Tag: Seagulls

Opposition in focus: Manchester United (H)

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Brighton and Hove Albion will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing defeat at Watford when they host Manchester United at the Amex Stadium on Sunday. (kick-off 16:00)

Pascal Groß netted the winner when the two sides last met back in April – a fixture Seagulls fans will remember fondly as they guaranteed Premier League survival against Jose Mourinho’s men. Before that the pair had faced each other twice at Old Trafford – with both games ending in a United victory.

The Red Devils finished second in the Premier League last season but failed to win a single trophy. Pressure will now by on Mourinho and the team to lift some silverware, but they got off to the perfect start last week a Paul Pogba penalty and Luke Shaw’s first competitive goal saw off Leicester City 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Manchester United fan and Stretty News contributor Jamie Spoor explains his thoughts on United’s lack of spending, Luke Shaw and the game against Brighton on Sunday.

Manchester United had a rather turbulent pre-season. In your opinion what were the reasons for that and who is to blame?

Our pre-season was a complete nightmare. Mourinho certainly didn’t help matters by his negative demeanour, frequent outbursts and criticism of the players, especially the younger ones. He was frustrated that the World Cup deprived United of several key men during the US Tour, but we knew that was always going to be the case and we only won one game. Although it was only pre-season, the results were disappointing – especially the defeats against Liverpool and Bayern Munich. Plodding around the US with a scratch side made up largely of reserves and fringe players, we learned little and it was far from ideal preparation ahead of the season.

Fred and Diogo Dalot were the only major signings that came through the Old Trafford doors this summer, with Mourinho obviously unhappy about the amount of targets missed. Does the lack of business during the transfer window worry you?

It is very concerning – particularly as Mourinho had devised a list of players he wanted to bring in to strengthen our squad. Top of that list was a top class centre-back alongside Eric Bailly as Smalling and Jones are simply not good enough. We were linked with Toby Alderweireld and Harry Maguire among others, but the window closed without us bringing in anyone apart from Dalot and Fred. I’m looking forward to seeing what both can do, but I didn’t feel they were players we necessarily needed. Overall, our transfer window inactivity was a shambles, the board have a lot to answer for and Mourinho has a right to be very frustrated by the lack of signings.

There is still a lot of speculation regarding the futures of Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba. Are you confident either one of them or both will stay at the Club this summer?

I very much hope so. The transfer window for the rest of Europe is open for another couple of weeks, which means the club are unlikely to sell them both as we couldn’t get a replacement. Pogba in particular is a player we should look to build our team around, he is a player I believe has world class ability as we saw with France in the summer. Martial I’d be less unhappy about losing, he is an unbelievable talent but his attitude leaves a lot to be desired. The fact he has earned the nickname Le Sulk tells you everything you need to know. Mourinho wanted to let him go in the summer, but the board were unwilling to sell. Martial looked like a world beater when he first came, he was magnificent in that first season but has lost his way since and looks like a player that doesn’t want to be at United. It feels like his United career is at a crossroad at the minute.

One player that really impressed during United’s victory over Leicester last week was Luke Shaw. Do you see this as a golden opportunity for him to prove his right to be at the Club?

Absolutely. Luke Shaw should be starting at left-back for Manchester United week in, week out. He’s better than Ashley Young in every conceivable way, and his performance against Leicester was probably the biggest positive, apart from the result. It felt like it could be the start of a new beginning for him, a chance of redemption for a player whose United career has been one of unfulfilled promise so far. He’s had rotten luck with a loss of form, fitness and a number of injury problems, not to mention several public and acrimonious run-ins with Mourinho. He seemed certain to leave in the summer, and the one before that, but has worked hard to turn his fortunes around and get back in the manager’s good books. He’s got a long way to go before we can say he’s finally lived up to his burgeoning potential and makes the left-back spot his own, having shown only glimpses of the form that persuaded United to sign him from Southampton in 2014, where he was regarded as the finest young full-back in the country.

Who poses the biggest threat to Brighton’s defence on Sunday?

Romelu Lukaku looks set to play in this game, and on his day he is unplayable. He scored 27 goals last season, which would have been 30 if not for injury. After a good World Cup with Belgium, hopefully he’ll hit the ground running and come back fit and firing. Marcus Rashford is always a handful with his pace, and we all know about the world class talent of Alexis Sanchez, although he’s yet to show it in the red of United. The battle between our front three, and Brighton’s centre half partnership of Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy – who were really impressive last season – could well hold the key.

Brighton could give home debuts to Martin Montoya, Yves Bissouma and
Alireza Jahanbakhsh. Do you feel that it will be one of the new signings that causes United the most problems on the pitch?

To be honest, I don’t really know too much about any of Brighton’s new summer signings, they are something of an unknown quantity. For Albion to sign a Champions League winner in Martin Montoya is a real coup, and shows the ambition and upward mobility of the club. He is the only one I’ve heard of and could be a tough nut to crack.

When we came down to the Amex last time, it was Anthony Knockaert who ran the show – he terrorised our defence and is a player who I’ve always been a big fan of. Although he is mercurial and unpredictable, for me he is still Brighton’s go-to match winner. His pace and directness causes problems, and hopefully Matteo Darmian will be able to deal with him better this time around. With their new strikers now on board, it will be interesting to see who Chris Hughton calls upon to lead the line.

The Seagulls began the season with a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Watford. Chris Hughton will be expecting a response from his players, so are you nervous about playing Brighton this weekend? A team who may also be buoyed from last season’s victory over United at the Amex?

Any away game in the Premier League is a difficult one, no matter who you are. Brighton were very strong at the Amex last season – I think they only lost three times – which is very impressive for a newly promoted side. Hughton is an under-rated manager, he will send Brighton out to get in our faces, not be cowed and to play without fear. They are well-drilled, well organised and work hard. They have pace in their team and are going to be hard to get through. The atmosphere will be feverish, Brighton won’t show us any respect at all, and it certainly won’t be an easy game. It was a poor result for them at Watford, but what better way for them to respond from that with a home result over the mighty Manchester United to get them off and running for the season. I think it will be a different type of game from the one we saw last time, Albion will be scenting another big name scalp and I expect a very tough test of United’s credentials.

How do you see Brighton and Hove Albion doing this season?

The second season in the Premier League is always much harder than the first for a new team, and I think that could be the case for Brighton this time. Goals proved hard to come by last season and Albion were the third lowest scorers in the league, even though they survived in relative comfort in 15th place. Hughton has attempted to rectify that by bringing in the aforementioned Jahanbakhsh and Florin Andone to bolster striking options, but it remains to be seen how the new arrivals will fare. I do have a soft spot for Brighton and I like Chris Hughton, but I think they could get found out a bit and will struggle. I’d loved to proved wrong, but I think there could be a relegation battle to contend with.

Many are suggesting that it is imperative that Manchester United win a trophy this season. What do you think will be classed as a successful campaign for Jose Mourinho’s side?

Any season without silverware of some sort has to be considered unacceptable when you’re Manchester United. Last season was a marked improvement in the league, we finished second on 81 points in our best league placing since Sir Alex retired. But we lost the FA Cup Final, so had nothing to show for it. We’re certainly not good enough to win the Premier League or the Champions League, but we’re no better and no worse than last season so I think we’re comfortably going to finish in the top four. I think our best chance of a trophy will come in the FA Cup – where we’ll look to go one better that last season – or the Carabao Cup, which Mourinho has always had a lot of success in. I would be more than happy with a top 3 league finish and a cup win, I think that’s realistic and a good season.

What do you think the score will be on Sunday?

United are very hard to predict – we can be brilliant one week, bang average the next. The Amex is a difficult trip and Brighton cannot be ruled out. Under Mourinho, we’ve struggled at times against the so called ‘lesser’ sides, so this is tough to call. I’m fond of Brighton and wish them luck for the season (after Sunday of course), so I’m going to sit on the fence and go down the middle. I actually think the Albion will nick something from this, so I’m going for the safe option of a draw. 1-1.

*** You can read Jamie’s articles on Manchester United here:  https://strettynews.com/author/jamie-spoor/.

Brighton before: Watford (A)

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Here we go again. For the next nine months we will feel a roller-coaster of emotions whilst following Brighton and Hove Albion through their second successive season in the Premier League.

The Seagulls begin their 2018/19 campaign in Hertfordshire against Watford and many will recall our last visit to Vicarage Road, where Miguel Britos chopped down Anthony Knockaert and was deservedly sent off during the 0-0 stalemate.

Watford fans are quietly optimistic that this season will be an improvement on the last, and you can read what one Hornet’s fan said to me about their season’s chances here.

