Aston Villa look to sign off before the World Cup with a second league win. Brighton, however, will be no push over as they look to secure a place in the top six over the festive period. Two new managers meet after differing Cup performances in what will be a tactically interesting match.
I spoke to @TogetherBHA to find out more about Brightonβs season so far.
UTV PODCAST X TOGETHER BHA
After Graham Potter left Brighton to join Chelsea there was a lot of speculation about his successor. De Zerbi has come in and after a period of adjustment, Brighton seem to be finding their feet. What have you made of the Italianβs short stint so far?
It is still very much early days for Roberto, but as of right now it certainly feels like a minor upgrade on Graham Potter. The reason being more than anything the goals! If you watched Brighton under Potter, you would have seen a lot of incredibly good football, a lot of exceptionally good build-up play and little final product. We had one of the best defences in the league and one of the worst scoring units out there. Under Roberto the build-up play has remained excellent.Β
The defensive record has been decent, the difference now is that our players are getting into positions to score goals a lot more regularly and taking those chances when they come. During the winter World Cup preseason, we will be seeing a lot more time for Roberto to really bed in his beliefs and style into the team. Despite some of our best players being gone to the World Cup, the amount of Brighton players staying behind will allow Roberto to finish his full overhaul in our style of play in time for Southampton on boxing day. What started as a nightmare scenario losing Potter, is starting to look like the unthinkable, a blessing in disguise!
Leandro Trossard will be known by Villa fans as being one of Brightonβs best players. Are there any other players who donβt get as much recognition?Β
Kaoru Mitoma without a doubt. The Japanese international who we signed from the J League spent a year in Belgium last season to fulfill his visa commitments before being able to play in the Premier League. After a small bedding in period and not really finding anywhere to play in the team under Graham Potter, Roberto has installed him on the left-hand side and he is starting to look Un droppable for the Albion, he was instrumental in every single goal last week and going to make a huge splash at the World Cup with Japan.Β
He is a superb player, very explosive, very tricky, and fun to watch. He is the reason Japan are heading to the World Cup as he came on as a late substitute in their final qualifier playoff and scored a brace in the final 4 minutes to see them through to the World Cup proper. His new partnership on the left-hand side with Estupinan has become a real problem for every team we played so far under Roberto, and something to watch!
A host of Brighton players will be involved in the coming World Cup. Do you think it will have much of an impact on the second half of your season?
I do not think it will have too much of an effect, we will be losing Robert Sanchez, MacAllister, Trossard, Mitoma, Lamptey and our Ecuador contingent, more if I’ve forgotten someone. A lot of those players will not be starting for their sides barring the Ecuador group and for Japan. So, a lot of our players will get to experience a World Cup and continue to keep match fit but won’t be playing a lot of matches at all, which I don’t think would have a huge detriment to the side. The ones who are going to be playing a lot of matches like Mitoma for Japan and our Ecuador group, they are likely to go out earlier than later, which means that they will then have a nice break before coming back to join in with the mini preseason prior to the Premier League kicking back off again.
Finally, whatβs your score prediction?Β
I’m going to go with 2-1 to Brighton. I know Villa are something of a bogey team for us, but I think like every other team we desperately want to win this final game before the long break, and a win would keep us in the top six over winter something I am sure you find as crazy as I do so I have to be hopeful.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | LEANDRO TROSSARD
Brighton has always intrigued me in many ways. Their commitment to playing exciting, attacking football is admirable. With Potter’s departure and the arrival of Italian De Zerbi, Brighton are now in transition.Β
However, one constant has remained. The class of Leandro Trossard. In this piece, I will be looking back at Trossardβs career so far, including some key moments during his time with the Seagulls.
Trossard began his career in a challenging fashion. He joined the Genk team in 2012, when he was only 18 years old. Trossard struggled to find his feet at the highest level of Belgian football in the early years of his career. The Belgian was loaned out four times in a row, accumulating 89 appearances and 34 goals. Even at this trying time for Trossard, his class shone through.
Trossard was finally given his chance four years later. Trossard’s first goal for Genk came four years after he joined the club. In that game, he came on as a substitute for a Villa fan favourite, Leon Bailey. Trossard scored 27 goals during his seven years at Genk.
Brighton and Trossard reached an agreement around the end of June 2019. Trossard would play in the South of England for the next four years under this deal. Trossard made an immediate impact for Brighton as opposed to Genk. He scored onΒ his debut. He is now one of Brighton’s most key players four seasons later.
How crucial is Trossard to the way Brighton plays football? The answer is straightforward. Very. And the statistics back it up. Trossard has one of the highest one-touch pass completion rates in the Premier League. This demonstrates how important he is to their rapid counter-attacking play. He has also scored seven goals this season. This is huge for Brighton, who have been plagued by a lack of clinical edge for some time. Trossard, who has added a finish edge to his lively play, has the potential to be one of the league’s most underappreciated players.
MY PREDICTION
Away form has been something Villa have really struggled with this season. Two impressive home victories have been followed up by disappointing away performances. However, Brighton have struggled when we have played them in recent years. Iβm going to go with a 2-2 draw with Ramsey and Mings grabbing the goals.Β
AUTHOR | ELLIS BURNETT
Author’s UTV PODCAST archive ellisburnett – UTV Podcast | An Aston Villa Blog
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