Why is Graham Potter a future ‘top six’ manager? – tactical analysis

Graham Potter took over the Brighton and Hove Albion job in May 2019 following his departure from Swansea City. Since then, he has led them to their highest ever Premier League points tally this season with 51. Over the last few months, Potter has been linked heavily with the Tottenham Hotspur job as well as the Manchester United job.

This tactical analysis of Graham Potter will give a more clear idea as to why the 47-year-old has been taunted away from the south coast. His style of play and philosophy has led to his side becoming one of the most enjoyable teams to watch over the last few seasons. In this analysis, we will delve into the tactics behind his success with the minnows.

In possession 

Potter favours setting his side up in a 3-4-3 formation. This consists of unconventional wingbacks being used, most recently Leandro Trossard, who has previously played regularly as a left-sided forward. When building up, Brighton and Hove Albion stretch their back five wide to create space to receive the ball. Trossard playing left wing-back, top right of the picture below, maintains a high position to allow for him to receive the ball with time and space.

By stretching the pitch during the build-up Potters side are able to play around the oppositions press with comfort and ease as there are always multiple options to pass to. By doing this in the build-up, it allows for Brightons two midfielders to drop deeper and receive the ball. The central midfield pairing provides a base to build upon by creating triangles with the defensive players.

Marc Cucurella at left centre-back is vital in the build-up for the Seagulls. Potter encourages his wide centre-backs to step into midfield and drive the ball forward. Cucurellas ability on the ball allows Brighton to progress easily and in comparison to other centre backs in the Premier League, he is one of the highest accurate passers into the penalty area per 90.

The image below shows he is consistent in progressing the ball forwards throughout the season. Fellow Brighton and Hove Albion centre-backs Joel Veltman and Lewis Dunk also appear on the chart but are not quite as successful. The graph shows that the former Swansea boss sets a heavy emphasis on the left side of his pitch when building up and Cucurella is given freedom.

When Brighton and Hove Albion have the ball in the midfield, the team transitions into a 4-2-3-1 formation. The left-wing back pushes on and creates the attacking trio. Alexis MacAllister drifts centrally to play in the number 10 position. This allows the midfield and attacking players to dominate teams in the final third by creating a solid base to build upon. There is a big emphasis on the striker moving into the space behind the opposition, something that can be seen below. The fast-paced burst through the midfield allows for Brighton to capitalise on space quickly. To do this, they must have willing runners who support the midfield.

The wingbacks of Brighton often find themselves in very advanced positions seen in the area in which an out and out winger would occupy. Below shows the left wing-back and right wingback playing on the line of the opposition defence. Ultimately, this is a risk as a quick transition could lead to the opposition counter-attacking and capitalising on the space left by the Brighton wing-backs however, Potter is willing to take this risk and nullifies it.