Gus Poyet takes Brighton to the new heights of the Championship in emphatic style
Brighton & Hove Albion finally put a stamp on their Championship status for next season, after edging another victory over Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night. It’s been thought for the vast majority of the current season that the Uruguayan manager would lead his players to the next level in league football, but having it made official is a boost regardless. The task isn’t finished yet however, as many players have commented, the team are now aiming to earn a further ten points from their remaining five league fixtures to attain a magical 100 point tally for the season.
When Poyet took over 18 months ago, Brighton were struggling for results and were on the brink of relegation trouble. Steering the East Sussex team was the first feat performed by the ex-Chelsea midfielder. However, Poyet really injected some of his South American magic we’re so used to seeing on the pitch, off of it when the summer of 2010 saw some inspired signings. Most notably Spaniard Francisco Sandaza was drafted in from Dundee United, and looking to his former stomping grounds, Poyet acquired Casper Ankergren from Leeds United, where he was once Assistant Manager under Dennis Wise.
Other signings making noticeable improvements to the squad include right-back Inigo Calderon, 21 year-old defensive midfielder Liam Bridcutt and the prominent goalscoring figure of Ashley Barnes. It isn’t just influence in transfers where Poyet shows his class however. In his first role as first-team manager, the South American has displayed great player management skills and turned a team that was struggling to find the back of the net, into league leaders, with a goal difference to match.
It’s the confident figure of Glenn Murray who leads the teams scoresheet, netting 21 times this season, on par with Charlton’s Bradley Wright-Phillips, and only falling second to Peterborough forward Craig Mackail-Smith. That being said, 14 players have scored the the Seagulls this season, showing a good spread of players getting good opportunities in front of goal. The team’s assistant manager Mauricio Tarrico even gets in with a shout or two, making four appearances this campaign but sadly failing to score. Tarrico played alongside Gus during his time at Tottenham, and while it’s traditions like this that may not be responsible for righton’s ascension, they’re certainly one of the factors of why he’s such a fan-favourite.
Brighton & Hove Albion are timing their promotion excellently, moving into their brand new 22,500 capacity stadium. The Falmer Stadium (or known simply as The Amex) will be ready for Brighton’s opening fixture next season, and will be a welcome addition in their hopes of mimicking former rivals Leeds United or Norwich City, in making a stampede with the Premier League as the destination. Chairman Tony Bloom commented “Next season, we will be aiming for the top six”. Bloom is very pleased with the turn-around job that Gus Poyet has seemingly pulled off at the south coast club, and obviously isn’t waiting around to settle for life in the second-tier.
So it seems as if the team will be ready for the 2011/12 outing with all lights green. New location, a great manager at your helm, the only thing missing is perhaps a better mascot. As we all know, apart from the Championship promotion chase, that’s another front where there’s always stiff competition. Provided that Poyet brings in another batch of good signings, I’d say it’s only onwards and upwards for this team. The manager has got top-level experience coming out of his ears, and he knows how to use it. If I were you, Nationwide Championship, I’d watch out for those ‘Gulls, they’re out to get your promotion spots.
