[Albion] "This is somewhat of a transition season..."

[Nobby Cybergoat]

We're a side that high presses. We're a side that taps it about up front a lot and has a high chance of getting done in transition. We absolutely need a player with the qualities that Baleba has.

I'm sure Yalcouye will turn into a good player. Can he do the job Baleba does for us? It's a huge ask

 

[pigmanovich]

it's the first time in a few years when we haven't sold any key players

This Pascal Gross erasure cannot stand

 

[BNthree]

But that suggests you think our natural position is higher in the table ?

I would differ. But it's a game of opinions.

Presumably Barber disagrees with you too. Which is why he described it as such

 

[Flounce]

We haven‘t looked coherent because we haven’t had the chance to play a properly settled lineup all season due to the injuries.

Injuries and trying to gel the newcomers, who seem to get injured too often coupled with a rookie manager has made this season really difficult. Where we are is basically a miracle yet we (myself included) always want more. Is this the road to entitlted? I fear it may be

 

[Talby]

Any chance of a quick summary - or even a cut and paste job - for those of us who have not signed up for FB, and have no intention of doing so?

It’s another piece by PBOBE which clarifies everything, yet answers nothing.

I for one am bored seeing him constantly in the media. The business end of BHAFC serves us well but the men in suits are for the meeting & board room. Do other clubs have so much narrative from their CEO? I get he’s good at his job but he’s not infallible and the company line just comes across to fans as ‘politely, put up & shut up’.

 

[Justice]

Some of the posters on this thread are absolute hypocrites.
I’ve said all along from a few games in there is no way we are achieving Europe this season. Now I got pummelled for it by the exact same who are now pretending they thought this was a transitional season from the outset and not to expect to much

 

[sakooshi]

No somewhat is correct here.

It's not actually. Can't be bothered to go into explaining apart from to say "This is a somewhat transitional season" would be correct.

 

[pigmanovich]

Some of the posters on this thread are absolute hypocrites.
I’ve said all along from a few games in there is no way we are achieving Europe this season. Now I got pummelled for it by the exact same who are now pretending they thought this was a transitional season from the outset and not to expect to much

A) There is still a chance we qualify for Europe, it's just not a sure thing, and B) it being a transitional season means there's no reason to lose one's head if we don't make it - it's about managing expectations rather than needlessly writing the season off while still in the top half of the table and in the cup.

 

[chaileyjem]

Not disputing that he might not be be the real deal! Just wasn't sure he was the like for like replacement for Baleba from what I'd seen and read. Maybe he is. To my point in my last post, if he spent next season with us before Baleba left that would make the following season feel less transitional in that position as he'd be more up to speed. I've said nothing about how good he may or may not be.

My only argument here is that if Baleba leaves in the summer it will feel like another transitional season. Especially at CM.

My original post on this didn't have a go at anyone. Only that we can call this season transitional if we keep our best players again and have the players that arrived this year fully up to speed. You can't call something a transition when that is the perpetual cycle.

I agree with a lot of @Garry Nelson's Left Foot posted above.

I think the model of buying players with an eye to development, young and potentially future sales is simply the model so that will happen every window.
Hopefully we won't be changing our manager next season (because their results won't justify it) so - next season will be more stable, less inconsistent. But the PL is tough and competitive. Brentford, Spurs, West Ham, Palace, Man Utd, Wolves - all have Europe/top ten ambitions and all have been inconsistent this season and (so far) have done worse than us.

 

[Hometownglory]

Seems fans agree with PBOBE about it being a transitional season judging by the amount of seats available on the exchange tomorrow and other games.

 

[chaileyjem]

It’s another piece by PBOBE which clarifies everything, yet answers nothing.

I for one am bored seeing him constantly in the media. The business end of BHAFC serves us well but the men in suits are for the meeting & board room. Do other clubs have so much narrative from their CEO? I get he’s good at his job but he’s not infallible and the company line just comes across to fans as ‘politely, put up & shut up’.

Well just avoid it. Personally i like having a club where you hear regularly from the CEO , who is transparent about objectives, strategies and how the club is run. Also someone who is prepared to listen and respond to fans all the time (in emails, meetings and via the media) is also something that is a positive. (even if you disagree with what he has to say or even if it doesn't result in the club changing their position).

Most clubs don't have this , are owned by non fans, nation states, hedge funds, and are absent and go missing when decisions are made that affect fans (selling a player, changes to ticketing, sacking the coach) . Brighton is different. and that matters. - to me anyway.

 

[chaileyjem]

Seems fans agree with PBOBE about it being a transitional season judging by the amount of seats available on the exchange tomorrow and other games.

or just couldn't justify being at the Amex at 8pm on Feb 14th.
(not sure anyone apart from the very hardcore - i'd include NSC posters in that - have even noticed he said it)

 

[Talby]

Well just avoid it. Personally i like having a club where you hear regularly from the CEO , who is transparent about objectives, strategies and how the club is run. Also someone who is prepared to listen and respond to fans all the time (in emails, meetings and via the media) is also something that is a positive. (even if you disagree with what he has to say or even if it doesn't result in the club changing their position).

