Andy Naylor

Brighton need four of their big names to step up ahead of tough run Fabian Hurzeler needs Carlos Baleba, Kaoru Mitoma, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck to find their best form

Three big games, four big weapons.
Brighton’s main players need to step up. #BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

‘No pressure’ on Fabian Hurzeler to play Charalampos Kostoulas, says Brighton owner The 18-year-old summer signing has only featured in Brighton's Premier League matchday squad once through the first seven games.

Owner Tony Bloom says Brighton’s young summer signings will “get into the first team when Fabian (Hurzeler) deems them to be ready.” #BHAFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

Brighton owner Tony Bloom on the future of the Premier League and how his club will adapt to it 'Everything about the Premier League becomes more difficult every year,' Bloom tells The Athletic...

Interview with Tony Bloom on the future of the Premier League.
Brighton’s owner/chairman discusses financial mismanagement, the growing American influence, games abroad, multi club ownership and recruitment. #BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Tony Bloom is Brighton’s leading man. But who are their minority shareholders? Loans partly converted into shares have expanded Bloom's holding to 96.44 per cent. It leaves 3.56 per cent of shares held by others

Tony Bloom is the main man at Brighton, but who are the minority shareholders and what are their powers?
They include an iconic DJ, a family featuring a West Ham fan and the project manager of the Amex.
Piece with ⁦‪⁦‪⁦‪colleague Chris Weatherspoon
#BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

Jan Paul van Hecke is leading Brighton from the front and back Jan Paul van Hecke has grown into a crucial player at Brighton — stopping star forwards and now scoring goals of his own

Brighton have won 30 points from a losing position under Fabian Hurzeler in the Premier League since the start of last season, more than any other team. Jan Paul van Hecke is a role model for their determination and captaincy material if he stays. #BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

Subs: Steele, Tzimas, Rutter, Watson, Kostoulas (for the first time in PL), Milner, Boscagli, De Cuyper, Coppola. #BHAFC #WOLBHA

Three changes. #BHAFC
Wieffer, Gruda and Welbeck for Veltman, Mitoma (both injured) and Rutter (benched).
Verbruggen
Wieffer van Hecke Dunk Kadioglu
Baleba Ayari
Gruda Gomez Minteh
Welbeck

Could Tommy Watson capitalise on Kaoru Mitoma’s slow start to the season? It would be foolish to read too much into Japan winger's sluggish form but newcomer is edging towards a bigger role in Brighton's plans

Fabian Hurzeler says Kaoru Mitoma “can play better, must have a bigger impact on our game.”
Summer signing Tommy Watson is waiting in the wings for Brighton if Mitoma’s below-par start to the season continues. #BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Hence, two sub appearances (Tzimas) and no minutes (Kostoulas).

Brighton spent £50m on two Greek strikers. Why have they barely played? Stefanos Tzimas and Charalampos Kostoulas have struggled for minutes in games so far this season

Two sub appearances and no minutes in the Premier League so far for Brighton’s Greek newcomers. #BHAFC
A look at what is happening with Stefanos Tzimas and Charalampos Kostoulas.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Step forward Brighton’s supersub, Danny Welbeck Danny Welbeck's double at Chelsea took him to fourth in the list of goalscoring substitutes in the Premier League

Danny Welbeck has climbed to fourth on the illustrious list of goalscoring substitutes in Premier League history.
The pros and cons of starting with Welbeck or using him as an impact sub for Brighton. #BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

Gomez for Gruda the only change from the Spurs draw. #BHAFC

Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu: ‘I had a lot of pain for a long time – it took longer than expected’ Kadioglu was injured early in his debut season at Brighton - he tells The Athletic exactly how frustrating his road to recovery has been

Ferdi Kadioglu was ruled out for nine months by a toe injury sustained in the game before he scored at Liverpool last season.
Brighton’s Turkish international on his tricky start in the Premier League.
#BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

Analysing Diego Gomez’s Goal of the Season contenders: ‘A thing of beauty’ The Paraguay striker proved his quality with two astonishing strikes in a four-goal display at Barnsley. Can he now kick on?

Four goals, two special strikes.
Danny Welbeck was impressed.
Diego Gomez needs to kick on now after an unforgettable night at Barnsley. #BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Subs: McGill, Dunk, van Hecke, Rutter, Kostoulas, Mitoma, Ayari, Tasker, Howell.
No Wieffer after his late return from knee trouble against Tottenham. #BHAFC

Eight changes #BHAFC 
Full debuts for Tzimas and Watson.

