I don’t think Palace fans have been this apprehensive about playing Brighton for quite a long time. Ahead of ‘welcoming’ the Seagulls to Selhurst I caught up with Scott from We Are Brighton
Q – Things seem pretty positive all around Brighton at the moment, is that how it feels to the fans?
WAB – Very much so. Ever since Roberto De Zerbi has come in and we have started scoring goals for fun, it just seems to get better week-by-week. De Zerbi has said that Brighton fans should dream of Europe which is a marked change from Graham Potter who wanted Seagulls supporters to be grateful to him for securing a 0-0 draw at home against Norwich “fantastic quality” City.
We are living through the greatest times in the 122-year-history of the Albion. Who knows how long they will last, but as my favourite former Palace manager Neil Warnock might say, we’re gonna enjoy it!
Q – What’s the realistic ambition for the rest of the season? Top 6? Top 4??
WAB – At the start of the season I thought finishing in the top 10 again would be a significant achievement. Most teams who get there for the first time then fall away the following year, enduring a sort-of second season syndrome. Leeds, Sheffield United, Burnley, Southampton… it has happened to a lot of clubs. Then when Potter walked out and took his entire coaching team with him, a top 10 finish suddenly seemed an even bigger achievement.
There is still a long way to go and Brighton do not have the deepest squad so if injuries and suspensions bite then they could easily fall away. Right now, you would say European qualification is realistic plus a good run in the FA Cup, although the Albion have to show they can do it on a Tuesday night in Stoke if they are to reach the quarter finals.
Q – Who’s been your player of the season so far? Mitoma is getting a lot of attention… Who’s going to be the difference maker for the rest of the season?
WAB – Mitoma has been a revelation from the moment De Zerbi gave him his debut in the 4-1 hammering of Chelsea at the Amex. Moises Caicedo has been good too and Pascal Gross is Pascal Gross; you can play him anywhere in the team and know he will do a job, create chances and pop up with goals. Seven this season when he has spent half of it at right back is phenomenal.
TEB – What I would give for 7 goal involvements from full back…
For me though, it is the Albion’s World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister. He has answered the question of whether Brighton could replace Yves Bissouma with an emphatic yes since being redeployed in a more defensive role. He never wastes a pass, he puts his foot in and some of his touches are sublime. Just a joy to watch.
Q- I get the Brighton ‘model’ and it’s clearly working, but from a fan point of view does it prevent you getting fully attached to players? I guess you still have Lewis Dunk..?
WAB – Great question. Everyone knows that Brighton will find young talent, give it a chance it would not get at a big six club and then if the right offer comes along, let the player go to bigger and better things. If the model did not exist, then players like Caicedo, Mitoma, Julio Enciso and Pervis Estupinan would not come to the Albion in the first place.
So, you have to accept that, especially when it has Brighton in the top six. Football is for all these guys just a job after all. I think there is an attachment there to every player; the interesting thing is what happens when they leave. If an individual departs on good terms and doesn’t try to force through a move, then Brighton fans are genuinely supportive and understanding of the opportunity they are taken. You will not hear many bad words said against Bissouma, Ben White or Dan Burn.
Marc Cucurella is disliked because he essentially downed tools to get a “dream move” to Manchester City, only to then claim it was his “dream move” all along to join Chelsea. Caicedo would have been in the same boat had Brighton sold to Arsenal. At the end of the day, Tony Bloom has not put a foot wrong in 13 years as chairman so whatever he decides is supported.
Q – If you had a Magic wand, who would you be signing either now or in the summer?
WAB – The emergence of Evan Ferguson has lessened the need for a new striker somewhat, but Brighton still look a little light in attack. Stick prime Glenn Murray in this side which create so many chances from out wide and he would score a frightening amount of goals, so I will pick that option presuming the magic wand allows time travel.
TEB – Ah Glen Murray back at Palace, or AJ even would be nice…
Q – What’s your perspective on Palace from the season so far?
WAB – Going from Wily Old Roy to Patrick Vieira and overhauling a playing style ingrained for many years is similar to Brighton through transitioning from Chris Hughton to Potter. It took two-and-a-half seasons for Potter to click at the Albion and you could argue he got the Chelsea job based on only six good months of results. Before that, there was a lot of rubbish and some desperate runs, like 11 games without a win and three months without scoring at the Amex. Palace are slap bang in the middle of their own overhaul and that seems to be reflected in your season so far.
Q – To the match on Saturday, where do you think the match will be won and lost?
WAB – De Zerbi’s style of play relies hugely on the wingers. They will run and opponents, flash crosses into the box, cut inside, shoot… Mitoma and Solly March can hurt opponents in so many different ways. The only way opponents have been able to stifle them is by defending very deep and double marking down both flanks.
That has happened a couple of times at the Amex, but no team is going to deploy such tactics in front of their own fans as they would be booed out the building. If Palace cannot stop Mitoma and March, then your best hope is that Brighton do not show up or lady luck conspires against them. Which, let’s be honest, seems to be a frequent occurrence in this game. I am still scarred by Palace having three shots on target in 180 minutes across our games in the 2020-21 season and taking four points.
TEB – Cheers Scott, we’ll take any points we can get, however we can get them at the moment!
