Football Season Guide

Brighton enjoyed another excellent campaign under Chris Hughton last season as they returned to the top flight of English football for the first time since 1983 after finishing 2nd in the Championship. Hughton had taken over a Brighton side struggling to maintain their status as a Championship side before leading them to a third placed finish in his first full season in charge of the club. Brighton were favorites to clinch the Championship title last season as well but a late slump in form saw them collect a solitary point from their last three games and they ended up ceding top spot to Newcastle United on the final day of the season. Regardless at having missed out on the trophy, Hughton will be delighted to have led his side to the Premier League but faces a huge fight on hand if he is to help Brighton remain in the top flight beyond this season. Brighton have avoided the temptation of splurging the extra cash on new players and are willing to give their existing squad a chance to show that they can compete at the highest level of English football. With regards to transfer dealings, Mathew Ryan has been their biggest acquisition so far and the former Valencia keeper will be taking over first team duties from David Stockdale who has left the club for Birmingham City. Markus Suttner and Pascal Gross impressed for Ingolstadt in their doomed bid to stay in the Bundesliga last season so they will provide quality, though it remains to be seen how quickly they will adapt to the style of football in England. The Brighton squad is lacking Premier League experience with new signing Izzy Brown managing just two substitute appearances for Chelsea while Glenn Murray, Steve Sidwell and Liam Rosenior are the other players who have featured in the top flight. While Brighton were impressive at both ends of the pitch last season, the Premier League will represent a far tougher challenge and Hughton will be aware that a complete team effort over the course of the campaign will be needed if they are to avoid the drop back into the Championship.