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

[jimhigham]

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."​

But our injuries were just as bad last season when we were 18th at sprinting so... perhaps not?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

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.

Have you left for The Dell yet?

 

[MikeHimself]

But our injuries were just as bad last season when we were 18th at sprinting so... perhaps not?

Joao and Matt were sprinting, but still couldn’t evade being scythed down. “Lies, damned lies and statistics” to quote the erstwhile football pundit Mark Twain…

 

[Pliny the Gull]

In my 52 years watching. YES.
But topping that euro group, after being 2 down at Marseille was awesome.
This side would blow Roma away imo, that is the benchmark for me of the potential of the team.UTA

 

[jcdenton08]

Have you left for The Dell yet?

Game’s not ‘til Saturday, silly! Always trying to trick me! Reckon we’ll give those boys in blue a good thrashing, UP THE DOLPHINS!

 

[5Ways Gull]

The 2 and a bit seasons since the start of 22/23 have been the best of times to be a Brighton fan.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Strongest the CLUB has been.

Strongest the SQUAD has been.

But I honestly doubt there will EVER be as good an Albion midfield pairing as Caicedo and Mac Allister.

 

[Comrade Sam]

About bloody time, it's been rubbish glory hunting for the last 4 decades.

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

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.

And if we don't, Fab out, Cooper in?

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

We have the best players for sure. But i don't think we've hit the heights of the end of Potter’s 3rd season yet, let alone RDZ smashing our way to Europe. I am hoping we'll see that in the next few weeks.

 

[dazzer6666]

A couple of points on this:
1, there was a thread a while back on how there was very little intensity in training under RDZ, and it was the contrast between the match-day expectations and the laxer training that contributed to the injury situation last season.
2, this season we've got a far better squad, which means that there's more rotation in game, spreading the load more.

3. A massively upgraded medical team

 

[Anger]

What, no poll?

Yes.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Game’s not ‘til Saturday, silly! Always trying to trick me! Reckon we’ll give those boys in blue a good thrashing, UP THE DOLPHINS!

You can't beat a 3 o'clock kick off. Magic!

Godspeed!

 

[Mellotron]

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.

In some ways it was more fun. I genuinely believe that.

It’s just different isn’t it?

 

[razer]

By far.

The best thing about this season for me so far is that I don't think we have played well in any game for a full 90 minutes but are still winning.

When it eventually clicks for a full ninety minutes some team is going to get slaughtered.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Not hit the heights, yet, of the first season under De Zerbi but hopefully we will.

 

[Gabbiano]

Strongest the CLUB has been.

Strongest the SQUAD has been.

But I honestly doubt there will EVER be as good an Albion midfield pairing as Caicedo and Mac Allister.

Agreed.

The strongest single match day squad we've ever played with for me is still the one we beat Man U 4-0 with. Gross, Mac, Caicedo and Biss in midfield. Cucu and Trossard before the toys were thrown out the pram. That was a hell of a performance.

But the depth we have now is something else.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Strongest the CLUB has been.

Strongest the SQUAD has been.

But I honestly doubt there will EVER be as good an Albion midfield pairing as Caicedo and Mac Allister.

I'm sorry, but this reminds me of Lawrenson. Absolutely world class but only after he left us like Caicedo next year. Except for AliMac, I'll give you that sunshine

 

[WATFORD zero]

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

I can't help but think that's because we've never had a better deeper squad. Dunky can't expect to start anymore FFS. If you don't put the kilometers/sprints in, you're not going to make the bench

 

[drew]

I can only comment on the teams since 1975/76 season. Wardy's era was exciting but the best of it was in the lower leagues. We are now quite exciting to watch but mixing it with the best in the land. For me, the answer is easily yes, this is the best Brighton team.