Brighton & Hove Albion

Johnny Cantor
BBC Radio Sussex

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We have been putting your questions to BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor. In part three, he looks beyond the current campaign and to the future of the club.

Raff asked: Is this a squad that is very young (including manager) but is there the capability to grow and develop over the years?

Johnny answered: There is undoubtedly a huge amount of young talent on the pitch and in the dugout. Time is not always given to individuals or a group to develop, but Brighton have a track record of creating the space for that to happen.

Six players involved in the squad against Chelsea last week were 21 or under, 16 were 25 or under. The only danger is other clubs looking to snatch their talent. It has happened before and will happen again, but Brighton will only sell if it suits all parties and at the right price. The club also carefully uses experienced players such as Danny Welbeck and Joel Veltman to complement the younger players, and that strategy is likely to continue.

Andy asked: What do you think is the best long-term squad strategy that will enable the club to go one step further and possibly put a trophy in the cabinet?

Johnny answered: They have got that potential in cup competitions already. They have reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup twice in the past six years and were unlucky to lose on penalties to Manchester United. The strength of the squad has gradually improved and last summer a huge investment should give them the depth and quality needed to compete for a cup and in Europe.

James asked: As they have had stellar seasons so far, are Kaoru Mitoma, Carlos Baleba, Yankuba Minteh and Jan Paul van Hecke at risk of joining a big club next season?

Johnny answered: Albion's talent is always under the microscope thanks to the stars they have helped nurture in the past, such as Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister. Inevitably these players will be of interest but for different reasons to different clubs.

A new emerging force is of course the Saudi Pro League as illustrated with the bids for Mitoma. The Saudi Pro League may also see him as a perfect way to help grow exposure in another market. Brighton have never stood in the way of players but they will only go on the club's terms.

Up-and-coming talents know Brighton provides a pathway but with that process they will probably move on at some point. One thing speaking to players is that so many seem very happy and that can count for a lot. Mitoma and Baleba are two that will attract interest, Joao Pedro and Bart Verbruggen too (and there will be more!) - but that shows the club are doing things right.

Johnny Cantor
BBC Radio Sussex

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We have been putting your questions to BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor. In part two, he focuses on the matchday experience at Amex Stadium.

Norman asked: Most games at Amex Stadium sell out, so are there any plans for a significant increase in stadium capacity in the near future?

Johnny answered: The club announced an expansion recently as part of the planned changes such as moving away supporters, fan zone, etc, but a significant increase is unlikely as it would be complicated as well as expensive.

There is a balance to be found between maximising the amount of supporters and the revenue they generate with creating a good atmosphere in a packed stadium and not one with empty seats. The current 30,000-plus capacity feels right to me, but one thing is for sure, the club will explore any opportunities that don't harm the atmosphere. Transport in and out of the stadium also has to be considered.

Sue asked: Does the club have any control over the timings of matches? We seem to have had our fair share of evening kick-offs and that can often mean some of the old season ticket-holders missing out on going.

Johnny answered: TV companies select the kick-off times for televised games and, of course, the Premier League will move games if teams are involved in Europe.

Inevitably, certain clubs tend to be preferred in certain time slots, but everyone must get a certain amount of home games on TV. I understand that clubs have the opportunity to request and suggest depending on other factors, such as policing or transport. I don't think Brighton have had a worse deal than others.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

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Consistency has been something Brighton have lacked at times this season but, in Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh, they may have at least found consistency in their attack.

They have scored seven of the Seagulls' past 10 goals.

Mitoma has already become increasingly instrumental to the Brighton side during past campaigns and, having struggled with injury towards the end of last season, has featured in every league game so far in 2024-25.

Minteh, who joined in the summer from Newcastle for £30m, looks to be finding the form he showed glimpses of at the beginning of the season.

His seven goal contributions (five goals and two assists) in the Premier League see the 20-year-old rank fourth among his team-mates, despite having played fewer than 1,000 minutes so far.

Mitoma's six goals and three assists have him one off the pace of Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck, who currently lead the club's goal contributions table with 10.

Of the 38 goals Brighton have scored in the Premier League this season, Minteh and Mitoma have netted 11 of those, accounting for 28.9% of the total.

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With pace to burn - the pair registered the two top speeds in the side against Chelsea on 14 February - they are utilising their abilities on the wings. Mitoma (57) and Minteh (55) rank second and third respectively for attempted crosses, while Japan international Mitoma leads the way among Brighton players in chances created at 32.

But how do Fabian Hurzeler's team fare with and without the duo?

