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

[Zeberdi]

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....

Fair post as a retrospective analysis but you’ve neglected to mention another kind of fan that I suspect form the silent majority of members who’ve neither been swept up in the ‘schizophrenia’, nor been pessimistic or overly optimistic, nor have slagged off our manager or individual players left right and centre, nor have blindly defended them at every turn …

People like me who always saw Hürzeler as a talented young manager who could be the next step in our development but not someone who was going to lead us to overnight top 6 and a return to Europe necessarily this season. Some who who build on the football we have played in the past 4 or 5 seasons but appreciated that with a number of new signings of players with little or no experience of the Premier League, led by a manager who likewise had no experience of the EPL, that this was a long term project by the Club.

We will very likely finish as a top ten Club this season, we have players showing great promise, including some currently on loan. We have improved on our intensity and aggressiveness as an attacking team, an area we were lacking at times under Potter - we haven’t yet improved on our defensive game and still show the weaknesses in finishing we showed under De Zerbi. It is just a question of whether you are a fan who wants instant gratification and think for us “success” only means Europe/top 6 this season, or whether you are a fan who can see us continuing to develop the players we have and have a manager that can improve on those weaknesses mentioned.

I still see a young manager who is very capable of developing as a Premier League manager and accept that this season is largely about building a solid squad who can not only continue to consolidate us as a top 10 side but one that will have a good chance of qualifying for Europe within the next few seasons.

We have had highs and lows in our game (some embarrassingly low) and have yet again been impacted by injuries (especially at the back) but it is still levelling out as a fairly average season for us one way or another and part of our overall trajectory as a Club, which has always been 2 steps forward, one step back.

 

[nickbrighton]

I stay away from NSC after a bad result for a few days as the loss of heads gets too much, at times some of the posters are like Arsenal Fans TV at it worst (Almost anyway). Obviously we are all bitterly disappointed by Sunday, but its not the end of the world. As a previous manager once said -we aren't as good as some think, we aren't as bad as some think.

What we are is a good mid table team, transitioning to a new manager and style of play . We had a great start , but now we have had a bit of a reality check. The reality is we are in pretty good shape, with virtually no chance of relegation and a reasonable chance of Europe

Disappointments of Wolves, Leicester, Ipswich and Palace aside we've had some great results.

I'm just enjoying the ride, hopeful of a great season ahead, and not to fearful of the worst realistic outcome

 

[Machiavelli]

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.

Excellent. Thanks for this. You're so right on football and joy. Those that have that viewpoint and come on here are subjected to those that don't and have what the OP refers to as a "special brand of misery". I get irritated with this misery, but it's worth stopping and recognising that the miserable lot aren't having the best time of things.

 

[ady1973]

Always feel it's best to stay away from Northstand Chat for a couple of days if we lose, too many idiots throwing their toys out of the pram. Just remember it's only a game. we won't get relegated this season, we wont be heading into the Champions League, we may get Europa (if the winds in the right direction and luck is on our side) . Our best chance would be Conference. So lets go for that. If not hey ho, there's always next year. Just enjoy the ride

 

[slartibartfast]

General pub conversations pre match down the years....
1997: - "Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could survive this season, and find a place to play?"
1998: - "Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could play in the Brighton area again?"
1999: - "Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could just get ourselves out of this crappy fourth tier, and up with the Bristol Rovers, Wycombe Wanderers type clubs?"
2004: - " Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could just get ourselves a decent ground in Falmer?"
2009: - "Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could get ourselves out of the 3rd tier when the new stadium opens"?
2013: - "Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could just get into the Premier league?"
2016: - "Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could just get into the Premier league?"
2017: - "Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could just survive a season or two in the premier league?"
2019: - "Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could just stop worrying about relegation from the PL, and spend a season or two comfortably in mid table?"
2022: - "Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could just perhaps get ourselves into Europe for a season?"
2024: - "Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could get into Europe every year instead of just being a mid table PL team?"

 

[7dialssouthpaw]

These are some of the big reasons we are worse: Gross, Trossard, Caicedo, MacAllister, Sanchez, Collwill, Cucurella

 

[Mackenzie]

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....

Well said Mr H

 

[RandyWanger]

Oh no.... why do people post this sort of thing? I NEVER feel that way...

Normally I'd agree, it all balances out over a season, we beat teams like City and loose to shite like Palace. BUT for a mentality POV, the next 2 games are crucial.

 

[birthofanorange]

If we can (and it's a fairly big 'if') beat West Ham, we may well turn a corner confidence-wise, and could well go on to beat Brentford, too.
It's a big ask to lift ourselves after the past 4 disappointments, but that's part of Fab's remit to do just that, and hopefully the players put a little (a lot!) more determination into their performances.
Lose to WH and I sadly fear that two more defeats will be on the cards.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

These are some of the big reasons we are worse: Gross, Trossard, Caicedo, MacAllister, Sanchez, Collwill, Cucurella

Yes I agree and although he doesn't get much of a mention now, Dan Burn is also proving to be a big miss. He's still starting and doing it for Newcastle and would be very useful to have right now. Thoroughly committed and dedicated, well able to play in the centre or left back.

I know he wanted to go and we had little alternative. A pity.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

If we can (and it's a fairly big 'if') beat West Ham, we may well turn a corner confidence-wise, and could well go on to beat Brentford, too.
It's a big ask to lift ourselves after the past 4 disappointments, but that's part of Fab's remit to do just that, and hopefully the players put a little (a lot!) more determination into their performances.
Lose to WH and I sadly fear that two more defeats will be on the cards.

All good runs come to an end, and all bad runs come to an end. Whether or not this happens this side of New Year is up for grabs....

 

[Bodian]

We have improved on our intensity and aggressiveness as an attacking team, an area we were lacking at times under Potter

This is the bit that concerns me a little. Earlier in the season it was true, and was so exciting - but we seem to have dropped off in this intensity somewhat. We were breaking insanely quickly and passing through teams like butter, but it feels now as though we have gone back to passing it around letting the opposition get back into shape.

Frustrating.

 

[birthofanorange]

All good runs come to an end, and all bad runs come to an end. Whether or not this happens this side of New Year is up for grabs....

Indeed, and being comprehensively beaten by Palace may play a big part in how we react against WH.

 

[Eeyore]

Always feel it's best to stay away from Northstand Chat for a couple of days if we lose, too many idiots throwing their toys out of the pram. Just remember it's only a game. we won't get relegated this season, we wont be heading into the Champions League, we may get Europa (if the winds in the right direction and luck is on our side) . Our best chance would be Conference. So lets go for that. If not hey ho, there's always next year. Just enjoy the ride

I stay away from NSC after a bad result for a few days as the loss of heads gets too much, at times some of the posters are like Arsenal Fans TV at it worst (Almost anyway). Obviously we are all bitterly disappointed by Sunday, but its not the end of the world. As a previous manager once said -we aren't as good as some think, we aren't as bad as some think.

What we are is a good mid table team, transitioning to a new manager and style of play . We had a great start , but now we have had a bit of a reality check. The reality is we are in pretty good shape, with virtually no chance of relegation and a reasonable chance of Europe

Disappointments of Wolves, Leicester, Ipswich and Palace aside we've had some great results.

I'm just enjoying the ride, hopeful of a great season ahead, and not to fearful of the worst realistic outcome

I think it's sad that folk do have to stay away. I confess I have the same thoughts myself.

A good example of how good football can be on a social and community level for me is my relationship with my boss. Yorkshire born and bred, Leeds United fan since forever. We have great Friday warm down discussions about our teams. And all of it is cordial and warm. I watch Leeds all the time now because my boss is my friend. But apparently Leeds United fans are this and that. Well some are. We had great chats up to my first visit to Elland Road some time back. And we met and it was great. My boss is moving to Scotland soon and will have a local Highland League team that they will watch. Both of us have been following their progress. That's what football does for people. It's fun, it brings folk together. So much more important than pining tribal emotions on results.

