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

[JBizzle]

Was never a fan of Big Bob's thousand yard stare. Seemed to retreat inside his head sometimes

This was the key thing for me, he had the ability to go really far (and he's had a pretty decent career already) but it's his lack of concentration that always worried me. He could make 5 or 6 superb saves and then chuck one in under no pressure just because he seemingly wasn't paying attention.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

I have said more recently that he was alright, better than Ryan, worse than Bart, and at the point of writing my more positive comments about him I felt he could easily (and would) make the changes needed to adapt to what RDZ wanted from him. He:

a) either couldn’t or wouldn’t take on board what the new goalkeeping coach was asking him to do.

and

b) refused to take a seat on the bench when one of his teammates did take on board what was being asked by the GK coach, and was played ahead of him. We hadn’t stopped paying him, and football is a team sport.

Those are the reasons why my view on him changed, I suspect I’m not alone in revising my opinion of him at the point of his unprofessional reaction to being dropped.

It certainly wasn’t a mistake to move him on, he had proven himself either unwilling or incapable of playing in the manner required, and it doesn’t really matter which.

Delighted he’s gone, not a mistake to let him go.

I'm with you on this. Sanchez is a decent enough keeper, but his reaction to being dropped/not getting the shirt back after the Everton game was unforgivable. For a start Sanchez had made mistakes and had poor performances in the past and kept the shirt, he shouldn't expect the manager to drop Steele after one poor performance (although pretty much the entire team was poor that night so the defeat wasn't just on Jason), even if he had played well against United and Chelsea. Steele had done his duty as backup/cup keeper, supporting Sanchez in training and was always one of the first on the pitch at the end of the game to shake his hand etc, Sanchez should have had the respect of a fellow pro to do the same.

By asking not to be included in the squad if he was only on the bench he let the club, the fans and most importantly his team mates down at the tail end of our biggest season and could have seriously damaged our European chances had anything happened to Steele in a match and we'd had to bring on the inexperienced McGill in his place. You don't want a player like that in your squad, he might not have liked RDZs decision, and he can take that up with the manager separately, but he still had a job to do and he refused to do it.

 

[Garyoldfan]

Why are we even talking about this cock ? He decided not to play for us, a team many of us have dreamed to play for. (My dream was a last minute winner in front of the north stand at the goldstone against palace, jumping on the fence and giving it the big i am. Then (and this bits not as tasteful) giving the palace fans the slit throat gesture as I stood in front of them).

 

[Hastings gull]

I'm with you on this. Sanchez is a decent enough keeper, but his reaction to being dropped/not getting the shirt back after the Everton game was unforgivable. For a start Sanchez had made mistakes and had poor performances in the past and kept the shirt, he shouldn't expect the manager to drop Steele after one poor performance (although pretty much the entire team was poor that night so the defeat wasn't just on Jason), even if he had played well against United and Chelsea. Steele had done his duty as backup/cup keeper, supporting Sanchez in training and was always one of the first on the pitch at the end of the game to shake his hand etc, Sanchez should have had the respect of a fellow pro to do the same.

By asking not to be included in the squad if he was only on the bench he let the club, the fans and most importantly his team mates down at the tail end of our biggest season and could have seriously damaged our European chances had anything happened to Steele in a match and we'd had to bring on the inexperienced McGill in his place. You don't want a player like that in your squad, he might not have liked RDZs decision, and he can take that up with the manager separately, but he still had a job to do and he refused to do it.

Exactly -he was quite happy to take Ryan's place and then had a strop when it happened to him. Moody players can affect morale so the dosh we got for him was great as far as I was concerned.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

I don’t quite understand but yeah why not!

You said 'he threw his toys out to you'. I was having a crack at a goalkeeping joke - throwing, catching etc.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I have said more recently that he was alright, better than Ryan, worse than Bart, and at the point of writing my more positive comments about him I felt he could easily (and would) make the changes needed to adapt to what RDZ wanted from him. He:

a) either couldn’t or wouldn’t take on board what the new goalkeeping coach was asking him to do.

and

b) refused to take a seat on the bench when one of his teammates did take on board what was being asked by the GK coach, and was played ahead of him. We hadn’t stopped paying him, and football is a team sport.

Those are the reasons why my view on him changed, I suspect I’m not alone in revising my opinion of him at the point of his unprofessional reaction to being dropped.

It certainly wasn’t a mistake to move him on, he had proven himself either unwilling or incapable of playing in the manner required, and it doesn’t really matter which.

Delighted he’s gone, not a mistake to let him go.

Good, at least we've got to the same place. Thanks for admitting you revised your opinion of his ability based on what happened after he was dropped. I think the premise that he was a very good keeper stands, and we can wonder what would have been if never dropped. We'd probably still be calling him a 'great keeper'

This is probably rumbling on long enough now, but before we go, and on the matter of 'playing in the manner required, let's just take some time to enjoy these clips from a game just six weeks before he was dropped.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Why are we even talking about this cock ? He decided not to play for us, a team many of us have dreamed to play for. (My dream was a last minute winner in front of the north stand at the goldstone against palace, jumping on the fence and giving it the big i am. Then (and this bits not as tasteful) giving the palace fans the slit throat gesture as I stood in front of them).

Sanchez almost did exactly that away at Palace one year, think the 'don't let it bounce' game. Him and Duffy were right up at the Palace fans in the corner at the end, marvelous scenes.

 

[GT49er]

Good, at least we've got to the same place. Thanks for admitting you revised your opinion of his ability based on what happened after he was dropped. I think the premise that he was a very good keeper stands, and we can wonder what would have been if never dropped. We'd probably still be calling him a 'great keeper'

This is probably rumbling on long enough now, but before we go, and on the matter of 'playing in the manner required, let's just take some time to enjoy these clips from a game just two weeks before he was dropped.

No, must be fake/CGI or whatever. He was absolute dogshite, especially with his feet - we've been told that often enough on NSC so we should all know that by now! Thank goodness de Zerbi had the foresight to realise he was going to throw a strop and threw him under the bus before it happened!

 

[Surf's Up]

Irrespective of Sanchez's merits v Steele it would be reasonable to assume that behind the scenes chatter may have taken place between Sanchez and Roberts and that that may have had some bearing on Sanchez's attitude towards the end of his employment with us

 

[Thunder Bolt]

So, to sum up. Sanchez wasn't forced out, he wanted to go, and was sold.

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

Alright, I lose, I'm going to bed. Totally stand by my comments here, Sanchez was a fantastic talent who was ostracised by RDZ and I can't blame him for wanting to leave. But by God we could have done with him tonight. But you lot don't agree and that's fine. Night night.

As a goalkeeping coach myself I was happy to see the back of Sanchez..... he has a ricket in him and he doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes. Has loads of potential but he literally cost us points and it makes a defence nervous. Dependable and predictable is always better... hence Steele who has nowhere near the potential of Sanchez. His performances for Chelsea have been no better,

 

[ROSM]

This is probably rumbling on long enough now, but before we go, and on the matter of 'playing in the manner required, let's just take some time to enjoy these clips from a game just two weeks before he was dropped

that game was 14th jan. He was dropped 4th march.

But lets not let facts get in the way here

 

[JBizzle]

It's also worth adding that, although in the end we were happy getting £25m for Sanchez, there was a time during the previous summer that people on here were sniffing at getting "only £40m" for him

 

[chickens]

It's also worth adding that, although in the end we were happy getting £25m for Sanchez, there was a time during the previous summer that people on here were sniffing at getting "only £40m" for him

At that time though we believed we had a professional goalkeeper, who would easily adapt to any demands made of him by a new head coach/goalkeeping coach.

By the time he left we realised we had a sulky and unprofessional player who either refused or was unable to adapt, and also refused to sit on the bench when a teammate overtook him in the pecking order. Getting anything for him at all was good, getting 25 million was a masterstroke.

 

[Garyoldfan]

Sanchez almost did exactly that away at Palace one year, think the 'don't let it bounce' game. Him and Duffy were right up at the Palace fans in the corner at the end, marvelous scenes.

Then he refused to play for us.

 

[chickens]

Good, at least we've got to the same place. Thanks for admitting you revised your opinion of his ability based on what happened after he was dropped. I think the premise that he was a very good keeper stands, and we can wonder what would have been if never dropped. We'd probably still be calling him a 'great keeper'

This is probably rumbling on long enough now, but before we go, and on the matter of 'playing in the manner required, let's just take some time to enjoy these clips from a game just two weeks before he was dropped.

Yeah, he had good matches for us, so did Maty Ryan and so did every keeper before him, doesn’t mean letting them go when we did was a mistake.

A player that withdraws their labour rather than accept their demotion and work to regain their position will always be a player I don’t want at my club. He could at least have just asked for a transfer and remained available.

And I still maintain he flapped about at crosses.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

that game was 14th jan. He was dropped 4th march.

But lets not let facts get in the way here

Fair enough, I shall edit

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Yeah, he had good matches for us, so did Maty Ryan and so did every keeper before him, doesn’t mean letting them go when we did was a mistake.

A player that withdraws their labour rather than accept their demotion and work to regain their position will always be a player I don’t want at my club. He could at least have just asked for a transfer and remained available.

And I still maintain he flapped about at crosses.

I think if he didn't care and just wanted a move he would have sat happily on the bench. He wanted to play. RDZ didn't want to play him. Maybe that was justified by off field stuff, we'll never know. But this thread is really about him being dropped in the first place, I have never got my head round that.

 

[ROSM]

I think if he didn't care and just wanted a move he would have sat happily on the bench. He wanted to play. RDZ didn't want to play him. Maybe that was justified by off field stuff, we'll never know. But this thread is really about him being dropped in the first place, I have never got my head round that.

Actually your original comment was that he was forced out. I think we can all now agree he wasnt.

You also asked if it was the worse decision in years. Again I think that question has now been answered in the negative.

Just to be clear here. He wasnt the messiah but he may well have been a very naughty boy

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Actually your original comment was that he was forced out. I think we can all now agree he wasnt.

You also asked if it was the worse decision in years. Again I think that question has now been answered in the negative.

Just to be clear here. He wasnt the messiah but he may well have been a very naughty boy

Well, no, you can debate the language but he was effectively pushed out. Dropped for someone not as good as him, back for a couple of the biggest games in our history (first ever win at Stamford Bridge, Cup semi-final) but despite playing well was put back on the bench, and then told in no uncertain terms that he was staying on the bench and Steele was keeping his spot regardless. He wasn't being dropped to regain form or keep him on his toes or to work on some things, no this was a permanent and irreversible dropping, in which case yeah, I think he was pushed out.

For a guy who had a lot of interest (plenty of rumours the bigger clubs were looking at him), had just gone to the world cup with a contending team, was playing well, had adapted his game to play the passing style RDZ wanted, thats a really surprising decision. None of us at the time thought it was anything more than a temporary thing.

But it wasn't. How much of this decision was down to his attitude or behaviour, maybe driven by unhappiness with the departure of Roberts and Potter, we'll never know much more than the gossip and hearsay that comes from people who want their opinion known. Perhaps it was RDZ trying to take control of the squad, after all there was a lot of discontent at this time, Trossard got upset and was kept away from the team, Caicedo put in a transfer request and was held back from training, Undav wasn't in the best mindset it seems, and there are all those rumours about Sanchez you posted earlier. Perhaps it wasn't the most together place at that time and RDZ made Sanchez a fall-guy or wanted popular squad guy Steele in the team.. Who knows, just speculation, but there is lots of that here.

All the time we persist with goalies not as good as him I think its fair to ask the question of why he was booted out of the first XI, and if he had issues why they couldn't be sorted. But yeah, maybe he was just a difficult soul to work with. Shame though.