10 reasons to be positive about Brighton before the 2021-22 season
Fed up with the doom and gloom that lives on corners of the internet regarding Brighton & Hove Albion’s prospects ahead of the 2021-22 Premier League season?
Then you have come to the right place. Here are 10 reasons to be positive about the Seagulls as they prepare to embark on a club-record fifth successive season of top flight football.
1) Yves Bissouma
When Yves Bissouma was dancing to the tune of his song at the end of the defeat of champions Manchester City a few months ago, most thought that would be the last time we woukd see him in an Albion shirt. With three weeks of the transfer window to go, we still might lose him. But for now he is a Seagull.
2) Enock Mwepu
Enock Mwepu. What a player, what a signing – at least on the evidence of the Luton and Getafe games. If Biss does go then Enoch, alongside Jakob Moder, Adam Lallana and Moises Caicedo means we have huge strength in midfield still.
3) Players leaving
I have been sorry to see the likes of Jose Izquierdo leave, but the significant pruning of the wage bill and the £50 million for Ben White (equal to a century of transfer receipts) eases the financial pressure, if not putting us in the same league as clubs paying £50 million to £100 milliom for players. It has also opened up opportunities for under 23 talent like Taylor Richards.
4) Tariq Lamptey
See Bissouma above. Tariq Lampety’s injury may have been a blessing in disguise if it has dampened interest in him – and if he returns with that blistering pace.
5) Grahamn Potter
With so many managerial vacancies in the Premier League this summer, he could easily have been poached by Spurs or someone else. How good is he? Pep Guardiola despite his post-defeat tantrum at our managerial wizard in April thinks Potter is one of the best.
6) Tony Bloom
I don’t actually need to expand on this, do I? Covering £67 million losses whilst still investing in players, the Amex, training facilities and more. He has to be the best owner in the league a million miles away from the likes of Mike Ashley, Far East betting syndicates, or the US “Sports” billionaires leeching off Manchester United.
7) Everything but the xG
Yes, the strikers are a bit of a problem – but little else needs fixing if you look at the stats from last season. The potential for a top 10 finish was not missed by many pundits. What other teams would not give for Lewis Dunk’s presence in front of a keeper like Robert Sanchez, with Adam Webster, Big Dan Burn and Shane Duffy also in defence? Mwepu and Bissouma make for a pretty good midfield, too.
8) Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck
What a wealth of experience and talent Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck brought last season – and can do again if they can be kept fit. Don’t underestimate their guidance value to players new to the Premier League like Mwepu and Richards.
9) New signings
There are still three weeks to go and, depending on what you read, Marc Cucurella from Getafe seems a done deal. It would be Albion’s style to pull a late and unexpected signing out of the bag while “sources” continue talking about Odsonne Eduoard, Darwin Nunez and others.
10) This Club
Who else has such a positive club ethos, has been through so much and has come so far as Brighton & Hove Albion? A fifth successive season in the Premier League after almost being lost to footballing history 25 years ago. I’ll take that over being annoyed with another sitter over the crossbar.
