[Albion] Hurzeler is statistically our best Premier League manager

[Guinness Boy]

Did anyone really expect RDZ to match the achievement of the first season after having the midfield sold off and not replaced? With Europa league to play in surely we didn’t expect another top six finish.

It’s another reason why ppg is a daft measure. If you arbitrarily said “Europa League points per game” then obviously there’s only one coach on our history in the competition. The same one that’s the only one who’s had to juggle Thursday / Sunday and long foreign aways.

However, this thread should really be about Hurzeler. Like others I’ve been unimpressed at times and he’s proved us wrong. It’s been an excellent season for a young, rookie coach new to the country.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

What!? Every manger ever in history had been very dependant on the players in the team. What do you think they use... telekinesis!? SMH.

what?? Is English your second language?

 

[American Seagle]

what?? Is English your second language?

No. Your statement is just ridiculous.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

No. Your statement is just ridiculous.

been on the beer, have you?

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

League position depends on what other teams do. You can only control what you're team does, so comparing points is best metric

Good argument and I don’t disagree, but if you win games it is immaterial….

The only one that actually matters is league position IMO.

 

[Bold Seagull]

People need to stop trying to make one better than the other. They have both proven to be very equal in their ability and results.
Give them both credit.

Most do, but some calling for the managers head this season were utterly ridiculous. Probably right to point out that the manager you wanted sacked (seems bizarre even typing it) performed as well as the manager you placed on a pedestal.

TB’s managerial appointments on the whole have been exceptional. Think Tony in particular is the one who suffered most from the comments on NSC this season, from accusations of not backing managers or gambling on appointments - he seems to have got it right AGAIN.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I'm sure having a pre-season is better. On the other hand taking over a settled team that is purring is probably easier than taking over a squad with lots of new players to fit together.

Pros and cons

Of course, but if you are still putting over your own playing style the point remains.
Purring is strong, (see Fulham away) but we were very well placed and we had just beaten a team that went on to be relegated comfortably.

Something we have struggled with since that season.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Most do, but some calling for the managers head this season were utterly ridiculous. Probably right to point out that the manager you wanted sacked (seems bizarre even typing it) performed as well as the manager you placed on a pedestal.

TB’s managerial appointments on the whole have been exceptional. Think Tony in particular is the one who suffered most from the comments on NSC this season, from accusations of not backing managers or gambling on appointments - he seems to have got it right AGAIN.

Good post.

I do think this was a gamble though, and as you know after Brentford I was very frustrated with the tactics, and still maintain that, it’s just that Fab learnt something from that game and has implemented it - full credit to him.

Poor Tottenham team but even after a poor first half, he has the nous to adapt and make substitutions at, which turned the game.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Good post.

I do think this was a gamble though, and as you know after Brentford I was very frustrated with the tactics, and still maintain that, it’s just that Fab learnt something from that game and has implemented it - full credit to him.

Poor Tottenham team but even after a poor first half, he has the nous to adapt and make substitutions at, which turned the game.

Yeah this.

I had my moment after Forest.
Brentford was disappointing too.

But the reality is that this season has been as much about developing the manager as it has been the players.

8th place, 61 points with only 9 losses.
Only one team above us (Forest), had a better head to head record against us.

It's an impressive start.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Good post.

I do think this was a gamble though, and as you know after Brentford I was very frustrated with the tactics, and still maintain that, it’s just that Fab learnt something from that game and has implemented it - full credit to him.

Poor Tottenham team but even after a poor first half, he has the nous to adapt and make substitutions at, which turned the game.

He’s also had to play periods of the season with 1 CB and no recognised RBs. Tough to maintain tactical continuity when the rug kept being pulled out from him. We also have a lot of new players to English football that also partly led to a few shockers during the season where getting it slightly wrong tactically proved drastically wrong on the pitch.

All managerial appointments are a gamble to a certain degree, but what looks like a big gamble to us is likely pages of research, analysis, references, recommendations. A gamble, but likely a very informed one.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

He’s also had to play periods of the season with 1 CB and no recognised RBs. Tough to maintain tactical continuity when the rug kept being pulled out from him. We also have a lot of new players to English football that also partly led to a few shockers during the season where getting it slightly wrong tactically proved drastically wrong on the pitch.

All managerial appointments are a gamble to a certain degree, but what looks like a big gamble to us is likely pages of research, analysis, references, recommendations. A gamble, but likely a very informed one.

The whole injuries are a factor, but not a major one for me, providing you have a structure which we struggled with.

We have developed a squad with good depth and flexibility. Credit to Fabian for not complaining. Wieffer has done well, Baleba did as well, but if everyone knows the expectation and has at least one experienced player beside them, you’ll generally get away with it.

If they were two youngsters I’d agree, but they weren’t.

The bigger factor IMO, that Fabian has had to deal with, is the complete loss of form of Dunk, who I think (probably as a result of coming back late from England) never got on top of his own game. In terms of his previously high standards.

