[Football] An open letter from Graham Potter

[Mackenzie]

I think booing him on his return would be a poor show, but *a select few* booed him when he was actually in charge of the team. It never came across as though there was a big connection between the fans and Potter from a neutrals POV, at least on this forum, it seemed like a large majority only wanted to criticise in the first couple of years under Potter despite the team performing well and just being generally quite unlucky. Now the team is performing to the level the metrics always suggested they would and he's been snapped up by another team, hardly seems right to be bitter at him taking the opportunity, especially when he always seemed more beloved by neutrals than the fans of his own team.

Yeah you’re speaking bollocks mate.

 

[Husty]

I am pretty certain that you were one of the morons? I take it you are happy he’s gone?

Way off the mark.

 

[The Clamp]

I doubt he’ll notice he’s at a new club. He’s taking half of BHA with him. The rat.

 

[Farehamseagull]

I think booing him on his return would be a poor show, but *a select few* booed him when he was actually in charge of the team. It never came across as though there was a big connection between the fans and Potter from a neutrals POV, at least on this forum, it seemed like a large majority only wanted to criticise in the first couple of years under Potter despite the team performing well and just being generally quite unlucky. Now the team is performing to the level the metrics always suggested they would and he's been snapped up by another team, hardly seems right to be bitter at him taking the opportunity, especially when he always seemed more beloved by neutrals than the fans of his own team.

Absolute bollocks.

 

[ofco8]

What has happened has happened and we move on. But to where?

The newspapers are today saying Chelsea now have their eyes on MacAllister, Casseido and Trossard in January. Hope it is just paper talk but also hope club are scrutinising all contracts.

Finally, the one I feel sorry for is Billy Gilmour. Apparently only signed to us from Chelsea, on the promise of being under Potter. That went well for him!!!.

 

[Kosh]

What has happened has happened and we move on. But to where?

The newspapers are today saying Chelsea now have their eyes on MacAllister, Casseido and Trossard in January. Hope it is just paper talk but also hope club are scrutinising all contracts.

Finally, the one I feel sorry for is Billy Gilmour. Apparently only signed to us from Chelsea, on the promise of being under Potter. That went well for him!!!.

I know - Billy I’m sure will be a bit down/disappointed etc. and quite rightly - based on his interview Potter was the main reason he signed ... that and first team opportunities.

But, I doubt GP gave it much thought when he decided to leave ... I’m not sure there was much thought about anything other than GP to be honest.

It’s down to the new Head Coach/manager to utilise Billy and pick him up along with his new teammates.

It’s not a great beginning for him though, like I say I bet he’s pretty hacked off.

 

[Mike Small]

Yes, it is a nice letter, and it needed to be written given the circumstances of his departure.

I believe his words but what he doesn't understand is two things:

1. The love for Bruno at the Albion and the possibility (now busted) he might one day mange the Albion, and
2. The extent most Brighton fans hate Chelsea, a pretentious club supported by wankers. We all know people locally who should support the Albion but root for Chelsea, and as a breed they are generally tossers.

Exactly this. How can someone with an apparent moral compass (care for humans, sleeping rough for a night to highlight homeless people's plight) choose to upset a lot of people to manage a club whose supporters still cheer Abramovich's name. And it's not a few morons. It's thousands. I understand wanting to further yourself but I couldn't with that lot. He's thought of his own career over eberything else. That is not classy.

As for Bruno. This hurts. He and the man himself have ****ed up and it won't be worth it.

 

[DavePage]

I doubt he’ll notice he’s at a new club. He’s taking half of BHA with him. The rat.

It would have been interesting to see how he would have done without them

 

[Wokeworrier]

The words from Graham Potter were IMO sincere and heartfelt.

FWIW I’ve seen the best football under Graham Potter of the 50 years I’ve been watching the Albion.

He’s a measured, intelligent, progressive individual with a social conscience (remember him sleeping out last year to highlight the plight of homelessness) and has given some us incredible memories over the last three years.

I wish him good health, good fortune and a successful career. It’s great to see an Englishman embracing education and using it as a means of improving his professional standing.

At the same time, and by all means accuse me of pettiness and a mean spirit, all of those good wishes for his career do not apply at Chelsea. May it go spectacularly tits up at the club where the owner, who knows nothing about football, appointed himself as sporting director, spent £1/4 bn on recruitment that had no logic or strategy, then having sacked the chief executive who was held as one of the best in the business, Petr Cech, who along with Tuchel was willing to face the media during the government restrictions on the club when the suits went missing, and Tuchel himself who may be a ‘difficult’ individual to deal with, still did deliver in terms of finals, trophies and a top four finish (and he has read ‘The Manual’). So Boehly is swapping managers to deflect from him own hubris. For the foreseeable future I’ll be cheering on their opponents, even if it is Palace.

While I agree he gave us many great memories It would appear that a 'measured, intelligent, progressive individual with a social conscience' behaves in exactly the same way as a unscrupulous money grabbing so and so by jumping ship at the first opportunity stripping out the entire senior coaching staff at the club that gave him his big chance and stood by him during difficult times.

I hope he and our poached coaching team fail miserably at Chelsea and end up looking back at this desicion with deep regret...

