Fabian Hurzeler on Leadership Dynamics and Emerging Leaders in Brighton’s Team Structure

That they lack on-field leaders and have paid for it in a four-match run with no wins and lots of disappointments. They have lost twice and drawn with teams who, this weekend, were thrashed 4-0 and 5-0. Evidence of a lack of leaders is partly provided by their habit of conceding one goal soon after another. And it has happened too often. So where are we on a perceived lack of Albion leaders? Or do they have leaders who are not leading - or being led? That perceived lack of leadership is an issue which has been highlighted by some during the recent winless run. Early in the campaign it looked very much like James Milner would have a big role to play this season. He captained the team through pre-season and played in opening wins against Everton and Manchester United. But he has now been ruled out. Lewis Dunk has been injured and has not hit the heights since his return. A return which some are now suggesting he should not have made quite so quickly given how Jan Paul van Hecke and Igor were playing. Joel Veltman and Danny Welbeck have both been missing of late. It is very possible that Mats Wieffer was being looked at to play a senior leadership role in midfield when he signed and that could yet happen. But his early weeks have been slowed by injury. Is Jack Hinshelwood a leader? I’m not sure but he is certainly someone who makes the collective better. So do they lack leaders and has that been part of them conceding two goals quickly? The record shows Albion have conceded two goals in single-digit minutes in six of their last 11 league matches. And it very nearly happened against Bournemouth and Southampton as well. That includes two in four minutes at both Chelsea (as part of four in 21) and Liverpool. Those quickfire doubles have seen them lose four leads. So is that lack of leadership? Fabian Hurzeler was asked as much ahead of the Crystal Palace game and said he was impressed by the question. At the same time, new leaders can only emerge when they cannot rely on others to lead them. Hurzeler said: “For me it's so important to have this structure, to have the team player, the leaders and the individuals. "And when the structure is not perfect on the pitch, there are reasons where we might not be able to manage the game in the right way, where we might have bad periods in the season. "Of course, it's always a discussion about having leaders in the team and having old players and experienced players in the team. “But in the end we also need to understand and be completely convinced about the way the club works. "It's the way from the club and also my approach to give young players the chance to grow as a leader. “So, we have young players like Jack Hinshelwood, JP (van Hecke), Bart Verbruggen. “They have all the things to be a leader, but we need to give them the chance to grow. "If we only buy old, experienced players then it might happen that we stop the development to being a leader, so it is very important to find the right balance. "On the one side to understand the structure of the team, of the club, where we might be able to add an older, experienced player and where we might push our own players to develop into this role. “We always have to analyse that and it’s a big thing for me, because in the end it's not only about tactics and having the right match plan, it's about having the right hierarchy and the right structure in your team. "When a lot of leaders are missing on the pitch, the structure is not the best and then there are reasons why things happen." But did Albion not have enough leaders in that late collapse at Leicester? They certainly had experience in Lewis Dunk and Pervis Estupinan, they had Wieffer in midfield and, further forward, both Welbeck and Kaoru Mitoma (until they took him off). Two of the costliest errors have been by players who have experience and come across as strong personalities – Wieffer and Igor. But age does not make you a leader and youth does not mean you cannot lead. Hurzeler, more than anyone, will appreciate that. Earlier in the same press conference, he said of van Hecke: “I think he's one of the players that is most under-estimated in the league. “He's not only a player who wants to win and to really develop himself every day but also his team-mates, and he plays with this winning mentality inside of him. “That’s something that shows his personality, that he's ready to grow, to make the next step. “He's ready to be a leader, and I think that might be the next step for him to get a higher value in the team.” On Sunday afternoon, it was van Hecke who stepped up to speak to a small group of newspaper and website reporters hoping to get the Albion viewpoint. That showed a bit of leadership in itself. He did not seem to totally agree about a lack of leaders but he pointed out it is a young team. There is no doubt that Crystal Palace looked a bit more streetwise on Sunday. Their plan was well executed and worked. Oliver Glasner pointed out what it was and their strong defence and willingness to be direct in attack paid off. They seemed pretty happy even when back under pressure and out of possession. They also needed one outstanding and three good saves by Dean Henderson. Van Hecke was among those who did not take charge of the corner which led to the first goal. Did anyone refocus minds amid annoyance just before that when Michael Oliver blocked Carlos Baleba? The fact Veltman, Welbeck and, longer term, Milner are not around is unfortunate. Joao Pedro is very talented but not a leader of the attack. But Albion should have had enough leadership out on the park to see them through the last five minutes at Leicester. The same question will continue to be asked all the time one goal conceded becomes two and the winless run goes on.