[Albion] Paul Barber to Saudi?

[Super Perry Digweed]

He's a big champion in succession planning and will have been open about his ambitions with Tony so it won't come as a surprise if he does go. He will also have identified potential successors and is unlikely to leave us in the lurch without being a part of the recruitment process for his replacement. If he stays....happy days. If he goes, the wheels will keep turning and you never know, his replacement may bring fresh ideas that can make further gains.

All will be fine.

 

[Live by the sea]

I think it's genuinely quite an attractive challenge, too. How much more can he achieve at Brighton? Regular European football? That's about it, surely? I can't see how things are going to get much better here. The Saudis seem very serious about creating a genuine rival to the European leagues in a place that is awash with money and can build and grow pretty much however they like. If they do achieve that it would be pretty amazing to be involved in it all right at the start.

It's different for players, they have short careers and I think ones that took the Saudi money rather than playing in the Premier League might look back later on their careers and think they missed out on the enjoyment of playing at the top level. But for a CEO? I'd definitely be strongly considering it, if it was me.

Heard of social conscience or morals !

 

[Commander]

Out of interest, would people rather Saudi Arabia stayed as some medieval backwater that cuts of people's heads and doesn't allow women to drive? Or would they rather they slowly modernised, bringing in more Western influence and gradually bringing in more women's rights and modernising and trying to host global elite level global sporting events?

That place is going to be unrecognisable in 20 years time. How else would you persuade people to go and help build the project other than with money?

 

[JBizzle]

Time for sanctions now, I feel. This is getting silly.

The same sanctions La Liga and Serie A have been calling for via FFP for the Premier League? The PL has routinely bought/poached the best talent at all levels for the last three decades, I'm not sure we can suddenly start claiming the moral high ground when a bigger fish comes along.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Out of interest, would people rather Saudi Arabia stayed as some medieval backwater that cuts of people's heads and doesn't allow women to drive? Or would they rather they slowly modernised, bringing in more Western influence and gradually bringing in more women's rights and modernising and trying to host global elite level global sporting events?

That place is going to be unrecognisable in 20 years time. How else would you persuade people to go and help build the project other than with money?

But they’ve not gone down the 'slow' route of trying to host global sporting events have they? It's all happening right now.

They aren't waiting 20 years for sport so why wait 20 years for human rights?

 

[Commander]

Heard of social conscience or morals !

I think that's one of the reasons I'd consider it. Things are changing there, and I think it would be rewarding to be able to say 10 years down the line that you had been part of facilitating that. He would go there and push the women's teams and diversity and inclusion like he has with us, and hopefully be able to modernise a club / the league over time. That to me seems like a more exciting challenge than sitting on what is now probably a fairly comfortable role with Brighton.

I think a lot of people in this country are very uncomfortable at the idea that parts of the Middle East are modernising and developing. I think people preferred the idea of it being a shit hole in the desert full of savages.

 

[Live by the sea]

Out of interest, would people rather Saudi Arabia stayed as some medieval backwater that cuts of people's heads and doesn't allow women to drive? Or would they rather they slowly modernised, bringing in more Western influence and gradually bringing in more women's rights and modernising and trying to host global elite level global sporting events?

That place is going to be unrecognisable in 20 years time. How else would you persuade people to go and help build the project other than with money?

Football isn’t going to
Change their mindset ..

 

[knocky1]

Out of interest, would people rather Saudi Arabia stayed as some medieval backwater that cuts of people's heads and doesn't allow women to drive? Or would they rather they slowly modernised, bringing in more Western influence and gradually bringing in more women's rights and modernising and trying to host global elite level global sporting events?

That place is going to be unrecognisable in 20 years time. How else would you persuade people to go and help build the project other than with money?

Executions Out!

The 196 executions recorded in Saudi Arabia in 2022 were the highest yearly total in 30 years. Sports washing is doing well at it's washing.
Women can drive.

 

[BBassic]

I think that's one of the reasons I'd consider it. Things are changing there, and I think it would be rewarding to be able to say 10 years down the line that you had been part of facilitating that. He would go there and push the women's teams and diversity and inclusion like he has with us, and hopefully be able to modernise a club / the league over time. That to me seems like a more exciting challenge than sitting on what is now probably a fairly comfortable role with Brighton.

I think a lot of people in this country are very uncomfortable at the idea that parts of the Middle East are modernising and developing. I think people preferred the idea of it being a shit hole in the desert full of savages.

