Premier League clubs vote to consider spending cappublished at 18:00
18:00
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Premier League clubs have voted in favour of adopting an anchoring economic model, which will be linked to the earnings of the bottom club (tv and prize money).
The proposed system would operate like a spending cap.
The next stage is final analysis and drafting of rules, which will potentially be put to clubs at an AGM in June.
The model will be presented to clubs and - should clubs vote in favour then - it will replace the Profit and Sustainability Rules currently in place, from the 2025-26 season onwards.
Any new element of the financial system would come in shadow next season, to fully replace PSR in 2025-26.
“We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages," said the PFA
“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”
Are Brighton losing their spark?published at 13:59
13:59
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering your questions.
Matt asked: Brighton do not seem to be the same force as last season. Some say Roberto De Zerbi has been 'found out' but personally I believe their strategy of selling their best players, even for big money, will only ever see them drop down. Thoughts?
Simon replied: I think Brighton are a fascinating club. Historically, they are on for one of their best ever finishes. Even in this Premier League era, they are doing well.
However, their standards have been set and living up to them is incredibly difficult. Last season, Kaoru Mitoma, Pervis Estupinan and Evan Ferguson were all superb. This season they have largely been injured. In addition they sold Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo. And on top of all that, they had a European campaign to contend with.
Like West Ham, Brighton are not a club who can pay huge amounts of money on players to fill out a squad to use when injuries bite. Roberto De Zerbi has had to manage that situation. While David Moyes gets criticised for being too negative, De Zerbi is too open.
The truth is neither club has the squad depth needed to compete across a 38 game season, with European demands added in. The respective managers try and deal with the situation in the best way they can.
Your views on Sunday's gamepublished at 12:07
12:07
We asked for your views on Sunday's match between Bournemouth and Brighton.
Here are some of your answers:
Bournemouth fans
Mark: Wow Andoni, what a job you have done! Some doubted you in the early days, but most knew that you would turn it around. Our best ever Premier League points return, after no wins in the first nine games, and we still have three more games to play. The future is bright, the future is Andoni. Take a bow, we all love you.
Boessli: Many doubted Iraola when he first got here but he has now proven himself to be a very astute manager. I think the supporters have gone from "why did we get him in?" to "don't let him go". Bournemouth could have been looking at a European spot if we were able start the season as we are finishing it.
Keith: I never understood why Travers was dropped. Neto has pulled off some great saves but he is very unpredictable with the ball at his feet and punches too often, rather than catching the ball. Overall, Travers is more dependable, in my opinion.
Katie: I could not be prouder of these boys. Little old Bournemouth proving everyone wrong, every week. To have so many players missing and still produce a performance like that is immense. We have smashed our highest ever points tally with games left. I love this team.
Brighton fans
Trevor: Brighton would be playing in the Championship next year if their current form was occurring at the start of the season. There are lots of injuries and disruptive rumours surrounding Roberto de Zerbi. Selling off many of our key players might have been necessary to balance the books but, on a sporting balance, that was not the right choice. Brighton must rebuild during the summer.
Bob: Our season has slowly imploded. The players look tired and of low morale. Roberto de Zerbi needs to change our tactics of playing out from the back. All of the teams have cottoned on to this and look forward to playing us, because we are so easy to score against. I cannot wait for this season to finish. Hopefully we finish higher than 15th.
Steve: European football and a 12-man strong injury list would have challenged most Premier League squads but, when you consider that Brighton's 'reserves' are either injury-prone or teenagers, it comes as no surprise that the performances have nosedived in 2024. Roma started the rot, then Luton and Manchester City, and now Bournemouth are just emphasising it. Quality beats quantity.
Matthew: Injuries or no injuries, what this season has shown is that De Zerbi has no plan B and cannot encourage or nurture young talent. His tactics are exceptional when he has a full squad, but he has shown himself to be too reliant on his best players, which has caused injuries. The manner of our drop in form has to stop with him. It's relegation form and it's concerning.
'We have to play with soul, with honour and with pride'published at 10:47
10:47
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Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has challenged his players to play with "soul, honour and pride" in their remaining games.
Albion are winless in their last six matches and have dropped to 12th in the Premier League, ending their hopes of playing European football next season.
The Italian wants to see a mentality shift in upcoming against Aston Villa, Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester United before the season ends.
"Injuries are a factor, but motivation as well," he said. "Motivation in football is 80 per cent of our work.
"In my time every game is a big challenge, a big target. In this moment, too many points from Europe, we are working for an unclear target but I can't accept a game without soul.
"We have to stop this moment quickly. I have a big respect for my players and I know they are suffering in the same way, but we have to be honest with ourselves.
"We always have to play with soul, with honour and with pride because we are Brighton."
