[Football] De Zerbi offers to resign as Marseilles coach

[Mellotron]

His club is still favourite to finish 2nd and would think club will be delighted

From what I can tell of budgets/expectations, that is absolutely par for Marseilles.

Obviously not a bad thing and CL qualification good etc, but I believe it is expected for them to be the 2nd best club behind PSG. Open to being corrected if wrong.

 

[Mellotron]

He is 99% of the reason why some people like De Zerbi, so he'll usually be relevant in that debate.

That's too high a percentage. RDZ unquestionably built on the firm foundations left by GP, but he still DID some very very impressive things himself.

One of the biggest positives for RDZ for me is he made us as fans feel like we were ALLOWED to be a really, really good football club. A bit of conviction, fearlessness, a bit of belief. It was REALLY fun being a Brighton fan under RDZ (well, until the last few months anyway).

 

[jackalbion]

The difference between the situations is that one manager moaned constantly about it and the other shut his mouth and kept working. This is the main reason why most of the "edgy" (constantly whining) people on NSC fell in love with De Zerbi: they identified with him and his constant, incessant moaning about everything the club, refs or injury gods did or didn't do.

We fell in love with De Zerbi because we got European football and finished higher than we ever have before. We all got to go on trips that we could have never dream of 20 years ago. That's the main reason I like him, not this conspiracy about constantly whining and being edgy. Football fans enjoy good days out in shock twist of events.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Thats correct.

The world loves a moaning bully. Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Jose Mourinho, Roberto De Zerbi. The list of "he understands me because he moans a lot"-people getting appreciation in modern society is virtually endless. People like angry people. No news.

Oh Potter could be angry, he just wrapped it up in introverted passive aggressiveness. Wasn't really a month went by when he wasn't complaining about fans booing or needing a history lesson or, God forbid, shouting "shooooot". I'd imagine though that sort of thing goes down pretty well in a country that pretty much invented social distancing before it was a thing.

Every top level coach has an ego. Every one. They wouldn't survive without it. Slot let his mask slip away to Everton. Pep blames everyone but himself. "Mate" Ange wouldn't change his system despite having a back four with very little pace and the quality of a League One reserve team, thanks to injuries. Russel Martin tried to get nice football out of the worst squad to ever grace this league, just because and now Our Graham is getting a seriously poor West Ham team to play crab-ball.

 

[jcdenton08]

I think we’re all in agreement that RDZ elevated us to the next level, providing our best ever finish, a memorable European campaign, before crashing and burning. He has made memories we will never forget.

I think it’s universally accepted RDZ was an upgrade on Potter.

 

[jackalbion]

Thats correct.

The world loves a moaning bully. Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Jose Mourinho, Roberto De Zerbi. The list of "he understands me because he moans a lot"-people getting appreciation in modern society is virtually endless. People like angry people. No news.

People also like Coldplay, Richard Osman, Jake Humphries, Danny Murphy, Formula One, LinkedIn and Graham Potter.

 

[Guinness Boy]

That's too high a percentage. RDZ unquestionably built on the firm foundations left by GP, but he still DID some very very impressive things himself.

One of the biggest positives for RDZ for me is he made us as fans feel like we were ALLOWED to be a really, really good football club. A bit of conviction, fearlessness, a bit of belief. It was REALLY fun being a Brighton fan under RDZ (well, until the last few months anyway).

Yup. He brought ambition to the club.

I remember when we were floundering around in 15th or so and people on here were fine because it was a long term plan, we were little old Brighton who should know our place. Sod that said Roberto. We can get into the Europa League. Now Europe is a standard club target, less than three years after people were talking about five year plans.

 

[Mellotron]

I think it’s universally accepted RDZ was an upgrade on Potter.

I agree on all bar that last sentence, because I feel we just can't know for definite.

We were absolutely flying when Potter left, I think there is a reasonable chance he also would've taken us into Europe that season.

 

[pigmanovich]

His club is still favourite to finish 2nd and would think club will be delighted

Second place was Marseille's to lose a month ago, they've now lost four of their last five games, conceding three in each of their last three aways, and they're currently in third with only three points separating third from sixth. They may well finish below second!

 

[Han Solo]

From what I can tell of budgets/expectations, that is absolutely par for Marseilles.

Obviously not a bad thing and CL qualification good etc, but I believe it is expected for them to be the 2nd best club behind PSG. Open to being corrected if wrong.

Its correct. 2nd place is what everyone expects. CL is the bare minimum, they've thrown their (already pretty unhealthy) wage structure over board to bring in players like Rabiot, Höjberg and others from bigger leagues, and if they don't go to CL, they're in deep shit.

But given all the leaks coming from French sports media, it is highly dubious if even a second place can keep him in the job. I wouldn't even put money on him lasting the season. If they lose against Toulouse, he doesn't have a job on Monday.

Oh Potter could be angry, he just wrapped it up in introverted passive aggressiveness. Wasn't really a month went by when he wasn't complaining about fans booing or needing a history lesson or, God forbid, shouting "shooooot". I'd imagine though that sort of thing goes down pretty well in a country that pretty much invented social distancing before it was a thing.

The fact that you've repeated the three occasions when Graham Potter gave the "edgy" lads (like yourself) something to work with for the 198th time indicates there may not be a whole lot more to work with.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

He is 99% of the reason why some people like De Zerbi, so he'll usually be relevant in that debate.

Oh my God, really?

GOODNESS. Perhaps Russell Slade is 99% of the reason some people like Gus Poyet.

Bonkers take.

