In the 15th of a series of pre-season reports, HarryfromBath assesses how the Seagulls have fared after narrowly missing out on promotion under Chris Hughton by delving into their forums. Reports on Bristol City, Cardiff City and Reading will be on the site tomorrow with the rest of the teams in the division covered between now and the start of the season.
"Something is wrong this summer and I can’t help but think it’s going to be a struggle this season. We haven’t strengthened the squad in any way and it has not been a good pre-season”, "Our squad looks strong and settled but I can’t escape a gut feeling that we are not quite ready.”
"Still struggling, with the scars of last season yet to heal.” Brighton fell tantalisingly short last season. They drew their final game of the regular season against Middlesbrough when a win would have given them automatic promotion, and then went on to lose in the play-off semi-finals to Sheffield Wednesday.
The new campaign has come around too quickly for some Seagulls. "I feel strangely flat going into the new season”, "I enjoyed last season so much and was gutted when it all ended that way”, "Our transformation last season with a small squad compared to the other top five clubs was compelling.”
"The biggest tick in the box we have for the coming season is keeping our manager”, "Chris is a great manager and a great man”, "I am proud to have such a fine man and coach as manager of my football club”, "He hardly criticised a referee all season and has been very fair and honest.”
The former Newcastle and Birmingham boss was voted LMA Championship Manager of the Season at the end of the last campaign. Fans have praised "his rapid integration of some excellent signings and his outstanding team spirit. I love the dignity with which the man carries himself”.
"I’m looking forward to playing Norwich at home. The last time we played them some of their fans were suggesting we got rid of him. How wrong they were”, "For a man who plays incredibly boring football according to Norwich fans, he has given us quite an incredible season.”
"I’m sick to death of our players being linked to rival or Premier League clubs, although I feared this would happen when we failed to gain promotion”, "We really are being targeted as a club that may sell its assets”, "If that’s the case then they have picked on the wrong club.”
"Roll on August 31st.” Several of last season’s star players have been linked with moves to wealthier or top tier clubs, including a £5 million bid for defender Lewis Dunk from Palace, a £4 million bid from Burnley for midfielder Dale Stephens and a latest £11 million bid from Newcastle for winger Anthony Knockaert.
The club have wasted no time in reducing the size of the playing squad this summer. At the time of writing, three players who have left the club are free agents, defenders Gordon Greer and Adam Chicksen, as well as veteran striker Bobby Zamora.
Defender Inigo Calderon has moved to Cyprus to play for Anorthosis Famagusta, midfielder Andrew Crofts has signed for Charlton Athletic and young centre-back Glen Rea has departed for Luton Town.
Several fringe players have been loaned for the season, including midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey (to Rotherham), striker Chris O’Grady (to Burton) and keeper Christian Walton (to Cambridge United). Defender Tom Dallison has also moved to the Abbey Stadium on a six-month loan.
"I expect Glenn Murray to be really keen to repay Albion’s faith in him, not least for getting him away from Eddie Howe.” The highest-profile arrival has been former striker Murray, who has played for Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Reading on loan since leaving the club in 2011.
Hughton has also brought in two young prospects this summer, 19-year-old defender Ben Hall from Motherwell and 20-year-old full-back Tyler Hornby-Forbes from Fleetwood. Veteran midfielder Steve Sidwell, 33, who played on loan at the Amex last season has also signed a one-year deal.
"Just a week to go to the start of the season and we are still short of that elusive striker, so I am a bit apprehensive”, "We need to strengthen, especially in defence”, "We need another centre-back and another pacey striker. Pull your finger out boys. The season starts next week or don’t they realise?”
"We have done very well bringing Lazio to Brighton. Ipswich had an odd game, Royale Union”, "We are a couple of weeks ahead of them in fitness as their season starts later.” Albion fell to a 1-0 defeat against their highly-prestigious visitors yesterday courtesy of a first-half Ravel Morrison strike.
"It has not been a good pre-season.” This loss typified what has been an erratic pre-season for Chris Hughton’s team, with comfortable 4-0 wins over Oxford United and Crawley bracketed around defeats to Fulham (0-3), Luton (1-2) and Stevenage (0-1) ahead of yesterday’s game.
"Nothing was really learned”, "We matched a top-class team for most of the game.” The starting XI (above) yesterday was set out with the same formation and most of the personnel who served them well last season. This is seen as the likely team for next week’s season opener against the Rams.
Fans aren’t happy with their striker pairings and many feel that they lack sufficient quality up front. Tomer Hemed and Murray together offer a physical presence and a target for wide players to find, but are seen as lacking pace and mobility, while Hemed and Sam Baldock don’t offer enough goals.
"I forgot how good we are as a team, working for each other”, "Watching us play Oxford reminded me what a decent team we are.” The Oxford starting XI (above) was similar to the Lazio line-up but eleven changes were made at the Kassam Stadium, so the final XI (below) shows their wider squad.
"This is the most important season in a long time for the club. We all know we need promotion sooner rather than later and we have as good a platform as anyone to work from to get it this time”, "This year the league looks potentially harder so we need to be even stronger than last year.”
"The likelihood of this season living up to last season’s epic journey is remote”, "In my opinion we are not as strong”, "I cannot see us losing just five games this season and hauling 89 points again. I’m happy to eat humble pie if wrong, but last season was a bit special and very difficult to replicate.”
"At the end of the day we did not get promoted last season.” While many fans are fretting about the coming campaign, some have set their fears to one side and simply cannot wait for the season to get going. "Even if we don’t go up this season, we will have many more enjoyable Saturdays than bad.”
"It’s certainly not going to be dull for the Albion any time soon”, "This season is my 57th. I’m willing to bet it won’t be the worst season I have seen and it might just be the best. Although it will have to go a bit to beat last year’s”, "If you can’t go into the new season excited, you need a new hobby.”
The busiest Seagulls forum is the friendly and knowledgeable North STand Chat.