As the window closes, Brighton’s team is weaker and imbalanced
Source:Â http://www.richportaltv.com
Questioning hiring practices or Brighton’s management is not the norm. It might even be considered sacrilege by others. However, their January transfer business has been nearly as bizarre as David Icke’s claim to be the son of God on Wogan.
Just nine days after Fabian Hurzeler was so low on strikers that he started Adam Webster, his fourth-choice center defender, up front against Everton, Evan Ferguson joined West Ham on loan, leaving Danny Welbeck as the team’s lone number nine.
This season, neither Georginio Rutter nor Joao Pedro has appeared comfortable playing as a center forward. I wish you luck if Welbeck sustains another injury.
Brighton have paid £22m for Greek striker Stefanos Tzimas. He won’t be any use to Hurzeler yet, as, despite this glaring hole in the squad, Tzimas will spend the rest of the season on loan with FC Nurnberg.
Another glaring hole is left back, where Pervis Estupinan is the only natural option thanks to season-ending injuries to Ferdi Kadioglu and Igor. Tariq Lamptey has been forced to do a job on his weaker side with Estupinan also currently injured.
That did not stop Valentin Barco from being moved onto Strasbourg, just 12 months after Tony Bloom’s algorithms were hailed for finding another South American wonderkid.
On deadline day, Brighton did attempt to bolster their roster by pursuing Sunderland winger Tommy Watson. Only the six wide players—Kaoru Mitoma, Simon Adingra, Yankubu Minteh, Brajan Gruda, and Solly March—would have been available to Hurzeler to contend for two spots.
Other transfer business included adding midfielder Diego Gomez and center-back Eiran Cashin. But despite spending nearly £50m, Brighton have somehow come out of January with what looks like a weaker, more imbalanced squad than they started with.