[Albion] Chris Hughton leaves with immediate effect

Reddleman said:

I thinks deep down the majority of us feel a slight sense of unease because CH was such a good man and we have seen teams in the past burnt by changing a manager that kept them up. It’s also not very pleasant having us so widely critised in the media, something we aren’t used to. But...

1. We only won 9 games all season and if we are really honest four of those were fairly fortunate (Newcastle away, Wolves/West ham home and Huddersfield away)
2. The approach to away games, and the repeated lack of success.
3. Hughton had run out of ideas as evidenced by the team and performance against Wolves. Yes job done but not sustainable.
4. Something was wrong behind the scenes as evidenced by Steve Sidwell and his comments about just get over the line and ‘deal with it’ in the summer.
5. Playing people out of position - Locadia being the prime example
6. He had lost all confidence is attacking even at home against lower teams. The first half performance against Newcastle was one of the most bizarre and awful I have seen from a top flight team. Retreating behind the ball in a game to keep us up. His nerve had completely gone after BMuff and Cardiff.
7. The media and other fans, despite the faux outrage over sacking, were starting to turn on our anti-football .

Sad to say but right decision.

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mejonaNO12 aka riskit said:

Another brilliant stat. Simply not true.

Spurs were quite often bottom half
As were Everton
West Ham finished 10th this year, have been relegated
Man City (you know, the team that won it)


And then you have one offs like Bournemouth and Burnley.

You're very good at making stuff up.

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Acker79 said:

I think what it seems most people are overlooking in this discussion is that Chris is the first manager who has had to do the job hamstrung by a flask and bottletop ban.


Since the ban
Played 18
Won 5 (27.8%)
Drawn 5 (27.8%)
Lost 8 (44.4%)

Before the ban (premier league only)
Played 20
Won 8 (40%)
Drawn 8 (40%)
Lost 4 (20%)

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Reddleman said:

I thinks deep down the majority of us feel a slight sense of unease because CH was such a good man and we have seen teams in the past burnt by changing a manager that kept them up. It’s also not very pleasant having us so widely critised in the media, something we aren’t used to. But...

1. We only won 9 games all season and if we are really honest four of those were fairly fortunate (Newcastle away, Wolves/West ham home and Huddersfield away)
2. The approach to away games, and the repeated lack of success.
3. Hughton had run out of ideas as evidenced by the team and performance against Wolves. Yes job done but not sustainable.
4. Something was wrong behind the scenes as evidenced by Steve Sidwell and his comments about just get over the line and ‘deal with it’ in the summer.
5. Playing people out of position - Locadia being the prime example
6. He had lost all confidence is attacking even at home against lower teams. The first half performance against Newcastle was one of the most bizarre and awful I have seen from a top flight team. Retreating behind the ball in a game to keep us up. His nerve had completely gone after BMuff and Cardiff.
7. The media and other fans, despite the faux outrage over sacking, were starting to turn on our anti-football .

Sad to say but right decision.

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Nobby said:

https://twitter.com/henrywinter/status/1128408366387212288?s=21

Top Man [emoji22]

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Nobby said:

https://twitter.com/henrywinter/status/1128408366387212288?s=21

Top Man [emoji22]

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Farehamseagull said:

The defence of Hughton and criticism of Bloom from the media and a lot of fans is getting ridiculous. Some wet wipe on Albion Unlimited tonight said something stupid like they can’t believe how we’ve treated poor Chris, they thought we were a family, community club and after years of supporting the club they’re disgusted. WTF?!

An underperforming employee who was very well rewarded for the job has been moved on and will be suitably compensated, why does that mean we’re not a community club anymore?! Some people need to get a grip.

Bloom has given far more to this club, is a life long fan and is making what he believes is the best decision for the club and let’s face it, he doesn’t usually make bad decisions in his business life or in his time at the club. He deserves better.

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Anya1000 said:

Correction, a manager that wasn't given the right resources to let the team grow. The recruitment team has been revamped which is not a coincidence, its so frustrating as people speculate as opposed to talking to the facts. CH is collateral damage of the bad decisions made in the board, he didn't complain about his resources he worked with what he had.

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Seasider78 said:

When allowed to attack the resources he had were more than capable of more than 1 shot in target per game. The reality is the manager lacked belief in his players and had them sitting behind the ball like a league one team away at the big boys in the FA cup. And he would set up like that against teams lacking form or around and below us not just the top teams. He changed the system at Xmas and despite it clearly not working persisted with it continuously. We have played the same way away from home for two seasons with fruitless results but again have made no changes to how we approach away games.

Recruitment has played a part of course it has but to suggest that Chris has not had the tools to return more than 3 wins from 23 games is laughable.

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Blue Valkyrie said:

The problem is that we are still regarded as *little old Brighton* playing way above our station. The narrative then goes that the only way this was possible was because of Chris Hughton. Therefore, we are now 'ungrateful' and, to use a version of that horrible phrase, will need to 'beware of what we have wished for'.

We are better than that, and the future still looks very positive.

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Uh_huh_him said:

Still unhappy about the decision, but really understand it from Tony's point of view.

He has invested a fortune in the academy and training facilities. The plan has always been that the U23's /U18's etc should play the same way as the 1st team. The idea being that players can be introduced to the first team and have an easier transition.

Hughton's focus on the first team and pragmatic tactics to stay in the division has been in opposition to this philosophy in many ways. Many have bemoaned the lack of opportunity for the youngsters. Whilst I'm sure TB understands the pragmatism, he needed to see some commitment to getting the club back to this vision.
The end of the season's performances/tactics, compounded with "more of the same next season" and continued commentary of "Our level" may have been seen as being in direct opposition to Bloom's vision.

Clearly Ashworth has been brought in to oversee this side of things and make sure it bears fruit.
It isn't in Ashworth's best interest to back Hughton's approach, and CH's days were numbered as soon as DA joined the club, IMO.

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tedebear said:

There will be a considerable population next season if the wheels fall off, who will revert back to this decision, with an "I told you so" point of view...Akin to being seen as failing to play the big boys game...

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Recidivist said:

You've obviously forgotten Sami Hyypia!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Jolly Red Giant said:

Which one would that be?


Jumping to conclusions there -

Bloom might be ambitious - but unless he is willing to plough the rest of his reputed £1billion wealth into the club then Brighton are stuck fighting relegation - and maybe even then it wouldn't work. The only club that has been able to break out of the bottom half of the table over the last 20 years has been Leicester, bought by a company with revenue of more than $2billion a year - with a freak win of the PL and then making another £75million from the Champions League - and even they have some down times that have seen them struggle.

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Bry Nylon said:

To be fair [MENTION=233]tedebear[/MENTION], you are making it sound a little like CH was tarred, feathered and paraded through Brighton with a sign hung around his neck reading, "were loose and it's all my fault."

I thought the statement from the club was an honest and fair summary of the reason for the decision, offered thanks and praise to CH, referred to him as one of the club’s finest and most-respected managers and said he would always be welcome at the Amex. The fact is we won 3 from 26 and that just can never be good enough. CH was in a job that only 20 people in the world can do at any one time, so to keep that job you have to be beyond exceptional. As a manager in the PL, continually putting 11 men behind the ball, giving up on playing football and hoping results go your way is just not sustainable.

In my view, most PL clubs would have jetisoned Hughton far earlier and most likely in a far more brutal manner.

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