Sussex

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Is it a bit far-fetched or even just wishful thinking? Can a less glamorous, or should that just be less wealthy, club get in on the Champions League action for once? Brighton owner Tony Bloom, with his business acumen and his renowned methodology, has got some previous here.

Last season, he invested some money – and even more know-how – into Hearts and they came within three minutes of winning the Scottish Premiership title.

This might not seem such a big deal, but Celtic and Rangers not only have massively bigger budgets than Hearts, between them they have won every league title since 1985, when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager of champions Aberdeen.

Bloom has shown that he can produce what is considered the impossible. His is a slow, sure, methodical build, not just a flash in the pan after splashing the cash.

Brighton are head and shoulders above everyone else for buying young talent and selling them at a huge profit, while seemingly not appearing to miss them when they have gone.

On the current trajectory, do not count Brighton out of a top-six finish. They are now as good on the pitch as they are off it.

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Brighton winger Amario Cozier-Duberry has been speaking to BBC Radio Sussex after earning his first call-up to the England under-21 squad.

The 21-year-old is on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough, where he has scored one goal and registered two assists for Kim Hellberg's side.

The Young Lions begin their qualifying campaign for the next European Championship against Kazakhstan at Molineux on Friday.

Brighton, Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest are monitoring Lyon's 23-year-old midfielder Tyler Morton. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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We want you to send in your questions on the Albion for BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor.

What do you want to know about Brighton right now?

Whether it be about aims for the season, player performances, Fabian Hurzeler's tactics, or any topic of your choosing, Johnny will be on hand to answer a selection next week.

Get in touch with your question here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you to rate Brighton's start to the Premier League season and tell us what Fabian Hurzeler should be focusing on during the extended international break.

Here are some of your comments:

Kelly: I was a bit worried when Welbeck and Van Hecke both left in the summer but the new players seem to be gelling wonderfully and Gross is running the show. Long may it continue!

Michael: Obviously Hurzeler has continued to do a good job following other well-performing managers. But whoever is in the background at Brighton has kept the team performing to the standards they're achieving consistently. Whoever that is has done incredibly well.

Simon: Any points we accumulate before our fixture congestion kicks in are valuable. Given the intensity we play with, our form will almost certainly drop off, so we'll just enjoy the plaudits while our players aren't too tired to appreciate them!

Nicholas: Great start! Clever buys in the transfer window. Hopefully Minteh and Mitoma come back after the break. Big test of European football and how well the Seagulls can rotate players for the Premier League. By January, if we are still top six, then there could be a good chance for Champions League qualification.

Pam: We're getting stronger with each game, with excellent teamwork, despite having some injured players. The next few matches are going to be a real test, and then we'll know more.

Barry: A very good start overall. Third in the league is a fantastic position to be in. Chelsea was disappointing, but even there we finished strongly and showed character. Hurzeler should use the extended break to tighten things up defensively and work on maintaining our intensity for the full 90 minutes. There's plenty to be excited about. Keep building on this start and Champions League qualification is a real possibility.

Robin: A great start to season - yes giving Chelsea a three-goal start was ambitious, but we nearly pulled it back - as seen when gave Manchester United a two-goal lead and did win it. The incredible difference so far is all the goals are being scored by so many players and we're not relying on one or two. Hopefully, after the disruption of the international break, this can be continued and then what a season it potentially is ahead.

Luka Vuskovic has been a "masterstroke" addition for Brighton, says former Premier League striker Chris Sutton.

Brighton's record signing Vuskovic joined in the summer from Tottenham and has featured in all five of the Albion's Premier League matches so far.

"What an incredible signing; £50m from Spurs - Spurs fans must be thinking 'why have we sold this guy?'", Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"When you play like Brighton and you're so aggressive with your press, your best players have to be your centre-backs and for a 19-year-old, he's mobile, he can play, he's big and robust - that's another Brighton masterstroke."

On Brighton's strong start to the season, former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha, added: "Every time I look at Brighton's team, I don't think to myself that it's a really, really good team but for a few years now under Fabian Hurzeler, they've just been excellent."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here

As we enter the first international break, we want to hear your thoughts on the opening five games of the Premier League season.

Brighton have experienced a strong start to this top-flight campaign, winning three out of their first five matches, leaving them sitting third in the table.

Although the Seagulls conceded four goals against Chelsea in their second league game, Fabian Hurzeler's side have only conceded three goals in their following four matches in all competitions.

How do you rate Brighton's start to the season and why? And what should Hurzeler be focusing on during the extended break?

Get in touch with your views here

Brighton are flying high under the youngest manager in the top flight after five games of the Premier League season.

Fabian Hurzeler guided his side to a 3-0 victory against Arsenal on the 125-year anniversary of the club in style - and the Seagulls sit in a very pleasing third place in the table.

Former Brighton midfielder Warren Aspinall told Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast that the Gunners were "out-thought and out-battled".

"We suffocated them. From minute one we were at it. Yasin Ayari was further up the pitch, and he set the press with Charalampos Kostoulas, who was excellent again."

Greece striker Kostoulas has been involved in six goal involvements in Brighton's eight opening fixtures of the season and has proved a key figure in Hurzeler's side.

"Kostoulas has had to work for every goal that he has got. He is contributing as well with assists. What I like about him is he gets half a yard, and he gets a shot away. I have liked him from the off. You can tell there is a player in there," added Aspinall.

As well as Kostoulas being a shining light, Croatia defender Luka Vuskovic has grown into his starting position.

Former Seagulls defender Guy Butters said the 19-year-old has been an "impressive" addition to the squad and that he "reads the game really well".

"I think with modern day football, everything is in front of you and that suits him. He reads the passes into the forwards.

"He is strong and good in the air. Going the other way, he is a threat as well. I was very impressed with him," added Butters.

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Explore all Brighton content on BBC Sounds

Listen to every Brighton game live on BBC Radio Sussex, with all the build-up and full commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall, and there is a full preview of all Seagulls' matches on Fridays at 18:00 in The Weekend Warm-up

BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club discussed whether Brentford and Brighton could qualify for the Champions League this season or in the near future.

Despite not being classed among England's 'big six', the two clubs have made consistently good decisions around managers and players - and have regularly finish in the top 10 of the Premier League as a result.

"They aren't massive football clubs," said BBC pundit Chris Sutton. "But they are clubs that have grown well and grown strong.

"If you look at the mess other clubs who are considered as big clubs are making at this moment in time, then you'd have to say 'why not?' if the model is working for both of them."

The Observer's Rory Smith added: "With Brighton there is the question mark of Europe this season and how that affects their form, because in an accumulative way it might stop their progress.

"Both teams are more than capable against the traditional elite, but there's a different pressure to win the number of games you need to in order get into the Champions League."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds