Brighton Predicted Lineup Vs Newcastle United for October 19

Here is our Brighton predicted lineup for their clash with Newcastle United this weekend.

Brighton Analysis and Predicted Lineup vs Newcastle United

Fabian Hurzeler Makes Impressive Impact at Brighton

Heading into Matchday 8 of the English Premier League, Brighton have been very consistent this season having won three, drawn three and lost just once in an impressive start for the new man leading the Seagulls.

31-year-old German Fabian Hurzeler took over as head coach from Roberto De Zerbi in June, becoming the youngest head coach in Premier League history.

His great success story so far is taking St Pauli from the second tier of German football and winning promotion to the Bundesliga.

Data, Analytics Forward Thinking for Brighton

On the South Coast, Hurzeler is working with a club who have certainly been forward thinking in their approach to using data analytics for recruitment and tactical planning.

Read More: La Liga Matchday 10 Predictions

So how will they fare against Eddie Howe and his Newcastle side, a team who’ve gained the same number of points from their opening seven matches? The atmosphere will be electric at St. James’ Park.

Style of Play Sets the Tone

Hurzeler has expressed his gratitude to predecessor De Zerbi for laying the foundations to Brighton’s style of play. Passing out from the back is pretty much commonplace to most clubs and Brighton are no different. Lewis Dunk has been renowned for his range of passing and composure on the ball for a few years now and has been well supported by both Jan Paul Van Hecke and Adam Webster. Van Hecke’s impressive start to the season even earned him a first Netherlands call up in September.

Brighton have been missing striker Joao Pedro but have coped very well. Scoring three in a comeback win over Spurs was inspiring stuff and it could easily have been more. It’s admirable that Brighton score multiple goals in a good number of matches and that drive to keep going and raise standards comes from the new manager.

High Line Defending in Manner of Manchester City and Spurs.

In what is regarded as a very high-risk art of defending, it’s interesting to note Brighton are just behind both Spurs and Manchester City in taking a high line of defence. Hurzeler, in an interview with Sky Sports highlighted the need for continual hard work. “I’m convinced that if you run more than the opponent, you do more sprints, you do more high-speed metres, you increase the percentage of winning. These are things we can influence every minute, every game, every second.”

New Talent Taking Chance to Shine

Two young players who started in Brighton’s outstanding 3-2 win over Spurs after coming back from a two-goal deficit were 20-year-old Cameroonian Carlos Quomah Baleba and 19-year-old Englishman Jack Hinshelwood. The stats tell you that Brighton are intense in their counter-press – quick ball regains after losing it. It’s early in the season but Brighton have the most distance covered by any team in the Premier League this season.

These players must be super talented to be afforded the opportunity to play for Brighton at such a young age. Don’t be surprised if, in time, they are next in line to be sold for an exorbitant fee.

Defence v Attack Key to St. James’ Park Outcome

Another 20-year-old, Yankuba Minteh from Gambia has been supporting Georginio Rutter and Kauro Mitoma in getting up in support of Danny Welbeck. These four will be up against a Newcastle side who have been formidable in their defending this season. As an attacking force, Newcastle aren’t at their best yet but they have conceded less goals so far than Manchester City.

Key One v One Contests

One fascinating contest likely to be on show is how Newcastle will try to get the better of 25-year-old Turkish international Ferdi Kadioglu. Given that one of either Callum Wilson or Alexander Isak could return to Eddie Howe’s starting lineup, that means the pace and threat of either Harvey Barnes or Anthony Gordon could return to a wider area. After his six years with Fenerbahce, racking up over 200 appearances in the Super Lig, Brighton splashed out £25 million on Kadioglu and he has settled quickly.

Another one v one contest likely to catch the eye will be in an attacking sense for Brighton. Can Kaoru Mitoma take advantage of the hamstring injury to Kieran Trippier that will keep him out of the side for a few weeks? The likelihood is Tino Livramento will take Trippier’s place, but Mitoma has the ability to be creative, get to the byline and get crosses in to test a strong Newcastle central defensive partnership of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn.