WHATEVER happens between now and the end of the season, let’s all applaud the way Brighton have kept pace with Newcastle at the top of the Sky Bet Championship.
In fact, they’ve not just kept up, the Seagulls are flying high at the top, two points ahead of everyone’s pre-season favourites.
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Lots of things happen at a football club to make it successful.
But I admire the work of Chris Hughton and wonder why, when conversation ever turns to who the next England manager should be, his name is never mentioned.
I was at Newcastle the day his tactics saw Sunderland thrashed 5-1 in 2010, just months after promotion – and only weeks before Hughton was sacked.
What a joke!
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The man who brought stability and credibility back to a chaotic club after the Joe Kinnear debacle, dismissed with Newcastle mid-table in the Premier League.
Some will think Hughton finds it sweet that his Brighton now sit above Newcastle, but he won’t see it like that.
He hasn’t got a malicious bone in his body and is one of the nicest men in football.
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Born in London, Hughton played for the Republic of Ireland, but his football education was totally in England and that’s another reason why his name should be in the frame.
His man management when Brighton star Anthony Knockaert lost his father this season was exemplary – taking the squad to France for the funeral, and treating the player like a human being.
Knockaert’s performances have been stunning. The trust and love between players and staff at Brighton is amazing, and is down to Hughton.
As a team Brighton don’t rely on superstars: they are organised, and every player knows what he is doing.
Crucially Hughton’s management means they can bounce back from the setback of conceding a goal or suffering a defeat.
A bit like the man himself: questions were raised during his time at Norwich.
He has learned from those mistakes and is now showing all the signs needed to be a success at the top level.
Hughton for England at some point? Why not?
That’s one to ponder in the future, but right now he’s making all things Brighton beautiful.
*Adrian Durham will be hosting the Matchday Live show on talkSPORT from 1pm this Saturday from Lincoln vs Brighton in the FA Cup
Listen to talkSPORT Drive with Adrian Durham and Darren Gough every weekday between 4-7pm here and follow the talkSPORT Facebook and Twitter pages
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