Latest TV Christmas special: Part 1 (2023 review)
Sussex World reporters Sam Morton and Henry Bryant review Brighton and Hove Albion's 2023
Sussex World reporters Sam Morton and Henry Bryant review Brighton and Hove Albion's 2023
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 (upbeat music)
00:32 - Hello and welcome to the Christmas special
00:33 of Latest TV News.
00:35 My name is Sam Morton,
00:36 and I'm going to be speaking to reporter
00:38 and Brighton fan, Henry Bryant,
00:39 about how 2023 went for Brighton,
00:42 and we look ahead to the upcoming year.
00:44 So Henry, an historic season for Brighton,
00:47 qualified for Europe,
00:48 in a terminal start to the season
00:50 when Graham Potter had such a good start,
00:52 and then he obviously left for Chelsea,
00:54 replaced by Roberto Di Serbi,
00:56 obviously seems like such a long time ago now.
00:58 So how would you reflect on this year?
01:00 - Well, Merry Christmas, Sam.
01:01 It's been a very historic year for us,
01:05 and probably the most successful year
01:07 we've had in history, really.
01:09 Finishing how we did in the Premier League,
01:12 doing so well at sixth position,
01:15 was absolutely immense for us,
01:17 and such a world-beating sort of achievement
01:20 for Brighton and Hove Albion.
01:22 Being able to get a manager that followed on
01:25 from the success of Graham Potter,
01:27 like Roberto Di Serbi,
01:29 that plays attacking-minded Italian football,
01:31 that has really shaped up the Premier League
01:34 and sort of shook it about,
01:36 and been hard for a lot of teams to suss out, really,
01:40 I think has been really, really cool to see.
01:42 There's a lot of progression
01:44 that we've seen with younger players
01:45 really performing well, like Evan Ferguson,
01:48 really shining in the limelight at the moment,
01:50 and his name being thrown about,
01:53 and almost a lot of attention being seen
01:56 with a lot of Premier League clubs
01:58 looking to snap him up, a lot of top Premier League sides.
02:02 And just to be able to see how well we're doing, as well,
02:05 in the transfer market, I mean,
02:07 we sold Moises Caicedo,
02:09 a talent that we brought for just a few million pounds
02:12 for the Premier League record of over 100 million,
02:16 is just insane.
02:17 So from a business perspective, a fans perspective,
02:20 and also just in a general perspective
02:22 for the influence that the success of Brighton
02:25 has had on the whole city,
02:27 it's been nothing short of phenomenal.
02:29 - Yeah, well, absolutely.
02:30 And obviously when Graham Potter left
02:31 to all of his coaching staff with him to Chelsea,
02:34 I guess Brighton fans were fearing the worst at that point.
02:36 I think they'd just beaten Leicester 5-2
02:39 in the league at the time,
02:40 and everything was really good,
02:41 and you're really kind of excited for the season ahead.
02:43 You thought Potter had finally sussed it out,
02:46 he'd got, really, his best Brighton team
02:47 performing at high level, and suddenly he's gone.
02:50 And you do fear at that point what's gonna happen,
02:52 and is Brighton gonna fall down the league?
02:55 You wonder how they're gonna replace Graham Potter.
02:56 And I remember thinking, "He's irreplaceable, surely."
02:59 And I was very wrong.
03:00 And then they brought Roberto de Servia,
03:02 and he's improved on Graham Potter in many ways,
03:05 and he's influenced,
03:06 brought his own style to the league, as you say,
03:08 and has developed an ethos at the club
03:12 which we never dreamed could have been possible.
03:14 And now they're competing in the Europa League,
03:17 playing away at Ajax,
03:18 and it's incredible the journey they've been on,
03:21 I suppose in such a short period of time as well.
03:23 So how would you reflect on that
03:26 and how that's all panned out?
03:28 - Well, I think when Graham Potter left,
03:30 it was a bit of a shock to us all.
03:32 As Brighton fans, I think it was something
03:35 that we didn't really see coming at all.
03:38 And it was something for around 20 million-ish pounds
03:41 Graham Potter got given to terminate his contract
03:45 and go to Chelsea.
