Virgo backs Gilmour to make good on his Brighton move
GRAHAM POTTER’S move from Brighton to Chelsea six days after persuading Billy Gilmour to swap Stamford Bridge for the south coast appears to be a cruel twist of fate for the Scotland star.
Gilmour was desperate to set his career surging in the right direction following a chastening loan at relegated Norwich before falling out of favour with Thomas Tuchel after returning to Chelsea for pre-season.
The 21-year-old cited the chance to work with Potter as one reason for signing a four-year contract at the Amex, leaving Chelsea for £9m. However, former Brighton favourite Adam Virgo has cautioned against viewing Gilmour as collateral damage in the dramatic early season managerial manoeuvres.
The ex-Celtic defender is convinced the club’s next appointment will provide minimum disruption to the style and philosophy established under chairman Tony Bloom when Potter was lured from Swansea.
“I’d be very surprised if Brighton pull away from the way Graham played,” said Virgo. “Whoever comes in is going to have Billy a big part of his plans. He’ll probably have to be patient to begin with as Brighton have started the season so well.
“I think he’ll flourish into a great player at Brighton. I see him being a big player this season – and an absolutely huge player in the seasons after. That’s when you’ll really see Billy’s qualities coming through. Of course, what’s just happened for Billy isn’t ideal. You sign for one manager and there’s no guarantee you get on with the next one. But at Brighton, the manager who comes in has to work with Tony Bloom, Paul Barber and the philosophy they use to sign players.”
The structure has already spawned shrewd dealings such as the £50m sale of academy star Ben White to Arsenal and the massive profits made on Yves Bissouma to Spurs and Marc Cucurella to Chelsea.
Virgo imagines Gilmour confirming himself as “top six” class at Brighton and returning to an elite club in years to come. The BT Sport pundit said: “Brighton don’t look for massive reputations on massive contracts.
“They’re a club that scouts potential, finding Cucurella for £16m in La Lisa, Bissouma in Ligue 1 for £15m and selling on for much more.
“When you look at that policy, this could be a stepping stone for Billy to get back into those top six clubs where he’s been with Chelsea.
“He’ll have learned a lot from being at Chelsea, playing with those players and for those managers. But the move to Brighton will improve him a whole lot more. This being a permanent signing gives Billy a bit more stability.
“He hasn’t gone to Manchester City like Kalvin Phillips, who could get lost in a huge squad at a club that can go out and sign another £30m midfielder.
“Brighton are very loyal to players, they’ll all get game time because they’re always aware of replacing the ones moving on. So Bissouma has been replaced by Moises Caceido, who has himself already been linked with big clubs. There will be no panic when Caceido moves on, maybe in another six months or a year, and Billy slots in, as by then he’s as good as a regular.”
Ecuador midfielder Caicedo made way for Gilmour in the 93rd minute of last Sunday’s stunning 5-2 success over Leicester at the Amex.
The win moved Brighton up to fourth and gave Gilmour a glimpse of the great potential of his new team. It’s a far cry from a miserable experience at Norwich where only once did he feature in a victory, last November against Southampton.
Virgo said: “The move to Norwich was needed for Premier League football but, all of a sudden, Billy went from a team that keep the ball very well to a team that doesn’t get much possession.
“Brighton’s totally different. I thought it was a fantastic signing. I still do. I know the landscape has changed with Graham going but Billy is a very typical Brighton player.
“Bags of potential, bags of talent, he’ll really enjoy coming into this side with a massively possession-based style. Brighton fans love a holding midfielder who can put a tackle in, keep the ball well and start possession from deep. With Bissouma going they probably needed that midfielder with a bit of bite.
“Graham played a variety of formations but would always need that holder. You’ve Enoch Mwepu and Moises Caicedo who probably have more pace than Billy. But Billy is better at picking out a pass, starting play from deep, getting wing backs into play and creating the tempo in Brighton’s own half.
“That role would certainly be suited for him, like it was for Scotland against England in the Euros.
“His Scotland performances made us all feel Chelsea had a really good young player. But to make it there is very difficult. He’s exceptional but you also need luck. I hope he’s found the right fit now.”
I think he’ll flourish into a great player at Brighton. I see him being a big player this season