Season of failure?

[Thimble Keegan]

It's not on iplayer anymore. I don't know if it's on seagulls player as I don't have that. I did find the original thread on here as it happened, and that included a link to a transcript:

http://attheendofthedaydes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/fans-forum-transcript.html

Q: Welcome Oscar, welcome back Nathan. My question is for Tony: the club has said that we wish to play at the highest possible level, which presumably means promotion to the Premier League. I was wondering, however, what your view or the board's view would be of the minimum acceptable finish for this coming season in the league?

TB: Thank you very much for that opening question. I've got to be a little bit careful - Oscar's just here on my left so I don't want to put him under too much pressure before the season even starts. It's always a difficult one. We aim to get to the Premiership, it's a very competitive division as we know and every season, at the start of the season, we have to try and have a squad we think is capable of promotion. I certainly think this season we have that. You can get a couple of injuries or a few bad games and be just outside the play-offs; we could get a bit of luck and finish in the top two. But I think if we finish in the top six we've got to be happy. If we're in the play-offs again hopefully we'll get a bit of luck. But it's very difficult to say, I mean outside the play-offs we're not going to be happy but at the end of the day we try and be competitive so that we have a reasonable chance of promotion every season within the Championship.​

As I said, I know what I heard...And in any event what you posted above backs up what I said. So, whilst I do not regard this season as a 'failure', in fact I am pretty pleased with how it has gone, it would be interesting to know Tony feels now...

Albion & England forever.

Thimble Keegan
Rustington BHA

 

[Acker79]

As I said, I know what I heard...And in any event what you posted above backs up what I said. So, whilst I do not regard this season as a 'failure', in fact I am pretty pleased with how it has gone, it would be interesting to know Tony feels now...

Albion & England forever.

Thimble Keegan
Rustington BHA

The initial claim was that he said he expected top 6 (and by extension that means we have failed, even though we are currently 6th). You said he made that statement at the fans forum. The transcript of the fans forum I posted does not back up that he said he expected a top 6 finish, so I fail to see how you can claim what I posted backs up your point.

Whatever you may think you heard, Tony Bloom did not say at the fans forum that he "expects top 6". He seems to be very well aware that we have no divine right to promotion or the play offs, that there are many factors (including injuries, which have been a big factor this season) that feed into where teams finish, and that he wants a team that can compete for the top six, with the hope that we eventually take our chance to get promoted to the premier league.

He has a team that can compete for the top 6. As such, contrary to Ernest's claim, by Tony Bloom's definition, no this season isn't a failure because he has a team competing for the top six.

 

[Footsoldier]

Have a great time.

(It'll be shit. Barbeques were much better in the old days)

Had a lovely time even though they are still cooking so will have to pop out now and again to stuff my face

 

[wilko1]

No definitely not a failure.. It's been a tough transitional season and better than Gus's first in the championship...disappointing in some respects, lack of investment in the team the main problem.. I still think we can make it to play offs as long as we beat Yeovil

 

[Pavilionaire]

I think given the injuries and the transfer activity then making the Top 6 IS over-achieving. However, you need to seize your opportunities when they present themselves; I can't see another "race for 7th"-type scenario happening again for a while.

Even though we have a problem scoring goals our defence and possession stats are play-off standard, and if we don't go up it is unlikely our defence will be this mean against next season.

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

No definitely not a failure.. It's been a tough transitional season and better than Gus's first in the championship...disappointing in some respects, lack of investment in the team the main problem.. I still think we can make it to play offs as long as we beat Yeovil

This, all things considered - if we were to finish 7th and narrowly miss out on the play-offs - we cant be too disappointed.

 

[Footsoldier]

This, all things considered - if we were to finish 7th and narrowly miss out on the play-offs - we cant be too disappointed.

It would be a disaster.

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

It would be a disaster.

In what way ?

Summer of complete bullsh*t and arguements between Poyet and the club, a new manager with pretty much no pre-season, constant injuries and consistent lack of form/effort by the players. After all that, being in the mix for the play-offs and only just missing out by a point or so really isnt that bad, a missed chance - certainly, but not a disaster.

Had Poyet remained Albion manager, it certainly would have been a disaster (5 year plan with him in charge and all that).

 

[Footsoldier]

In what way ?

Summer of complete bullsh*t and arguements between Poyet and the club, a new manager with pretty much no pre-season, constant injuries and consistent lack of form/effort by the players. After all that, being in the mix for the play-offs and only just missing out by a point or so really isnt that bad, a missed chance - certainly, but not a disaster.

Had Poyet remained Albion manager, it certainly would have been a disaster (5 year plan with him in charge and all that).