But here are my own personal thoughts on Saturday’s match in this first match preview of the season.

It’s opening day, but it’s important we bring something back to Sussex. 

Brighton’s season will not be decided by the events that take place on the pitch at Vicarage Road. They won’t be guaranteed survival if they win, nor will they be doomed for relegation should they lose.

However it is important Chris Hughton’s team bring something back with them to Sussex. It might be opening day, but this is a fixture many would have highlighted as one the Seagulls should aim to win or at least draw.

It’s also worth noting that following their trip to the Hornets, Brighton face four of the top six within the next six matchdays. Manchester United visit the Amex next weekend, before Albion make the long trip up to Anfield and take on a Liverpool side that many predict will be Manchester City’s closest rivals for the title.

With Tottenham and Manchester City to play in September, it is imperative that Brighton take as many points as possible from the games against the smaller sides, starting with Watford.

New signings will get their chances to shine, but it will probably be from the bench. 

Fans will be discussing how the team will line-up right up until 2pm on Saturday afternoon. How many of the new signings will start? Which formation will Hughton use?

Personally, I don’t see him doing too much tinkering. I know in a previous post I suggested a change in formation to free up the opportunity to start Yves Bissouma, Davy Propper and Dale Stephens, but I doubt that will happen.

This is a huge opportunity to get some points on the board early and although the Club has spent over £60m strengthening the squad, it is only Bernardo that starts for me. Hughton will stick with the players that did so well last season in keeping Albion in the league. They now have a season worth of experience to their advantage, which could help see away form improve this year.

I would guess that we will probably get to see Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Bissouma both come off the bench and get their chance to shine with 20-30 minutes to go, if required.

Watford could be dangerous on the offensive, but their big stars may still be rusty. 

Watford have some good talent within their ranks. Their main man last season, Abdoulaye Doucouré, has recently signed a new long-term deal to remain with the Hornets. Gerard Deulofeu, Roberto Pereyra, Andre Gray and captain Troy Deeney are all also capable of winning any game for Javi Gracia’s men.

Another huge talent is Will Hughes. The former Derby midfielder is known to pull the strings in the middle of the park and could be the one that causes the Seagulls’ defence the most problems.

However not all of them have featured in pre-season. Rustiness could be a factor towards the end of the game, which could play into Brighton’s hands.

Knockaert will be fired up after last season’s encounter. 

Now with bleached blonde hair, AK seems to have picked up where he left off towards the end of last season.

The winger was immense against United at the Amex, and was the best player on the pitch during Brighton’s 2-1 win over Nantes last week.

Following the Britos incident last August, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Frenchman fired up for this game from the outset.

This will be a tight, cagey affair and it may take just a single moment of magic to separate the two sides. Knockaert has the tools at his disposal to produce said magic, and if the little magician plays as well as the supporters all know he can, then he could be the one that makes the difference.

A win would be an early sign of intent towards Brighton’s rivals. 

As mentioned above, it’s crucial we play for the win on Saturday and try and get something from the game.

The mood from the camp looks calm and focused from the outside, but I’m certain the players understand how important it is to get off to a good start.

Victory away from home would be an early sign of intent to Brighton’s rivals. Every point picked up on the road in the top flight is a precious one. It is never easy to get something on your travels, and if Brighton were to get that first away point so soon, it will calm the nerves for the team and supporters.

But if they can be three points ahead of a team also fighting for an 11th-17th placed finish, that will provide the players with an early safety cushion. Last season, Brighton only flirted with the relegation spots – they were never in the bottom three for long periods of time, unlike Crystal Palace or Swansea City. Hopefully it will be a similar outcome this time around.

PREDICTION:

I can see the opening few minutes being quite cagey. There may not be many chances in the game, but I think Brighton will score and finish the stronger of the two sides. You can never rule Watford out with the attacking threat though, so I’ll say a draw.

Watford 1-1 Brighton and Hove Albion.

Opposition in focus: Watford (A)

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Brighton and Hove Albion begin their second season in the Premier League away to Watford on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 15:00).

The Seagulls drew 0-0 at Vicarage Road last season – a fixture which Albion fans will fondly remember after Miguel Britos’ moment of madness led to a dangerous lunge on Anthony Knockaert and subsequent red card. Pascal Groß’s 64th minute strike earned Brighton a 1-0 victory in their last encounter at the Amex back in December.

