FIVE-POINT PLAN

1 GIVE YOUTH A CHANCE

At Swansea, Potter had no option but to blood youth. At Brighton, Bloom has spent millions on the academy, appointed Dan Ashworth to oversee development, and seen the under-23s launch an unlikely title assault on the Premier League 2 – yet the pathway to the first XI is uncertain. Youngsters barely made the bench under Hughton and he left Brighton with the second-oldest Premier League squad (after Burnley). Potter may need to look closer to home for new faces.

2 TAKE ANOTHER SIX POINTS FROM CRYSTAL PALACE

It’s baffling to anyone outside the A23 corridor, but doing the double over bitter rivals Palace for the first time in 35 years was a rare highlight for Brighton fans in 2018-19, and ecstatic celebrations in both matches made it clear how much it meant to the squad. More required.

3 FIND CONTINUITY ON AND OFF THE PITCH

The oldest outfield player in the Premier League last year was 38-year-old captain Bruno, now retired. Pep Guardiola’s tribute in Manchester City’s title-clincher illustrated football’s respect for the Spaniard. The Seagulls, perhaps risking a leadership gap with Hughton’s departure, have found the fan favourite a backroom role. Though Brighton don’t lack candidates to wear the armband, El Capitan’s values will be much harder to replace on the pitch.

4 STOP RELYING ON GLENN MURRAY

The plan in 2017-18 and 2018-19 was to replace Murray. The reality is that he ended up as the club’s top scorer, twice. But 35 goals overall was a poor return last year and Glenn has so far kept out pricy replacements brought in to relieve the pressure. At 36, Murray couldn’t possibly do it again... could he?

5 SHOP WITH CAUTION

After Albion found several foreign bargains in 2017-18 (Pascal Gross, Mat Ryan, Davy Propper), last year was a disaster. They can’t afford another Jahanbakhsh, signed as the Eredivisie’s top scorer only to serve up zero goals and assists in 19 Premier League games.