[Albion] Was forcing Sanchez out the worst decision our club has made in years?

Kalimantan Gull said:

Well, no, you can debate the language but he was effectively pushed out. Dropped for someone not as good as him, back for a couple of the biggest games in our history (first ever win at Stamford Bridge, Cup semi-final) but despite playing well was put back on the bench, and then told in no uncertain terms that he was staying on the bench and Steele was keeping his spot regardless. He wasn't being dropped to regain form or keep him on his toes or to work on some things, no this was a permanent and irreversible dropping, in which case yeah, I think he was pushed out.

For a guy who had a lot of interest (plenty of rumours the bigger clubs were looking at him), had just gone to the world cup with a contending team, was playing well, had adapted his game to play the passing style RDZ wanted, thats a really surprising decision. None of us at the time thought it was anything more than a temporary thing.

But it wasn't. How much of this decision was down to his attitude or behaviour, maybe driven by unhappiness with the departure of Roberts and Potter, we'll never know much more than the gossip and hearsay that comes from people who want their opinion known. Perhaps it was RDZ trying to take control of the squad, after all there was a lot of discontent at this time, Trossard got upset and was kept away from the team, Caicedo put in a transfer request and was held back from training, Undav wasn't in the best mindset it seems, and there are all those rumours about Sanchez you posted earlier. Perhaps it wasn't the most together place at that time and RDZ made Sanchez a fall-guy or wanted popular squad guy Steele in the team.. Who knows, just speculation, but there is lots of that here.

All the time we persist with goalies not as good as him I think its fair to ask the question of why he was booted out of the first XI, and if he had issues why they couldn't be sorted. But yeah, maybe he was just a difficult soul to work with. Shame though.

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ROSM said:

For the reasons I have already provided (based on reliable people including some very loyal to Big Bob who still say he acted badly) i dont recognise the picture you are painting here.

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Kalimantan Gull said:

which bit? I mean, I'm trying to consider all sides here. You've heard he acted badly so was dropped, and kept on acting badly so he wasn't recalled, and the decision was made not to play him again? Yeah? We know that others have reported they heard the opposite to you, so its all hearsay, but I think I covered what you said in my post.

Ultimately, the off-field stuff over-ruled the on-field ability, club decided it was better he was gone, and I think its a real shame that it couldn't be sorted out.

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ROSM said:

The decision wasnt made not to play him again. The decision was made not acquiesce to his demands to be played whilst he was undermining his team mates.

I am told that one of the reasons rdz didnt haul him off for steele to face the pens in the semi was a concern about the long term inpact on sanchez by doing so. Hardly the actions of someone who was never going to play him again.

By refusing to sit on the bench, that was the point at which he was gone. He may well have decided that himself before that.

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Kalimantan Gull said:

Well, no, you can debate the language but he was effectively pushed out. Dropped for someone not as good as him, back for a couple of the biggest games in our history (first ever win at Stamford Bridge, Cup semi-final) but despite playing well was put back on the bench, and then told in no uncertain terms that he was staying on the bench and Steele was keeping his spot regardless. He wasn't being dropped to regain form or keep him on his toes or to work on some things, no this was a permanent and irreversible dropping, in which case yeah, I think he was pushed out.

For a guy who had a lot of interest (plenty of rumours the bigger clubs were looking at him), had just gone to the world cup with a contending team, was playing well, had adapted his game to play the passing style RDZ wanted, thats a really surprising decision. None of us at the time thought it was anything more than a temporary thing.

But it wasn't. How much of this decision was down to his attitude or behaviour, maybe driven by unhappiness with the departure of Roberts and Potter, we'll never know much more than the gossip and hearsay that comes from people who want their opinion known. Perhaps it was RDZ trying to take control of the squad, after all there was a lot of discontent at this time, Trossard got upset and was kept away from the team, Caicedo put in a transfer request and was held back from training, Undav wasn't in the best mindset it seems, and there are all those rumours about Sanchez you posted earlier. Perhaps it wasn't the most together place at that time and RDZ made Sanchez a fall-guy or wanted popular squad guy Steele in the team.. Who knows, just speculation, but there is lots of that here.

All the time we persist with goalies not as good as him I think its fair to ask the question of why he was booted out of the first XI, and if he had issues why they couldn't be sorted. But yeah, maybe he was just a difficult soul to work with. Shame though.

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Bold Seagull said:

All the time you insist your opinion he was better than our current keepers is correct, you create a narrative to fit that opinion.

You suggest a permanent and irreversible dropping from a manager who only a few months later is taking the bold decision to rotate keepers and has done so all season. He played in the cup run and FA Cup semi-final (23 April) - hardly the actions of a manager or club freezing him out.

Discontent - again creating a narrative. Trossard agitated for a move and went to Arsenal, Caicedo agitated for a move and got a new contract. That wasn't discontent, that was just football.

Then look at the present, benched again at his new club he started the season as first choice, and lost his place to a guy they bought in at nearly half the cost with no PL experience.

You're a pretty wise person generally, but on this Sanchez thread, you've got some serious blinkers on.

