Newcastle United suffered a loss against Brighton on Saturday, despite starting the match strongly by controlling and dominating the play. Brighton struggled to move out of their half, but Newcastle couldn’t capitalize on their chances. A critical missed opportunity came when Isak failed to convert a one-on-one chance after a setup by Bruno, leading to an all-too-familiar scenario in football: the opposition scoring on their first meaningful attack around the 35th minute.
Brighton netted a great counter-attack goal, while Newcastle’s defense fell short. In the following 30 minutes, Newcastle continued to create chances but couldn’t find the back of the net, with notable missed opportunities from Anthony Gordon. As time ticked away, the game grew disorganized, with Eddie Howe making all five substitutions in a bid to find a breakthrough. Meanwhile, Brighton created a few late chances of their own.
Like many fans, I was disappointed. It was a frustrating experience, especially since Newcastle had dominated the game for the first hour and had opportunities to secure a win. Yet, what surprised me were the extreme reactions, beyond the typical frustration of losing the first home game in nine months. Some comments criticized the loss as a “disgrace” and “totally unacceptable,” as if Newcastle had been defeated by a non-league side.
However, the reality is different. Brighton has progressed significantly due to the investment of their owner, Tony Bloom, who has poured half a billion into the club, financing a new stadium, training facilities, and their rise to the Premier League. Without this substantial investment, Brighton wouldn’t be where they are now. So, it’s not reasonable to consider it a “disgrace” for Newcastle to lose to Brighton at St James’ Park.
There are a few factors to keep in mind:
– That substantial investment of half a billion by Tony Bloom, which laid the foundation for Brighton’s progress.
– Since their promotion in 2017, just a year after Newcastle, Brighton has benefited from Premier League payouts similar to Newcastle’s.
– In their first three seasons in the Premier League, Brighton’s net spending on signings was significantly higher than Newcastle’s, reflecting Bloom’s ambition compared to Mike Ashley’s lack thereof. By the 2020/21 season, the two clubs had similar net spends.
– In the last three seasons, Newcastle’s spending has been higher as their new owners have tried to catch up after years of underinvestment during the Ashley era. But this summer, Brighton outspent all other Premier League clubs, with a net spend of £152 million compared to Newcastle’s profit of around £7 million on transfers.
– Brighton also benefits from Bloom’s ownership of a Belgian club, which supports their player development and loan strategies.
– Moreover, Brighton has a head start in investing in youth development and homegrown talent, while Newcastle’s owners are playing catch-up after years of neglect.
Brighton has also developed a strong system for recruiting players (and managers), making smart purchases, and selling for significant profits. A recent report from the CIES Football Observatory ranked clubs worldwide by the combined transfer value of their players. Newcastle ranked 22nd globally, with 35 players valued at approximately €544 million (£455m). However, Brighton ranked 11 spots higher, with 48 players valued at around €807 million (£672m)—more than prestigious clubs like Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.
The players owned by Brighton valued at almost 50% more than those owned by Newcastle United.
These kind of reports and figures are obviously just estimates, however, the same criteria is used for each club. So it is very difficult to argue that
These reports and figures are, of course, estimates, but since they apply the same criteria to every club, it’s hard to deny that Brighton’s squad is valued significantly higher than Newcastle’s. Saturday’s loss was disappointing, especially given the opportunities Newcastle had to secure a win.
It’s also worth noting that Brighton has already beaten Spurs and Manchester United this season and managed a draw at Arsenal. Yet, some Newcastle fans talk about the loss as if it were against a low-level side.
This perspective highlights just how challenging it is to rebuild Newcastle United after a decade and a half of stagnation under Mike Ashley. During his ownership, the club regressed while others moved forward, making the turnaround even more daunting.
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