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 10th
place 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 highlighted
last 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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