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This week, watch Wolves versus Man United, Liverpool versus Leicester and eight other Premier League games. It's on Prime. So welcome everybody to our Christmas special, a slightly different episode to what we normally bring you. Coming up, we've got the podcast Christmas quiz hosted by our very own kit man, Alex Burrows, better known as Buzz, from the legendary Buzz's Boot Room Quiz.
which gets thousands of views on the club's YouTube channel. Yes, it's one of my favourite watches. That gives you a real insight into the first team camaraderie. Buzz though has put together some Albion themed trivia for us to work through so we'll be putting our reputations on the line later in the show. But first we thought we'd take a moment to look back at what's been an amazing year for the podcast.
It's been a revolving door of first team players, club legends, celebrity fans and many more in between. And the stats are in. We've got here our top three most listened to episodes of the season so far. So let's take a quick look back. Yes, in third place, it's Danny Welbeck. Yeah, I'm not surprised that podcaster's got big hits. He's in fantastic form.
Possibly the form of his life, Paul. Yeah, it's only a personal opinion. He's always been a top player, but I actually think he's better than ever. Yeah, I think for a long time it was unfulfilled potential with Danny, but I think we're really starting to see the real Danny Welbeck.
Seems to be getting better and better with experience. And a real team leader as well, I think, a focus of the team. Yeah, definitely. I think he, well, without doubt, leads by example. The clubs he's been at, his situations he's been in, he's seen it all. So let's listen back to our 20th of August episode. Here's Danny Welbeck. Rather than trail through your career because it's been long and it's been successful.
Do you just want to give us a few crucial moments in your career that you reflect back on positively, negatively, whatever, and then we'll get to the here and now? Yeah, so I say the changing of clubs is always like a... A tricky situation because you're going to a different club, different culture, different environment. Obviously, I'd grown up at United through the academy from eight years of age. Then got into the first team, played...
Had some very successful moments there and loved it. And then... Then there's a change of manager. Maybe that manager doesn't see you playing in the first team as much. So then you're looking at different clubs and I got the chance to go to Arsenal, which was an amazing club. family orientated club and then I had some really difficult injuries there which was very
very tough to take. You just want to be playing as a boy. You want to be playing out on the pitch and helping the teammates. It's difficult to be on the sidelines and going through long rehab processes. Yeah, so I'd say that's the negatives, the injury side of things. But I also try and see the positive in that because... Going through them situations helped me, built me into the man that I am today. I wouldn't change that because it's made me a lot stronger as a person.
Going to new clubs, experiencing different cultures, different environments and still trying to improve every single day. on the training pitch and yeah I was lucky to come to Brighton with a great dressing room and you know great club great environment and yeah to be thriving it's amazing so Was that a big decision? for you so you you'd been at Arsenal you've gone to Watford and when Brighton came in for you they were quite a new Premier League club
Was it one of those where you think, oh, I'm not sure because they are so new? Or was it one of those where you just seen the place and thought, yeah, that looks ideal for me? Yeah, so there was a few options at that time. I looked at it and analysed all the options and I thought Brighton would be the best place for me to come and it's proved to be. Every single season has been better and better and better. Obviously getting to Europe with...
Brighton was a huge step for the club and I think everybody really enjoyed the European tour. It didn't end the way we wanted it to. But it's given us that hunger and the belief and the confidence to go and do that again. And that's definitely something that we'd like to achieve. Right, our second most listened to episode came from the new boss.
Fabian Hursler. Yeah, we caught Fabian in a hot moment there, Glenn. He'd just walked through the door. He'd just given his first press conference. Then he came upstairs to speak to us. It was a bit of a marathon day for him. But I was struck by...
His intelligence, the clarity of his thinking, how clear his messages were, how confident he was, how well he carried himself. And I remember thinking, OK, a lot's going to be made about his age, 31, but his age feels irrelevant today because he's just a very impressive coach. The thing that struck me more was probably not just from a coach point of view, I think just as a person, really humble, down to earth.
Spoke to everyone and anyone at the training ground, really open and honest. And from that day, I never really had to worry about his personality. Obviously, he still had to prove that he was a good enough coach. tactician to be in the Premier League and I think since then he's more than proven it and I actually don't think his age has been mentioned that often. Okay, so let's listen back to our 5th of July episode. Here's Fabian Herzler.
