Brighton vs. City
Predicted XI, Tactics, Player Analysis
Well, wasn’t that a chaotic couple of weeks? Wolves, Liverpool, Liverpool. Whew. But, you know, out of sight, out of mind.
That said, I’m not worried about Brighton’s performances. Worried for this match? A little. But City are there for the taking.
And a result IS possible. But is it likely? Who’ll play a key part in not dropping another three points? Let’s find out.
🎙️ Press Conference
🩹 Injuries and Suspensions
Like my happiness after hearing Hürzeler say this, João Pedro and Matt O’Riley have a “big chance” of returning to the squad for this game.
Things, however, aren’t as clear-cut for Lewis Dunk and Yankuba Minteh.
And, even as we’ve ticked over into November, March still isn’t available. The next equinox, perhaps?
And Yasin Ayari “might be an option” for the weekend.
🩵 Manchester City and their… Aura?
I wish I was joking. But no, that was an actual question. And guess what?
Hürzeler answered the question perfectly:
It should change because we have ambitions. I don't want to be recognised or want to be seen as the small, Brighton and Hove Albion.
He then praised the staff before going on to say:
In football it's about achieving things and that's why we shouldn't hide. We shouldn't be afraid of anyone.
We should play with self-confidence and we should also put pressure on ourselves because in the end we want to achieve something and if we don't achieve the victories in the games we have failed and that's the truth.
What a great guy.
🤥 On Pep Guardiola
After praising his work (particularly in Germany), Fabian (ooh, first name basis) went on to say:
That's why he's a role model. But you always have to go your own way and you always have to keep pushing your own style of play and keep trying to develop vour own things, vour own elements.
He then spoke about other influential coaches of the past (wow, this makes me feel old) before saying that recognising elements from their style of play and using them for one’s own authenticity is key.
…if you want to copy someone you're always one step behind, that's the thing. What is very important for me is I don't want to be a step behind. I always try to push myself, try to improve the players, try to have own ideas.
🐦🔥 On the Loss to Liverpool
Hürzeler is a brilliant orator. That is all:
It was a big opportunity. It's about results and you don't get any points just for good performances.
I'm sure in the long term if you focus on the process when you play good you get the results you deserve because I always think when you play with courage, when you defend good, it will pay off.
The second thing is finding the balance. In the end, football is a game of results, you need results.
It's important that we also understand it's not only about playing good football and having good performances.
It's about winning games.
We have ambitions and our club has ambitions and we should be very disappointed if we travel to Liverpool and don't manage to win the game after the performance we had.
💫 Yasin Ayari and Jack Hinshelwood
Praise. A lot of praise.
For me it's not about the age, it's about being good or not being good. The players on the pitch, they deserve to play and they also want to play. Now it's about treating them, not like young players, because in the end we also need to win games.
Constructive criticism. Not a lot of negativity:
I think they also get a little bit drained by the intensity and the atmosphere, and especially in these moments, I demand from these players, even when they are young, to ask for the ball, to demand for the ball, to still continue playing with courage.
And a personal favourite of mine:
It's so important that they are allowed to make mistakes. That's what we want here in the club, trying to develop young players, trying to give young players the chance. But they need to deserve it every day in training.
These players are so young. The ability to make a mistake and not worry about consequences can be so, so important.
Hürzeler also praised Hinshelwood further, going on to say that he’d call Thomas Tuchel and give him advice about him.
Fair enough.
🇮🇪 Simon Adingra
Hürzeler is very happy with his performances but acknowledges there’s a lot of competition from Mitoma, Minteh, Gruda, and March.
However, Adingra is doing well and will only improve with competition.
He will also “get a lot of game time this season.”
📝 Predicted Lineup
Update: Ferdi Kadioğlu, Lewis Dunk, Evan Ferguson, Yankuba Minteh, and Tariq Lamptey weren’t pictured in training.
So, while my predicted lineup originally had Georginio as the 10 and Kadioğlu as the RW, Ayari now replaces Kadioğlu.
🕊️ The Defence
Does anyone want to hear my concerns about a high line vis-à-vis Jeremy Doku, tight hamstrings, and a panicky Amex as the CBs run the equivalent of a marathon trying to stop the surprisingly quick Erling Haaland from heading one into the far post?
No?
Well, you got it anyway.
Look, it’s not going to be easy. I know, I know—I’m Captain Obvious. But the defence cannot switch off at ALL, especially Estupiñán.
Inverting in the first phase of build-up is both good and bad here:
Good: He’s slightly more reserved and can track back if dispossessed.
Bad: City’s RW is naturally closer to goal, meaning he can be a little trigger-happy.
So, Igor has a lot of work to do. The RHS is fine (unless Nunes starts)—Veltman’s good with 1v1s, and Jan Paul van Hecke might be the best thing to happen to this planet.
🕊️ The Midfield
Carlos Baleba I have no words. But I do have a few radars (courtesy of McLach bot).
I’m not going to talk about why Carlos Baleba’s so good—simply because I could ramble on and on—but instead, I’m going to talk about my fears:
Carlos Baleba is perfect for Pep as his LCM. That ball-carrying… ooh là là.
…which makes this a sort of audition. That means…*chokes on tears*… please… no.
Anyway, here are those radars I promised:
On the other hand, we have his partner in Jack Hinshelwood, who drops slightly deep to receive the ball in a 4-2-4 buildup, which quickly becomes a 4-3-3 as Hinshelwood (and Baleba) progress up the pitch.
Given this is against City, I expect the name of the game to be baiting the press.
And City’s 3-1-6 is there to be got. The press is there to be baited. Kyle Walker and a lone pivot are there to be annoyed.
🕊️ The Attack
Go. Run. Have fun. Score a goal. And that’s just Kaoru Mitoma.
And then you have a brilliant no. 10—Georginio. Truth be told, I don’t think I’ll sleep peacefully until I see him alongside João Pedro as the CF.
But anyway, back to reality—Georginio as the 10, drifting wide to intermix with Kadioğlu, creating and shooting as he pleases? Sign me up. Gruda instead, and we’re in for double the fun, with crowded half-spaces and lovely bouts of fluidity.
Maybe even Adingra—exploit his pace while running in behind, as he stretches the defence with Georginio occupying the vacant half-spaces.
That said, Georginio could be the RW, with someone like Ayari as the RCM. Edit: And given the training images, it likely is.
But Kadioğlu was excellent vs. Liverpool and will start if fit. Go on, then—win those offensive duels, support Veltman, use the attack as a defensive tool. A Turkish Delight if I’ve ever seen one.
🫡 Conclusion
There you go. A nice, happy image before I turn up the negativity.
On the bright side, whenever I’ve been negative, Brighton have had a good result. On a more grim note, my negativity today was going to be met by a lot of optimism. Sort of.
Look, Brighton aren’t favourites for this game—but how often is anyone a favourite against City?
If ever there was a time to take points away from City, it’s now. I think a lot of the discourse around City has been exaggerated, leaning into a general binary of doom and gloom, but they’re a lot better than they’re made out to be.
But Brighton have also been good. Very good, in fact. And Kaoru Mitoma vs. Kyle Walker fills me with optimism. Baleba vs. City’s midfield. Little things like that.
Not enough to make me assume a win is en route, but enough to hope for at least a draw.
And that’s that—the last bit of football before yet another international break. HOW?
Thank you for reading. I enjoyed writing this piece, and I hope you enjoyed reading it. Take care, have a brilliant couple of weeks, and see you on the other side of the international break with a couple of new articles.