MARTIN KEOWN TALKS TACTICS: Brighton can have Leeds’ number with use of full backs in midfield… Roberto De Zerbi’s side are rightly dreaming of crashing Champions League party by finishing in top four
- Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton have made excellent use of their wide players
- When the full-backs push into midfield Pascal Gross can then fly forward
- The subtle change in formation gives Brighton an extra man in midfield
Brighton’s success story is nothing short of a minor miracle and their fairytale ending would be to finish in the top four and crash the Champions League party.
No matter who departs the club — whether Graham Potter as manager a month into the season or Leandro Trossard or Yves Bissouma or Marc Cucurella — they refuse to make the expectations that they will drop like a stone a reality.
With Tony Bloom as owner, David Weir as technical director, and Roberto De Zerbi as manager, this is one of the best-run clubs in the country.
To understand how difficult it is to face Brighton, you only needed to listen to Declan Rice’s incredibly honest interview after West Ham’s 4-0 defeat last weekend.
Rice said they were played off the pitch at the Amex Stadium, describing Brighton as ‘unique’ and saying he found it a ‘demoralising’ afternoon.
The way in which Brighton use their wide men such as Kaoru Mitoma is very effective
Roberto De Zerbi’s side can secure a top four finish in the Premier League this season
‘I never want to feel that way again in a football match,’ the Hammers captain said.
The Brighton front five of Evan Ferguson, Solly March, Alexis Mac Allister, Kaoru Mitoma and Pascal Gross make for a formidable attacking force.
But it is the movement of Brighton’s full backs that is absolutely key to developing their play through the compartments of the team.
When either Joel Veltman or Pervis Estupinan move into midfield, that is the trigger for Gross to fly forward. He will leave his position next to Moises Caicedo to push towards the right wing or join the front man.
This makes for a subtle change of formation and increases the number of players in the final third, going from a back four to a three and giving them five attackers, sometimes six, if the remaining full back flies up their wing in tow.
Mac Allister and March can pick up the pockets behind the opposing midfield and go to work.
Mitoma tends to stay fixed towards the left, but he can also move across the front line to join in with Brighton’s slick interchanging of passes and movement.
When full-backs like Joel Veltman move into midfield it is the trigger for Pascal Gross to fly forward
West Ham captain Declan Rice emphasised how difficult it is to play against Brighton
It isn’t dissimilar to what Arsenal or Manchester City do with their full backs, and West Ham simply could not cope last weekend. Mitoma’s goal perfectly exemplified this recurring routine of movement by Brighton.
It starts with right back Veltman, having moved into midfield, playing a one-two with Gross. Veltman then punches a forward pass into Ferguson, who lays it off for March. His movement inside from the right wing gives Gross time and space to secure his wide-right position.
March, travelling infield, takes two players with him before playing a reverse pass into Gross’s path.
Gross then slides the ball to the back post for a tap-in for Mitoma, who’s patiently held his position on the left. This whole move was a thing of beauty and a goal perfected in practice.
It is important to remember none of this would have been possible if Brighton didn’t have a full back giving them the extra man in midfield.
Mitoma, Mac Allister and March have 21 goals between them this season.
Alexis Mac Allister forms part of a formidable attacking force for a talented Brighton side
Solly March is in the best form of his career and could end up receiving an England call-up
All three are producing eye-catching performances. March is in the best form of his career and has never stood a better chance of an England call-up.
It isn’t only about the attackers, though. Brighton benefit from having Adam Webster and Lewis Dunk in defence. They are like two bouncers, perfectly happy to mind the back door while everybody else wanders forward, and are comfortable in possession and outstanding in the air.
De Zerbi will know how Leeds love to press high up the pitch and that battle will decide who wins Saturday’s game. When West Ham attempted to press they couldn’t get close.
The Brighton boss has taken this group to another level and he will be targeting this game as one to win to keep alive their top-four dreams.
Source: Daily Mail Online