[Albion] They are the ones that said we are going for top 10.........................
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southstandandy
WEST STAND ANDY
- Jul 9, 2003
- 6,047
Good to have a long term aim which is all the 'top 10' quote was for.
At the moment most of us would take 17th place and survival which is still very possible. There's still plenty of time to turn things around and we only need the equivalent of 9 or 10 wins from the remaining 26 to stay up, and maybe even less. Two wins in the next 2 matches and things will look more positive. We can do this!
At the moment most of us would take 17th place and survival which is still very possible. There's still plenty of time to turn things around and we only need the equivalent of 9 or 10 wins from the remaining 26 to stay up, and maybe even less. Two wins in the next 2 matches and things will look more positive. We can do this!
I accept that top 10 is a long(er)-term ambition; Rome wasn't built in a day, blah, blah, blah.
But while I can see fantastic progress in terms of infrastructure (the Training Centre in Lancing, for example), I can't see much progress where it really matters; on the pitch.
Yes, the football 'style' is better or more attractive under GP than ultra-defensive CH, but in terms of actual results and league position? We're still floundering just above the bottom 3, over-relying on there being 3 teams even more inept than us, and we're still toothless in the opponent's penalty area; attack after attack simply fizzles out - we huff-and-puff for no end product.
And defensively this season we seem frail - our record at the Amex is woeful (no wins out of 6); whatever happened to the 'fortress Amex'?
Under both CH and now GP, we actually seemed to regress in their second year of management; the expected progress in their second season not materialising.
The really odd and frustrating thing is that we signed some seemingly quality players this summer - a good blend of relative youth and proven PL experience, along with finally getting loanees like Ben White (and before him, Alex Mac) in the blue-and-white stripes - yet the team as a whole seems less than the sum of its parts.
If we don't get any points from our next 4 games (and I'm no longer optimistic), I'll become convinced that 'nice guy' GP is the main problem, and that if he isn't replaced in January, we will be relegated. I've continually given him the benefit of the doubt, but really don't think he's got the 'grit' or tactical nous to keep us up.
But while I can see fantastic progress in terms of infrastructure (the Training Centre in Lancing, for example), I can't see much progress where it really matters; on the pitch.
Yes, the football 'style' is better or more attractive under GP than ultra-defensive CH, but in terms of actual results and league position? We're still floundering just above the bottom 3, over-relying on there being 3 teams even more inept than us, and we're still toothless in the opponent's penalty area; attack after attack simply fizzles out - we huff-and-puff for no end product.
And defensively this season we seem frail - our record at the Amex is woeful (no wins out of 6); whatever happened to the 'fortress Amex'?
Under both CH and now GP, we actually seemed to regress in their second year of management; the expected progress in their second season not materialising.
The really odd and frustrating thing is that we signed some seemingly quality players this summer - a good blend of relative youth and proven PL experience, along with finally getting loanees like Ben White (and before him, Alex Mac) in the blue-and-white stripes - yet the team as a whole seems less than the sum of its parts.
If we don't get any points from our next 4 games (and I'm no longer optimistic), I'll become convinced that 'nice guy' GP is the main problem, and that if he isn't replaced in January, we will be relegated. I've continually given him the benefit of the doubt, but really don't think he's got the 'grit' or tactical nous to keep us up.
Eric Youngs Contact Lens
Well-known member
I think within your post there are some key points that show the difference between a longer term strategy vs. shorter term objectives , and how difficult it can be when these things don't align. Strategically, if the long=term vision is to be sustainable Top 10, the Club have decided to invest in the Training facilities, the Development pathway. That is paying dividends as you point out by players coming through that will give us the option to sell for big money that can in turn be invested. equally, it is buying exciting young talent (Webster/Maupay/Lamptey/Polish lads) that fit the same brief.
At the same time, buying very specific experienced players for good prices (Lallana, Welbeck, Veltman) is a great next step to the strategy to help the playing side and provide excellent value for money. The style of play and career development for those players may well be an important part of that selling point.
Therein is GP brief.. can you deliver these elements that deliver the strategy. It simply cannot be about the next 4 games in the Clubs eyes. Those points you raise will be seen as key milestones as progress more than our league position this year, that in the long term give us a better chance of evolving to top 10.
Wardy's twin
Well-known member
- Oct 21, 2014
- 8,866
I can't understand how this has even become a thing for some people?! I would be surprised and disappointed if ANY side in the lower end of the table didn't have aspirations to become a top 10 side.
What do you expect them to say?! We'd like to be relegated? Or we'd like to finish 16th every season?
Really odd thread and some strange responses.
What do you expect them to say?! We'd like to be relegated? Or we'd like to finish 16th every season?
Really odd thread and some strange responses.
Uh_huh_him
Well-known member
- Sep 28, 2011
- 12,113
You must know to be top ten you need a top ten budget, we currently have a bottom two budget. Obviously Covid has had an impact but has it really had such a detriment it wiped roughly £50m off the summer transfer budget
And to get a top ten budget you need to be a top ten team!
To try and break into the top ten we need to generate a top ten budget.
The only way to do this is to consistently make profits from our recruitment................
................And we're back to why Tony's strategy is the only one that makes any sense.
Greg Bobkin
Silver Seagull
- May 22, 2012
- 16,028
For me, it's not what's been said by the club, it's calling out what's been incorrectly interpreted by the OP. Of course they said that was the target – like you say, why wouldn't you. But the OP seems to think that someone said it would be this season, which is just bonkers.
Just on this, I’m sure you may have noticed this season has taken place during a pandemic where no fans have been allowed.
Having no fans removed a big part of home advantage.
In fact most home records in the division have taken a hit.
To be fair to the OP he’s not alone.
One of my frequent tags here is to reply to someone asking very simply: “Do you understand what a long term goal is?”
As it’s very evident, many don’t.
TOUGHMAN
Member
- Oct 7, 2003
- 46
Three posts a year.
I salute your indefatigability
Been away a few times over the past few years
Shambolic club and POTTER OUT !!!!!
Calling [MENTION=34942]Dr. No[/MENTION]
Dr. No
Well-known member
- Nov 28, 2016
- 596
OzMike
Well-known member
I thought we might be hovering around mid table, still could with a couple of wins I suppose.
Perfidious Albion
Well-known member
Come on, it’s only Christmas..there is half the season or more to go yet. With a little bit of luck and not being penalised by VAR we could still achieve a higher league position than last year .
Barely a third.....25 games left. Tis not the season to panic.