How does this season feel from the fans’ view?

Albion’s season has seemingly felt different depending on which fan in the concourse you speak to…

In the summer ahead of the 2024/25 season, there were links with numerous candidates to replace Roberto De Zerbi. The exciting prospect Kieran McKenna, is reportedly the club’s top target as well as a possible return for former boss Graham Potter.

How it started…

The board settled with appointing 31-year-old Fabian Hürzeler, a decision that turned heads across the football world. A choice that aligned with Brighton’s previous record of willingness to take risks on the unconventional. And with the ownership team establishing themselves as extremely trustworthy, and numerous occasions of intelligent decision-making, the fans took a stance of positivity and excitement surrounding the upcoming season.

This excitement was strengthened by Bloom’s investment of over £200 million addressing concerns about the depth of the squad after gaps were exposed in the previous season.

The money spent has been a key talking point amongst Albion fans and a catalyst in influencing the interpretation of what defines success for the season. On one hand, it’s completely understandable that there’s an expectation for improvement after a huge financial investment and this can’t be dismissed. However, the number of new players, their age, their lack of experience in the Premier League, and the period of integration disrupted by injuries all have to be considered too, when assessing the season. 

Fabian Hurzeler speaks to the squad during pre-season friendly in Japan (Photo by Hiroki Watanabe/Getty Images)

It’s challenging to manage the ethos of a club, where there’s time to allow players to grow and become more successful in the future whilst being a club that’s successful in the present, catering to already established top-quality players like Karou Mitoma. Trying to balance this, makes it more difficult to identify what a successful season looks like.

How is it going?

Fabian Hürzeler had an incredible start, winning the Premier League Manager of the Month award in August. Claiming notable victories over big 6 sides and despite dropping points at home to the likes of Ipswich and Wolves, fans remained ambitious. Despite not yet reaching their full potential or playing with a consistent style, the squad still managed to secure wins in the early stages of the season, generating excitement about what they could achieve once their abilities were fully realised and their style firmly established.

However, a lack of clear style then became an underlying problem throughout the season, as there was no clear identity. Although adaptability is a positive trait, the lack of consistency took a toll on Albion’s form. The Seagulls had a blip through the festive period, starting with dropped points at home against bottom-of-the-league Southampton which then stretched to an eight-game winless run. A run that encapsulated disappointment, but Brighton were still able to remain within the mix of chasing a European place. 

Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)

The Seagulls then recovered by gaining 3 wins on the bounce, beginning with a victory in the FA Cup over Norwich, which boosted confidence and was followed by 2 more wins in the league. However, Albion then lost their next two matches, notably 7-0 away at Nottingham Forest, demonstrating the unreliability of the team’s performances.

Brighton were able to recover from the record-breaking defeat, as they went on a run of 6 wins in all competitions, feeling as if they had finally hit form at the right time. Looking ahead to the last period of the season, high on confidence and in the conversation for Champions League football.

When traveling to Manchester City in March, if Brighton had claimed victory, they would have moved above City in the table. They were only able to secure a 2-2 draw at the Etihad which was viewed, at the time, as a potentially valuable point.

The season took another turn after the international break, as Brighton’s FA Cup hopes were dashed in the Quarter-Finals by Nottingham Forest, with a trip to Wembley at stake.

After this result, the Seagulls went on a torrid run of 3 more defeats in the league, and a disheartening draw against a very poor Leicester side at home, who hadn’t scored a goal in the previous 8 games when they arrived at the Amex. 

Fans want to feel a ‘connection’

Fans’ frustrations with Hürzeler became most publicised after the defeat at Brentford, fans had a right to question the manager, with the consistent inconsistency shown of either being underwhelming or a team looking able to compete at a high level.

In addition to the fans questioning the manager, there were some decisions by the board that left some fans slightly perplexed.

Loaning out Evan Ferguson and Julio Enciso… fans thought it could be potentially damaging. Leaving the squad with limited options up-front which has materialised due to injuries.

Focusing on the manager, the lack of trust from the fanbase may have stemmed from the foundations of the fan and managerial relationships being weak.

(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

There has been a lot of reminiscing about Roberto De Zerbi with his infectious and charismatic personality. Hürzeler hasn’t done himself any favors by choosing not to go over to fans at the end of most games, especially at away matches, creating an unnecessary and avoidable sense of distance. Even if done for selfless intentions, trying to give credit to his players.

Celebrations and demonstrating appreciation are some of the basic things that allow fans to attach themselves to the manager’s character. However, the emotion shown in the celebration against West Ham and going over to the away end at Wolves will allow fans to gravitate toward his personality more.

After the win against West Ham, European hopes re-emerged, dimmed slightly by a somewhat dissatisfying point against a good Newcastle side.

Traveling to an in-form Wolves side and securing victory puts the Albion in good stead heading into their remaining two fixtures. First welcoming Champions Liverpool and ending the campaign with a trip to North London against Tottenham.

Overall, the season has been a positive one. Lots of experience gained and still being in the race for a European place has to be seen more through an optimistic lens.

However, within the good spells of form and money spent in the summer, there will always be questions surrounding how much higher Brighton ‘could’ have finished this season.