Graham Potter: The (new) Tinker Man

Contrary to popular belief Albion boss, Graham Potter, doesn't actually overhaul his starting XI as much as you may be lead to be believe. Granted, there have been a few questionable team selections over the past few months, such as starting Ben White at RB away to West Ham when a perfectly fit Joel Veltman kept the bench warm for 90 minutes. The same applies every time 'Big' Dan Burn starts at LWB, when a previous Hughton favourite in Bernardo, who doesn't even earn himself a spot on the bench most weeks, would perfectly suit the role. The phrase "square pegs in round holes" could not be more fitting so far this season for the Albion.

So far this season (16 games played), Potter has only made a total of 28 changes to the starting XI. Only 2 teams in the 'relegation' battle have made fewer changes to their starting lineup. The first is Burnley, with 22 changes so far this season, which can probably be put down to only have 12 senior players fit most weeks, limiting Dyche's selection. The other is West Brom, also with 28 changes, which is down to having one of the worst squads in the division (would arguably be the worst if not for Sheffield United) and only having 12-14 players good enough to start a game in the Premier League. The most changes made by any team at the foot of the table is Brighton, which came in the changes made by Potter for the visit on Arsenal. 6 changes were made in total, from the team that faced West Ham 2 days earlier - no need to read that again, you were right the first time, SIX changes to the starting line up. The second most changes made is 4, which most teams across the division do from time to time, naturally to rest players how have played 90 minutes 3 or 4 games on the spin.

For comparison, Liverpool have made 30 changes to their starting lineup so far this season, yet still fill the top spot. This shows the gulf in quality between the clubs at the top and bottom of the table. The likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City etc. can afford to make 2/3 changes every single week, swapping world class players for other world class players of the same position. Oh to be Jurgen Klopp, resting Sadio Mane in place of Diogo Jota or Pep Guardiola, resting Kevin De Bruyne in place of Ilkay Gundogan... yet it is Klopp who is pushing for 5 substitutions to be made each week. You can see why 'teams like Brighton' see this as an unfair advantage!

Potter's downfall in his 18 months in charge has been the fact that he still does not know his best XI. Any team will struggle to form any sort of cohesion when a manager continues to chop and change the system and the players involved. On many occasions already this season, rather than select a player in his natural position, Potter has opted to play someone else out of position. For most Albion fans, it seems clear what our best team is and who should be filling in for others when injuries or suspension force a change to be made. This is the philosophy Aston Villa and Dean Smith have taken this season. In 15 games, Smith has only changed his starting lineup 13 times - less than 1 change per game on average, and it has lifted Aston Villa to 5th (which is very good for a team who kept their place in the division by someone forgetting to turn on goal line technology at Villa Park). It goes to show that when a system works, changes do not need to be made for the sake of making changes. For some unknown reason, Potter cannot resist making changes - and when he finally doesn't make any changes it does not match/suit the opposition facing the Seagulls. In arguably our best performance so far this season, away to Newcastle, Potter started 3 forwards in Maupay, Connolly and Trossard, our 2 best central midfielders Alzate and Bissouma, along with our 2 best wing backs in March and Lamptey. The same lineup faced Manchester United 3 days later, which if not for a penalty awarded after FT could have bought the same outcome. What Potter failed to notice a week later, was that Everton away is a much tougher fixture than away to Newcastle or at home to a then struggling United team. With that said, starting the same, very attacking line up for the 3rd game in a row was not his best move to say the least, with Albion falling to a 4-2 defeat at Goodison Park. Potter then proceeded to make changes in much more winnable games at Palace and at home to West Brom, both of which ended in the Albion dropping points - who knows, this might not have happened had we rested players at Goodison Park and gone with our strongest line up for these 2 fixtures...

At the moment, Albion's life in the countries top division is hanging by a thread, unless Potter can turn things around fast. The first hurdle to jump for Graham Potter needs to be deciding his best team and sticking with it. Potter also needs to become realistic with his game prioritisation and targeting games he thinks we can win and be realistic about it. Making 6 changes at home to Arsenal, the team one place above us in the league, with the aim of beating Wolves the following Saturday could not be more back to front if Potter tried.

Playing a struggling Arsenal side at home, one place above Brighton, would have been a prime opportunity to get 3 points and make a gap between us and the bottom 3. Instead we opted to play a side which would normally grace the early rounds of the Carabao Cup, all because Potter wants his "best team" fit to face Wolves in the new year. I know which game I would rather rest players for...

For now I am still firmly in the 'Potter In' camp, but for the first time since he joined, I have to admit it needs to change soon!