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Brighton Fan View: Anthony Knockaert could act as a new signing for the Seagulls

Seagull Griggo
Anthony Knockaert celebrates scoring his side’s first goal of the game against AFC Bournemouth during the English Premier League soccer match at the AMEX Stadium, Brighton, Monday Jan. 1, 2018. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)
Anthony Knockaert celebrates scoring his side’s first goal of the game against AFC Bournemouth during the English Premier League soccer match at the AMEX Stadium, Brighton, Monday Jan. 1, 2018. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

If Brighton can get Anthony Knockaert firing again he could be our best ‘signing’ of the transfer window.

Going into this season ‘The Little Magician’ was the golden boy after leading us to promotion, a player with genuine quality who could trouble Premier League defenders and the man who carried our biggest hopes of defying the odds by staying up.

But Knockaert has yet to come to the Premier League party. Partly due to a pre-season injury he was rushed back from and partly due to the close attention he has been afforded, the Frenchman’s impact has been stifled. He has managed only a couple of goals and his influence on games is not what anyone expected.

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It is not for of trying, because Knockaert’s attitude should never be questioned, but his fall from grace was highlighted by the fact that he did not even make the 18 for last Saturday’s game with Chelsea. Solly March, who is enjoying a good campaign all things considered for a player who came from non-league football, and Jose Izquierdo appear to be ahead of Knockaert now in the pecking order.

There were suggestions Knockaert stormed out of the ground after being told he was not involved last weekend, but those were rubbished by a couple of people on the train home afterwards who saw him suited and watching the match. If he was upset, then for me that is a good sign.

I still believe Anthony Knockaert is the most talented and the most creative player in our squad and, with little movement in the transfer window so far, then Brighton need to find a way of getting Knockaert performing like he did last season. If we could achieve that, then I believe we stand a fighting chance of turning around this recent poor run and avoiding relegation.

The transfer rumours are picking up, but business has been disappointing so far. It was clear Brighton needed reinforcements at the start of January so to get to nearly the end of the month with just one injured striker signed it is frustrating.

Jurgen Locadia looks a good addition but he will not be available for a few weeks, so another frontman is a necessity and one bid has been turned down for Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, so it at least suggests something is happening there. A central midfielder, a centre-back and a creative forward to replace Izzy Brown are also very much needed.


Let’s hope Brighton respond to those needs in the next few days and that this transfer window does not turn into a damp squib which it appears to be so far. I still don’t understand why business is left so late, when you can sign players from January 1st. At this stage, we are a weaker squad with Steve Sidwell out for the season and an injured Brown having gone back to Chelsea.

Another departure, although he was not part of our Premier League squad, is winger Kazenga LuaLua who goes to Sunderland with the thanks and best wishes of supporters for what he has done for the club. LuaLua could have been a Premier League player for us but it all went a little ‘off course’ for him.

Let’s hope it is not the same for another winger, Knockaert. Tomorrow we have a game no-one really wants with an FA Cup fourth round tie at Middlesbrough, just four days before a crucial league game at Southampton. But let’s play Knockaert, let’s put our faith in him, let’s support him and if we do that he remains the man carrying our biggest hopes of survival.

@GriggoHome