Brighton’s pre-season in 2019 before their third consecutive campaign in the Premier League was a telling one. Graham Potter had just been appointed the new Seagulls boss and instead of heading across the Atlantic for a flashy tour of the States, the Englishman took his troops to a quiet alpine resort in Austria on a route that you could fly with EasyJet for no more than £20.
The camp was football-oriented to a degree, but the onus was very much on team building. Indeed, Potter was interested in getting to know his new troops which meant a few trips around the local golf course as much as a five-a-side kick about.
As you can imagine, the ice was broken very quickly as it soon became apparent that no one could play the game with any authority. Indeed, you won’t find any of the Brighton XI in the latest golf betting odds to win the upcoming Masters in 2022.
Although, as much as Pascal Gross will try to tell you differently after the club did a special piece with him on the range in Austria during that pre-season, the golf tips this week won’t be in fact backing the German midfielder to win the showdown in Augusta National next April with Manchester United fan Rory Mcilroy the actual favourite.
Regardless of the golfing talent on show, or lack thereof, it was a masterstroke by Potter. But perhaps you wouldn’t expect any less from a man that has a Master’s degree in leadership and emotional intelligence. The 46-year-old is unique in this sense as his managerial philosophy puts people first as he tries to understand them better in a bid to figure out how best to convey his footballing ideology.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s #MNF clash with Southampton, Graham Potter reveals how Swan Lake, a rap concert and Swedish culture have shaped his management style…
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 7, 2020
You would have to say that it is a very successful way of implementing his ideas when you consider how far Potter has come since managing Ostersunds in the lower leagues of Swedish football. At this stage of the article, it’s worth pointing out that during his time with Ostersunds, Potter successfully convinced his team to perform a version of the ballet Swan Lake after winning a league title. In other words, he knows how to connect with his players in a deeper way than a lot of other managers are perhaps able to or even wish to do
So, it should be no surprise that he has kept Brighton in the Premier League whilst simultaneously changing the culture at the club, both on and off the field. On the football side of things, Potter is an entertainer and had his charges playing some exquisite football at the start of the 2021/2022 campaign which lifted expectations quite dramatically.
The problem is that the Seagulls last won a game of football in the Premier League on the 19th of September and have racked up an astonishing amount of draws since then. Needless to say, for all of Potter’s unique methods, the natives are beginning to grow restless as the wait for a win goes on.
Tensions came to a head against Leeds United in late November after yet another draw which resulted in the Amex crowd booing the team. A visibly upset Potter took exception to this and subsequently picked a fight with the fans during his post-match press conference. You can suddenly see how quickly this relationship threatens to sour and how impatient the football industry is nowadays.
Graham Potter at full time is confused with the boos from Brighton as he looks up to the crowd and shakes his head 👀 pic.twitter.com/o4NvgYZaOC
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 27, 2021
TThe long and short of it is that Graham Potter is an impressive individual that is a breath of fresh air to the world of football management but at the same time, he also isn’t above criticism. After three months without a win, the 46-year-old’s energy shouldn’t be spent arguing with the fans but rather trying to find a way to claim three points.
