Brighton should take the FA Cup seriously to make club history
“I remember Brighton losing the FA Cup semi final to Manchester United. I spoke with Crofty about it yesterday. It was a great achievement for the club to reach Wembley. That should be our goal too, taking it game by game, believing we can beat anyone.”
“It’s a tournament, a competition where you have a chance to win a title. There are a lot of good opponents in this competition, but in the end, it’s only one game, and in one game, anything is possible.”
Wise words from Herr Hurzeler ahead of the Albion travelling to Norwich City in the third round of the FA Cup. Hopefully, words he backs up by taking the world’s greatest cup competition seriously. Because if he does, the Seagulls have a chance of making history.
That aforementioned journey to the semi finals two seasons ago came about because Roberto De Zerbi named teams good enough to win each game.
Brighton were hardly given a straightforward run. Middlesbrough away was an absolute banana skin, coming as it did just two weeks after the Albion were embarrassingly eliminated from the Carabao Cup by League One strugglers Charlton Athletic.
After winning on Teesside, Brighton knocked out holders Liverpool in round four. Next, they had to show they could do it on a cold, February night in Stoke.
By the time the Albion were paired with League Two outfit Grimsby Town in the quarter finals, they had earned an ‘easy’ draw.
Although fellow Premier League side Southampton might disagree with that description of hosting the Mariners, seeing as Saints were knocked out by Grimsby.
De Zerbi took Brighton to the FA Cup semi finals at the same time as the Albion were fighting for a top six finish. To achieve both – and be just spots kicks away from the final – was an extraordinary achievement.
At this moment in time, Hurzeler has even greater reason to take the FA Cup seriously than De Zerbi did when trying to spin European qualification and Wembley plates concurrently.
Brighton are not going to be relegated this season. Recent form and an inability to beat any opponent in the bottom half of the table suggests a return to Europe will probably be a bridge too far as well.
Conditions are therefore right for the Albion to have a real go at the FA Cup; even if it proves detrimental to the club’s final Premier League finishing position.
Give me 14th place and Brighton lifting the FA Cup at Wembley on May 17th 2025 over an early exit but ninth spot in the standings.
The bean counters at the Amex would probably not agree. For fans though, football is about the glory rather than a bit more prize money.
Nobody will ever forget the 2024-25 season if Hurzeler and the Albion make history by winning a first piece of major silverware. How many will remember it fondly if it entails scraping a ninth place finish and nothing else?
What are the chances of the Albion advancing as far as the semi finals again this season under Hurzeler? The bookies have Brighton as ninth favourites after the European Super League Elite Six, the Saudi Sportswashers and Aston Villa.
One of Arsenal or Manchester United is guaranteed to go at the third round stage as they meet at the Emirates. Villa host West Ham, meaning at least two Premier League clubs will be out before round four.
From a Brighton advancing far in the FA Cup point of view, Villa being eliminated would obviously be very handy.
But from a let’s all laugh at Graham Potter point of view, a castrating defeat in his first game in charge of the Hammers would be hilarious. Especially if he comes out and tells West Ham supporters they need a history lesson afterwards.
The third round draw could certainly have been kinder to the Albion; especially in light of who the other outfits towards the top of the betting have been paired with.
Liverpool host Accrington Stanley (who are they?). Manchester City welcome Salford City in a local derby. Chelsea are at home to Morecambe. Spurs travel to National League side Tamworth.
Every single one of those clubs would have loved to draw the first game and secure a replay for another bumper payday. Sadly, that right has been denied to them by the scrapping of replays at the behest largely of the Premier League.
Brighton, shamefully, were amongst those who argued for the change. There are too many matches apparently and players workloads need protecting from FA Cup replays… but it is fine to fly them off for pre-season and post-season friendlies in the USA, Middle East, Japan and Australia.
Back to the subject at hand… Norwich. If the Albion go to Carrow Road and Hurzeler names a strong side, Brighton should be able to overcome opponents whose main focus this season is surely on promotion to the Premier League.
The Canaries sit 11th in the table; although in the madcap world of the Championship, that leaves them just four points off the playoffs.
Norwich have bigger fish to fry over the next five months than the FA Cup. Brighton, arguably, do not, with a mid table finish the most likely outcome for the Seagulls.
When Hurzeler was appointed Albion boss in the summer, he said his aim was to challenge the establishment. Easier said than done, certainly over the course of a 38 game Premier League season.
Winning the FA Cup on the other hand requires only seven victories. And the Seagulls have shown they are capable of beating the best on their day.
Of the eight clubs ahead of Brighton in the FA Cup betting, the Albion have lost only to Liverpool and Chelsea. United, Spurs, City and Newcastle have been beaten. Spurs and Villa drawn against.
Challenge the establishment? Why not do it by winning the FA Cup, writing Hurzeler and his players’ names into the Brighton history books forever more.
