[Albion] Pascal Groß the raumdeuter - officially leaves for Dortmund :(

[Hotchilidog]

I have been resigned to Pascal leaving since the end of the season, so I feel no better or worse when I had come to that realisation.

All I feel now is deep sense of gratitude to a player who gave us his best years and at times when we were struggling pulled us back up again. After many had written him off as too slow (raises hand here, what a melon I was) he confounded his doubters to elevate his game even further and become the cornerstone of our success.

I will miss THE turn; I will miss his relentless destruction of Manchester United who really seemed to take delight in bamboozling; I'll miss the leadership and humility that graced our club.

I also feel excited for the future now that Pascal has left. Excited for Pascal at Dortmund and the opportunity to play at the highest level and compete for a league title and champions league. Excited for the Albion as we come to the end of another chapter in our story but we begin another with a fresh page and new link.

Aufwiedersehen Pascal, Viel Glück and Vielen Dank.

LEGEND

 

[Stato]

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

I have not imagined them. People keep saying it's a good fee for someone of 33.

What you’ve failed to acknowledge every time is it’s a good fee for a 33 year old with one year left on his contract. It doesn’t matter how many years he may have in the game, he only had a year left with us. He’d have been able to walk away in the summer of 2025 as a free agent. That fact alone limits what we could get for him.

We’ve made sure we’ve got a modest fee for a player who wanted a chance to play for one of the biggest clubs in his country of birth and as it turns out the club he grew up supporting.

Thanks Pascal for everything you’ve given us, as the press release said your favourite position was in the starting XI and you played pretty much everywhere except in goal. You always gave it your all no matter where you played on the pitch and your name will forever be etched in our history books many many times over. Please come back one day so we can say goodbye properly.

 

[stewart12]

better to go out now as an absolute legend having had a good season. Good luck to him and absolute fair play- gets to play for one of the biggest clubs in his home country

our best ever signing in my opinion

 

[Peteinblack]

I'm thrilled for him, but sad for us.

Thanks, Pascal, and very best wishes for the future.

 

[ElectricNaz]

Devastated. But happy for him. In my opinion (opinion, not fact), he's been our best ever player in my time watching and supporting us. Hopefully he's taught Hinshelwood or someone else how to do the Gross Turn with such flair, finesse and impact!

 

[Seasider78]

Easily one of the best value signing in PL history and has been phenomenal for us. Pleased for him that he has this opportunity and a great way to end his career. Just hope club find a way to get him back as a guest at some point this season so we can all show our appreciation

 

[pb21]

our best ever signing in my opinion

That's a given I think.

Groß is in the conversation of our best ever player.

 

[DataPoint]

What a dignified and heartfelt press release from the club. Lovely words from Weir, Barber, Bloom and Hurtzeler. Thanks Pascal and good luck.

I watched my first Brighton game in 1956. Hundreds of players have passed through the club in those 58 years. Never, never has a player left with so much respect and admiration as demonstrated by the club's statement.

Don't forget us Pascal - we will never forget you!

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Statue surely?

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Sad to seen him go but totally understand why

Hopefully the club makes the appropriate arrangements in the future so we can say goodbye properly and that him for his efforts

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

No wonder the deal took a while to complete.

 

[Big Vern]

Gutted

 

[dwayne]

Think I'm gonna have to ignore this thread. Too depressing

 

[RandyWanger]

I wish him all the best, he's been absolutely class for us and a model professional. We have been mutually beneficial for each other, I have no doubt he'd not be in this position without us, and we'd not be where we are without him.

 

[Insel affe]

Heartbroken.....

Thank you Pascal, it has been a privilege and a complete and utter joy to see you play for Brighton.
I will miss the turns, the goals against Manchester United and your Prescence on the pitch will be sorely missed in the stands.

Pascal, thank you.

 

[Sue1983]

 

[papachris]

Will miss this. Thank you for fantastic memories Pascal

 

[MattBackHome]

Best ever.

Farewell and thanks for everything, Pascal.

 

[Han Solo]

Let me ask it in a different way then since you and everyone keep bringing it up: what about Gross and his play and fitness in any way indicates he is close to the end of his career? He covers huge distances, is super fit and still performs as highly as ever. The 33 part is irrelevant.

Him being 33 isn't irrelevant, no. Its highly relevant.

In the PL last season, 18 players aged 34+ received game time. Out of these 18, Lallana and Milner are the only midfielders (though Young and Basham has played there on occasion).

You get very old very quick in the PL. Its not La Liga where the heat in the country prevents 90 minutes of high tempo. It doesn't usually have that ebb and flow. It is constant running, constant intensity, and once your 33+ most players are either fringe players in the squad or left for easier leagues.

While Gross is obviously an excellent and fit professional, he's in all likelihood very close to the point of his career where he's going to have a real drop in capacity... and that point there wouldn't be no £7m for us and no Dortmund for Gross.

While nothing in Gross fitness or play indicating him falling off that cliff quite yet, the human body and the law of averages tells us its just a year or two around the corner.