Paul Barber Program Notes Today

[Beach Hut]

We're not splashing the cash, we are after value. That means saying no to over-priced players, and using the scouting team to go after quality players who aren't so much on other club's radar, like Holla. That takes longer, which is why we didn't have a rest made squad by the end of July.

COG clearly isn't a like for like replacement for Ulloa, we had three strikers to replace, why do people assume the first one we sign to be the replacement for the last one we lost?

I don't understand what people don't understand, it's not rocket science. And the same conversations happen on NSC single Summer, year after year. And year after year once we have the squad in place on 1st September we compete in the division. I can't believe people still get so worked up about something that always sorts it's self out in the end, without fail, every year (in the Amex era, obviously).

Not forgetting quite a few who also predicted zero points by the 31st August when we have 6 and 3 more to play for next Saturday.

 

[drew]

There's a policy? That really implies there was a long term plan for the transfer window which contradicts all the evidence!

If we knew we'd be selling Buckley, Ulloa, et al then why would we wait until last minute to sign a loanee and free agent who was available all preseason?

How do you know we weren't after him? Maybe he was hoping for better options in England before he decided to sign. Maybe we were hopeful of getting Clayton and only when that fell through did we pursue Holla.

Still, we could sign Messi and that still wouldn't satisfy the bedwetters!

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Welcome back to the Amex for today's visit from Bolton Wanderers. It's a long trip south for the Lancashire club's directors, staff, players and supporters and we all hope for another entertaining Championship fixture between our clubs.

After a tough start in the Championship, we picked up our first points of the season with a superb display at Leeds United on Tuesday night. The first-half performance was the best I have seen since I came to the club two years ago, and it was an absolute pleasure to watch. Of course, we shouldn't get too carried away, but it is an encouraging step forward.

Since he arrived, Sami has worked incredibly hard to get his ideas and the way he wants to play across to the squad - and Tuesday was just reward for that hard work for all concerned.

There's a long way to go, with another 43 league games to play, and still some work for us to do before the transfer window closes.

In recent weeks supporters' attention has been focused on transfers. Our strategy is very clear: we want to build a squad capable of challenging for a place in the Premier League; we want to secure the players Sami wants, to fit the way he wants to play; and we want to do this while ensuring we continue to comply with Financial Fair Play rules to ensure our future financial sustainability. At the time of writing, we have signed eight new players - a goalkeeper, a left-back, a centre-half, three midfielders, and two attacking players - and we are making good progress towards adding to this group.

Since January, we have sold four players - Ashley Barnes, Liam Bridcutt, Leo Ulloa and Will Buckley. We did not have to sell any of them - and we didn't want to either - but once each of these players made it clear they wanted to leave us to play in the Premier League, it became almost impossible to keep them.

That is modern football, and exactly why we want to be playing at the top level ourselves.

Each of their departures was ultimately sanctioned by the manager (or head coach), and the chairman. We secured excellent fees for each player, breaking the club's transfer fee received record in two of these deals - and all of these players will indeed be playing in the Premier League this season. One other player, Adam El-Abd, was also sold in January, for different reasons.

We didn't have to sell him, but we respected that he wanted to leave to play more regular first-team football.

In addition, at the end of last season, we released a number of players whose contracts had expired and were no longer part of our planning for the new season. Several of these players were not starters in our side, and these decisions were made by our coaching and football staff. There is no room for sentiment at this level of football and we believe our budget is better invested elsewhere. Finally, as is normal, those loan players who served us well last season - Keith Andrews, Jesse Lingard and Stephen Ward - all returned to their parent clubs.

The situation with Stephen Ward is worth a little further explanation. Just over a week ago, we agreed a fee with Wolverhampton Wanderers and we agreed personal terms with the player and his agent. He was set to have his medical at the club but failed to show up. A few hours later we learned that our deal had been hijacked by Burnley and that Stephen had opted to take his chance to play again in the Premier League. Who can blame him for wanting to play at the highest level possible? Frustrating? Sure. A setback? Yes. The end of the world? No. We move on to our next target at left-back.

This is football. These things happen. It's competitive off the field as well as on it.

As things stand, we are continuing to work through our target list- and the important thing is that Sami is happy with the progress we've made. Our recruitment team, led by David Burke, supported by Sami, his staff, and, where necessary, myself, continue to work very diligently to secure the players we feel we need, to ensure we bring the players the manager wants, to give us a competitive squad. We appreciate that supporters would love to know every twist and turn on how things are progressing but this just isn't possible-things can change by the day and even hour- and, in almost all cases, it is not desirable for our transfer targets to be in the public domain. We know the media play an important role in generating interest and covering football, but often some of the speculation can be wide of the mark, out of date or completely wrong, so we prefer not to comment on anything, especially as publicity can alert other clubs and can even push up the cost of bringing a player to the club.

We are also aware of some of the more hysterical (and, in some cases, quite ridiculous) social media outpourings - and, yes, we've also received a few emails on the subject? Of course it's very easy to criticise the club and some of the staff using the anonymity provided by a keyboard, but it's a lot harder to actually do the business itself.

Unfortunately, when real money and livelihoods are at stake, it's somewhat different to a game of Championship Manager! Speaking frankly, it's been surprising, disappointing and frustrating to hear a very small number of people questioning the club's and the chairman's ambition. He has made a personal investment now totalling over £200 million! Thanks to Tony the club has an award-winning stadium and a world-class training ground and academy. Of course that isn't everything, and we know that alongside that our fans are the lifeblood of the club. I've said many times, the support from Albion fans has been amazing from the first day I came to the club. Thanks to you, we have the highest crowds in the Championship and close to 22,000 season ticket holders.

Then there are also our other 'supporters' - our sponsors - and thanks to American Express, Nike, and many other companies too numerous to mention including many local Sussex firms who've been supporting the club for many years - we have major sponsors signed for the long term. We kicked off this season on the back of successive play-off appearances, but despite this hugely envied backdrop and foundation for our football club, one supporter described our future as 'bleak' while another fan demanded we answer to the 'chaos' surrounding our club...

We understand fans are passionate, want to see the club win, and win in style - we share those passions and desires but frustrations must be put into context, and we are much better all pulling together in the same direction. Thankfully, all of these very emotional reactions are outweighed by a number of calm and supportive emails from fans. I've been really impressed by the knowledge of the Albion fans since I came to the club, for me that is a legacy of the club's ongoing open policy. There is a very good understanding of how the transfer window works and an appreciation of the patience required when so many other clubs are trying to establish the same competitive squad and any possible financial advantage over their rivals.

We know there's no room for complacency at anytime in football and, given our history, I can assure supporters that there is none whatsoever at this club. However, we will not run our football club by message board or social media sentiment and neither will we pander to the naysayers. Sadly, every club, including the very biggest and most successful, has them. In a highly competitive division, not to mention an equally competitive transfer window, it's cool heads and patience combined with strength, resilience and unity of club and supporters that will prevail.

We have a very clear vision for this football club and our ambition, shared and understood by the overwhelming majority of our fans, which remains intact.

We want to play at the highest level and while not every decision or deal will go our way, each and every step we take is designed to move us closer to achieving that ambition. Your support along what may not always be a straight path is absolutely critical. Thank you for playing your part. And thank you for your continued support of the club.

Enjoy the match

Paul Barber

 

[jcdenton08]

why do people assume the first one we sign (COG) to be the replacement for the last one we lost? (Ulloa) [\QUOTE]

Because he's the only striker we've signed so far, and he's started up front in games that Ulloa would've started were he at the club?

 

[BBassic]

There's a policy? That really implies there was a long term plan for the transfer window which contradicts all the evidence!

If we knew we'd be selling Buckley, Ulloa, et al then why would we wait until last minute to sign a loanee and free agent who was available all preseason?

The evidence being a young starlet from Liverpool, a quality Dutchman who should probably be playing in the Eredevisie and another young PL player? Shocking transfer dealings, eh?

 

[jcdenton08]

The evidence being a young starlet from Liverpool, a quality Dutchman who should probably be playing in the Eredevisie and another young PL player? Shocking transfer dealings, eh?

Did you choose not to read the second paragraph, or do you have a reasoned argument like others?

 

[BBassic]

Holla was available all pre-season and could have been signed and training with the squad throughout pre-season if we moved quicker. Surely that is preferable to putting him straight into the squad on a few days notice? Ditto Tex.

Both of these players have slotted into the team and performed admirably despite their late addition. Your argument is a non-starter.

 

[Commander]

why do people assume the first one we sign (COG) to be the replacement for the last one we lost? (Ulloa) [\QUOTE]

Because he's the only striker we've signed so far, and he's started up front in games that Ulloa would've started were he at the club?

Right. So we lose three strikers, one of who is far better than the other two. We need to buy at least two to replace them, one of which is going to be much harder to get, much more expensive, and who will have a much larger range of options to sign for. We get one in fairly quickly and cheaply, and continue to search for the other one, which is a much harder signing to make. Which one do you think is the replacement for Ulloa? The guy we got in quickly and cheaply, or the guy we are still doing everything we can to source?

It's really not that difficult to understand.

 

[jcdenton08]

To tell if the club has done "positive business" you need to look at the squad as a whole not just at one player. Even if our strike-force is weaker the team as a whole could well be stronger, could it not?