 

[Mike Small]

“ Not every team selection or decision has been perfect. But the club has created an environment that gives you the scope to make mistakes, learn from them and then improve.”

So he goes to Chelsea, who are famous for giving their coaches time and their low expectations.

Feels like that line was for his current employers.

 

[Springal]

While I agree he gave us many great memories It would appear that a 'measured, intelligent, progressive individual with a social conscience' behaves in exactly the same way as a unscrupulous money grabbing so and so by jumping ship at the first opportunity stripping out the entire senior coaching staff at the club that gave him his big chance and stood by him during difficult times.

I hope he and our poached coaching team fail miserably at Chelsea and end up looking back at this desicion with deep regret...

Wasn’t the first opportunity. He turned down an approach from Spurs when they appointed Nunes

 

[Mike Small]

The words from Graham Potter were IMO sincere and heartfelt.

FWIW I’ve seen the best football under Graham Potter of the 50 years I’ve been watching the Albion.

He’s a measured, intelligent, progressive individual with a social conscience (remember him sleeping out last year to highlight the plight of homelessness) and has given some us incredible memories over the last three years.

I wish him good health, good fortune and a successful career. It’s great to see an Englishman embracing education and using it as a means of improving his professional standing.

At the same time, and by all means accuse me of pettiness and a mean spirit, all of those good wishes for his career do not apply at Chelsea. May it go spectacularly tits up at the club where the owner, who knows nothing about football, appointed himself as sporting director, spent £1/4 bn on recruitment that had no logic or strategy, then having sacked the chief executive who was held as one of the best in the business, Petr Cech, who along with Tuchel was willing to face the media during the government restrictions on the club when the suits went missing, and Tuchel himself who may be a ‘difficult’ individual to deal with, still did deliver in terms of finals, trophies and a top four finish (and he has read ‘The Manual’). So Boehly is swapping managers to deflect from him own hubris. For the foreseeable future I’ll be cheering on their opponents, even if it is Palace.

Great post and how I feel. I'd also add the anger and disappointed with him and Bruno for Bruno leaving. As I've said on other threads, he's joining a club built on blood/oil/corruption money, racists fans (and players) and thousands of fans who still sing Abramovich's name. How does this sit with his social conscience?

 

[GloryDays]

I think we need to move on. I know ppl won't like hearing that but as a wise man once said, "It is what it is. That's football". The letter is strange. Weirdly chronological...attempting to be emotional but ultimately coming across as a series of events. I do suspect a large portion of this emOTiONaL InTelLigEnCE stuff is actually just key stage 1 manipulation skills which gets amplified to appear to be magic when dealing with footballers and fans but to the general public actually can backfire a little bit and here just feels a little bit like going through the motions.

Anyway, just an observation. I might be wrong. I don't really care. We don't have to like it but we have to accept it and in time I'm sure we'll look back and be proud that GP was our manager. It's annoying the way it all panned out but maybe that's just rejection, eh? We shouldn't let that get the better of us. Life's too short to not be the better person here. Onwards and upwards (or downwards because ultimately none of it is in our control).

Really excited by the propect of Bo Svenson if that materialises but let's see. One thing is for sure, we're in a far better position now than when GP joined us and that is something we can all rejoice in.
UTA / Tony Blooms Blue Army

 

[peterward]

Wasn’t the first opportunity. He turned down an approach from Spurs when they appointed Nunes

That was widely reported. but press other day said it was bollox, there was never any approach.

Levy pay £20m compo, use your head.

 

[Springal]

That was widely reported. but press other day said it was bollox, there was never any approach.

Levy pay £20m compo, use your head.

He wouldn’t pay the release clause , but potter could have resigned if he wanted it

 

[Sheebo]

He wouldn’t pay the release clause , but potter could have resigned if he wanted it

Seen you post this several times as ‘fact’ and it simply isn’t. There was no evidence that Spurs were in for him as far as I remember. And yes, Levy paying £20m is unlikely - I don’t think Spurs were in for Potter at all - let alone him rejecting them - weird you seem convinced it is true?

 

[Springal]

Seen you post this several times as ‘fact’ and it simply isn’t. There was no evidence that Spurs were in for him as far as I remember. And yes, Levy paying £20m is unlikely - I don’t think Spurs were in for Potter at all - let alone him rejecting them - weird you seem convinced it is true?

Well I don’t know 100% for sure and nor do you. But it was widely reported.

Does anyone really think that Chelsea the only club ever to have been interested in him?

 

[nwgull]

He wouldn’t pay the release clause , but potter could have resigned if he wanted it

Could have resigned but as he was under contract Bloom could’ve kept him on gardening leave for 3 years, although he’d have had to continue paying his wages.

 

[scooter1]

F**k I’ll be glad when the club appoint a new head coach and we can all move on….

 

[Sheebo]

Well I don’t know 100% for sure and nor do you. But it was widely reported.

Does anyone really think that Chelsea the only club ever to have been interested in him?

No I don’t know - hence I don’t post it as fact. I don’t remember that being credibly reported anywhere but my guess would be Pitter didn’t turn them down. Of course there’s interest but interest and concrete offers are different. Bit like Bissouma who didn’t play for us again after his arrest - too many people quick to assume facts