Brighton & Hove Albion

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

We asked our Brighton fan contributor for their four candidates for player of the season and you can now select your top one.

Carlos Baleba

Combines the best bits of Yves Bissouma and Moises Caicedo to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. Breaks up attacks. Scores last-minute winners from 35 yards. Even picked up man of the match the first time in his life playing a competitive game at centre-back.

Kaoru Mitoma

It seems to have gone a little under the radar that Mitoma is on for his most prolific campaign in England. He also rejected the Saudi Pro League in January because he wants to play at the highest level possible rather than line his pockets. Can we have an award for moralistic player of the season?

Jan Paul van Hecke

Van Hecke has been the one constant at the heart of the defence this season. Rattled through more partners than Henry VIII had wives, yet nothing has fazed him. Will surely succeed Lewis Dunk as captain... presuming he breaks the curse of not leaving within months of winning the club's official player of the year award.

Danny Welbeck

Welbeck has scored 10 times so far – the same as Mitoma and Joao Pedro. But what makes him a contender for player of the season is how important his goals have been in terms of deciding games. Take them away and the Albion have 10 fewer points, sitting 13th in the table.

Honourable mention

Adam Webster came into the starting XI after the 7-0 shambles at the City Ground only because of injuries to every other centre-back. Brighton won six and drew two of their next eight games. When Webster was then injured himself, the Albion's form collapsed. Coincidence? I think not.

Pick your 2024-25 Brighton player of the season from our shortlist here

And tell us why you're picking who you are, or why you'd have gone for another player not on the list, here

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

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On the latest episode of Albion Unlimited, former Brighton players Guy Butters and Warren Aspinall discuss the team spirit at the club and impact of the substitutes.

Brighton have had more goal involvements via substitutes than any other team in the Premier League this season (21).

Former defender Butters said: "When you are on the bench you're literally chomping to get on. You want to get on there and prove what you can do. Some players come on and sulk - I don't see that at Brighton - I see them all wanting to go on there and get in the box.

"You're always going to have certain personalities that clash in every single squad but this squad that we've got now, you haven't got many sulkers in there, it doesn't seem to have too many of those sort of players in there. That could go down as well to the scouting group, the people that do their homework on what a player is like not only on the pitch but away from it as well."

Aspinall added: "We used to have a great team spirit, even if you weren't in the team. What I see now in this Brighton side is we've got no sulkers. We've got nobody thinking 'I'm on the bench, I'm sulking because I'm not playing'. Or someone going on there and not passing, waving their hand up in the air when they don't get the ball. I've not seen that for the last few months."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Brighton have agreed a deal to sign 27-year-old French defender Olivier Boscagli on a free transfer from PSV Eindhoven. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Chris Wise
BBC Commentator

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Amongst the chaos of a win over the champions on Monday night, Brighton handed a debut to their youngest ever Premier League player.

Step forward 17 year old Harry Howell. And what trust Fabian Hurzeler must have in Howell to put him into a situation like that. I asked Hurzeler about him afterwards, and he called the teenager a "special" player, who had really impressed in training. For the Brighton manager, age is no barrier.

This has been a meticulous, well-thought out plan by Brighton to get Howell some Premier League minutes before the end of the season. It might be a new name to anyone outside the walls of the Amex Stadium, but Howell has been training with the first-team for a couple of months now. Internally, they feel like he is destined for a very bright future.

When Howell came off the bench with his cousin Jack Hinshelwood, it was 2-2. A minute later, Howell was almost stood next to Hinshelwood when he popped in the winning goal. Maybe it was purely coincidental, but Hurzeler's decision to send Howell on with Hinshelwood felt deliberate to me. A familiar face to settle the nerves perhaps?

Howell reminded me a bit of when Tyler Dibling burst onto the scene at the start of the season for Southampton. There are similarities in style and self-belief.

He's been in tremendous form for the Brighton Under-21s this season, and has an excellent grounding in his dad, Jamie. He was a youngster with Arsenal and part of their team that won the FA Youth Cup in 1994.

Brighton's reputation for developing players means the teenager is in very good hands.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton took three points on Monday by beating Premier League champions Liverpool 3-2, keeping alive their chances of European football.

Mats Wieffer told BBC Radio Sussex: "It's really nice. I think in the first half after 15 minutes we dominated the game, we had more possession and a couple of good chances.

"I think in the second half, we kept on pushing and the substitutes that came on did a good job and in the end we got it over the line. We've struggled at some points this season to get it over the line. We prevented them from making it 3-3, which we've had a problem doing this season. Amazing three points for us."

