Brighton & Hove Albion v Chelsea & Hove Albion
Oscar Wilde once said imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. In which case, Brighton should be bloody flattered at Chelsea transforming themselves into Chelsea & Hove Albion since Todd Boehly took control of the Blues in May.
In no particular order, the following employees have been bought by Boehly from the Seagulls in the past three months as he attempts to copy everything Brighton do:
- Head coach Graham Potter
- Assistant head coach Billy Reid
- First team coach Bjorn Hamberg
- Goalkeeper coach Ben Roberts
- Club legend Bruno
- Recruitment specialist Kyle Macauley
- Player of the Season Marc Cucurella
- England Under 18s defender Zak Sturge
- 15-year-old wonderkid Shumaira Mheuka
The ransacking will almost certainly not stop there, either. Chelsea have been given permission to talk to Brighton’s head of recruitment Paul Winstanley about a move to Chelsea. That could happen within hours of full time at the Amex.
And who knows what January will bring? In taking Bruno and Roberts with him to Stamford Bridge, Potter has shown he has no respect for his former employers.
He will take everyone he possibly can to Chelsea, waving enough money under their noses so that they up sticks from Sussex at the first opportunity.
Leandro Trossard is about to enter the final 18 months of his contract. The Vampire of Genk would represent prime pickings for Potter at a reduced fee.
Brighton could find themselves in a situation whereby Potter whisks away the Albion’s current top scorer to Chelsea, having sold last season’s top scorer Neal Maupay towards the end of the transfer window, not signed a replacement, walked out seven days later and left his successor to try and navigate the first half of the campaign with just Danny Welbeck as a proven Premier League striker.
Who else might Potter sign? Alexis Mac Allister has just penned a new contract, so hopefully that keeps the Chelsea sharks at bay.
Potter said when Brighton manager that £45 million might sign you one of Moises Caicedo’s boots. Expect Chelsea to bid £90 million then to try and get both of them.
Lewis Dunk is a boyhood Blues fan and would almost certainly jump at the chance to move to Stamford Bridge. That would be the most devastating blow of all, for “one of our own” to walk out. Adam Webster has chosen a good time to have a dip in form if it means Chelsea keep away.
Then there is Gully, the tea lady, the steward who stands at the top of the West Stand Upper, the team bus driver, Jenny in supporter services… right now it feels like Potter and his new paymasters would take the lightbulbs from the away changing room at the Amex, they are that desperate to be Brighton.
It is hard to recall one club pillaging another to such an extreme. Perhaps Liverpool on Southampton a few years ago?
That though was not instigated by Liverpool first coaxing the Saints’ head coach to their club and then him returning to remove anything not screwed down. Not a bad idea that – reckon someone can nail Trossard to the floor?
And this is why Potter’s first return to Brighton as Chelsea boss is causing emotions to run so high. This is not Steve Coppell returning with Reading. Nor is it Brian Horton opting to manage Port Vale over the Albion. It is not Micky Adams legging it up the M1 to Leicester City.
None of those managers who left the good ship Albion for “bigger and better things” gutted the club of its staff when they went. None of them returned to sign copious players, as it seems certain that Potter will. Other than Jeff Minton following Horton to Vale Park six months later.
Potter has not just left Brighton; he and Chelsea have asset stripped the Seagulls. And that hurts, coming as it did at a time when it looked like the Albion were on the cusp of something special.
Under a manager who claimed to be invested in the club. In the long-term project. In repaying the faith Tony Bloom had shown in sticking with him through 14 home games without a win, three months with no goals at the Amex, six consecutive defeats, the worst ever start to a top flight season in Albion history…
It was never all sunshine and caviar under Potter. And yet as soon as got it good and a European Super League Elite Six club showed an interest, he was driving to Stamford Bridge quicker than you can say “learn and take the positives” or “it is unhelpful when our fans shout shoot”.
What sort of reception can Potter expect? Polite applause? Indifference? That of a pantomime villain? Or fury at the manner of his departure and what followed?
Nobody really knows. But there is sure to be a lot of passion running around come 3pm. And if that can be harnessed the right way, into getting behind the team, then the Amex could experience one of its best ever atmospheres.
Which can only be a good thing. Before Potter walked out, Brighton enjoyed excellent home wins over Manchester United, West Ham United and Leicester City powered by some of the most raucous support since the Seagulls won promotion to the Premier League.
On those occasions, it was the action on the pitch that lifted the noise levels on the terraces. It can be the other way around this time, with Albion supporters driving the players on to give a bloody nose to their former boss.
So far, Roberto De Zerbi has stuck by-and-large to the Potter model. Same players, same formation. Just a slight tweak in approach, using shorter passes, one touch football and against the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool, a greater desire to attack.
The second half at the Etihad Stadium gave a first extended runout of how De Zerbi may want to play in the long-term. Brighton switched to a back four with Solly March and substitute Tariq Lamptey pushed high up the pitch alongside Welbeck.
Trossard buzzed behind. It was almost a front four away from home against the champions. That bold approach saw Brighton player some scintillating stuff, dominating City and putting them on the back foot in a way few opponents ever do.
It needed a piece of magic from Kevin De Bruyne to turn the tide at a time when City fans were getting nervous at the prospect of a famous Albion comeback.
That 30 minute spell gives De Zerbi the perfect excuse to change things up from the start against Chelsea. Injuries too might force his hand; Joel Veltman is a doubt with the problem which forced him off at the Etihad and Tariq Lamptey too is struggling.
From the five games of the De Zerbi Era so far, we know that Brighton are more suited to playing against opponents who attack. Brighton had Liverpool and City worried. Less so Spurs, Brentford and Nottingham Forest who all sat deep.
Chelsea surely come to the Amex and be positive. That will play into the Albion’s hands. With space to exploit rather than a low block to try and break through, a boisterous crowd and players who you would hope want to prove a point to a manager who walked out on them eight or so weeks ago, Brighton should have no fear coming into this one.
We know the football Gods love a good story. So how about this? Potter is yet to lose as Chelsea manager. De Zerbi is yet to win as Brighton manager.
Throw in the fact that the Albion have never beaten Chelsea in a league game – quick history lesson for you there – and you have quite the script if Brighton were to win.
Time to show Chelsea & Hove Albion that money cannot buy you everything.