I'm not saying it's wrong to feel deflated at a bad result. Or a string of them. That's human. It shows it means something. But to allow bad feelings and toxic acrimony to linger is not good for health. I may have twenty years left in this life, five, ten, who knows. I just can't be bothered with all that. But I do love football and the relationships it brings. Especially with folks outside of the sphere of the teams I follow.

For heaven's sake. My football teams are Albion, Aldershot Town and Whitehawk. I'd have a permanent cloud over me if it was all about results. Add to that Sussex CCC and Harlequins and I'd be under medical supervision.

All this is summed up when something awful happens to a fan or a supporter asks a question on another forum 'X fan in peace' they write. Why wouldn't it be in peace ? That's a default isn't it. Utterly bewildering.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Fair post as a retrospective analysis but you’ve neglected to mention another kind of fan that I suspect form the silent majority of members who’ve neither been swept up in the ‘schizophrenia’, nor been pessimistic or overly optimistic, nor have slagged off our manager or individual players left right and centre, nor have blindly defended them at every turn …

People like me who always saw Hürzeler as a talented young manager who could be the next step in our development but not someone who was going to lead us to overnight top 6 and a return to Europe necessarily this season. Some who who build on the football we have played in the past 4 or 5 seasons but appreciated that with a number of new signings of players with little or no experience of the Premier League, led by a manager who likewise had no experience of the EPL, that this was a long term project by the Club.

We will very likely finish as a top ten Club this season, we have players showing great promise, including some currently on loan. We have improved on our intensity and aggressiveness as an attacking team, an area we were lacking at times under Potter - we haven’t yet improved on our defensive game and still show the weaknesses in finishing we showed under De Zerbi. It is just a question of whether you are a fan who wants instant gratification and think for us “success” only means Europe/top 6 this season, or whether you are a fan who can see us continuing to develop the players we have and have a manager that can improve on those weaknesses mentioned.

I still see a young manager who is very capable of developing as a Premier League manager and accept that this season is largely about building a solid squad who can not only continue to consolidate us as a top 10 side but one that will have a good chance of qualifying for Europe within the next few seasons.

We have had highs and lows in our game (some embarrassingly low) and have yet again been impacted by injuries (especially at the back) but it is still levelling out as a fairly average season for us one way or another and part of our overall trajectory as a Club, which has always been 2 steps forward, one step back.

Well, yeah, exactly, I do think most of us were precisely at this place at the start of the season - but fair play to you if you didn't get swept along a little. We followed up the euphoria of Man City with what I regard as one of our best ever results in the Premier League, the away win at a good, confident Bournemouth - and we were all set to go into a clear second-place after the Southampton game. I was flying!

Which was silly, of course, illogical, but so much fun at the time. Guess it just makes the fall back to normality, the reversion to the mean feel worse than it really is, and some are clearly not coping well with that. And of course it had to be Palace.....

 

[North of Robertsbridge]

Perhaps Bozza needs to look into some AI that can tell when a poster is drunk and flag as a post as being written under the influence!

Wait - some posts on NSC are made when people are sober ?

 

[maltaseagull]

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


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.

Where else do you suggest I post my opinion?
I am not "having a go " just stating what I think we are doing wrong tactically.
We always do well V Brentford don´t we? However poor they are.

 

[jcdenton08]

Where else do you suggest I post my opinion?
I am not "having a go " just stating what I think we are doing wrong tactically.
We always do well V Brentford don´t we? However poor they are.

I seem to remember us being 3 or 4-0 down at half time at the Amex against them, it was Duffy’s debut and I think Maupay may have scored against us, and we made Scott Hogan look like Messi.

The bed wetting about Duffy that night was tremendous - “worst player ever to play for the Albion” etc.