[Albion] Some people seem to think we could do with NOT qualifying for Europe this year.

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

The logic is the same as when people were yelling for us to go straight from the Championship into the Prem. I, along with many others, was saying, nope, we need to consolidate here first to get consistently good, then go up when we are ready. Which is what happened, had we gone straight up we would have come straight down ( lets face it we hung on by our fingernails as it was). Right now, I don't give two hoots about Europe, let's cement our place in the PL, making the top ten easily, then start looking at what more we can achieve, the only downside to this approach is giving the young players the success they are dreaming of and keeping them at the club. I absolutely do not want to sacrifice our spot in the PL by pushing for Europe when we are not ready for the extra challenges that it puts on the squad. We have a very young and relatively inexperienced squad, let them grow, when they are ready Europe will come easily.

Realistically what does the bit I've put in bold mean? This is our eighth season in the PL. Season 1 we stayed up with a few games to spare. Season two was a nail biter. Since then we've not been in any real threat of relegation. In the last four years we've finished 9th, 6th, 11th and are currently 10th with five games to go having spent pretty much the whole season knocking around inside the top 10.

What do we have to do for you to believe we have cemented our place in the league? Is it the bits I've italicised? When top 10 and qualifying for Europe comes easily? If it is, there are only 6 clubs that can claim that and two of them this season have royally f***ed that up anyway! Finishing top 10 and qualifying for Europe is never going to come easily for a club like Brighton.

Why do you think a season in Europe would sacrifice our spot in the PL? We've already had a season in Europe and we were fine. We had a weaker squad and a manager who according to the majority on NSC gave up in the final 3 months and we still finished 11th.

Sooner or later we will get relegated. That's an inevitability. Just like sooner or later we are all going to die. On our deathbeds we want to look back on a life well lived, don't we? It's the same with the Albion. When our golden days are long gone I want to be warmed by the memories of past glory. That's what Europe is - it's glory! And it's (footballing) life sustaining memories. Bring it on.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

With or without European qualification I would prioritise league position over everything else. So not only don’t I want us to finish as high as possible just to get into Europe I would in theory sacrifice qualification for the ECL for a higher league position. Obviously football isn’t as straightforward as that. If Brighton fail to get into the top eight ever again my disappointment won’t be due to missing out on European qualification it will because despite our huge progress over the last few seasons we’re condemned to being just another also run. I genuinely believe there is a chance this might not be the case due to a combination of being one of the best run clubs in the world and profit and sustainability rules.

So in theory you'd rather finish 6th two years in a row but not play in europe than say 6th followed by 8th and winning the europa league?

Even though the latter scenario gives us a trophy, more wins over the season and a chance to play the Milans, Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, PSG etc the season after?

Have I understood your position correctly? Or have I got it completely wrong?

 

[Cesar Chavez]

I think they're mad/wrong.

Why Wouldn’t Brighton Want Europe? Seriously. Why?

There’s a strange take doing the rounds in Albion-centric corners of the internet right now. It goes a bit like this: “Maybe it’s better if we don’t qualify for Europe this season… it’ll help us next year.” Sorry, what was that? Brighton & Hove Albion have been to Europe once in our 124-year...

www.northstandchat.com

I think they probably voted Brexit - anti Europe twats

 

[dwayne]

Are you De Zerbi?

Assuming that JPVH is out and during our worst injury challenge ever, our matchday squad to take on the mighty west ham could look something like this:

Bart
Hinshelwood Dunk Cashin Estupinan
Baleba Ayari
Minteh O'Riley Mitoma
Welbeck​

Bench
Steele, Tasker, Slater, Knight, Weiffer, Gomez, Adingra, March, Gruda

One player playing out of position (but in a position he has played more regularly than his preferred position)
JPVH likely to return for Newcastle (if not before).
Veltman, Igor, Lamptey all back in training and presumably options for the bench for the last 2 or 3 games.
Not exactly bare bones.

We have a squad plenty good enough to meet the challenge.

Side note.....Bottom 3 defence on current form. If he doesn't put wiffy in front of that to protect it we are toast.

Big Yes to conference league. Few big clubs there.....rapid Vienna , fiorentina , betis , Warsaw , panathanaikos etc. all much bigger clubs than us!!

Next season could be Mallorca (nice away) .... Roma/Lazio or juventus (!!!!).... Dortmund.... Lyon or nice.... Anderlecht.

Just depressed myself even dreaming about the above.

 

[oldboyroy]

I'd snap your hand off for a place in the conference league right now. Means we'd finish on a high and any European football is better than none. More exposure, more TV revenue and its a chance to win a trophy which will put us in the Europa League following season should we win it.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Are you De Zerbi?