Watford finished a place and a point ahead of Albion in the table back in May, but some suggest that their top flight status is under serious threat this season.

They have been notoriously quick out of the blocks during a league campaign, accumulating the majority of points needed for survival before Christmas. They are also notorious for seeing their form jump out of the window, and the Club consequently drop from European contenders to Premier League survivalists. Some predict that the contrasting form and constant managerial changes will eventually catch up with them, whilst others believe that they will be in for a fully fledged relegation battle this season.

Watford supporter Adam Rowe explains how the Hornets could surprise a few this season, should they can keep their key players fit.

How have Watford fared in pre-season?

“Results wise it’s been a very successful pre-season for us. We have gone throughout the whole summer unbeaten, however key players such as Abdoulaye Doucoure, Nathaniel Chalobah and Gerard Deulofeu have yet to feature due to injury, which is a cause for concern.”

How would you rate the Hornet’s transfer window? Have any new signings impressed? What are your views on Richarlison’s big-money move to Everton? 

“The biggest signing of our window has been the contract extension of Doucoure, he is a massive player for us. The permanent signing of Gerard Deulofeu is pleasing too, he showed in glimpses how valuable he could be to us before he got injured.

“Although it’s disappointing that Richarlison departed (particularly because he’s going to join Marco Silva), it’s a huge fee that the club were never going to turn down. He didn’t make the starting-11 for large parts of the second half of last season so I’m pretty confident we will be okay without him.”

Javi Gracia has been in charge for a while now, has he implemented a new style that the fans are happy with?

“Javi Gracia has certainly divided opinion amongst Watford fans. He is most definitely a nice guy and based on personality he is well liked. However, his playing style in the second half of last season was somewhat negative and we eventually crawled over the line in terms of survival.

“But he did what he was brought into do, which was to keep us in the league. We are yet to score a goal away from home under Gracia and have only picked up a solitary away point. That away form has got to change or I feel fans could soon be on his back. In my view I think now he has had pre-season he can be better judged.”

Who would you say are the danger men Brighton should watch out for?

“Will Hughes has been nothing short of superb when he’s been fit. He is a match winner for us and makes the team tick through his creativity. Another is Roberto Pereyra – he finished the season in very good form so again if he is on song then he can be a real threat. Then there is the obvious one in Doucoure, our player of the season last year and a firm fan favourite, when he plays well Watford tend to.”

What are your opinions on Brighton’s heavy spending this summer and how do you think the Seagulls will do this season?

“I think Brighton will probably replicate what they did last season in terms of the main aim has to be survival first and then trying to finish as high up as possible. You guys have certainly brought in some reinforcements, which I think is key to your chances of survival. The second season always tends to be harder than the first so it was key that you freshened up the squad. The Seagulls have a top manager in Chris Hughton and I think you’ll stay up again this season.”

Are there any Brighton players that you feel Watford need to keep an eye on? Do
you expect to see another Britos v Knockaert battle?

We have signed a new left back over the summer, Adam Masina and from what I have seen of him I have been impressed. He is probably much more suited to dealing with Knockaert. I am sure Knockaert will be subject to his usual pantomime abuse. Personally I think he is a massive player for the Seagulls and always tends to play pretty well against us.

Where do you think Watford will end up this season?

If we keep the squad fit, I think we can honestly challenge to come in the top half of the table. However if we have the injury record we have had in the last two seasons then I fear for us this season. Signing a striker before the deadline would certainly bolster our chances of a successful season. On the whole I think it’s another season of finishing in mid-table.

Finally, what do you think the score will be on Saturday?

I will always back us at home so I will go with a tight 2-1 Hornets win.

**You can follow Adam on Twitter (@adzrowe) and read his own blog here: https://adamrowefootball.blogspot.com/.

 

 

BHAFC: What will new signing Izzy Brown bring to Brighton’s attacking threat?

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The 20-year old joins on a season-long loan from Chelsea. 

Brighton and Hove Albion completed the signing of young Chelsea forward Izzy Brown on a season-long loan this afternoon.

The 20-year old impressed whilst on loan at both Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town last season.

Brown has no doubt proved his worth in the Championship, and now has the chance to shine in the Premier League with the Seagulls.

But what exactly does the youngster bring to Chris Hughton’s team?

Technically, Brown is very good with the ball at his feet. He enjoys to dribble past players and can be very difficult to stop once he is in full flow.

He’s the dynamic player some Brighton fans have been crying out for. He always wants to go forward with the ball- similarly to Anthony Knockaert.

The two of them could form a formidable partnership once the Frenchman recovers from the ankle injury he sustained in the win over Fortuna Düsseldorf earlier this month.

As well as his dribbling ability, Brown also has a habit of scoring big goals. His five for Huddersfield last season proved crucial as they won promotion to the top flight. Hopefully he will get a few more this campaign, as Brighton look to avoid relegation in their first season back in England’s top division since 1983.

With an ever-ageing squad, Brown brings some young, youthful energy which the front line so desperately needs.

With Sam Baldock out injured, Tomer Hemed (30) and Glenn Murray (33) are the only fit out-and-out strikers currently at the Amex. Both are quite similar players- they are physical and very good in the air.

Brown will bring some much needed pace and technical ability that will bring a different attacking threat. Defenders will not have such an easy time with the England Under-21 international on the pitch.

The 20-year old is set to feature in the Seagulls’ third pre-season match of the summer against Southend United tonight.

Brown joins Pascal groß, Mat Ryan and Markus Suttner through the Amex doors this summer, but there could still be more business to be done before the window slams shut.

 

BHAFC: Ahmed Musa and Simon Kjaer the latest linked with a move to the Amex this summer.

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Transfer rumours are beginning to intensify two days before the release of the 2017/18 Premier League fixtures. 

Brighton and Hove Albion are slowly preparing their squad ahead of the new Premier League season.

The Seagulls, who will be making their first appearance in England’s top flight since 1983, have already secured German midfielder Pascal Groß and are reportedly close to agreeing a deal with Valencia for Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan.

Now Chris Hughton’s side are looking to bring in both a forward and defender, with two players linked with a move to the Amex today.

Leicester’s Ahmed Musa, who only joined the Foxes last summer for £16m, is apparently in talks with Brighton and West Brom, according to his agent.

Musa, who only netted four goals in 32 appearances during his debut season in England, wants to remain in England despite offers from abroad.

The 24-year-old would more than likely start more games on the south coast than he did at the King Power last season (7), especially as he brings a different offensive style to the table.

One of his biggest assets is his raw pace. Where Glenn Murray is more of a threat in the air, Musa would be the striker making the runs in behind the defenders. It has the potential to be a dynamic partnership.

That is if Hughton sticks with his 4-4-2. He had mentioned towards the end of last season that would like to mix it up this campaign, with the 4-4-1-1 formation being one of those he wants to try and implement on the team.

Groß is a player capable of playing in that no.10 role behind the striker, but could Musa do a job there? He has the pace to play up alongside whoever starts up top (Murray or Hemed would be the best bet at the moment), but would the Nigerian track back and defend when needed?

Due to their similarities, it would be unlikely we would see both Musa and Sam Baldock in the same side. Baldock was one of our best players last season when he wasn’t injured, and if anything, we missed a Baldock-type player when he was sidelined. Therefore, having both in the squad wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Danish international defender Simon Kjær is the other man linked with a move to the Amex.

The Fenerbahce player is a transfer target for Liverpool, but the Seagulls are set to make a £7.5m bid imminently.

Kjær, has 59 caps to his name, and would provide competition for Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy at the heart of Brighton’s defence.

He has two years remaining on his contract and is reported to be well settled in Istanbul. Fenerbahce also value their man at £15m, which could prove a stumbling block.

The 28-year old centre back would be a major coup for the newly promoted side should they steal him away from the clutches of both Liverpool and AC Milan- two clubs also interested in Kjær’s services.

Dunk and Duffy formed a solid partnership last season, but with a lack of top flight experience and the likes of Conor Goldson slowly returning back to full fitness, the need for a new centre back has become a priority.

It will be interesting to see whether both transfers materialise into anything. Both ARE just rumours at the moment, and whilst it will be good to see both in an Albion shirt, there is a long way to go before that could happen.

 

BHAFC: Two years of Chris Hughton.

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From relegation candidates to promotion favourites, Chris Hughton has transformed Brighton and Hove Albion into a formidable Championship side in just 24 months. 

Following two Play-off semi-final defeats to Crystal Palace and Derby County respectively, the 2014-15 season was beginning to look like a disastrous campaign for Brighton.

Manager Sami Hyypia, who had replaced Oscar Garcia at the start of that season, resigned after registering just one win in 18 league games, leaving the club in the bottom three with half the season to go.

On New Year’s Eve 2014, club chairman Tony Bloom unveiled Hughton as the new Seagulls boss on a three-and-a-half year contract.

Having previously taken Newcastle United up and guided Birmingham City to the Play-Offs, Hughton had the vital experience of the league, but more importantly, he had the man-management skills needed to help rejuvenate a squad lacking belief.

Two players to have benefited massively from Hughton’s man-management are goalkeeper David Stockdale and striker Sam Baldock. They were signed for the club when Hyypia came in, and both endured poor starts to their Albion careers.

Since Hughton’s come in, both have grown in ability and confidence, which has lead to them both becoming two of the first names on the team sheet.

Another quality Hughton has brought to the south coast is an improved recruitment team.

An early sign of this was the signing of Beram Kayal from Celtic in January 2015.

The Israel international midfielder was influential in the middle of the park for the Seagulls, helping them to survive in England’s second tier.

The Sussex side ended the season in 20th position, six points clear of relegation.

The summer of 2015 saw major changes at the Albion, with Gaetan Bong, Liam Rosenior, Tomer Hemed, Niki Maenpaa, Conor Goldson, Uwe Hunemeier, Jamie Murphy all joining the club- along with the returning Bobby Zamora.

Although the fans, players and the manager didn’t expect Brighton to struggle again in 2015-16, no-one would have expected what was to come.

The Seagulls went 21 games unbeaten- a club record- spanning from August to December.

Hughton’s simple use of 4-4-2 was proving effective, with the two central midfielders holding and breaking up play, they were able to set up counter-attacks for the two wingers and strikers. The tiki-taka style Poyet and Garcia implemented at the club had now finally evolved into the attacking style fans had been hoping for since the club moved to the Amex five years ago- and that is thanks to Hughton.

The quality continued to come through the doors, with Anthony Knockaert and Jiri Skalek signing in January of this year.

But more importantly, the belief and character within the dressing room was unlike any seen at the club before. Fans began to believe that promotion was very much possible, and that had an effect on the players.

The only thing lacking was a goalscorer. Hemed was the team’s top-scorer with 17 goals, but Zamora was second with just seven. In this division it’s not just about winning, but winning convincingly.

Michael Keane’s equaliser in stoppage time for promotion rivals Burnley at the Amex in April was an agonising blow, and a home draw to Derby County in the penultimate game of the season left the Seagulls on the verge of missing out on automatic promotion by the faintest of margins.

A final day showdown with Middlesbrough up at the Riverside was always going to be a tough match, and although the game ended a draw, Boro went up automatically by a single goal.

The players were on burnout after a long 46-game campaign, and were undone by Sheffield Wednesday in the Play-offs.

Worries of a Play-off hangover were squandered by Hughton, claiming the club would come back stronger both mentally and physically.

His wisdom, calmness and genuinely nice personality instantly reassured fans. They knew with Hughton in charge they could compete with the likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa, Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday.

The signing of Glenn Murray on a season-long loan from Bournemouth has another fantastic piece of business from Hughton, as well as the record £4.5m deal for the services of Ireland international Shane Duffy and the capture of Northern Ireland midfielder Oliver Norwood.

Hughton has proved his worth by keeping the same belief in the squad since he came in and that has reflected in Brighton’s results this season.

Having lost just twice all campaign, the club are currently on a 17 games unbeaten since September.

The difference this season is the jump in quality on the pitch. The team is now able to keep up wins without playing well- which is always a sign of a good side.

Duffy and Lewis Dunk have formed a rock-solid partnership, meaning that Brighton have the best defensive record in the league.

Murray, Baldock and Knockaert has also formed a fearsome partnership up top, with the three contributing to a majority of the Seagulls goals this season.

Under Hughton, Brighton have picked up 96 points in the calendar year, the most out of any side in the top four divisions.

Going into 2017 and Hughton’s third year in charge, the Seagulls are second in the Championship. They are just one point behind leaders Newcastle but more importantly they are eight clear of third placed Reading, with a much healthier goal difference.

Promotion to the Premier League with this team would be his most memorable achievement, and it would make 30,000 fans dreams come true.

 

 

 

BHAFC: 5-0 trashing of promotion rivals Norwich City best result of Chris Hughton era.

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A hattrick from Glenn Murray was one of many positives on the pitch as Brighton and Hove Albion sent a message out to the other teams fighting for automatic promotion.

The Seagulls were clinical in front of goal and although they were helped out by some horrific defending by Norwich, Chris Hughton’s men won every battle on the pitch in all positions.

This was as close to a perfect performance as possible, but Brighton did start the game slowly.

The passing was sloppy, and Norwich did enjoy the majority of possession in that first 45.

Yes Murray scored inside six minutes, but that was only because of Michael McGovern’s heavy first touch.

Apart from that, it is hard to remember any real save McGovern had to make in the Canaries goal during that first half.

Saying that, take nothing away from the Seagulls and Hughton, who deserves a result like that after what has been 18 months of hard work on the south coast.

Since the former Newcastle boss took over, Brighton have looked a formidable force in the Championship. After last seasons heartache, its clear there is no Play-off hangover at the Amex.

The win yesterday is a testament to what the 57-year old manager has achieved already at the club.

Seagulls fans haven’t seen their side destroy a side like they did yesterday for a while, and for it to be another team that will be fighting for the top two positions makes it all the sweeter.

It’s hard not to look at Murray as the standout Brighton player on the day for his stellar performance, but Gaetan Bong , Shane Duffy, Steve Sidwell, Dale Stephens and Jiri Skalek all deserve a mention too.

The back four were immense. No Norwich player was able to find any space within 18 yards of goal, and their best chance came from a Wes Hoolahan volley from 25 yards.

Shane Duffy won every header ahead of Cameron Jerome, whilst his central defensive partner Lewis Dunk got himself on the scoresheet with a powerful header from Jiri Skalek’s corner.

The Czech international assisted Albion’s second and third goals of the game with pinpoint crosses, something which gives him the edge over Jamie Murphy and possibly the returning Solly March as Brighton head into a tough November.

Steve Sidwell worked his absolute socks off in the second half to break down and intercept Norwich attacks.

And of course Murray deserves another mention for his hattrick.

Ok, two of which came from Norwich errors, but if the 33-year old plays like he did yesterday for the rest of the campaign he will net 20 plus easily.

He outmuscled defenders, won all headers he battled for, held up the ball well and finished instinctively. It was the perfect centre forward performance.

Let’s not forget Norwich were a Premier League side last season, and still have a majority of their squad from the last campaign. That’s what makes this a huge 3 points.

A tough trip to Bristol City is next for the Seagulls, before home matches to Aston Villa and Fulham respectively.

BHAFC: Niki Mäenpää’s performance proved David Stockdale doesn’t need to be rushed back into first team action.

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Albion Analysis: #4 Rotherham United (H), 16th August 2016.

Brighton and Hove Albion moved to the top of the Sky Bet Championship after comfortably beating Rotherham United 3-0 at the Amex.

Goals from Anthony Knockaert, Glenn Murray and Tomer Hemed prolonged the Seagulls unbeaten start to the campaign, with the defence keeping a fourth consecutive clean sheet.

Credit is due to the likes of Bruno and Lewis Dunk for their fantastic performances at the back for Brighton so far this season, but yesterday it was Niki Mäenpää’s chance to prove his worth.

The Finnish shot stopper made his home league debut for the Albion in place of regular ‘keeper David Stockdale, who came off injured in last weekend’s clash with Nottingham Forest. 

Albeit it was an easy night for the Seagulls on the whole, the goalkeeper still had to stop the minimal Rotherham threat at times, and made some good saves when called upon.

Manager Chris Hughton was full of praise for Mäenpää; and he may even be in contention to start the weekend’s fixture away at Reading.

Since he joined the Albion just over 12 months ago, the 31-year old has helped transform Stockdale into one of the most potent goalkeepers of the division.

Cast your mind back to the Sami Hyypia era of 2014-15, and you’d remember a very different Stockdale, who produced some pretty bad clangers between the sticks.

Mäenpää though has helped develop Stockdale’s judgment when to come out, when to collect the ball in mid air, his positioning and most of all his distribution.

His work off the playing pitch hasn’t been brought up enough; and his performances in the League Cup and FA Cup last season weren’t bad at all.

It was only a matter of time before he got his league bow, as no player can remain fully fit all the time, and the 31-year old took his opportunity with both hands.

As much as it would please me to see Stockdale return in goal; I think Mäenpää should play, give him a chance to consolidate his place.

Reading at the Madejski will be a tough place to go and a good test for the Finnish goalkeeper.

