| Brighton & Hove Albion 09:08 - Jan 15 with 4128 views | PlanetHonneywood |
After watching the Manchester Derby, I stayed chatting to a chap in my local, and we ended up watching BHA's game against Liverpool. Glad I did, brilliant performance from the Seagulls.
Early 90s I was living in Brighton, and had a couple of Fulham chums come down for a match at the decrepit Goldstone Ground. That was in the third division. And it wasn't that long ago we were playing them outside the Prem at an even worse ground, and frankly, BHA weren't much to write home about for much if the last 30 years either.
Yesterday was the first time I've watched them in years. Their side has a World Cup winner and a clutch of players also just back from Doha. They tore Liverpool to shreds, and one of their World Cup galacticos - a tricky Japanese winger - absolutely TAA a second one. 3-0 utterly flattered Liverpool and with a bit more composure in front of goal and a better striker, that could easily have been 6 (six)-0.
So, given the strides made by them and Brentford in an increasingly state funded moneyball game, hope is there. As has been continually stressed on here ad nauseum, proper effing planning from top-to-bottom, left-to-right required.
Whether and to what extent the Brentfords and Brightons can sustain their progress remains to be seen. But until then, hats off to them, they've certainly got their respective shits together!
|  |
| |  |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 09:14 - Jan 15 with 3472 views | Toast_R |
Brighton's fortunes turned around when they built their new stadium. Seems to become a Premier League club in waiting and they went from strength to strength. Seems a life time ago now when we were battling them for promotion in that crappy athletics ground in League One. Diffent club now while QPR appear to be stuck in an impossible rut. |  | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 09:38 - Jan 15 with 3315 views | Wegerles_Stairs |
Was reading something earlier in the week about how both they and Brentford are statistically punching above their weight because of their use of data. Their owners both used it in their respective businesses, so know how to use it properly and employ the right people to interpret it effectively. As mentioned above, both clubs also had the wherewithal to get a new stadium. It's no coincidence that if you have intelligent people running a club you will prosper. |  | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 09:40 - Jan 15 with 3319 views | Lblock |
Clubs at the top continue to try and pull the ladder up after ‘em.
We’ll continue to have clubs like these overtake us whilst ineptness and poor standards filter down from the top.
Apathy Park Rangers all over.
Returning to your specifics about their game last night I did watch a bit of MOTD last night for the first time in ages. It’s lovely to see Klopps bewildered grin on the sidelines and BHA did move the ball really well.
I also saw the Rashford / Fernandez offside decision and had yet another “the games gone” moment.
Modern day football……… nah |  |
| Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal |
| |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 10:04 - Jan 15 with 3204 views | DWQPR |
As a kid in the early 70’s had an aunt who lived in Preston Park and was taken a couple of times, along with my brother, with blue and white bar scarves (meant for Rangers of course but suitable to wear at the old Goldstone Ground), to watch a then third division Brighton play against Gillingham and Southend. The manager for Brighton at the time was one Brian Clough. Always had a soft spot for the club and the town in general. | |
| |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 10:08 - Jan 15 with 3185 views | distortR |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 09:38 - Jan 15 by Wegerles_Stairs |
Was reading something earlier in the week about how both they and Brentford are statistically punching above their weight because of their use of data. Their owners both used it in their respective businesses, so know how to use it properly and employ the right people to interpret it effectively. As mentioned above, both clubs also had the wherewithal to get a new stadium. It's no coincidence that if you have intelligent people running a club you will prosper. |
A lot easier for Brighton to find a new ground within their catchment area then it is for us.
A lot easier for them to pick up floating/new fans as well, they have a lot of 'second team' fans in my experience. | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 10:13 - Jan 15 with 3160 views | RamseyR |
Cracking stadium. Probably my favorite of the new builds...Just got to get in & out though, which isn't the easiest |  | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 10:29 - Jan 15 with 3088 views | Wegerles_Stairs |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 10:08 - Jan 15 by distortR |
A lot easier for Brighton to find a new ground within their catchment area then it is for us.
A lot easier for them to pick up floating/new fans as well, they have a lot of 'second team' fans in my experience. |
I agree, but hanging around indefinitely waiting to be gifted a new ground by the council isn't the most progressive move. | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 10:52 - Jan 15 with 3011 views | MedwayR |
Both BHA & Brentford benefitted from a buoyant market for championship players, this no longer exists which leaves massive question marks over our ‘sell to survive’ approach. |  |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 11:00 - Jan 15 with 2980 views | distortR |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 10:52 - Jan 15 by MedwayR |
Both BHA & Brentford benefitted from a buoyant market for championship players, this no longer exists which leaves massive question marks over our ‘sell to survive’ approach. |
What other approach is there?
Build a new stadium...where? and for how much? who will 'we' owe the money to? In such a congested 'market', where are we going to find the new fans to fill it?
Or cut our cloth accordingly, and plummet.