You are, from what we gather, a passionate guy on the touchline. You sound very calm and composed now, but in the game process itself, when the game is on... You engage emotionally, yeah? Too much. So when I watch myself after the 90 minutes... for example, in television or after a bad whistle from the referee, then I'm thinking to myself, what are you doing? That's not you. So, beside the pitch, I'm quite calm on the pitch.
It doesn't matter if it's training or if it's a game. I'm very emotional because I want to get the best version out of the players. I want that they improve every day. I'm also a little bit protecting them. That's like my character and I can't be artificial. So that's part of me. I will be authentic and of course the emotional side is also like a side of me.
Actually, most of the great managers now tend to be emotional. I mean, Roberto De Zerbe certainly was passionate when he was here. Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, they're not quiet in the coaching zone, are they? No, not at all. I personally think, from a fan's and a player's perspective, I like to see that my manager's invested. Whether I'm sitting in the stand, whether I'm sitting on the bench, whether I'm playing on the field, if I can see my manager's invested, then...
We're in it together. That's also like what I get out from the team, their opinions. that they need it sometimes, that they feel, okay, we suffer now together and we go through the hell now together because this will happen during the season and you are strong if you do it together instead of being just an individual. on the pitch where there are like 22 players. So just bringing it back to the here and now, what are you looking forward to about the Premier League?
This adventure offers a mound. I think it's the best league in the world. You challenge with the best players in the world, with the best coaches in the world. So it would be for me like... a huge experience and it would be for me like very exciting to compete with the best teams and the best managers to try to
I would outwork them. It will be very, very interesting to see that. And of course, I'm looking forward to challenge the establishment in the league. I like that. I like that. Anywhere in particular you're looking forward to going to visiting? i would say so i know from tony there might be quite a few fixtures that are very important for him so i try to win this game he mentioned crystal palace and on top of that so for me personally of course like
Pep Guardiola is an amazing coach. I think he's the best coach in the world and to face him, to play against him will be something special. And at number one, the most listened to episode of the season so far is our owner and chairman, Tony Bloom. So, I mean, Tony doesn't do many interviews, but I think when we got to sit with him, really opened up, was honest.
especially about the transfer window where he'd just spent so much money. The club had had the biggest transfer window in its history. And it was really refreshing. I've never seen him that sort of buoyant. He's always a buoyant guy, but he was so pleased, I think, with how the summer had gone and so confident about the coming season, the depth of the squad.
Everything seemed to be going well. And he was just on really good terms with himself, very chatty, very comfortable with us, you know, on the official club podcast. I think we learned a lot talking to him about, you know, his approach to running the club, his decision making. the way he delegates decisions, how the whole thing functions. And I haven't, we're biased, but I haven't heard a better interview with Tony Bloom than that.
Shone a real light on the intricate workings of the football club for the fans. So let's listen back to the 3rd of September episode. Our chairman, Tony Bloom. Well, which gives you more pleasure, paying less for a player than you were willing to pay or getting more for a player than you expected to get? They're both good and they're both tough to get. I wanted to ask, obviously we've made a lot of signings over this transfer window, but at what financial level do you step in?
When it comes to the transfer window and players in and players out, you know, I'm very involved in discussions with David and Mike Cave. And is that at all levels down to the 23 level? yeah obviously the lower levels you go down I'm aware of it and there's conversations but I'm much less involved you know at you know when it's academy level and certain levels you know when it comes to sort of yeah
Under 18s, under 16s, I'm not really involved there. But certainly under 21 level, I am involved. They keep me informed of the situation. We have discussions. But less so, much more obviously when it's first team level or big transfer fees. These figures you see for transfer spending, they don't take into account how much you've brought in, do they, very often?
Nevertheless, only Chelsea spent more in this transfer window. I mean, it would be fair to say that it took people by surprise, didn't it, to see Brighton so active in this window. Nobody really saw that coming, did they? Yeah, I would imagine. So I don't, you know, I'm not in other people's minds, but we just don't worry. We don't focus on that at all. We always think of our processes. What's right?
for Brighton and have Albion Football Club at any moment in time. And then we do what we need to do. We're always trying to improve. We've always got ambitions to be better than we already are. It won't always be the case. We can't.
Certainly when everyone looks at the finishing position at the end of the season as that's what that year's been, we can't... always get better and better but at the start of any season we always try and improve and be better we always want to do well and we we hope at the start of any season that winning a domestic cup competition is possible and we always look forward to those a lot. It sends a really strong message doesn't it because
You know, people outside the club might have started to say, well, unfortunately, Brighton do have to sell their top players every now and again to keep the business rolling. And because those players have ambitions and big clubs come in for them. By doing this in this transfer window, you've really made a statement about the strength of the business and the strength of the club, haven't you?
