[Albion] How much better are we, one year on?

vagabond said:

My quick capsule review assuming we stay up. I’ve seen enough to know Potter will be an excellent manager for us and I back him and his football philosophy long term regardless of division we’re in.

If he keeps us up during this season of transition where we’re re-defining the team style and philosophy, and considering the young players we’ve blooded, it’s been a very good year imo.

I suspect we’ll see ongoing changes to the first team squad from this summer.

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Kosh said:

So, yeah, it’s been a year or so since we made our ‘progressive’ appointment. The question being, just how much or indeed little genuine progress have we made?

No loaded question, just after thoughts...

My thoughts centre around two fine managers, two wholly differing approaches, same singular outcome. We’ve found a new way to win, and a new way to lose - with style? Hmmmmmmmm

Points wise, we’ve not really progressed, style wise (sometimes) yes, sometimes not really for me. The highs we saw under CH (at this level) Utd at home (for a start) were brilliant deserved victories as was this year at Arsenal... ultimately though, if you remove the gloss... yes we’ve arrested the CH slide, but not really much else.

The core of our squad remains, unable to push beyond its obvious limitations and thus a rebuild is required... that or a bigger influx of academy level Alzate types... who can cut it.

Two different approaches, same outcome = obvious issue with resources. I sincerely hope we let a few move on this summer as apposed to hoping GP can finally turn Dale Stephens (for example) into Patrick Viera.

It’s that or settle for our perennial battle against the rest of the bottom five.

Money will be a real issue, so I suspect youth is the road map but surely we all recognise the dire need for actual ****ing quality.

Thoughts?

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Swansman said:

I cant say anything about the Hughton era.

All I can say really is that Potter took over one of the possibly worst teams in the top two leagues if you consider his ideas and turned it into a decent playing side, but there's a big journey to be made if the (true) ambitions of Potter and most likely Bloom are to be realised.

I have full faith in the project though. I think Bloom got this idea of Brighton turning into the Ajax of England, producing top players, top football, top results and economic sustainability. It certainly wont be easy but I think the club is just going to improve. A lot of teams have had a good season or two but something unique is in production here and I think the club could be establishing itself as a top club in the future. Not as much because of my man Potter than as because of Bloom.

Click to expand...

Kosh said:

So, yeah, it’s been a year or so since we made our ‘progressive’ appointment. The question being, just how much or indeed little genuine progress have we made?

No loaded question, just after thoughts...

My thoughts centre around two fine managers, two wholly differing approaches, same singular outcome. We’ve found a new way to win, and a new way to lose - with style? Hmmmmmmmm

Points wise, we’ve not really progressed, style wise (sometimes) yes, sometimes not really for me. The highs we saw under CH (at this level) Utd at home (for a start) were brilliant deserved victories as was this year at Arsenal... ultimately though, if you remove the gloss... yes we’ve arrested the CH slide, but not really much else.

The core of our squad remains, unable to push beyond its obvious limitations and thus a rebuild is required... that or a bigger influx of academy level Alzate types... who can cut it.

Two different approaches, same outcome = obvious issue with resources. I sincerely hope we let a few move on this summer as apposed to hoping GP can finally turn Dale Stephens (for example) into Patrick Viera.

It’s that or settle for our perennial battle against the rest of the bottom five.

Money will be a real issue, so I suspect youth is the road map but surely we all recognise the dire need for actual ****ing quality.

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

Kosh said:

So, yeah, it’s been a year or so since we made our ‘progressive’ appointment. The question being, just how much or indeed little genuine progress have we made?

No loaded question, just after thoughts...

My thoughts centre around two fine managers, two wholly differing approaches, same singular outcome. We’ve found a new way to win, and a new way to lose - with style? Hmmmmmmmm

Points wise, we’ve not really progressed, style wise (sometimes) yes, sometimes not really for me. The highs we saw under CH (at this level) Utd at home (for a start) were brilliant deserved victories as was this year at Arsenal... ultimately though, if you remove the gloss... yes we’ve arrested the CH slide, but not really much else.

The core of our squad remains, unable to push beyond its obvious limitations and thus a rebuild is required... that or a bigger influx of academy level Alzate types... who can cut it.

Two different approaches, same outcome = obvious issue with resources. I sincerely hope we let a few move on this summer as apposed to hoping GP can finally turn Dale Stephens (for example) into Patrick Viera.

It’s that or settle for our perennial battle against the rest of the bottom five.

Money will be a real issue, so I suspect youth is the road map but surely we all recognise the dire need for actual ****ing quality.

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

Finchley Seagull said:

Funny you weren't posting this after we beat Norwich. Wait until a couple of defeats against the best two teams in the country to post it. I do despair of our fans sometimes

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Kosh said:

Errrmm ok.

I’m not sure I was being too harsh, more laying the blame at the feet of our somewhat limited players.... hence the two fine managers line...

I think it’s worth noting the lack of tangible progress, progress being the something we were told to expect.

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Finchley Seagull said:

Unless you have a bias, we have clearly progressed this season. The style of play has been so much better generally and we are more fun to watch

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Durlston said:

Potter binned off both cups which was an insult to the fans and then we get another relegation battle. Nowhere near good enough.

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clockend1983 said:

And so it will be next season.The whole intensity at the club needs cranking right up
Far to bloody slow all round.Get a grip up the ante on the park,work rate, bit more bottle
Be more direct get the players thinking they are good enough to compete with anyone and don’t fear anyone
Bit like Cloughie and Taylor did at Forest turned average players into a class team UTA

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Swansman said:

I cant say anything about the Hughton era.

All I can say really is that Potter took over one of the possibly worst (in terms of the type of quality needed) squads in the top two leagues if you consider his ideas and turned it into a decent playing side, but there's a big journey to be made if the (true) ambitions of Potter and most likely Bloom are to be realised.

I have full faith in the project though. I think Bloom got this idea of Brighton turning into the Ajax of England, producing top players, top football, top results and economic sustainability. It certainly wont be easy but I think the club is just going to improve. A lot of teams have had a good season or two but something unique is in production here and I think the club could be establishing itself as a top club in the future. Not as much because of my man Potter than as because of Bloom.

Click to expand...

clockend1983 said:

And so it will be next season.The whole intensity at the club needs cranking right up
Far to bloody slow all round.Get a grip up the ante on the park,work rate, bit more bottle
Be more direct get the players thinking they are good enough to compete with anyone and don’t fear anyone
Bit like Cloughie and Taylor did at Forest turned average players into a class team UTA

Click to expand...

Coldeanseagull said:

Be more direct? We have been. You can see when the ball is turned over there are three or four sprinting forward expecting a through ball. The accuracy is not always there but it's been better than the turnover and consolidate possession we've seen. Passing seems generally crisper but we do seem left wanting without a target man in the box. Bobby Zamoras and Glenn Murrays don't grow on trees but a more fluid type of football is developing.
I'm looking forward to witnessing the next couple of years, it'll be entertaining

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