Leicester bring lessons for Brighton with them to the Amex

Brighton against Leicester City is a meeting of two of the best-run clubs in the Premier League. It is not just three points that the Albion can take from the Foxes, but lessons as well.

For any team outside of the European Super League Elite Six, Leicester have been the blueprint over the past seven or so years.

They have won a Premier League title, an FA Cup and been the most likely side to gate crash the big boys’ European party. All achieved with clever recruitment, a modest transfer spend and a sensible owner who loves the Foxes. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

In many ways, Tony Bloom and Brighton are copying the Leicester approach with a few little twists of their own – more data driven, more focus on the academy.

Last season’s record breaking ninth place finish for the Albion shows it is working, although not quite to the degree of success experienced at the King Power Stadium of regular silverware and European football. Not yet, anyway.

Reaching heights never previously achieved is difficult for clubs like Leicester and Brighton with modest budgets. Staying then is an even bigger challenge.

The Albion might well find that out this season. Most teams who achieve an unexpected top 10 finish fall back down the table the following year. The Leeds United, Sheffield United, Burnley, Southampton… and that is just from the past five years.

If Brighton were to finish ninth or above again, that would be far more impressive than anything they achieved in 2021-22.

A quick glance at the Premier League table tells you how hard it is to remain in that top cluster of clubs over a long period.

The Foxes will arrive at the Amex bottom of the table without a win to their name. If it can happen to the Leicester, it can happen to any of us.

Leicester’s current predicament has been pinned on a lack of transfer activity over the past few windows. Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha was open and honest enough to write a programme article for the Foxes home game against Manchester United, saying that they are having to be more prudent.

Srivaddhanaprabha wrote: “First and foremost, Leicester City’s overall financial position is entirely secure and underpinned by my ongoing personal commitment and that of my family.”

“The club is as safe in our hands as it has been every day for the last 12 years. It’s our commitment to that responsibility that drives every decision we make.”

“Sometimes, that commitment means making difficult, short-term decisions that protect the club’s long-term interests, such as our approach to this summer’s transfer window.”

“Building the club to a level where we are less reliant on player trading takes good management; strategic, sustainable investment; success on the pitch; and time.”

“The visible growth of our commercial revenue streams demonstrates that we are moving in the right direction, but the impact of the pandemic has been undeniable.”

Covid-19 has indeed hit the finances of most clubs hard, even though the mega rich have made this summer the biggest spending transfer window in history.

Further squeezing the Foxes’ budget is the fact that Leicester are looking to increase the capacity at the King Power, a scheme growing in price as construction costs increase. That has eaten into the money available to Brendan Rodgers.

Leicester spent just £15 million this summer on a single addition – Wout Faes from French side Reims. They saw Kasper Schmeichel depart – good news if Brighton get a penalty against the Foxes as we might actually score it now – and Wesley Fofana move to Chelsea for £70 million.

The lack of spend at Leicester is something to consider for those Brighton fans unhappy with the Albion’s investment in new players when the transfer window slammed shut on Thursday evening.

Srivaddhanaprabha and Bloom are sensible owners. That neither has broken the bank this summer is telling of where clubs not bankrolled by oppressive nation states or mega rich Americans are right now.

That they are bottom and Brendan Rodgers’ patience is being frayed serves as a lesson for Brighton – you do have to strengthen, otherwise other clubs overtake you and you will struggle.

Despite the criticism that has come the Albion’s way, Bloom has spent money. The first team squad has been boosted by five new additions, refreshing the dynamic and helping to keep the club ticking over.

It might have been nice for Brighton to bolster their striking options, so that the Albion are not a Danny Welbeck injury away from having no centre forwards with any sort of English or top level football experience available.

Are you even a Brighton fan if you are not expecting Dat Guy to limp off after 20 minutes against the Foxes with a problem ruling him out for three months?

Bloom – presumably with input from Graham Potter – though has decided the Albion could risk not signing a new striker. Brighton usually get these gambles right. We have to hope they have on this occasion, as not much can be done about it now.

Brighton have more pressing things to get on with anyway than looking back at the transfer window and wondering if they have done enough business. Like ensuring defeat at Fulham does not lead to a serious downturn in results.

The Albion under Potter tend to follow very good runs of form with very bad runs of form. After one defeat to champions Manchester City in 12 matches, the worry will be that Brighton do not win again for three months. As happened last season.

A flying start gave the Seagulls the chance to top the table in September. They did not take it, failing to beat Crystal Palace. That was followed by a winless streak which stretched all the way to Boxing Day.

Despite the fact Leicester are propping up the Premier League, they remain dangerous opponents with one of the best managers in the country.

And let’s be honest, it would be peak Brighton to lose to the side bottom of the table whilst sitting in a Champions League spot themselves.

Up until this point, Potter has had no cause to make changes. A large part of the Albion’s impressive start can probably be attributed to him sticking with a settled side, rather than whipping out the selection roulette wheel and playing Pascal Gross at left back.

Now though he has an excuse to change things up. Kaoru Mitoma has looked exciting in every cameo so far. If anyone has played themselves into starting contention, it is My Mitoma.

What about Tariq Lamptey? He was a bright spot in the 2-1 defeat to Fulham. How you fit Lamptey in is a difficult question as Solly March has been in good form and done everything but score. Potter earns a handsome wage for making such decisions.

Then there is Deniz Undav. Less than 15 minutes of Premier league football so far suggests Potter does not yet deem him ready for the English top flight.

A longer runout would be a big vote of confidence in the German striker – especially when so many Albion fans are worried about the centre forward situation.

Three points against Leicester would quash a lot of those concerns. Whatever the outcome though, there are lessons for everyone at the Amex to learn from the Foxes.

For Bloom and the club, how to break into the top six, how to stay there, how to win trophies, that you cannot cease investing in the playing side as it will catch up with you.

For Albion fans, that there are underlying issues at every smaller Premier League team that prevent millions upon millions of pounds being spent.

Brighton and Leicester have owners whose first and foremost priority is the long-term future of their clubs. Something to celebrate when the clubs come together at the Amex, surely?