[Albion] The Albion - Close season - victim of your own success

[Uh_huh_him]

Right now we're worrying about losing some of that mentioned list, but next summer it could be that after a good season with us we're worried about losing Mitoma, Undav. Van Hecke etc... The business model is now one that keeps this process going, we buy players cheap and sell a few on for inflated fees, all the while hopefully keeping us a Premier League team and improving each year.

I can't help feeling that Potter is the biggest risk to the model.
He does seem to be pretty adept at improving and utilising the young players.
With the tactical nous to keep us improving results in the process.

 

[chaileyjem]

One swallow doesn't make a summer

Getting on for 6 years in the Premier League with this year being close to the top 10 is quite a lot of seagulls, sorry swallows.

 

[zefarelly]

Getting on for 6 years in the Premier League with this year being close to the top 10 is quite a lot of seagulls, sorry swallows.

we were discussing goals, or lack of

I agree its slow steady progress, but we've been brought up on boom and bust, in every sense!

 

[chaileyjem]

we were discussing goals, or lack of

I agree its slow steady progress, but we've been brought up on boom and bust, in every sense!

Its remarkable progress. Albion had no god given right to spend 6 years in the PL when promoted in 2017 and as frustrating as its been for home fans this season - it shouldn't detract from what is likely to be Albion's most successful season er, ever.

 

[Justice]

FFS, really? We got stitched up there. Get it out on loan.

The big useless lump

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

I can't help feeling that Potter is the biggest risk to the model.
He does seem to be pretty adept at improving and utilising the young players.
With the tactical nous to keep us improving results in the process.

100% He’s the one to worry about imho. Can’t stand Arsenal or Spurs, but as long as Arteta and Conte keep doing just enough to stay in their jobs we should be okay as I can’t see him being lined up by Newcastle just yet, and doubt he’d go to Everton.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Yes, if you're 9th with just 4 games to go then the big clubs are going to be circling your best players.

On the plus side, the Prem money now is so much better that clubs can pay higher wages and so stand a better chance of keeping their better players.

If you look at Southampton in the last 4 seasons they have lost 6 keys players: Ings, Vestergaard, Hojbjerg, Targett, Tadic, Gabbiadini.

However, in the 4 years before that it was brutal, they lost 11: Van Dijk, Jay Rodriguez, Mane, Pelle, Wanyama, Schneiderlein, Clyne, Shaw, Lallana, Lovren, Chambers.

Indeed, in seasons 13/14 - 16/17 they were top 8 every season but since selling those 11 they have been bottom half every season.

They've sold these players whilst reaching 2 Wembley FA Cup semis, a League Cup Final and a season in Europe.

And they've been doing this for years: Bale, Shearer, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Crouch etc.

 

[origigull]

Yes, if you're 9th with just 4 games to go then the big clubs are going to be circling your best players.

On the plus side, the Prem money now is so much better that clubs can pay higher wages and so stand a better chance of keeping their better players.

If you look at Southampton in the last 4 seasons they have lost 6 keys players: Ings, Vestergaard, Hojbjerg, Targett, Tadic, Gabbiadini.

However, in the 4 years before that it was brutal, they lost 11: Van Dijk, Jay Rodriguez, Mane, Pelle, Wanyama, Schneiderlein, Clyne, Shaw, Lallana, Lovren, Chambers.

Indeed, in seasons 13/14 - 16/17 they were top 8 every season but since selling those 11 they have been bottom half every season.

They've sold these players whilst reaching 2 Wembley FA Cup semis, a League Cup Final and a season in Europe.

And they've been doing this for years: Bale, Shearer, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Crouch etc.

Maybe there is some sort of secret conspiracy by the top clubs that when medium-sized clubs start to encroach/move up the league they raid the said smaller clubs to keep them down where they belong. They don't want the riff-raff disturbing their patch at the top of the league. Its not right! The status-quo must be kept.

 

[GT49er]

Maybe there is some sort of secret conspiracy by the top clubs that when medium-sized clubs start to encroach/move up the league they raid the said smaller clubs to keep them down where they belong. They don't want the riff-raff disturbing their patch at the top of the league. Its not right! The status-quo must be kept.

So that's why Citeh bought Grealish and Ake, and United bought Wan-Bissaka ..............................

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

If you went back a decade to the Withdean years I was amazed we were ever able to convince any player to come to us.
But now we have all the premier-league ready infrastructure in place along with Sussex being an nice place to live & work, the attraction to big[er] name players coming to us / staying with us must be more in our favour.
The only area we can't [yet?] compete with is the top-six wage structure, but we do have an awful lot of other good things in our favour to retain / attract good / top players.

We will always lose some, but so long as the recruitment system here continues to find players like Caiciedo [for example] I do not fear for our future.
If this were to dry-up, then I'd be worried ....

 

[Insel affe]

Nooooooooo

Not Potter
Tottenham, it’s not the first time he’s been linked with them.

Christ on a unicycle….
My fears……

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/footbal...rite-replace-antonio-conte-tottenham-italian/

Swansman, do ya fancy joining the so called “Yid army” ?

 

[Bold Seagull]

Nooooooooo

Not Potter
Tottenham, it’s not the first time he’s been linked with them.

Christ on a unicycle….
My fears……

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/footbal...rite-replace-antonio-conte-tottenham-italian/

Swansman, do ya fancy joining the so called “Yid army” ?

IF….Conte decides to leave. Don’t panic yet Mr Mannering!

 

[Insel affe]

IF….Conte decides to leave. Don’t panic yet Mr Mannering!

He’s as good as gone, they won’t get top four & he won’t be given the amount to spend he wants….

Having said that Tottenham are also not gonna pay 10 million release for Potter…

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Some people on this thread need to get down the chemist and buy lots of drugs to relieve their paranoia.

 

[Insel affe]

Some people on this thread need to get down the chemist and buy lots of drugs to relieve their paranoia.

I prefer the pub or park
I actually got offered drugs by a member of a well known bookmakers staff recently in one their shop.