A fantastic season, exceeding all expectations, but can Brighton get over the line? A nervous Simon Tipple joined us from their congregation to give us the latest.
A last minute winner at Forest on Monday, daring to believe it might just be your year yet?
ST: Fingers crossed. We’ve got tremendous togetherness at the club, the players are giving it everything and hopefully it’ll be enough. We’ve tasted the despair of losing in the play-offs twice in the previous three seasons so if we can avoid them this time it would be a massive relief.
Why has it gone so well this season, after such a poor campaign last year?
ST: Chris Hughton and better recruitment. Last season we recruited poorly and Sami Hyppia tried to play a style that didn’t work for us. Chris Hughton has the experience and knows how to set teams up to be successful at this level and the club have backed him in the transfer market with good signings the majority of which have been a success.
Eight games without a win and five defeats in all comps over Christmas, how was that recovered from?
ST: We suffered a major injury crisis over that period and I think we were also looking pretty fatigued having put a lot into our incredible unbeaten run. The FA Cup/International Break combo gave us an opportunity to rest and the transfer window an opportunity to strengthen and players started to come back from their injuries.
Stand out performers and weak links in the side?
ST: It’s very much a team effort. Anthony Knockaert should catch the eye whilst Beram Kayal and Dale Stephens have been fantastic for us in the middle of the park. Couldn’t single anyone out as a weak link really. There’s a lot of competition for places so none of the players can let their levels drop as there’s always someone ready to take their place.
Noticed Bobby Zamora missed out at Forest, is he finally done?
ST: Done? Never! He’s just saving himself so that he can take all the plaudits when he scores the goal that takes us up. He’s generally only about to play 20 minutes now and then from the bench but he’s been excellent doing that job. He’s started a few times but his days of playing 90 minutes week in week out certainly seem to be over. Hopefully we can get up and wheel him out for one more season. It would be great to have seen him play for us in every division.
If promotion isn't achieved, what's needed so you can give it another go next season?
ST: We’d probably be in the market for another striker. Sam Baldock’s struggled with injuries since he joined the club, Bobby’s out of contract and even if retained wouldn’t be playing every week and James Wilson is only here on loan. We don’t have a striker who you’d fancy to get you 20 odd goals. Other than that, it would be about keeping the current squad together really.
If it is, how would you like to see the club/manager approach next season?
ST: I can’t imagine we’d be doing anything crazy in the transfer market. We’d certainly need to strengthen but I’d like to think we’d compliment the current group of players rather than look to start again. You can’t buy the team spirit and togetherness the current group have.
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