter did his bunk, to the welcome homes for Mac Allister and Adingra, to the group closing around Knocky when his dad died, to the actions of Stockdale et al. when the Shoreham disaster happened, to the support given to Goldson and Mwepu, to the videos of the players joining fans on the train into Brighton to celebrate promotion. Look at the returns of Crofts and Zamora and Baldock and Calderon and Hemed and others I've surely forgotten. Bloom and Barber have built a club that is part of Brighton & Hove's community. Everybody repeats the mantra of continuous improvement in all roles, playing or non-playing. Picking good managers has been important. Giving them an environment geared towards helping them succeed has been equally important.

 

[GT49er]

Slightly off topic, but related to the club's ability to keep getting things right. I'm really intrigued by the recent appointment of Niedzkowski as assistant head coach. People outside of the club often talk about how remarkable it is what Brighton are doing, but a lot of things go under the radar. This appointment strikes me as exactly that.

The club say "he has experience getting the best out of young players, and developing them into first team players. But also that his role is to support the development of coach education and to formulate a programme to ensure the highest level of coaching from the academy upwards".

Isn't all that a bit like Crofty's job description? Does it affect Croft's position, or does it fit in alongside it somehow - or has Crofty announced his intention to apply for jobs in, say, League 1, to become a number one in his own right? (i.e. yet another example of succession planning).

 

[Braggfan]

Isn't all that a bit like Crofty's job description? Does it affect Croft's position, or does it fit in alongside it somehow - or has Crofty announced his intention to apply for jobs in, say, League 1, to become a number one in his own right? (i.e. yet another example of succession planning).

I think Croft is directly a first team coach, as in he works with the first team players.

I get the impression Niedzkowski is a more strategic appointment. They want him to develop the standard of coaching within the club. The job he left in Germany, was head of the German FA's coaches training programme.

 

[Clive Walker]

Paul Barber is predominantly responsible for putting the theory into practise. He is, in my mind, a critical factor.

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

Clearly Tony is the key. He has had, from the start a LONG-TERM vision for the club. It has been a planned, gradual development over 15 years and a key part of the strategy has been getting the right people on board the Albion bus - Paul Barber has been of huge strategic significance and between them they have built this magnificent club into an established and admired member of the PL.

They totally get that people’s character is key and that is a reason why the speed of the progress has been so rapid imo.

The fact that people are now seriously believing we could possibly be a CL club in the near future is remarkable. That Stand or Fall film has in fact come at the right time because it will remind/educate/enlighten any of our new admirers of the work that happened 25 years ago by fans, Dick Knight and many others.

We are all being carried away a bit by what’s happening but why not. We only live once and let’s enjoy it(other views are available).

 

[B-right-on]

Slightly off topic, but related to the club's ability to keep getting things right. I'm really intrigued by the recent appointment of Niedzkowski as assistant head coach. People outside of the club often talk about how remarkable it is what Brighton are doing, but a lot of things go under the radar. This appointment strikes me as exactly that.

The club say "he has experience getting the best out of young players, and developing them into first team players. But also that his role is to support the development of coach education and to formulate a programme to ensure the highest level of coaching from the academy upwards".

People talk about our transfer signings and managerial appointments, but this a plan to enhance the continuity of coaching with the club. Probably not glitzy or glamorous, definitely something that won't get seen by a lot of people in the media, but its something the club could really reap the rewards from for a long time.

Agree. Look at the medical team snaffled from Bayern. And Mat O'R comes on a full 2 months earlier than his initial predicted return date and bags the winner v Citeh. How often do we hear of a player coming back weeks early after surgery?

 

[Brovion]

Agree. Look at the medical team snaffled from Bayern. And Mat O'R comes on a full 2 months earlier than his initial predicted return date and bags the winner v Citeh. How often do we hear of a player coming back weeks early after surgery?

Can't recall any off-hand, it was always the opposite. How many times in the past did we hear that so-and-so has 'a slight knock', and then we didn't see them again for months?

 

[HastingsSeagull]

The manager is one of the most important aspects, but there are many others (the vast majority of them done exceptionally) so that even if you're a solid manager just steering the amazing ship Albion in the right direction, you're unlikely to have the worst of times. That said all 4 have done a good job and fit the stage we were at. Not trying to be negative, more point out things are even more positive

 

[Screaming J]

Other than a little wobble with Hyypiä.

True, but I do wonder how Hyppia would have fared if - as I presume was the plan - he'd had a good 2nd in command supporting him. It was how he worked in wherever he was before (Germany?) and iirr Sammy Lee was supposed to be that person but he did the dirty on us and went to Saints.

 

[el punal]

Surely it’s down to Bloom and his no dickeads policy.

I’m sure I’ve missed many but the likes of Dunk, Gross, Welbeck, Murray (thankfully we cured him), Zamora, Hemed, Veltman, Lallana, Stockdale, Rosenior, Hunemeier, Macallister, Calderon (and even Bruno), etc, etc have set and maintained the standards.

Van Hecke, Pedro, Hinshelwood, Baleba, etc are taking it to the next level while remaining “non dickeads”

The only two dicks that should be allowed at the club are Knight and his bar.

 

[dazzer6666]

The manager is one of the most important aspects, but there are many others (the vast majority of them done exceptionally) so that even if you're a solid manager just steering the amazing ship Albion in the right direction, you're unlikely to have the worst of times. That said all 4 have done a good job and fit the stage we were at. Not trying to be negative, more point out things are even more positive

Actually it isn’t one of the most important imo……but to kind of agree with your post - as per this thread, we’ve already changed the manager several times but the almost unbroken upward trajectory has continued unabated. It’s the vision (Tony), the strategic implementation of every aspect (largely and certainly led by Paul) and then the execution of the plan (by everyone else employed, but particularly the ‘heads of’ - those whose jobs are on the famous succession spreadsheet)

The leadership don’t half learn from their mistakes too……….medical being a good example. Too many issues ? Go out and get reportedly two of the best in the business signed up. The ‘continuous improvement’ culture through the club is astonishing. Fascinating to hear more and more commentators being genuinely gushing in their praise…..the radar is well and truly busted. Lord knows where we’re going to go from here but the ride is going to be interesting

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

True, but I do wonder how Hyppia would have fared if - as I presume was the plan - he'd had a good 2nd in command supporting him. It was how he worked in wherever he was before (Germany?) and iirr Sammy Lee was supposed to be that person but he did the dirty on us and went to Saints.

When Hyypia managed Bayer Laverkusen the setup was slightly different at first. He was first team manager and Sascha Lewandowski was head coach and both had equal footing (rather like Gritt and Curbishley being joint managers of Charlton all those years ago). Lewandowski was responsible for the training sessions as Sami didn't have the required pro-licence at the time. A lot of the success they had in finishing third in their first season was put down to Lewandowski rather than Hyypia. At the end of the first season, Hyypia became sole head coach and Lewandowski went back to working in the Laverkusen youth setup.

They had a good second season finishing 4th but the following season they went on a run of 1 win in 12 games and Sami was sacked with Lewandowski taking over as caretaker manager winning 4 and drawing 1 of their last 5 games that season.

Things might have been different if Sammy Lee had taken up the offer to be number 2 but I have serious doubts that Hyypia was that good of a manager when his team were faced with a poor run of results and struggled to turn things around both at Leverkusen and here which ultimately lead to his sacking both times.