#PLStories- Graham Potter reveals goals of Brighton club and realistic ambitions for them #BHAFC

It's a balancing act “teams like Brighton” face every season. (Apologies for use of a now somewhat weary phrase but you know what I mean). In fact, it probably applies to about two-thirds of the top-flight these days. That balance between being ambitious and cautious. Between trying to reach for glory or just avoid the quicksand. The desire to push forward and progress to where you want to be while remembering exactly where you have come from and how hard it was. The need to make bold but necessary changes at times while being reminded from a distance to be “careful what you wish for”. That balance is always there – but Albion were perhaps given a reminder at the weekend as they lost 3-0 to Burnley. That was a humbling experience in many ways but also underlined how well Albion have done so far and how high standards have to be. And it was a reminder of that double-edged objective of which Graham Potter was reminded in the run-up to the game. Albion can very reasonably target their best-ever season as they remain ninth in the top flight. The best-ever dates back 40 years to 13th place in the old First Division. It seems they are on course but Saturday’s experience underlines how hard you have to keep pedalling to move forward – and what happens if standards drop. Almost five years on from Albion’s promotion, Potter was asked last week about when the time comes to look further forward. Or is Prem life always a matter of survival, then take it from there? He replied: “My instinct would be to say you have to do both. “You have to understand the strength of the Premier League and know that if you have a few things go against you – injuries, or especially with Covid, the challenges we have had - you can miss players for a number of games and things can start to go against you. “The priority and the focus and the respect should be towards staying in the Premier League. “But, as I’ve always said, I think you need to be ambitious as well. “Supporters want to come to the game believing they can win. “I think that is what we try to do here. “Then you have to take all the decisions along the way in terms of developing your club, in terms of short-term, long-term, medium-term. “Do you accept a bid, for example, for Ben White? “You see the playing style develop in young players, which means you can increase the value of your club so it puts you in a position where you have got more resources to compete in what is financially a very competitive situation. “So respect to the competition to say you need to stay in the competition. “But then ambition and strategy to try to punch above your weight. “Because that’s ultimately what we are trying to do.” All of which, of course, underlines why Tony Bloom made a bold statement just ahead of Potter’s first Premier League match in charge, back in August 2019. He told a fans forum at the Amex that Albion’s long-term goal was to become a top-ten club. Not one tenth-placed finish for the first team but more of an all-club aim to establish themselves among the best on an ongoing basis. Top ten. Those words again. Back in the summer of 2010, Gus Poyet was asked his target for a strong squad which looked potential promotion material in League One and replied: “Top ten.” MARC CUCURELLA HAILED AS PERFECT BRIGHTON SIGNING When they won the title with four games to spare, he was picked up on that by a reporter. “You said your aim was only to finish top ten,” it was pointed out with a bit of a smirk. “We did!” Poyet replied. In Bloom’s case, it is likely “top ten” did indeed mean tenth or ninth – around there. It was a goal which has proved easy to misquote and misinterpret. To almost use against Albion in tougher times – as the “Premier League ready” theme was on occasion. Albion did not start that season with Bloom demanding tenth place. What they were trying to do was avoid that “what now?” moment which seems to hit clubs who have come through the ranks. When does it stop being fun if you reach a ceiling? Albion have given themselves something to strive for and the hope is fans find it as engaging as a push for promotion or survival fight in the first Prem season. Forty years ago, Albion and Saturday’s opponents Aston Villa were heading for the high point in their respective histories. For the Seagulls, mid-table in the top division. For Villa, champions of Europe. The goal for the Seagulls remains to better that placing – then do it again. It won’t lead to them hiring an open top bus but older fans will fully appreciate what it would mean. One hopes everyone of all ages would. In a back-handed way, the jolt of Saturday has shown how heady the current heights of ninth place really are.