Sami Hyypia wants his Albion side to counter-attack with pace.

But he was unwilling to go into tactical detail – or even confirm what formation he will play - as he plots for the Championship.

The Seagulls’ new boss used a 4-3-3 system similar to that seen at the Amex in the past two campaigns when he was in charge at Bayer Leverkusen.

He liked to have one member of his midfield three patrolling just ahead of the defence in what Albion fans use to know as the Liam Bridcutt role.

His front three typically comprised two widemen and a lone central striker.

But, unlike predecessors Oscar Garcia and Gus Poyet, he is not too worried about monopolising possession.

He has studied Albion’s matches last season and seemed to believe they did not counter-attack quickly enough as he spoke to reporters this morning.

Hyypia said: “As a defender I like a team that defends very well.

“But attacking is also important. Without goals you can’t win. Compact, good defending - and a quick transition is one of the points I saw that this team could do better.

“Possession is only a number. What you do with it is more important. We have to work hard for six weeks to make sure with the possession we score a goal.”

Hyypia believes he learned quickly when he spent two years at the helm for Bayer Leverkusen.

He worked with former youth coach Sascha Lewandowski in his first campaign but was on his own last season.

The former Liverpool star added: “In the later part of when I was still a player other people were convinced I would be a good manager and pushed me in this direction.

“I'm very happy to have gone down this road.

“I have always been an observer. As a player I observed what managers and players were doing. My opportunity was unusual in that ten months after I stopped playing I was managing a Bundesliga club.

“That was a good school for me. In practice you learn more than when you are at school and I have learned a lot.

“Hopefully I can bring those things to this club.”