The best statistics from a record breaking Brighton 2022-23 season
More has probably been written and said about Brighton and Hove Albion in the past few weeks and months than the entirety of the last 122 years combined.
Such has been the interest in the Seagulls soaring into Europe that we are being talked about more than ever and in places of the world where the Albion and the Amex Stadium had never been heard of.
I am not sure there is much more I can add to the chorus of praise. So how about some cold, hard facts, stats and dates worth noting as we head into the close season.
In the 2022-23 season, Brighton had more shots on goal than Serie A champions Napoli and Champions League finalists Inter Milan.
The Albion enjoyed a greater average share of possession than Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Yes, that PSG with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
No team in Europe has managed as many shots against Manchester City. And Brighton had more players at the World Cup than Liverpool. Alexis Mac Allister of course returned to Sussex a winner.
Finishing in sixth place was the highest ever finish in Albion history. Brighton never dropped out of the top 10 all season, ending a campaign above Spurs and Chelsea for the first time.
In young Evan Ferguson, the Seagulls had a player whose goals-per-minute ratio was the best in the Premier League. 10 in 24 appearances has already sparked talk of bids in excess of one hundred million pounds next summer.
And now Lewis Dunk is back in the England squad. A deserved reward for the Albion captain who has led the club to new heights.
It has been a season of thrilling, attacking, exciting football that has left commentators and pundits impressed, and fans wanting more. And more we will get when the Albion step onto the European stage for the first time in the autumn.
There are little more than 70 days until the new season begins, after a US tour and Roberto De Zerbi’s first pre-season in charge.
What more can he get out of the squad, and who will be in it after his first summer transfer window at the helm when the season kicks off on August 12th?
We all know that Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo are very unlikely to remain at the Amex, and I wish them all the best. They have been a huge part of our success these past two seasons.
Hopefully we will have Solly March, Adam Lallana, Jeremy Sarmiento, Jakub Moder and Tariq Lamptey back from injury.
They will be akin to five new signings, filling the gaps and giving greater strength in depth to cover Premier and Europa League fixtures, FA and Carabao Cup ties.
Record £30 million signing Joao Pedro is already through the door. He is expected to be joined imminently by free transfers James Milner and Mahmoud Dahoud.
Other early summer rumours link the likes of Oliver Christiansen and Sacha Boey. Simon Adringa returns from his loan at Union Saint-Gilloise having been one of the stars of the Belgian League.
Beyond Adringa, there is a huge pool of other younger players to draw on. Cam Peupion and Jack Hinshelwood have joined Odel Ofiiah in being given Premier League debuts.
With the huge transfer receipts of the past year, revenue from the FA Cup run, greater TV income and £30 million prize money from our record high finish, Brighton have never had a bigger potential budget.
There is likely to be plenty in the coffers to buy the targets our universally admired recruitment operation identify.
We are still a long way from matching the spending power of the US and Gulf owned mega clubs, but better off by far than the situation three or four years ago.
A goal scoring line up featuring Pedro, Ferguson, Danny Welbeck, Deniz Undav, Julio Enciso, Pascal Gross, Kaoru Mitoma, March and maybe Adringa will be a daunting prospect for any defence in England or Europe – and they are far from our only threat to the net.
The relegation of Leicester City is a salutary reminder that no matter what heights you scale – Premier League champions, Champions League participants, FA Cup winners – it can all change.
I trust this club to do whatever they can to make success sustainable, so that Brighton avoid “doing a Southampton” to quote the term often used to suggest our success is temporary.
DeZerbiBall is high risk, and several teams showed how it can be frustrated. Hard tackling and an effective offside trap blunts our attacking style. Combine that with the ability to poach a goal on the counter attack and there is a way to overcome Brighton.
So, more work is needed to continue the huge leap in progress from the 2022-23 season, but who else would you want to develop the team further than De Zerbi?
There is so much to come before the Albion kick off the new season at the Amex, the Etihad Stadium or maybe even Kenilworth Road.
The 2023-24 Premier League fixtures are announced on June 15th. There will be transfer surprises, new home and away kits, a pre-season tournament in the United States between July 22nd and 30th, other friendlies and maybe improvements for us fans at the Amex.
Supporting Brighton has never been so exciting. Stay tuned for more…
Warren Morgan @WarrenBHAFC
