[Albion] Was forcing Sanchez out the worst decision our club has made in years?

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7dialssouthpaw

Active member
Sep 10, 2022
205
Proper goalkeeping talent, best young keeper I've ever seen at Brighton, could pull off blinding saves, pluck the ball out of the air, then had a little wobble and was suddenly ostracised.

Apparently not good enough with his feet. Really? I'm watching Steele mess up pass after pass, clearance after clearance tonight, and just thinking - was that decision really worth it?
too worn out to go into details, but I agree with you
 




GT49er

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Feb 1, 2009
49,171
Gloucester
Yes. Nailing my colours t the mast here - probably going to get sneered at a lot, bit c'est la vie. Probably de Zerbi (he who cannot be criticised by the faithful)'s first mistake.

I can remember a time when Little Maty was replaced by one of our own (OK, Spanish actually, but still one of our own - came through our youth ranks from the age of fifteen) and NSC was overjoyed. We had upgraded big time. There was even a five picture thing of him, based on the Fry's Five Boys sequence - 'happy', 'sad', 'worried', 'unconcerned' or whatever - and the whole point of it was is that it was the same picture of Sanchez each time; unflappable, calm, cool, all we wanted in a young GK. Spanish international - ahead of De Gea, but with a bit of a job to replace Raya, who is only a few months older.

The only concerned among the more wet-knickered on NSC was the thought that if Sanchez got injured, Steele would be our only option in goal. My view was that this was bollocks. He was an OK GK who wouldn't let us down - and that is what he has been; an OK GK who hasn't let us down. Emphasis on OK - and OK, if you insist, he hasn't let us down either.

Then - bring on RDZ. Three or four weeks in (and yes, I'll allow for language difficulties) and he comes out with , "Robert is a good GK, but.............". Dropped after a howler - yes, no doubt a wake up call - brought back in for two superb performances, including at Wembley. Lesson earned, back as the no.1 GK? No, not a bit of it - 'You are number two' -Steel is better than you because he's a better sweeper than you are. Rightfully pissed off? I would be. So would you, if you are honest. Refused to play? - no, asked to be left out of the squad if he was going to be treated like that. Had Steele been injured, would he have played for us again? - sure he would - but the situation didn't arise, and yes, he wanted to leave. The manager had fallen out with him, and he had no future here under said manager.

Right now, Steele has done OK, not let us down, Verbruggen is young, room for improvement - but would I want Sanchez (occasional errors like any GK but sometimes effin' brilliant) back again over the two of them? You bet your arse I would! 'Brighton's third choice GK' might be a lazy trope that thick as mince Chelsea supporters may have latched on to, but they are ......... well, thick as mince.
 




GT49er

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Feb 1, 2009
49,171
Gloucester
Eeeerrr Sanchez refused to play. Didn’t want to be part of the squad.
No he didn't. Do get your facts right, even if they don't suit your narrative. He asked to be left out of the squad as a benchwarmer.. had Steele been injured, and he was given the chance to play a blinder and force the manager to reconsider, you seriously think he'd have refused?


Deluded!
 


portlock seagull

Well-known member
Jul 28, 2003
17,776
Proper goalkeeping talent, best young keeper I've ever seen at Brighton, could pull off blinding saves, pluck the ball out of the air, then had a little wobble and was suddenly ostracised.

Apparently not good enough with his feet. Really? I'm watching Steele mess up pass after pass, clearance after clearance tonight, and just thinking - was that decision really worth it?
Let’s remember he didn’t act professionally but sulked like a child and wanted away because our manager, the one we all backed and has taken us on an unbelievable journey, didn’t like his attitude or think he was suited to the style (that has brought us unbelievable success and we all love etc etc)

Apart from that, yep, really bad decision.
 


Nobby Cybergoat

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2021
8,622
Proper goalkeeping talent, best young keeper I've ever seen at Brighton, could pull off blinding saves, pluck the ball out of the air, then had a little wobble and was suddenly ostracised.

Apparently not good enough with his feet. Really? I'm watching Steele mess up pass after pass, clearance after clearance tonight, and just thinking - was that decision really worth it?
Which of the goals we conceded was Sanchez keeping out?
 




