Yesterday marked a historic day for all the worst-case scenario reasons. Something so unforeseeable, that it was obviously going to happen. After almost 24 hours, the dust has settled a little bit for a heartfelt write-up.
A message after humiliation.
It would’ve been too easy to sit here and type everything wrong with the world yesterday, analysing falsely and living solely through emotions.
The fact of the matter is, that Crystal Palace have breathing space. They’re up on us, and that is it. Albion fans, myself included, have felt a false sense of security in recent years. It felt like the set-up and trajectory of both clubs only two years ago were so starkly different, that they couldn’t possibly turn around so quickly.
The arrival into Europe is an even bigger killer. It has taken only 12 months for our greatest-ever achievement to be met by our bitterest of rivals. But how has this changed?
It is easy enough to sit here and accuse Palace of having a ‘favourable run-in’, which they did. However, my conclusions cannot be drawn solely from this. The wins against Aston Villa and Manchester City are undeniably impressive.
For me, it’s focussing on ourselves. Something that collectively I don’t believe we have done enough this season. It feels like the trend of the club had us sleepwalking blindly, carelessly, perhaps even complacently towards a huge aftershock.
It isn’t unfair to suggest that Albion have ‘gotten away with it’ a little too often this season. Bailed out of big games through moments of quality; like Fulham’s dramatic 3-2 win, Manchester United’s early visit, and a host of other moments courtesy of particularly Kaoru Mitoma, Georginio, and João Pedro.
This wasn’t the transition season, it was the build after last year’s ‘learning curve’. We invested, we made bold decisions, we replaced… we were ready. Luck has a funny way of coming and going depending on what the situation of the team is in at the time.
The infamous unlucky run during Graham Potter’s reign in 2020/21, when the Seagulls had an xG rating placing them in the top six, despite an actual points tally in the bottom six.
Do we deserve it?
The contrary is that luck has changed. Over the last 5 years, it has always seemed like Albion were so close, but for certain scenarios like not scoring goals, selling best players, VAR calls… having a bit of luck on the day. Time after time, we as fans felt like we were ‘unlucky’ to not be higher up in the actual league table. This, for me, has been the hook and major positive of significant progress on the pitch.
Selling your best players, losing key leaders, and a whole lot of staff is a huge hit. These are extremely bold decisions that place a significant emphasis on results going your way. With that notion and performances on the pitch in mind, the expectations shift.
It isn’t a secret that the target was Europe, in fact, Georginio even mentioned this yesterday at the Newbury races. Would we collectively agree that we have ‘deserved it’ this season? Both the eye test and underlying xG statistics test tell us… probably not.
THIS is what hurts.
20 points dropped from leading positions. Throwaways like Leicester at the King Power (2-2), Wolves at Molineux (2-2), Southampton at home (1-1) against the bottom six of the division, and of course a horrible 7-0 whacking in the East Midlands against Nottingham Forest.
Most significantly, the first double defeat against Crystal Palace since 1932/33.
We’ve had some magic moments, but some largely inconsistent ones at the same time. Through an unbiased and honest view, we don’t deserve it.
Yes, we have a young team, and yes we have a young manager… but the misalignment between the targets, quality of the squad, and club-to-fan relationship is all in the wrong place. Losing big players again this summer will urge certain fans to claim another ‘transition season’ next season, and we can’t afford to do that again.
Clubs will catch up, a lot of them already have.
Watching that lot lift a trophy, trumping everything we’ve ever achieved hurts me, but knowing deep down we’ve slipped out of the same breath hurts even more.