On his first season with Brighton: "It's been a hard season for me. I came with a quad injury and was out for a long time, then I played the first game and got injured. I never got in the rhythm and now I am really fit and have got used to the intensity.

"I've played in good leagues, Champions League and European football, but this is something else. I don't play in my natural position, but I try to play my best football if possible. It's going well at the moment."

On it being the second highest finish for Brighton: "Everyone wants to play European football. It's still possible.

"I think in the end, it's a good position especially because it's the second highest Brighton's ever achieved. We hope to play European football, for sure."

Listen to more from Wieffer on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Brighton and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

Callum: Huge performance! Everyone played their part. I think a really big shoutout should go to 17-year-old Harry Howell, who came on at a pretty nervy point of the game and held on remarkably, even nearly getting an assist. Fingers crossed results go our way for Europe.

Glyn: Brajan Gruda grew into a special player. He will be immense next season.

Oli: So impressive from that young midfield three of Yasin Ayari, Simon Adingra and Gruda over the past few weeks. Adingra looks revitalised after having a tough season. I think we are all very eager to see what they can produce next season especially if, fingers crossed, it's in Europe!

Liverpool fans

Ian: I know we wrapped up the league two weeks ago, but this is getting embarrassing. Slot should realise people pay their hard-earned cash to watch games. We should be sending a message to the other teams by putting out the strongest team and beating these sides. I just hope the performance on Sunday is a much-improved one. I don't want it to spoil the celebrations with another defeat.

Wayne: Below-par performance yet again, this is the worst team to have won the Premier League title. I would be very surprised if we even qualify for the Champions League next season.

Shaun: Going off that game, we need seven or eight new players for next season. The back-up boys just aren't good enough. The past few games Harvey Elliott has played he has gone backwards, the same with Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah. Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate also had mares.

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "There have been a lot of highs and lows throughout the season. It is important you don't overreact and it is important to stay grounded and humble because there is still one game to go. But I'm really proud of the team.

"It's not only about playing a football game and the tactical side but it's about the mental side too. We only can be successful if you stick together and we proved that so we are very happy.

"The players changed the intensity on the pitch. They used the goal as the wake-up signal. Liverpool were impressive in the first 20 minutes but I was happy with the reaction."

On Brajan Gruda's performance: "That was his best game, yes. It's important to understand that behind the player is a person and it's a very young person. He comes from a different country and he's away from his family. He never gave up and always tried to improve in training and showed character. He gets the reward for all his hard work."

On 17-year-old Harry Howell: "It's a special player for his young age. I always give young players the chance because it's not about your age if you're good enough.

"Everyone knows their role, if you're a sub then you can come into the game. You always have to be ready to have an impact on it."

Did you know?

• Brighton have come back to win three Premier League games this season when trailing at half-time, with only Fulham doing so more often (five).

Listen to more from Hurzeler on BBC Sounds

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

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Brighton go into the final day of the Premier League season still in contention to qualify for European football for only the second time in their history.

A superb 3-2 win over champions Liverpool, in which the Seagulls fought back from 1-0 and 2-1 down, took Fabian Hurzeler's side eighth in the Premier League.

However, they need to win at Tottenham on Sunday and hope results go in their favour, with Brighton needing Chelsea to lose to Nottingham Forest on Sunday and then for Enzo Maresca's side to win the Conference League final against Real Betis on 28 May.

If those things happen, Brighton will be again in European competition after reaching the last-16 of the Europa League in the 2023-24 campaign.

Against Liverpool, the hosts were the better team in the second half and credit must go to Hurzeler as his substitutions proved key, with Kaoru Mitoma scoring within five minutes of his introduction and Jack Hinshelwood netting 78 seconds after coming on when he headed in from a cross from Matt O'Riley, another sub.

That 85th-minute winning goal from Hinshelwood was the fourth quickest by a substitute in the Premier League this season after he came on with his 17-year-old cousin Henry Howell, who became the youngest Brighton player.

Were you at the game or following it elsewhere?

Brighton fans, what did you think of your performance?

Have your say on Liverpool's display

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

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

How was your Saturday? Mine was lovely. I spent it taking down the back section of my garden fence.

At 4.30 pm, I drove to the tip and disposed of all the old wood. Back home at 5.30pm. Showered. Went to the pub at 6pm (one without a television) for a couple of pints after a hard day's graft.

All of which meant I did not see a second of the FA Cup final. Which was just as well, based on the head loss Crystal Palace winning caused amongst many Brighton supporters.

