Brighton Season Preview - Seagulls out to avoid second season syndrome

 

Brighton boss Chris Hughton warrants adulation after guiding the Seagulls to a 15th-placed finish last season as they enjoyed a fine Premier League debut to consolidate a top-flight spot. However, keeping them afloat will prove easier said than done, but Brighton have been active in the market to bolster a squad to help secure a top half finish and avoid a drop back into the Championship. 

 

One to Watch - Jurgen Locadia 

 

Club-record signing Jurgen Locadia arrived from PSV in January, yet as with any January capture, struggled to make an immediate impact. Indeed, he made just six league appearances, scoring one and assisting another, but he’ll hope to play a bigger role in the coming campaign, either as the focal point of the attack or out wide. He did sustain a groin injury in pre-season, and faces a race to be fit for the start of the season, but the 24-year-old will be a huge asset for Hughton and Brighton once he gets up to speed. 

 

Best Signing - Alireza Jahanbakhsh 

 

Trumping Locadia as Brighton’s club-record signing, and pipping Yves Bissouma to this one, is Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who arrives from AZ Alkmaar. The Iran forward was sensational in the Eredivise last season, scoring 21 and assisting 12 to return a WhoScored.com rating of 8.20. Caution must be applied, however - the last top Eredivise scorer to play for AZ and move to the Premier League that summer was Vincent Janssen - but he has the tricks of the trade to live up to expectations in England. 

 

 

Area of Weakness 

 

Brighton conceded more goals from set-piece situations (21) than any other Premier League team last season and their inability to deny opponents from free-kicks and corners saw them develop a statistically calculated WhoScored.com weakness of ‘defending set-pieces’. Hughton has sought to improve Brighton’s fortunes at the back with the capture of Leon Balogun, but it remains an area that requires work if the Seagulls are to progress.  

 

Prediction / Best Bet 

 

Brighton may have finished 15th, but that was largely due to a poor run of form towards the end of the season where they won just one of their last six matches to secure their top-flight spot. They were just four points off Newcastle in 10th come the final day of the campaign and a top half finish isn’t completely out of the question as the season nears. They do face four of last season’s top six in their opening seven matches, but positive results against those around them will boost their chances of finishing inside the top 10. They are 8.0 to secure a top half finish and that’s not to be sniffed at.

 

Brighton Season Preview - Seagulls out to avoid second season syndrome

 

Brighton Season Preview - Seagulls out to avoid second season syndrome