Yeah, I think over the last few years, things have changed somewhat and we have got a lot stronger financially. And so our ambitions continue to rise. But I think literally like any club in the world, apart from maybe one or two.
Your best players are vulnerable to leave and we don't have a problem with that. It's not like we want them to leave, but if they want to leave and we get the right offer, we will not stand in their way. And then we've obviously got young players coming through. We can invest in other players or we sometimes bring in...
as you've seen this transfer window, a player straight into the first team. Did we get everyone we were after in the transfer window? We didn't get absolutely everyone we were after, we got almost everyone we were after, which is a pretty...
good hit rate so i'm absolutely delighted with the transfer business we've done the players we've brought in um what i've seen so far it's still early days they're fitted into the group the environment i know we haven't seen some of the players uh play and obviously
know, hugely disappointed with that horror challenge to see only Matt O'Reilly for a few minutes, but he had his operation say that's been successful. So really looking forward to seeing him back at some point latter part of the year. you know i think it's really important to bring the right players and not just top quality players that goes without saying but the right players with the right personality fit for our football club and from what i've seen from what i've heard
Everyone has fitted in and it's really new for some of the players we've just signed last week. But it looks really positive from where I'm seeing things at the moment. So there you go, our top three episodes of the season so far. And don't forget to scroll back through the archive because we've got a whole host of fantastic guests for you to listen to. So while you've got some downtime over the festive period, some essential Christmas listening. The official Brighton & Hove Albion podcast.
So here we go then, the podcast Christmas quiz. Let's welcome our quiz master from the ever-popular Buzz's Boot Room. It's Alex Burrows, a.k.a. Buzz. Hello, Glenn. How are we? Love you, jumper. thank you yeah i mean enjoy it well it's well you can see it because you won't see it again hot off the shelves in the club shop apparently nice even more so now you're wearing it buzz well i don't know about that but right buzz did you write these questions
i can take absolutely no credit for the questions whatsoever so if they saw a bit like the boot room yeah pretty much pretty much right yeah are they hard and are we going to look like idiots um i was emailed them in advance and i haven't read the email so no idea yeah well let's do it so just in terms of the format you've got five rounds of albion questions three in each round and then you're working together to get the answer
And then if you correctly answer 50% or more, your reputations will remain intact. I'll take that percentage. If you score less than 50%, then you will be transfer listed again. wow that was so uncalled for can i go to lewis if we're rubbish yeah because i live there all right then let's get started and let's go
Is it wrong that I'm slightly nervous? I'm nervous. I feel like it's my FA Cup final. All right, you ready? So I won't give you too long on each question because, you know, we've all got things to get on with. Like kit. Life. Life. Stuff like that. So question one. Who scored Brighton's first ever Premier League? I know this. Yeah, I got that as well. Do you think it's Pascal Gross? The German king. The Kaiser. That is correct.
One point. Good start. Who's it against? 1-0. Oh, who was it against? It wasn't against. That's not the next question. It wasn't Norwich, was it? No, it wasn't Norwich. Was it West Brom? Yeah, West Brom. All right, question two. Against which team did Brighton record their biggest ever Premier League victory? It wasn't Man United, was it? No. 4-1. Yeah.
Have you not hit five against somebody? What season was it, Buzz? It was in the last three or four years. That's the only clue I'll give you. Oh, my God. It's quite a big span, that. Yeah, somebody got really whacked at the Amex, didn't they? Five-ish. No, that was Everton, I think, doing it to us. Go on, we'll stick with that. Yeah, Man United for Wombos. Incorrect. Wolves, 6-0.
Oh, yeah. You were right, you were right. Of course, yeah, I knew it. Got a wicket and transferred here. Okay. Question three of the first round. Who was the first Brighton player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League? Wasn't Evan Ferguson against Newcastle, was it? The one before that.
I think. It wasn't you, was it? No, that wasn't me. I like that every time you both answer, you go, it wasn't first. We start with the negatives. It's a process of deduction, you know. Did Danny score Hartwig not long ago? Yeah, but Evan Ferguson last year, I'm going to throw that in. This is big because this puts us on 33% if we get this wrong. I know, I know. We started well. Final answer is Evan Ferguson.