Ever since Albion reached the Premier League, it has felt like we are the club with the better long-term prospects. Better stadium. Better training ground. Better transfer and recruitment model. A better owner willing to invest. But Palace have now won a major piece of silverware. Something Brighton are yet to do.

Decision-makers at the Albion love their reputation as 'The Best Run Club in the Premier League'. They proudly talk about how much money they have made in the transfer market.

All of which is great. But then you see (or in my case, don't) Palace make history. On the grass rather than a spreadsheet. Which ultimately is what being a supporter is all about.

No fan gets into football to chant "Record profit for a Premier League club, you'll never sing that". We do it for memories made on the pitch.

What makes seeing Palace win the FA Cup particularly painful is that their ride to glory has coincided with Brighton's season falling apart.

Entering the final week of March, the Albion had a winnable FA Cup quarter-final tie and were in the race for a top-five finish. A special campaign could have been on the cards.

But instead of Champions League or Wembley glory, we only have being sustainable and well-run to show for the season.

No bad thing, of course. Maybe it is pure greed to want a trophy on top of that? But I would give anything to see Brighton win the FA Cup. Rather than spending the final day with an old fence.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

It's so hard to make a prediction for this game because I have no idea what the Liverpool line-up will look like, or what their mindset will be.

Arne Slot's side will lift the Premier League trophy at Anfield after their final game of the season against Crystal Palace next weekend. Their work is done, and they have got that party to look forward to, so how focused will they be here?

As things stand, Brighton do have something to play for because eighth place will get them in the Europa Conference League, if Manchester City win the FA Cup.

The Seagulls played really well at Wolves last week, and fully deserved their win.

They gave Liverpool a good game at Anfield earlier in the season, when they led 1-0 at half-time but lost 2-1, and if Slot picks a weakened team then they are good enough to take advantage.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Before this season, Crystal Palace's victory at Wembley would have tidied up the European qualification position within the Premier League.

However, England gaining a coveted European Performance Spot has added a layer of complication, which is why Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth and Fulham fans should not give up hope of a Conference League place just yet.

Here is why.

Ordinarily, England gets four Champions League places, two in the Europa League, for the FA Cup winners and the fifth placed team and one in the Conference League for the Carabao Cup winners.

So far, so straightforward.

If the Carabao Cup winners qualify for one of the higher ranking European competitions, the Conference League spot goes to the next team down in the Premier League.

Just as Manchester United or Tottenham will qualify for the Champions League because one of them will win the Europa League after finishing outside the Champions League places, the same is also true for Chelsea if they win the Conference League and finish outside the Europa League places.

Still with me?

The complication comes through EPS. So, while fifth now gets you into the Champions League and sixth into the Europa League, for the purposes of competition qualification, the EPS situation doesn't count.

So, if Chelsea finish sixth and win the Conference League, without EPS, they would already be in the Conference League berth, so they go into the Europa League as Conference League winners and England would not take its Conference League place. With EPS added, instead of the sixth-placed team (Chelsea) qualifying for the Europa League through their league placing, because they are already in, the seventh-placed team benefits. So that would be three English teams in the Europa League and none in the Conference League.

By the same process, if Chelsea finish seventh and win the Conference League, without EPS, they would qualify for the Europa League despite being outside the European places, meaning three English teams in the Europa League – Chelsea, Palace and the fifth placed team – and one – the sixth-placed team – in the Conference League. With EPS added, everything drops down a place BUT as Chelsea are already in the Europa League, instead of the Conference League spot going to them after finishing seventh, it goes to the eighth placed team.

In other words, the teams battling for eighth need Chelsea to win the Conference League and to finish seventh.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game against Liverpool (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Lewis Dunk and Igor Julio are set to return and Joao Pedro is also available again after serving his suspension.

• Kaoru Mitoma "has a minor issue" but Hurzeler is hopeful he will still be in contention for Monday's game. Georginio Rutter "is also very close" to returning so may make the final game of the season.

• James Milner "is doing rehab on the pitch, so he is getting closer" but Hurzeler is unsure whether he will be fit enough before the season ends.

• On Pedro being nominated for Premier League young player of the season: "We always try to push young players and give them the platform and stage to improve, play and be allowed to make mistakes. It's not just an award for the individual player but for the whole club and the way Brighton is working."

• He said Brajan Gruda, who scored against Wolves last weekend, "had a lot of positive actions" in that game and was given the opportunity based on his work ethic in training.

• On Liverpool having some rest days and Arne Slot being spotted on holiday: "I am not focusing on them. They deserve it as they won the Premier League in an impressive way. It is not our responsibility to comment on that but to be ready and play a high intensity game against high individual quality."

