10 reasons I'm feeling deep liking and respect for Hughton

[big nuts]

That team had no fight in it, 1-0 down under Poyet and I could of rushed to the bookies and gone large on a draw or a loss.

It wasn't to do with fight, it was more around our inability to change style, Poyet was incredibly stubborn and pretty much refused to go more direct, even if circumstances would dictate that we should. This massive blind spot and large ego will probably stop him being an incredibly successful manager, as he has a lot of strong points.

 

[Rod Marsh]

This time last season Forest were top and finished 14th so I'm not starry eyed about our chances, not yet at least, esp after he and KLL won those bangles today.

But I'm getting stronger and stronger feelings of respect and love for CH, irrespective of our current position: here are 10 reasons why:-

1. No-one has a bad word to say about him. Probably means he's a thoroughly decent man, and that probably gives him leadership quality and makes the players want to perform for him.

2. Utterly no ego. See 1.

3. Has changed the formation we play in...

4. ...but more importantly seems to have given players licence to play to their skills with more abandon, more enjoyment, less fear...

5. ...and boy, does it show, the football has been sooo much more enjoyable this season not just because we're winning. An Everton supporter said of the Ipswich game that we looked awesome. Opposition fan boards have largely been quick to praise us. Best ever football at Falmer IMO, perhaps, must be CH, who else could it be?

6. Turning players around. I'm a bit sad for Calderon, Ince etc who haven't had much of a look in but players like KLL, Baldock, Stevens have another gear versus last year, particularly the former. I was worried about him at the end of last season, he looked washed up, look at him now...

7. New signings... Bong, whoulda thunk it? Hemed, no Rodney Marsh but knows where the goal is: a few more newbies we've yet to see, exciting?

8. Loans out rather than loaning in

9. Stockdale. Maybe not down to CH but he looks formidable this time round. Grown good.

10. Lastly, not to get misty eyed but CH seems to have values. I might not agree with them but love it that a manager has dimension and brains enough to have sincere political views on their sleeve. It's something that seems to hang off exceptional managers. v. Clough (B). Ferguson (A).

Enjoyed reading that. Didn't expect to see my name in it when I started. :0)

 

[Machiavelli]

A good post and I'm largely in agreement with the OP and most of you. Two teeny notes of caution though...

We're all pretty excited off the back of our last performance but it is still too early to tell if that was an indication of what is to follow or if that was just one of those rare days when the stars aligned and everything clicked. It does happen. Ipswich at home last season for example.

Hughton's poachability factor. The view here seems to be that he's unwanted elsewhere. If he does what we all want him to do and gets us promoted then he automatically becomes very hot property indeed. Anybody taking little old us to the top flight is going to be sought after.

Onwards! I've still got very good vibes for this season.

I agree with your first note of caution, but not your second. Managers with clubs promoted to PL tend to stay. I'd expect this to be the case even more with CH. Let's not get too over-excited at present though, as your first note indicates.

 

[jimhigham]

I thought the general opinion on here was. He is dull, plays boring football, 4-4-2 is out dated, he is a dinosaur and he is not flair or foreign so as such must be shit...How times change, some of us however advacated getting this sort of manager in after Poyet left and the abuse we got...Where are they now?

I'm right here. I wanted us to stick with the young continental managerial model post-Gus and I'm happy to admit that it didn't work out as I had hoped. Early signs with Hughton suggest that the likes of you were right and bloody good luck to you. I hope you get plenty more opportunity to be proved right and make me look daft.

 

[Stat Brother]

I'm right here. I wanted us to stick with the young continental managerial model post-Gus and I'm happy to admit that it didn't work out as I had hoped. Early signs with Hughton suggest that the likes of you were right and bloody good luck to you. I hope you get plenty more opportunity to be proved right and make me look daft.

A point of order here with more than a touch of devil's advocate.

Hughton's early signs were that he was, at best, equally as incompetent as the clueless Finn.

The Albion this season have played 5 league games, drawn 1 away game and won the other 4 by an odd goal.
They have also been outclassed by 2 lower division sides in the league club.

Of those 4 victories, they each have more than their fair share of 'luck' (all the luck that we didn't get last season)
Stockdale has saved the defence.
The midfield, at times, have been over run. (Ipswich instantly springs to mind)
The referee has smiled on the Albion, hand balls not given, penalties instead of free kicks, talking too instead of sending offs etc.

In a different world the Albion could easily have picked up just 2 or 3 points, and NSC would have melted.

CH has also, a la Gus, strolled into the Albion at exactly the right time.
The club has clearly noted the massive mistakes it made when putting a squad together, 12 months ago.
Extra money has been spent, players have been bought, everything is good.


As said this is very devil's advocate, I too can't wait for next Saturday.
But in the same way it took me a long time to be head mentals negative last season, it'll take more than some good football, good off field decisions, and all of last seasons owed luck, before pronouncing the new messiah.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

The man has done something to Kaz. Whatever his technique was, the result could play a massive part in a potential promotion if Kaz keeps up his form & goalscoring (although he would probably be nabbed in January by a PL club if that were to happen).

True. But it was put to me earlier in summer by someone at the club that Kaz would be a different player because a teammate or two who were not exactly positive influences had left.

 

[The Andy Naylor Fan Club]

True. But it was put to me earlier in summer by someone at the club that Kaz would be a different player because a teammate or two who were not exactly positive influences had left.

Ooh. Are you doing a HB&B?

 

[symyjym]

True. But it was put to me earlier in summer by someone at the club that Kaz would be a different player because a teammate or two who were not exactly positive influences had left.

Kemy & Best at a guess?

 

[KT17]

A point of order here with more than a touch of devil's advocate.

