Why the bookies are confident the Seagulls will avoid the drop
Supporting Brighton & Hove Albion isn’t a walk in the park. Ever since Chris Hughton’s men climbed out of the Championship into the Premier League, the team has hovered around the relegation places. There’s always the slight chance the Albion may not be fortunate enough to avoid the drop.
The bookmakers are different. Judging by their analysis, there are eight clubs with worse odds when it comes to relegation. Is it time to believe in the Seagulls’ future? The only way to know is to evaluate the reasons the bookies think they’re safe already.
Key players are still at the Amex
Part of any team outside of the established few ‘big’ clubs problem is keeping hold of the players they bring through when they turn into top-class footballers.
Ben White is a prime example, as he’s now an Arsenal defender. This is the reason why it’s hard for Graham Potter, and any manager of a bottom half club, to stabilise a squad’s success. And it’s not as if the Albion don’t still have a couple of gems that the top-six teams are eyeing up.
Tariq Lamptey is one because he had an incredible season last term. Yves Bissouma is another as his midfield performances have proven he belongs in the Premier League.
Rather than offloading them and taking the cash, Potter has kept hold of the key players and doesn’t appear likely to sell at this late stage of the window.
Impressively, the club have secured the signatures of people who will add to the team, such as Enock Mwepu. The Zambian is called “The Computer” due to his ability to read the game.
Along with Bissouma, Potter should have at his disposal a strong midfield partnership that’s good enough to see off the likes of Norwich, Watford, and Brentford. From this perspective, it’s not a shock that the Premier League betting odds quote the Albion as 1/10 not to be relegated.
Albion are pleased to confirm the signing of Enock Mwepu from reigning Austrian champions @RedBullSalzburg on a four-year deal, on undisclosed terms.
Welcome, @EnockMwepu45!< a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BHAFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BHAFC ⚪
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) July 6, 2021
The opening fixtures are Good to the Albion
A 38-game season is a long one, which is why it’s not worth getting worked up if the first few matches on the calendar don’t go your way.
Of course, on the flip side, it’s healthier to collect as many points as you can as early as possible. That way, you’ll have a buffer when an inevitable dip in form occurs during the campaign.
The points taken at the beginning of the year can be the difference between finishing above rivals and falling behind them. Thankfully, the fixture list looks as if it’s been kind to Brighton & Hove Albion. For example, the side will take on Burnley, Watford, and Brentford in the opening four weeks. The other tie is against Everton.
Aside from Everton, the others are direct relegation rivals according to the same bookies that are confident Brighton will survive. Their respective odds to be relegated are 5/2, 1/1, and 11/10. Albion’s are 6/1. This highlights how tight the race for Premier League survival will be, so being well ahead of those sides in the odds is a big positive.
Maybe it’s time to put the same faith in the team as the bookmakers. Then again, where would the fun in that be?!
