Under-fire Brighton boss said he is to blame for recent results but also stressed players must take responsibility for their own performances
Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk said the players "let the gaffer down" after the defeat to Crystal Palace.
Brighton have been poor of late and the home loss to old rivals Crystal Palace saw them slip to 14th in the table.
It's just one win the last 12 Premier League matches and it does not get easier for Albion as they go to third place Aston Villa on Wednesday, swiftly followed by a Valentine's day FA Cup clash at Liverpool on Saturday, 8pm.
There's little love lost between the fans and Hurzeler at the moment but some players have badly under-performed for Hurzeler this term.
Perhaps the head coach has failed to get the most from them, or should these players take their portion of the blame?
Carlos Baleba
What a nightmare season for Brighton, Baleba and Hurzeler. The Cameroon international was excellent last term and a key reason why Brighton finished a very respectable eighth in Hurzeler’s first campaign.
Baleba clearly wanted to go to Man United in the summer and has not been the same player since. He has lost focus and has been more hinderance than help in the midfield this term.
He looked okay at Fulham and against Everton after the Afcon but was awful against Palace. Hurzeler has not been able to solve the Baleba mystery this season and, all things considered, he'd be better off elsewhere.
Yankuba Minteh
The explosive £30m winger had an encouraging first season after his arrival from Newcastle but he has been off the boil this campaign and his numbers show that.
The Gambian has just one goal this term and he's player at the start of the season that should have been looking at double figures. He's more than capable of doing that.
I was surprised he didn't start against Palace and it's unclear if that was a fitness or tactical issue as Hurzeler went with 17-year-old Harry Howell. Minteh is player of huge potential but this season, hugely disappointing.
Georginio
The £40m record signing looks shot of all confidence. His favoured position is the No 10 role but at the moment he would struggle to get into most other Premier League teams. The 23-year-old has just two Premier League goals and never really looked like adding to that tally in the last two home matches against Everton and Palace.
His issue is probably easier to solve than Baleba as he seems fully committed and focussed. But he has not stepped up after the Joao Pedro exit and that has been a huge problem for Hurzeler and created an over-reliance on 35-year-old Danny Welbeck.
Kaoru Mitoma
The Japan international has struggled with injuries this term but even when fully fit, he has not hit the levels of previous seasons.
Against Palace he delivered the odd good moment - his cross that almost set up De Cuyper's first half chance was the highlight - but overall he was quite poor and doesn't have the drive Brighton need right now.
Tommy Watson was brought in to add competition but he's now at Millwall on loan. Two goals is poor return and like Minteh, he should be hitting double figures.
Brajan Gruda
So much potential and so little impact. Still, his loan to RB Leipzig caught many by surprise as Gruda probably had his best performance of the campaign in the 2-1 FA Cup win at Man United last month.
His Premier League output has been poor though with just one goal and one assist from 18 appearances. Gruda has had his chances but failed to really grasp them.
Quite what happens to him this summer is uncertain but he has not had an easy time at Brighton following his £25m arrival in the summer of 2024.
Apparently Gruda returned to Germany in an attempt to force his way into the World Cup squad. Hurzeler now has the equalling unconvincing Matt O'Riley instead.
Hurzeler: Players have to take ownership
After the Crystal Palace defeat, I asked Hurzeler why Georginio, Mitoma and Minteh have struggled to hit their numbers this season.
“I think we don't do anything tactically different to last season,” said the head coach to Sussex World.
“So we still have the same principles, and therefore I think I have to take responsibility, the players have to take ownership as well.
“They have to step up, they have to find a way to get out of this bad run individually and as a group.
“I will help them, we will help them, and we will stick together.”
Continue Reading