BHAFC back on track - the giant is waking, again

[spongy]

This board does my bloody head in at times. Things have taken an upturn recently and still people have the knives out ready to stick in to anyone and everyone. I think Barber is doing a great job. He hasn't alienated fans at all, some are just too stupid to understand business speak. Before he came in the club was losing money hand over fist, so of course things seem bad at the time,

Just remember if it hadn't of been for Barber, we wouldn't have Halford wth us now. It's our FFP compliance and Forests inability to that's he's here right now.

Barber nearly always replies to an email from a fan quickly and as honestly as he can, what's wrong with that exactly? When a good friends dad died who was well known by the club, Paul Barber was one of the first people to get in contact with the family so for people to say Barber is alienating and pushing fans away is quite frankly bullshit.

 

[el punal]

10,000 less people buying pies, pints, merchandise and cheering on the team. When he arrived we were practically filling the 30,000 and had a season ticket waiting list.

Alienating the fans, commercialising the club, destroying the atmosphere. The bloke certainly is doing an outstanding job... outstandingly awful.

No we didn't. We had a capacity of 22,350+/-. Hence the reason the Amex was expanded to 30,750. We were nearly filling the stadium because we were a successful team that was winning, and this season we have not been winning and up to now been playing poorly.

I'm sorry that's a load of tosh about alienating fans and commercialising the club, destroying the atmosphere. I don't exactly recall that when we played Doncaster or any other match over the last few seasons. Play good football with passion and the fans respond. If you went to Fulham and were at Griffen Park today you'll know why.

 

[LamieRobertson]

No we didn't. We had a capacity of 22,350+/-. Hence the reason the Amex was expanded to 30,750. We were nearly filling the stadium because we were a successful team that was winning, and this season we have not been winning and up to now been playing poorly.

I'm sorry that's a load of tosh about alienating fans and commercialising the club, destroying the atmosphere. I don't exactly recall that when we played Doncaster or any other match over the last few seasons. Play good football with passion and the fans respond. If you went to Fulham and were at Griffen Park today you'll know why.

u had me at tosh

 

[Norman Baker suck my lozenge]

Although we may have 10,000 empty seats we don't have 10,000 unpaid empty seats.

You may not like him, but Barber has performed outstandingly in his role. If he hadn't he wouldn't be in his position now.

Not 10,000 paid up seats next season though,will people still be blowing scented smoke up Barbers hoop when the east and west uppers are closed next season?

 

[Rogero]

Many other clubs would love Paul Barber. Hopefully we are getting back on track and the feel good factor will carry on rising.
Some Brighton fans always have someone to hate for no real reason. There are idiots on here who hate our new manager because his brother broke Ryan's leg about 30 years ago. Idiots.

 

[Triggaaar]

When he arrived we were practically filling the 30,000 and had a season ticket waiting list.

When he arrived we had a capacity of about 22,000.

Alienating the fans, commercialising the club, destroying the atmosphere.

The atmosphere has been as good since he joined as it was before he joined. And it's his job to get commercial revenue, which he's doing very well, and we're spending on players.

 

[Gazwag]

Burke and Hyypia were employed by Bloom too.

Considering what he's done to this club since he arrived, I wouldn't say he has "done what is required" - unless it is required for us to have more than 10,000 empty seats!

We'll see - the way he runs the club should be heavily scrutinised from now on if he is to stay.

So you would prefer us to lose money hand over fist like his predecessor managed and have a transfer embargo for the January window then.

 

[spongy]

I can't believe Mustafa just gave me a thmbs down the *******. I was on a consecutive streak of 64 ups and this is my first thumbs down.

I note he hasn't come back with a response to my post though. Can he answer the points I made with a rational explanation or is it still just blind hate for the man? Despite ALL the GOOD he's done for our club?

 

[jimhigham]

When have we ever been "a giant"?

I'm feeling groovy though.

 

[Weststander]

We definitely have a fantastic opportunity to rebuild the momentum that we lost with Poyet.

For me, there's two more problems that we need to address (apart from from staying up!)

1) The dire atmosphere at the Amex
2) Paul Barber

Agree about the home atmosphere, but that's got progressively worse as lacklustre football and a lack of goals has enveloped the team over the last 2+ years. Even Withdean had a defined unofficial block at the west end of the South Scaffold Stand where c. 14 to 25 year olds generated noise and singing. At the Amex, noise/singing seems increasingly disparate and spreadout amidst the large stands.

 

[Weststander]

Not 10,000 paid up seats next season though,will people still be blowing scented smoke up Barbers hoop when the east and west uppers are closed next season?

It was heading that way, but recent actions by TB and PB I think will put the club/team back on course. Some home league wins, goals, decent performances and some positive signings, then far more ST holders will renew, than might have otherwise if we had stuck with Burke, SH and the ever weakening squad.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Apart from the incredible infrastructure TB has delivered to the club (the Amex and training/academy facility), I think the club lost its way in recent seasons - Burke, transfer mistakes, tedious Poyet in publically angling for his departure, boring football, a lack of pace and strikers, and a disconnect with the fanbase.

But I'm elated with the recent changes of managerial personnel & structure. Most fans knew what was needed, months/years before TB & PB finally acted. Listening to Radio Sussex pre-match today, with their interviews and sound clips of the goals at Craven Cottage & an army of Albion fans roaring there, it brought the goosebumps back. I've rarely felt that since the say the Poyet Withdean period and then some early Amex matches including wins over Doncaster and Newcastle.

