Fabian Hurzeler is facing mounting pressure at Brighton after a crushing 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on February 1st.
Mick Brown, a former chief scout for Manchester United and Blackburn with strong connections in football, told Football Insider that losing the fans’ support could be the decisive factor in Hurzeler’s tenure.
Brighton has only secured two victories in their last 12 Premier League matches, including disappointing draws against relegation-threatened Southampton and Leicester, and a 3-1 home defeat to rivals Crystal Palace. This poor run has led to significant fan discontent at the Amex Stadium.
While Brown suggests Hurzeler isn’t likely to be sacked immediately, a continued downward trend might push the board to act. Hurzeler, who joined Brighton last summer with a contract until 2027, has been supported with over £250 million in transfers.
With his experience alongside top coaches like Sir Alex Ferguson, Ron Atkinson, and David Moyes, Brown stressed that the defeat to Forest would raise serious questions about Hurzeler’s management.
“From what I hear, the pressure on his position is growing,” he told Football Insider.
“There’s not many times in a season when there isn’t pressure on a manger, because if you’re in the top half they want to qualify for Europe, and if you’re below that they feel they should be higher.
“There are very few situations where the manager isn’t under some sort of pressure.
“But after a 7-0 defeat, there’s always going to be added scrutiny.
“The fans start to turn on you after results like that, and when you start to lose the fans that could be the difference – we saw it with Moyes at West Ham, for example.
“I wouldn’t expect him to be sacked imminently, but serious questions are being asked.
“It’s important not to take a result in isolation, but if they start to spiral from here and drop down the table, then it’s going to be a problem.“
Wonderkid Picks Brighton Over Liverpool in Deadline Day Transfer Twist
Liverpool’s interest in signing Stefanos Tzimas was well-known, but their campaign to bring the young Greek striker to Anfield has ended without success. Instead, Tzimas has chosen to join Brighton, much to the disappointment of Liverpool supporters.
Liverpool made a strong effort to secure Tzimas, an 18-year-old who’s on loan at Nurnberg from PAOK, impressing in the 2. Bundesliga. Despite his performances in Germany’s second tier, Liverpool was ready to pay a hefty sum, reportedly offering £25 million, an unusual amount for a player from outside the top European leagues, which speaks volumes of their belief in his potential.
However, Tzimas was concerned about playing opportunities at Liverpool, given their wealth of attacking options. This led him to consider other clubs, ultimately deciding on Brighton.
Brighton finalized the transfer on deadline day but won’t see Tzimas in their ranks until the summer, as he will complete his loan at Nurnberg first. The deal reportedly cost Brighton around £20 million, viewed as a strategic long-term investment, especially considering their history of nurturing and profitably selling young players.
Although Liverpool missed out this time, they might not give up on Tzimas. Should he excel at Brighton, Liverpool might well come knocking again, albeit at a higher cost given his likely increased market value.
For now, Brighton has snatched up a promising young talent, and Liverpool will keep a keen eye on his progress. Tzimas’s career is just starting to unfold, and his journey could still intersect with Liverpool in the future.