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Kalimantan Gull said:

Thanks, I guess

Yes, my opinion is that Sanchez was better than our current keepers, certainly Steele and at the moment Bart but hoping that kid can develop. Still haven't seen the worldies from Bart that Sanchez used to pull off, but his overall game is promising.

Create a narrative? Yeah maybe getting caught down rabbit holes debating so many different angles. At the end of the day he was dropped, we don't know exactly why although plenty of rumours doing the rounds. It seems unlikely it was to do with his on-field performances despite the Palace clanger.

I see a guy who came through the ranks of the club since he was 15, with us for what, 8 years, and played almost every first team game for 2 and a half seasons, performing at a level that he went to the World cup with Spain. New manager comes in and suddenly he's a big problem? That narrative doesn't sit right with me, unless the Roberts/Potter departures really affected him. Three months after being at the World Cup he's dropped, stuck on the bench, can't get back in, throws his toys out of the pram, big public fallout, shipped off to Chelsea into another mess, gets injured, then doesn't get his place back - his life has crashed around him in 12 months. Guess it will take a while to get it right again. Many on here will say 'good' but I struggle to have any time for those people.

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Kalimantan Gull said:

Thanks, I guess

Yes, my opinion is that Sanchez was better than our current keepers, certainly Steele and at the moment Bart but hoping that kid can develop. Still haven't seen the worldies from Bart that Sanchez used to pull off, but his overall game is promising.

Create a narrative? Yeah maybe getting caught down rabbit holes debating so many different angles. At the end of the day he was dropped, we don't know exactly why although plenty of rumours doing the rounds. It seems unlikely it was to do with his on-field performances despite the Palace clanger.

I see a guy who came through the ranks of the club since he was 15, with us for what, 8 years, and played almost every first team game for 2 and a half seasons, performing at a level that he went to the World cup with Spain. New manager comes in and suddenly he's a big problem? That narrative doesn't sit right with me, unless the Roberts/Potter departures really affected him. Three months after being at the World Cup he's dropped, stuck on the bench, can't get back in, throws his toys out of the pram, big public fallout, shipped off to Chelsea into another mess, gets injured, then doesn't get his place back - his life has crashed around him in 12 months. Guess it will take a while to get it right again. Many on here will say 'good' but I struggle to have any time for those people.

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sparkie said:

Choosing to be available only if picked in the first 11 is a disgrace tbh, and that is his legacy.

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Kalimantan Gull said:

Alright, thats what you've heard and if true, yeah it adds up. I would like to hear the other side - there's always two sides - but I guess we won't. Such a shame that a relationship can break down like that and not be resolved because in the end everyone loses. Still can't quite get my head round the fact that we were watching Brighton play Roma in a Europa League knockout and we did that with Jason Steele in goal. Seems like a great guy, but I wish we could all rewind the clock and sort out what happened.

Thanks for the chat

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Weststander said:

That’s a binary Steele v ex-player comparison. In reality we have Verbruggen. RDZ made the call on Steele. Then Dunk et al threw the game, imho our high risk set up did too.

Last May and September only one poster, not you I think, lamented Steele playing.

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SULLY COULDNT SHOOT said:

In relation to Bart and Jason....

Jason isn't he future...a I said earlier he is dependable but is really a No:2 in waiting. Bart is the future no:1 here It seems and he is coming along well. The problem is we are caught between two stools. Bart is fine as a future and competing for No 1 but he needs to be competing with a No1 who IS a no1. In effect what we have is a 1.5 and a 2 competing for a number 1 spot. I would prefer for next season Steele to be sold and an elder keeper who is premiership quality (Dubravka maybe) coming here to compete with Bart. Think GK is an issue this season BUT it really hasn't been a position of any strength since Stockdale. Ryan and Sanchez both had inescapable and irredeemable weaknesses.

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GT49er said:

And Prior to de Zerbi, not one poster was shouting for Steele to replace Sanchez - in fact the prevailing view was absolute dread that we'd have to put that failed Sunderland keeper in goal if Sanchez got injured or suspended!

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Bold Seagull said:

There were. I'm not going to dig them out, but after some very decent cup performances, there were calls for Steele to be given a go.

I mean, you weren't posting directly for Steele to replace Sanchez, but you were posting positively about giving him a go back in 2022...

https://www.northstandchat.com/threads/lets-have-a-nice-civilised-chat-about-jason-steele.393808/

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GT49er said:

And prior to de Zerbi, not one poster was shouting for Steele to replace Sanchez - in fact the prevailing view was absolute dread that we'd have to put Steele in goal if Sanchez got injured or suspended!

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GT49er said:

I was posting in response to all the posts worrying about Steele not being anywhere near good enough, a potential disaster even - I made the point that I thought he'd do OK as a deputy if called upon; I was right. My post was in no way calling for him to replace Sanchez. Maybe you should read it again, and consider the context.

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GT49er said:

Joined us at age 15. That equals home grown. Any other facts you'd like to reclassify as non-facts?

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zefarelly said:

Does it? Ok. I didn't know that.

When we grow stuff from seed in the garden/allotment thats homegrown, do green bananas from Co-Op count as well? If I ripen them at home, bruise free?

We have different irony filter settings, Bozza should be able to help Us level up.

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Kalimantan Gull said:

Dwayne thought he was overrated,

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