Assuming that JPVH is out and during our worst injury challenge ever, our matchday squad to take on the mighty west ham could look something like this:

Bart
Hinshelwood Dunk Cashin Estupinan
Baleba Ayari
Minteh O'Riley Mitoma
Welbeck​

Bench
Steele, Tasker, Slater, Knight, Weiffer, Gomez, Adingra, March, Gruda

One player playing out of position (but in a position he has played more regularly than his preferred position)
JPVH likely to return for Newcastle (if not before).
Veltman, Igor, Lamptey all back in training and presumably options for the bench for the last 2 or 3 games.
Not exactly bare bones.

We have a squad plenty good enough to meet the challenge.

Your post just proves my point unless I'm being whooshed. It really is the bare bones. Look at the bench. A goalkeeper. Three untried kids. Wieffer, Gomez, Adingra and Gruda who aren't regular starters in Hurzeler's teams and Solly who only has about half an hour in the tank. That team is a bare bones team at best. Bart is making saves and mistakes, but Steele isn't a threat. Pervis looks slow and doesn't close down in and around the box. Cashin shouldn't be anywhere near the Premier League and Dunk is only still playing because he's captain and there's nobody else. Bare bones. Baleba, Ayari and Minteh are young and inconsistent. O'Riley still finding his feet after injury. That leaves the mercurial Mitoma plus Welbeck for 70 minutes to do the heavy lifting. Bare bones.

 

[dwayne]

Your post just proves my point unless I'm being whooshed. It really is the bare bones. Look at the bench. A goalkeeper. Three untried kids. Wieffer, Gomez, Adingra and Gruda who aren't regular starters in Hurzeler's teams and Solly who only has about half an hour in the tank. That team is a bare bones team at best. Bart is making saves and mistakes, but Steele isn't a threat. Pervis looks slow and doesn't close down in and around the box. Cashin shouldn't be anywhere near the Premier League and Dunk is only still playing because he's captain and there's nobody else. Bare bones. Baleba, Ayari and Minteh are young and inconsistent. O'Riley still finding his feet after injury. That leaves the mercurial Mitoma plus Welbeck for 70 minutes to do the heavy lifting. Bare bones.

You've named most of the squad there !! Who's not a bare bones player ?

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Absurd position not to want to qualify for Europe. Those who don't want that may well get their wish primarily down to injuries, again. Will be harder next season. United and Spurs can only get better as will Everton in their new stadium.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I think its partly just a case of looking on the bright side of everything. If we don't qualify for Europe, we'll be fresher and fitter and maybe will do REALLY well in the league, so we could be in Europa or CL the year after. I thought the same when we were losing to Newcastle in the Cup - well at least we can focus on the league while lots of our rivals are still occupied in the Cup. Just a way of seeing a silver lining.

And its partly a case of making sure we're ready for it - I think most of us accept it was a good thing we didn't get promoted at the first time of asking under Hughton, the extra year allowed us to add Murray and Duffy and be better equipped to stay up. I don't really think this manager and squad are quite ready for it and it could simply lead to another overloaded, injury-riddled season and the departure of the manager, just like last season.

But of course I want us to make it and will be very pleased if we do

 

[Barnet Seagull]

We have a squad plenty good enough to meet the challenge

I think the only caveats to this (for the most part I agree) are consistency and leadership. Whilst I didn't agree with DeZerbi's toy throwing there was truth in him experiencing the same frustrations with the squad. We have a number of players whose naivety at times has hurt us this season. I think we have to accept it as part of the process but it's no less frustrating. When they are on it, they are clearly good enough and we can all see the talent but consistency seems out of reach.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Your post just proves my point unless I'm being whooshed. It really is the bare bones. Look at the bench. A goalkeeper. Three untried kids. Wieffer, Gomez, Adingra and Gruda who aren't regular starters in Hurzeler's teams and Solly who only has about half an hour in the tank. That team is a bare bones team at best. Bart is making saves and mistakes, but Steele isn't a threat. Pervis looks slow and doesn't close down in and around the box. Cashin shouldn't be anywhere near the Premier League and Dunk is only still playing because he's captain and there's nobody else. Bare bones. Baleba, Ayari and Minteh are young and inconsistent. O'Riley still finding his feet after injury. That leaves the mercurial Mitoma plus Welbeck for 70 minutes to do the heavy lifting. Bare bones.

No you're not being whooshed.

