
Can anyone meet Brighton's standards?
Tony Bloom famously does not go in the director's box at Brentford because of a falling out he had with Bees owner Matthew Benham 20 years ago.Images of Bloom celebrating victories at Gtech Community Stadium have gone viral in the past because no other Premier League chairman joins supporters on the terraces.It is brilliant when things are going well, but maybe not so much when the Albion sink - as was the case on Saturday, when Bloom found himself sat in the middle of an away end in which a lot of people could be clearly heard singing: "You don't know what you're doing" at manager Fabian Hurzeler.Brighton value their reputation as the best run club in English football so much that when there has been dissent from the terraces before, they have gone out of their way to tell the media it was only a "small minority" of "doom and gloom" fans.That spin will not work this time though.Just 1,600 Albion fans could buy tickets for Brentford. Those inside the Gtech were at the top of the loyalty points scheme and the most dedicated Seagulls supporters around - and enough of them turned for it to warrant mentioning in every match report about the game.It seems a bit mad because Brighton are10th in the Premier League. If they end the season there, it would be the third highest finish in the club's history. It is a position every fan would have bitten your arm off for... before 2023.The problem is Roberto de Zerbi. He tore up the rule book and showed European qualification was possible for Brighton - and that was before a £200m spending spree.No Albion supporter expects a top-six finish every season, but managers are now being judged against what De Zerbi did. The standards have been raised.The question is can Hurzeler - or anyone else for that matter - meet them? And if they cannot, does that mean they don't know what they're doing?Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South Wales Guardian
15 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Marseille reach ‘agreement in principle' to sign England midfielder Angel Gomes
The former Manchester United youngster is set to become a free agent when his contract with another French side in Lille expires at the end of this month. The 24-year-old could also be joined by Burnley's CJ Egan-Riley at the Stade Velodrome after the Clarets confirmed the defender had rejected the offer of a new deal at Turf Moor. 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 🤝 Olympique de Marseille announces that it has reached an agreement in principle with Angel Gomes regarding the arrival of the English international midfielder at the club. 🏴 — Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) June 11, 2025 Gomes joined Lille five years ago after failing to establish himself as a first-team regular at Old Trafford. His performances have since earned him four England caps. He had been linked with West Ham and Tottenham but has opted for Marseille, where he will link up with another former United player in Mason Greenwood. A statement from Marseille read: 'Olympique de Marseille announces that it has reached an agreement in principle with Angel Gomes regarding the arrival of the English international midfielder at the club.' Egan-Riley, who is a graduate of Manchester City's youth programme, impressed as Burnley secured promotion back to the Premier League last season but was also out of contract this summer. The Lancashire side were keen for the 22-year-old to stay but have accepted he wishes to move on. They confirmed the centre-back's departure in a statement which referred to him joining an unnamed Ligue 1 club. It has been widely claimed that is Marseille. The statement added: 'Burnley Football Club can confirm that it has been informed by the representatives of CJ Egan-Riley that the England U21 international defender has now formally rejected the club's offer of a significant long-term contract with the club. 'Despite the club's commitment to securing CJ's long-term future and the substantial investment offered, CJ has made the decision to pursue an opportunity in France.'

South Wales Argus
15 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Marseille reach ‘agreement in principle' to sign England midfielder Angel Gomes
The former Manchester United youngster is set to become a free agent when his contract with another French side in Lille expires at the end of this month. The 24-year-old could also be joined by Burnley's CJ Egan-Riley at the Stade Velodrome after the Clarets confirmed the defender had rejected the offer of a new deal at Turf Moor. 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 🤝 Olympique de Marseille announces that it has reached an agreement in principle with Angel Gomes regarding the arrival of the English international midfielder at the club. 🏴 — Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) June 11, 2025 Gomes joined Lille five years ago after failing to establish himself as a first-team regular at Old Trafford. His performances have since earned him four England caps. He had been linked with West Ham and Tottenham but has opted for Marseille, where he will link up with another former United player in Mason Greenwood. A statement from Marseille read: 'Olympique de Marseille announces that it has reached an agreement in principle with Angel Gomes regarding the arrival of the English international midfielder at the club.' Egan-Riley, who is a graduate of Manchester City's youth programme, impressed as Burnley secured promotion back to the Premier League last season but was also out of contract this summer. The Lancashire side were keen for the 22-year-old to stay but have accepted he wishes to move on. Egan-Riley also looks to be heading to France (Mike Egerton/PA) They confirmed the centre-back's departure in a statement which referred to him joining an unnamed Ligue 1 club. It has been widely claimed that is Marseille. The statement added: 'Burnley Football Club can confirm that it has been informed by the representatives of CJ Egan-Riley that the England U21 international defender has now formally rejected the club's offer of a significant long-term contract with the club. 'Despite the club's commitment to securing CJ's long-term future and the substantial investment offered, CJ has made the decision to pursue an opportunity in France.'


Glasgow Times
29 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Marseille reach ‘agreement in principle' to sign England midfielder Angel Gomes
The former Manchester United youngster is set to become a free agent when his contract with another French side in Lille expires at the end of this month. The 24-year-old could also be joined by Burnley's CJ Egan-Riley at the Stade Velodrome after the Clarets confirmed the defender had rejected the offer of a new deal at Turf Moor. 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 🤝 Olympique de Marseille announces that it has reached an agreement in principle with Angel Gomes regarding the arrival of the English international midfielder at the club. 🏴 — Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) June 11, 2025 Gomes joined Lille five years ago after failing to establish himself as a first-team regular at Old Trafford. His performances have since earned him four England caps. He had been linked with West Ham and Tottenham but has opted for Marseille, where he will link up with another former United player in Mason Greenwood. A statement from Marseille read: 'Olympique de Marseille announces that it has reached an agreement in principle with Angel Gomes regarding the arrival of the English international midfielder at the club.' Egan-Riley, who is a graduate of Manchester City's youth programme, impressed as Burnley secured promotion back to the Premier League last season but was also out of contract this summer. The Lancashire side were keen for the 22-year-old to stay but have accepted he wishes to move on. Egan-Riley also looks to be heading to France (Mike Egerton/PA) They confirmed the centre-back's departure in a statement which referred to him joining an unnamed Ligue 1 club. It has been widely claimed that is Marseille. The statement added: 'Burnley Football Club can confirm that it has been informed by the representatives of CJ Egan-Riley that the England U21 international defender has now formally rejected the club's offer of a significant long-term contract with the club. 'Despite the club's commitment to securing CJ's long-term future and the substantial investment offered, CJ has made the decision to pursue an opportunity in France.'