An interesting question that has recently become apparent is whether Fabian has or hasn’t turned a corner. Has he restored the faith in the fans and is he now back on track to being a successful Albion Manager, or are there dark clouds of doubt still hanging over the German’s head?
Fabian Hürzeler was nominated for Premier League Manager of the Month today, alongside Danny Welbeck for ‘best Player’ respectively.
Relieved Pressure?
It is no surprise that the pressure surrounding Fabian has been somewhat relieved following a period of good performances and positive results. Following a considerably challenging start to 2026, the Seagulls have been highly impressive in the last 5 games, recording 4 wins and only a narrow defeat to Carabao Cup finalists Arsenal.
Whilst questions have been asked over Hurzeler’s credentials, a patch of good form under his reign has not been abnormal. For a manager who has been responsible for recording Brighton’s heaviest Premier League defeat, it seems ironic to say that Hürzeler is also responsible for the Albion’s longest unbeaten run in the Premier League. However, this particular current run of form feels big, more meaningful!
It feels like a manager reformed.
A man who’s faced adversity and become someone better and more passionate!
One thing that fans have been noticeably frustrated with Hurzeler throughout his enduring tenure is his lack of connection with the fans, and perhaps his lack of identity on the touchline. An improvement on Roberto De Zerbi was not expected by fans in Fabian’s appointment, mainly due to the incredible job that the Italian had done, but a similar amount of charisma and energy was essential, and until recently, that hasn’t been apparent.
Vexatious, yes, but it’s made it an even sweeter sight to see the head coach puffing his cheeks red and giving the air a few powerful uppercuts following the biggest win of the season against Liverpool.
It’s not only his character that seems to have developed, but also his in-game management too, with shrewd and effective substitutions becoming more and more common. Another argument to suggest that the pressure on Fabian’s back should be relieved a wee tad relates to his evident ability to regain the confidence and respect of the dressing room, which for a brief spell seemed to have been lost!
When the run of bad form was at its peak, the players had begun to look disinterested and deflated, which was only contributing to worsening performances with results no better.
Fans are, of course, entitled to their own opinion, and many of those will differ from person to person, but when the players begin to look unconvinced in their managers’ ideologies, the concerns have to be verified. Whilst the still recent nature of this divide in player-to-manager togetherness exists, it has been impressively addressed in the last 5 games by Fabian, and you have to give the German credit for seemingly reinstalling team belief and heightening group morale.
Upcoming challenges for Fabian?
Whilst a certain upturn in results has helped Fabian greatly, there is still an aching sense amongst fans that he isn’t quite over the hill just yet, and with a few upcoming challenges in store, it could be an important few months for Fabian to try and continue to prove his worth.
Following Saturday’s near-perfect performance against Liverpool, the squad will separate for the next 2 weeks for their respective international duties or a well-earned rest. Now, for all teams, the international break offers both positives and negatives. It allows the players to change their focus from club football to international football for a short period and to enjoy a break. It also acts as a possible blockade, preventing the continuation of smooth and fluid play on the pitch, making it difficult to continue good form.
Unfortunately for Brighton, history suggests that Fabian’s Albion don’t react all too well to the international breaks, with the torrid December run starting just two games after the previous one. It is monumentally important for Fabian Hürzeler that Brighton maintain form better this time around, because another long run of searching results could be disastrous for the German tactician.
In addition to the hurdle of the international break, Fabian also needs to manage nerves that could begin to creep in towards the end of the season, especially considering that if the winning form continues, European qualification by the end of the season is a real and plausible prospect.
An opinionated view
Furthermore, I personally think it’s important to remember that this form at this current moment in time is only temporary, and it wasn’t so long ago that we were all heavily dissatisfied with this season. At the beginning of the campaign, it was made clear that Europe was the aim, and whilst it’s still a possibility this year, if we aren’t able to reach a European Stage again, then I can’t help but feel that it would be 2 consecutive seasons falling just short of our target!
If you don’t reach your target, then are you right to ask further questions at that point again?
In the same way that fans decide to stay on the fence when it’s evidently going wrong, it’s important not to get ahead of ourselves, and that’s why the pressure has been relieved, not disappeared.
UTA, as always.
