BrightonSeagull

4 hours ago, Finnegan said:

 

Yes you do, it's written in the sentence you chose not to quote:

 

 

 

Again, see above.

 

 

Believe me, we've done nothing but notice. It's obviously not escaped the attention of most Leicester fans that you've come up behind us and started doing a better job of how we were previously operating. It's not like you invented buying talented young players to up-sell (and neither did we.)

 

But a key part of that business model is selling them on when the big clubs come calling. You won't hold Buonanotte back when he wants to go because, if you did, that sends a message to other young players that might be thinking of using Brighton as a stepping stone that maybe they should reconsider. You don't want that, so you'll sell.

 

Some of your fans might start dreaming of that moment you progress as a club sufficiently that you stop selling these players and start holding on to them but anyone with those sorts of dreams probably wants to look to a club like Dortmund. You can be massive, continentally renowned, and still understand your place in the world and I'm sure you know better than anyone that Tony Bloom is far from delusional.

 

 

Again, trust me, we've been there, we've had to deal with all of their arrogance. But we've also been there in terms of hoping and expecting more from our players than ends up being realistic. Harvey Barnes and James Maddison are both comfortably more than £35m footballers but the reality of our situation wasn't exactly one where we could and did hold out for the value the statistics might have implied.

 

I'd be extremely surprised if Buonanotte goes for 80m or if Brighton refuse to sell just because you don't get that figure. It's easier to get carried away after you get silly money for a player like Caicedo (again, we've been there, with Maguire and Fofana breaking and near breaking records.) But transfers like that always end up being freak and especially with the Premier League starting to get uncomfortable with some of the spending, there's obviously been a little bit of a shift in the last couple of windows.

I apologise for my tone, I know I probably come across as arrogant and preachy. If it helps, I'm like that to our own fans on here too  - but you do seem to have a certain bullishness that I think will get a wake up call when Facundo is sat on Man City's bench next year being blood in by Pep following a ~£60m tops transfer.

 

 

It wasn’t my intention to leave your whole quote out for sneaky reasons or anything like that. Only did so as I found it clearer to respond to specific things you said rather than a whole block of text, I’ll keep your whole quote here this time to show good faith.

“Some of your fans might start dreaming of that moment you progress as a club sufficiently that you stop selling these players and start holding on to them but anyone with those sorts of dreams probably wants to look to a club like Dortmund.”

I promise you Brighton fans are generally more grounded than most. We’re arguably THE stepping stone club in the PL. We’ve lost many beloved (and not so beloved) players at this point. More than most PL clubs (yourselves being the closest in comparison for sure). There are few delusions that our best players will be here forever. I think we’ll keep them longer than many mainstream fans think though. Eg, this is Mitoma’s 3rd season now. Easily one of the most exciting players I’ve seen wear a Brighton shirt. Hinshelwood came through our academy through every age group and supports the club, so he’s one I can see staying for the long term. If you don’t know much about him you will do in the future. 
 

“But a key part of that business model is selling them on when the big clubs come calling. You won't hold Buonanotte back when he wants to go because, if you did, that sends a message to other young players that might be thinking of using Brighton as a stepping stone that maybe they should reconsider. You don't want that, so you'll sell.”

Absolutely agree and I’m completely comfortable with that personally. Given how successful our club model has been, leading to us being the 2nd highest spenders in Europe thru last window, spending 200+m, I have full trust in Tony Bloom and his vision and recruitment strategy. I remember panicking slightly when we sold Cucurella (believe it or not. He was our player of the season), and the club shortly after brought in Pervis Estupinian. Since then I’ve learned to trust the club fully and not be concerned when we make a big sale.

Back to Buonanotte, I have no doubts he will move on when the time is right. But that’s the key. And Bloom has made a very good call to more often than not sell these players at their peak valuation point. Usually for the maximum fee possible (unless there’s a clause or expiring contract or such). The club are very firm on this, and what you’re saying is pretty much bang on with what Arsenal fans told us when we refused to sell them Caicedo a few January’s ago. They were outraged. “You’ll never get more than the 80m we offered” (wrong), “no young player will go to Brighton again as you’re holding them hostage” (also wrong). Given how good we are with forward planning my guess would be Buonanotte and his father & agent are already fully aware and onboard with the clubs long term plan for him. You’re right. We get these players because they see what we do for their careers.

Again I’m delighted Facundo is doing so well for you guys. And if he does brilliantly and helps keep you up, it’s a win-win for all. Hopefully he can even help you take off some points off our European rivals. I have no arrogance and am fully aware you guys have more history than us.  You have won one of the greatest trophies.
 

At the moment we’re higher in the food chain, but we all know how football goes in cycles. This is our moment in the sun, and hopefully we can win our first ever trophy in the coming seasons and much as you guys did, disrupt the Sky6 for a few years.