Catch up on the weekend's Premier League actionpublished at 08:21
08:21
Mark Chapman introduces highlights and analysis from Sunday's three Premier League fixtures.
Bournemouth 3-0 Brighton: What De Zerbi saidpublished at 19:45 28 April
19:45 28 April
Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi has been talking to BBC Match of the Day following the heavy defeat: "We have to play much better than we are playing. We would like to give more and more, but maybe in this moment it is tough for us.
"We need to keep motivation in the right way, but we need to play seriously for us, our club and our fans."
On whether he had a strong message for his players in the changing room: "No, I have big confidence in them. I know how they feel when we lose a game.
"We lose together and we have to keep going together."
On the rest of the season and getting back on course: "I hope that working with the players for one complete week means it can be different for us.
"We have to think about our mistakes and to remember ourselves that we can play better and do something more, for sure."
Bournemouth 3-0 Brighton: Analysispublished at 17:48 28 April
17:48 28 April
Callum Matthews BBC Sport Journalist
Image source, Getty Images
This was a seriously below-par performance from Brighton.
They had 13 shots on goal, but only one on target, and they looked extremely vulnerable at the back.
On another day, the margin of defeat could have been bigger.
There is a lot of noise around the club and the future of manager Roberto de Zerbi at the moment.
The Italian was slumped in his seat after the opening goal and cut a frustrated figure on the touchline throughout.
With qualifying for Europe now looking beyond the Seagulls, resolving De Zerbi's future and bringing in players that improve their squad now has to become a priority.
There are issues to solve - and they need solving quickly.
Bournemouth 3-0 Brighton: What Webster saidpublished at 16:43 28 April
16:43 28 April
Brighton defender Adam Webster has been talking to Premier League Productions following the heavy defeat, firstly about Brighton conceding from another set piece: "It is every game. We prepare a lot for set pieces and to concede one like that, as easy as that, is frustrating. It gives you a mountain to climb. You are then always chasing the game."
On the team struggling to score goals: "We are struggling in front of goal at the moment. We are creating some half-decent chances but we are not creating clear-cut chances like we are used to.
"We can't seem to get that little bit of luck, or whatever it is, in front of goal. It is frustrating when you're not keeping clean sheets because it makes it difficult to get three points."
On their season overall: "The first half of the season we were in a strong position, but the past two or three months haven't gone our way.
"It has been a tough period. We have got to try and finish as strongly as we can."
Bournemouth 3-0 Brighton: Key statspublished at 16:17 28 April
16:17 28 April
Here are the key facts and figures following Sunday’s game between Bournemouth and Brighton in the Premier League.
Brighton have won just one of their past 12 away matches in the Premier League (D4 L7), failing to win any of their past five (D2 L3). In 2024, only Luton Town (0), Nottingham Forest (0) and Everton (0) have won fewer matches on the road in the division than the Seagulls (1).
Since Bournemouth's first home win of the season on 28 October 2023, only Manchester City (0) and Liverpool (1) have lost fewer Premier League home matches, with the Cherries unbeaten in each of their past six at the Vitality Stadium (W4 D2).
Only Arsenal (16) and Everton (12) have scored more goals from corners than Bournemouth this season (11) in the Premier League. It is the most goals the Cherries have ever scored from corner situations in a single Premier League season.
Justin Kluivert's goal for Bournemouth was his seventh in the Premier League, overtaking his father Patrick Kluviert's tally of six goals in the competition.
Brighton have now failed to score in five consecutive Premier League first-halves, which is the Seagulls' longest run without a goal in the opening 45 minutes of a league match since April 2022 (a run of seven).
Full-time: Bournemouth 3-0 Brightonpublished at 16:08 28 April
16:08 28 April
Enes Unal scored on his first Premier League start for Bournemouth as the Cherries beat below-par Brighton to reach their highest top-flight points total.
Marcos Senesi's 13th-minute header gave Andoni Iraola's side the lead, nodding in from three yards after the visitors failed to clear a corner.
Turkey striker Unal dragged wide in the first half, but scored his second goal since joining on loan from Getafe in January when he cleverly headed Dango Ouattara's cross into the far corner after the break.
The impressive Justin Kluivert sealed the win when he drove at the Brighton defence late on and drilled home a left-footed strike for his third goal in three home games.
Brighton were lacklustre throughout and failed to create many meaningful chances - coming closest when Simon Adingra's effort was tipped over the bar by Mark Travers.
The victory moves Bournemouth to 48 points - two more points than their previous best top-flight haul in 2016-17.
Brighton remain 12th and have now won just six of their past 28 league games. Their season is in danger of petering out in a campaign that has bucked the trend of their recent impressive progress.
Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?
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