The squad you are complaining about being not good enough, have got us to 10th - with the same number of points we achieved in 5 more games last season. We currently have More points than Potter achieved in his first 2 seasons and 3 shy of his best points tally, with a squad that included, Bissouma, MacAllister, Cucurella, Caicedo, Mwepu & Trossard.

With the number of injuries we currently have and our main forward out for 3 matches, being able to field a starting 11 of experienced players in their preferred positions is a very respectable place to be in.

Whether the players are showing the mentality to achieve what they are capable of, is open to debate.
But there is no doubting that the depth of squad we currently has SHOULD be good enough to cope with the remaining fixtures.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

I think the only caveats to this (for the most part I agree) are consistency and leadership. Whilst I didn't agree with DeZerbi's toy throwing there was truth in him experiencing the same frustrations with the squad. We have a number of players whose naivety at times has hurt us this season. I think we have to accept it as part of the process but it's no less frustrating. When they are on it, they are clearly good enough and we can all see the talent but consistency seems out of reach.

I don't think it's naivety, well at least not across all of the squad.
I think it's mentality.

Bart Verbruggen is young, but he's an international level keeper.
In the past 2 games he has panicked and made unforced errors in dangerous positions.

Dunk's leadership has always been about the example he sets, rather than his communication and actions with teammates.
Now his form is in the shitter, he isn't offering much to the group.

Estupinan is a great player, but has always been a bit flaky.

Pedro, well enough said.

Agree that Minteh is naive though

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Side note.....Bottom 3 defence on current form. If he doesn't put wiffy in front of that to protect it we are toast.

Agreed.
I think Bart's panicky distribution, comes from having little faith in the overall defensive unit.
To stand any chance of getting back in form, we need defensive solidity.

 

[Javeaseagull]

The whole point of football is to play at the highest level you can. Grab our chance for Europe. Clubs like Birmingham, Portsmouth and Wigan may be struggling now but they had the day in the sun and actually won a cup. We never have.(I didn’t need to say that did I?)

The squad will be better next year just for being a further year on getting used to each other. We have a big squad already with loads out on loan. Bare bones is a joke isn’t it?

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

So you’d be happy if we’re get relegated and we’re playing [insert unfashionable team name]? Maybe not but it‘s a bit perverse to be actively prefer playing Astana rather than AC Milan.

Sorry, where was relegation mentioned?

Strange comment.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

You've named most of the squad there !! Who's not a bare bones player ?

Lamptey, Igor, Webster, Kadioglu, Van Hecke, Veltman, Milner, Pedro, Rutter,. 5he young players need older heads around them. The flesh on the bare bones if you will.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

I don't think it's naivety, well at least not across all of the squad.
I think it's mentality.

Bart Verbruggen is young, but he's an international level keeper.
In the past 2 games he has panicked and made unforced errors in dangerous positions.

Dunk's leadership has always been about the example he sets, rather than his communication and actions with teammates.
Now his form is in the shitter, he isn't offering much to the group.

Estupinan is a great player, but has always been a bit flaky.

Pedro, well enough said.

Agree that Minteh is naive though

I think it's a bit of both. I'd say we've seen a fair bit of naivety in relation to the pace and physicality of the premier league but to your point, we've seen that the mentality hasn't been right too. There have been times where we think we can just turn up and times where we only really click into gear when we go behind. I think fatigue is also playing a part. The levels of intensity needed to play at the level FH wants must be difficult to maintain both physically and mentally. When we are on it though, we aren't far away.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

In my late 50s now.
Them days of “I might go to the World Cup in 2034” or “I might go and watch the Ashes one year” are now over.
Some of us will want to walk through as many doors as we can the second they’re open.
It’s not only death or ill health, other factors can crop up, for example I constantly put off my trip to Moscow that was always on my mind, through no fault of my own (except not getting off my arse earlier) it’s not gonna happen now.

 

[Molango's visa]

Can you imagine Coventry fans saying thy hope they don't make it through the playoffs because they are 'not ready'? Imaare single and you hear that a woman you really fancy but seems a bit out of your league lets it be known she thinks you are rather smashing. Do you ask her out or tell yourself you're not ready. No wonder you are incredulous, @Bozza

 

[wardy wonder land]

what do football fans want ? every other league (except the prem) fans have a realistic belief that they can win the comp

so the, winable "competitons" we are in each season listed by least to most chance of winng :

1 Prem title - 5% chance (1 in 20)
2 4th place the champ league cup (aka Arsenal cup) 20% (4 from 20)
=3 FA cup - 25% chance
=3 league cup - 25% chance
5 Europa league - 30% chance
6 Euro confernce league - 35% chance
7 Not religated 60% chance