The Secret Behind the Premier League’s Smartest Team

Brighton has risen into the top half of the league with smart signings, contingency plans and a spreadsheet that sees the future.

Paul Barber, keeper of the computer file that helps Brighton stay one step ahead of its rivals.Credit...Peter Flude for The New York TimesBRIGHTON, England — The floor-to-ceiling windows in Paul Barber’s spartan office offer a panorama of the lush green practice fields of Brighton and Hove Albion, the Premier League soccer team he has run for the past 11 years. The secret to Brighton’s success, though, is for his eyes only.

“It’s all in there,” Barber said, pointing at the laptop on his clutter-free white desk on a recent afternoon. The computer contains a file…