A striking issue and how Graham Potter inspired tactical evolution at Brighton
Was the 2019/20 season a success?
Brighton’s 2-1 victory at Turf Moor on the final day earned the Seagulls their highest points total in the Premier League so far, placing them in 15th position with 41 points.
Their survival has secured a fourth successive season in top flight football, equalling a record for the club. Overall, Graham Potter’s debut season at the Amex should be viewed as a success, despite a few wobbles along the way.
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Hide AdAlthough Chris Hughton achieved similar points tallies during his spell as manager, Potter has founded a style of play that both entertains the fans and keeps clubs in the
Premier League.
The new strategy has been to build from the back, maintain possession and limit the opposition’s time on the ball.
Whilst Albion have tended to struggle against the league’s giants, conceding 11 goals to both Manchester clubs and Liverpool since the restart, they have competed well against mid-table sides, learning to control the flow of games and grind out results, when required.
What should be the aim next season?
During the 2019/20 campaign, no bottom-half side lost fewer games than Brighton. With 15 defeats to their name, the Seagulls only lost one more game than Burnley, who finished 10th on 54 points.
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Hide AdHowever, whilst proving hard to beat, the south coast side led the league in matches drawn this season, picking up a point on 14 separate occasions.
In his mission to elevate Brighton into the top half, Potter needs to address his side’s lack of goals. Neal Maupay, who joined from Brentford last summer, was the only Brighton player to score more than five goals in the Premier League this season - The Frenchman ended the campaign with 10.
Potter’s possession-based system would suit a natural finisher who can float in and around the six-yard box and poach goals from close range.
Brighton are in the market for a new striker as they need to start finding the back of the net more often if they are to continue improving.
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Hide AdAlthough Premier League survival remains the primary objective heading into next season, Brighton should look to gain between 45 and 50 points and enhance their status from a relegation candidate to a mid-table side.
How will their new signings fit in?
The club have acted shrewdly in the transfer window so far, signing players for both the first team and Brighton’s youth setup. Most notably, the club won the race for Liverpool’s Adam Lallana, who returned to the south coast on a free transfer last month.
Although the former England international is 32 and has struggled for regular first team football under Klopp in recent seasons, the midfielder should rejuvenate Brighton’s creativity in the centre of the park and provide the strikers with plenty of goal scoring opportunities.
Albion also signed Ajax’s Joël Veltman, a versatile defender who is able to play both as a fullback and a centre-half.
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Hide AdWith Tariq Lamptey and Martín Montoya performing aptly at right back this season, it is likely that Veltman will be deployed as a squad player at the heart of defence.
As Potter often reshapes his formation depending on the opposition, the Dutchman’s adaptability may prove an asset when he opts for three central defenders.
The club have also welcomed 18-year-old Jensen Weir from Wigan and 19-year-old Lars Dendoncker from Club Brugge and Cameron Peupion from Sydney FC. Although the trio will likely to feature in Brighton’s under-23s for the majority of next season, Potter clearly has one eye on the future.
What else are we to expect from the transfer window?
Potter’s selection headache at centre-half has only intensified now that Ben White and Matthew Clarke return from fruitful loan spells at Leeds and Derby respectively.
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Hide AdWhilst competition for places is both healthy and important, it seems unlikely that Webster, Veltman, Duffy, White and Clarke are happy to rotate for the role of Lewis Dunk’s defensive partner.
After attracting interest from West Ham and West Bromwich Albion, Shane Duffy is expected to leave before the window shuts, whilst Leeds United are eager to recapture Ben White on a permanent deal - Brighton have already turned down two bids thought t be around the £20m mark.
However, if Potter feels he needs to land a high-profile striker before the window closes, the club may consider selling Lewis Dunk instead, and use the millions to pursue a goalscoring talisman and possibly a leftback.
With Chelsea and Leicester eager to negotiate, Potter and the club may feel it’s time for the captain to depart, if the price is right.