Super Steve Earle
Well-known member
Vicente played for us in the middle of the championship, i don't think he comes into the conversation. He was brilliant earlier in his career, but not at that level when he was at the Albion. Lawrenson and Ward were brilliant, but of their time. Ward did most of his best for us in division 2, Lawro wasn't at his peak when at Brighton anyway, but regardless I'm certain that today's Premier league is way better quality than division 1 of 1980, players are fitter, better on the ball, play at a higher speed and intensity, are more tactically drilled, have the absolute best fitness, diet and conditioning regimes, have come through academies and train at state of the art facilities, and play against many of the best in the world every week. I don't think the division 1 teams of the early 80s would cope with today's Premier league sides.
Which is why I think the absolute best XI of Brighton players of all time would all be from the present.
Lawrenson may have been of his time, but I would say he was already at his peak with us before continuing at Liverpool. He was an absolute star defender, who outpaced and outplayed the equally expensive star player of the day Trevor Francis, and made him look Sunday League. That's why Liverpool signed him. Lawro would walk in to today's Brighton team and still be a star.