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  1. 'Underperformed' or 'more than acceptable'? Fans on Albion's seasonpublished at 20:00 23 April

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    Fabian HurzelerImage source, Getty Images

    We asked for your thoughts on whether fans need to keep perspective when reflecting upon this season - as argued by BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor below (13:00 BST) - or whether Brighton have underachieved.

    Here are some of your comments:

    Richard: Brighton underperformed, perhaps by lack of selection continuity. Not convinced yet by Fabian Hurzeler's ability. Nice is sadly not usually a attribute of successful Premier League managers.

    Mark: Totally agree. In perspective, this is still one of the best ever finishes for the club, and if we can turn the form around for the last few games it could still make for another European tour next season.

    Alex: People seem to forget where the club has come from and believe the only acceptable place for the team is in Europe. The Premier League is considered one of the toughest out there and finishing anywhere above the drop zone - especially with a new squad, new manager, inconsistent injuries and an influx of fans with little awareness of the history of Brighton - is more than acceptable at this point of time.

    Tim: It has been something of a curate's egg. It seems the coach and his team get to a point where they are lavished with praise - only then to fall away to mediocrity. I feel at this point they are going to find it difficult to climb out of the pit they are currently in and the concern must be it will carry over into the next campaign. Let's hope not!

    Martin: I think we need a balanced view on this season. There is clearly much to do, but in the context of a very tough Premier League, a finish in the top half would be acceptable and top eight a success. So let's see and remember we are living the dream.

  2. 'Everyone needs to play their part' - Albion look to sustainable futurepublished at 19:29 23 April

    Nicola Pearson
    BBC Sport journalist

    General view of The Terrace fans zone outside Amex stadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Brighton & Hove Albion have already made progress towards their sustainability ambitions but now want to continue to "drive positive change".

    The impact of climate change is being felt in many different ways and football is not immune to these.

    Previous research, external has suggested one in four professional football pitches will be at risk from flooding in 25 years.

    While so much of the focus is what is happening on the pitch, there is an increasing expectation from supporters that clubs should be doing more to reduce their impact off it.

    In the second part of our Earth Day chat with Tom Harris, the club's sustainability manager highlighted how important fans and the impacts of climate change have been in shaping their MyAlbion, MyPlanet sustainability strategy.

    "One of the most important drivers is what fans expect of us," Harris said. "In our end of season survey last year, around 72% of fans think that it is important that the club is committed to environmental sustainability.

    "Climate change is with us now and the world is already experiencing the effects. We are seeing the impacts of climate change, not just in other countries, but in this country as well.

    "Those impacts are affecting sport and forcing clubs and associations to make changes to the game that we love, whether that is installing additional pitch drainage, rescheduling fixtures that have been postponed due to extreme weather or introducing water breaks for players during periods of high temperatures.

    "Ultimately, if we are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, everyone needs to play their part."

    By publishing their sustainability strategy last year and signing up to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC) Sports for Climate Action Framework, which commits the club to halving its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2040, they have been able to set out a clear direction of travel.

    Lots of positive work is already taking place and with plans to take these initiatives further, Harris knows they cannot stop now.

    "The strategy is not an end point, but a marker of our ambition and commitment. The whole club recognises there is more to do," he added.

    "With the work that has been done already, the club are in a strong position to drive positive change and progress their sustainability objectives."

  3. What is driving Brighton's sustainability ambitions?published at 18:17 23 April

    Nicola Pearson
    BBC Sport journalist

    General view of pitch and stand inside Amex stadiumImage source, Getty Images

    Brighton & Hove Albion's values are a key driver in them wanting to lead "by example" when it comes to sustainability.

    The Seagulls have been taking action to reduce their environmental impact and drive positive change, both locally and on a larger scale, for a number of years.

    This was brought together into one focused strategy last year when they introduced MyAlbion, MyPlanet and signed up to the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework - an initiative that aims at supporting and guiding sports bodies and organisations in achieving global climate change goals.

    "We set out how we would achieve our vision of becoming one of the most sustainable clubs in world football and achieving our emissions reductions targets," the club's sustainability manager, Tom Harris, told BBC Sport.

    "It sets out our two key missions - one, to reduce the environmental impacts from the club, and two, to inspire others, whether that is fans, our communities or our commercial partners and suppliers, to make their own positive changes as well.

