[Albion] When did things last feel this bad?

[A1X]

There’s always this separation in our fans between those that want to progress and those in the ‘remember where we came from’ group who will forever be grateful as long as we aren’t in the relegation positions, and many of this group would still be happy as long as we’re not getting relegated from L2.

Both are respectable positions to hold, but the lack of empathy from the latter group is something I personally find strange.

The reality is that the 3 teams at the bottom of this league are dreadful and were never likely to pick up enough points to survive. We have far too much quality now to be pushing down with them, even with this manager in charge.

So whilst the latter group don’t appreciate this point, for many of us the expectations have changed, and therefore what is acceptable has changed, and us being clear of the relegation positions doesn’t really change just how bad this season has been, for a lot of reasons.

And what exactly is it we’re expected to progress to achieve? Winning the league?

We’ve become established as a mid-table PL club who have found ourselves qualifying for Europe already (a feat many clubs of a similar size or even bigger than us have either never achieved (Palace) or only achieved relatively recently as the European competitions have expanded (Leicester)). I don’t wish to go all Gus Poyet and start talking about glass ceilings, but as a reality check we are never, ever going to be able to compete consistently with the likes of Liverpool or Man City. Unless we get bought out by the Chinese government or something, and frankly f*** that.

The issue seems to be that people are cross because we’re not qualifying for Europe every season. Which seems to ignore the reality that we’re competing in one of the richest and toughest leagues in world football, if not the toughest and richest. There’s a difference between “wanting the club to progress” and delusion.

 

[Poskettspurpose]

Trying to think of a time since the end of the Goldstone when things have felt this gloomy from an Albion point of view.

I know Gillingham was a ball ache and there was some wet and windy nights at Withdean, but what is going on with our club at the moment feels farcical.

Ferguson going from a £100m striker to being sent to a direct rival on loan.

Barco farce.

Rumoured discontent within the dressing room.

The board making calamitous decision after decision on transfers whilst popping up on a new podcast each week sucking up the plaudits.

A clueless baffoon of a manager.

Never ending injuries (which I think might be down to the players not being motivated to play/get fit for manager).

Endless crap performances at home.

Loosing 7 - 0 to a #teamslikeforest

I could go on...

I don’t think things are gloomy, I think you feel a bit gloomy and you want to create an entire thread devoted to letting everyone know just how gloomy you feel?

 

[Easy 10]

Trying to think of a time since the end of the Goldstone when things have felt this gloomy from an Albion point of view.

I know Gillingham was a ball ache and there was some wet and windy nights at Withdean, but what is going on with our club at the moment feels farcical.

Ferguson going from a £100m striker to being sent to a direct rival on loan.

Barco farce.

Rumoured discontent within the dressing room.

The board making calamitous decision after decision on transfers whilst popping up on a new podcast each week sucking up the plaudits.

A clueless baffoon of a manager.

Never ending injuries (which I think might be down to the players not being motivated to play/get fit for manager).

Endless crap performances at home.

Loosing 7 - 0 to a #teamslikeforest

I could go on...

If you can't even spell the word "BUFFOON", then you have no place using it.

 

[Balders]

There’s always this separation in our fans between those that want to progress and those in the ‘remember where we came from’ group who will forever be grateful as long as we aren’t in the relegation positions, and many of this group would still be happy as long as we’re not getting relegated from L2.

Both are respectable positions to hold, but the lack of empathy from the latter group is something I personally find strange.

The reality is that the 3 teams at the bottom of this league are dreadful and were never likely to pick up enough points to survive. We have far too much quality now to be pushing down with them, even with this manager in charge.

So whilst the latter group don’t appreciate this point, for many of us the expectations have changed, and therefore what is acceptable has changed, and us being clear of the relegation positions doesn’t really change just how bad this season has been, for a lot of reasons.

Your expectations have changed, but the Club's haven't for this season for many reasons. Remember like most things in life, progress is definitely not linear and there will be bumps in the road, we are now in one of those bumps in the road.

If your expectations are based on linear progression, prepare to be disappointed......

 

[Van Cleef]

If you can't even spell the word "BUFFOON", then you have no place using it.

Wrong. A Baffoon is some kind of monkey I believe.

 

[zefarelly]

Comparing now to ‘the past’ is like mistaking ‘the blues’ with manic depression.

You’ve got the former, not the latter. It will pass my friend

We're playing a groovy version of Manic depression in my new band . . . . It is quite bluesey. and Jazzy actually.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Your expectations have changed, but the Club's haven't for this season for many reasons. Remember like most things in life, progress is definitely not linear and there will be bumps in the road, we are now in one of those bumps in the road.

If your expectations are based on linear progression, prepare to be disappointed....

Absolutely. But as a paying fan, I have a right to my expectations, and to the frustrations with the current manager that I see, and have seen from the get go.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

And what exactly is it we’re expected to progress to achieve? Winning the league?

We’ve become established as a mid-table PL club who have found ourselves qualifying for Europe already (a feat many clubs of a similar size or even bigger than us have either never achieved (Palace) or only achieved relatively recently as the European competitions have expanded (Leicester)). I don’t wish to go all Gus Poyet and start talking about glass ceilings, but as a reality check we are never, ever going to be able to compete consistently with the likes of Liverpool or Man City. Unless we get bought out by the Chinese government or something, and frankly f*** that.

The issue seems to be that people are cross because we’re not qualifying for Europe every season. Which seems to ignore the reality that we’re competing in one of the richest and toughest leagues in world football, if not the toughest and richest. There’s a difference between “wanting the club to progress” and delusion.

You’ve just supported everything I’ve written. So thanks

 

[Bold Seagull]

You need a junior just to unite everyone in laughing at outright ridiculous baffoonery.

 

[The Optimist]

Trying to think of a time since the end of the Goldstone when things have felt this gloomy from an Albion point of view.

The end of RDZ’s reign. The end of Hughton’s reign and most of Hyypia’s reign.

 

[Balders]

Absolutely. But as a paying fan, I have a right to my expectations, and to the frustrations with the current manager that I see, and have seen from the get go.

So can we agree that FH has performed no worse than RDZ in the first 24 games and has the opportunity to improve on RDZ's return from the last 14 games, where let's face it, the bar is set very low. If FH outperforms RDZ in the last 14 games then we can agree that our progress is indeed linear but not at a rate that suits your personal expectations, if he doesn't that's the time to ask questions, as opposed to pandering to a fan mid season who is entitled by paying to attend matches to set the Club's expectations?

 

[maltaseagull]

Trying to think of a time since the end of the Goldstone when things have felt this gloomy from an Albion point of view.

I know Gillingham was a ball ache and there was some wet and windy nights at Withdean, but what is going on with our club at the moment feels farcical.

Ferguson going from a £100m striker to being sent to a direct rival on loan.

Barco farce.

Rumoured discontent within the dressing room.

The board making calamitous decision after decision on transfers whilst popping up on a new podcast each week sucking up the plaudits.

A clueless baffoon of a manager.

Never ending injuries (which I think might be down to the players not being motivated to play/get fit for manager).

Endless crap performances at home.

Loosing 7 - 0 to a #teamslikeforest

I could go on...

We lost a football match.
It could be worse. You might live in Gaza or Ukraine.
Get real ffs.

 

[chickens]

You need to open your eyes and see the bigger picture. It's apologists like you that'll watch this club walk into the championship.

I think perhaps it’s you failing to see the bigger picture. I’m absolutely in agreement that we’re playing poorly and our manager and squad are having a tough time.

Despite that we’re safe in the Premier League, and have a lot of talent gaining experience elsewhere (or out on the treatment table)

Do I believe our board have suddenly become clueless? No.

Barco didn’t work out, lots of players don’t. Ferguson is suffering an extended loss of form, a loan is the right solution.

It’s not being an apologist to suggest that we’re doing ok. The club keep on top of this stuff and will act should action become necessary.

All of these posts have appeared post a 7-0 tonking, so they’re understandable, but to claim that someone suggesting it’s not all doom and gloom is the one not seeing the bigger picture feels myopic at best.

 

[Dave the OAP]

For context, at the moment the opening post above was written, Brighton are 10th in the Premier League table and at no real risk of relegation.

Which of course is the goal.

to remain in the prem…perhaps have a decent cup run in the FA Cup, but primerily remaining in the prem. nothing else matters.

i think we have had our day of buying young players from South America and turning them into world beaters and cash cows! I would have thought with our treatment of barco, and now the other South Americans, they would think twice about signing.

 

[Eeyore]

Trying to think of a time since the end of the Goldstone when things have felt this gloomy from an Albion point of view.

I know Gillingham was a ball ache and there was some wet and windy nights at Withdean, but what is going on with our club at the moment feels farcical.

Ferguson going from a £100m striker to being sent to a direct rival on loan.

Barco farce.

Rumoured discontent within the dressing room.

The board making calamitous decision after decision on transfers whilst popping up on a new podcast each week sucking up the plaudits.

A clueless baffoon of a manager.

Never ending injuries (which I think might be down to the players not being motivated to play/get fit for manager).

Endless crap performances at home.

Loosing 7 - 0 to a #teamslikeforest

I could go on...

You asked when things last felt this bad. I guess I'm struggling because I don't feel bad about things at the Albion at the moment. The most difficult time in recent years would have been how close they came to relegation in 2019.

If we argue how this rates in 'badness' in wouldn't even enter the Top 100. In fact, given that we are 10th and have only finished above that twice in our history, you may find these times in the Top 10.

Now, if for any reason our situation at present is of turmoil to you, given our history, I genuinely would advise a break from football. Your bar is too high to enjoy it. We might like to chat about the team selection and tactics of the manager. We might like to debate the impact of recent signings and their contact purchase vales. But bad times- no. 1996/97 was bad times. Not this.

As regards a 7-0 humbling. I've been laughing and joking about it among friends. These things happen. It was our turn.

 

[Perkino]

I responded to a friend yesterday who was similarly wishing for an axe to fall. However our aim is to be a profitable club that plays possession based football by playing young talent and giving them opportunities to excel.

Finishing in the top 10 is ideal and pushing for a European spot is always exciting but ultimately we will never challenge for titles regularly with our infrastructure but will have plenty of highs along the way

 

[herecomesaregular]

You love it don't you? It's just one game, lost badly, shut the feck up and bore off.

Let's see how the team reacts.

 

[southstandandy]

It's sport - these things can happen.

Woke up this morning and have put yesterday in the past. Looking forward to next week already.

I refuse to ever let a result (however awful like yesterday's) ruin my weekend. Had a lovely evening with a few beers and we move on.

Never get too down if we lose - never get too carried away when we win. It's ONLY a GAME.

 

[TottonSeagull]

We just got beaten 7-0! Not acceptable on any divison and no manager should survive that!!

 

[Dave the OAP]

You love it don't you? It's just one game, lost badly, shut the feck up and bore off.

Let's see how the team reacts.

Two to be fair

but good point…well made.