Sport
Brighton are one of the great unknowns for many looking in from afar this season. Their clever approach to the transfer market, making them one of the Premier League’s most sustainable clubs, has seen them become a top flight fixture. But the problem is, the unpredictable nature of it means that every year looks different.
With so much business happening at the AMEX Stadium, whether that be scouting untapped markets for top talents at good prices or selling existing stars for huge profits, one or two poor decisions could prove costly. The Seagulls are not the first team to operate this way; Wigan, Newcastle and Southampton are just three examples, and each time their luck eventually ran out. But it wouldn’t be unfair to suggest Brighton, under the stewardship of owner Tony Bloom, have been the best example to date.
The biggest secret to their success is not a secret at all. Brighton are always ready; they know they need a conveyor belt, and they have two or three different scenarios to react to. That means they can always sign quality players, but also replace their managers are poached by other clubs. When Graham Potter went to Chelsea two seasons ago, they moved swiftly for Roberto de Zerbi, an Italian coach who plays the sort of high-octane football Brighton want, who arrived with glowing references from none other than Pep Guardiola.
Almost instantly, it felt like Brighton made an upgrade. Soon, De Zerbi was reportedly courted by other clubs as he took the club into Europe. Meanwhile, the likes of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister left for big money, but momentum still grew. That was, until the end of last season; a poor end on the pitch left Brighton languishing in midtable. When De Zerbi left and Fabian Hurzeler, the youngest manager in the league at 31, took over, the perception of the club began to change.
Hurzeler is the first person to take charge of a Premier League match to be born after the division’s inception in 1992. But he is also one of Europe’s brightest coaching prospects, having helped guide St Pauli to promotion to the Bundesliga. He certainly shouldn’t be underestimated, or worse, dismissed, regardless of how big a risk his appointment may appear.
There has also been a lot of exciting recruitment, building on a strong, well-balanced squad in place already. There are players with vast potential like Simon Adingra, Evan Ferguson and Kaoru Mitoma, built around experience like James Milner, Danny Welbeck and Lewis Dunk.
Yankuba Minteh in particular has caught the eye. The Gambian winger joined from Newcastle United in the summer for £33m, despite the Magpies initially hoping to integrate him into their squad following an exceptional loan spell at Feyenoord last season. Profit and Sustainability Rules, which few clubs have managed as well as Brighton, created an opportunity and they struck. An assist in their 3-0 opening day win at Everton after a superb pre-season has almost justified that outlay already.
Few clubs can match the energy, dynamism and depth of Brighton’s attacking options, added to further by the signing of Leeds’ Georginio Rutter after exercising his £40m release clause. The Frenchman arrived at Elland Road months before their relegation two seasons ago with a big reputation, and he adapted to English football with 21 goal contributions in 48 Championship games as the Yorkshire club reached the playoff final last season.
David Weir, Brighton’s director of football, has spoken about Rutter’s arrival.
“Georginio is a player who has the capabilities to get fans off their seats and really showed what he can do in English football with Leeds last season – but I have known about him since he played in Germany for Hoffenheim.”
While there is logic in the idea that Brighton will be under pressure to keep growing with an increasingly difficult project, to assume this year is when their decline begins doesn’t give them enough credit.
Hurzeler will face difficult tests but there is nothing to suggest he will not pass them with flying colours. Brighton look more than ready for their latest era; they will be looking up this season.