03:47 So it seems like, from that perspective,
03:50 at the time, I remember thinking with a lot of my friends,
03:53 what are we gonna do now?
03:54 Who are we gonna get?
03:55 And all of this momentum that we've built,
03:58 we've been sort of snowballing in bigger and bigger
04:01 and bigger and better performances, better results.
04:04 Is that all gonna go?
04:07 But it didn't.
04:07 We got Roberto de Servia, and his ethos, his passion,
04:12 his managerial play and skillset has been enough
04:15 for us to go to a side that entered the Premier League
04:18 with Chris Hewton as quite a defensive-minded draw
04:22 or sort of playing out sort of from the back,
04:25 but also keeping defensively-minded side to someone
04:29 and a team that is very ferocious
04:32 and has a ferocity about them that has been feared
04:36 in a lot of Premier League matches from different sides.
04:39 - Yeah, and you think the players that have come and gone
04:42 in that time, you think such key players as well.
04:44 And you think, even under Graham Potter,
04:46 they lost some big names and still managed to keep going.
04:50 You think of Ives Basuma and Mark Kukarea,
04:52 and it was impressive when they recovered from that.
04:55 And then this season, they lost Moises Caicedo,
04:58 Alexis McAllister, Levi Cole,
05:00 obviously going back to Chelsea.
05:02 How much of a credit is it to Brighton
05:04 that they can seemingly make do with any situation
05:09 that comes at them?
05:10 Obviously, the loss of Caicedo and McAllister
05:12 has been probably more difficult to deal with
05:14 than they've experienced before,
05:15 and they've really, I guess,
05:17 when playing in Europe and the Premier League,
05:19 they've struggled for consistency in midfield.
05:21 But on the whole, they've done brilliantly
05:23 in the circumstances.
05:24 How much of a credit to the club and the owners is that?
05:27 - Well, they're so data-driven, Tony Bloom and his staff,
05:31 that they've always got a way out
05:34 and they've always got a way to win against all odds.
05:38 And I think that that's been seen with the players
05:40 from our academy that they've recruited,
05:42 players that are local to us
05:43 that have just been able to be nurtured
05:46 and put on that centre stage and do really well.
05:49 I think that there's a really good feeling at that club,
05:54 and it's not just being said because I'm a Brighton fan,
05:57 but a lot of Premier League supporters
06:00 also have Brighton sometimes
06:02 as their second favourite club, almost,
06:04 because of the way we are.
06:06 The way that we're able to get a lot of money
06:09 and also save a lot of money in our replacements
06:13 has been really good.
06:14 I think that in future,
06:16 I think it's worth keeping hold of some of those players.
06:19 I think if we want to be a team
06:21 that can compete at the highest level in a few years' time
06:26 or a long-term project
06:27 where we can compete at the highest level,
06:29 and maybe even break into that top six one day,
06:32 whatever happens, we'll see.
06:35 But I think that we need to keep hold
06:37 of those quality players and say,
06:39 "Look, we're really trying to build something here.
06:42 I know that you're being offered this money and this money,
06:44 but we need to start matching that at some point."
06:47 Because we don't want to do a Southampton
06:49 where they had a lot of success in the past
06:52 and been able to compete with top sides,
06:55 not at the same level,
06:56 but loitering around that sort of level at times,
07:00 they've even been questioned.
07:01 And for them to now be relegated
07:05 and be playing in the Championship
07:06 because they've lost all of their star players,
07:09 they've sold too many players
07:11 and not had the same luck as we have so far in replacing them,
07:14 is something we need to watch out for,
07:16 keep a close eye on,
07:18 and make sure that we don't make those same mistakes
07:20 and learn from those previous teams.
07:22 - Yeah, and we've got to talk about
07:23 the qualification for Europe,
07:25 obviously with the help of the players that left massively.
07:28 You think of Levi Cole has been so crucial in that,
07:31 same with Kysaida and McAllister.
07:32 And it was, I guess, a shame that they weren't here
07:35 to play in Europe,
07:36 because they played a huge part
07:37 in helping the club to achieve that goal.