Yankuba Minteh is helping Brighton move on from Joao Pedro – but what’s up with Carlos Baleba? Six players have scored for Fabian Hurzeler's side this season, adding to their unpredictability, but defensive solidity has been lacking

The state of play at Brighton. #BHAFC
What they are doing well and where Fabian Hurzeler’s side need to improve after the home draw with Tottenham.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Four changes.
In come Kadioglu, Baleba, Ayari and Gruda.
Out go De Cuyper (injured), Hinshelwood (injured), Milner, Welbeck.
#BHAFC

Manchester United interest knocked Carlos Baleba out of his stride, but Brighton back him to recover The dynamic midfielder was on Amorim’s agenda throughout the summer, but an offer was nowhere near enough to entice Brighton to sell

Carlos Baleba’s early season struggles amid Manchester United interest. #BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

Hinshelwood set for six to eight weeks out with ankle ligament injury

Brighton and England under-21's prospect Jack Hinshelwood has been ruled out for up to eight weeks by ankle ligament damage. #BHAFC

www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Maxim De Cuyper: Inspired by Marcelo – and ready to be Brighton’s penalty specialist The 24-year-old has some impressive attacking numbers from left-back and has broken into the Belgium senior team

“In the youth of Bruges, I played always as a winger until the age of 14.”
Maxim De Cuyper, the attack-minded left-back for Brighton and Belgium. #BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

Brighton appoint Jason Ayto as sporting director after David Weir exit A former assistant and interim sporting director at Arsenal, Ayto left the Emirates Stadium this summer after 11 years at the club.

Brighton & Hove Albion have appointed Jason Ayto as their new sporting director.

A former assistant and interim sporting director at Arsenal, Ayto left the Emirates Stadium this summer after 11 years at the club.

✍️ @andynaylorbrighton.bsky.social and @gunnerblog.bsky.social

Explained: Why Brighton hired Jason Ayto, let David Weir go, and how it fits their ‘2030 vision’ The impending arrival of Ayto is further indication of Brighton's desire to keep moving forward and finding ways to gain a competitive edge

Brighton are making a significant change by appointing Jason Ayto as sporting director to replace departed technical director David Weir.
Why is it happening and what does it mean for the future direction of the club? #BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

Brighton set to appoint Jason Ayto as sporting director after David Weir exit A former assistant and interim sporting director at Arsenal, Ayto left the Emirates Stadium this summer after 11 years at the club.

Brighton are set to appoint Jason Ayto as sporting director following technical director David Weir's departure yesterday. #BHAFC Ayto, 40, left Arsenal this summer after 11 years working his way up to assistant and interim sporting director.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...

Two changes.
Milner and Rutter for Baleba and Gomez.
Baleba is on a bench which also includes Tzimas, featuring in the PL matchday squad for the first time, and Watson. #BHAFC
Gomez is not in the squad after international exertions with Paraguay.

Brighton sanctioned Matt O’Riley’s Marseille loan due to squad depth – Fabian Hurzeler O'Riley started the first two Premier League games of the season, a 1-1 home draw against Fulham and a 2-0 defeat at Everton.

Fabian Hurzeler explains the u-turn on Matt O’Riley.
Why he went from No 10 in Brighton’s starting line-up to Marseille on loan on the last day of the transfer window. #BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

Brighton part company with technical director David Weir The 55-year-old former Rangers, Everton and Scotland international defender had held the post overseeing player recruitment since May 2022

Brighton part company with technical director David Weir. #BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

Brajan Gruda: Young, hungry and now a lot higher up Brighton’s No 10 pecking order The departures of Matt O'Riley and Facundo Buonanotte have boosted the German up the attacking midfield hierarchy

Brajan Gruda is a right winger for his country.
Most of his appearances for Brighton have been in that position as well.
Now the Germany under-21 international has jumped into contention to be the No 10. #BHAFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...

Brighton are well stocked at right-back, but do they have their long-term solution? Fabian Hurzeler has five options at the position even after Tariq Lamptey's departure this summer, but only one is a specialist there

The right-back situation at Brighton. #BHAFC
Numerous options, but one ageing specialist.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

Julio Enciso’s Brighton departure is the right decision, for him and the club The Paraguayan showed flashes of brilliance but overall his time at the club was overshadowed by injury and off-field issues

Julio Enciso is a talented individualist whose contribution did not sustain after early promise. #BHAFC
A piece on the Paraguayan maverick’s three years at Brighton, punctuated by a persistent injury, moments of brilliance and selfishness.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...