Unfortunately, from a computer in Sweden it is not possible to understand the response from the actual Albion fanbase.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

People also like Coldplay, Richard Osman, Jake Humphries, Danny Murphy, Formula One, LinkedIn and Graham Potter.

I quite like 3 of these. Bugger.

 

[jackalbion]

Its correct. 2nd place is what everyone expects. CL is the bare minimum, they've thrown their (already pretty unhealthy) wage structure over board to bring in players like Rabiot, Höjberg and others from bigger leagues, and if they don't go to CL, they're in deep shit.

But given all the leaks coming from French sports media, it is highly dubious if even a second place can keep him in the job. I wouldn't even put money on him lasting the season. If they lose against Toulouse, he doesn't have a job on Monday.


The fact that you've repeated the three occasions when Graham Potter gave the "edgy" lads (like yourself) something to work with for the 198th time indicates there may not be a whole lot more to work with.

I was generally behind Graham Potter most of the time, but for me his complete detachment at leaving was made me genuinely dislike him. Much like some sort of marketing Jake Humphries hybrid, he sucked us all in that he bought into the project, and he dropped us as soon as he could, and expected everyone to just be fine with it, the bitterness in his post match after the 4-1 was quite pathetic really. The history lesson comment was weird, but also Graham Potter was like plain donner meat, fine good, enjoyable, RDZ was the added chilli sauce, that while fantastic and exciting came out in a wet sloppy shitty mess the following morning, by my god was it good fun.

 

[Hotchilidog]

You can look back with fondness at the De Zerbi era (for a while it was brilliant and nothing will take that away) and also feel like we dodged a bullet when he flounced out. I do not think these two view are mutually exclusive of each other.

 

[pigmanovich]

You can look back with fondness at the De Zerbi era (for a while it was brilliant and nothing will take that away) and also feel like we dodged a bullet when he flounced out. I do not think these two view are mutually exclusive of each other.

The way I'd put it is "also feel like we were merely grazed by the bullet" given the way last season ended

 

[Hotchilidog]

I was generally behind Graham Potter most of the time, but for me his complete detachment at leaving was made me genuinely dislike him. Much like some sort of marketing Jake Humphries hybrid, he sucked us all in that he bought into the project, and he dropped us as soon as he could, and expected everyone to just be fine with it, the bitterness in his post match after the 4-1 was quite pathetic really. The history lesson comment was weird, but also Graham Potter was like plain donner meat, fine good, enjoyable, RDZ was the added chilli sauce, that while fantastic and exciting came out in a wet sloppy shitty mess the following morning, by my god was it good fun.

Good kebab metaphor for RDZ, I'd substitute the falafel and humous with extra chili sauce from Albion Kebabs but spot on there Jack!

 

[Guinness Boy]

Unfortunately, from a computer in Sweden it is not possible to understand the response from the actual Albion fanbase.

I have been chuckling quietly that the latest outburst from Sweden seems to be aimed at three people who actually go home and away and talk, both in person and on social media, to a huge number of other Brighton fans.

And the reason seems to be the false equivalence that any praise at all for De Zerbi is somehow a negative in terms of the reputation of Graham Potter, a reputation that was put in tatters among the same dedicated fan base when he f***ed off, took all our coaches and then lost 4-1 to his replacement despite having a squad that cost about 10 times as much.

 

[Han Solo]

Yup. He brought ambition to the club.

I remember when we were floundering around in 15th or so and people on here were fine because it was a long term plan, we were little old Brighton who should know our place. Sod that said Roberto. We can get into the Europa League. Now Europe is a standard club target, less than three years after people were talking about five year plans.

Roberto De Zerbi did not bring ambition to the club. Tony Bloom did.

Yup, I remember that as well, the constant moaning from you when our quite poor, young and developing team didn't get the top placements you personally felt entitled to. I also remember huge parts of that young team floundering in around 15th or so later on (as part of the long term plan) were key members in the team that reached 6th place.

Obviously, idiots will think that Roberto De Zerbi rather than Tony Bloom led Brighton to Europe. These people will be proven (not that they'll accept it) wrong as Brighton & Hove Albion continues the journey upwards that began long before anyone had ever heard of Roberto.

 

[jackalbion]

Roberto De Zerbi did not bring ambition to the club. Tony Bloom did.

Yup, I remember that as well, the constant moaning from you when our quite poor, young and developing team didn't get the top placements you personally felt entitled to. I also remember huge parts of that young team floundering in around 15th or so later on (as part of the long term plan) were key members in the team that reached 6th place.

Obviously, idiots will think that Roberto De Zerbi rather than Tony Bloom led Brighton to Europe. These people will be proven (not that they'll accept it) wrong as Brighton & Hove Albion continues the journey upwards that began long before anyone had ever heard of Roberto.

I don't think anyone does? I think you are doing the age old thing of imagining someone, who doesn't actually exist.

 

[Simster]

I agree on all bar that last sentence, because I feel we just can't know for definite.

We were absolutely flying when Potter left, I think there is a reasonable chance he also would've taken us into Europe that season.

Spot on. So many people on here act like they have to choose between one or the other. The simple fact is that Potter had finally got it right when he left. The previous half-season and then first 6 games before he left, we were absolutely world class. RDZ continued that and saw us into Europe.

They both did a good job in different ways, but both had their blind spots. With Potter, we spent years being patient with his frustrating, boring crab-ball and his passive aggressive drivel when he was pulled up for it. With RDZ, he acted like a toddler demanding the club change the way it was run because he was the messiah, and my suspicion is that he was shocked that supporters backed Bloom over him. Anyway, he was initially well backed (unfortunately) and paid the club back by throwing a 4 month wobbly.

So sadly, both left us with a bitter taste in the mouth.