[Albion] Premier League 13-15/4/24

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Palmer V Pickford.. Only one winner... Hatrick..

Hat trick or hat-trick.

 

[Motogull]

I don't like Chelsea winning but I enjoy T-Rex Prickford letting them in. The third, man alive.

 

[Randy McNob]

Dyche sacked in the morning, Potter hired in the afternoon

YHIHF

 

[dazzer6666]

Alright. We started this when you said we had taken a step backwards this season. Although our team isn't as good this season, clearly, and frustratingly, i believe that our fundamentals are stronger, and hence that we have not taken a step backwards. All teams at any point in time have a floor, the worst they will do, and a ceiling, the best they can do. Although we as fans are always chasing that ceiling, the job of the clubs management is to raise that floor as high as they can, and keep raising it, which guards against risk and keeps the dream of the ceiling closer. It's not sexy but it's the good management we are always praised for. Leicesters ceiling was incredible, but it turned out their floor was relegation.

We saw close to the ceiling last year, an amazing season. This year we've seen closer to the floor. But my point about 'what if we'd sold Macallister and lost Mitoma and March before the 22-23 season' stands, and you acknowledge it - we wouldn't have got sixth and could have been in a relegation battle. This season this did happen to us, but we're still, for now, in the top half. Our floor seems pretty decent, our club is stronger, so i reject that we've taken a step backwards. Its not a step backwards if is just a fluctuation between the floor and the ceiling.

We might have lost Mac and Caicedo, Undav and Sanchez; Lallana is clearly nearing the end and Veltman looks past his peak. But look what we've gained. Igor, Pedro, van Hecke, Barco, Adingra, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Verbruggen. And Gilmour, Ferguson, Lamptey, Buonanotte have a full season under their belts. I think its silly to say we've become over-reliant on a few players - that was more true of last year, this year we've spread responsibility around a lot more players. We've lost several stars for all or part of the year but the rest have kept us comfortably mid table.

A higher floor. We didn't get close to our ceiling this season because a lot went against us, but the European adventure was fun and we haven't had to look over our shoulder. And we know we are capable of tooling up again next year and the year after because of the finances.

Is this really nonsense? To finish 13th or higher with the issues we've faced is pretty decent, no? We are only home wins against Burnley, Sheffield and Everton away from sitting in 6th, give or take a few goals, and would you honestly bet against us doing exactly that if March, Mitoma, Enciso and Pedro had been available for every game? That's literally the margins we're talking here.

 

[Hometownglory]

Dyche sacked in the morning, Potter hired in the afternoon

YHIHF

They can't afford his compo. They are stuck with him.

 

[The Fits]

Last week people on here were saying Palmer isn't up to much.

 

[Pevenseagull]

I wish he didn't play for Chelsea.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Branthwaite looking a like for like replacement for Maguire tonight…

 

[oldboyroy]

Chelsea to overtake united for European spot

 

[Pevenseagull]

Last week people on here were saying Palmer isn't up to much.

Are they people who watch football?

 

[macbeth]

Alright. We started this when you said we had taken a step backwards this season. Although our team isn't as good this season, clearly, and frustratingly, i believe that our fundamentals are stronger, and hence that we have not taken a step backwards. All teams at any point in time have a floor, the worst they will do, and a ceiling, the best they can do. Although we as fans are always chasing that ceiling, the job of the clubs management is to raise that floor as high as they can, and keep raising it, which guards against risk and keeps the dream of the ceiling closer. It's not sexy but it's the good management we are always praised for. Leicesters ceiling was incredible, but it turned out their floor was relegation.

We saw close to the ceiling last year, an amazing season. This year we've seen closer to the floor. But my point about 'what if we'd sold Macallister and lost Mitoma and March before the 22-23 season' stands, and you acknowledge it - we wouldn't have got sixth and could have been in a relegation battle. This season this did happen to us, but we're still, for now, in the top half. Our floor seems pretty decent, our club is stronger, so i reject that we've taken a step backwards. Its not a step backwards if is just a fluctuation between the floor and the ceiling.

