The Brighton squad for 2024/25 is about for rejuvenation beneath new supervisor Fabian Hurzeler – however will they succeed?
Brighton’s latest success has been constructed largely on taking an opportunity on youth, so it shouldn’t come as an enormous shock that the person chosen to succeed Roberto De Zerbi is the youngest everlasting head coach in Premier League historical past.
Fabian Hurzeler, who doesn’t flip 32 till subsequent February, will likely be charged with making the Seagulls extra strong on the again with out dropping an excessive amount of of the fluidity that would usually make them such a potent attacking risk beneath the outspoken Italian.
In his fledgling profession Hurzeler has displayed an identical penchant for courageous, press-baiting soccer, one thing that these Brighton gamers are well-versed in, however with the perfect defensive report within the Bundesliga 2 final season, he additionally places extra emphasis on the significance of stopping the opposition from scoring.
They’re going to must maintain a couple of extra gamers off the remedy desk this time period, although, with new heads of efficiency and medication employed in an try to just do that. However what final season’s harm issues highlighted most was simply how a lot Brighton relied on Plan A to succeed.
Shedding Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma for lengthy intervals left them missing tempo and unpredictability on the wings, particularly with Ansu Fati failing to dwell as much as expectations, which meant groups have been in a position to stifle the Albion’s assaults too simply.
With out abandoning his possession-based rules, Hurzeler has proven extra tactical flexibility than his predecessor, which will likely be essential if the Seagulls are to have an opportunity of difficult for Europe once more.
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Brighton squad for 2024/25
Brighton squad for 2024/25: Fabian Hurzeler’s full crew
GK: Bart VerbruggenGK: Jason SteeleGK: Carl RushworthDF: Tariq LampteyDF: Igor JulioDF: Adam WebsterDF: Lewis DunkDF: Valentin BarcoDF: Jan Paul van HeckeDF: Pervis EstupinanDF: Joel VeltmanDF: Ed TurnsDF: Odeluga OffiahDF: Imari SamuelsMF: James MilnerMF: Solly MarchMF: Mahmoud DahoudMF: Billy GilmourMF: Jakub ModerMF: Carlos BalebaMF: Jensen WeirMF: Yasin AyariMF: Andrew MoranMF: Jack HinshelwoodMF: Cameron PeupionMF: Amario Cozier-DuberryMF: Imbrahim OsmanMF: Abdallah SimaMF: Mats WiefferMF: Malick YalcouyeFW: Kaoru MitomaMF: Simon AdingraFW: Evan FergusonFW: Jeremy SarmientoFW: Joao PedroFW: Julio EncisoFW: Danny WelbeckFW: Luca BarringtonFW: Yankuba MintehFW: Adrian Mazilu
Contemplating Fabian Hurzeler is youthful than a number of members of his squad, the 31-year-old can have so much to show. He’s recent from main St Pauli again to the Bundesliga for the primary time since 2011, however what the Texas-born German lacks in top-flight expertise he makes up for in potential.
Brighton’s key participant
Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Versatile, skillful and dependable from the penalty spot (he’s missed simply as soon as in 14 makes an attempt), Joao Pedro’s 20 objectives final season – essentially the most by a single participant in a single season because the Seagulls have been promoted – confirmed that the 22-year-old belongs within the Premier League. Will the Brazilian now be capable to take it to the subsequent stage?
Evan Ferguson scored six objectives for Brighton final season. That’s not an enormous drop-off from the ten he scored in his breakthrough marketing campaign, however contemplating the newest one got here in late November, the highly-rated Irish striker is within the midst of a reasonably prolonged scoring drought.
It’s necessary to do not forget that Ferguson continues to be solely 19 and lean spells are to be anticipated, however the teenager will likely be eager to impress his new boss and show to the world that he’s not a one-season marvel.
The temper
Cautiously optimistic. Until you appoint Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti or a extremely refined AI educated on Sir Alex Ferguson’s recollections, there’s a danger concerned when hiring any new supervisor, however one with solely 55 totally skilled video games beneath his belt feels notably daring (albeit very on-brand for Brighton).
If there’s one factor followers of the Seagulls find out about their membership’s proprietor, although, it’s that his selections are at all times primarily based on strong, data-based foundations and studious homework. Tony Bloom is a gambler by means of and thru, however he didn’t get to the place he’s as we speak by making dangerous bets.
