[Albion] Paul barber obe and Tony Bloom

[Eeyore]

We hired RDZ to take us to the next level - RDZ delivered that - RDZ knew what was needed to kick on but IMO wasn’t backed to take us even further - of course we all know where we’ve come from but we aren’t that club anymore- we had a great ambitious manager, probably the best we have ever had - he should have been given the opportunity, from the club, to take us even further.

I’m beginning to think we have hit our level, a mid table premier league team that develops young players, sells them on at a huge profit and maybe in between we might win a cup or get into Europe -

That is exactly our best level- should the club be run sensibly and conscious of all possible outcomes. Many teams of similar potential sit languishing in the Championship. And some with even more potential (see Leeds United, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday)

Look at Portsmouth. A club that could easily be 'bigger' than us. See how they fell. They didn't have a proper plan.

And they didn't have a Tony Bloom.

 

[The Wookiee]

That is exactly our best level- should the club be run sensibly and conscious of all possible outcomes. Many teams of similar potential sit languishing in the Championship. And some with even more potential (see Leeds United, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday)

Look at Portsmouth. A club that could easily be 'bigger' than us. See how they fell. They didn't have a proper plan.

And they didn't have a Tony Bloom.

I don’t recall any of those clubs making as much as we have on transfers whilst challenging the top 6 in the Premier league and Europe whilst top clubs in Europe talking about taking their manager ?

 

[Eeyore]

I don’t recall any of those clubs making as much as we have on transfers whilst challenging the top 6 in the Premier league and Europe whilst top clubs in Europe talking about taking their manager ?

Southampton did, of course.

I'm losing your point here.

If I was manager of Brighton my hope would be to take them into the Champions League. I don't see the manager's ambition as relevant. Every manager wants their team to succeed. But managers don't run the club, hold the purse strings, or invest. That is another reality.

It's a bit like the opposition leader in the chamber berating the government about lack of investment in this and that. Easy when you don't have the responsibility.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

So?
He's a good employee so Bloom wants to keep him around. He's nothing more than that

I think he’s more than this. Bloom and Barber are definitely greater than the sum of their parts.

 

[macbeth]

yes and no. do i trust any decision that they are going to make, knowing their track record and knowing, unlike certain owners, they have the best interests of the club at heart? absolutely. are they ever going to make mistakes and get those decisions wrong from time to time? also absolutely, everyone makes mistakes and it’s delusional to suggest otherwise.

everyone knows what this is all about really, how much money are they willing to spend in the summer? what de zerbi’s departure does say is that they weren’t willing to buy him the exact players he wanted, not that the money wasn’t available. which is absolutely fine, because, even if we had given him the code to the safe, these are players that we would still be stuck with after de zerbi would inevitably leave due to being poached by a bigger club.

 

[drew]

I don’t recall any of those clubs making as much as we have on transfers whilst challenging the top 6 in the Premier league and Europe whilst top clubs in Europe talking about taking their manager ?

We wouldn't make as much if we spent as much as the manager is likely to want to spend. Wasn't that the issue with the likes of Portsmouth and Bolton. We also know how hard Leeds fell when they chased the dream.

 

[Talby]

Did he take your flask away ?

Making money is fine but denying the 80+ year old widow near us the right to bring a thermos in on a cold winter night is just pathetic. State pensioner too.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Barber absolutely f***ing not. His achievements have been because of Bloom, don't lump them in together

So I assume anything you've ever achieved at work is because of the business owner ( obviously daft question if you're self employed ) ? Not because of your own skill and hardwork ?

 

[Talby]

I think he’s more than this. Bloom and Barber are definitely greater than the sum of their parts.

The other comment is correct though - he’s a very well paid employee of the club. He’s paid for performance. But it’s TB who is the BHAFC fan and that’s the critical component.

 

[dazzer6666]

Making money is fine but denying the 80+ year old widow near us the right to bring a thermos in on a cold winter night is just pathetic. State pensioner too.

No-one is going to agree with everything the club does, but one disagreeable decision on a very minor issue in the context of successfully running a £200m + business and successfully maintaining a club in the PL doesn’t materially detract from his ability as a CEO

 

[Flounce]

Are these 2 still the untouchables and believe everything they touch still turn to gold ?

Even they don’t believe that and are on record as saying mistakes are inevitable and they will learn from them.

I am astounded that, given what they have achieved together, that you’d want to have a veiled pop at them

It WILL go pear shaped again at some stage, let’s hope it doesn’t start next season or for a few years yet.

 

[HangletonGull]

Even they don’t believe that and are on record as saying mistakes are inevitable and they will learn from them.

