Graham Potter: Will he Push Brighton to Europe in the coming years?
Brighton and Hove Albion have been one of the surprise packages in the Premier League over the last two years.
In 2019, they finished 17th. This despite having looked like relegation candidates during the second half of the season before a late-season surge. In 2020, they finished 15th after a rocky start to their campaign.
However, this season, Brighton is ensconced at 11th place in the table, with one win and one draw from their last three games. It is still very early days for them, but no one can deny that they have made a strong start to the campaign so far.
Who is Graham Potter?
Graham Potter is the current manager of Brighton, a team in the English Premier League. He was born on May 20th, 1975.
Potter played for multiple teams as a defender and midfielder throughout his career before becoming a manager. He played for Birmingham City from 1992 to 1993 and Stoke City from 1993 to 1996.
From 1997 to 2000, he played for West Bromwich Albion. He then played for York City from 2000 to 2003 and Boston United from 2003 to 2004. He finished his playing career at Macclesfield Town from 2004 to 2005.
He started his managerial career at Östersunds FK in 2011. He led the team to win the Swedish Cup and qualify for the Europa League group stage in 2017.
In 2018, he took over as the manager of Swansea City but could not save them from relegation to the second division.
In 2019, he joined Brighton as their manager with a four-year contract. Upon becoming the manager, Brighton’s betting odds have changed since the team has become stronger. You can learn more about these odds at 10bet Africa and bet on games you think Brighton are sure to win.
Is Graham Potter right For Brighton?
Well, for one, this is not only a manager who knows how to win and build a winning team, but he also understands what it takes to succeed as an individual player.
However, those who followed his career as a professional footballer might have noticed that Potter seemed to have quite a knack for coming into troubled situations and giving them a lift.
Has Brighton improved under Graham Potter?
In a season where the Premier League has seen almost every team convert to a modern possession-based style of play, Graham Potter’s Brighton & Hove Albion have been perhaps the most frustrating. The Seagulls were direct, playing long passes and lacking creativity in possession.
Brighton had the second-lowest pass completion percentage in the league at 71.3%, only bettering Cardiff City’s 70.3%. However, Potter’s Brighton has improved since he arrived at the club’s helm.
They are now moving the ball more effectively, transitioning to a higher tempo, and creating more chances than they did under Chris Hughton.
Will Brighton see European action next season?
Brighton and Hove Albion were promoted to the Premier League for the 2017-2018 season. The Seagulls were one of the pre-season favourites for relegation this season but have proved their doubters wrong after a solid first half of the season that has seen them sitting in 11th place with the campaign almost ending.
Before this season, many people felt that Brighton would be lucky to survive in the top tier, with some pundits even predicting that they could be relegated as low as dead last.
That is not likely to be the case, though, with Potter’s side looking at home in the top flight and proving themselves more than capable of competing against some of England’s biggest clubs.
For a club that was promoted to the Premier League only two seasons ago, Brighton & Hove Albion have come a long way. The Seagulls have become one of the most impressive teams in the English league, surpassing all expectations.
The team has been performing excellently this season under manager Graham Potter. Although their form has dipped, they’re showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
They also have a coach willing to take risks and put his faith in young players, making him very popular among fans and players alike.
Brighton will need to maintain their form to make it into Europe next season. If they can continue to play at this level at the start of next season, there’s no doubt they’ll be competing against some of Europe’s biggest teams in the years to come.
Final thoughts
Brighton and Hove Albion have enjoyed phenomenal success this season, and they can finish the campaign in the top half of the table.
Their meteoric rise in the standings has been matched by excellent performances on the pitch and a general sense of positivity throughout their fanbase.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that many have speculated whether Brighton will next be seen taking on Europe’s elite in continental competition. While there are no guarantees about what the future holds, Potter certainly seems like the right man to take them forward.