But that feeling is back, it seems the Board will truly back Hughton in this and future transfer windows, and this time those scouting the players will mostly get it right. Happy times are back.

And all that has been achieved in recent weeks with the same group of players that Burke brought in but Hyypia failed to get the best from / results with.

A lot of the disconnect is in the fans head rather than anything the club is or has / hasn't been doing recently

And finally re the atmosphere: Fulham, the atmosphere was jumping before the players even took to the pitch (Didn't Stockdale tweet about hearing us before kick-off) so there was none of this waiting for the team to perform before the fans can be bothered to make some noise. Is it a surprise that with a better atmosphere, the team have performed better? - Hyypia going was needed to dispel the toxic atmosphere around the club from some fans and was putting others off from going (and not necessarily due to Burke still being at the club, Hyypia still being manager, the quality of football, results & the lack of wins, etc) Hyypia going (and Burke) has cleared the air and the moaners don't have a target to vent their frustrations at

- There was a guy near me during the Reading game who said its a disgrace and he can't take anymore and went to leave after 25 minutes and he would have been very vocally negative if Hyypia or other hate figures were still at the club, destroying the positive atmosphere and support for the players but thankfully the crowd stayed with the players and the team managed to turn the match around and get a good draw from the match. I doubt that would have happened with Hyypia in charge

We just need the home fans (especially the North stand) to make noise and get behind the team (like in previous seasons at the Amex) without all the i'm too cool to sing rubbish or i will only sing when the team plays well enough for me to think they are worthy of my effort in making some noise. Stop being embarrassed about singing, it's not the club stopping you but your own shyness. (which is why they will sing if joining in with a large number of singers but lkess likely if it is just a handful singing). If people can get over that, hopefully the atmosphere will improve

It's great that fans are getting their Albion mojo back

 

[Surf's Up]

Burke and Hyypia were employed by Bloom too.

Considering what he's done to this club since he arrived, I wouldn't say he has "done what is required" - unless it is required for us to have more than 10,000 empty seats!

We'll see - the way he runs the club should be heavily scrutinised from now on if he is to stay.

It's really not Barber's fault that there are 10,000 empty seats. Haven't you noticed where we are in the league table?!!

 

[B.W.]

My Albion mojo has certainly returned. We now have hope, whereas there was none with the clueless Sami in charge.

 

[dazzer6666]

And all that has been achieved in recent weeks with the same group of players that Burke brought in but Hyypia failed to get the best from / results with.

A lot of the disconnect is in the fans head rather than anything the club is or has / hasn't been doing recently

And finally re the atmosphere: Fulham, the atmosphere was jumping before the players even took to the pitch (Didn't Stockdale tweet about hearing us before kick-off) so there was none of this waiting for the team to perform before the fans can be bothered to make some noise. Is it a surprise that with a better atmosphere, the team have performed better? - Hyypia going was needed to dispel the toxic atmosphere around the club from some fans and was putting others off from going (and not necessarily due to Burke still being at the club, Hyypia still being manager, the quality of football, results & the lack of wins, etc) Hyypia going (and Burke) has cleared the air and the moaners don't have a target to vent their frustrations at

- There was a guy near me during the Reading game who said its a disgrace and he can't take anymore and went to leave after 25 minutes and he would have been very vocally negative if Hyypia or other hate figures were still at the club, destroying the positive atmosphere and support for the players but thankfully the crowd stayed with the players and the team managed to turn the match around and get a good draw from the match. I doubt that would have happened with Hyypia in charge

We just need the home fans (especially the North stand) to make noise and get behind the team (like in previous seasons at the Amex) without all the i'm too cool to sing rubbish or i will only sing when the team plays well enough for me to think they are worthy of my effort in making some noise. Stop being embarrassed about singing, it's not the club stopping you but your own shyness. (which is why they will sing if joining in with a large number of singers but lkess likely if it is just a handful singing). If people can get over that, hopefully the atmosphere will improve

It's great that fans are getting their Albion mojo back

Great post. The timing of things is fatalistic, but a gutsy comeback from 2-0 down immediately after the departure of Burke and Sami gave us a massive two-pronged lift that followed through into the Fulham game where everyone (the staff and us) turned up 100% more positive. If we can kick on from here that comeback against Reading (and for the sake of increasing his already legendary and God-like status, Caldie's goal) will go down as the second the tide turned for me.

 

[maltaseagull]

Burke and Hyypia were employed by Bloom too.

Considering what he's done to this club since he arrived, I wouldn't say he has "done what is required" - unless it is required for us to have more than 10,000 empty seats!

We'll see - the way he runs the club should be heavily scrutinised from now on if he is to stay.

How are the empty seats related to Barber?

Surely meeting FFP was?
Empty seats are related to poor performances and results. That is as much TB as Barber as I am sure SH was chosen by them both.
He is pretty much under constant scrutiny by NSC but not sure if Tony reads it

 

[Saltydog]

I am a little more optimistic now - 7 points from the last three games - surely that is promotion form init??

 

[TheDuke]

When have we ever been "a giant"?

I'm feeling groovy though.

Of course we've never ever been even remotely a giant BUT within 10 years WE WILL BE!

 

[Mowgli37]

I'd hardly call us a giant but there does seem to be a good feeling around that we're getting back on track.

 

[jimbob5]

I am a little more optimistic now - 7 points from the last three games - surely that is promotion form init??

we're not falling for it. Nice try.