Modern, premier league football has mirrored society, where the trickle down theory is a myth and the rich get richer on the back of everyone else. | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 11:42 - Jan 15 with 2887 views | ManinBlack |
I have said before that for smaller clubs like us the best solution would be an about turn on all seater grounds by those in authority. Get both ends behind the goals back to terracing so we can get 30,000 in Loftus Road again. This would save us the angst of finding a new home and give us the potential to increase income. All this safety first stuff hampers the small clubs with seats greatly reducing ground capacities. |  | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 12:23 - Jan 15 with 2743 views | PinnerPaul |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 11:42 - Jan 15 by ManinBlack |
I have said before that for smaller clubs like us the best solution would be an about turn on all seater grounds by those in authority. Get both ends behind the goals back to terracing so we can get 30,000 in Loftus Road again. This would save us the angst of finding a new home and give us the potential to increase income. All this safety first stuff hampers the small clubs with seats greatly reducing ground capacities. |
BUT would have to be 'safe standing' now and that doesn't increase capacity? | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 12:39 - Jan 15 with 2698 views | MedwayR |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 12:23 - Jan 15 by PinnerPaul |
BUT would have to be 'safe standing' now and that doesn't increase capacity? |
Plus clubs make their money from corporate areas and using the ground on a daily basis. Putting in terracing doesn't address either of these. | |
| |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 12:40 - Jan 15 with 2694 views | MedwayR |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 11:00 - Jan 15 by distortR |
What other approach is there?
Build a new stadium...where? and for how much? who will 'we' owe the money to? In such a congested 'market', where are we going to find the new fans to fill it?
Or cut our cloth accordingly, and plummet.
Modern, premier league football has mirrored society, where the trickle down theory is a myth and the rich get richer on the back of everyone else. |
No idea, which is the bit that worries me, it feels like death by a thousand cuts with our only hope being others performing worse on and off the pitch. | |
| |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 20:42 - Jan 15 with 2470 views | switchingcode |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 10:52 - Jan 15 by MedwayR |
Both BHA & Brentford benefitted from a buoyant market for championship players, this no longer exists which leaves massive question marks over our ‘sell to survive’ approach. |
Both clubs benefited from having a very effective scouting network to identify young players from the lower leagues and overseas with potential and developing them into Premier league players.Most of the big clubs in the championship choose to look to the loan market or paying big money for PL failures. | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 21:42 - Jan 15 with 2351 views | charmr |
On the price of football podcast was a professional gambler. Fascinating take on how he operates and how the betting system worked for and against him.
Mentioned the owners of Brentford and Brighton as being ridiculously shrewd and smart owners. Implying somewhat that their thought process inclined with decision making based on intelligent calculated risks playing the odds favorably.
Where they are and where we are speaks volumes. | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 22:31 - Jan 15 with 2282 views | derbyhoop |
If we are to progress to the level of BHA, and Fulham and Brentford, a new ground is essential. As well as crowds of around 30k, you need to generate commercial income. Neither is doable at LR, nor is there any prospect of doing so in the short term. |  |
| "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky |
| |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 22:54 - Jan 15 with 2226 views | Antti_Heinola |
People keep talking about the capacity.
It's not so much the capacity (Brentford's ground is smaller than ours I think), it's about monetising the venue for the 13 days out of 14 it's not in use - bringing in revenue in other ways, basically. As we once did with Barry McGuigan!
Personally, I think we are absolutely fcked as a club, I really do. We were on the boat twice - once in the mid-90s when a criminal lack of investment cost us dearly; and then once 10-12 years ago when stupid investment cost us dearly.
We have a huge fanbase. We could be a bigger club, but that stadium (among a million other issues of course) will be the death of us imo. When these owners pull out, and they will fairly soon I think, I shudder to think what's going to happen. Get used to lower league football. |  |
| |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 22:58 - Jan 15 with 2214 views | Whip_It |
Benham and Bloom are the owners that our owners should be aiming to emulate. Unfortunately, whereas the former made their fortunes from data driven insights into football, our bunch have shown themselves to be dangerously naive amateurs. I'm grateful at least that they are not representatives of a foreign entity looking to launder its reputation, or crypto scammers. But I do wish they would provide some direction, leadership and more than a touch of the professional analytics that make both clubs experts in the transfer market, with enviable new grounds, kicking the arse out of the PL. | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 23:15 - Jan 15 with 2163 views | ted_hendrix |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 22:54 - Jan 15 by Antti_Heinola |
People keep talking about the capacity.
It's not so much the capacity (Brentford's ground is smaller than ours I think), it's about monetising the venue for the 13 days out of 14 it's not in use - bringing in revenue in other ways, basically. As we once did with Barry McGuigan!
Personally, I think we are absolutely fcked as a club, I really do. We were on the boat twice - once in the mid-90s when a criminal lack of investment cost us dearly; and then once 10-12 years ago when stupid investment cost us dearly.