    "We are looking at both the environmental impacts from the club's facilities, operations and supply chain, as well as the positive impacts the club has made, particularly around biodiversity, culture and community.

    "We wanted a strategy that supports the work across all areas of the club as sustainability touches on every department."

    Brighton's sustainability strategy has six focus areas - energy and water, travel and transport, waste, supply chain, biodiversity and culture and community.

    Some of the initiatives the club have implemented include solar panels at the training ground and their new fan zone The Terrace, free transport options for fans, use of local food suppliers, environmental education in the academy and with the foundation, upcycling unusable shirts into new products and, going forwards, calculating the club's carbon footprint.

    "We have got a strong set of values and these values are the foundation of everything we do, including our sustainability work," Harris added.

    "One of our key values is treating people well and, for me, that necessitates treating the planet well too.

    "Even before I joined, the club had implemented a range of sustainability initiatives, primarily because they were the right thing to do. We've got very forward-thinking and progressive leadership who have always recognised the importance of environmental and social issues.

    "This is coming down from the top of the club. We are committed to acting as a responsible business and leading by example in this in this area."

    Come back later on Wednesday for more on Brighton's sustainability journey

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  4. How do you judge Brighton's season?published at 13:00 23 April

    Fabian HurzelerImage source, Getty Images

    BBC Radio Sussex's Brighton reporter Johnny Cantor is wondering whether fans need to keep perspective when reflecting upon this season.

    After taking only two points from their past five league games, Brighton have dropped to 10th, nine points behind Aston Villa in seventh.

    Speaking on the podcast, Cantor said: "I know it's been a really difficult period, fans are frustrated, but at the same time they have four more points than last season, seven fewer than the year before.

    "Do we need a little bit of perspective here? With a fully changed squad and a new head coach who is inexperienced in the Premier League, is eighth or 10th place actually not a bad season?

    "Are we maybe getting a bit more frustrated then we should bearing in mind all those things? Also, dare I mention the injury list which has been long and extensive.

    "It's what you make the comparison against. If you compare to last season or the season before when qualifying for Europe, but you could go back to when we first came to the league.

    "I don't think it's been a bad season. There are things to be worked on, but injuries have made a big difference."

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

    Tell us what you make of Brighton's season - do you agree with Johnny or have Albion under-achieved?

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  5. Booing Watson is 'brainless' - Gabbiadinipublished at 09:30 23 April

    Media caption,

    Marco Gabbiadini reacts to fans booing Tommy Watson over Easter weekend.

    Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini says fans booing Brighton-bound Tommy Watson "seems a little bit brainless" after some supporters voiced their frustration with the winger over Easter weekend.

    The Black Cats lost 2-1 away against Bristol City on Good Friday then suffered a 1-0 home defeat on Monday to Blackburn Rovers. Watson was booed off the pitch at Ashton Gate but received a more mixed reaction at the Stadium of Light.

    Some supporters booed when the winger's name was announced as part of the starting line-up before the loss to Blackburn while others applauded as he took a corner in the first-half, and then there was a split reaction when he was substituted in the second.

    It was announced at the start of April that Watson will leave Sunderland this summer in a £10m move to Brighton. Since then some fans have questioned whether he should feature in the remaining games this season.

    Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle: "It seems a little bit brainless to me. It's modern football.

    "We've got players, the top players in the country, who are coming to the end of their contracts and they're still playing for their teams but talking about where they're going to be next year and they might be leaving.

    "You can't do that to players. It's just the business of football.

    "He has agreed a deal in advance of the season finishing. The club are going to do well out of it. Hopefully in the future even better. He might even end up back here on loan in the summer.

    "I'm glad that the majority of people did give him the support he deserves. You never know what might happen. He might have a fairy tale end to the season."

    You can listen to more from Marco Gabbiadini on BBC Sounds.

  6. 🎧 West Ham build-up as Brighton contend for European spotpublished at 08:28 23 April

    Albion Unlimited podcast graphic

    The latest episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast has landed.

    Johnny Cantor and former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall discuss the upcoming fixture against Graham Potter's West Ham, plus Solly March gives an update on his fitness.

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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  7. Can anyone meet Brighton's standards?published at 12:39 22 April

    Scott McCarthy
    Fan writer

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    Fabian HurzelerImage source, Getty Images

    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