GT49er

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Feb 1, 2009
49,171
Gloucester
However he found himself on the bench is kind of irrelevant, it was very specifically reported that Sanchez told RDZ that if he isn’t starting then he didn’t want to be part of the squad. Not exactly the actions of a team player who wants to be with us. And you’re saying blame isn’t with Sanchez? 😅😅
That is completely different to 'refusing to play'. I know that for some on here getting on the wrong side of de Zerbi is almost as bad as mass murder, but that wasn't down to Sanchez. 'Thrown under the bus' is more appropriate.
 


Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
You don't think RDZ decided he didn't want him? He should never have found himself on the bench for that long. Any top quality player would get pissed off in that scenario
Top players realise that with extra games they all get a go. Telling the manager not to put him in the squad is sulking. Making yourself unavailable for selection is downing tools. I’m fairly sure Ben Roberts was whispering in his ear about Chelsea. Well, now he’s bench warming there too.
Sanchez mistake at Selhurst Park was horrendous. His attitude stank.
 


Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
That is completely different to 'refusing to play'. I know that for some on here getting on the wrong side of de Zerbi is almost as bad as mass murder, but that wasn't down to Sanchez. 'Thrown under the bus' is more appropriate.
Saying you don’t want to included in the squad is not different. Players are paid to work and if they don’t want to be part of a squad, then they are downing tools.
 




portlock seagull

Well-known member
Jul 28, 2003
17,776
I feel sorry for Steele. He's not good enough to be the regular keeper of a PL side, never mind a side in European competition. RDZ has hung him out to dry.

I'm really not surprised that Sanchez saw his arse after being replaced by him and not regaining it after that Everton game where he conceded 5 from 5.on target.
He made several outstanding saves though? You’d be forgiven for thinking Steele works in IT and just wandered onto the pitch tonight listening to some of his detractors. The man’s a very good keeper, is proven so. But like every keeper in history his mistakes are typically more severely punished by press and players alike. Not that he made any tonight, didn’t think any of the goals were down to him.
 




GT49er

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Feb 1, 2009
49,171
Gloucester
Saying you don’t want to included in the squad is not different. Players are paid to work and if they don’t want to be part of a squad, then they are downing tools.
No. Look at what you're saying, without your de Zerbi spectacles on.


It's 100% different.
 






Thunder Bolt

Silly old bat
No. Look at what you're saying, without your de Zerbi spectacles on.


It's 100% different.
I don’t have de Zerbi specs on. I don’t gush all over him like some fans.
Sanchez was always scowling, and looked angry. He wanted it all his own way.
 


brighton_tom

Well-known member
Jul 23, 2008
5,511
No he didn't. Do get your facts right, even if they don't suit your narrative. He asked to be left out of the squad as a benchwarmer.. had Steele been injured, and he was given the chance to play a blinder and force the manager to reconsider, you seriously think he'd have refused?


Deluded!

Sanchez refused to be part of the squad unless he was starting. Simple, and crap behaviour.

Being on the bench means being part of the team, and means there is a chance you will be called upon as a sub. So yes refusing to be on the bench is refusing to play.
 


GT49er

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Feb 1, 2009
49,171
Gloucester
Got us to sixth last season and Sanchez has already been booted to the bench at chelsea for his poor footwork
Injured actually. His replacement has done alright after covering for his injury. Place to lose, and all that.
 




armchairclubber

Well-known member
Aug 8, 2010
1,658
Bexhill
Think it's more than the perceived skill and competence as required by any given Manager here.

Jason Steele has quite obviously been the most supportive and patient team player in the squad. ...even when understudy to and with Sanchez.

Sanchez revealed he is the most unsupportive and inpatient member of the squad, throwing his toys the pram and unwilling to work for or rotate his position.
 


Garyoldfan

Well-known member
Jun 14, 2023
591
Proper goalkeeping talent, best young keeper I've ever seen at Brighton, could pull off blinding saves, pluck the ball out of the air, then had a little wobble and was suddenly ostracised.

Apparently not good enough with his feet. Really? I'm watching Steele mess up pass after pass, clearance after clearance tonight, and just thinking - was that decision really worth it?
Ban this mug. How long you supported my team ?
 


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