The Rise of Brighton's Rising Stars: Mitoma and March Shine, Enciso's Injury Woes, and Unleashing Ferguson's Untapped Potential

Powerful clubs have once again snatched away key players from Brighton for the third consecutive season this summer. However, Seagulls manager Roberto De Zerbi brushes off the situation, stating, "It's not a problem." He believes that the crucial objective is to find suitable replacements. Last season, Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister acted as midfield powerhouses for the club. Nevertheless, they have departed for different destinations, with Chelsea and Liverpool respectively, commanding a hefty total of £170m.

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Despite this, Brighton enter the third round of league fixtures top of the pack following back-to-back 4-1 wins against Luton and Wolves.

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Brighton currently lead the Premier League standings as they head into matchday three. In an exclusive interview with We, De Zerbi acknowledges their position but emphasizes that they have only played two games so far. He expresses a determined mindset to continue playing and winning, aiming to maintain their top spot. However, he acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead and highlights their upcoming match against West Ham as the starting point.

Brighton and Hove Albion

West Ham United

Saturday 26th August 5:00pm

Kick off 5:30pm

In addition to the impressive quality of play displayed by the team thus far, it is particularly noteworthy that Japan international Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March have stood out. Their exceptional performances last season have set a high standard, and it seems they are determined to surpass it in the current season.

Mitoma showcased his otherworldly talent with an astonishing solo goal against Wolves. Positioned on the left flank, near the halfway line, he effortlessly retrieved the ball. Skillfully maneuvering past an opponent, he brushed off another, and explosively burst through two more. Finally, with finesse, he slid the ball past Jose Sa, leaving spectators awe-struck. De Zerbi spared no compliments for his emerging prodigy, boldly declaring him as one of the finest players globally in one-on-one situations.

March currently sits joint-top of the goalscoring chart with three goals, tying with Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo. He opened the scoring against Luton and scored twice at Molineux. De Zerbi has set a target of 15 goals for March this season, expressing belief that he can achieve even greater heights. According to De Zerbi, March's confidence is growing as he realizes his ability to score goals by positioning himself correctly and capitalizing on opportunities. De Zerbi considers March to be a talented player and they are actively working on enhancing his goal-scoring prowess.

The story doesn't end there. Despite regular raids on their best players during transfer seasons, the club still has two highly coveted young talents in the world of football: Evan Ferguson, an 18-year-old striker, and Julio Enciso, a 19-year-old.

During a press conference, De Zerbi announced that Ferguson will be leading the team's attack against West Ham on Saturday, while Enciso will unfortunately be unavailable for an extended period due to his injury.

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Ferguson oozes stature, power and prowess unparalleled for his age, while Enciso ranks among the very elite in his age group across Europe for dribbling ability and creativity.

According to the Italian, both players surpass their actual age in terms of their impact. They have already established themselves as crucial contributors in the Premier League, and we are fortunate to have them.

The significance of Ferguson cannot be understated. Given our surplus of attackers, determining the ideal starting lineup relies on the players' physical condition and taking into account any current injuries to other team members.

"I'm very sad about the injury for Julio. You know injuries can happen in football. He has to react in a good way and come back better."

Stars step up

De Zerbi has taken over the mantle from former Brighton manager Graham Potter in implementing an expansive and captivating brand of football. In 2021, the Italian achieved consecutive eighth-place finishes with underdog Serie A team Sassuolo, all while working within tight financial constraints. His success posed a real challenge to the established order of the league. Does this ring a bell?

But what exactly is his philosophy?

Heading into the weekend, Brighton has exhibited exceptional bravery and endurance, asserting dominance over the game. They have emerged as the main characters on the field, ensuring a delightful experience for our fans. This remarkable achievement is the key to their success. Additionally, Brighton's outstanding performance is evident in their substantial goal tally – almost double that of any other team – and their leading position across various statistics, including expected goals, assists, and generating numerous opportunities for shots.

Furthermore, Aston Villa stands as the sole team that has registered a greater number of "direct attacks." This term refers to gameplay sequences originating just within the team's half through open-play, wherein there is a minimum of 50 percent progression towards the opposition's goal and culminates with a shot or touch within the opposition box.

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Numerous sources contribute to the goals scored by Brighton. Six Brighton players have already scored, demonstrating the deep attacking talent that De Zerbi's team possesses. It is worth mentioning that Danny Welbeck is yet to score a goal.

In terms of playing style, Brighton excels in patient build-up play and is a formidable force on counterattacks. Among all teams, only Chelsea and Spurs have completed a higher number of short passes. Furthermore, during passing sequences, Arsenal is the only team that tends to move further upfield than Brighton.

The Seagulls also excel in maintaining a high defensive line and have recorded a higher number of completed passes in the attacking third compared to both domestic and European champions, Manchester City, in the current season.

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De Zerbi insists on the style, yet he unwaveringly trusts his players to carry out the plan flawlessly. "I present the concept to my players, and they are exceedingly intelligent and perceptive," he remarks.

"They grasp the intensity of the opposing pressure. They comprehend the pass trajectory. I provide guidance, but on the field, they recognize the need to make decisions, without a doubt."

Ecuadorian full-back Pervis Estupinan continues to impress for Brighton, consistently shining on the field. Together with Mitoma, he has been instrumental in launching numerous attacks down the left channel. It is worth noting that a similar pattern was also seen to a lesser extent during the previous season.

"Due to Pervis' exceptional skills, we have been focusing our attacks predominantly on the left side," De Zerbi asserts. "Although he plays as a full-back, Pervis possesses the attacking ability of a winger. Surprisingly, on the left side, we often deploy two wingers. This assertion may sound far-fetched, but it is undeniably true."

Estupinan is an integral player for our team, showcasing exceptional performance. There is notable improvement in various aspects of his game. Although there is room for further growth, he remains amongst the top full-backs in the Premier League at present. During Monday Night Football, Karen Carney elucidated Brighton's proficient employment of a 'box midfield' strategy, featuring four players - two defensive pivots and two attacking midfielders.

That dominant performance in the midfield, combined with the emphasis on the left side, leads to the creation of the shot and chances charts shown below - showcasing the areas where Brighton excels in terms of shots taken, goals scored, and assists provided.

Brighton excels at applying high pressure and is particularly adept at forcing turnovers in the opposing team's final third. They employ a zonal one-man press to relentlessly hassle their opponents when they try to build from their own defensive line.

The following chart illustrates the average number of passes allowed by teams before initiating a defensive action, with a lower figure representing better performance. In this metric, Brighton ranks fourth among all teams in the league, trailing only Arsenal, Tottenham, and Chelsea.

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"I want my team to maintain focus and create optimal conditions when in possession of the ball," expresses the Italian. "In the event of losing possession, we must be prepared to react swiftly and prevent a counterattack. During defensive phases, our objective is to regain possession of the ball."

In every aspect of the game, we strive to be highly assertive. However, we are aware that if we execute our game plan effectively and work in sync, there is a chance for us to score. Nonetheless, we must always remain focused as we cannot afford to take any unnecessary risks. Yes, it emphasizes more on zonal pressing. When you defend man to man, there are inherent risks involved.

Across the league, there is a prevailing tendency to recruit young players with immense energy to contribute to pressing tactics from the front, which is another emerging trend. Nevertheless, Brighton has managed to maintain their effectiveness this season despite having a relatively older squad.

The majority of Brighton's high-value player sales in the last three seasons have involved players who are 24 years old or younger. This could be a contributing factor to the fact that De Zerbi's team currently has the second oldest average age in the league. Is he actively seeking experienced players or has this situation been imposed on him?

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"We had the departure of three crucial players this summer, namely Caicedo, Mac Allister, and Levi Colwill. However, it is worth noting that our team remains youthful," he states. "Welbeck has been taking part in matches due to his extraordinary physical condition, but we can also rely on two other players who are just 18 or 19 years old, without encountering any issues.

"The age factor does not determine my selection for the starting lineup. In my opinion, age is insignificant. What truly matters is the level of skill. If an 18-year-old surpasses a 33-year-old in terms of ability, then I have no hesitation in fielding the 18-year-old."

"(James) Milner has displayed astonishing stamina and his wealth of experience is truly remarkable. His approach, drive, and conduct have been exemplary. However, should [Tariq] Lamptey be deemed worthy of replacing Milner, I would have absolutely no hesitation or objection."

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Tactical philosophy

This is truly astounding. In a mere span of three years, Brighton has made eye-popping sales with players like Ben White (£50m), Marc Cucurella (£63m), Yves Bissouma (£35m), Neal Maupay (£15m), Dan Burn (£13m), Caicedo (£115m), Mac Allister (£55m), Landro Trossard (£27m), and Robert Sanchez (£25m). And these are just the transactions surpassing £10m.

During this period, the club has accumulated nearly £400m in total revenue, with a significant £370m originating directly from the clubs associated with the renowned 'Big Six'.

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The signings this summer remain relatively modest, with Watford forward Joao Pedro topping the pack with his £30m price tag.

Milner was brought in as a free transfer to provide experience to the team. The club also acquired 18-year-old Noel Atom from RB Leipzig, 25-year-old centre-back Igor Julio for £14.6m from Fiorentina, and signed Bart Verbruggen for £16.3m as a replacement for Sanchez, who is set to join Chelsea.

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Over the past three years, the club's transfer operations have yielded astonishing profits, surpassing £250m. However, the question remains: is this sustainable? Can Brighton maintain a successful strategy of selling their top players while consistently uncovering new talents to fill their ranks?

According to De Zerbi, "Recruitment is one of Brighton's best-kept secrets. Our current players are exceptional, making it easier for me as a coach to work with them. However, it is crucial for us to constantly bring in fresh faces."

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"We at Brighton acknowledge the likelihood of losing key players at the conclusion of a season. However, this does not pose a problem as our primary focus lies in locating suitable replacements who can uphold our level of performance. Our motivation and objectives remain unchanged."

"And at the conclusion of the season, the outcome will reveal itself. Ferguson, Enciso, Mitoma, Jan Paul van Hecke, Billy Gilmour, Lamptey - we possess numerous talented players who could be sold in the future. However, for the time being, I believe and anticipate that we can acquire some new players - as we are in need of them."

Tune in to We Premier League on Saturday at 5pm to witness if Brighton can secure their third consecutive victory and maintain their position at the top of the Premier League standings. Watch the live match between Brighton and West Ham to discover the outcome.