Analytics have transformed the Jambos but it's been a case of diminishing returns for the Seagulls in recent transfer windows
09:28, 13 Feb 2026
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Hearts investor Tony Bloom
Tony Bloom was in town to see Hearts fire a late Edinburgh derby winner to keep their title challenge firmly on track and the 10 year Tynecastle plan ahead of schedule.
Given how things are going at Brighton, he might just be spending more time in Gorgie between now and the end of the season.
While Jamestown Analytics have helped propel the Jambos to the top of the Premiership table, progress seems to have stalled at the Amex Stadium.
32-year-old boss Fabian Hurzeler finds himself under pressure with a run of one win in 13 games that has Brighton sitting 14th in the English Premier League, five points above the relegation zone.
Fans are making noises about changing the manager, although the Telegraph reports that club chiefs are still backing the German.
They also claim that he has his admirers at other clubs, and that a summer departure from the Seagulls wouldn't leave him out of work for long.
And questions are also being asked about Brighton's recruitment, which some feel has left the head coach hamstrung.
Held up as the example to follow given their ridiculous record of unearthing talent on the cheap and selling for fortunes, the hit rate seems to have dropped dramatically.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler
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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler
When once Chelsea tried hiring their manager and most of their recruitment staff to try and replicate the success, now finding diamonds in the rough that become major money makers is looking more diffiuclt.
Jamestown Analytics has transformed Hearts. The likes of Claudio Braga, Alexandros Kyziridis and Harry Milne have been standouts in what could be an historic season.
The time will come when it's time to cash in on the inevitable interest in the star names. but Jamestown - in theory - will tell when that is and will already have replacements either signed, or lined up.
The profits won't mirror Brighton's or even Union Saint-Gilloise, but it's about a gradual levelling up through reinvestment and bigger financial rewards should come.
The likes of Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Alexis Mac Allister all earned Brighton huge fees and are the deals they built their recruitment reputation on.
However, since the signing of Joao Pedro in 2023 who has since left for Chelsea, Brighton haven't signed anyone who can guarantee them a profit.
In fact, they have spent neatly £250m over the last four transfer windows and don't appear to have improved.
Eiran Cashin was signed for £10million and despite advice against it, Brighton followed the data and signed him anyway. He's since made two sub appearances and has been loaned to Birmingham City then Blackburn Rovers in the Championship.
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Brighton & Hove Albion's Eiran Cashin looks on
£30m was dropped on teenage striker Charalampous Kostoulas to replace Pedro and while the club has high hopes for his potential, two goals for that amount of money is a poor return.
Club captain and dressing room stalwart Ryan Dunk was sold to Nottingham Forest in January and his response to fans singing "you're getting sacked in the morning" to the German after defeat to Crystal Palace was telling: I understand their frustration, but I don’t think it’s down to him.”
In November 2024, Bright let the majority of their full-time recruitment scouts go as part of a restructure. Former Hearts defender and Brighton sporting director Davie Weir has also since departed, now with Strasbourg.
The Telegraph claims that the restructure has resulted in less "eyes-on" scouting and profiling of players to suit the club's style of play and a bigger reliance in purely data. Background checks and personality reports are still thought to be done.
The Hearts operation is of course much smaller and things are going better than anyone would have predicted at the start of the season.
But Brighton's current struggles serve as a reminder that analytics are no silver bullet that guarantee success, on or off the pitch.
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