Alireza Jahanbakhsh @ Brighton & Hove Albion | 2019-2020

[Nokhodi]

His agent made it clear, he’s not going anywhere.

[saadat_abad]

His agent made it clear, he’s not going anywhere.

And he shouldn't. Do you have the link where he said that by any chance?

[diz]

BHA "bought" ARJ when he peaked in the Dutch league. To "sell" him now that he's bottom'ed out in the EPL would be the worst possible option financially (Econ/Finance 101). However, if they rehabilitate his image this season (get him to be back at playing as a proper winger instead of non-specified "all field" player), then they have options to either keep him and let him produce for BHA, or sell him at a reasonable price to avoid a total embarrassment.

[scuderia]

BHA "bought" ARJ when he peaked in the Dutch league. To "sell" him now that he's bottom'ed out in the EPL would be the worst possible option financially (Econ/Finance 101). However, if they rehabilitate his image this season (get him to be back at playing as a proper winger instead of non-specified "all field" player), then they have options to either keep him and let him produce for BHA, or sell him at a reasonable price to avoid a total embarrassment.

that is so key, couldn't have put it better myself!

[Perseus]

Colombian winger Izquierdo has undergone more knee surgery. Bissouma was withdrawn by Albion from Mali’s Africa Cup of Nations squad because of a long-standing shoulder problem which also required an operation.

The consensus seems to be that both will miss the start of the next season.

[Perseus]

BHA "bought" ARJ when he peaked in the Dutch league. To "sell" him now that he's bottom'ed out in the EPL would be the worst possible option financially (Econ/Finance 101). However, if they rehabilitate his image this season (get him to be back at playing as a proper winger instead of non-specified "all field" player), then they have options to either keep him and let him produce for BHA, or sell him at a reasonable price to avoid a total embarrassment.

I expect Graham Potter to be more an adherent of Total Football and not enjoy the luxury of specialised players. The 25 man squad of fit players will not need more than four over 21 wingers, excluding wing-backs.

I pen Locadia as a striker, not a winger. Izquierdo is not fit to play though pre-season.

Trossard looks like signing for Brighton. Careful not to jump the gun as formalities to be completed.

Percy Pau, unlikely to be eligible for next season.

[saadat_abad]

Colombian winger Izquierdo has undergone more knee surgery. Bissouma was withdrawn by Albion from Mali’s Africa Cup of Nations squad because of a long-standing shoulder problem which also required an operation.

The consensus seems to be that both will miss the start of the next season.

Whats up with Izquierdo! more surgery? what are your thoughts on him? Do you think he's the one that will either be loaned or sold?

[Perseus]

Whats up with Izquierdo! more surgery? what are your thoughts on him? Do you think he's the one that will either be loaned or sold?

I don't even know which knee it is? I think it is the right knee. I do not expect Izquierdo to be fit to train until the season starts. For this reason, I expect him to stay but to fall down the pecking order through the absence of pre-season training. He is not much good if his bad knee prevents him from turning, which was was apparent in a home match when he went off injured near the end of last season.

[inarsenewetrust]

I don't even know which knee it is? I think it is the right knee. I do not expect Izquierdo to be fit to train until the season starts. For this reason, I expect him to stay but to fall down the pecking order through the absence of pre-season training. He is not much good if his bad knee prevents him from turning, which was was apparent in a home match when he went off injured near the end of last season.

Agreed. I think the signing of trossard has less to do with ARJ underperforming than the fact that izquierdo was a non factor last season and will also be for at least the beginning of this season.

[The Realist]

Unless Brighton finds a source of massive funding, they will once again struggle this season. Their problem is not with one or two players, they are practically a championship side. Don’t have a clue what Amex role is, is it just a name for their ground or they actually sponsor them.

Houghton defensive style wasn’t nice to watch but it had a reason, the man didn’t have players that can even compete with mid-table. If the new manager inherited more and less the same, it would be business as usual!

[Perseus]

Unless Brighton finds a source of massive funding, they will once again struggle this season. Their problem is not with one or two players, they are practically a championship side. Don’t have a clue what Amex role is, is it just a name for their ground or they actually sponsor them.
Houghton defensive style wasn’t nice to watch but it had a reason, the man didn’t have players that can even compete with mid-table. If the new manager inherited more and less the same, it would be business as usual!

Amex

Brighton was a railway town that built steam locomotives until they became redundant sixty years ago. Lots of people out of work and American Express (Amex) took over as the biggest employer in town.

Burnley, Brighton, Huddersfield, Newcastle and Spurs are the only 100% owned English Clubs in the Premier League. (Last season)

Amex sponsor the ground and shirts. I don't work for them and I don't understand the Amex culture. I come from a railway background and live in Sussex, not Brighton.

Potter hasn't got the players to transfer BHA over night. I can't see him suddenly becoming attacking w/o the defence leaking. Perhaps, I can see more possession football as opposed to long ball, which would be welcome if leading. More likely, he would be more Total Football and less rigid than CH. Players will be expected to play out of their comfort zones (if they can).