Incorrect. What against Newcastle, but Evan Ferguson was right? Both. Both of them. Trossard. Liverpool away. Roberto's first game? Yeah. How could we forget that? Great start. Well done. Well done, Paul. Can you make them a bit easier? You went strong there, so that's your fault. I know, sorry. Thoughts on the first round? Can only get better. Average. Yaz, the only way's up.
You ready for round two? So this is the game of quotes. So I want you to identify the guest from the podcast. Do you know how many we've done? Person number one. I went to Tesco in Brighton and people were at the checkout saying, hey, it's you. And I'm like, oh man, I'm just trying to buy some mac and cheese. Hey, it's you. I'm just putting on a little voice for you. Do it again.
what that just that bit the whole go the court the court i went to tesco and bright and people were at the checkout saying hey it's you and i'm like oh man i'm just trying to buy some mac and cheese It's the mac and cheese that's thrown me. It's got to be a player. No, it's a coach, isn't it? It's a coach. Well, I'm going to pass on that one. We can't pass that one. At least throw a guess. Well, you can on Mastermind. Oh, hold on a second. Hold on a second. I've got it. Yeah?
And he's not a player. Okay. Sure. And he's not a coach. Sure. Is it Russ Cook? Is that your final answer? Might as well be. correct oh well done in there try to throw me off the scent there buzz what my little hey yeah he sounded foreign hey it's you all right question number two the music in the dressing room is awful
One minute it's Spanish, the next, who knows what, it's carnage in there. I think that's a bit harsh because I DJ some of the away games. This has got to be a men's first team player unless he's trying to throw us off the scent again. Oh, is it JP? Yeah. Yeah, JP was talking about... Oh, could it be Steely?
It might have been Jason Steele because he was talking about how old he feels in that dressing room. Buzz gives nothing away, does he? No. He's inscrutable. Literally as well in the kit room as well. How long since you've left? Fifth year. You're still coming back for white socks. Oh, wow. Wow. Well, we'll go chase and steal. Final answer? Yeah. Incorrect.
Was it J.P.? Incorrect. Who was it? Jack Inchelwood. Jack Inchelwood? Can you imagine Martin Inchelwood saying that? Okay. All right, for the final quote. Playing at the Withdean, you'd see individuals and teams come out of a port-a-cabin, cross that running track and collapse. Oh, this has got to be Bobby or Siddy. Yeah, exactly right.
I think it was Bobby Zamora. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was. I think it's Siddy. Do you? Yeah. I can hear Bobby saying that. I'm going to have to pull rank and say Siddy. Right, you pull rank. Go on. Incorrect. No, I'm joking. It's sitters. Whoa. Good. Are we running at 50%? Yeah, we're at 50% now. Is that right? Three out of six. We've got one in the first round, two in the second.
Okay, on to round three. From the clues provided, identify the former Albion player. All right, so first player. My first goal for the Albion was against Man United in 2022. I played 48 times for the Barcelona reserve team, but only made one appearance for the first team. Got it, yeah? Maybe. Is there a third?
i have 13 international caps it's not much more than that isn't it he's got he's got loads more than 13 caps hasn't he kukarela played every game in the european championship for a start i i think it is i think what you think it's kukarela Read them all again quickly.
I have 13 international caps for my country, making my debut in 2021. I'm trying to get links to Barcelona. Fatih, obviously, but he's made more first-team appearances for them. So I think it's got to be Mark. Mark or Corella, we'll go for. Correct. Hooray. All right, number two. I signed for Brighton in the club's first Premier League season. I captain my country and have been to three World Cups. I left Brighton for Arsenal before going abroad.
Oh, I've got it. I've got it. That's a little bit of a sneaky one, that. Is it? Yeah. Because you think, I think you only joined them on loan. I think, I'll confer with you, but obviously the names that jumped you were Ben White and Trossard. Yeah. But I think it's Matty Ryan. Yeah, it's got to be, hasn't it? Yeah, correct. Well done. Played.
We're getting transferred nowhere. Tell you what, this is your round, huh? You get three for three? My early clubs included Salisbury, Eastbourne and Torquay. Oh, go for a little guess on this one. What, and get it wrong? I'm not making the rules, but I'll give you a pass. We'll throw a bonus point on this one, if you get it from that clue. Torquay, Salisbury. Eastbourne. And Eastbourne.
