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Following Brighton and Hove Albion’s great escape from relegation last season, the English south coast club expectedly parted ways with manager Chris Hughton.
In came Graham Potter, the English manager who famously masterminded an Europa league knockout away win at Arsenal with Swedish club Östersunds; as well as managed Swansea to a respectable 10thplace finish in the Championship last term.
Amidst the Premier League’s often embarrassing shortage of British managers, The seagulls have opted for a different Ilk.
Graham Potter is few of the nine Britons currently managing in the league whose style is “progressive” rather than the archetypal “survival specialist” that Chris Hughton was.
Potter is trying to breathe life into a side who survived the relegation drop by two points, scoring only 35 goals in 38 games. He has, however, started on a high note as Brighton sit fifth on the table after two games.
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| Brighton have impressed in the Premier League thus far. Image Credit: Getty Images. |
Beyond a glance at the pre-mature nature of the early league table, Potter’s men have four points having played exciting football. The three-nil win at Watford on opening day saw Brighton line up in a 3-4-3 shape that ensures balance in all phases of play.
The seagulls had more numbers in attack as well as in defence; with Glenn Murray often isolated upfront during their first two years in the Premier League. Their fighting spirits were on show in the second game against West Ham, recovering from a disallowed goal and a goal deficit to share the points.
Brighton average 53% ball possession this season and take 10.5 shots per game, 3.5 of them on target.
Adding creative, attacking football to their impressive Arsenal of gritty defending and set-piece prowess is exactly what the club needs moving forward. Already, the likes of Glenn Murray, Lewis Dunk, Shane Duffy, Dale Stephens and Mat Ryan remain important players and that core is key in the switch to the new philosophy.
The philosophy can also get their recent top signings José Izquierdo, Jürgen Locadia, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Florin Andone- who had all failed to deliver their talent’s promise- firing the club in the direction it craves; as almost 36-year-old Glenn Murray needs to be eased off the team’s burdens.
In their games so far, Pascal Groß is deployed in the right half-space just behind Murray with whom he has shared a great partnership throughout his Brighton career.
It is no surprise then, that 46% of the team’s attacks come through that right channel and Groß has supplied 2.5 key passes per game. New signings Leandro Trossard and Aaron Mooy have been signed to increase the team’s output from midfield; with the Belgian already off the mark with his goal against West Ham.
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| Attacking midfielder Leandro Trossard celebrating his equalizer against West Ham. Image Credit: Getty Images. |
The AMEX supporters will be relishing the level of entertainment Potter’s side are set to produce, having only seen 16 goals scored from open play last season.
As I highlightedlast term, Graham Potter is exactly what this beautiful club needs to attain relevance in the Premier League. Gone are the days of survival, the Seagulls are ready to soar.
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