Breakout star? It's season predictionspublished at 13:07 13 August 2024
Scott McCarthy
Fan writer
Where will you finish in the league and why?
Absolutely no idea. My suspicion, though, is that it will be sink or swim.
Fabian Hurzeler is either going to have Brighton challenging for Europe again and everyone praising the genius of Tony Bloom for appointing him. Or Sami Hyypia Version 2. Nothing in between.
Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?
Having been bitten in the past by the likes of Jurgen Locadia and Alireza Jahanbakhsh, I am always a bit wary of making signings based what they did in the Eredivisie.
But Yankuba Minteh seems to have brought his form on loan at Feyenoord last year to Brighton in pre-season so far. Newcastle's loss can be the Seagulls' gain.
What do you want from your manager this season?
Fireworks, a la Roberto de Zerbi. After sacking Gus Poyet in 2013, every appointment Bloom made until De Zerbi was someone he could trust not to go berserk in public. Hopefully Hurzeler is going to keep up the entertainment rather than be a return to the geography teacher demeanour of Graham Potter.
Who will be the breakout star in your squad?
"Then I saw his face... it's Carlos Baleba!" Showed glimpses of potential last season, a hybrid of Moises Caicedo for reading the game and Yves Bissouma for ball-carrying.
Hurzeler used a dynamic midfielder as a libero at St Pauli, who would push into midfield from defence when they had possession. Baleba looks tailor-made for such a role.
What is your one major concern?
Pascal Gross leaving. He scored or assisted 17 goals last season, nearly 25% of Brighton's total. How do you replace that? Him joining Dortmund is the most upset I have been since EastEnders killed off Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell.
Scott McCarthy can be found at We Are Brighton, external