We might have lost Mac and Caicedo, Undav and Sanchez; Lallana is clearly nearing the end and Veltman looks past his peak. But look what we've gained. Igor, Pedro, van Hecke, Barco, Adingra, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Verbruggen. And Gilmour, Ferguson, Lamptey, Buonanotte have a full season under their belts. I think its silly to say we've become over-reliant on a few players - that was more true of last year, this year we've spread responsibility around a lot more players. We've lost several stars for all or part of the year but the rest have kept us comfortably mid table.

A higher floor. We didn't get close to our ceiling this season because a lot went against us, but the European adventure was fun and we haven't had to look over our shoulder. And we know we are capable of tooling up again next year and the year after because of the finances.

Is this really nonsense? To finish 13th or higher with the issues we've faced is pretty decent, no? We are only home wins against Burnley, Sheffield and Everton away from sitting in 6th, give or take a few goals, and would you honestly bet against us doing exactly that if March, Mitoma, Enciso and Pedro had been available for every game? That's literally the margins we're talking here.

i think that’s a really good way of looking at it, and not one i’d considered before to be honest.

i don’t think it necessarily negates the fact that our summer window could’ve gone better, nor do i think it invalidates discussing how poorly we’re playing at the moment, which we are (aware you didn’t say either of those things). i also do not entirely accept that we are where we are just because things have gone against us (though again i acknowledge that’s also not exactly what you said), i think de zerbi for example has put out a few stinking game plans, such as villa away (and he has a chance to put that right in a few weeks), and i also think a couple of obvious holes weren’t addressed in the transfer windows.

but i think that it speaks to the fact that barber has said before that our development won’t necessarily be linear, and i think the fact that it’s been pretty nigh on linear, even including this season, is pretty remarkable, and he’s maintained that the aim is to be a stable top 10 club who can compete for silverware, so if that’s that agenda, i’m all aboard!

question i suppose everyone is asking is: where do we go from here? as it seems we are very much at a crossroads. for me, it’s about exploiting that advantageous position we find ourselves in this summer. its about getting those differences makers, the ones who can break down teams who sit in, as the results you mention which’ve been the difference between us finishing sixth and where we are, are the kinds of teams we’ve repeatedly failed to beat for going on five seasons now. thankfully we know TB isn’t sentimental, like we saw when CH got sacked, and he can move on those players who are probably unfortunately past their best.

but i think the sentiment you express is spot on, and the big reason why i think we need to do everything we can to keep hold of de zerbi. we’ve seen what his brighton team can play like when we’re at the ceiling, as you put it. and i don’t think we can ask, or achieve, much better than that. so we need to work with him, give him the main tools he’s clearly missing, get those ‘balls’ back, and the rest will sort itself out

 

[oldboyroy]

Everton getting annihilated

 

[Flounce]

Last week people on here were saying Palmer isn't up to much.

What idiots came out with that? Chelsea’s best bit of business in their billion pound spend. They would be in the bottom half of the table without him.

I wonder if we may have snared him if Winstanley hadn’t gone to Chelsea with knowledge of our targets

 

[pasty]

What idiots came out with that? Chelsea’s best bit of business in their billion pound spend. They would be in the bottom half of the table without him

Indeed. Didn’t catch the full details but a graphic popped showing he’s scored 51% of Chelsea’s goals since debut. And that was after his first tonight so it’s gone up.

 

[dazzer6666]

Last week people on here were saying Palmer isn't up to much.

Don’t remember seeing that……

 

[Pevenseagull]

Southgate will manage to get a squad with Palmer, Foden, Rice and Bellingham get a 0-0 with Serbia in the opening game this summer.

 

[pb21]

Southgate will manage to get a squad with Palmer, Foden, Rice and Bellingham get a 0-0 with Serbia in the opening game this summer.

Starting with Pickford he'll do well to not lose...

 

[LamieRobertson]

Didn’t think that was a penalty…..Chelsea players embarrassing..’fighting’ over who should take it

 

[Pevenseagull]

What a bunch of f***ing arseholes.

 

[doogie004]

A squad of individuals