As long as the official religion is Islam it can't ever truly modernise.

 

[Commander]

But they’ve not gone down the 'slow' route of trying to host global sporting events have they? It's all happening right now.

They aren't waiting 20 years for sport so why wait 20 years for human rights?

OK Mr Crown Prince Terry Butcher Tribute Act. You have a population of 35 million people who have lived in a backward, Shariah-law led society for generations, the vast majority of whom know no other system. Tell us how you'd completely change to a forward-thinking, progressive, democratic state overnight, without causing serious social unrest from the millions and millions of people who've never known anything different?

Stuff like this takes generations to change, it always has. Why should they wait 20 years for sport when it can be done now? Sport is part of it.

 

[Commander]

Executions Out!

The 196 executions recorded in Saudi Arabia in 2022 were the highest yearly total in 30 years. Sports washing is doing well at it's washing.
Women can drive.

Women can drive now, they got the right to in 2018. As I said before, the place is changing. It can't all happen at once.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Out of interest, would people rather Saudi Arabia stayed as some medieval backwater that cuts of people's heads and doesn't allow women to drive? Or would they rather they slowly modernised, bringing in more Western influence and gradually bringing in more women's rights and modernising and trying to host global elite level global sporting events?

That place is going to be unrecognisable in 20 years time. How else would you persuade people to go and help build the project other than with money?

If they want to change. They can just change themselves.

 

[Husty]

I think we should just play it like the Saudi's go - let Paul know if he's ever back in the UK there's a risk of him being dis-membered in the Amex basement for not showing sufficient loyalty to our project. See how that influences his decision making.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

The same sanctions La Liga and Serie A have been calling for via FFP for the Premier League? The PL has routinely bought/poached the best talent at all levels for the last three decades, I'm not sure we can suddenly start claiming the moral high ground when a bigger fish comes along.

Yeah....I was being a tad facetious.

If we create a framework, and people operate legally within it, whether we like it or not, it is what it is.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

OK Mr Crown Prince Terry Butcher Tribute Act. You have a population of 35 million people who have lived in a backward, Shariah-law led society for generations, the vast majority of whom know no other system. Tell us how you'd completely change to a forward-thinking, progressive, democratic state overnight, without causing serious social unrest from the millions and millions of people who've never known anything different?

Stuff like this takes generations to change, it always has. Why should they wait 20 years for sport when it can be done now? Sport is part of it.

It is possible to think there is a lot of potential in the middle east but to think they should address things that are a lot more serious than football too, rather than just thinking it will probably be sorted in 20 years time so let's crack on...

 

[chaileyjem]

None of the reporting i've seen suggests anything other than they're interested in Barber. Well, what club isn't ?
He might well be open to offers - although SA and a move definitely would be a surprise given his investment in Brighton, and for example his work for womens football . Of course behind the scenes more might be happening but it appears, so far at least, to be pretty thin stuff.

 

[Commander]

But they’ve not gone down the 'slow' route of trying to host global sporting events have they? It's all happening right now.

They aren't waiting 20 years for sport so why wait 20 years for human rights?

It is possible to think there is a lot of potential in the middle east but to think they should address things that are a lot more serious than football too, rather than just thinking it will probably be sorted in 20 years time so let's crack on...

WHat would the 'slow' route of hosting sporting events be!? Wait 20 years and then do it? How would that possibly make sense?

I find it really odd how many people have said things like "They can't modernise until they change their religion". When criticising a society for not being open and tolerant enough.

It's impossible to say what places like Saudi Arabia will look like in 20 years, but for me I think they are making the right noises at the moment. They don't seem to want to stay a medieval backwater, but a lot of people here would seem to rather they did. Time will tell what happens, but what is going on in Saudi at the moment is far more encouraging than somewhere like Iran, who seem to want to stay out in the cold.

 

[pocketseagull]

 

[Silverhatch]

I suspect he'll go if the money and project are right. I'd like to think morals will come in to it but they rarely do when we're considering a career and looking after our family.

Bloom will have a succession plan. Bristol Rovers fans might want to be worried if PBOBE leaves.

Yep. Deffo with you on last sentence.

 

[Mellotron]

It is possible to think there is a lot of potential in the middle east but to think they should address things that are a lot more serious than football too, rather than just thinking it will probably be sorted in 20 years time so let's crack on...

Also, why are we so certain that this move by the Saudis to fully westernise will definitely happen? Other than some lip service so they can host Western sports events.

I'm sure many of them might think we should "easternise" instead?