[Albion] Graham Potter joins on four-year deal

Here'sWally said:

I'm not convinced this is the case at all.

First there are reasons to stay here, and they have nothing to do with "loyalty". As a club we, maybe uniquely, have everything a young manager could want. Top facilities, top scouting and recruitment, a great city to live in, a great Chairman, CEO and DoF all supporting the manager, with patience, a collective vision, a progressive mindset and approach to elite sport, and a deep understanding of the importance not just of resources but also of people (something I think GP shares).

This is a good place to be, and that is a lot to throw away in favor of a job which, usually, involves ownership with short term thinking, impatience, an overreliance on financial resources, and where results are expected more than appreciated.

He's also said a number of times, he does not have a career/development plan. He doesn't look at things that way. He doesn't think too far ahead, he just takes things as they come. I'm sure he would be flattered to be of interest to the big clubs, but I'm not sure he would feel the need to go and do it any time soon, not when he is part way through a project already, one which is proving successful, his players are improving and learning, he is improving and learning.

It's not about loyalty, but I do think the way we (him and the club) operate is exactly the way he wants to operate. I could be wrong, but he strikes me as the kind of person who prefers the challenge of making the best of what you have, rather than having abundance giving automatic results. I think he'd rather make history with a club breaking new ground, than ride on the coattails of clubs who have already been there and done it.

I'm not saying he will never take a bigger job, and I could be thinking wishfully here, but I can see so many very good reasons why staying here in the long term would be appealing, and so many reasons why taking a big club job could be viewed as a potential wrong turn. Especially while he is so young, and especially while our project has so much further to go.

I reserve the right to be wrong about all of the above, but it's what I think.

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DJ NOBO said:

Pretty much everything you say here is true.
There’s almost a uniquely strong case for an ambitious and coveted manager to stay at this club.
But they do tend to jump ship, when a big club comes knocking.
There’s a wide range of clubs from all over who might be interested in Potter.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Celtic are taking a look.
I think the mega clubs would want to see quite a bit more, before appointing him though.

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Justice said:

You would be insane to leave the PL for Celtic.

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Justice said:

You would be insane to leave the PL for Celtic.

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dadams2k11 said:

He will finish the project here. He don't appear to be money motivated and, from his interviews, he values good honest people around him in his job.

We are very lucky to have him. Will be a sad day when he goes, but it wouldn't suprise me if we already have a replacement on radar.

I think I remember reading/watching something about us keeping tabs on him for 4/5 years before we hired him?

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dazzer6666 said:

This - there is no way in the world TB and PB won’t already have a clear succession plan in place with a number of potential targets. FWIW my sense is GP will be here a while yet - he needs us to ‘do something’ to properly enhance and cement his reputation.

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A1X said:

Potter's style is inherently unsuited to international management. He needs players who he can drill and form into a unit, for which you need hours and hours with them on the training ground. It arguably took him 18 months to form this Brighton side properly as he'd like it, and that's training for 75% of that time solidly. You don't get that luxury in international football, the players come together for maybe 18-20 days a year (plus an extra month at a tournament if you're lucky), there isn't the time to do that (plus the player turnover is higher). International football requires an "inspirational coach" type manager who basically drills them hard for a few days then gets them to play their own game, which is what Southgate (much as I hate to give hi too much credit, the Dunk-shunning Palace ****) has done.

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Change at Barnham said:

Potter is likely to stay for a few more years yet because he will want to repay the loyalty that Bloom showed him when he gave both him and his coaching team the added security of a six year deal. [MENTION=42592]Here'sWally[/MENTION] has very eloquently laid out plenty more reasons a few posts above.

However.......
During the next 12 months Manchester United will very likely sack Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
When that happens there will be a very good chance that they may come in for Potter. (yes, crazy as that sounds)
If that happens, it will be a massive call by Potter to decline the job.

Interesting times ahead.

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Nobby Cybergoat said:

The cynic in me suggests that the next Man U manager will be, for all intents and purposes, appointed by Ronaldo. Certainly approved by him

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Stat Brother said:

Posters are delusional if they think Potter would be in contention for the Manchester job.

Nothing to do with GPott - everything to do with the hierachy at Old Trafford being completely incapable of making the right decision.
Same goes for North London, blue Liverpool and countless other clubs.


Utd will end up the Pochitino (sp).
They might even have time to squeeze in another vanity project if they bin off OGS soon enough, before doing what they should have done 2 years ago.

Anyone else chasing a manager will be chasing a quick fix.

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Gwylan said:

Dick Knight appointed Slade, not Bloom

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DJ NOBO said:

I agree.
But, a bit like Newcastle, there’s this weird perception that it’s a massive club.
Many a manager has gone to a club like that thinking they can be the one to turn it around.
Celtic is particularly mental at the moment, so we are probably safe.

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andy1980 said:

I thought he only had a contract until the summer, but because of his success it would have been very harsh not to offer a new contract. I always thought that was why he didn't last long as it wasn't really a Bloom appointment.

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warmleyseagull said:

I recall TB in a rare comment when things were going slightly worse then great saying that GP had some personal problems. This may be 2+2=5 but I also recall that there was at least some speculation that he was happy in West Wales and that nearest and dearest was not overly enthusiastic about uprooting again having spent many happy years in deepest Sweden.

Personal reasons are rarely mentioned in the rarified world of excessive salaries, bloated egos, and quick fix solutions, but GP seems to one of a kind who can balance life outside football with a wider perspective. My instinct is that he knows what he has, is not keen to rock the personal boat with yet another move, and gets the long game. He is relatively young, and can see no reason to suppose he wont be here for a good few years yet.

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dazzer6666 said:

The personal problems were that he lost both parents around that time ?

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Napper said:

Depends how far Potter thinks he can take us.

Without serious investment then a top half finish is still a massive task. If he managed it despite not getting backed with strikers then could view it as the perfect time to get out and take on someone else at a low ebb

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