Brighton & Hove Albion



Odds: 20/1









Last Five Seasons

2005/06 - 24 (Championship, Relegated), 2004/05 - 20 (Championship), 2003/04 - 4 (League One - Promoted), 2002/03 - 23 (Championship, Relegated), 2001/02 - 1 (League One, Promoted).



2005/06 Cup Progress

FA Cup Third Round vs Coventry City (h) - lost 1-0.

Carling Cup First Round vs Shrewsbury Town (a) - lost 3-2 after extra time.



Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Colin Kazim-Richards (striker) - 6 goals.



Players In

Alex Revell (Braintree Town - Free)



Players Out

Sebastien Carole (Leeds United - Free), Jason Dodd (Eastleigh - Free), Alexis Nicolas (Released), Chris McPhee (Released), Mark McCammon (Released), Federico Turienzo (Released), Gary Elphick (Released).



Brighton & Hove Albion are one of those clubs caught in between divisions. They are usually too good for League One but not quite good enough for the Championship. Last season Brighton struggled for goals and perennial substitute Colin Kazim-Richards was the club's leading marksman with just six goals.



Manager Mark McGhee has tried to combat this during the summer by signing striker Alex Revell from Ryman League outfit Braintree Town. The former Cambridge United striker netted 36 goals last season. McGhee has expressed a desire to sign a target man but chairman Dick Knight revealed Preston North End striker Daniele Dichio turned down a move to join the club. Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington dismissed speculation linking Brighton with a move for the Canaries former Cardiff City striker Peter Thorne, who scored just one goal last season.



McGhee has been boosted by the news that goalkeeper Michael Kuipers, who was dropped from first team duties in January after a series of outbursts, is now back in contention after apologising to the manager. French winger Alexandre Frutos has agreed to extend his stay at the club by an extra year until the end of the 2007/08 season following his transfer from Metz last summer. Under the original terms of his contract he could have activated a release clause following Brighton's relegation to League One.



One player that did exercise such a clause was fellow Frenchman Sebastien Carole who joined Leeds United on a three year deal. The midfielder, who made 40 appearances last season, joined the Seagulls from Monaco last summer and previously enjoyed a loan spell at West Ham United in 2004.



Brighton may be without captain Charlie Oatway when the new season kicks off as he has had exploratory surgery on the ankle he broke on Boxing Day 2005 which has prevented him from playing since then.



Verdict

Brighton have proved in the past they are one of the top sides when it comes to League One football and if McGhee can solve their goal scoring problem, expect them to challenge for a place in the play offs.

By: David Walker

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

David Walker runs free bets and UK poker websites. A free email course: "Seven Days to Better Betting" is available at both of these websites.