Sami has a brilliant football CV having won most things as a player, and at Bayer Leverkusen he showed that he could successfully coach a team that was not only a big player in the Bundesliga, but also a Champions League club. So why have things not taken off quickly at Brighton for him since joining in June? It's hard to pin-point for me as he still has some experienced players at the club. Team performances and the system employed with wing backs pressing forward have been questioned, but Hyypia sounds like he is coping with the worries of the fans. Their difficulty, like so many teams, is in giving away the first goal and a more settled side is something though that Hyypia probably needs.
If Craig Mackail-Smith can show he is still the player he was before his long time out he has a goalscorer that can be one of the lead strikers in the Championship. He has just had a hamstring injury, but was on the bench for the Spurs game and got a few minutes. Kazenga Lua Lua has just finished his suspension, following his red card against Huddersfield and will be available for selection and also took part in the Tottenham match. Paddy McCourt also played mid-week who has been highlighted as a player that offers Brighton lots of potential going forwards.
Alan Mullery has been patient with the results and Hyypia's need for time. But Hyypia has said he may have to bring in more players in the January window which would make me worry about why more can't be got out of their current squad? Despite all his league problems though, Brighton have had a good run in the Capital One Cup and they have only had three league defeats in their last 10. Brentford, Ipswich and Middlesbrough inflicted those defeats who are all doing pretty well. Brighton is not a club in crisis, but just a club that is getting too many draws and simply can't quite get a win. It has not quite clicked yet, but Hyypia will know that a south coast game against high-flying Bournemouth is a match to look forward too, not to hide from.
AFCB have to be at their very best to win this rival south coast match.
Tomorrow Cherry Chimes will release its November Newsletter. A historic month for the Cherries, you can catch up on last month's big stories on the blog and read the special newsletter story - Are the Cherries destined for Cup success?
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