[Albion] Roberto De Zerbi - JOINS AS NEW HEAD COACH (4 year contract)

[Horses Arse]

Until recently I’ve been working on the theory that I really need to bathe in the fruity goodness of this season because this might well be as good as it gets. It felt nailed on that the big clubs would be forming an orderly queue in the close season and we’d be looking at a very different squad come August.

Now I’m daring to dream a little beyond August. The club’s excellent work in lining up new deals for Mac Allister, Caicedo, Lallana and Solly suggests we are serious about keeping this squad together by forcing any suitors into having to offer truly eye watering sums.

What really has me thinking some of our biggest names might be about next season is the absolutely rave reviews RDZ seems to be attracting from the players themselves. It genuinely feels like there’s just something a little extra about the guy and that the players would gladly sell a lung for him.

It might well just be the seagull tinted spectacles, but I’m wondering if the club is going all out to hang onto this squad for one more season to have a serious tilt at breaking the big boys’ club and that RDZ is the lynchpin in keeping them together.

OK. Call me a soft old romantic.

Simon LeBon

 

[dazzer6666]

Deep down does he seem a Barber or Bloom man? Nope, got the job because there was little else available when GPott walked.

He'll be gone in the summer.

Yeah, Tony looked so disappointed at the introductory press conference.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I really really hope you are right @jimhigham - RdZ is the key.

 

[Badger Boy]

The thing that I REALLY like about RDZ is how happy he looks in the pictures with Adam Lallana and Solly March at their new contract signings. He'd been vocal about wanting a new deal for Lallana, despite the injury and then he walks into the room singing, "Solly, Solly March" at his signing. Amazing. He's a serious man and we're so well run to have known of him, be of interest to him and be in a position to get him in and appointed.

 

[Swansman]

I really really hope you are right @jimhigham - RdZ is the key.

Go down memory lane and read some old posts and Poyet/maybe not Sami/Hughton/Potter were also the key at various points.

They all f***ed off to here or there but none of it has stopped Brighton from progressing and climbing on nearly a yearly basis (one big dip between 13/14 and 14/15 and two small dips going a couple of points backwards) since a certain Tony Bloom took charge.

Like I said when Graham left and people went into "oh gawd I hope we can avoid relegation"-mode... as long as Tony Bloom is in the club, there's nothing to fear. Roberto will walk one day, there's a good chance it won't be pretty, there will likely be some despair here unless things have gone tits up... and it will all turn out just fine.

Tony Bloom is the key.

 

[Eeyore]

The thing that I REALLY like about RDZ is how happy he looks in the pictures with Adam Lallana and Solly March at their new contract signings. He'd been vocal about wanting a new deal for Lallana, despite the injury and then he walks into the room singing, "Solly, Solly March" at his signing. Amazing. He's a serious man and we're so well run to have known of him, be of interest to him and be in a position to get him in and appointed.

I do rather like him. Although if he was manager of any other team folk on here would be saying what a massive twunt he was.

 

[Sheebo]

Until recently I’ve been working on the theory that I really need to bathe in the fruity goodness of this season because this might well be as good as it gets. It felt nailed on that the big clubs would be forming an orderly queue in the close season and we’d be looking at a very different squad come August.

Now I’m daring to dream a little beyond August. The club’s excellent work in lining up new deals for Mac Allister, Caicedo, Lallana and Solly suggests we are serious about keeping this squad together by forcing any suitors into having to offer truly eye watering sums.

What really has me thinking some of our biggest names might be about next season is the absolutely rave reviews RDZ seems to be attracting from the players themselves. It genuinely feels like there’s just something a little extra about the guy and that the players would gladly sell a lung for him.

It might well just be the seagull tinted spectacles, but I’m wondering if the club is going all out to hang onto this squad for one more season to have a serious tilt at breaking the big boys’ club and that RDZ is the lynchpin in keeping them together.

OK. Call me a soft old romantic.

Soft romantic.

 

[Charles 'Charley' Charles]

What impresses me most is the way he is changing the mindset of everyone at, and involved with the club, and to be honest I struggle to get my head around it. We're no longer above our station little Brighton, grateful to make up the numbers to we should be aiming higher etc, we're a big club, no?

 

[SeagullsoverLondon]

I do rather like him. Although if he was manager of any other team folk on here would be saying what a massive twunt he was.

Really, where on Twitter or fans forums is anyone saying that at the moment?
I can't believe even the Palace fans are slagging him off?

 

[SeagullsoverLondon]

What impresses me most is the way he is changing the mindset of everyone at, and involved with the club, and to be honest I struggle to get my head around it. We're no longer above our station little Brighton, grateful to make up the numbers to we should be aiming higher etc, we're a big club, no?

It was interesting to hear Warren say on the radio or on a podcast last week that Brighton fans now have to put the past behind and start thinking about how big we could be under RdZ.
And while I would say we should never forget the past 25 years (it has made us what we are), for the first time in my life I now believe we actually belong at the top table. It might not last forever, but at the moment the future is gloriously bright(on).

 

[JBizzle]

What impresses me most is the way he is changing the mindset of everyone at, and involved with the club, and to be honest I struggle to get my head around it. We're no longer above our station little Brighton, grateful to make up the numbers to we should be aiming higher etc, we're a big club, no?

This is the real shift from Potter to De Zerbi in my mind. Potter seemed to always be held back by what our history said we should be as a club, De Zerbi is all about the promise of the future.

Both are two of our best ever managers and progressed us immeasurably, but I think De Zerbi has a genuine elite mentality. The cup competitions are the perfect comparison, De Zerbi has gone for the FA and Carabao and is still fizzing over the Charlton missed opportunity, whereas Potter always seemed to make 8 changes and play the kids to focus on the league.

 

[jimhigham]

Love his reply to the question would he rather win the FA Cup or gain European qualification…

I can’t decide. I want to win everything.

No messing about.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Deep down does he seem a Barber or Bloom man? Nope, got the job because there was little else available when GPott walked.

He'll be gone in the summer.

Where?

Neither of the Manchester clubs will change manager
Nor will Arsenal
Newcastle might, but they'll probably go for a proven 'name'
Liverpool might, but I'm not sure they'll go for RDZ
Outside chance of Spuds, but his countryman in post right now might put him off
Chelsea won't take another punt on a Brighton manager with a relatively limited track record of success
Fulham/Brentford would look like a sideways move at best – and anyone else would be a downgrade

So no PL move, then.
Real Madrid? Carlo is probably off to be Brazil coach, but I'm pretty sure they won't go for RDZ as a replacement
Barca? Same – not enough experience/success
Germany/France?
Italian teams seem to be doing well in Europe – a big ambition for our Roberto – but I'm not sure he wants to move away from the riches of the PL
A national team?

So where?

My money is on Manchester City – eventually. But not this summer.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

What impresses me most is the way he is changing the mindset of everyone at, and involved with the club, and to be honest I struggle to get my head around it. We're no longer above our station little Brighton, grateful to make up the numbers to we should be aiming higher etc, we're a big club, no?

Yes, no?

 

[lawros left foot]

I’m definitely putting a tenner on him to be the first manager sent off at Wembley.

 

[peterward]

Where?

Neither of the Manchester clubs will change manager
Nor will Arsenal
Newcastle might, but they'll probably go for a proven 'name'
Liverpool might, but I'm not sure they'll go for RDZ
Outside chance of Spuds, but his countryman in post right now might put him off
Chelsea won't take another punt on a Brighton manager with a relatively limited track record of success
Fulham/Brentford would look like a sideways move at best – and anyone else would be a downgrade

So no PL move, then.
Real Madrid? Carlo is probably off to be Brazil coach, but I'm pretty sure they won't go for RDZ as a replacement
Barca? Same – not enough experience/success
Germany/France?
Italian teams seem to be doing well in Europe – a big ambition for our Roberto – but I'm not sure he wants to move away from the riches of the PL
A national team?

So where?

My money is on Manchester City – eventually. But not this summer.

Conte is off and scrooge Levy will try and lure him to Spurs..... no doubt the stadium is impressive, but he won't get either the support or the necessary cash from their, tight as a ducks arse chairman.

 

[The Mole]

Where?

Neither of the Manchester clubs will change manager
Nor will Arsenal
Newcastle might, but they'll probably go for a proven 'name'
Liverpool might, but I'm not sure they'll go for RDZ
Outside chance of Spuds, but his countryman in post right now might put him off
Chelsea won't take another punt on a Brighton manager with a relatively limited track record of success
Fulham/Brentford would look like a sideways move at best – and anyone else would be a downgrade

So no PL move, then.
Real Madrid? Carlo is probably off to be Brazil coach, but I'm pretty sure they won't go for RDZ as a replacement
Barca? Same – not enough experience/success
Germany/France?
Italian teams seem to be doing well in Europe – a big ambition for our Roberto – but I'm not sure he wants to move away from the riches of the PL
A national team?

So where?

My money is on Manchester City – eventually. But not this summer.

I think a national team might be very tempting for his style. He came into a good group of players and improved them very quickly with a different mentality which would be a real asset to a national team.
in the meantime, let’s enjoy the ride and be pleased to have him as our manager

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Where?

Neither of the Manchester clubs will change manager
Nor will Arsenal
Newcastle might, but they'll probably go for a proven 'name'
Liverpool might, but I'm not sure they'll go for RDZ
Outside chance of Spuds, but his countryman in post right now might put him off
Chelsea won't take another punt on a Brighton manager with a relatively limited track record of success
Fulham/Brentford would look like a sideways move at best – and anyone else would be a downgrade

So no PL move, then.
Real Madrid? Carlo is probably off to be Brazil coach, but I'm pretty sure they won't go for RDZ as a replacement
Barca? Same – not enough experience/success
Germany/France?
Italian teams seem to be doing well in Europe – a big ambition for our Roberto – but I'm not sure he wants to move away from the riches of the PL
A national team?

So where?

My money is on Manchester City – eventually. But not this summer.

So Spurs, Liverpool or Newcastle all possible in the summer.

Juve or either Milan club not out of the question.

There are certainly possible destinations. That's not the same as it going through

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Conte is off and scrooge Levy will try and lure him to Spurs..... no doubt the stadium is impressive, but he won't get either the support or the necessary cash from their, tights as a ducks arse chairman.

Not after he's paid RDZ release fee anyway

 

[Greg Bobkin]

So Spurs, Liverpool or Newcastle all possible in the summer.

Juve or either Milan club not out of the question.

There are certainly possible destinations. That's not the same as it going through

Exactly! I guess it all depends on what he achieves before the end of May with the Albion. There's a huge difference in the attraction of a manger who only gets to a cup semi final and finishes, for argument's sake, eighth in the league* and one that finishes fourth and wins the FA Cup.

I still don't think he'll go anywhere just yet though.

*Although there's an outside chance he'd throw his toys out of the pram and leave if that happened!