You and me are irrelevant with our views. Mr Bloom will be pissed off if we don't make the play offs. If he is unhappy then that's good enough for me.

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

You and me are irrelevant with our views. Mr Bloom will be pissed off if we don't make the play offs. If he is unhappy then that's good enough for me.

How do you know he will be "pissed off" ?

Fairly sure TB is a reasonable man who will understand the significant issues this season.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Mr Bloom will be pissed off if we don't make the play offs. If he is unhappy then that's good enough for me.

There's going to come a time pretty soon when TB starts to seriously question how is it that clubs which are on the face of it far less 'Premier League Ready' than us e.g. Palace, Burnley get to leapfrog over us.

 

[Addiseagull]

It's been a very good season everything considered. People are completely losing perspective at the moment. We have NO divine right to the top 6.

I think if you are a home fan only (as I am) then you'd say we've gone a long way backwards. For me it's been pretty average with a few exceptions (QPR, Leicester). I've seen nothing to convince me that Garcia knows how to take the game to the opponent at home, on a consistent basis. Yesterday summed it all up in the first 45 mins. Clueless. BUT, I appreciate that away from home we've generally been much better. That's of little concern to the paying 27,000 though who want entertainment.

 

[Thimble Keegan]

The initial claim was that he said he expected top 6 (and by extension that means we have failed, even though we are currently 6th). You said he made that statement at the fans forum. The transcript of the fans forum I posted does not back up that he said he expected a top 6 finish, so I fail to see how you can claim what I posted backs up your point.

Whatever you may think you heard, Tony Bloom did not say at the fans forum that he "expects top 6". He seems to be very well aware that we have no divine right to promotion or the play offs, that there are many factors (including injuries, which have been a big factor this season) that feed into where teams finish, and that he wants a team that can compete for the top six, with the hope that we eventually take our chance to get promoted to the premier league.

He has a team that can compete for the top 6. As such, contrary to Ernest's claim, by Tony Bloom's definition, no this season isn't a failure because he has a team competing for the top six.

Bloom said "we have to try and have a squad we think is capable of promotion. I certainly think this season we have that." You need to finish minimum of 6th place to have a chance of promotion. He may not have used the exact words "expect top 6" but you, being one of the better posters on here, should be able to read between the lines.

But following on from the rest of TB says I doubt he sees this season as "failure" as he went on to say: "You can get a couple of injuries or a few bad games and be just outside the play-offs; we could get a bit of luck and finish in the top two." Now the first part certainly applies to us thus far, but I like I said, I am satisfied enough with this season, but it is not over yet...

Albion & England forever.

Thimble Keegan
Rustington BHA

 

[Seasidesage]

I don't think the season is a disaster by any means. I do think it will be a chance missed if we don't make the play offs although to be fair, I think QPR and Derby would both beat us. What it is IMO, is the end of this squad and the side itself. I think the majority of our defence which has mostly been excellent are going to need changing, the midfield and forwards also require an overhaul. My worry is that we won't replace those that need to go with better quality and this may be the closest we get to going up for sometime...

For what it is worth, the old north stand was far louder. But considering there were far more people in there, able to stand and crowd together with a lower roof and far less intrusive stewarding that is hardly surprising really...

I remember living up at the Dials before I was allowed to go to games, with my dear old Mum and you could hear the crowd from there sometimes...

 

[Footsoldier]

There's going to come a time pretty soon when TB starts to seriously question how is it that clubs which are on the face of it far less 'Premier League Ready' than us e.g. Palace, Burnley get to leapfrog over us.

And that is when he kicks arse bit time. Forget all these people who will be happy for us to float around in the championship for years as they haven't a clue as it isn't their money. Bloom will lose his temper and kick arse big time.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

And that is when he kicks arse bit time. Forget all these people who will be happy for us to float around in the championship for years as they haven't a clue as it isn't their money. Bloom will lose his temper and kick arse big time.

This. 100%.

 

[Footsoldier]

Getting my plumbing done tomorrow

 

[The Brighton Buzz]

Home form has cost us dear. Not a complete failure though we have showed that we are not far away having taken 10 out of 12 points off the promoted sides. We need to get motivated against the lesser teams.

 

[knocky1]

A non top 6 season has to be a massive success. Promotion would put an immediate stop to all plans to be Premier League Ready.

 

[Charlies Shinpad]

Not going to trawl all through this thread but just need to say "Its only our 3rd year in the Championship !!"

Look how many clubs have been in this league for years and are perennial strugglers and then look at us, be glad we have got a team and a man in charge who have given us something to play for going into the last two weeks of the season, I know sometimes its frustrating to watch the team but imagine the empty seats if we were down in the relegation zone.
This season isnt a failure its another giant step towards getting ready to join the big boys league