Brighton came back from 2-0 to win 3-2. And we hadn't finished there. The match went to extra-time and 3-2 became 4-3. A thriller, right? Well, not really. Pre-season friendlies are never thrillers - they are just opportunities to take a peek at the team and look ahead to the real thing in a few week's time.
Here are my reflections:
1. Starting XI hints at what is to come.
There were lots of players not involved - injured, rested, having an extended break after the World Cup, but the starting eleven was perhaps, revealing. The only regular from previous seasons who was forced to wait for his chance was Georginio Rutter. At the end of last season, Jack Hinshelwood played in the number 10 position while Georginio became a substitute and rumours that he might return to Leeds emerged. His place on the bench suggests he could still be down the pecking order.
2. Freddie Simmonds and other young players
Young players coming through is always exciting and Freddie Simmonds was given a start at the heart of the defence ahead of Eiran Cashin. Last year Simmonds, went to America for a training camp as part of a process to get him Premier League-ready and perhaps, he will follow in Lewis Dunk's footsteps and become a local lad to take the step into the first team. The problem he has is that we have signed a three new centre-backs this summer and Lewis Dunk and Olivier Boscagli also stand in his way. Charlie Tasker, Malick Yalcouye, Jesse Middleton, Harry Howell and Nehemiah Oriola were all given time too. We're likely to see Harry Howell being given minutes again this season and it will be interesting to see whether Yalcouye might become part of the squad.
3. 4-2-3-1
I had thought that loading up on centre-backs might mean that we were headed for a change of formation: three centre-backs with wing-backs, but we lined up as we usually are and you'd think that if a change was on the way, we'd be trialling it in these friendlies.
4. Kostoulas to fill Welbeck's boots
Clearly, Brighton fans' thoughts are on the centre-forward dilemma. Babis was chosen to lead the line and it excites me that this might be a break-out season for him, but it is also concerning. Hurzeler said after the game that Stefanos Tzimas was approaching fitness also.
5. Wieffer and Gomez on the right
Two central midfielders on the right feels like an issue that needs resolving, but Brian Owen spoke of how they were again impressive. They seem to have the favour of Hurzeler.
6. Gross, still so important
Where are the goals going to come from this season? He might be ageing, but Gross will weigh in with a few and will lay on plenty of chances for others. He scored a penalty and played a clever free-kick across the face of the box for Boscagli's goal.
7. Return of the loans
Brighton always have a raft of players out on loan and it will be the same this time around. Sometimes, these loans have made the transition into the first team. Yassin Ayari has been the most obvious of these in recent years. Amario Cozier-Duberry, Ibrahim Osman and Facundo Buonanotte were all back to stake a claim to being involved this season. Cozier-Duberry seems most likely. It seems that we have turned down bids for him and we were often short of wingers last season, so hopefully, he can make the step up.
8. Where was Carlos Baleba?
There may be a reason I'm not aware of Baleba's absence, but it makes me wonder afresh about whether he'll be with us when the window shuts.
9. Shirt Numbers
Official squad numbers have yet to be announced, but it was comforting to see Gross back in the number 13 shirt. Hinshelwood was wearing 8, the departed Gruda's number.
10. Set Pieces
Have we got better at set pieces? We scored from a well-worked free-kick and a corner, plus two penalties. Signs were good, but we'll have to wait and see as to whether this translates to the Premier League.
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