When Graham Potter packed his bags for Chelsea, many thought it was curtains for Brighton. After all, he had managed to defy expectations by steering the Seagulls to a ninth-place finish in the 2021–22 Premier League season. Yet, surprisingly, his departure was more of a springboard than a stumbling block for the team. Enter Roberto De Zerbi, and Brighton finished even higher sixth to be exact in the subsequent season.
European Dreams Become Reality
And now, they’re about to make history with their first-ever European fixture, facing off with AEK Athens in the Europa League. De Zerbi is already turning heads, and if he keeps this up, he’ll be the talk of the town. Four games into the current season, Brighton sits at sixth, racking up nine points and scoring more goals (12) than any other team in the league.
The Secret Sauce: Talent Reinvestment
- Sold Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool
- Sold Moisés Caicedo to Chelsea
- Received £150 million in transfer fees
What’s really turning heads, though, is that Brighton isn’t missing a step, even after parting ways with key players like Mac Allister and Caicedo for a combined £150 million. Their secret? Smart reinvestment.
New Arrivals Making a Splash
- João Pedro from Watford: Boosting the attack.
- Carlos Baleba from Lille: Filling Caicedo’s shoes.
- Igor Julio from Fiorentina: A Colwill replacement.
- Bart Verbruggen: Breaking into the first team as a 20-year-old goalkeeper.
- Mahmoud Dahoud and James Milner: Seasoned warriors in the midfield.
- Ansu Fati: The young Spanish sensation, on loan from Barcelona.
This summer’s signings cost Brighton less than what Chelsea forked over for just Caicedo. The newcomers aren’t just replacements, they’re catalysts for the team’s ongoing success.
Young Talent Rising to the Occasion
De Zerbi is not just wheeling and dealing in the transfer market, he’s also nurturing home-grown talent. Jan Paul van Hecke and Evan Ferguson have already proven their mettle, with the latter even netting four goals this season.
The standout performer so far has to be 22-year-old Billy Gilmour. Last season he was mostly warming the bench. This season? He’s setting the pace in the midfield, boasting a pass success rate second only to Man City’s Rodri. With Gilmour on the pitch, it’s no wonder Brighton ranks third in the league for possession and second for pass success rate.
Mastering the Midfield Game
The tactical genius of De Zerbi shines through when Brighton has the ball. They’re not just keeping it for kicks, they have a plan. Lewis Dunk, the centre-back, plays a pivotal role. Despite losing key players in both defense and midfield, it’s Dunk who’s often kickstarting their attacks, leading the league in forward passes and ranking 10th in accurate long balls.
Predictable Yet Unstoppable
Sounds like a standard play, right? But as Arjen Robben showed us, predictability isn’t always a bad thing if you can execute with finesse. Brighton is doing just that, mainly launching their attacks from the center and then quickly switching it up with Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma creating chaos from the wings.
In Conclusion
Brighton is kind of like the Premier League’s Hydra. Chop off one head, and they grow two more. They welcome bigger clubs poaching their talent because they know how to turn a hefty transfer fee into a squad that’s even better than before. As they continue to climb, it’s clear that this is just Brighton doing Brighton flourishing in the face of adversity and dazzling the world of football.
So, keep your eyes on this team. They’ve shown that they can lose stars and still shine brighter. Whether you’re a fan or not, it’s hard not to admire how Brighton continues to defy the odds, making them one of the most exciting teams to watch in the Premier League.