07:41 How has that gone, do you think, this season?
07:44 Obviously, we have seen Brighton struggle a little bit
07:46 in playing in Europe in the week
07:48 and then playing in the league on a Saturday and Sunday.
07:51 So how have you seen that
07:53 and where can they improve going forward?
07:55 - Well, some of those quality players,
07:57 like you mentioned, Kysaida, McAllister, Levi Cole,
07:59 well, they're crucial players that could have helped us a lot
08:04 in maybe retaining a first position in the Europa League.
08:08 At the time of recording,
08:09 we don't know if Brighton did get the first position or not,
08:12 because there is a match due against Marseille.
08:15 But I feel like we would have had less of a struggle
08:19 to get to the positions that we're in now.
08:22 And I think there would be more success
08:24 in the Premier League as well,
08:26 with McAllister being such an attacking threat,
08:29 being able to create so many chances for us last season,
08:32 which really did break deadlocks
08:34 of some sort of games that we've been playing.
08:36 I think that we could have been in a higher position
08:39 right now, eighth currently in the table
08:41 at the time of recording.
08:43 So it feels like a lot of key players could have done us
08:47 a grand service in these games.
08:49 It's a shame, like you said,
08:51 that they're not here to experience this historic season,
08:55 because last year was so historic and now it's historic
08:57 because we're actually playing in the Europa League.
09:00 - Yeah, well, it's been incredible, isn't it?
09:01 I think the pick of the bunch was probably
09:03 when the draw was announced, facing Ajax.
09:05 That was one that everyone looked forward to.
09:07 I don't think anyone could have dreamed
09:08 they'd beat them 2-0 twice in a row, home and away.
09:11 Obviously Ajax are not the team
09:13 they once were at the moment.
09:15 But does that really epitomise how far Brighton have come
09:19 to go to the Johan Cruyff Arena
09:21 and play Ajax off the park, really?
09:24 - Well, yeah, to do the double over Ajax.
09:27 I mean, I was speaking to my dad about it and he said,
09:29 "Well, I was always living in Brighton,
09:31 "but I had lots of Ajax T-shirts and lots of Ajax shirts.
09:35 "And I used to think they were really cool
09:37 "and they had so many quality players back then."
09:39 But he said it's so surreal to see Brighton,
09:43 his boyhood club, beating players and teams like Ajax.
09:48 It's really, really cool to see.
09:50 And I think the perspective of the fact
09:54 that they are a great club with a lot of history,
09:57 like you say, not the best form for them right now
10:00 and situation, but for us to make
10:03 and take advantage of that, get the points
10:05 and get ourselves in the position now
10:07 that we're going to be going through
10:09 to another round of the Europa League is brilliant.
10:13 - We've mentioned to Serbi how much of an amazing impact
10:16 he's had on the Premier League.
10:18 He's been spoken of so highly by pundits,
10:21 even managers, even Pep Guardiola
10:22 has been full of praise for him.
10:24 And there's been talk that he could even succeed
10:26 Guardiola at Man City.
10:27 He's been talked that he could be off to Real Madrid.
10:29 So some huge claims being made about the Serbi.
10:33 Is it going to be tough for Brighton
10:35 to keep hold of him for the long term?
10:37 - I think so.
10:38 I think so because you look at how much potential he has.
10:43 He's a relatively young manager
10:46 in the scope of things, really.
10:48 And he's got such an aggressive, creative style
10:52 that's been envied and admired
10:53 by the likes of Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola,
10:57 who's also good friends with de Serbi.
11:00 And I feel like those are the sort of clubs
11:03 that will be looking at him to become their next,
11:05 you know, multi trophy winner, to be honest with you.
11:09 So for us to be tempting enough for him to get,
11:14 you know, into the club and sign a long-term deal
11:17 and make sure that he's there for, you know,
11:19 10 plus years is something we might struggle with,
11:22 to be honest.
11:23 (upbeat music)
11:26 - So we've mentioned the impact of de Serbi,
11:43 but onto the players.
11:44 Who has been your player of 2023 for Brighton?