You're doubting yourself now, aren't you? Because there's a bit of pressure on it. Yeah, because I think he might have been Plymouth and not Torquay. Let's have a clue, Buzz. So you're going to not risk the bonus point? I'm not going to risk the bonus point. And I'll tell you what I was thinking. I've had one international cap for Austria's under 20. I think I'm right, you know. Do I get... Is that half a bonus point? Half a bonus point. No, no, no.
God, I might as well be the last one, but I know it is. During my Brighton career, I received a seven-match suspension. Yeah. Ashley Barnes. Correct. Who played for Austria? Yeah. Didn't he? Yeah. I knew it. He was at Plymouth as well, though, wasn't he? I didn't write the questions. You'd know that, wouldn't you? Three for three on that one. Well, round four is Brighton in numbers. And I reckon there's a good chance you might be back on the track. So let's go with question one.
How many years did Brighton spend with Dean Stadium before moving to the Amex? Yeah, that was at the end of my road. If I get this wrong, I'm going to be in trouble. So I went there in... Moved. I know when we moved. 2002 and left in around... 12. When did the Amex open? 2011, was it? Or 12? it's either 11 or 12. okay so let's go for i think it's hold on a second it was 10 years was it 25 years since um and 10 years
It's roughly 10. It went there in 2002, I think. And then left in what? I reckon it's 12 years. 12 years, do you reckon? I think so. It's 11 or 12. Let's go for 12 then, Buzz. Correct. What years? 2001 to 2013. No. 2000 to 2012. No. I got it right. Who cares? 99 to 2011 according to this. You're way off. All right. Question two. He's a bit rattled because we got that right. He didn't expect us to get that right. He wants to sell us.
I'm here for fair quizzing. That's all I'm here for. I'm impartial. I'm the Bradley Walsh to the chase. Right. How many points did Brighton achieve in their best ever Premier League season? I've got an idea. I'll give you... Oh, wow. I'll give you a point if you get it one either side. One either side? Yeah. Right, so it's the... The best finish. So it's the Europa League season. Yeah, before. Sixth, was it? Sixth, wasn't it? It's a mid-50s points total, isn't it?
I'm going for... I love the way he's trying to talk you into giving some sort of... I've got to give it to you, Boz. You give nothing back. No, no, no. There's no winks, no nods, no grins. This is all you, go on. I'm going to go for 56. 62. 62? Yeah. I could even think about taking a point off that. I won't. There's no points deductions in this game. No points deductions. All right. Question number three.
How many goals did Tommy Cook score for Brighton to become their all-time leading goal scorer in all competitive matches? Again, I'll... I think I know this. I won't give you anything. You must have studied it because you were probably closing in on it. I was closing in on it. Is it one, two, three? Correct. Nice. What did you finish on? One, one, one. Do you know what? That's the answer of the day. That's impressive. All right. Final round. General knowledge. about brighton still
Against which team... Well, this is your earlier conversations will have helped you here. Against which team did Evan Ferguson score his first ever career hat-trick? Newcastle United. Correct. I'll give you a bonus point because I'm... It's Christmas, isn't it? So if you can tell me what month of the year it was in. I can. Do you know this, Paul? Nope. November. Incorrect. It was September.
Which league were Brighton in when Lewis Dunk made his debut? That's a good one. I'm sure Dunk made his debut with me. I'm sure he did. Well, where did you make your debut? It must have been, well... League One? Yeah. It must have been League One. I'm going for League One. Correct. All right, last question. It all could hinge on this one. In Brighton's first Premier League season, which team did they beat for their first league win?
I'm trying to think. I think the game Pascal scored in, I'm sure it was... It wasn't West Ham away, I don't think. I think it was that West Brom game. Why don't we say West Brom? Yeah, I think it was the West Brom game at home. Correct. Right. Mixed bag, would you go? No. Strong finish. Strong second half. Steady? Steady. Yeah. What were you thinking? I was at the Christmas party and I threw out of sleep last night.
Scores on the doors then. Out of a possible 15 points, you scored a very respectable 11. So you finished with a 73% strike rate. So... what i'm taking from that obviously it was like a pass or a transfer list i think i'm going in for a pay rise yeah what i'm taking from it is thank god you were there sitting beside me because i'd be getting sacked in the morning
That's all for this episode. Thanks for listening to the official Brighton & Hove Albion podcast. If you can share, rate and review the show, be kind. It all helps spread the word. The official Brighton & Hove Albion podcast.