What have we learned about Brighton's up-and-down season so far?
Brighton and Hove Albion have had a very up and down season. But what have we learned about Fabian Hürzeler’s side going forward?
It’s that point of the season where we’re not quite at the “business end”, but we have more than enough evidence to analyse the season so far!
1. Losing positions, winning positions… Brighton love to make it difficult!
The 2025/26 season has proved one thing: Brighton love to make life hard for themselves.
They’re fifth in the table for points gained from losing positions, with a staggering 14. Followed by 12 points dropped from winning positions, Albion have certainly had entertaining games for neutrals.
The latter statistic is down considerably from the previous year and seems to be improving as the months progress.
Hürzeler’s side are quite naive. At times, tactically they can be set up in questionable ways.
Starting games weaker than they end them was a trend for a large chunk of the season, but equally impressive to show the determination to fight back in a game that was started poorly.
The same can be said for games that start well but finish poorly.
Consistency has been hard to come by since Hürzeler took charge at the Amex.
2. “Unc still got it”
The trend of the phrase “unc still got it” implying the older players performing at a high level ahead remained true for this season.
Danny Welbeck has a record 12 goals for the Seagulls in the Premier League, his personal highest tally, and also just one behind Glenn Murray’s record of 13 in a Premier League season for Brighton.
Welbeck has also started the most games in his career, at a phenomenal 35 years of age.
40-year-old James Milner broke the appearance record for a Premier League player, with a jaw-dropping 657 games, four more than fellow former Brighton midfielder, Gareth Barry.
Milner hasn’t just played for the record; he’s been a standout player in recent games. Dictating play but also covering numerous positions on the pitch.
To be as fluid in versatility as he is at his age is nothing short of incredible. The former England international has kept £100 million-touted star, Carlos Baleba, out of the side for a long portion of the season.
The ‘older’ players tend to have more joy under Hürzeler than the younger players.
Perhaps a mixture of style of play being more pragmatic at times, whilst balanced with Hürzeler’s young age for a manager at just 33 years old. Naturally, the experience of the older players takes the leadership role.
Players like Jason Steele, Lewis Dunk, and James Milner are enough for any side.
3. The future of Fabian Hürzeler needs to be assessed
Despite an impressive turn of form at the end of the season, most notably his recent four wins from five, Hürzeler’s future is still uncertain.
Links to Bayer Leverkusen have increased his chances of departure.
Brighton fans have not been as unified towards being against a manager during a home fixture since the Amex opened, barring Sami Hyypia’s days.
Boos rang around the Amex, and away days have had equally as toxic endings. Most significantly, Fulham away, where fans audibly jeered towards the head coach.
Tactically, there are a lot of naiveties, and it is impossible to look beyond that despite being in a good moment. This, combined with raising the experienced players above the young players, is also contradictory to Brighton’s and Tony Bloom’s philosophy.
A more fluid, directional manager could achieve more with the talent at their disposal. Getting the best out of big money signings like Georginio Rutter, Mats Wieffer, and Yankuba Minteh should be high on the agenda.
As the summer comes around, it’ll be interesting to see how Bloom and co assess the performances of the season, regardless of a European place or not.