Squad rotation is so important in this division; and it also creates good competition for places.

Should Mäenpää play and do well against Reading, then we know for certain we have two very good goalkeepers at our disposal here at the club.

 

BHAFC: Knockaert once again ran the show as Forest are brushed aside.

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Albion Analysis: #3 Nottingham Forest (H), 12th August 2016

Brighton temporarily moved top of the Sky Bet Championship table with a comprehensive 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest at the Amex.

Despite it still being early days, and other clubs playing throughout the weekend, Albion fans can expect the club to remain near the top of the table and in the hunt for automatic promotion once again, should that level of performance remain consistent over the course of the season.

On what was the fifth year anniversary of moving to the Amex Stadium, it was Brighton’s two biggest signings from the recent transfer windows that secured the three points for Chris Hughton’s side; Glenn Murray and Anthony Knockaert.

Murray may have stood out with his two goals on what was his second home debut for the club, but Knockaert was the best player on the pitch last night.

Knockaert admitted he felt extra motivated to perform well as it was also the anniversary of his brothers death; and the 27-year old wanted to make him proud of his performance.

Right from the outset, one could sense he was going to be on top of his game.

The little wizard seemed to cast spell after spell over his bewitched opponents, most notably Alex Iacovitti and Ben Osborn.

His conversion of Gaetan Bong’s inviting cross in the 36th minute opened the account for Brighton last night, and the Frenchman struggled to hold back the tears as he dedicated his first goal of the season to his late brother.

But it was a performance that Albion fans have been used to seeing since the winger joined the club in January. He has added a new level of creativity to the club, the likes of which we haven’t seen here since the days of Vicente donning the blue and white stripes.

Knockaert’s trickery and pace towards the Forest’s young defence caused problems for Phillip Montanier’s side all night, and once again he was involved in Albion’s third goal.

He led a Brighton counter attack and fed the ball to Sam Baldock who coincidentally laid the ball off to Murray to score his second of the night.

It was a terrific night for the Frenchman, and to top it off, he told media after the match he remains fully focused on the Seagull’s promotion push and wants to remain on the South Coast.

Hopefully that ends the whole Newcastle fiasco.

 

BHAFC: Bruno proved once again why he is Brighton’s best defender.

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Albion Analysis: #1 Derby County (A), 6th August 2016

Brighton and Hove Albion opened their Championship season with a respectable 0-0 draw away at fellow Promotion candidates Derby County yesterday.

It was a game which could so easily have ended with the Seagulls travelling back to the south coast with all three points.

But despite this, the majority of fans travelled home happy with the performance and were even more optimistic of the what the team can achieve this season.

With David Stockdale, Beram Kayal, Anthony Knockaert, Jiri Skalek and Glenn Murray impressing for the Albion, it was actually the Seagull’s captain Bruno who caught my eye most.

It was his first competitive match since being handed the Albion captaincy in the summer, and he excelled in a position he hasn’t been accustom to.

He was vocal and kept the defence in shape. He was relatively unchallenged by the Derby County forwards and looked very comfortable alongside Lewis Dunk.

His calmness on and off the ball makes him one of our best players technically and although he wasn’t bombing down the right flank like we all know and love, he was a rock in the heart of the Albion backline.

His ability to play anywhere along the back line is a relief in my eyes, as before the match I was a little worried that the creativity of Tom Ince and strength of Darren Bent would have made it a difficult afternoon for the Spaniard.

Lewis Dunk has been well in the media spotlight, with a move to the Premier League swirling around constantly all summer.

The centre half may be a good player, but as he proved last season, he can sometimes make silly challenges and get sent off when the Albion are on top. His dismissals against QPR in December last year and Derby in May evidence that.

I think Bruno may have had a word with the young Englishman over the summer break and told him to be more focused when making a tackle, and making sure he wins the ball. It paid dividend yesterday as Dunk produced a commanding performance.

That’s why Bruno is captain.That’s why he is crucial to Albion’s promotion push.

He is our leader and he obviously has the respect from all his team mates on the pitch. Should he get injured, I worry that leadership and experience he brings would be missed massively.

I dare say he would be missed more than our creative players further up the field.

Manager Chris Hughton was also very pleased with Bruno’s performance but is adamant that the club will look to buy a centre back before the transfer window slams shut.

Bruno’s best position is at right back, but it’s good to see that he can do the job at centre half and no rush to buy the right centre half is needed.