I am astounded that, given what they have achieved together, that you’d want to have a veiled pop at them

It WILL go pear shaped again at some stage, let’s hope it doesn’t start next season or for a few years yet.

It was a qustion not a thinly veiled pop this is a fourm to discuss things

 

[Munchkin]

I honestly believe the parting of ways is all down to RDZ’s refusal to sign a new contract. It’s been on the table a long time and quite rightly Barber and Bloom have had enough.

Why would you seriously invest over the summer, allow the manager to have a significant say in potential targets and progression of the club without the firm commitment that you have a signed contract to commit yourself to the football club for a number of years.

Bloom and Barber will be aware of the noise linking RDZ to every job thats available and with that comes uncertainty, throw into the equation his misjudged comments around recruitment in January and his disrespectful comments after the Roma defeat then for me it’s a no brainer in terms of the decision that’s been made.

We are an attractive prospect now, I have no doubt the club will invest in the summer and we need a management team that are committed to the club, buy into the way the club is ran and want to be here long term.

In Bloom I trust. More than ever.

 

[Baldrick]

We hired RDZ to take us to the next level - RDZ delivered that - RDZ knew what was needed to kick on but IMO wasn’t backed to take us even further - of course we all know where we’ve come from but we aren’t that club anymore- we had a great ambitious manager, probably the best we have ever had - he should have been given the opportunity, from the club, to take us even further.

I’m beginning to think we have hit our level, a mid table premier league team that develops young players, sells them on at a huge profit and maybe in between we might win a cup or get into Europe -

How much would it cost TB to take the Albion to the next level? Does TB have the multi billion pounds needed to compete with the mega rich clubs?

Some fans on this site need a reality check.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Are these 2 still the untouchables and believe everything they touch still turn to gold ?

Why? Are you thinking of putting yourself forward? Name in the frame? I'm sure that for half a billion Tony will sell.

 

[HangletonGull]

Why? Are you thinking of putting yourself forward? Name in the frame? I'm sure that for half a billion Tony will sell.

And again I will say it’s a question on a fourm, obviously you didn’t read my previous comment

 

[Talby]

So I assume anything you've ever achieved at work is because of the business owner ( obviously daft question if you're self employed ) ? Not because of your own skill and hardwork ?

You achieve them because your employer has faith in you to do them but the business owner is

No-one is going to agree with everything the club does, but one disagreeable decision on a very minor issue in the context of successfully running a £200m + business and successfully maintaining a club in the PL doesn’t materially detract from his ability as a CEO

To me a CEO is also not a all-powerful leader with unchecked power and decision-making authority. That’s where the club do get things wrong occasionally. An uncompromising position isn’t healthy.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Some very interesting comments on this and other threads. This will be the second or third most successful season in our history. And yet some people are grumpy about the fact we may not splash the cash and reach for the stars. Grumpy that the club does not have more ambition.

Here is the thing. I watched Saints get to the EPL playoff final the other day. The feel was very much how I would imagine such a thing would feel to us were we in their situation. We imagine attendances would fall if we were relegated, and although thrilled at the chance to be promoted back up, one would not expect the city to be buzzing.

Contrast that to the Leeds. In their playoff semi the whole four sides were singing and waving scarves for 90 minutes. I remember them like that when we were beating them in the championship.

My point? The Northern football culture among the bigger sides, even those who are not that flush with money, and like Leeds and Newcastle who have been relegated, is different from ours.

Look at us. Our third best season ever and people are bitching about the owner and CEO for not nailing the capricious manager to a new contract. The anticipation of the absolute horror of mid table EPL finishes and selling our best players. Almost an incipient self-loathing.

FFS. Let's enjoy it. Let's embrace the wonderful football. Let's cut the owner and CEO some slack (we don't have to love them but at least respect them and stop the bitching).

We are never going to be passionate 90 minute singers. That's not Sussex style. Maybe we will never win anything. But the snootiness is getting on my tits. Not everyone of course. My little network is sensible. And maybe I'm over-reacting to the cockwomblery. Anyway...

Onwards and upwards.

 

[Talby]

Why? Are you thinking of putting yourself forward? Name in the frame? I'm sure that for half a billion Tony will sell.

Such a stupid way to view this. Why have a pop at your own supporter…it’s not like they’re doing to invite you to eat in the Directors box with them.

 

[HangletonGull]

Such a stupid way to view this. Why have a pop at your own supporter…it’s not like they’re doing to invite you to eat in the Directors box with them.

It’s the old everything must be black or white with no grey in between