[Albion] What is the point? (Warning: Probably being dramatic)

[Machiavelli]

I'm sure we can cut them a deal. £65m sounds about right.

He could get one and a half of Caicedo's boots for that, and has even said as much.

 

[Weststander]

Stepping Stone FC

 

[Machiavelli]

I am determined to be bullish.

Of course I will be disappointed if Potter goes. Gutted.

But having followed the Albion since my first trip to the Goldstone in 1969, I wouldn't be much of a Brighton fan if I get all titsy now, just because it looks like our excellent manage may be poached by the recent champions of Europe.

Did you ever watch us when we played our home games at Priestfield? All the people I knew back then would have laughed if you told them what appears to be about to be happening. I'm certain they wouldn't have said 'How disheartening. How do teams challenge the monotony of money driven football clubs'. I mean, seriously.

Look, I'm not being very sympathetic am I? I'm sorry about that. My view is onwards and upwards, and rather than feeling sad, make yourself a nice warm cuppa (two sugars) and reflect on what a well run club we are, and trust Tony and the team to find a good solution

Sorry for being, well, whatever I was (rude) about it

I'm absolutely gutted to be losing Potter. Bright, a great manager of humans and motivator, decent, generous, bold playing style, wants to entertain the fans, absolutely briliant understanding of the game and with the coaching team to be able to implement it. But, yes, you're right. We'll just jump aboard the next train.

For a while now, I've wondered who is the most important individual at the club: Bloom or Potter. We'll find out as the season pans out.

 

[Weststander]

You get out what you put in the way I see it. The elation that you or I would get from a good Albion result isn't replicated in anywhere near the same way.

I despise the big 6 for their arrogance, but I don't envy them.

Just think how amazing it would be if he goes there and when they come to the amex we beat them

It’s more fluid than a Top 6.

A murderous, homophobic state buy Newcastle, the EPL do their ‘due diligence’ and in a nanosecond it becomes a Top 7.

Who next to join them? Gold and Sullivan probably very open to a country buying WH.

 

[um bongo molongo]

The only positive I can find is…imagine how we’d feel if the news was that Bloom was selling up to some American (or Mike Ashley). At least it’s better than that.

 

[trueblue]

So we’ve lost 2 of our best players to bigger sides this summer and one of them last summer, I’ve kind of accepted that’s part of the progression.

When you actually think about it, without a ridiculous money injection how can a club ever break into the so called ‘big clubs’? As soon as anyone lower down the league appears to be making a good run at anything all the vultures come in and take what has taken us to where we are?

Like I said in the thread title, probably a bit dramatic but sometimes you look at football and just think how broken it is, how can a club ever break into the ‘big club’ bollocks?

Over dramatic or is it all a bit disheartening?

Don't think it's over-dramatic. It's difficult to wonder why the club's bothered building patiently for years to get to this level when any old shambles can ride roughshod over that by chucking money around to cover their own ineptitude. If it doesn't ultimately strengthen them, the job's done anyway.The aim is to wreck the chance of any club with the temerity to challenge the status quo. And just in case that doesn't work, the richest clubs constantly agitate all they can to shape the rules so they get a bigger slice of the pie to add to all their other advantages.

Yes, there's always been a food chain in football but historically the deck wasn't stacked like this. In the 70s and 80s, Albion would have had a genuine chance of winning the league with a manager like Potter. No chance now of even getting close - and the gap is only growing bigger year on year. The lack of competitive balance wiil eventually kill the golden goose.

 

[Eeyore]

We've raped and pillaged our way up the leagues ourselves, taking players and managers from clubs left, right and centre, no one likes it up 'em unfortunately. No winners in this game unless you support the very top teams.

Oh there are...

The winners are supporters who love their local team, keeping it at the heart of their community, and watch them for many years building lasting friendships and bonds with others. Success is a bonus, but not essential.

I know many folk, and have continued friendships for many years from the Goldstone Ground and the windswept terraces of many a northern outpost.

Success ? It's the fourth division title, or the third division title, or the joy I experienced as a kid when Albion beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 to climb to the second division for the first time in my short memory.

Real joy was reaching the last 16 of the FA Cup but, most simply, walking to the ground whether it was Chelsea or Chesterfield Albion were playing.

You see, when ego is set aside (and anyone who supports a 'big club' they have no affiliation to is an egotist) the game is so much more enjoyable because it becomes so much more than the game.

Does a Manchester United fan from Plymouth get more joy out of football than a Plymouth Argyle fan from Plymouth ? No. No, because they can never have what that fan has. A real connection, joy in small successes, and appreciation of small successes. And most importantly a desire for a connection to their surrounds and community.

Take me to a pub where there is a Rochdale fan having a pint before they are off to Stockport for their basement encounter and I'll sit with them and get them another. And we'll have a real chat about our clubs and the joy of the whole package of football. As for the Manchester United fan in the corner watching their match against whoever, I'll merely look at that them with sadness knowing they can never have what we have however many trophies their supposed team win.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

The only positive I can find is…imagine how we’d feel if the news was that Bloom was selling up to some American (or Mike Ashley). At least it’s better than that.

That would be considerably more significant than merely losing a manager.

 

[trueblue]

Whilst the poaching of players by the big clubs is relatively commonplace, it feels like it's considerably less so when it comes to managers. From what I can recall over the last 20-30 years...

Liverpool: Brendan Rogers (Swansea) and Roy Hodgson (Fulham)
Manchester United: David Moyes (Everton)
Manchester City: Mark Hughes (Blackburn)
Arsenal: none
Spurs: Mauricio Pochettino (Southampton) and Nuno Espirito Santo (Wolves)
Chelsea: Frank Lampard (Derby)

Bitter but, Pochettino aside and Rodgers to an extent, quite pleasing to reflect how well that worked out for them.

 

[BN41Albion]

It’s more fluid than a Top 6.

A murderous, homophobic state buy Newcastle, the EPL do their ‘due diligence’ and in a nanosecond it becomes a Top 7.

Who next to join them? Gold and Sullivan probably very open to a country buying WH.

Yep. Was a top 4 not so long ago, then Chelsea joined ranks before city too, now the geordies... I'd put money on West ham being next as you mention... deep ****ing joy

 

[trueblue]

Well, yes.

Tony could buy the title if he had the inclination..

I'm not sure he could. What have Chelsea spent this transfer window alone - £260 million? And they are so far behind Manchester City, they'll probably need to spend several times that to even get close. Obviously, the theory is that the slower and sustained development under a coach like Potter will bridge that gap without the American having to spend as much as Abramovich. Good luck with that when it takes a while and the glory hunters who've jumped on the bandwagon in the past 20 years start looking for a new winner to back.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

I think this might be the thing that breaks me from football once and for all. I've stopped enjoying other football games that the Albion aren't a part of, now I think I might be done full stop. What's the point of supporting a club if we can't try and get to the top. We're just going to have our best players, coaches and managers poached by the big clubs if we do well, then what's the point. Even Leicester has been ripped apart and look like relegation candidates. I genuinely feel low enough to be done with football.

Sent from my SM-G781B using Tapatalk

Since when did supporting Brighton become dependent on getting to the top ?

 

[BN41Albion]

Just once, wouldn't it be nice if an individual didn't leave despite the money on offer ?

Wouldn't it just. I mean it's not like he couldn't retire on what he earns now ffs and live a luxurious life. I always thought if I were in GPs position Id have too high morals to get tempted into a move to a club totally devoid of morals and class, but if GP can then perhaps anyone can

 

[Stato]

For a while now, I've wondered who is the most important individual at the club: Bloom or Potter. We'll find out as the season pans out.

Not even worth a question. Bloom brought you a Potter and, if Potter's gone, he could bring another. No manager in the world could bring you a Bloom. Thank your lucky stars he's Brighton.

 

[pure_white]

So we’ve lost 2 of our best players to bigger sides this summer and one of them last summer, I’ve kind of accepted that’s part of the progression.

When you actually think about it, without a ridiculous money injection how can a club ever break into the so called ‘big clubs’? As soon as anyone lower down the league appears to be making a good run at anything all the vultures come in and take what has taken us to where we are?

Like I said in the thread title, probably a bit dramatic but sometimes you look at football and just think how broken it is, how can a club ever break into the ‘big club’ bollocks?

Over dramatic or is it all a bit disheartening?

All down to the owners of clubs do they really love the club or the ego and or love of gambling and thats what drives and excites them. I believe we have an owner addicted to gambling not the club. He wont admit it but look at clubs history. How many fans got sh@fted taking club to court over Gillingham days. Fans will be there long after owners. Always.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Not even worth a question. Bloom brought you a Potter and, if Potter's gone, he could bring another. No manager in the world could bring you a Bloom. Thank your lucky stars he's Brighton.

And the ground when bank lending dried up and most importantly a lifetime passion for our club. No contest when comparing with a coach passing through.

 

[GT49er]

Oh there are...

The winners are supporters who love their local team, keeping it at the heart of their community, and watch them for many years building lasting friendships and bonds with others. Success is a bonus, but not essential........../

/.............Take me to a pub where there is a Rochdale fan having a pint before they are off to Stockport for their basement encounter and I'll sit with them and get them another. And we'll have a real chat about our clubs and the joy of the whole package of football. As for the Manchester United fan in the corner watching their match against whoever, I'll merely look at that them with sadness knowing they can never have what we have however many trophies their supposed team win.

Lovely post.

 

[Icy Gull]

It's all a bit Coppell to Reading again isn't it

Yeah, just wanting for Potter to say he’s “torn” and then accept the Chelsea job

 

[trueblue]

I seem to be going through the ‘anger’ phase this morning. For all the good that Potter has done, if he goes then the timing stinks.

The Leicester performance felt like the beginning, not ‘job done’, certainly from the home crowd’s perspective. Forget the repeated exaggeration of a few ‘fans’ booing after the Leeds game, the fact is pretty much everyone has been extremely patient and understanding during this building process. People appreciated it was a long term project, appreciated Potter’s talents rely on time and trusted him to see it through. Sure, we were rewarded with a couple of magnificent Amex matches at the end of last season but nobody locally was getting on his back during all those draws or even the losing run. There were other great away days along the way but a lot of that early development was done during lockdown - when empty stadia surely helped keep the pressure off.

Anticipation of this season was higher than I can ever remember. The year the plan might finally click and the rewards would come, and that’s how it’s been looking.
And what? Six games in with a chance to go top of the league, his head could be turned by Chelsea. A club who seem to be claiming he’s part of a long term plan. So they wanted him when he’d lost 6 in a row did they? Or even a couple of weeks ago when they were spending hundreds of millions on random signings and bringing in Tuchel’s mate Aubameyang? Bullshit.

If he was going to go, last summer would have been fine. Thanks and goodbye, shame he couldn’t see it through. Next summer would be fine, having achieved this club’s potential. He’d leave as a legend. Right now? It would be a decision that shows the only priority is Potter’s career and has never been the project here. I don’t think anyone will want him to succeed, and that’s sad. But it’d be sadder for the fans, the players - including the likes of Billy Gilmour who chucked Chelsea to play for us even though they wanted it only to be a loan - and an owner who has been unflinchingly supportive and provided that Premier League chance.

 

[gazingdown]

Trueblue - I’d say that’s pretty much mimics my thoughts on the matter.