Most clubs don't have this , are owned by non fans, nation states, hedge funds, and are absent and go missing when decisions are made that affect fans (selling a player, changes to ticketing, sacking the coach) . Brighton is different. and that matters. - to me anyway.

The emails - have you had one back? It’s Newspeak. That’s the level of engagement on offer for fans.

If you think he’s not a suit (on £2m+ pa) who doesn’t change ticketing policies, sack coaches, runs the club with little to no contradictions in opinion then I cannot help you.

He might deride Chelsea and their purchasing from us but who the hell do you think discusses this business/those moves. Who gets bonuses from our performance in that arena?? Come on.

 

[Shins]

Yeah comple

I think the model of buying players with an eye to development, young and potentially future sales is simply the model so that will happen every window.
Hopefully we won't be changing our manager next season (because their results won't justify it) so - next season will be more stable, less inconsistent. But the PL is tough and competitive. Brentford, Spurs, West Ham, Palace, Man Utd, Wolves - all have Europe/top ten ambitions and all have been inconsistent this season and (so far) have done worse than us.

Yeah completely understand the model and we won't be able to always time things right, and also have the right player lined up just by mistakes and other variables. We do get it more often than not thankfully. Just stating that I don't think we're in a position for Baleba to leave this summer.

 

[chaileyjem]

The emails - have you had one back? It’s Newspeak. That’s the level of engagement on offer for fans.

If you think he’s not a suit (on £2m+ pa) who doesn’t change ticketing policies, sack coaches, runs the club with little to no contradictions in opinion then I cannot help you.

He might deride Chelsea and their purchasing from us but who the hell do you think discusses this business/those moves. Who gets bonuses from our performance in that arena?? Come on.

i can only take him how i found him and i thought when he helped my Dad out when he was struggling with mobility issues once - he met him at a Fan Forum - and then followed up with emails (to me) and help via the ticketing team (Jenny Gower's team) was really impressive. Not every CEO needs to do that. And you wouldn't expect fans to agree with everything they do but he doesn't (even with his high salary) have to stand in a pub on a Monday night and talk to supporters groups. Nearly every other CEO in the PL doesn't bother with that sort of stuff. Not sure what you'd prefer in his place ? or Bloom's place ?

PS: The ticketing policies that most people care about - interest free/ no admin fee season tickets, a free travel zone, concessions (admittedly that's been slightly tightened up in line with pension age changes), inflation or less increases - have been unchanged in 13 years under Barber.

Actually everyone gets a bonus at the Albion - all 200+ staff - from the most junior to the senior if they reach their targets . Another thing i like about the club.

 

[Justice]

i can only take him how i found him and i thought when he helped my Dad out when he was struggling with mobility issues once - he met him at a Fan Forum - and then followed up with emails (to me) and help via the ticketing team (Jenny Gower's team) was really impressive. Not every CEO needs to do that. And you wouldn't expect fans to agree with everything they do but he doesn't (even with his high salary) have to stand in a pub on a Monday night and talk to supporters groups. Nearly every other CEO in the PL doesn't bother with that sort of stuff. Not sure what you'd prefer in his place ? or Bloom's place ?

PS: The ticketing policies that most people care about - interest free/ no admin fee season tickets, a free travel zone, concessions (admittedly that's been slightly tightened up in line with pension age changes), inflation or less increases - have been unchanged in 13 years under Barber.

Actually everyone gets a bonus at the Albion - all 200+ staff - from the most junior to the senior if they reach their targets . Another thing i like about the club.

And supporters get a ST price hike to cover it

 

[chaileyjem]

And supporters get a ST price hike to cover it

The substantial Europe bonus wouldn't be covered at all by whatever ST Price increase there was that season. Bloom funds that effectively. . Anyway have they actually gone up - inflation adjusted - since we've been in the PL . (they were frozen for a few years in/around Covid). I don't think they have.

 

[Justice]

A) There is still a chance we qualify for Europe, it's just not a sure thing, and B) it being a transitional season means there's no reason to lose one's head if we don't make it - it's about managing expectations rather than needlessly writing the season off while still in the top half of the table and in the cup.

This team is good enough to do better and should be doing better we’ve thrown away needless points due to being mismanaged. If we were sitting top six a transitional season would not be mentioned.

have they actually gone up - inflation adjusted - since we've been in the PL . (they were frozen for a few years in/around Covid). I don't think they have.

If you are paying more next season then yes they’ve gone up.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

So if we're mid table this time next season we can legitimately moan, whinge, wet the bed and call for the managers head.
I've already noted the date in the 2026 diary.

It will also be on my 2026 calendar which I am yet to steal

 

[Commander]

It’s another piece by PBOBE which clarifies everything, yet answers nothing.

I for one am bored seeing him constantly in the media. The business end of BHAFC serves us well but the men in suits are for the meeting & board room. Do other clubs have so much narrative from their CEO? I get he’s good at his job but he’s not infallible and the company line just comes across to fans as ‘politely, put up & shut up’.

With the utmost respect, that is because it has completely passed you by what is he trying to do.