3 Positives & 2 Negatives From Brighton's Season So Far

It was a summer of transition for Brighton & Hove Albion, who parted company with long-term boss Chris Hughton in favour of the up and coming Graham Potter.

There was expected to be a natural dip in form as Potter had the difficult task of transforming the Seagulls in to a possession-based side, who looked to win games extravagantly rather than grinding out narrow victories. However, while there were small teething problems, Brighton have coped marvellously well with the change.

The south coast side sit in 11th place in a very tight Premier League table, and are going from strength to strength under their new regime.

Here are some of the positives and negatives from their 2019/20 campaign so far:

Positive - Style of Play

While Brighton never dropped out of the division in the safe hands of Chris Hughton, their football often left a lot to be desired. Built to be defensively stubborn and difficult to break down, the Seagulls were uninspiring with the ball at their feet and often failed to give the home fans an awful lot to cheer about.

But the appointment of Potter as manager has seen a complete overhaul in style. Brighton are using the ball effectively and managing to hold on to it for extended periods, thus enabling them to control games.

The proof is in the stats, with Brighton averaging 53.5% possession this campaign, compared to the 41.9% they enjoyed last year under Hughton. This transformation has been a god send for those at the Amex Stadium, who are finally witnessing the attractive top tier football they have been craving.

Negative - Slow Start Cost Points

Potter has made a fabulous start to life as a Premier League boss, but his side didn't come out of the traps too quickly. In fact, Brighton only one won one of their opening seven games, a run of results which had put pressure on the coach.

While Brighton have improved their form recently, they missed some early opportunities to secure maximum points in several winnable fixture against the likes of Southampton, Newcastle and Burnley.

This doesn't appear to costly for the Seagulls at the moment, but may leave them ruing wasted chances come May.

Positive - Home Form

The Amex has never been a fortress during Brighton's Premier League journey, however, it might just become one this season.

Brighton have only lost one of their six league games at home this campaign, picking up three consecutive victories in their last three home outings. They sit eighth in the home form table, level on points with Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Their new free-flowing style has got fans back on board, making their voices heard from the stands and offering the players a much-needed twelfth man.

Negative - No Clinical Goalscorer (Yet)

Brighton have been very reliant on Glenn Murray to source the majority of their goals in previous seasons, but with the Englishman getting no younger, they are struggling to find a replacement talisman.

While Neal Maupay has made a bright start to life on the south coast, the Frenchman has only scored three goals from open play this season, and is Brighton's top scorer with four in the Premier League.

If the Seagulls can't find a consistent provider up top, then they may risk having the lion's share of possession, but failing to convert that in to points.

Positive - Emerging Talent

Whether it be smart dealings in the transfer window, or youth prospects from the academy, Brighton have a lot of young talent on their hands.

Aaron Connolly has been the standout performer in this regard, with the 19-year-old especially shining in the Seagulls' 3-0 triumph over Spurs earlier this term. However, Steven Alzate has also impressed, coming out of almost nowhere to endear himself to the Brighton faithful.

The new signings have also shown plenty of potential; Belgian winger Leandro Trossard in particular. With Potter at the helm, there is no doubt that these prospects have a huge opportunity to flourish under a progressive, forward thinking young manager.