[Albion] RDZ’s mentality and ‘balls’

[GT49er]

Looking for excuses is exactly what he does often even before a game is played. In the press conference against Liverpool he was talking about how we won last year but that a lot is different now. He started to list key players that left us and began with Robert Sanchez!!! The goalie he chased away hinself ffs. There are a certain type of people who think it is very strong and manly to sit and complain and make excuses and take public fights with the owner. Those kind of people will always see Roberto as our greatest of all time but the majority are just seeing a sad loser who thinks very highly of himself

Agree with some of that, including the Sanchez bit - but sad loser? No - I don't think a majority - or even a minority - think that. But he certainly seems to think very highly of himself!

 

[Exilegull]

Agree with some of that, including the Sanchez bit - but sad loser? No - I don't think a majority - or even a minority - think that. But he certainly seems to think very highly of himself!

Was maybe one or two weeks early with the sad loser part save it for later

 

[Zeberdi]

Agree with much of that...but Dahoud and Fati were RDZ'S choices as far as I understand.

Not quite - RDZ was Fati’s choice. Dahoud May have been recommended by RDZ but if our scouts and starlizard stats did not back up the wisdom of signing him and thought he would be an investment, then we would not have done. He just didn’t gel that’s all - it happens.

 

[The Fits]

Not quite - RDZ was Fati’s choice. Dahoud May have been recommended by RDZ but if our scouts and starlizard stats did not back up the wisdom of signing him, then we would not have done. He just didn’t gel that’s all - it happens.

Not quite.
Nobody knows.
A lot of guess work here about Dahoud and Fati, imho.

 

[Weststander]

Not quite.
Nobody knows.
A lot of guess work here about Dahoud and Fati, imho.

Especially the Fati deal.

 

[Zeberdi]

Not quite.
Nobody knows.
A lot of guess work here about Dahoud and Fati, imho.

Yes imo we do know Fati chose Brighton because of RDZ - or rather it was Barca that recognised the work RDZ was doing at Brighton was comparable in style (and thus a logical loan destination) to Pep’s ex-Barcelona possession based football so gave Fati the best chance of continuing his rehab/conditioning. RDZ had a phone call quite late on in the proceedings so was instrumental in convincing Fati but the Club didn’t need convincing, Fati was a prodigy, known throughout Europe and we were already some way along in the process by the time RDZ convinced him. David Weir said at the time "We are delighted to bring Ansu to the club. He is one of the most highly-rated young players in the world and arrives with an impressive amount of experience both domestically and in European competition, despite his age”.

I don’t know about Dahoud- just going on what I heard on here that RDZ apparently recommended him but he is an older player we got in a free transfer, it isn’t really a big deal in the greater scheme of things yet it’s become a sort of anti- De Zerbi trope to mention Dahoud ( who is incidentally earning us money as a loan player so it’s not all bad!) ).

 

[American Seagle]

-caicedo and mac not replaced.
-awful summer signings since we lost our recruitment team which we only get worse seeing as Chelsea took our last one standing: Milner, fati, dahoud. All crap.
-injuries
-signing no one when 3 players were needed in jan

= why he has lost his mojo and fair enough.

He doesn’t suit well with bloom so will be for the best he leaves but can’t see anyone touching him, maybe an average Italian team.

Maybe he should show some balls and deal with it then? You know, like he keeps going on about. Sulking doesn't help.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

If we end up well in the bottom half, will whatever massive club is taking him still take him?

Will our memory of him in 5 years be nearly as positive? Took our Potterball top 4 side to 6th and then bottom half? (Last part mostly in jest but not 100%)

 

[Baldseagull]

Not great today, but I have seen us play a lot worse against lesser opposition under the last 2 managers.

 

[Flounce]

I think confidence has taken a massive hit since Rome, it happens and combined with the loss of 2 great engines in the squad and the injuries, the wheels have come off to a degree. This may sound daft and straw clutching but I am struggling to remember the last time we got the rub of the green at both ends of the pitch too.

It seems the season is over though I agree but, who as a long term fan, didn’t know in the back of their minds that something like this was inevitable after the blinding season and a half we have had? Most smaller clubs hit a brick wall after periods of over achieving. It just happened to us.

So many on this thread seem to want to throw the baby out with the bathwater though. Too many over reactions and/or a worrying sense of entitlement

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Here's what's bothered me from the very start of the season. Roberto constantly pointing out the difficultly of having to play three games a week with the Europa League. Now it's not an untrue statement. It's absolutely true. We all know and expect this. But he was saying it back before we'd even kicked a ball in Europe. It felt like an excuse for him, for the players and for the fans right from the start. It feels like that has been internalized by some and so we've just accepted losses.

One of the major roles of a manager, maybe the major role, is to motivate the players. Giving them an out just doesn't seem helpful.

Maybe such observations from a coach sound less demoralizing in Italian? I don't know.

Pretty sure he was just trying to set reasonable expectations.

 

[Robinjakarta]

Plus he is a one trick pony who has been found out.

Oh, the irony!

 

[trueblue]

Agree with you both. I think he’s a manager who gets the best out of elite players, because they have the ability to do what he’s asking.

I don’t think he’s ever going to be a manager who can do something special with an average squad. He’s not adaptable enough.

Last season I genuinely believe we had the best midfield in the league. This year our squad is still very good, but what’s available each week is quite average and RDZ hasn’t coped with it well enough

That doesn’t really stack up. Apart from Shakthar arguably, he’s never really had an ‘elite’ squad. His reputation is built on getting the absolute best out of players to make them ‘elite’ and he’s clearly excellent at developing youngsters.

In that sense, we’re a great fit for his talents. The trouble is he wants to be somewhere that he can enjoy the fruits of his labour and not see the team broken up. That’s the flaw in our model for any ambitious upcoming coach. Not our style but for ‘the project’ I think we probably need a boss who’s already well established and isn’t likely to get poached by a glamour club, maybe because they’ve had that opportunity before. Mind you, plenty of clubs have done okay changing bosses every 2-3 years so maybe it’s not a guaranteed disaster.

 

[BevBHA]

That doesn’t really stack up. Apart from Shakthar arguably, he’s never really had an ‘elite’ squad. His reputation is built on getting the absolute best out of players to make them ‘elite’ and he’s clearly excellent at developing youngsters.

In that sense, we’re a great fit for his talents. The trouble is he wants to be somewhere that he can enjoy the fruits of his labour and not see the team broken up. That’s the flaw in our model for any ambitious upcoming coach. Not our style but for ‘the project’ I think we probably need a boss who’s already well established and isn’t likely to get poached by a glamour club, maybe because they’ve had that opportunity before. Mind you, plenty of clubs have done okay changing bosses every 2-3 years so maybe it’s not a guaranteed disaster.

I’d argue that last season we had a pretty elite squad and very few injuries. Two world class players in midfield. Mitoma, Solly, Enciso, Pervis fit all season. Colwill in defence. We had better squads than most of the league, including some of the big clubs. Our squad last year was better than Spurs, for example. Better than United. Better than Newcastle. They had a couple of better individuals but as a squad I would have taken ours over everyone other than Arsenal, Liverpool and City.

Let’s not forget if we were not robbed at Spurs by pure corruption it is very plausible we would have finished in the top 4. That not only killed us that day but also for a few weeks after too.

My point is that RDZ has not adapted well enough to the variables such as injuries.

 

[trueblue]

My point is that RDZ has not adapted well enough to the variables such as injuries.

I'd certainly agree with that. We've still done pretty well in the grand scheme of things but it's felt like some pragmatism at times would have eked out a few more results against the lesser teams. The things that frustrate me tend to be pretty basic - like Adringra at Brentford never trying to go past the full back. When sides sit deep, it seems obvious that if you get to the byline and cut the ball back it's much more difficult to defend.... increased chance of an own goal, if nothing else. Retaining possession at all costs doesn't seem to work in those scenarios but then what do I know?

 

[peterward]

Where are they? Has he given up on his own model? The players certainly have. Coasting through games. He’s sitting on the bench, hands in pockets.

We could have gone 7th with a win against Brentford but played it with as much urgency and passion as a behind closed doors pre season friendly.

Arsenal are very good, but we’ve completely rolled over today. They’re barely out of 2nd gear.

The team currently has no personality. No desire. We are utterly boring to watch. It’s robotic, it’s like the players have been stripped of all creativity.

We are on the beach already whilst still within a couple of wins from Europe.

I for one am sick of RDZ’s patronising media comments and doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. He has no plan B. He’s not ready for a big job. To be honest in the last 3 months he’s been found out.

What’s gone wrong? Perhaps a change in the summer is not such a bad idea.

I agree with all of the above and while there is no present alternative options, in recent weeks I start looking at the centre mid as being a big part of it. WBG goes backwards too often, great player but needs to move forwards with more dynamism which is what Baleba is starting to show.

And Gross, whom I love and has great feet is slowing it all down too imho.

When we counter, or break lines we have to keep moving forward with pace whilst the oppo are out of position. Too often we stop, cut back and it fizzles out as oppo get back organised.

Central mid is key here. More pace, more forward thinking dynamism needed. Its pedestrian at times

 

[Justice]

I’d argue that last season we had a pretty elite squad and very few injuries. Two world class players in midfield. Mitoma, Solly, Enciso, Pervis fit all season. Colwill in defence. We had better squads than most of the league, including some of the big clubs. Our squad last year was better than Spurs, for example. Better than United. Better than Newcastle. They had a couple of better individuals but as a squad I would have taken ours over everyone other than Arsenal, Liverpool and City.

Let’s not if we were not robbed at Spurs by pure corruption it is very plausible we would have finished in the top 4. That not only killed us that day but also for a few weeks after too.

My point is that RDZ has not adapted well enough to the variables such as injuries.

What’s he meant to have done you’ve argued on one hand our team last season was superior and then knocked the guy for not winning games with a lesser squad and an injury pile up

 

[Hiheidi]

According to The Athletic today, he is still one of the most over performing managers.

How can you tell if a football manager is actually good at their job?

In truth the right question is “How do we know if a manager will be good for this group of players?"

theathletic.com

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Roberto seems almost broken in his post match comments it is very sad to see after the absolute breath of fresh air he has been for 19 months. I am still 100% behind him and do not doublt his ability and potential. We need to dust off in the summer and go again with hopefully all the players fit and a few new additions. This season will fizzle out with about 47 points and 13th but it has been a fantastic and successful time with Roberto so far

 

[Deadly Danson]

His post January window comments have pissed me off, I have to say. All very well wanting us to bring ready-to-go players in in January, but clubs don't want to sell those types of player in January for anything other than silly money. He's not the one that has to deal with the long-term consequences and stability if the signings don't work out.

I think this is where I am and agree with every word. Clearly RDZ is a great coach and, all things considered, finishing anywhere around 10th or so is fine this season (and in fact any season). I would like him to stay. But, he is not immune from criticism. I'm not amused by his constant excuses in every presser nor by his comments about the transfer window and it has to be said tactically we have been found out a lot. It also feels like we are all waiting for him to decide if he deigns to grace us with his presence next season which I'm not overly comfortable with. But if we are looking for the best possible coach for next season (assuming he's motivated) then RDZ is the man.