Hughton's early signs were that he was, at best, equally as incompetent as the clueless Finn.

The Albion this season have played 5 league games, drawn 1 away game and won the other 4 by an odd goal.
They have also been outclassed by 2 lower division sides in the league club.

Of those 4 victories, they each have more than their fair share of 'luck' (all the luck that we didn't get last season)
Stockdale has saved the defence.
The midfield, at times, have been over run. (Ipswich instantly springs to mind)
The referee has smiled on the Albion, hand balls not given, penalties instead of free kicks, talking too instead of sending offs etc.

In a different world the Albion could easily have picked up just 2 or 3 points, and NSC would have melted.

CH has also, a la Gus, strolled into the Albion at exactly the right time.
The club has clearly noted the massive mistakes it made when putting a squad together, 12 months ago.
Extra money has been spent, players have been bought, everything is good.


As said this is very devil's advocate, I too can't wait for next Saturday.
But in the same way it took me a long time to be head mentals negative last season, it'll take more than some good football, good off field decisions, and all of last seasons owed luck, before pronouncing the new messiah.

I very much agree with your points about our results so far but you'ld acknowledge that I did say I wasn't starry eyed about our league position, and I certainly didn't anoint him a 'messiah'. But here's one other thing about games so far this season, we've consistently ridden our luck and that's an elusive ability that we were lacking for a painful while, and that could be something to do with attitude and approach, which surely filters down from the guv'nor?

 

[Stat Brother]

I very much agree with your points about our results so far but you'ld acknowledge that I did say I wasn't starry eyed about our league position, and I certainly didn't anoint him a 'messiah'. But here's one other thing about games so far this season, we've consistently ridden our luck and that's an elusive ability that we were lacking for a painful while, and that could be something to do with attitude and approach, which surely filters down from the guv'nor?

I wasn't directly taking you on, just explaining why I'm yet to have deep feelings of liking and respect for Hughton.

 

[Quinney]

I very much agree with your points about our results so far but you'ld acknowledge that I did say I wasn't starry eyed about our league position, and I certainly didn't anoint him a 'messiah'. But here's one other thing about games so far this season, we've consistently ridden our luck and that's an elusive ability that we were lacking for a painful while, and that could be something to do with attitude and approach, which surely filters down from the guv'nor?

Agree with you there, all teams that get promoted have that bit of luck, last minute pens / winners, midfield chipping in with goals, minimal injury's and so far that's how we've started. Consistency is the key to getting out of this league.

 

[Hastings gull]

I agree with your first note of caution, but not your second. Managers with clubs promoted to PL tend to stay. I'd expect this to be the case even more with CH. Let's not get too over-excited at present though, as your first note indicates.

Fully agree with you and the post to who you were responding. I am excited as anyone with our start to the season, and in particular with the sparkling performance at Ipswich, but PLEASE all, don't lets get carried away. By all accounts the performance at the start of last season when we won at Leeds was equally encouraging . . . There is much football to be played.

 

[Discodoktor]

I liked that Shay given said that out of the mangers he has played (it's a lot been at Newcastle all his career) That the stand out three were Bobby Robison, Kevin Keenan and our chris hughton.

He elaborated that the football isn't pretty but he knows how to get results. It also felt like he alluded to team spirit. Though I might be reading too much into it.

No doubt the man has a decent record. Chrisy hughton blue and white army.

 

[Discodoktor]

The football under Poyet especially the 2012/13 season was the comfortably the best I've ever seen played by the Albion in close to 30 years. I love the patient possession based style we played so brilliantly under him, so nice to see our full backs play the ball into midfield rather than lumping up the channel to a big number 9 which I grew up with.

I enjoy watching the Albion win and this season has been great so far, albeit early days we are a little more direct but thats resulting in more shots at goal and chances created which I can't complain about.

I also found Gus poyets football was the best to watch over any off our mangers. I also loved his interviews and self belief. I hated the fact that he lost us the play offs against the Nigel's. Unforgivable.

CH is looking totally great and im more than happy it's his team now. Chris hughtons blue and white army.

 

[GT49er]

By all accounts the performance at the start of last season when we won at Leeds was equally encouraging . . .

Yes, already noted on here. Just hope that this time it's not a false dawn.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Kemy & Best at a guess?

Pretty good guess, I'd say.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Ooh. Are you doing a HB&B?

It didn't take place at the Tesco in Dyke Road, if that boosts my credibility in any way ...

 

[KT17]

I wasn't directly taking you on, just explaining why I'm yet to have deep feelings of liking and respect for Hughton.

Sorry. M

 

[Moshe Gariani]

The football under Poyet especially the 2012/13 season was the comfortably the best I've ever seen played by the Albion in close to 30 years. I love the patient possession based style we played so brilliantly under him, so nice to see our full backs play the ball into midfield rather than lumping up the channel to a big number 9 which I grew up with.

I enjoy watching the Albion win and this season has been great so far, albeit early days we are a little more direct but thats resulting in more shots at goal and chances created which I can't complain about.

Poyet is a tw@t and Hughton is magic.

 

[Sheebo]

Very good post and summary. Been backing Hughton for a long time, like many, to be judged after he's had a chance to put his squad together. Still not there yet - judge him after this season. All he needed to do last season was keep us up which he did.

Only thing I disagree on OP is you calling first 3 seasons at the Amex drab football!? Poyet had us playing some lovely stuff. Patient and possession based yes, but we made the play offs twice & pissed league 1 doing it! Something tells me you didn't see much of our previous attempts at the championship - under Hinshelwood & McGhee etc. Yes, a lot down to budget but my word let's not forget the Barca style brilliant football under Poyet, just because he's gone...