11:47 - Well, it was between Lewis Duncan, Pascal Gros.
11:50 But for me, I think Pascal Gros has just been a player
11:53 that you can rely on.
11:54 He's been there with us for the whole journey.
11:56 We've been in the Premier League,
11:57 our first ever signing since we got to the Premier League.
12:01 - Scored the first Premier League goal as well, didn't he?
12:02 - Absolutely, and that was absolutely amazing for us.
12:06 He's been a player that has been a silent leader,
12:09 one that doesn't really get noticed as much as he should,
12:12 but has been putting in the work
12:15 and has been able to break a lot of defences
12:18 and been able to create a lot of chances for us
12:21 in the final third.
12:22 And there's been the difference in games
12:24 where we've needed a player up and down the pitch
12:27 to come back and defend and also come up
12:30 and try and help the attack.
12:32 So for me, I think he's an underrated workhorse
12:36 in the Brighton side and someone that a lot of people
12:39 don't realise he's there sometimes,
12:41 but he really is putting in the shift
12:42 and the engine of the squad, I would say.
12:45 - Yeah, and you obviously mentioned Lewis Dunk as well.
12:47 Got to comment on how influential he's been.
12:51 He's one of those players that you really notice
12:53 when he's not there, don't you?
12:54 I think when they've played against Athens
12:56 in the Europa League debut, he was a big miss.
12:59 You think set pieces they really struggled to deal with.
13:01 And again, against Chelsea, when he was suspended,
13:04 set pieces were a problem again.
13:06 So I suppose that just speaks volumes
13:08 about how important he is,
13:09 even more so when he's actually there.
13:12 The Athens game that we spoke about
13:13 was kind of a prime example of how important he is,
13:17 how when Brighton are facing a lot of pressure,
13:19 they're under the cosh.
13:21 He just deals with everything.
13:22 So on Lewis Dunk, how brilliant has he been?
13:26 And also as a local boy, he's come right through the ranks
13:30 as they've gone and come through the league.
13:31 So how great is it that they've still got
13:33 the kind of essential players
13:35 that have been there this whole time?
13:37 - Well, talking about Lewis Dunk, he has been superb.
13:40 He really, really has been superb.
13:42 And to also keep him and have him
13:45 in a long-term contract deal like he is,
13:48 has been really beneficial to us.
13:50 He's a player that wants to serve his city,
13:53 and we're lucky that he wanted to do that
13:55 because he's got so much talent.
13:58 Deserve, he said before,
13:59 he's one of the top five defenders in Europe.
14:03 And to have a player that's got that sort of quality skill
14:07 and composure when dealing with the ball at the back
14:11 is something a lot of teams need, and we've got that.
14:15 When we don't have him in the side, though,
14:17 there is a big sort of leadership issue
14:20 because Dunk is our leader and he's done so well for us.
14:24 So for us to not have him in a few of these games
14:28 where we've needed him a lot has been something
14:31 that has shown to cause us to lose, to be honest with you.
14:35 So I think that his effort, his impact,
14:38 and his quality has really shone through this season.
14:42 - And who's been your most improved player this season?
14:44 Someone that you maybe didn't think that much of initially,
14:47 but now you've been won over completely.
14:49 - Well, I think that Van Gecke has always been someone
14:52 that was going to be a talent of some sorts.
14:56 But for Deserve recently to say
14:57 that he's one of his top players
15:00 that has been developed by him personally
15:02 is a massive credit to him and a massive achievement
15:06 because he's been able to play some really,
15:08 really tough games for us in Europe
15:10 and been able to get stuck in.
15:12 He was a rock in defence.
15:13 And Louis Dunk also speaks really well of him as well
15:16 and tells the press and the media of how proud he is
15:20 that this young man is putting in such a good shift
15:24 at the back.
15:24 And he really has been someone
15:27 that we can rely on slowly, slowly.
15:30 At the start of the season,
15:31 didn't really get much game time,
15:33 but as things have been developing, as injuries have shown,
15:37 he's becoming a regular starter.
