New players, new manager… Brighton need time to gel
I am writing this review of Brighton 2-2 Nottingham Forest at 38,000 feet on my return from Madeira to Sussex. Sitting in seat 10A, looking out the window and pondering how and why the Albion dropped more points at home.
One of the issues is clearly that Brighton have a new manager and £200 million of new players. Quite a few of those summer signings have barely featured in the Premier League because of injuries.
It will take time for Fabian Hurzeler to get his ideas across and for all the fresh additions to gel. Having not seen such a big summer of change in both the coaching department and the squad for many years, maybe we have all forgotten that results are rarely instant from such drastic overhauls?
Listening to BBC Radio Sussex, it did not sound like the game was going the Albion’s way through the first 30 minutes. There was no leaf taken out of Brentford’s book. The Bees have gone 1-0 up inside 60 seconds in their past two matches. Who is Brentford’s kick off coach, I wonder?
An equally important question is who is Brighton’s set piece coach? The Albion have not been brilliant in this area for several seasons now, summed up by Pervis Estupinan taking a corner after only a few minutes against Forest which did not make it past the first defender.
Hurzeler has publicly stated that improving Brighton’s output from set pieces will take time. Losing regular taker Pascal Gross has not helped. Another reminder that patience is needed across multiple parts of the Albion’s game for Hurzeler to work his ways.
Much of the slow start made by Brighton against the Tricky Trees seemed to be coming from not thinking enough. Which is where the opening goal from Forest arrived.
Carlos Baleba carelessly brought down Callum Hudson-Odoi in the box when there seemed no immediate danger as the Tricky Trees player headed away from goal. Chris Wood made no mistake in sending Bart Verbruggen the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Thankfully, I had a large glass of sparkling wine to hand whilst listening to the game. A big swig helped numb the pain of the Albion conceding an unneccessary goal.
Brighton did at least start to create a chance or two as the half wore on. Georginio Rutter flicked a header just over, followed by an odd throw taken by Estupinan.
How a highly paid professional can throw the ball straight to an opposition player I don’t really know. Something to work on in training?
I was still necking the sparkling wine when the Albion found an equaliser on 42 minutes. Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall had just been discussing how many changes Hurzeler might make at the break to shake Brighton into life when Jan Paul van Hecke crossed from the right.
It found Little Jack Hinshelwood, who leapt amazingly high to power a header beyond Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels and make it 1-1.
“Come on lads,” I thought to myself. “Don’t concede again, get into half time level and we can go on and win the game.”
The Albion though did not go into half time level. Kaoru Mitoma was brought down just outside the box. Estupinan and Danny Welbeck stood over the ball, but there seemed no chance of Brighton scoring.
I couldn’t tell you the last time an Albion player converted a direct free kick. Unlike Forest’s James Ward-Prowse, whose reputation as a set piece expert is well-known.
The whistle blew for Welbeck to take and the next thing you heard over the radio was a fantastic roar from both the Amex crowd and Johnny and Warren.
Welbeck had surprised everyone by curling into the opposite corner with Sels not moving an inch. What a goal from Welbeck; a genuinely fantastic footballer who we should feel very lucky to watch in a Seagulls shirt.
The turnaround meant Hurzeler held fast and made no changes at the break. Nuno Espirito Santo opted for three substitutions, similar to his boldness at Anfield a week earlier in going for a win after containing Liverpool through the first half.
Johnny reported dark skies were forming over the Amex as the second half kicked off. How right he was given what was about to come.
Sels denied a Welbeck header within five minutes of the restart. Great combination play between Mitoma and Welbeck then saw three, four, five Forest players beaten but again Brighton couldn’t make the most of the opportunity.
Johnny and Warren began talking about how the Albion needed to take advantage of the pressure they were applying. Discussion then switched to Warren saying how long his football shorts used to be. This was funny as Brighton were just a few minutes away from having their shorts pulled down.
Forest broke through the high Albion line and substitute Ramon Sosa was presented with a tap in, making it 2-2 with 20 minutes left to play.
Hurzeler responded by bringing on Joao Pedro, who went onto be involved in referee Rob Jones showing more red cards in 120 seconds than you could shake a stick (or a linesman’s flag) at.
Morgan Gibbs-White went flying into Pedro right in front of the dugouts. Mr Jones initially did not want to award a foul, only to listen intently to his earpiece and change his mind. Gibbs-White was shown his second yellow of the afternoon, that meant red and off he went.
A mele duly followed in which both Hurzeler and Nuno were sent down the tunnel as well. No further goals followed all the drama and so it finished 2-2, Brighton and Forest both preserving their unbeaten records alongside the other two Premier League teams yet to lose – Manchester City and Arsenal.
Despite the undefeated start, I found it interesting that Brighton actually have fewer points at this stage than in any of the previous three seasons.
There are though plenty of reasons to be positive. And as my plane descends, I feel sure the Albion will not end up descending down the Premier League table as the season continues.
Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony
