Here he is, Jonesy… Brighton see a Southampton mate Boxing Day
Christmas is a time for catching up with old friends. Little could the Premier League fixture computer have known that by sending Brighton to Southampton on Boxing Day, it would be pitting the Seagulls against former player Nathan Jones.
Back in the summer, Jones was happily ensconced at Luton Town. He had produced one of the greatest managerial performances in the whole of English football last season, leading the Hatters with the smallest budget in the Championship into the playoffs.
Jones had proven something of a managerial marvel at Kenilworth Road since his appointment in 2016, taking Luton from the edge of the League Two relegation zone to within three matches of the Premier League over the course of two spells at the helm.
A disappointing eight months with Stoke City was crammed into the middle, where he was hired in January 2019, fired in November 2019 and back at Luton by May 2020.
Southampton were not unduly put off by Jones’ experience at the Bet365 Stadium and so it was to the Welshman that the Saints turned in November to replace the sacked Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Long-time followers of WAB will know that Jones is one of our favourite players from his five year spell at Brighton and beyond. It included three promotions but much of his popularity stems from his character as much as the success he enjoyed on the pitch.
Nearly two decades before every Gross Turn at the Amex is greeted with a cheer, the Withdean crowd would do the same whenever Jones produced his trademark Rhonda Valley Stepover.
Jones rattled through some astonishing haircuts during his time with Brighton, including when he coloured his hair silver and looked like Derek Acorah shortly after sporting a blonde mohican which resembled a squirrel.
Speaking of squirrels, Jones once got outpaced down the Withdean left wing by a bushy rodent running alongside him in a pre-season friendly against Leicester City.
He would greet goals by screaming like a banshee. And he was of course the ultimate windup merchant, never more so than when a Yeovil Town player after leaving Brighton and causing Albion boss Micky Adams to cut short a post-game interview with BBC Radio Sussex to confront Jones over his part in the sending off of Joe Anyinsah.
“Here he is, Jonesy… just seen it mate… I thought you were bigger than that mate… you go down clutching your face, he’s not even touched your face man.” The Streets will never forget Adams v Jones.
Even those of us with a seriously high opinion of Jones the player would never have picked him as being somebody who would go into management, let alone be such a success at it.
And yet it was also Albion fans who saw his potential first hand. When Tony Bloom finally accepted the resignation of Sami Hyypia, Jones was put in caretaker charge having served as assistant to Oscar Garcia and Hyypia.
Jones inspired Brighton from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at home to Reading in his first game at the helm on Boxing Day 2014. The scorer of both Biscuitment goals that day? A certain Glenn Murray.
A memorable night under the Craven Cottage lights followed. Jones led the Albion to a 2-0 victory over Fulham, injecting renewed belief into a squad bereft of confidence at the perfect time a day before Chris Hughton was appointed.
When Jones was going mad in front of the packed away end that evening celebrating a huge three points in the battle to stay in the Championship, many Brighton fans saw him as a future full time manager of the Albion.
That ship seems to have sailed for now. The appointment of Roberto De Zerbi, a man with Champions League experience and on the shortlist of Juventus, means the Albion are currently shopping in a different market to Jones.
But if Jones can make a success of it at St Mary’s, who knows what might happen in future? Unless of course he manages to upset everyone if Southampton beat Brighton on Boxing Day by celebrating too wildly.
Jones has history for that. The season before he sent Adams into meltdown, Jones stood in the goal in front of the Albion away end at Yeovil, screeching his head off and waving his fists in the air when the full time whistle blew on a 2-0 win for the Glovers.
He is a passionate guy, our Nathan. He will need more than passion though if he is to guide Southampton away from the Premier League relegation zone, where they currently sit 19th and with just one league win since the end of August.
The World Cup means that Jones has taken charge of only one league game so far, a 3-1 defeat at Liverpool on November 12th. The visit of Brighton to Southampton will be Jones’ first home Premier League game in charge.
It is one that the Saints may well be confident of winning, given their domination of the fixture. Brighton have been victorious only twice at St Mary’s before.
That actually looks like a fantastic record compared to what happens when Southampton visit Sussex. The Albion squandering a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 when the sides met at the Amex in April made it just two Brighton home wins over the Saints since 1957.
De Zerbi said before the winter break that he had no problem with Brighton fans dreaming of Europe. To make those dreams reality, winning away against opponents in the bottom three becomes a necessity.
The Albion looked very rusty on Wednesday night in elimination from the League Cup at the hands of League One Charlton Athletic. Southampton avoided their own embarrassment against third tier opponents, squeezing past Lincoln City 2-1 at St Mary’s.
Brighton will be hoping that 90 minutes against the Addicks has shaken the cobwebs. They will need to be much improved against the Saints, especially in front of goal. 18 shots with none converted at the Valley harked back to the dark xG nightmare days of 2020-21.
It may not seem it to look at the Premier League table, but Southampton away is a difficult return to action for Brighton. The poor record against the Saints, the new manager bounce and the extra motivation Jones will have to get one over on his old team.
Let’s just hope De Zerbi doesn’t need to give an interview following Southampton v Brighton which begins with: “Ecco Jonesy… l’ha appena visto amico…”
We might be in trouble, otherwise…
