Fans’ Forum & faith: Thoughts of a 66-year-old season ticket holder
On Wednesday evening this week, many of you will be aware that it was the Annual Albion Fans’ Forum which was broadcast live on BBC Radio Sussex and chaired by commentator Johnny Cantor.
The first question to the panel – which consisted of chairman Tony Bloom, chief Executive Paul Barber and head coach Graham Potter – got right to the heart of the matter on an issue which has dominated much of the summer transfer window.
It was asked by Tony Parker from Lewes, who is a regular in the North Stand. His question was directed to Potter and after complimenting him on his management, Mr Parker suggested playing Shane Duffy up the front. Potter replied with a smile: “Don’t rule it out.”
Mr Parker then went onto ask: “There are some fans that feel that we should have signed an established striker this summer. What can you say please to put minds at rest that we are following the perfect path?”
Potter responded diplomatically: “We all want the team to win. It always seems that purchasing an individual would solve the problem. However, that does not always lead to an improvement in the team.”
“The most important thing is that the team improves. If I had Neal Maupay, Danny Wellbeck and Leo Trossard sat here tonight, they would say they think they can improve, that they can get better, and there is more to come from them.”
“When you have people like that, desperate to do well, desperate to play better, desperate to learn and desperate to improve, I have a responsibility to help them.”
“You have to look at how to improve those players. If we can maintain the level we had and then try and add someone to try and help us improve the scoring phase of our game, then yes we would try and sign that person.”
Potter went onto add the easy thing for him would be to sign a striker to keep the fans happy and off his back. He pointed out though that splashing the cash did not necessarily mean we are going to be better as a team or a club.
This was a similar answer to the one that Potter gave when asked about the same issue at the Fans’ Forum a year ago. He obviously is very confident in the guys he has and believes that they can get better, solving the problem of not taking enough chances.
Potter did add that at the same time, the club will continue to look in every transfer window for ways to improve the squad. This is reassuring too and we have seen that this summer with the additions of Enock Mwepu and Marc Cucurella.
For me, it was a very honest, genuine answer that made a lot of sense. And as true Albion fans, we must have faith in our coach and management team – for they have not made many mistakes in getting us into and keeping us in the Premier League.
Over the course of the rest of the evening, there were several very complimentary remarks made to the chairman and the panel. Rightly so, especially after guiding the club through some very difficult months over the past two years.
So for now, let us get behind the Albion until January when maybe Jesse Lingard will fancy another spell on the Sussex Coast?
Finally, wow, didn’t the lads playing in the internationals do well? Jakub Moder, Shane Duffy and the others are a real credit to Brighton when away representing their nations.