We have a huge fanbase. We could be a bigger club, but that stadium (among a million other issues of course) will be the death of us imo. When these owners pull out, and they will fairly soon I think, I shudder to think what's going to happen. Get used to lower league football. |
*Get used to lower league football.*
Might seem an odd thing for me to say but some of the best times I had supporting this club was when we were watching and playing lower league football, I can't put my finger on It tbh but back then nothing seemed to matter, worked on a buiding site Saturday morning rushed to the ground bought a ticket at the LR turnstile had a few pints, stood behind the goal and had the craic, pretty much done the same On Wednesday nights too.
Of course times have changed and to the best of my ability I've changed too, I'm not desperate for success at QPR I'm not mad about moving from LR just win a few--lose a few--draw a few and leave It at that.
That lower loft will still be there long after I've gone........................ |  |
| My Father had a profound influence on me, he was a lunatic. |
| |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 23:28 - Jan 15 with 2139 views | SydneyRs |
They've done superbly but sustaining it with finances so unbalanced in that league is tough. Leicester now flirting with relegation after winning the league a few years ago and appearing to be very well run is a good example. The likes of Swansea etc have done it for a few years in the past but usually end up coming back down eventually.
Can't see Brentford sustaining it for that long either. Their new ground has a small capacity thus limiting the matchday revenue and more and more clubs are adopting the smart way of doing things that they've done so well. History shows that small clubs don't survive in the prem long term. | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 00:13 - Jan 16 with 2074 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
The only thing I don’t like about Brighton & Hove is the stadium not located in the city, otherwise a great model of how to run a football club. |  | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 01:46 - Jan 16 with 2030 views | SydneyRs |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 23:15 - Jan 15 by ted_hendrix |
*Get used to lower league football.*
Might seem an odd thing for me to say but some of the best times I had supporting this club was when we were watching and playing lower league football, I can't put my finger on It tbh but back then nothing seemed to matter, worked on a buiding site Saturday morning rushed to the ground bought a ticket at the LR turnstile had a few pints, stood behind the goal and had the craic, pretty much done the same On Wednesday nights too.
Of course times have changed and to the best of my ability I've changed too, I'm not desperate for success at QPR I'm not mad about moving from LR just win a few--lose a few--draw a few and leave It at that.
That lower loft will still be there long after I've gone........................ |
Agreed, the division 2 days were largely really enjoyable. There was a togetherness between the team and fans. For me far far better times than the recent prem seasons. | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 09:45 - Jan 16 with 1874 views | DWQPR |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 00:13 - Jan 16 by BazzaInTheLoft |
The only thing I don’t like about Brighton & Hove is the stadium not located in the city, otherwise a great model of how to run a football club. |
That was the only option they had otherwise they would have remained at the Withdean in what could only be described as a conference league stadium at best and maybe even lower. Bolton also opted for the same route moving out to Horwich which is more than five miles from their old ground. For us, the reality could well be similar. H&C council seem to have very little appetite to help the club find a location in a very built up area of London, which is getting even more congested. And any land carries a ridiculous premium. Redevelopment of LR, that old chestnut would have to mean getting the Jack Tizzard School site and also purchasing the properties built on the ER side of that site. It would also mean the reduction of SAR to a single lane at best or even pedestrianised. And then you have the issue of light for the flats in White City and the houses in LR and ER. I personally think that Rangers have to start to looking further afield now, courting Ealing Council, who certainly we’re favourable towards the planning at Warren Farm. Loads more potential locations in the Ealing Borough, which would also be cheaper. It would also allow the club to tap into new communities and have a much better community asset. | |
| |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 10:16 - Jan 16 with 1827 views | terryb |
I've never liked Brighton & the Dunk mauling of Ale Faurlin was the last straw as far as I was concerned.
Therefore, I don't particulary like saying it, but watching Brighton play nowadays is very enjoyable! How they have progressed under Potter & the current manager is a joy to behold. | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion on 10:22 - Jan 16 with 1818 views | hubble |
I remember going to see us play BHA at the Withdean on at least two occasions and hated the experience each time, especially losing to them (although it was fun before and afterwards in the pubs and by the sea). That horrible little ground made out of scaffold poles, no roof over the away end (IIRC) so our voices were lost and for some reason the Old Bill were really in our faces, even brazenly filming us.
Their transformation from that era to now is spectacular. We can only look on with envy. 100s of reasons why we haven't done the same, most of them already elucidated in this thread. Such is football - what works for one team doesn't necessarily work for another, and for every BHA or Brentford you've got a Bolton or a Bradford. But what goes around comes around. Football clubs all have their own trajectories, their own stories of glory and failure, with all the weird and wonderful elements that we know so well...
That's why I don't really have any expectations any more; maybe it's a consequence of getting older (and hopefully wiser), but I just know that in 5 or 10 or 20 years time it will all have changed again; maybe we'll be in the top flight and BHA slumming it in the lower leagues. Maybe football as we know it won't even exist any more! That's why I can't be arsed to get to upset by the whole thing. Maybe that's contrary to what 'being a fan' is all about. I know that when you totally buy into the narrative, you really live those ups and downs and the highs make all the lows seem worthwhile. I dunno... I'm rambling. Football. I mean, WTF? Are we all mad? :D |  |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
