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

[BLOCK F]

her buttons are under some serious pressure.

Indeed they are.
Not entirely unattractive, an old mate of mine would have said.

 

[albionalex]

Whatever the club say publicly someone senior clearly has a big problem with Ashworth’s conduct on this. I’d love to know what his involvement was in the sale of BDB, as DoF he’d have had a vote.

I think that's a bit of a stretch.

There's literally no reason for us to release Ashworth from his gardening leave early unless we get a shed load of cash, which so far Newcastle won't stump up.

 

[schmunk]

her buttons are under some serious pressure.

I think that's a bit of a stretch.

 

[sydney]

melons...!

 

[Smillie's People]

I don't think that this is a revelation for him following Ashworth's departure. Potter's press interactions have always shown him to be completely realistic about Brighton's place in the food chain. He has always understood the magnitude of the task when in competition with clubs with the budgets of actual countries behind them.

In recent pre-match press conferences he has been asked repeatedly about the 'collapse in form' and has rightly pointed out that the recent results have not all necessarily been because of bad performances. His analysis rings true to me. i.e. Man United - okay until Ronaldo took advantage of a mistake. Dunk's sending off minutes later made it hard work. The players fought well, but the task was too big. Burnley - bad performance, perhaps a bit tired following the United effort, also complacency against a capable team who very much needed a win, Villa - better performance, but done on the break, just like in the away game, Newcastle - Once again, hurt badly by opponent taking the few chances they were given very well. Liverpool (& as their performance against West Ham suggested, also Tottenham) - Decent enough performance, but bad time to play a very good side.

There is not a particular drop off in performances. The final ball hasn't been there and the players lack a bit of confidence, but that has happened in other games this season and in other runs of matches during Potter's time. Bissouma's form has been questioned, but he is regularly being asked to sit deeper because we've often been playing with two instead of three centre backs. He has also been missing Lallana alongside him who has previously shared the defensive work and allowed him the freedom to impose himself further forward. Webster is a big miss because he gives us more of a threat through the middle, but also because he is the best we have in the left side CB position. His absence has forced Dunk out there and, with Cucu going forward so much, Dunk sometimes lacks the pace needed to cover the winger. He is also missed from the centre where he is generally dominant. Sanchez has made mistakes, but he has done this off and on all season. He's a young keeper who is still learning.

Potter's mantra when asked about the results has been 'It's a lot of things'. He's right. Its natural for us, as humans to look for recent changes, signs and patterns which would give us a simple explanation, but whenever pundits try to give a bite size explanation of why football teams struggle for results, I always think back to the title of Ben Goldacre's book on science journalism - 'I Think You'll Find It's A Bit More Complicated Than That.'

I think you should consider that Potter and co. took a gamble on signing Welbeck and Lallana, both were free agents which suggests there were concerns elsewhere over their durability. Albion have not successfully replaced Glen Murray as a target man who can hold up the long-ball, Maupay is just not that kind of player. Welbeck would be if he could stay fit.

To me GP plays a continental-style game which suceeds against teams giving them space in midfield, but doesn't work against a high press. And if your defence has an off-day, then you will leak goals. I think also Sanchez hasn't quite got the understanding with his defence that Ryan did.

 

[nwgull]

I think that's a bit of a stretch.

There's literally no reason for us to release Ashworth from his gardening leave early unless we get a shed load of cash, which so far Newcastle won't stump up.

This. Enforced gardening leave happens all the time in normal business when a high-level employee resigns to join a competitor.

 

[Springal]

I think you should consider that Potter and co. took a gamble on signing Welbeck and Lallana, both were free agents which suggests there were concerns elsewhere over their durability. Albion have not successfully replaced Glen Murray as a target man who can hold up the long-ball, Maupay is just not that kind of player. Welbeck would be if he could stay fit.

Welbecks been fit for 3.5 months now!

 

[Acker79]

Welbecks been fit for 3.5 months now!

In total?

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

I wonder if Newcastle's reluctance to pay for him is because a big factor in getting him was to **** us over and they aren't in a rush.

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[Silverhatch]

I wonder if Newcastle's reluctance to pay for him is because a big factor in getting him was to **** us over and they aren't in a rush.

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Geordie Arabia need someone to build their entire football operation. That's Ashworth's forte. The richest club on the planet have bigger fry to **** off, rather than #teamslikebrighton

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

I think you should consider that Potter and co. took a gamble on signing Welbeck and Lallana, both were free agents which suggests there were concerns elsewhere over their durability. Albion have not successfully replaced Glen Murray as a target man who can hold up the long-ball, Maupay is just not that kind of player. Welbeck would be if he could stay fit.

To me GP plays a continental-style game which suceeds against teams giving them space in midfield, but doesn't work against a high press. And if your defence has an off-day, then you will leak goals. I think also Sanchez hasn't quite got the understanding with his defence that Ryan did.

Often read on here that Potter apparently doesn’t like wingers. Now, this could be true or is it that he doesn’t see the point in using wingers without an effective target man.

Aware of Ollie McBurnie but was this simply using the best he had, and McBurnie happened to be tall?

Maybe one for @%1;

 

[dazzer6666]

I think that's a bit of a stretch.

There's literally no reason for us to release Ashworth from his gardening leave early unless we get a shed load of cash, which so far Newcastle won't stump up.

Almost - releasing him early would save several months salary, but Tony has decided he’d rather pay Ashworth his salary for x months and have him at home scratching his arse rather than let him (formally - he’ll 100% be doing some stuff for them now) start work with a competitor straight away. Not unusual at all.

 

[Rookie]

Whatever the club say publicly someone senior clearly has a big problem with Ashworth’s conduct on this. I’d love to know what his involvement was in the sale of BDB, as DoF he’d have had a vote.

What is wrong with holding him (or anyone) to their notice period? If Newcastle want him before that period ends then then they have to pay. No big conspiracy

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Geordie Arabia need someone to build their entire football operation. That's Ashworth's forte. The richest club on the planet have bigger fry to **** off, rather than #teamslikebrighton

Yes fair point. I am being a bit blinded by them somehow feeling the need to spend £20m on Chris Wood which felt more like an attempt to screw Burnley

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[GT49er]

According to the Daily Mail (and I hereby solemnly declare that I do not read the Daily Mail - one of their articles was reported by the BBC - I hope that makes it OK for everyone?) we are demanding £5M to release him from gardening leave. Seems a ridicuously small amount (in PL football terms anyway). I'd have thought the Saudis, if offered that deal, would pay it out of the small change in their back pocket after a night out in 'Spoons in the Toon.

 

[Swansman]

According to the Daily Mail (and I hereby solemnly declare that I do not read the Daily Mail - one of their articles was reported by the BBC - I hope that makes it OK for everyone?) we are demanding £5M to release him from gardening leave. Seems a ridicuously small amount (in PL football terms anyway). I'd have thought the Saudis, if offered that deal, would pay it out of the small change in their back pocket after a night out in 'Spoons in the Toon.

It is a huge fee for a DoF, I dont think I've heard of any higher than that.

 

[zefarelly]

I can see the Saudis splashing £5m to avoid a trip to 'Spoons

especially as theyre not noted for cheap binge drinking

for another thread maybe