The Guardian's Assessment - From nowhere to the Premier League

[Weststander]

I think it'll be touch and go. But, as things stand, I see no reason why Newcastle and Huddersfield are considered better bets than a team which has been a cut above most in the Championship for the best part of two seasons.

All three promoted clubs to go straight back down then?

 

[trueblue]

Pace? Knockaert & March
Strength? Stephens, Sidwell, Kayal, Dunk, Bruno, Rosenior, Duffy

Lots of people have written off the new signings without having seen them too. To describe our position as laughable is too harsh, it's not ideal, but plenty of other clubs have not made the quality or quantity of signings they were hoping for either.

We might go down, we might stay up, but whatever happens, I'm sure you'll still be supporting the Albion in 12 months time.

Good post. I think we're pretty solid, which is a promising start. We ARE short of pace though, by PL standards. At the moment, I think we just won't have the goals in the side to edge enough games. But it's only August 1st.

 

[trueblue]

All three promoted clubs to go straight back down then?

Can see Huddersfield struggling certainly. Newcastle will probably spend enough when push comes to shove. So we're pinning our hopes on some others having a shocker. Need Burnley to get dragged in this time and there's some evidence from last season to suggest Watford, Stoke and Swansea could be in the mix.

 

[Dolph Ins]

Got home and watched the video. I had small children while this was going on and did nothing. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who saved my club.

 

[portslade seagull]

They have it pretty much spot on. Maybe not 20th but bottom 3 beckons as it stands. 17th is all we need but that looks like a struggle

 

[attila]

Tom, Guardian film maker. 'I said to myself: Brighton's Premier League preview needs to be different because Brighton's story is different. It's incredible. I don't want player profiles, transfer gossip and moans, all the normal Premier League stuff. I want the story of the fans' campaign to save the club.'
Thanks Tom.

 

[Raphael Meade]

100% this. That video (which is excellent) shows yet again why I'm more than happy we haven't gone crazy in the transfer market. I would genuinely prefer us to go down than panic buy someone for £20m on a ridiculous wage who could easily get injured in week 1 or show no team spirit. The club got promoted in the right way and I'm happy for them to do the right thing now.

Spot on!

 

[Weststander]

100% this. That video (which is excellent) shows yet again why I'm more than happy we haven't gone crazy in the transfer market. I would genuinely prefer us to go down than panic buy someone for £20m on a ridiculous wage who could easily get injured in week 1 or show no team spirit. The club got promoted in the right way and I'm happy for them to do the right thing now.

The club's annual accounting losses escalated to what is believed to be £35m in 2016/17, possibly within FFP, so the club aren't averse to investing in players wages and fees (even when way beyond its true income).

Now that we have huge new financial resources, there's scope for bringing in top flight quality players in the positions needed, without doing "the wrong thing". No need for panic buys, as Winstanley and his superiors have had since 17 April to have planned and acted on getting new recruits.

Perhaps the remaining parts of the jigsaw will be revealed soon? TB will want more than anyone for us NOT to blow this once in, who knows how long, shot at staying in the PL.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

They have it pretty much spot on. Maybe not 20th but bottom 3 beckons as it stands. 17th is all we need but that looks like a struggle

17th is always a struggle, and at least half the Premier League see it as their primary target.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

17th is always a struggle, and at least half the Premier League see it as their primary target.

It really is a sad state of affairs that survival is the primary target for most.

 

[BadFish]

100% this. That video (which is excellent) shows yet again why I'm more than happy we haven't gone crazy in the transfer market. I would genuinely prefer us to go down than panic buy someone for £20m on a ridiculous wage who could easily get injured in week 1 or show no team spirit. The club got promoted in the right way and I'm happy for them to do the right thing now.

Absolutely, we have come too far to be over spending now. As long as the team is improving year on year then we have nothing to worry about. Any stint in the Premeier League is going to improve our financial standing so i am happy. I am confident we will give it our best shot and that is good enough for me.

 

[Paris]

Can see Huddersfield struggling certainly. Newcastle will probably spend enough when push comes to shove. So we're pinning our hopes on some others having a shocker. Need Burnley to get dragged in this time and there's some evidence from last season to suggest Watford, Stoke and Swansea could be in the mix.

If Burnley struggle at home they're down imo. Wouldn't be that surprised to see Southampton struggle this season. They can't keep on changing managers, selling their best players and then simply coast. It will backfire at some stage. Hopefully we'll be in the mix to stay up. Agree that the others you mentioned might have a fight on their hands too.

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

Fron nowhere to the Premier League - Guardian

Brilliant video from the Guardian

[video]https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2017/aug/01/brighton-hove-albion-a-journey-from-nowhere-to-the-premier-league-video[/video]

Maybe someone can embed this, I don't know how to do that!

 

[Dan Gleeballs]

Fantastic video

 

[Monkey Man]

It's fair enough to predict 20th place for us, based on the current squad and our limited top flight experience within the playing staff. I'd probably do the same if I was being totally dispassionate.

However leagues are strange things and there are always examples of teams that overperform and others that go on unexpected bad runs. And there are generally surprise results most weeks of the season. And with not very much separating the bottom 13 sides in the Premier League it's very difficult to predict who the bottom three will be this year, or any year.

 

[b.w.2.]

Those saying it's OK if we go down need their respective heads examined. It is good for nobody at the club, and especially TB, so stop and think before you post...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Simster]

If Burnley struggle at home they're down imo. Wouldn't be that surprised to see Southampton struggle this season. They can't keep on changing managers, selling their best players and then simply coast. It will backfire at some stage. Hopefully we'll be in the mix to stay up. Agree that the others you mentioned might have a fight on their hands too.

Yep, I think the following clubs will definitely be in a relegation battle all season:
Albion
Huddersfield
Burnley
Watford
Swansea

And one or perhaps two of these might:
Southampton
Palace
Newcastle
West Ham

 

[Bish Bosh]

Yep, I think the following clubs will definitely be in a relegation battle all season:
Albion
Huddersfield
Burnley
Watford
Swansea

And one or perhaps two of these might:
Southampton
Palace
Newcastle
West Ham

Stoke were in poor form at the end of last season. May be because they had done enough and then eased off but they could be in the mix. West Bromwich too, especially if Pulis walks and he has a history there.

Overall look at last year's table. Clubs way up on 46 points. Without disaster clubs like Sunderland or previously Villa it will be particularly tight.

 

[Titanic]

Brilliant video from the Guardian

[video]https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2017/aug/01/brighton-hove-albion-a-journey-from-nowhere-to-the-premier-league-video[/video]

Maybe someone can embed this, I don't know how to do that!

 

[Simster]

Stoke were in poor form at the end of last season. May be because they had done enough and then eased off but they could be in the mix. West Bromwich too, especially if Pulis walks and he has a history there.

Overall look at last year's table. Clubs way up on 46 points. Without disaster clubs like Sunderland or previously Villa it will be particularly tight.

Yeah I can't disagree with that, but feel that Stoke and WBA will just have too much about them to worry about a relegation threat this season. Stoke seem to blow hot and cold - they go on a great winning streak then fall apart. WBA under Pulis look very solid and they have one or two underrated, fine players. The only way they are going to be involved is, as you say, if Pulis walks out.

I liked the comment made yesterday about team spirit. In itself, it won't see a club challenging well into the top half of the table, but we all saw with Sunderland what happens if you don't have it at all. That at least is something that we don't need to worry about. You couldn't say the same for Huddersfield (given that they've got half a brand new team) and potentially one or two others.