Brighton sacked manager Chris Hughton in the offseason and appointed Swansea City manager Graham Potter in his place. Hughton had spent four and a half seasons at the held of Brighton leading them to Premier League promotion and two consecutive seasons of survival.
However, Hughton’s work with the club had hit its peak and the manager was dismissed following an awful run of 23 league matches and just three victories.
The former manager tallied a respectable 40.9% win rate while in charge of the Seagulls. But better was expected, or hoped for, with Graham Potter appointed as boss.
Graham Potter aiming for better
Brighton go into round 19 of the Premier League season on Boxing Day with 20 points from 54 taken. It is a respectable number that has Brighton in 13th place in the division.
The problem with the points total is Brighton were one point better off this time last season. In fact, Brighton had collected 21 points after 18 matchdays. It took 17 matchdays to get to the 20-point mark this term for potter and company.
Not only did Brighton have one more point this time last term but the club was in the same identical position in the table. Brighton were 13th headed into round 19, a spot they occupied until after matchday 25 when the wheels began to come off for Hughton.
To say Brighton are not any better this season would be incorrect. Despite the points total and table position being identical, Brighton have looked a far more capable team on the pitch. Hughton was only able to win twice in the second half of the 2018-19 season. Those wins came against Huddersfield Town and Crystal Palace, two teams that were fighting relegation as well.
Between New Year’s Day and the final match of the Premier League season, Hughton collected a mere 11 points from 54 available. There is hope that Potter has Brighton on the right track. He did well with Swansea City a season ago after taking Swedish side Ostersunds from obscurity to win the Swedish Cup.
The play at Brighton was so positive in the early stages of the season that the club gave Potter an early contract extension.
The points and league position should be ignored for the time being and Potter judged on the team’s final Premier League position. So far, Brighton have been more enjoyable to watch and perhaps, the points will come in the second half of the season.
