[Albion] If Graham Potter is re-appointed...

[lasvegan]

Personally I'd promote Lee Carsley from the U21s.

After these Euros we're due a changing of the guard and he knows how to get a tune out of the next generation. He won the Euros and his record is played 28, won 24, drawn 1, lost 4.

The pedant in me would also point out that he got more results than actual games played, which is quite an impressive achievement in itself.

 

[The Fits]

He's an Albion legend, and probably the best English manager in the world right now. I think we can all be certain he is one of the preferred candidates of TB and PB. I believe that McKenna was number one, but now that's not going to happen, I believe that Potter is the next best option.

It just seems so perfect. We know he can do a job, at the very least. We know he can improve every year, aligned with our ambitions. He's a safe bet, and a good bet, as he would surely do a great job here again, just as he did before.

I suspect that the only stumbling block would be whether he would WANT to come back. I'm hoping that PB & TB can do enough to convince him that this is the best club for him, now and for years to come.

Not trolling at all. I have one agenda - and that is being an Albion fan and wanting the Albion to succeed. When I see names like Cooper thrown into the mix, it depresses me, as these kinds of names could get us relegated.

Getting Potter back would be great for the club, and it would be yet another middle finger up at Chelsea, especially if he does well, which I'm certain he would.

You're on the wind up!

 

[HastingsSeagull]

The only manager who has ever put Solly March as a left back in a 4-man-backline is Roberto De Zerbi this season against Liverpool and Manchester City.

Potter's main formation (though certainly flexible and often changing several times per game) at Östersund was 3-4-3, 4-3-3 in Swansea and 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 for us.

Now, what you label the wide players in a 3-4-2-1 is not exactly obvious, especially when the 3-man-back-line is also attacking. They aren't "wingers" in the modern sense, because they are expected to participate in build-up and defending across the wing. But they aren't "backs" either because they spend the vast majority on the opposing half and are very rarely inside their own box.

In the successful 14-15 game streak that took Potter to Chelsea, Solly March usually played to the right in front of Veltman with Trossard playing on the left in front of Cucurella. Whatever you choose to call their positions, they were brilliant and attacked a lot more than they defended. On some papers, sure, Solly was a "right back" or "right wing back" and Tross "left back" or "left wing back", but in reality they were behaving like wide midfielders would do in a traditional 4-4-2.

If Potter arrives, we will be playing formations according to the players available, as has always been the case with Graham Potter and pretty much the main reason anyone wants him; he is very, very adaptable. If he's our new manager, he isn't putting Mitoma on the bench just like he wasn't benching Trossard. Pretty f***ing obvious. And with Pervis and Barco in the squad, Solly would never play LB and barely even LWB.

Graham Potter took over a team predicted to get relegated, and while I'm sure a lot of people will pretend that RDZ would have made Martin Montoya as RB and Alireza Jahanbaksh as RW with no/little defensive duties look like a viable Premier League right wing, the reality is that we a right midfielder (usually Gross or Solly in the first GP season) that could help Martin, because he was shit. Equally, while Burn did alright on his own and allowed Tross to attack more, Bernardo needed a lot of help. The loss against Bournemouth with Bernardo as LB and Alireza as LW... didn't work.

There's nothing that says Graham Potter would have to be as pragmatic as he initially had to be if he would take over now, because the squad is just so much stronger (and especially better balanced) than it was in 19/20 or 20/21.

Tau, Trossard and the type you mention are forwards if want a name for them. Not strikers or wingers. Good post.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Also his 3-4-1-2 is still my favourite formation. But doesn't suit our squad full of wingers, forwards and players who all want to be that 1 in the hole. Just don't think 3-4-2-1 ever works as well as the whole point is the width comes from the wingbacks. Even if the 2 start semi wide and cut in the whole front 3 don't quite cover the right spaces. Same with 2 in the hole, it just doesn't work the same as the back line have enough spare players to mark 2 'free role' players compared to when are 2 big threats plus the one of those. England might do it better with Kane as the 1, but it still never seems to quite work for me.

 

[GloryDays]

Reckon the issue was qualitative not quantitative. "First team ready" is encouraging but could still mean different things.

Ready for what division, for example?

 

[GloryDays]

He's an Albion legend, and probably the best English manager in the world right now. I think we can all be certain he is one of the preferred candidates of TB and PB. I believe that McKenna was number one, but now that's not going to happen, I believe that Potter is the next best option.

It just seems so perfect. We know he can do a job, at the very least. We know he can improve every year, aligned with our ambitions. He's a safe bet, and a good bet, as he would surely do a great job here again, just as he did before.

I suspect that the only stumbling block would be whether he would WANT to come back. I'm hoping that PB & TB can do enough to convince him that this is the best club for him, now and for years to come.

Not trolling at all. I have one agenda - and that is being an Albion fan and wanting the Albion to succeed. When I see names like Cooper thrown into the mix, it depresses me, as these kinds of names could get us relegated.