15:39 And for us to have players that can slip
15:42 into that kind of Deserve-y style of play
15:44 and also play with a confidence at such a young age
15:47 is very rare.
15:49 - And who's been your signing of the season?
15:52 I would ask.
15:53 I think they made some really decent signings in the summer.
15:54 Obviously, Anssi Fati coming in from Barcelona
15:56 was a shocker.
15:58 It shocked the world, really, coming in.
16:00 He was the heir to Lionel Messi's throne
16:02 when he departed Barcelona with the number 10 shirt.
16:04 So bringing him in, Carlos Bolivar,
16:08 and Simon Odinga coming back, obviously,
16:09 from his loan spell.
16:11 Igor, Julio, coming in in defence.
16:13 Who's been your standout from the signings that were made?
16:16 - Well, from a loan perspective,
16:19 I think Odinga has been the most impactful player so far
16:24 because of the way he's attacking the wings
16:27 and able to just get that crossing that you think,
16:30 no, he's definitely not gonna get that in.
16:32 He's got some pace, quality about him
16:35 that we've seen from the likes of Matoma as well,
16:38 who's not in the best of form at the moment,
16:40 but Odinga is sort of filling his shoes on the wings
16:43 when it comes to that sort of stuff.
16:45 I think that we're really lucky to have players
16:48 like Anssi Fati.
16:50 I think that he's not at his full potential just yet.
16:53 De Zerbe's mentioned that as well.
16:55 I think personally, in terms of the signings as well,
16:59 with JoĂ£o Pedro, it's been a big difference
17:01 because without him right now,
17:03 we would have lost a fair few games
17:05 and some strikers wouldn't have scored the penalties
17:09 that he has. He's so clinical
17:11 when it comes to the penalty taking
17:13 and his finishing is improving with every game,
17:16 to be honest with you.
17:17 - Yeah, absolutely.
17:18 JoĂ£o Pedro, probably my top pick
17:20 and didn't even mention, but,
17:22 Rubugan as well, he came in in the summer
17:23 and he's always been sharing that role and goal
17:25 with Jason Steele.
17:27 How would you say Rubugan has done since he's come in?
17:29 - Well, I think, to be honest with you,
17:31 it reminded me a little bit of when De Gea
17:33 got to Man United.
17:34 He's a slightly young and experienced player
17:37 in the top flight
17:38 and he's had a few sort of scares
17:41 where he's not been able to concentrate
17:43 for the whole 90 minutes,
17:44 a few silly mistakes here and there
17:46 that have sometimes cost us.
17:48 And I think that's the reason
17:49 he's not a regular starter at the moment.
17:51 I think that he's a player that has boundless talent
17:54 and will do very well for us
17:56 and will start for us regularly in time to come.
18:00 When that will be, De Zerba will decide.
18:02 But he's a player that we've managed to secure
18:07 despite a lot of interest from other top European clubs.
18:10 So for us, I think it's one for the future,
18:12 a bit like Carlos Bolivar as well.
18:15 - I was gonna say, is there anyone from the signings
18:17 or even just the squad in general
18:19 that you're hoping to see more from next year?
18:21 - Absolutely.
18:22 I think Carlos Bolivar,
18:23 because we see little glimmers of him.
18:25 He's almost Kai Sedo
18:28 and he's also a little bit Pesuma-esque as well,
18:31 in my opinion,
18:32 but with the way that he glides through the ball,
18:34 actually takes people on,
18:36 not afraid to attack and drive the ball forward
18:39 because a lot of players that have just joined a club
18:42 might just kind of pass a move.
18:45 But he's someone that wants to get the ball up the pitch,
18:47 someone that is able to in a really nice manner.
18:51 And he's got aggression
18:53 that De Zerba probably likes as well.
18:55 And he's done very well.
18:57 When he came on for the Chelsea game as well,
18:59 for a little bit,
19:00 you could just see that he instantly had that burst of energy
19:03 and an impact that could have helped us
19:06 get a draw in that game.
19:07 - Brilliant.
19:08 Well, thank you, Henry.
19:09 (upbeat music)
19:12 (dramatic music)