Tap For Menu  
Single word yields best result

Football News: Team Review - Brighton & Hove Albion

Team Review - Brighton & Hove Albion
Image from: freelargeimages.com

Team Review - Brighton & Hove Albion

Become a Patron!

League Position: 4th

 

Ins And Outs

Ins:
Enock Mwepu from RB Salzburg
Marc Cucurella from Getafe
Abdallah Sima from Slavia Prague
Kjell Scherpen from Ajax
Kaoru Mitoma from Kawasaki Frontale

Outs:
Ben White to Arsenal
Percy Tau to El Ahly
Viktor Gyokeres to Coventry City
Alireza Jahanbakhsh to Feyenoord
Michal Karbownik to Olympiacos (loan)
Davy Propper to PSV Eindhoven
Jose Izquierdo to Club Brugge
Bernardo to RB Salzburg
Matt Clarke to West Bromwich Albion (loan)
Andi Zeqiri to Augsburg (loan)
Christian Walton to Ipswich Town (loan)
Jan Mlakar to Hajduk Split
Mathew Ryan to Real Sociedad
Leo Ostigard to Stoke City (loan)
Florin Andone to Cadiz (loan)
Jan Paul van Hecke to Blackburn Rovers (loan)
Abdallah Sima to Stoke City (loan)
Moises Caicedo to Beerschot VA (loan)
Kaoru Mitoma to Royale Union Saint Gilloise

 

Goalkeepers:

Robert Sanchez
Kjell Scherpen
Jason Steele

Potter made a brave choice to go with Sanchez, who is still only 23 now, but it is paying off in spades for him. Ryan was a decent keeper, but no more than that and Sanchez has grown into a major upgrade already and is much better suited to BHA's style of play. Question marks do surround the back ups though, with Scherpen being untested and Steele a fair way off the quality required.

 


Defenders:

Lewis Dunk
Adam Webster
Shane Duffy
Dan Burn
Haydon Roberts
Tariq Lamptey
Joel Veltman

They did well to get a large fee for their third-best centre-back from last season, but it has meant they are having to return to a reliance on Duffy, who is a long way off the level they need to really make a step forward. Duffy has his strengths, but his weaknesses outweigh them, especially when playing in the system Potter wants to play. They will probably need Roberts to make the step up soon or to bring in a replacement if they are to continue to hold onto a European place long term. There are also major gaps in terms of full-backs in the squad and in some games that can cost them badly. On top of that, it reduces the ability to switch from a back 3 system if wanted. The return to fitness of Lamptey should make a major difference to their attacking threat.

 


Midfielders:

Tudur Baluta
Yves Bissouma
Enock Mwepu
Jakub Moder
Pascal Gross
Steven Alzate
Marc Cucurella
Solly March
Alexis Mac Allister
Adam Lallana
Taylor Richards

It has turned out to be a very good move on their part signing a replacement for Bissouma ready for an expected sale, though for very different reasons. However the key move has been the addition of Cucurella, who has had a similar impact on the left as Lamptey had on the right. Brighton have a strong, young bunch of players guided by the experience of Lallana and Gross. There is balance and a good core of players who are able to cover a number of different roles as needed by the team. They will need either Mwepu or Baluta to step up and fill the massive gaping hole that is left in there without Bissouma.

 


Forwards:

Leandro Trossard
Neal Maupay
Aaron Connolly
Danny Welbeck
Jurgen Locadia

The big weak link of this team is the forward line. There are not enough goals in there to be relied on, though Maupay has improved his return so far this season. However, you would not want to rely on these players to score the goals needed and they still need to improve here to make the next step.

 


Manager: Graham Potter

Potter took an unusual route to this job but he has shown that he was an excellent choice. He took over a demoralised and fed up team that was not enjoying their football under Chris Hughton, mainly because they were getting to play very little actual football! Potter has lifted morale, massively improved team spirit and got them playing some of the best football in Europe. Added to that, he has mostly recruited well and is finally reaping the rewards of his work with the results performances have deserved. The problem Brighton now have is keeping hold of Potter, as he surely must be on the radar for every big job that comes up.

 


Conclusion:

The Seagulls are finally getting the results they deserve for their performances but it is difficult to see that continuing unless the unearth a goalscorer soon. It was a lack of goals, despite huge numbers of chances created, that cost them last season. This season could go the same way if the goals dry up again and they do not have any player that could be considered a reliable goal-getter. Creativity they have in spades, but it is that final step of actually putting the chances created away that they need to find next. If they can keep converting their chances, they are a team with the quality to qualify for Europe and make an impact once there. The key is holding on to Potter though. With him they are going places, without him they could very easily fall away very quickly.

 

Become a Patron!

Written by Tris Burke October 21 2021 16:16:06

 

Discuss rumours and transfers on our Arsenal rumours web page

 

Discuss rumours and transfers on our NBA rumours web page