Getting Potter back would be great for the club, and it would be yet another middle finger up at Chelsea, especially if he does well, which I'm certain he would.

I completely agree.

Potter is an elite coach and the best possible option available to us now.

 

[keaton]

As usual top quality iconoclasm, but a little out of touch with reality. Your portrait of our fans seems very wide of the mark despite what quotes you can find to cherry pick. Yes, some would like to have done more to try to keep RDZ here, but you have to remember that very few of us arrived here with Graham Potter's appointment. We've mostly been on the Bloom journey since the beginning and, though you'll hear occasional moans of frustration that we never get to keep nice things, we all know that, whatever noises are made, Tony Bloom is by far and away the single most important factor that got us to where we are. Long before RDZ, we'd already had the charismatic manager who wanted the club to break 'the ceiling'. He went. Tony stayed.

RDZ arrived to find a very strong group. He said that he had to thank Graham Potter, but if he didn't know that the recruitment wasn't down to Potter, he soon found out. He did have Potter to thank for developing the youngsters to the level that they were at when he arrived and he made the most of his good fortune by pushing the group to believe that they could acheive more.

As players forced moves and more youngsters came to replace them, what has become clear is that De Zerbi didn't want to do the development part of the cycle that Potter had done. Okay, see you then. We'll find someone who wants to. It seems from the noises about England and Man Utd, that Potter also doesn't see himself as that man at this point in his career. The argument about the various strengths and weaknesses of our two very good previous managers is therefore utterly pointless. They're both gone and, if anybody really cares who's better, time will tell when they end up in their new jobs.

Like Tony, we stay and our focus, as always, is the next step for Brighton. We need a coach who can and wants to develop young players.

Did RDZ not want to develop youngsters? He seemed to bring a few through (more than Potter in a shorter time). What he seemed to be suggesting was you need some players in their prime, as well as older heads, to successfully bring youngsters through(something we had had in the past)

 

[Guinness Boy]

Could absolutely be the case. Don't think he's much into international management really, but difficult to skip out on that one when you're not currently in a job.

Getting a part-time gig like that would allow him to remain in Hove with plenty of time to chill with the family, drink nice coffee etc. and then pop up once in a while to beat some Mickey Mouse nations in the qualifiers and arrange some rondo sessions and then get back to the hammock. Good stuff, and maybe he's at a stage in life where he doesn't want the 24/7 work that is being a club manager?

Sounds like a choice between an easy life and a very easy life.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Given that Talk Sport are reporting today that Potter is merely an "outside contender" for the Albion job, and that he's holding out for the England job (if Southgate steps down after the Euros - this really makes his return remote at best and thankfully (you'd hope) puts an end to this thread. I'm exhausted ha ha.

Potter in line for England, Sancho's dilemma, Chelsea signing rejected big offer

Graham Potter would be a contender to become England manager if Gareth Southgate stands down after the Euros, talkSPORT understands. Potter, who is believed to have recently split with long-term ag…

talksport.com

If we end up with Potter, I suspect up to half a dozen managers have turned us down or not been up to scratch after a deep dive on their competency and availability.

If we’re still in limbo next Friday when the window opens, I’m going to start worrying a bit. This does not feel like a normal Brighton manager recruitment. It feels very challenging.

 

[Insel affe]

If we’re still in limbo next Friday when the window opens, I’m going to start worrying a bit. This does not feel like a normal Brighton manager recruitment. It feels very challenging.

Good things come to those that wait.....

is a really crappy phrase.

 

[Han Solo]

Also his 3-4-1-2 is still my favourite formation. But doesn't suit our squad full of wingers, forwards and players who all want to be that 1 in the hole. Just don't think 3-4-2-1 ever works as well as the whole point is the width comes from the wingbacks. Even if the 2 start semi wide and cut in the whole front 3 don't quite cover the right spaces. Same with 2 in the hole, it just doesn't work the same as the back line have enough spare players to mark 2 'free role' players compared to when are 2 big threats plus the one of those. England might do it better with Kane as the 1, but it still never seems to quite work for me.

3-4-2-1 is a difficult formation and I think we often saw the limitations of left-foot-phobia usually when we played it. If you don't have a single left-footed player with some type of playmaking skills (neither Burn or March are particularly good at it), things turn SLOW when every player needs to twist and turn to find angles with their left foot instead of just giving the ball to a left foot with better angle. Well, enter left-footed Caicedo - and quicker ways forward.

Our formation in the 4-0 against Manchester United:
Sanchez - Veltman, Dunk, Cucurella - March, Bissouma, Caicedo, Trossard - Gross, Mac Allister - Welbeck.

Fantastic team obviously, and we would not have the same success today lining up in the 3-4-2-1, because the squad is less suited for it and of course there's a drop in quality. Exactly how much of a drop remains to be seen when we have a manager not actively lowering the confidence of players by telling they're not ready or we need new ones.

