2017/18 Premier League Preview Brighton and Hove Albion
One of three newcomers to the Premier League this season, Brighton and Hove Albion will have one target only and that’s to avoid relegation.
Playing in the English top-flight is nothing new for Brighton, who were last in the old First Division in the early 1980’s. Having reached the final of the FA Cup in 1983, losing to Manchester United, Brighton were relegated to Division 2 and fell into Division 3 twice in what was to become a troublesome period for the club.
Brighton returned to the Championship from League One in 2011/12 and finished in the playoff places three times between 2013 and 2016 only to lose out. However, last season they clinched automatic promotion by finishing second in the Championship.
The Seagulls have a good team but question marks remain as to whether it is good to enough to survive in the Premier League. Since the Premier League was reduced to 20 teams, 29 of the 66 relegation places have been taken by teams who won promotion the season before.
Therefore, it is little surprise to see Brighton priced at 5/4 to be relegated back to the Championship this season.
There is no doubt Brighton have a good manager in Chris Hughton and a decent team but is it good enough to remain in the Premier League?
They have added goalkeeper Matt Ryan to their squad, who is a good addition and have raided German club FC Ingolstadt for full-back Markus Suttner and midfielder Pascal Gross. Both players suffered relegation from the Bundesliga last season and will be hoping for better in the Premier League.
It is going forward where Brighton may have problems this season. Glenn Murray finished top goal scorer last season with 23 goals to his name and Tomer Hemed also enjoyed a good campaign in-front of goal.
However, it’s questionable as to whether either of these strikers has what it takes to score 10 or more goals in the Premier League. If one of them can find good goal scoring form, it could make the difference between staying up and going down. Brighton are 4/6 to stay up in the 2017/18 Premier League season but with their current squad, have their work cut out to achieve that aim.
Brighton have a run of fixtures in late August and September which could be crucial to them staying in the Premier League. Fixtures against Watford, West Bromwich Albion, AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United give Brighton the opportunity to pick up some crucial early points.
If they are successful in these games, it will provide a platform on which to build for the remainder of the campaign and give the squad the confidence they have what it takes to compete in the Premier League.
The home match against fellow promoted team Newcastle United on the 24th September is huge. Win that and Brighton could be on course to finish above both Newcastle and Huddersfield. The bookmakers offer 12/5 for Brighton to be the top promoted club in the 2017/18 Premier League season but watch these odds reduce if they can start the season well.
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