And even when issues don’t all fall into place instantly, Hurzeler solely has to have a look at Graham Potter’s Brighton reign to grasp he’ll be given loads of time to implement his concepts.
Most certainly to…
Have a supervisor who will get requested for ID on the bar.
Least prone to…
Reply a name from Chelsea earlier than the switch window shuts.
View from the stands
Final season was a HUGE studying curve. For everybody. On and off the pitch, it hasn’t been an ‘simple’ time. The season needs to be regarded again on with satisfaction, but additionally some have to be wanting extra. The summer season switch window of 2023 felt like a mistake on the time, and impacted a big interval of 2024. It could possibly be the springboard for 2024-25 to be discovered from, not dwelled upon.
The massive speaking level is Fabian Hurzeler. The youngest ever supervisor in Premier League historical past. A really thrilling younger coach, who has loads of qualities to be likened to nice managers in the mean time. Regardless of being so younger, he’s so remarkably skilled. Beginning his teaching profession at 23, to turn out to be a Premier League supervisor by 31 isn’t any fluke. His model, power, and story has the marks of true Sussex success.
I gained’t be completely satisfied until Brighton are aggressive for a European marketing campaign. We have proven what we are able to do previously, now it’s time to show it.
Our most underrated participant is Pascal Gross – one of many largest likelihood creators within the Premier League since his arrival in 2017, within the firm of Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes and Mo Salah. Three of these are thought to be trendy icons, one other is a ‘good participant at Brighton’. Lastly receiving his first call-up for the Germany squad, the world is barely now appreciating, not simply Brighton’s, however the Premier League’s nice underrated footballers.
Look out for Ibrahim Osman, who has loads of hopes on his shoulders from Brighton followers. Spectacular, 19 years previous and massively direct. He could possibly be one other one so as to add for the ‘Brighton have finished it once more’ crowd.
The opposition participant who grinds my gears is Bruno Fernandes, previously Harry Kane. Dishonest and diving is one a part of trendy soccer. It’s nonetheless one a part of soccer I fail to simply accept. He isn’t ‘shopping for a foul with intelligent play’, he’s time-wasting and dishonest!
The pantomime villain will likely be Bart Verbruggen. He loves somewhat wind-up, not fairly as a lot as our former participant Neal Maupay, however on the again of a powerful Euros marketing campaign, a extra skilled Verbruggen could possibly be an issue!
The factor my membership actually will get proper is recruitment. Who else indicators an 18-year-old immediately from the Paraguayan league, who then scores the Brighton and Premier League Objective of the Season, ending second for the Puskas Award? No additional phrases wanted. The Brighton method.
The one change I would make can be to generally simply go for it, whether or not it’s signing a switch goal or wanting that bit extra in a contest. Roberto De Zerbi helped to shift the ‘profitable mentality’ at Brighton an additional 40 per cent. Targets can, and needs to be excessive. Win and compete, do not settle for any much less.
Our season ticket costs are usually not too dangerous. I can dwell with it. West Higher for one more yr. Nice view for a good worth!
I am least wanting ahead to enjoying Chelsea and Crystal Palace. The latter, for apparent causes… however Chelsea has turn out to be a newfound subject. Because the Graham Potter departure, most Brighton followers have struggled to resonate with something lower than eager to beat these with the cash pots. (Depart us alone… please!)
The followers’ opinion of the gaffer is that Fabian Hurzeler can have the final word backing of all Brighton followers. Did all of us notably know him earlier than? Probably not. Does that make us belief the membership any much less?
Till we see any cheap motive to not, no. The same model to Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi should not go away an excessive amount of adaptation for the gamers, particularly with a full pre-season marketing campaign. Most contrastingly is the newfound deal with set items which Hurzeler believes in, not one thing Brighton have finished properly with for years. There will likely be errors, and surely some intervals the place we must undergo some naivety, however at Brighton that may be barely extra accepted than different golf equipment. He’ll need backing on and off the pitch, from followers and past. Following a ‘mutual’ termination of De Zerbi’s contract, rightly so.
If he left, he needs to be changed by Kieran McKenna. The eternal contingency plans and turnovers makes this query a particularly troublesome one to reply accurately, although. As we stated earlier than, till Tony Bloom makes a detrimental mistake, us Brighton followers don’t have any selection however to imagine in what’s subsequent!
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