• As the race for European football goes down to the wire, he said: "We really want to compete with the best and chase them."

• Reflecting on this season: "I am very grateful for working with this team because they are all great characters and have intrinsic motivation to improve. But I am also grateful to the staff as they built the environment and foundation for me to build on. It is crucial the togetherness and team spirit."

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

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In addition to Premier League manager and player of the season, the shortlist for young player has also been announced.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer is in the running to win the award for the second year in a row.

The 23-year-old forward has 15 goals and eight assists in 35 appearances.

Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch and Liam Delap, who has scored 12 of Ipswich's 35 goals, are also on the eight-player shortlist.

The other nominees are Anthony Elanga (Nottingham Forest), Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth), Joao Pedro (Brighton), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), and William Saliba (Arsenal).

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton's win over Wolves left them firmly in the race for European football with two games to spare.

Albion, along with Brentford and Bournemouth, and to a lesser extent Fulham, are all vying for eighth spot which might be enough.

Argus journalist Brian Owen, who joined BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor on the Albion Unlimited podcast said there is less enthusiasm than in recent seasons when pushing to secure European football.

"I don't sense a great deal of excitement about the possibility of making it to Europe," he said.

"I don't know if it's because their form has been up and down. I don't know if it's because they've been there before and it was Europa League and this could be Conference League or because the team that can snatch it up is Crystal Palace [if they win the FA Cup final].

"I don't know what is, but I don't sense excitement for a European push like there was two years ago, but we still think they're in for a chance."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood believes young teammate and cousin Harry Howell has a "lot more rewards" to come at the club.

17-year-old Howell was once again named in the matchday squad for Brighton against Wolves, however, he is yet to feature from the bench.

Not only is Hinshelwood a teammate, but he is also the cousin of Howell, who was recently named in the England Under-17's squad for U17 EURO Finals.

Speaking to Albion Unlimited about Howell's involvement in the first team squad, Hinshelwood said: "It's very nice. He's been training really well and impressing the right people.

"At the same time he's working really hard which I think is the main thing. He's been rewarded by getting on the bench, and I think if he keeps going there's lots more rewards for him.

"When you make your first matchday squad there's so much added incentive. You want to be out on the pitch and it makes you give that little bit more in training.

"It can be a frustrating process, maybe you're missing out on game time because you're in the first team squad. It's important for him to stick at it, and that's all you can really ask.

"It's nice for him to be around. He's got great ability and a great attitude, as long as he keeps going he'll do very well."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on whether you think James Milner's contract should be extended.

Here are some of your comments:

Jon: Brighton have placed great emphasis on senior players' roles off the pitch. And with our ever persistent injury crisis, experienced bodies are needed at crucial moments. All those things suggest a reasonable contract for a consummate pro at 40 is, at least, not outlandish…

David: I can think of a few games this season when game management in the last 10 minutes was terrible. With an experienced leader like Milner coming on for the last 10-15 minutes, his experience could have been vital. Off the pitch I'm sure he helps too. So I'm all for him signing up.

Nicola: Let him go. Give a chance to a youngster from the academy.

• Not a Brighton fan? Find and follow your club here

Steve: I feel Milner's body is telling him, enough is enough. Doesn't need anyone else to say it. By all means, keep him on the coaching staff but it is mega wages for a risky few outings.

Geoff: Milner is an experienced pro with a vast knowledge that he can call on to mentor the young players. If fit he would still be a valuable squad player and we have needed a player like him to bring off the bench this season on several occasions. If you're good enough, you're young enough.

Richard: You don't play for a top European side for nearly two decades without learning a tremendous amount about the game. We should embrace such an ambassador of the game to impart his knowledge and embrace our young players, many of whom will look up to such a player.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Brighton forward Warren Aspinall says Danny Welbeck is "our precious gem" after the striker's latest goal helped Albion beat Wolves at the weekend.

With that strike, the 32-year-old reached double figures in the Premier League for the first time in his career.

Speaking on BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast, Aspinall said: "You have to take your hats off to the medical staff saying, 'Look this is our precious gem - we need to keep him polished'.

"He's a true professional on and off the pitch. He's great for the dressing room and great for the youngsters coming through.

"He's done very well with that penalty. He had to wait a long time."

BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor added: "I am delighted for him. He's a crucial player.

"He does so much work outside of the box in link-up play. He's got 14 goal involvements, 10 goals and four assists. That's only two behind Joao Pedro, who's got 10 goals and six assists and ahead of everyone else - Kaoru Mitoma is next with 12 and Minteh with 10.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds