[Albion] Now everyone has had their 'fun', perhaps time to calm down a little?

[The Optimist]

Getting a bit bored of posters and fans at the grounds, banging on about £200m wasted.

It’s like they’ve missed the fact that we’ve sold more than £200m worth of established Premier League players over the last few years and replaced them with £200m of young players. Give this team a few seasons without too many sales and one or two additions and we’ll be flying.

 

[Machiavelli]

Normally confined to the matchday thread, they are popping up everywhere with their special brand of misery.

With end of year reflections and lists to the fore, "their special brand of misery" should feature prominently.

 

[Insel affe]

At the end of the day, any team can beat any team in this league apart from the newly promoted teams and even they can play good football. It is not just us that can struggle to finish teams off or hold on to a lead. The big six are not really the big six anymore, "teams like Brighton" Bournemouth, Forest, Fulham have improved their squads, each squad is full of talent to be honest, the gap is getting smaller and smaller each year. Most of the Premier league clubs have purchased for the future and play very similar styles, therefore I see it as whoever has an off day will inevitably lose and sometimes embarrassingly to your rivals sometimes.

With a calm head after Sunday, I have to remind myself Bloom has hired a young manager with brave ideas and knows he is raw and will make mistakes. He also has spent a fortune on young talent for the future, some of them will break into the squad, some of them will not work out. It is all high risk and a long term plan not a quick fix, not a title or European charge, it is long term over several seasons.

The fact we got off to a flying start, probably has heaped higher expectations around Hürzelers neck, that the people who cannot see the long term plan are only too willing to throw around the nearest lamppost and scream "sack him, get rid, you don't know what your doing"

I would guess those that are calling for him to be gone, are in a minority and are not looking at the long term game plan.
Question his substitutions or tactic by all means, also question some of the players that have let him down on the pitch, but then questions your own ambitions for the club, this is not a race, it is a long slow ambitious plan, that has seen us rise from the depths to European football, that we will I have no doubt achieve again over the next few seasons.

As the ball went in the back of the net to make it 3-0, I was not and a swore like a mad man.


Sometimes you need a minute to see the bigger picture. I am now calm.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Took a few days off this board for obvious reasons and have been quite pleased that this is the first thread I land on.

NGL Sunday was a real blow, so disappointing on many different levels and combined with Wolves and Leicester collapses feelings were inevitably going to be heated. Truth is we are in a massive funk at the moment. Fabian, the staff and the players are facing their first real challenge since the optimism of a month ago.

I believe that we have both the players and management to turn this and they should be backed, as they will be on Saturday at West Ham. That said I am not entirely convinced we are going to bounce back quickly. We need to have a healthier squad that has actually had more than five minutes together and that is not happening any time soon.

Expectations momentarily reset, we go again UTA!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

There are some legitimate concerns. Our defence for a start. It's very unlucky that we have four players out injured who could all play right back better than Lamptey but I'm with those who are concerned about Dunk. He's not the same player since Roma and he must be finding it odd that, as captain, he's older and more experienced in the Premier League than our coach. And our style of football, or rather lack of it, leads us to be open far too often.

Neither of those are causes to chuck the baby out with the bathwater though. The only way players and coaches get experience is to do it, live in the Premier League. The biggest way to learn quickly and to become successful is, IMO, to have a couple of failures. I'm not sure there's much we learned from our great start if I'm honest.

Reset our expectations? Yes. Get rid of the coach? Embarrassing idea.

Nailed it.

(Getting irritated that you have come up with nothing in the last several months that I can violently agree with. Nodding in agreement is de rigeur now, and it's so 'old man'. What's happened to me? I blame . . . . you. )

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Next 2 games will be very telling, both winnable and we should be walking away with 4 points minimum.

Both teams are in better form than us.

Despite the manager and players acknowledging the mental fragility, we haven't been able to do anything against it.
Personally I'm not expecting anything more than 2 points from these games.

 

[portlock seagull]

If someone believes eg out manager isn’t up to it long before they’re sacked, or a player isn’t any good, does that make them a pessimist or correct?

 

[Kosh]

What’s he got on you?

Shit loads.

That said, I do find myself agreeing with his take - especially the fundamentally true elements.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Opening Post is a good summary. I have only popped in to look at Man U tickets but some of the thread titles are a little extreme. Palace was grim, particularly the defence, but that’s football. We don’t have a divine right to good performances and wins. Only thing to add is that these OTT reactions are a bit of an inevitable consequence of PL football, which is why most of the football I watch these days is much lower down the pyramid.

 

[Eeyore]

Albion won't be going down this year. Europe will be difficult, but not beyond possible. This amazing squad we have is only that when we subscribe to the hype. It is, indeed, a very good one. But other clubs seem to have those too.

The most important thing, and I get a little frustrated that folk seem to struggle with this despite being of a mature age, is that we enjoy just being part of a community of people that enjoy the fun of football. I've always said to myself that if my disappointment at an Albion setback lasts more than half an hour then I'm taking up another interest. On Sunday I was surprisingly unbothered at all. We lost to Crystal Palace. Other folk are avoiding bombs and wondering where their next meal is coming from. I'm not losing my shit over a football match. And who cares if Palace fans are gloating ? I don't see them or read them. And tides turn too.

After the match Sunday I was looking at tables, like I do every week and have done since I was six. Isn't it fascinating that Wycombe are top of the third division ? Who is going to win the National League ? I've forgotten about the Palace match and just continued my 50 year fascination with football. Albion are my team, but unless someone is trying to ruin the club, like Archer did, I see no reason to get upset about anything. It's just how seasons go.

This isn't a lecture in the control of emotions. Well, it probably is. It's just a reminder that being philosophical about things and seeing Albion as part of a bigger sporting picture does mean that whole weekends don't get lost to moods and outbursts. Life's too short. For what it's worth, I do have concerns over the long term with Albion's defence and I'm not sure what our style of play is. I rather feel there has been a lot of luck this year too. But I'll leave it with powers that be.

I was described on here as 'pondlife' for not subscribing to the antipathy of the Palace rivalry on Saturday night. It was 11.00. so I'm guessing it came from the Jack Daniels Communication Centre. I've made a joke of it in my signature and it hasn't upset me. But I do get a bewildered by it all. And genuinely concerned for others. WE follow football voluntarily and there so much fun to be had. But don't let it direct your emotions too much. Seriously. And 9th in the top flight is rather good for a club with our history anyway.

 

[ozzygull]

I'm sure its not just me that's got a little worn out by the schizophrenia on this board of late. Win a game and we're heading for the Champions League. Lose a game and we should sack the manager. Two up on Leicester and we're ole ole-ing our way to Europe. Terrible 45 minutes against Palace and the NSC collective is pensioning off Dunk, slagging off Pedro, fretting about Mitoma and calling Fab all names under the sun. We're so miserable that a thread suggesting the return of Potter isn't filled with wall-to-wall vitriol against our teeth-sucking former boss!

Perhaps - perhaps - it might just be time to cool the hyperbole a little?

I think there has been all kinds of naivety amongst Brighton fans this season. The silly kind - those who think that football is easy and our baby-faced manager and bunch of kids on the pitch should by rights be swatting aside all and sundry, who become horribly disappointed and rather angry when we don't; and the fairer kind, those of us who just really wanted to believe in fairy tales, that this wunderkind and his crew really were going to keep it up all season and march us into Europe, despite all the logic which says that just isn't possible - I'm one of those, and its a bit sad when reality punched us in the face. But that's left a gap in the 'realism' corner, which seems to have been filled by the pessimists who think we are permanently shite. Normally confined to the matchday thread, they are popping up everywhere with their special brand of misery.