According to Opta, of the nine league fixtures Brighton have played when both Mitoma and Minteh have started, they have won five of those, giving them a win percentage of 56% and an average of 1.9 points per game.

In those games, their 16 goals means they have also averaged 1.8 goals for.

However, of the three matches in which neither player started, they have won one, averaging 1.7 points per game. With four goals scored, they averaged 1.3 goals per game.

As Brighton look to move themselves up into contention for European qualification and push for silverware in the FA Cup, the growing influence of the Mitoma-Minteh attacking partnership could prove to be a key factor.

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Southampton (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Hurzeler said Pervis Estupinan and Solly March are "an option" but Lewis Dunk is "doubtful".

• On James Milner and if he can return this season: "If someone can do it, it is James. Special character, special mindset, special work-ethic. Hopefully we will see him back on the pitch. He's doing vey well in rehab. We are very happy he is around us, but the most important thing is he gets his health back."

• Hurzeler is happy with how his team have responded following the 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in January: "After the loss to Forest, we tried to get back the intensity from the start of the season. We lost this intensity and energy through the season so we said we want to go back to our roots, back to the things that made us strong. We want to be a team that is very hard to beat."

• He was not drawn into talking on hopes for European qualification: "Internally, we have clear goals and clear vision. But, it is game by game. The Premier League and our season has shown things go from here to here. We worked hard for this momentum and it's now about keeping that."

• On the challenge posed by bottom side Saints: "Games against teams lower in the table are different games, different approaches. It's about proving to ourselves we can go with this intensity. We play against Southampton but we also play against ourselves and our limits. I demand from my team that we go with this intensity against Chelsea but also Southampton so we have no difference in our approach."

• On Kaoru Mitoma after his brilliant goal against the Blues: "I am happy for Kaoru. He works so hard in training and he gets the things he deserves on the matchday. Defensively, he is working well and he's improved by having more actions in the opponents box. He's attacking the back post more and increasing his danger in front of goal, and hopefully that can continue."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Johnny Cantor
BBC Radio Sussex

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We have been putting your questions to BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor. In part one, he focuses on the remainder of the Seagulls' current season.

Ben asked: Can Brighton still get European football?

Johnny answered: Definitely. There is still a third of the season to go and Albion are just six points off fifth place. The European places could go all the way down to eighth, but the race for Europe is very competitive this season. Consistency is something everyone is striving for, but the results in the home games against rivals Aston Villa, Fulham, Newcastle and Bournemouth could prove crucial.

Dan asked: What would be a good result this season? Then, what would be a result deemed poor enough for Fabian Hurzeler to be sacked?

Johnny answered: That probably depends on who you ask, but I think a top-eight finish is a good result. Other teams continue to develop but, with the travails of Manchester United and Tottenham this season, there is certainly an opportunity to secure a second season of European football.

The club never panics and has invested in a young squad and a young manager so, as they have done with others, they will give the head coach time in a new environment. From what I have seen this season, it is not something under the spotlight - but, of course, results and underlying statistics will be monitored closely.

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It looks like Brighton have turned a corner.

There were a lot of question marks around Fabian Hurzeler and his age when he first came in and how he would manage the group. They got off to a really good start, were getting really good results early on, but then they went through that horrible spell. Their form dipped, they had injuries and the bubble seemed to burst.

Apart from the odd result, in recent games they have looked impressive. They completely dominated Chelsea in their most recent match and are looking difficult to beat again.

You look at players like Danny Welbeck and his contributions, Kaoru Mitoma on the left and Yankuba Minteh on the right - when they are all fit and firing, they look really good.

When you look at Brighton, in terms of how the whole club is run from top to bottom, they have always had that consistency. They find managers that no one else seems to know about, it never seems to rock the club or the players when they have those transitions. They always look impressive and allow these managers to build, while their recruitment is very good. They are an example of a really well-run club.

Hurzeler has proved that he is a good manager. When you hear some of the players talk about him, there were worries how he would manage in this league and with senior players, but he put that to bed really early on.

You expect a little bit of a blip but they are picking up results again and who knows where that can lead them from now until the end of the season?

We have seen with other teams, if you can go on those good runs of results, it really does change your position within the league. They will definitely be looking to stay in the top half of the table now and could even start thinking of European spots again. Plus, they have the FA Cup and a chance of silverware too.

Fans can be excited and it does feel like they have turned a corner in their season.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Ryan Adsett
Fan writer

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Nothing quite says bouncing back from a record 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest like knocking newfound rivals Chelsea out of the FA Cup and hitting them for three league goals within six days.

It felt like a sign that money can't buy class, as Albion came out as shrewd grinners after a trajectory-changing week for Fabian Hurzeler.

Hurzeler came under much scrutiny across the fanbase after the Forest result. Questions over the identity during games seemingly became rhetorical during the poor run of form.

The trouble with success and spending is that it brings rightful expectations from Albion fans. Football under previous managers was faultless at times - dominating teams most weeks, even when results were not going the right way.

The difference this season has been exactly that. While results have been there, often performances haven't. More so if we stand by the idea that this Brighton squad, especially going forward, is the best it ever has been.

Are we back on the right path? The proof will be in the signs that the past is the past against lowly Southampton. So often, the fanbase has been negative when approaching sides in the bottom six of the Premier League, with the team throwing away silly 2-0 leads like no tomorrow. We saw history repeat itself against Wolves and Leicester. Arch rivals Crystal Palace and the rejuvenated Everton also took three points at the Amex earlier in the season.

The jury is still out on this one as we'd like to see this squad performing at the highest level, signs of cracks and naivety still need to be plastered.

Hurzeler is only 31-years-old. Who'd have known? This team is a very young one, and with that comes a need for time and patience towards accepting that reality. With big upcoming games against lower-position teams, it really is the little things that matter most.

Find more from Ryan Adsett at Talk Seagulls, external

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Kaoru Mitoma's "delightful" goal in Brighton's win against Chelsea on Friday deserved more attention than it received.

That is the view of this week's Albion Unlimited podcast, with former midfielder Warren Aspinall saying: "That touch and finish was worth the entrance fee alone.

"That first touch from Mitoma, to pluck it out of the sky, he's got velcro on his foot. The second and third [touches], then to caress it into the corner with his fourth - it was a wonderful strike.

"It was poor defending from Chelsea as well, but you can't take away the touch and finish from Mitoma. It was just delightful."

Ex-defender Guy Butters agreed and said: "We all like to watch pretty football and passing but one ball pumped 80 yards up the field results in a goal.

"The touch and the quick feet after it as well, the way he took the second touch, then we were all up on our feet and thought this was definitely going to be some sort of goal and it was amazing."

BBC Radio Sussex reporter Johnny Cantor added: "It's about the finish as well. It's all good and well having flicks and skills, when they show the little showboating montages it's all well and good, but if it doesn't come to anything then it is a bit irrelevant.

"Whereas he has the ability to go on and score the goal and, for me, that is just as important. Having done something amazing like that with your skill but then to have the composure and precision to score as well.

"If Mitoma had been Messi, it would have got a lot more attention than it did."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Having been unbeaten in their first seven Premier League games against Brighton (W3 D4), Southampton are now winless in their last six against the Seagulls (D3 L3).

Brighton are unbeaten in all six of their Premier League away games against Southampton (W2 D4) – they've only visited West Ham (8) more without ever losing in the competition, while Saints have only hosted Nottingham Forest (7) more often without success.

Brighton might reluctantly sell 27-year-old forward Kaoru Mitoma for about £66m this summer, as he enters the final two years of his contract, with Chelsea one of the clubs interested. (CaughtOffside), external

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Is there something that you want to ask about the Seagulls?

BBC Radio Sussex reporter Johnny Cantor is ready to answer your questions for a special Q&A.

Submit your question here and come back later this week to read a selection of his replies

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

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Another weekend, another Brighton win over Chelsea, another inquest into how £250m worth of players, management and recruitment staff could have swapped Sussex for Stamford Bridge and yet the Albion still maintain a hold over the Blues.

Easy one to answer. Just start by looking at the Chelsea XI who took to the field for their 3-0 defeat on Friday night. £1.5bn spent and not a fit and available centre-forward.

Robert Sanchez dropped for being a calamity all season. His replacement, Filip Jorgensen, having a Valentine's Day nightmare by shipping three goals he should have done better with. All while Kepa Arrizabalaga helps Bournemouth in their unexpected push for Europe. Chelsea's best goalkeeper in the Premier League this season plays for the Cherries.

Somewhere at the heart of this squad and transfer mess is former Brighton head of recruitment Paul Winstanley. And his successor as Brighton head of recruitment, Sam Jewell. Chelsea paid handsomely for both within 12 months of each other, presumably because they thought they were buying the brains behind the Albion's success.

But Winstanley and Jewell were just cogs in a machine. The brains behind the entire recruitment operation and the only person who knows how all those algorithms fit together is the one bloke who cannot be bought - Tony Bloom.

Todd Boehly can chuck all the money he wants at Brighton but the only way Chelsea - or anyone else for that matter - can replicate the Albion's success is through purchasing Bloom himself.

Meanwhile, there is one player who Brighton have quite rightly made unavailable for sale. Eyebrows were raised when two bids from the Saudi Pro League were turned down for Kaoru Mitoma in January. Supporters of other clubs balked at Brighton rejecting a rumoured £75m.

Mitoma, though, is irreplaceable - as shown by his stunning opening goal against Chelsea.

In over 30 years of watching Brighton, I am struggling to think of a more technically excellent goal. The first touch was exquisite. The finish almost as good. Lionel Messi-esque.

Mitoma is a special player. Watching him in a Brighton shirt is an absolute honour.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

Aston Villa, Brighton, Chelsea and Tottenham have all been closely monitoring Middlesbrough's 16-year-old midfield twins Anton and Bailey Palmer. (TBR Football), external

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Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen has said he's "loving" the responsibility of being the number one at the club and believes success is on the way for the Seagulls.

After beating Chelsea twice in the space of six days at Amex Stadium, the Dutchman spoke about the importance of picking up consistent results.

"It was so important. We speak a lot about consistency. Everyone knows we have a good team but we strive to be a little bit more consistent and be as good as we were [on Friday] in every game we play," he said.

"It's really important to raise the bar again and show this level every game. We need to show this intensity every week."

Since missing the opening two, the 22-year-old has played every Premier League game for the Seagulls this season.

"I'm loving it," he added. "Everybody wants to play every game - same goes for me. I really love to play every game and develop and help the team.

"We have a very strong squad, with a lot of good attacking and defensive options - that's a big strength of ours. I'm really happy to be part of it and great things are coming."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Brighton and Chelsea.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 4-0 Newcastle

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton

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We asked for your views on Brighton's big win over Chelsea on Friday night.

Here are some of your comments:

Tim: Another win over Chelsea inside a week! What a result. Probably the best 90 mins we've had since early this season. All the talk is of how bad Chelsea were - not much of how well we played, keeping them at arms' length. All this with barely 30% possession and hitting teams on the break. Is this going to be the way?

Colin: Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma, Tariq Lamptey and Carlos Baleba were all outstanding. It should really have been 7-0 as we missed a few that really should have been taken. Chelsea are moaning about injuries, but no mention of the six or seven injuries we still have.

Pedro: Brighton are a smouldering volcano, that, every now and then erupts against a top team. Impossible to predict and frustrating to support - turn your back and you'll likely miss something crucial. When the squad finally come through their injuries, there will be one hell of an explosion of talent, pace and quality. The top six, keep looking over your shoulder, the Gulls are coming!

Nicholas: Brighton looked more organised and structured at the back and the quick counter-attacks paid off. A more positive feel about the club and having watched the clever substitutions by Fabian Hurzeler, and how the players behaved, I would say they are bonding as a family again. Top four here we come!

Charles: Albion have sent a message to the teams above them: 'Watch out - we're coming'. A mature, controlled performance, taking our chances and solid at the back.

Philip: What a brilliant performance. We outplayed Chelsea in every part of the field. It was like part two of two. Wish we could play them every week! Mitoma and Minteh ran them ragged with brilliant support from Georginio Rutter. Well done lads. Let's keep this going for the rest of the season.

Rob: It might seem churlish but I didn't think we, Brighton, played well at all generally. Commentators using the words 'outclassed' and 'battered' are so far away from the reality - we merely had to be semi-competent to beat an utterly woeful Chelsea. Ah well, three points!

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Brighton's performance

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Come back to this page on Saturday to find a selection of your replies

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Adam Webster is only a few months from his sixth anniversary at Brighton and just two games off racking up 150 appearances for the club, but has his sights set on "getting a lot more than that" over the next few seasons.

After turning 30 last month, Webster told BBC Radio Sussex, he has neve rbeen happier.

"I was saying to my wife the other day that I love the fact I've been here for such a long time now," he said. "In football, it's not that common anymore. There are a few boys here that have been here for a while, but if you look at most clubs, then there aren't a lot of players.

"So I love that about this club. I love it here and I feel like we have got so much more to achieve together.

"Personally, I'm close to 150 appearances but I want to get a lot more than that. I obviously look at the likes of Lewis Dunk, who has made a lot of appearances here, and it is motivation for me.

"I want to try and achieve that."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds