This piece is FREE to read on The Athletic today >>>> https://theathletic.co.uk/1841749/
Excerpt here:
Excerpt here:
But what’s particularly interesting, when looking at the relegation strugglers, is that the imbalance at the top also applies to the bottom of the table. The sides with the stronger benches appear to be those between 15th and 17th, with those in the relegation zone looking more desperate.
Brighton are in 15th place — albeit only two points clear of the drop — and their strength in depth looks particularly impressive.
Graham Potter has been the Premier League’s most tactically unpredictable manager, using various formations and fielding a huge number of players. Taking a sample of Brighton’s most recent matches, it’s fair to assume that Neal Maupay, supported by Pascal Gross, Aaron Mooy and Leandro Trossard, is the regular attacking quartet going forward.
This doesn’t include Glenn Murray, perhaps the most trusty Plan B of all the relegation-threatened sides. There’s also Aaron Connolly, who starred with two goals in the victory over Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the season, although he’s recently had surgery on an ankle injury. Then there’s Solly March, a reliable wide midfielder, and Alireza Jahanbakhsh — whose bicycle kick against Chelsea on New Year’s Day is one the goals of the season.
For a relegation contender, that’s an excellent “replacement” front four, and there are also the likes of box-to-box player Yves Bissouma and left-sided option Bernardo, with Shane Duffy a capable centre-back reserve behind Adam Webster and Lewis Dunk.
Tactically, and in terms of personnel, Potter seems best placed to use all 16 available players.
Brighton are in 15th place — albeit only two points clear of the drop — and their strength in depth looks particularly impressive.
Graham Potter has been the Premier League’s most tactically unpredictable manager, using various formations and fielding a huge number of players. Taking a sample of Brighton’s most recent matches, it’s fair to assume that Neal Maupay, supported by Pascal Gross, Aaron Mooy and Leandro Trossard, is the regular attacking quartet going forward.
This doesn’t include Glenn Murray, perhaps the most trusty Plan B of all the relegation-threatened sides. There’s also Aaron Connolly, who starred with two goals in the victory over Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the season, although he’s recently had surgery on an ankle injury. Then there’s Solly March, a reliable wide midfielder, and Alireza Jahanbakhsh — whose bicycle kick against Chelsea on New Year’s Day is one the goals of the season.
For a relegation contender, that’s an excellent “replacement” front four, and there are also the likes of box-to-box player Yves Bissouma and left-sided option Bernardo, with Shane Duffy a capable centre-back reserve behind Adam Webster and Lewis Dunk.
Tactically, and in terms of personnel, Potter seems best placed to use all 16 available players.