We should all of us have been expecting a bumpy ride with ups and downs, and we should all of us be pleased that there have been more ups than downs so far. Its not a bad reality in the great scheme of things, despite listening to those f***ing Palace twats belting out three years worth of songs that they've been saving up for a win over us....

I was a bit annoyed after the third goal went in and left. I have a longer trip home then most, even though I would normally stay the end I did not want to see the celebration of that particular set of goons.

I thought the players tried really hard and it was not a lack of effort why we lost that game.

Anyway, I consoled myself by knowing we always struggle against shit teams, so Palace must be really shit.

 

[maltaseagull]

Completely agree, as I often do with your balanced and nuanced points.

We are suffering because of injuries, but at times we’re sooooooo naive… as I’ve said elsewhere Fab needs to put several things right and a large part of that is mentality… as well as fixing the tactical blind spots that other coaches have clearly noted…

He’s got work to do, and shouldn’t be immune to criticism if performances continue along the recent trajectory.

I’m prepared to give him the season and see what we all think come the reckoning.

One massive area of weakness that needs to be resolved is our weakness against counter attacks. Far too often a misplaced pass in midfield results in a panic stations in our penalty area.

We are often outgunned in Midfield.

 

[bobbysmith01]

Think as you get older you get wiser and of course was upset that we did not win, but that’s football, Palace deserved to win as we are not very good against low block teams, look at our results against Forest, Ipswich, Leicester, wolves, Fulham, Saints and now Palace, it’s the way we play, pure and simple and happy with that, that’s why we win against the ‘big’ boys. If we had scored one of the 2 good good chances we had in first 10 mins, we probably would have murdered them as they would have to have come out a bit. Football games can be cruel sometimes and moments change games. Did you see anything in Palace to think they are anything but a bottom half side, not

One massive area of weakness that needs to be resolved is our weakness against counter attacks. Far too often a misplaced pass in midfield results in a panic stations in our penalty area.

We are often outgunned in Midfield.

really. Is it really right to have a go on here about players and the manager, I don’t think so. Move on, win at West Ham
And beat a poor Brentford away side and all will be forgotten.

 

[Mr Phil]

Albion won't be going down this year. Europe will be difficult, but not beyond possible. This amazing squad we have is only that when we subscribe to the hype. It is, indeed, a very good one. But other clubs seem to have those too.

The most important thing, and I get a little frustrated that folk seem to struggle with this despite being of a mature age, is that we enjoy just being part of a community of people that enjoy the fun of football. I've always said to myself that if my disappointment at an Albion set back lasts more than half an hour then I'm taking up another interest. On Sunday I was surprisingly unbothered at all. We lost to Crystal Palace. Other folk are avoiding bombs and wondering where their next meal is coming from. I'm not losing my shit over a football match. And who cares if Palace fans are gloating ? I don't see them or read them. And tides turn too.

After the match Sunday I was looking at tables, like I do every week and have done since I was six. Isn't it fascinating that Wycombe are top of the third division ? Who is going to win the National League ? I've forgotten about the Palace match and just continued my 50 year fascination with football. Albion are my team, but unless someone is trying to ruin the club, like Archer did, I see no reason to get upset about anything. It's just how seasons go.

This isn't a lecture in the control of emotions. Well, it probably is. It's just a reminder that being philosophical about things and seeing Albion as part of a bigger sporting picture does mean that whole weekends don't get lost to moods and outbursts. Life's too short. For what it's worth, I do have concerns over the long term with Albion's defence and I'm not sure what our style of play is. I rather feel there has been a lot of luck this year too. But I'll leave it with powers that be.

I was described on here as 'pondlife' for not subscribing to the antipathy of the Palace rivalry on Saturday night. It was 11.00. so I'm guessing it came from the Jack Daniels Communication Centre. I've made a joke of it in my signature and it hasn't upset me. But I do get a bewildered by it all. And genuinely concerned for others. WE follow football voluntarily and there so much fun to be had. But don't let it direct your emotions too much. Seriously. And 9th in the top flight is rather good for a club with our history anyway.