 

[Javeaseagull]

Credit where it’s due, we went into yesterdays game with no recognised centre forward, to much incredulity on here, and came away with a 1 - 4 scoreline. Not sure even my hero RDZ could have come up with that.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

The whole injuries are a factor, but not a major one for me, providing you have a structure which we struggled with.

We have developed a squad with good depth and flexibility. Credit to Fabian for not complaining. Wieffer has done well, Baleba did as well, but if everyone knows the expectation and has at least one experienced player beside them, you’ll generally get away with it.

If they were two youngsters I’d agree, but they weren’t.

The bigger factor IMO, that Fabian has had to deal with, is the complete loss of form of Dunk, who I think (probably as a result of coming back late from England) never got on top of his own game. In terms of his previously high standards.

Agreed.

Dunk was brought back in too many times, when he wasn't ready/needed.
A real tough one for Fabian, as he probably couldn't afford to piss off the club captain, and probably felt that 90% of Dunk would be better than 100% of Webster.

It proved to be the wrong call, but only just.

 

[P.C. Beard]

Did anyone really expect RDZ to match the achievement of the first season after having the midfield sold off and not replaced? With Europa league to play in surely we didn’t expect another top six finish.

No, but he didn't have to be such a whinging prick about it every chance he got.

 

[SI 4 BHA]

Credit where it’s due, we went into yesterdays game with no recognised centre forward, to much incredulity on here, and came away with a 1 - 4 scoreline. Not sure even my hero RDZ could have come up with that.

The first half was dire. Fortunately, we had great players on the bench. FH made the right call to switch things round at half time and we were fabulous in the second half.

 

[American Seagle]

Most do, but some calling for the managers head this season were utterly ridiculous. Probably right to point out that the manager you wanted sacked (seems bizarre even typing it) performed as well as the manager you placed on a pedestal.

TB’s managerial appointments on the whole have been exceptional. Think Tony in particular is the one who suffered most from the comments on NSC this season, from accusations of not backing managers or gambling on appointments - he seems to have got it right AGAIN.

Yeah I agree. I find it bizarre that RDZ is held to almost godlike status by some and then Hurzeler is demanded to be sacked by them even though the records are almost identical (could argue Hurzeler did better even).
Why is that?

 

[Doc Lynam]

Both De Zerbi and Huerzeler have been very dependent on Mitoma to achieve their results.

If he goes. it will be interesting to see how Fab adapts

I can guarantee he won’t deal with it as petulantly as RDZ! That’s one of the major differences between the men.

 

[Hugo Rune]

I'm hoping that Hürzeler will step it up next season.

But the club have to support him in the transfer market in three clear areas.

1. We are a selling club. We have some top talent but we'll go backwards if we sell too much of it. Pedro and Mitoma seem to be the ones linked with move away. I think we can cope with that for the £100m+ it will bring in. But, we absolutely can't sell anymore game changers such as Minteh, Baleba or Van Hecke.

2. We've had an issue with full backs for quite sometime. Against Spurs, seeing Wieffer giving away penalties and being burned off for pace by the likes of Johnson reminded us all that his best position is centre midfield and that we absolutely need a quality right back or two.

Igor had zero attacking threat at left back but was able more solid. Again, a square peg in a round hole. With Veltman, Lamptey and Kadıoğlu having injury blighted seasons (with at least one of them off this summer), Hürzeler needs a minimum of 2 specialist full backs. I don't think the academy can replenish our stocks so we're going to have to fork out on quality or potential quality.

3. We faced Spurs with no recognised striker. This can't happen again next season (I acknowledge we got away with against Spurs with super rare goals from corners, a rare penalty and a rare wondergoal).

I'm sure that Welbz will be good for another season but I doubt he can start more than 2/3 of the games. Georginio might be a deputy here but his best position is surely No.10. So, with Pedro maybe leaving, Tzimas an unknown quantity in the Premier League, O'Mahony probably still not there and Fergie at a similar level, along with Sima not being technically good enough, I think we need another striker. However, the club seem to be on this with the pursuit of the Greek lad Charalampos Kostoulas from Olympiacos.

A young centre back with pace would be good too but with the six existing players we have lined up for 25/26 currently (Dunk, Webster, Igor, Van Hecke, Boscagli & Cashin), we'd need to offload at least a couple to get another one in I believe.

 

[The Terminator]

I’ve had my reservations about Fab for most of the season. There’ve been highs and lows, but it’s the mental decisions he makes at times that leave me scratching my head, moments where it’s hard to understand what he’s thinking or trying to achieve. That said, credit where it’s due for a first season, an 8th-place finish is an impressive achievement. In any other year, we’d be gearing up for another European adventure.

All that being said… RDZ’s Brighton remains the most entertaining I’ve seen in all my years supporting the club. Yes, he could be tactically naïve at times (Roma away being the obvious example) but I’d still take him over Fab. With this current squad, I genuinely believe RDZ could’ve had us pushing for a Champions League spot. No complaints from me, just calling it as I see it

 

[chaileyjem]

With this current squad, I genuinely believe RDZ could’ve had us pushing for a Champions League spot. No complaints from me, just calling it as I see it

We were 5 points off a Champions League spot this season.