[Albion] Is This the Best Brighton Have Ever Been?

[Bozza]

Decent Opta piece on us, in which this really stood out...

"In the Premier League this season, only Ipswich players have covered more ground than Brighton’s, who are averaging 111.9 km per match. Brighton players also rank fifth for sprints per game this season, with 152.2, having ranked 18th of 20 teams last season, with 123.1 sprints per game. That increase of 29.1 sprints per game – the biggest of all Premier League teams – is clearly having positive effects on the team’s results, but there’s also a chance it’s playing a part in their injury problems."​

Is This the Best Brighton Have Ever Been? | Opta Analyst

Brighton have made the best start to a top-flight campaign in their history. Are they even better this season under Fabian Hürzeler?

theanalyst.com

 

[Jeremiah]

Can I answer the question after the Brentford game ?

 

[Peppermint Tea]

In my 45 years of being a fan, yes.

Still pinching myself.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

In my 55 years of watching them, yes, without a doubt.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

"In Fabian Hürzeler, the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history,..."

Crikey. Who knew?

 

[jcdenton08]

Tricky one.

We scored two beautiful goals on Saturday - goals which if Barcelona/Manchester City et al scored would be raved about. But our overall play in the game - and most of our games this season - is a lot more pragmatic generally (this is a good thing) than under RdZ.

We played some brilliant stuff right at the end of Potter’s reign, and season one of RdZ we took the league by storm with RdZ’s fresh ideas and attacking intent.

On balance I’d have to say yes - because although we perhaps aren’t as gung ho as RdZ, or as stoic as Hughton (or at times Potter); we’re finding ways to win games.

I think a really comfortable, professional 2-0 win on Friday would confirm the above, but this is the Albion against a bottom side at home. A poor draw or defeat and I’ll change my mind again.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Have to look at it over a season to answer if this is the best ever.

The only competition was the one from two years ago with macallister and caicedo in the midfield

 

[Mustafa II]

By a country mile. Predict we are going to beat our previous highest ever finish of 6th this season.

The squad with Caicedo & Mac Allister was a very strong one - but now that Baleba has become a worldie, and we have heavily invested in most positions, we have considerably better squad depth than that squad had.

Also taking to account the strength we have in all other key positions now - GK, centre back (Van Hecke), wings (numerous), Forwards.... we are able to compete with the very best.

It's also worth noting than we have gone from a very rigid, stubborn and sometimes negative manager - to a flexible, adaptable and positive manager... which is the icing on the cake on this, what is surely going to be, the greatest ever Albion side to date.

 

[Mellotron]

I think overall, yes.

 

[HangletonGull]

In my 33 years yes

 

[scoobiewhite]

Best in my 40 years

 

[WATFORD zero]

57 years and Yes

 

[Soul Finger]

Yes, unequivocally.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Yes - 50 years for me this year, and without some amazing football with some very high quality players.

I would LOVE to be playng European football again next season.

 

[Guinness Boy]

For sure at the moment. Let's see if we can go the whole season, get back into Europe and do even better. Then it will be unequivocally so.

Of course, I tell my son it was just as much fun going to Port Vale, Barnsley, Darlington and Donny.

 

[Questions]

By a country mile. Predict we are going to beat our previous highest ever finish of 6th this season.

The squad with Caicedo & Mac Allister was a very strong one - but now that Baleba has become a worldie, and we have heavily invested in most positions, we have considerably better squad depth than that squad had.

Also taking to account the strength we have in all other key positions now - GK, centre back (Van Hecke), wings (numerous), Forwards.... we are able to compete with the very best.

It's also worth noting than we have gone from a very rigid, stubborn and sometimes negative manager - to a flexible, adaptable and positive manager... which is the icing on the cake on this, what is surely going to be, the greatest ever Albion side to date.

I’d hold on a bit with Baleba being a ‘worldie’

 

[Triggaaar]

Decent Opta piece on us, in which this really stood out...

"In the Premier League this season, only Ipswich players have covered more ground than Brighton’s, who are averaging 111.9 km per match. Brighton players also rank fifth for sprints per game this season, with 152.2, having ranked 18th of 20 teams last season, with 123.1 sprints per game.​

I wonder if we averaged so little all of last season, or if it was just at the end when we gave up.

 

[SeagullsoverLondon]

It could all change of course but I can't remember ever before being disappointed that we lost to Liverpool. And predicting we would win 2-1 against Man City, not just out of blind loyalty, but rather actually believing we could beat them.

Friday could of course prove how shallow the optimism really is, but what has impressed me more than anything is how Fab has already started to learn from his mistakes earlier in the season (suicidal high line v Chelsea).

And he's only 31! (Bet you didn't know that)

 

[studio150]

We all know what happens when we all get excited, the team have a chance to go second in the PL, are playing the team in last place at home.

We all scream YES, and then lose 1-0 with the bottom team only have one attempt on goal all game.

So I'm going to defer answering until Saturday.

 

[Triggaaar]

Have to look at it over a season to answer if this is the best ever.

The only competition was the one from two years ago with macallister and caicedo in the midfield

This. Too early to tell if this is the best.