Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk has felt the pain this seasonplaceholder image
Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk has felt the pain this season | AFP via Getty Images
What is behind Albion’s recent slump?
Brighton's 1-0 loss at Aston Villa yesterday continues a bad run for Fabian Hurzeler's team.
It's now one win in 13 Premier League matches and the Seagulls are 14th in the table.
While, there is some breathing space between them and the relegation zone, it is starting to get a little too close for comfort.
Often in these situations, the manager goes but chairman and owner Tony Bloom seems to be showing patience with Hurzeler.
The situation has completely divided the Brighton fanbase, with many adamant that Hurzeler should have already paid the price. There is though acceptance within the club that the slump cannot continue. So what is behind it and who is too blame?
Brighton's four best players have been terrible this season
For me, it's simple problem, but a simple problem that has proved tricky to fix. And the fundamental issue is this: Brighton's four best players have been terrible this season!
Carlos Baleba, Georginio, Yankuba Minteh and possibly one of my favourite Brighton players of all time, Kaoru Mitoma. All have been poor and I don't think anyone at the club could have predicted their drop-off would be so significant.
These four should have Brighton challenging for Europe and not hovering above the drop zone.
So, if that is the problem, then who is to blame? Is Hurzeler directly responsible for their poor form? If they club think not, then Hurzeler should keep his job... and so far he has.
We can only see part of the picture. There could be contract, fitness, family or tactical issues. They may not be training properly, it could be a personality clashes, it could be anything but it needs resolving. Some of this is on Hurzeler, some is not.
Pedro has not been replaced
Brighton take pride in their succession planning and based on last season it looked likely Georginio could cover the loss of Joao Pedro and Baleba would continue to thrive in the "Caicedo" role.
Georginio has two goals to his name this term and Baleba clearly wants to be at Manchester United. Mitoma started the season poorly, picked up an injury and now looks a shadow of the player who turned the world's best full backs inside-out for fun last season.
Minteh has just one goal and currently finds himself on the bench behind midfielder Diego Gomez and 17-year-old Harry Howell.
On the plus side Bart Verbruggen, Jan Paul van Hecke and Ferdi Kadioglu have performed above average this season but they are not matchwinners. Brighton simply cannot afford to have their four best players cruising.
The players you have are 99 per cent of the battle. You can talk tactics, systems, formations and Xgs but if Pep Guardiola does not have Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi then City are a midtable team.
Albion can only thrive in the top division if they get the maximum from the players they have. Somehow they need to do that with Baleba, Georginio, Minteh and Mitoma.
Identifying the problem is quite easy, the solution may be more tricky.
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