[Albion] Saudi regime buying Dan Ashworth: the undelying cause for our collapse in form?

[Neville's Breakfast]

I am not surprised by reports that the Albion management and board was shocked to the core by Ashworth's resignation, given the apparent closeness between him, Potter and Barber and the essential role he was playing at the club. We were (hopefully still will be) creating something a bit special, navigating the financial challenges of competing with the ridiculous Premier League plutocrats with aplomb, but for one of the core staff to leave in such a way just drove home the reality that, seemingly even for us, the only thing that counts in this league is money, anyone/anything can be bought and ultimately all the fruits of our magnificent efforts on or off the pitch can be cherrypicked by whichever crook, oligarch or foreign despot regime chooses to make a PL club his latest plaything or sportswashing exercise.

I suspect (I may be wrong) that the board thought we were a bit different, creating something not entirely driven by pound signs, given the large remuneration packages already in place, and that this has sent shockwaves through the club of a kind that players demanding transfers would never do. Results at the moment seem entirely predictable, and Potter sounds, dare I say it, a little bit defeated by it all.

I, like many of you, am behind him 100%, think he is the best manager we have ever had and am confident that we can pick ourselves up, gain the five or so points we need to finish in our financially predetermined 15th place again and regroup ready to do the same next season - unless the disgusting Abramovich fiasco finally triggers legislation forcing clubs to adopt the German model, which it won't.

Up the Albion.

Down with modern football.

Isn’t this a bit of a contradiction ? Large remuneration packages are at the core of what is wrong with modern football. So are you for or against it ?

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Yes, I'd like us to be part of something far, far better, like the Bundesliga, where money still plays a role, but not to such a ludicrous extent, and ticket prices are affordable to all. It's eminently possuble with the right political wiil, which is obviously on gardening leave with Dan Ashworth.

The away trips would be a bit expensive. I’m out.

 

[Klaas]

It's not controversial to say that well settled, well structured clubs are the ones that do well and we've just become less structured and well settled.

The gory years surely taught us this much.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

How about changing the away dressing room at the Amex back to the away portacabin at Withdean. That wouldn't so friendly

We might have to extend half time to 45 minutes…

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

fair play ....nail on head. When you have 50 +year old female stewards telling people who are standing up and singing to " sit down and shut up" you know the tide has turned ....strange and sad.What sort of environment is "the club" trying to achieve ...?? library like...?? will there be tv screens in the back of the seats showing adverts during the game next ...?? when does this stop becoming a corporate exercise and start becoming a game of football again , on a saturday afternoon , at 3.00pm.??

What relevance is gender of the stewards to this conversation ?

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

I would very much hope that our players aren't that mentally fragile that the loss of a bloke who they probably don't even have much day-to-day contact with has affected there form on the pitch. In terms of causes, my suspicion is that the current run of losses has got more to do with having our best defender getting injured, second best suffering a sever loss of form and our (joint) third best being sold. And let's not forget that the run was started by us having to play an entire half with 10 men away at Man Utd.

I have heard ex player pundits say that footballers will look for excuses to hide behind to explain poor form. The departure of Ashworth comes gift wrapped as a reason for some players.

 

[um bongo molongo]

I am not surprised by reports that the Albion management and board was shocked to the core by Ashworth's resignation, given the apparent closeness between him, Potter and Barber and the essential role he was playing at the club. We were (hopefully still will be) creating something a bit special, navigating the financial challenges of competing with the ridiculous Premier League plutocrats with aplomb, but for one of the core staff to leave in such a way just drove home the reality that, seemingly even for us, the only thing that counts in this league is money, anyone/anything can be bought and ultimately all the fruits of our magnificent efforts on or off the pitch can be cherrypicked by whichever crook, oligarch or foreign despot regime chooses to make a PL club his latest plaything or sportswashing exercise.

I suspect (I may be wrong) that the board thought we were a bit different, creating something not entirely driven by pound signs, given the large remuneration packages already in place, and that this has sent shockwaves through the club of a kind that players demanding transfers would never do. Results at the moment seem entirely predictable, and Potter sounds, dare I say it, a little bit defeated by it all.

I, like many of you, am behind him 100%, think he is the best manager we have ever had and am confident that we can pick ourselves up, gain the five or so points we need to finish in our financially predetermined 15th place again and regroup ready to do the same next season - unless the disgusting Abramovich fiasco finally triggers legislation forcing clubs to adopt the German model, which it won't.

Up the Albion.

Down with modern football.

Had much the same thought. I doubt it would impact directly on the players, but may have done with Potter, who I think is quite bought in to ‘the project’. I think there’s a genuine sense of betrayal. But also makes the decision to sell Burn as well, who (publicly at least) was happy to stay, even more strange.

 

[um bongo molongo]

I also have a hunch, and it’s only that, that we turned down an offer for Biss in Jan (possibly from Villa). And our best player looking completely disinterested since Jan has been the biggest impact on our form imho.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Stances will crystallise massively if Norwich result offers no respite to crap home form. Cosy little managerial 'Project' may well end right there, right then, with GP f*cking right off back to the level where he belongs and Billy Reid appointed caretaker manager for last couple of games to try and at least instill some backbone back into the side

That sounds like a bit of Scotch nationalism craftily woven in to the thread. Is that you Nicola ?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

That sounds like a bit of Scotch nationalism craftily woven in to the thread. Is that you Nicola ?

I may or may not self-identify as Nicola at weekends. None of your business

 

[GT49er]

I also have a hunch, and it’s only that, that we turned down an offer for Biss in Jan (possibly from Villa). And our best player looking completely disinterested since Jan has been the biggest impact on our form imho.

Wasn't it rumoured that Villa had offered around £30M for Biss in January? I'm sure I read something of the sort somewhere. In retrospect, if true, that looks like it would have been much better business than the sale of BDB.

 

[um bongo molongo]

Wasn't it rumoured that Villa had offered around £30M for Biss in January? I'm sure I read something of the sort somewhere. In retrospect, if true, that looks like it would have been much better business than the sale of BDB.

For early season (or last season) Biss, £30M would be ridiculously low. Our best player in my lifetime (I’m mid 40s) imo. Should be going to a top 4 club. But how he’s played since Jan suggests he wanted to go and is in a sulk. Which is stupid, as it’s likely to put off the top clubs. I think it’s single biggest impact on our form, he’s our one truly top class player.

 

[GT49er]

For early season (or last season) Biss, £30M would be ridiculously low. Our best player in my lifetime (I’m mid 40s) imo. Should be going to a top 4 club. But how he’s played since Jan suggests he wanted to go and is in a sulk. Which is stupid, as it’s likely to put off the top clubs. I think it’s single biggest impact on our form, he’s our one truly top class player.

Yes, but it looks pretty appealing now! I doubt we'll get anything like as much for him as many on here seem to think.

 

[um bongo molongo]

Yes, but it looks pretty appealing now! I doubt we'll get anything like as much for him as many on here seem to think.

He hasn’t become a bad player overnight. Still should be targeting a top 4 side imo. Better than anything United have in that position for one. The price will depend on how many see past this recent dip - I’m still hopeful of a bidding war. Villa will bid for sure (slowly building a very good side, annoyingly).

 

[GT49er]

He hasn’t become a bad player overnight. Still should be targeting a top 4 side imo. Better than anything United have in that position for one. The price will depend on how many see past this recent dip - I’m still hopeful of a bidding war. Villa will bid for sure (slowly building a very good side, annoyingly).

United will be looking for the likes of Rice or Phillips, or someone from Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG or wherever. They may or may not be right to do that - but they will.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

I also have a hunch, and it’s only that, that we turned down an offer for Biss in Jan (possibly from Villa). And our best player looking completely uninterested since Jan has been the biggest impact on our form imho.

Do try to keep up. Steven Gerrard went public on the fact that Villa had a bid for Bissouma turned down in January.

If I was Bissouma I'd be quite pleased that my club had higher ambitions for me than a cut-price sale to a club with little prospect of a European place.

Also corrected 'disinterested' to 'uninterested' for you.

 

[sydney]

Do try to keep up. Steven Gerrard went public on the fact that Villa had a bid for Bissouma turned down in January.

If I was Bissouma I'd be quite pleased that my club had higher ambitions for me than a cut-price sale to a club with little prospect of a European place.

Also corrected 'disinterested' to 'uninterested' for you.

jesus there are some pedantic planks on this forum.

 

[BNthree]

If I was Bissouma I'd be quite pleased that my club had higher ambitions for me than a cut-price sale to a club with little prospect of a European place.

The gossip from those In The Know (aka blokes down the pub) is that Bissouma really wants to go to a London club and doesn't fancy living in the Midands.

 

[Springal]

Interestingly Bissouma is now back on Social Media for the first time since 'the incident' - with a great caption of 'The best moments of life are always ahead of us' - so hopefully hes talking about the Norwich game

 

[Originunknown]

I also have a hunch, and it’s only that, that we turned down an offer for Biss in Jan (possibly from Villa). And our best player looking completely disinterested since Jan has been the biggest impact on our form imho.

This certainly hasn't helped. Bissouma has been a waste of space since Christmas
If this is an indication of how disinterested he'll be next season if we make him play out his contract then best we do let him go.