A little too balanced for me, Eeyore is a traditionally depressive character. Play your role better, a little more “woe is me” please

 

[Eeyore]

A little too balanced for me, Eeyore is a traditionally depressive character. Play your role better, a little more “woe is me” please

That's in my 'Pain in the Arse' thread. I'm walking in choreographed stage today.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Albion won't be going down this year. Europe will be difficult, but not beyond possible. This amazing squad we have is only that when we subscribe to the hype. It is, indeed, a very good one. But other clubs seem to have those too.

The most important thing, and I get a little frustrated that folk seem to struggle with this despite being of a mature age, is that we enjoy just being part of a community of people that enjoy the fun of football. I've always said to myself that if my disappointment at an Albion setback lasts more than half an hour then I'm taking up another interest. On Sunday I was surprisingly unbothered at all. We lost to Crystal Palace. Other folk are avoiding bombs and wondering where their next meal is coming from. I'm not losing my shit over a football match. And who cares if Palace fans are gloating ? I don't see them or read them. And tides turn too.

After the match Sunday I was looking at tables, like I do every week and have done since I was six. Isn't it fascinating that Wycombe are top of the third division ? Who is going to win the National League ? I've forgotten about the Palace match and just continued my 50 year fascination with football. Albion are my team, but unless someone is trying to ruin the club, like Archer did, I see no reason to get upset about anything. It's just how seasons go.

This isn't a lecture in the control of emotions. Well, it probably is. It's just a reminder that being philosophical about things and seeing Albion as part of a bigger sporting picture does mean that whole weekends don't get lost to moods and outbursts. Life's too short. For what it's worth, I do have concerns over the long term with Albion's defence and I'm not sure what our style of play is. I rather feel there has been a lot of luck this year too. But I'll leave it with powers that be.

I was described on here as 'pondlife' for not subscribing to the antipathy of the Palace rivalry on Saturday night. It was 11.00. so I'm guessing it came from the Jack Daniels Communication Centre. I've made a joke of it in my signature and it hasn't upset me. But I do get a bewildered by it all. And genuinely concerned for others. WE follow football voluntarily and there so much fun to be had. But don't let it direct your emotions too much. Seriously. And 9th in the top flight is rather good for a club with our history anyway.

 

[Blues Guitarist]

I kept my head down and kept my fury to myself.

I will say this though. I think we’ve ridden our luck at times this season and we haven’t been as good as our table position reads.

We've had some lucky results (usually against big name teams), but also some unlucky ones (usually against teams we should be beating). I'd say it was fairly balanced overall.

 

[brighton_tom]

Start of the season I said we will need patience this year, and that anywhere mid table (say 12th/13th and up) or above is acceptable for Fab’s first season. Most agreed. This still remains true. We cannot forget that.

 

[slartibartfast]

Next 2 games will be very telling, both winnable and we should be walking away with 4 points minimum.

Oh no.... why do people post this sort of thing? I NEVER feel that way. And if you boil it down, it's West Ham away - that could go either way on current form, and then Brentford home, - who look on a par with us currently. Well see, but - this is similar to the dread I felt when I saw the "How many points do you think we'll get from the next 6 easy fixtures " type threads (with 12 points being a common prediction), or listening to people around me on the coach to the Southampton game insisting that the points were "in the bag".
I never feel like this. Perhaps Im wired differently. I ALWAYS think the worst is likely to happen. Personally I'd be chuffed if we won one of the next two games, but Im expecting more grim disappointment.

Im a joy to sit next to at games.

 

[Deadly Danson]

Start of the season I said we will need patience this year, and that anywhere mid table (say 12th/13th and up) or above is acceptable for Fab’s first season. Most agreed. This still remains true. We cannot forget that.

And yet it seems we can.