I would argue that the strike force is pretty important

 

[Commander]

I would argue that the strike force is pretty important

I don't think you'll find anyone to disagree with you there. But I'd also argue that the strike force isn't complete.

 

[jcdenton08]

Right. So we lose three strikers, one of who is far better than the other two. We need to buy at least two to replace them, one of which is going to be much harder to get, much more expensive, and who will have a much larger range of options to sign for. We get one in fairly quickly and cheaply, and continue to search for the other one, which is a much harder signing to make. Which one do you think is the replacement for Ulloa? The guy we got in quickly and cheaply, or the guy we are still doing everything we can to source?

It's really not that difficult to understand.

Which is fine and I, of course, understand.

Of course, your post is put speculation.

You are speculating that we are going to sign a quality replacement for our best striker, Ulloa. If we do sign it, then your speculation will be correct. If we sign someone else, as you rightly point out, on the cheap and he is not in Ulloa's calibre then you'll recognise that the transfer window was not successful, presumably. Or would it be the manager or team's fault?

 

[nwgull]

Right. So we lose three strikers, one of who is far better than the other two. We need to buy at least two to replace them, one of which is going to be much harder to get, much more expensive, and who will have a much larger range of options to sign for. We get one in fairly quickly and cheaply, and continue to search for the other one, which is a much harder signing to make. Which one do you think is the replacement for Ulloa? The guy we got in quickly and cheaply, or the guy we are still doing everything we can to source?

It's really not that difficult to understand.

I'd give up if I were you. PB's notes have said as much as can be said regarding some of the crap written on here by the vocal minority of bedwetters. Enjoy your Saturday evening rather than banging yiur head against a brick wall.

 

[chaileyjem]

But I'd also argue that the strike force isn't complete.

Who is arguing ?
Paul Barber "There's still some work to do before the transfer window closes..."

 

[BBassic]

I don't think you'll find anyone to disagree with you there. But I'd also argue that the strike force isn't complete.

I'd also argue that three of our four league goals have come from midfield players.

 

[BBassic]

Did you choose not to read the second paragraph, or do you have a reasoned argument like others?

Second paragraph answered with post #29 by the way.

 

[Commander]

Which is fine and I, of course, understand.

Of course, your post is put speculation.

You are speculating that we are going to sign a quality replacement for our best striker, Ulloa. If we do sign it, then your speculation will be correct. If we sign someone else, as you rightly point out, on the cheap and he is not in Ulloa's calibre then you'll recognise that the transfer window was not successful, presumably. Or would it be the manager or team's fault?

It is speculation, yes, but it's also by far the most logical and likely reasoning. All I'm saying, as I've said all Summer, is judge the Summer transfer activity when the transfer window shuts. How can it possibly be judged fairly before then? It's like judging the season in February (or August!), and nobody does that, do they?..

 

[Stat Brother]

Welcome back to the Amex for today's visit from Bolton Wanderers. It's a long trip south for the Lancashire club's directors, staff, players and supporters and we all hope for another entertaining Championship fixture between our clubs.

After a tough start in the Championship, we picked up our first points of the season with a superb display at Leeds United on Tuesday night. The first-half performance was the best I have seen since I came to the club two years ago, and it was an absolute pleasure to watch. Of course, we shouldn't get too carried away, but it is an encouraging step forward.

Since he arrived, Sami has worked incredibly hard to get his ideas and the way he wants to play across to the squad - and Tuesday was just reward for that hard work for all concerned.

There's a long way to go, with another 43 league games to play, and still some work for us to do before the transfer window closes.

In recent weeks supporters' attention has been focused on transfers. Our strategy is very clear: we want to build a squad capable of challenging for a place in the Premier League; we want to secure the players Sami wants, to fit the way he wants to play; and we want to do this while ensuring we continue to comply with Financial Fair Play rules to ensure our future financial sustainability. At the time of writing, we have signed eight new players - a goalkeeper, a left-back, a centre-half, three midfielders, and two attacking players - and we are making good progress towards adding to this group.

Since January, we have sold four players - Ashley Barnes, Liam Bridcutt, Leo Ulloa and Will Buckley. We did not have to sell any of them - and we didn't want to either - but once each of these players made it clear they wanted to leave us to play in the Premier League, it became almost impossible to keep them.

That is modern football, and exactly why we want to be playing at the top level ourselves.

Each of their departures was ultimately sanctioned by the manager (or head coach), and the chairman. We secured excellent fees for each player, breaking the club's transfer fee received record in two of these deals - and all of these players will indeed be playing in the Premier League this season. One other player, Adam El-Abd, was also sold in January, for different reasons.

We didn't have to sell him, but we respected that he wanted to leave to play more regular first-team football.

In addition, at the end of last season, we released a number of players whose contracts had expired and were no longer part of our planning for the new season. Several of these players were not starters in our side, and these decisions were made by our coaching and football staff. There is no room for sentiment at this level of football and we believe our budget is better invested elsewhere. Finally, as is normal, those loan players who served us well last season - Keith Andrews, Jesse Lingard and Stephen Ward - all returned to their parent clubs.

The situation with Stephen Ward is worth a little further explanation. Just over a week ago, we agreed a fee with Wolverhampton Wanderers and we agreed personal terms with the player and his agent. He was set to have his medical at the club but failed to show up. A few hours later we learned that our deal had been hijacked by Burnley and that Stephen had opted to take his chance to play again in the Premier League. Who can blame him for wanting to play at the highest level possible? Frustrating? Sure. A setback? Yes. The end of the world? No. We move on to our next target at left-back.

This is football. These things happen. It's competitive off the field as well as on it.

As things stand, we are continuing to work through our target list- and the important thing is that Sami is happy with the progress we've made. Our recruitment team, led by David Burke, supported by Sami, his staff, and, where necessary, myself, continue to work very diligently to secure the players we feel we need, to ensure we bring the players the manager wants, to give us a competitive squad. We appreciate that supporters would love to know every twist and turn on how things are progressing but this just isn't possible-things can change by the day and even hour- and, in almost all cases, it is not desirable for our transfer targets to be in the public domain. We know the media play an important role in generating interest and covering football, but often some of the speculation can be wide of the mark, out of date or completely wrong, so we prefer not to comment on anything, especially as publicity can alert other clubs and can even push up the cost of bringing a player to the club.

We are also aware of some of the more hysterical (and, in some cases, quite ridiculous) social media outpourings - and, yes, we've also received a few emails on the subject? Of course it's very easy to criticise the club and some of the staff using the anonymity provided by a keyboard, but it's a lot harder to actually do the business itself.

Unfortunately, when real money and livelihoods are at stake, it's somewhat different to a game of Championship Manager! Speaking frankly, it's been surprising, disappointing and frustrating to hear a very small number of people questioning the club's and the chairman's ambition. He has made a personal investment now totalling over £200 million! Thanks to Tony the club has an award-winning stadium and a world-class training ground and academy. Of course that isn't everything, and we know that alongside that our fans are the lifeblood of the club. I've said many times, the support from Albion fans has been amazing from the first day I came to the club. Thanks to you, we have the highest crowds in the Championship and close to 22,000 season ticket holders.

Then there are also our other 'supporters' - our sponsors - and thanks to American Express, Nike, and many other companies too numerous to mention including many local Sussex firms who've been supporting the club for many years - we have major sponsors signed for the long term. We kicked off this season on the back of successive play-off appearances, but despite this hugely envied backdrop and foundation for our football club, one supporter described our future as 'bleak' while another fan demanded we answer to the 'chaos' surrounding our club...

We understand fans are passionate, want to see the club win, and win in style - we share those passions and desires but frustrations must be put into context, and we are much better all pulling together in the same direction. Thankfully, all of these very emotional reactions are outweighed by a number of calm and supportive emails from fans. I've been really impressed by the knowledge of the Albion fans since I came to the club, for me that is a legacy of the club's ongoing open policy. There is a very good understanding of how the transfer window works and an appreciation of the patience required when so many other clubs are trying to establish the same competitive squad and any possible financial advantage over their rivals.

We know there's no room for complacency at anytime in football and, given our history, I can assure supporters that there is none whatsoever at this club. However, we will not run our football club by message board or social media sentiment and neither will we pander to the naysayers. Sadly, every club, including the very biggest and most successful, has them. In a highly competitive division, not to mention an equally competitive transfer window, it's cool heads and patience combined with strength, resilience and unity of club and supporters that will prevail.

We have a very clear vision for this football club and our ambition, shared and understood by the overwhelming majority of our fans, which remains intact.

We want to play at the highest level and while not every decision or deal will go our way, each and every step we take is designed to move us closer to achieving that ambition. Your support along what may not always be a straight path is absolutely critical. Thank you for playing your part. And thank you for your continued support of the club.

Enjoy the match

Paul Barber

As said before Paul Barber is only paid £20k per annum.
He also gets £1 for every time he doesn't reply to a loyal bleed blue and white Albion fan 'go f*** yourself, f*** off and support Citeh'.

PB has earned himself another few quid there.

 

[symyjym]

Was Barber a Spartan in his previous life

 

[Commander]

Who is arguing

Jcdenton08 is!

 

[Commander]

I'd give up if I were you. PB's notes have said as much as can be said regarding some of the crap written on here by the vocal minority of bedwetters. Enjoy your Saturday evening rather than banging yiur head against a brick wall.

I think I will. Time to drink myself into a stupor on my porch. Good Day everyone.