If we play with the thought of Potter in charge of a 3-4-2-1 with the current squad (in an injury free dream world), I think it would look a bit like this:
Verbruggen - Van Hecke, Dunk, Estupinan - March, Baleba, Gilmour, Mitoma - Gross, Pedro - Ferguson

...wow, that actually looks a bit better than I thought it would. Dangerous with Pervis as LCB maybe but with the same "overlapping CB"-concept as with Cucurella, he could probably do it.

All very hypothetical though as we're ending up David Moyes and FOUR FOUR f***ing TWO.

 

[chaileyjem]

If we end up with Potter, I suspect up to half a dozen managers have turned us down or not been up to scratch after a deep dive on their competency and availability.

If we’re still in limbo next Friday when the window opens, I’m going to start worrying a bit. This does not feel like a normal Brighton manager recruitment. It feels very challenging.

I'm not surprised there's reporting saying we've "considered" Potter - equally now not surprised that there's reporting saying he's very much an "outsider" - but perhaps a bit of a stretch to speculate as a result that "half a dozen managers have turned us down" or that coaches we've approached or considered aren't "up to scratch". I'm not sure what "normal" recruitment is anyway - and i'd worry about anything to do with the Albion. I worry about games when we're 4-0 up but agreed. you're right its v. challenging. Its a crucial appointment.

 

[sparkie]

After the understandable shock and fury at Potter's departure (and the others who were tempted away by toxic but mega rich Chelsea), I consider we must reflect on what is best for our club, including taking back the prodigal son.. For the final decision on the matter we must and should rely on TB and unite behind it. Anything else would be a serious act of self harm.

No chance. It'd be a desperate appointment and would end in tears again.

People would have no choice but to live with it until Potter was gone - but they have a free choice not to like it.

 

[Guinness Boy]

After the understandable shock and fury at Potter's departure (and the others who were tempted away by toxic but mega rich Chelsea), I consider we must reflect on what is best for our club, including taking back the prodigal son.. For the final decision on the matter we must and should rely on TB and unite behind it. Anything else would be a serious act of self harm.

With Potter that's just not going to happen. I know Icy Gull and Swansman will claim it's just a small proportion of people on here with a couple of ringleaders, but they're not reading Twitter, Facebook and Insta if they do.

A significant proportion of our fanbase hate Potter.

 

[chaileyjem]

A significant proportion of our fanbase hate Potter.

Not a fan of - fair enough. - but More fool anyone if they actually hate a football manager. You'd think we're above that at the Albion.

 

[BrickTamland]

Not a fan of - fair enough. - but More fool anyone if they actually hate a football manager. You'd think we're above that at the Albion.

The reaction to two of the best seasons we’ve ever had suggests our fans aren’t quite as sensible as you’re suggesting.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

If we end up with Potter, I suspect up to half a dozen managers have turned us down or not been up to scratch after a deep dive on their competency and availability.

If we’re still in limbo next Friday when the window opens, I’m going to start worrying a bit. This does not feel like a normal Brighton manager recruitment. It feels very challenging.

This is why I asked last night what is the longest time we went without a manager. I'm getting concerned now, too

 

[Hotchilidog]

If we end up with Potter, I suspect up to half a dozen managers have turned us down or not been up to scratch after a deep dive on their competency and availability.

If we’re still in limbo next Friday when the window opens, I’m going to start worrying a bit. This does not feel like a normal Brighton manager recruitment. It feels very challenging.

It's not a normal recruitment, the first two picks didn't work out so I expect them to take their time and make sure the next target is nailed down before we hear anything. The silence from the club is most welcome at the moment as is the lack of social media heat. I am feeling pretty relaxed. I think we'll have a manager by the time the window opens

 

[Bold Seagull]

I'm not surprised there's reporting saying we've "considered" Potter - equally now not surprised that there's reporting saying he's very much an "outsider" - but perhaps a bit of a stretch to speculate as a result that "half a dozen managers have turned us down" or that coaches we've approached or considered aren't "up to scratch". I'm not sure what "normal" recruitment is anyway - and i'd worry about anything to do with the Albion. I worry about games when we're 4-0 up but agreed. you're right its v. challenging. Its a crucial appointment.

I think manager's these days have teams of professional document producers, film makers, graphic designers, analysts etc. that they employ to produce professional level CV / Presentations for clubs that highlight everything from their training methods, pre-match preparation philosophy's, nutrition and science knowledge etc. as well as the expertise of their staff they would bring with them.

These get sent in whenever a job becomes vacant, and probably when a team isn't doing particularly well. I dare say the statement 'the club has been in contact with...' could be translated to as simple as the club sending a 'thank you for your CV Presentation, we'll get back to you in due course.'

 

[zefarelly]

Good things come to those that wait.....

is a really crappy phrase.

Look before you leap or leap before you look.