BHA will never be in a position to buy Coutinho and compete with the top 6 in the finance stakes, but by turnover BHA are now in the top 30 clubs in the world, with most of the rest of the Premier League.

My reckoning for the last disappointing season was if they stopped conceding set pieces they would be comfortably be mid-table. Alas, I did not forecast the home goals from open play would dry up, mainly because of the absence through injury of playmaker Pascal Groß, but also missing the composure in defence of Bruno and the finishing of José Izquierdo.

I think the consensus is that BHA need an experienced RB to replace Bruno, a left-sided defensive midfielder in a basic defensive (more so than 4-4-1-1 of CH) 4-2-3-1, a new attacking playmaker as Pascal Groß can't do it all on his own, an attacking outlet instead of Glenn Murray, and everyone to get their goal scoring boots on.

Just how well BHA compare with the other 14 also rans in recruitment remains to be seen?

Potter might get players out of their comfort zones and suddenly transform the current squad, although there is no transforming lack of pace and deficient technique. I cannot see any magic answers. I can't see Tudor Baluta being ready for the midfield playmaker? More hopeful of Trossard scoring five goals before Christmas.

[inarsenewetrust]

The issues with brighton are deep. I seriously have not seen a defeatist loser mentality like the one that affects this fan base. Last year there were many fans actually hoping for relegation because they wanted to have more "fun" in championship. Hughton had the same pathetic mentality. A lack of any ambition.

Last year Brighton deserved to go down by all means. They were simply terrible. Just slightly better than the three other garbage teams.

But yet, they seem unwilling to make some major changes to something that was clearly not working last year.

Tudor Baluta at least deserves a chance at DM role. He is a 21 year old, physically imposing, ball playing, exciting player. Part of Romania team that just smashed another bunch of overrated English darling 4-2. The other option, dale stephens, really should be nowhere near the premier league. And anyways, the potential upside to playing a young player like Baluta is sooooo much better than the at maximum average performances you can get from crap like Stephens. If baluta does well, his value will skyrocket, and brighton have a major asset on their hands. If he does crap, he is still young, and he cant have done that much worse than the alternative, and he will have new PL experience under his belt and can push on.

In terms of playing style, its unlikely as Perseus said that Potter can transform everything in the matter of months. BUT, brighton went into MANY games last year with the objective of just "keeping it tight and hoping for the best". They threw away countless points by starting games with this loser, pathetic, Chris Hughton mentality. Potter can at the very least immediately change that and actually go into all games with the objective of troubling the opposition and showing themselves.

But man, I have really never seen such a pathetic small club mentality fan base. Teams like Watford, Wolves, etc were in similar positions to brighton recently. But look how they have pushed on and improved. Yes, wolves have much more financial backing, but its not like Brighton arent spending money...Trossard for 18 mil on top of ARJ for a similar sum, Bissouma for the same, Locadia (PSV), Andone, Montoya(Valencia), Bernardo(RB Leipzieg). These players were not crap before they came to brighton, quite the opposite. It is time the club and fans take an internally critical approach and see how they can better bed in new signings, target players that are a better fit, and approach the new season with a more determined and less resigned mentality.

[The Realist]

One way to semi get out of trouble of not being able to buy top-players and raise funds is to invest in the Academy football and brew younger players. I guess Brighton doesn’t have that either, anyone?

[kian_khosh]

they're just broke lol. i bet a ugandan 7th division team has a better youth system.

[inarsenewetrust]

One way to semi get out of trouble of not being able to buy top-players and raise funds is to invest in the Academy football and brew younger players. I guess Brighton doesn’t have that either, anyone?

but they are buying players! They payed 19mil EU for ARJ, after add ons it could well be 20+.They paid 17mil EU for bissouma. 10milEU for bernardo. 8mil EU for mccalister from argentina who is yet to step foot in england and they just loaned out again to boca Juniors, 7 mil EU for montoya, 6 mil EU for andone, and now another 18-20 mil EU for Leandro Trossard. Then the young players mlakar, baluta, dreyer, Tau, another 8-10 mil. Not including add ons, that means they have spent around 95 MILLION EUROS in the past 12 months. For comparison thats more than arsenal in the same time frame.

We can keep acting like they arent spending money but thats not the case. In fact, they are actually signing some quality players with potential. But, they are not getting the best out of ANY of them. Many of them arent even regulars in the team bc hughton kept persisting with washed up garbage, "fan favorites" knockaert, stephens, etc.

And then if you look at the mentality of the fans like the ones that frequent our forum they are sooooo skeptical about any new young player which is hilarious considering playing with their alternative, fan favorites, got them to 17th last year.

Thankfully, I really rate potter and he puts faith in young players and real football. not whatever version of the sport hughton decided to go with.