MY ACCOUNT
Brighton are reaching new heights under Graham Potter.
The former Swansea boss has pulled off an array of impressive results during his two-year tenure at the Seagulls, including last Sunday’s 2-1 win at Manchester United.
Despite the regular cherry-picking of his best talent by top six clubs, Potter seems to constantly improve his players with clear success.
As his side prepare to face Newcastle on Saturday, we assess whether the 47-year-old will be happy to continue to develop on the South Coast or whether he is soon set to take the next step in his managerial career.
Trust in what you know
It is very rare to see Potter shy away from his favoured 3-4-2-1 formation.
The attacking system has been in place since his arrival at the Amex and has clear benefits.
Potter’s set-up focuses on playing out from the back, with a strong midfield pivot providing protection for the defence.
During the 2021-22 campaign, the Englishman masterminded several victories against top teams including Tottenham, United, Arsenal and West Ham.
The key to these wins came through the ability to absorb pressure and hit teams on the counter-attack.
Overlapping wing-backs and width in the final third often draws defenders out of position, allowing attackers more room to manoeuvre.
Ultimately, Potter has a variety of options and flexibility making it incredibly hard for teams to anticipate the different areas of attack.
Improving personnel
Potter is never going to afforded an extensive transfer budget.
Therefore, the master tactician is reliant on improving players at his disposal when it comes to shaping Brighton’s success.
Leandro Trossard and Solly March are two key players that thrive in Potter’s system as advanced wing-backs.
Their boss is adamant that those that play in wide areas must have the capability to both defend and attack.
Trossard scored eight times in 34 Premier League appearances and the 27-year-old Belgian perfectly represents Potter’s philosophy of hard work and desire to improve.
Bouncing back
One of the disadvantages of working at a club like Brighton is that if things are going well, Premier League giants will soon arrive to snatch away your best assets.
Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma are the latest stars to leave the Amex, with the Sussex outfit receiving nearly £100million for the pair.
However, one quality that helps separate Potter from the rest is his calmness and ability to quickly find solutions.
In this instance, a three-man defence of Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk and Joel Veltman looked assured to prevent a second-half Red Devils comeback.
While in the middle of the park, the Seagulls overpowered United duo Scott McTominay and Fred.
Ecuadorian Moises Caicedo, 20, shows experience beyond his years, alongside fellow South American Alexis Mac Allister and ex-Liverpool man Adam Lallana.
While Pascal Gross, who netted a match-winning brace, continues to exhibit his class.
Before the historic win over Erik ten Hag’s men — their first at Old Trafford — Brighton’s departing talent meant many had tipped them to struggle.
But Potter’s exceptional man management and ability to adapt could see them now rival last season’s ninth-place finish.
Glowing reputation
With success comes reputation and Potter will be aware of just how highly other Premier League managers rate his work at Brighton.
One admirer is Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, who has previously expressed his admiration for Brighton and their manager.
He said: “They have a great coach and it’s a great approach they have to how they play the game.
“It is clear when you switch on the TV or when you watch them you clearly see an idea of how they want to play. It’s very, very demanding to play against them.
“They play with a lot of confidence. They have many good individual players, they have a top coach in Graham Potter and they are a tough side to beat.
“It’s very demanding to play against them because they play very fluid, they adapt their system to your system, they attack high and they have a lot of individual quality.”
Tuchel’s praise puts perspective on the success Potter has had at Brighton.
Having been linked to both Spurs and United vacancies in the past, it seems a case of when, not if, the impressive coach is set for a top job in the Premier League or beyond.
