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Knockaert: This Albion squad rivals those fantastic Foxes [The Argus]



Newshound

Brighton 8049
Jun 5, 2011
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They*were the team who topped 100 points in the Championship and who swept all before them – between losing home and away to Albion.
Now Anthony Knockaert has evoked memories of the Leicester side who dominated the second tier in 2013-14 And he has boldly stated his current team as the equals in terms of quality of that Foxes side managed by Nigel Pearson.
Knockaert played for both teams, although Riyad Mahrez was pushing him hard for his place at the King Power three years ago.
He has been highly encouraged by what he has seen from Albion this term and envisages them playing top flight football.
And, quite unprompted, he is ready to put them in that Leicester City bracket, certainly in terms of potential at this stage of the season.
He told The Argus: “When I was at Leicester in the Championship, we went up to the Premier League with 102 points, but I don’t think we have less quality in this team this season.
“We have got everything – you can see our players.*It’s a job to have players like this in the Championship.
“Hopefully we need to work hard and to do the job.”
Fans might look at the two XIs and see how Knockaert’s comparison stacks up.
Leicester were spearheaded by 20-goal David Nugent and 16-goal Jamie Vardy in attack.*Nugent played in all 46 league games, starting 44 of them, while Vardy played 36.
Relief off the bench camera from ex-Albion loanee Chris Wood, who chipped in with four goals.
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Jamie Vardy helped Albion win the Championship
Albion fans would be delighted if their own current trio of Glenn Murray, Tomer Hemed and Sam Baldock can total 40 league goals this season although, a quarter of the way through the season, they have managed nine if penalties are included.
Knockaert started 36 games, scoring five goals, three seasons ago while Mahrez was in the XI just 12 times.
It was not unknown for Mahrez and Knockaert to play in the same team, on opposite wings.
Lloyd Dyer usually played down the left and, in the middle, Pearson would use two of Matty James, seven-goal Danny Drinkwater and four-goal Andy King, or all three of them on occasion.
The defence was built around Wes Morgan.*Luke Moore and Marcin Wasilewski both partnered Morgan at times while full-back berths were usually filled by Richie de Laet and Paul Konchesky.
Kasper Schmeichel was the goalkeeper and outfield options off the bench included Kevin Phillips, Dean Hammond, Jeffrey Schlupp and Ignasi Miquel.
Leicester went 21 league games unbeaten between losing 3-1 at the Amex in December and 4-1 at home to Oscar Garcia’s side in April.
By the time of that second defeat, they had just secured promotion.
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They won the title by a margin of nine points from nearest chasers Burnley.
Leicester scored 83 goals, failing to net on just three occasions, and conceded 43, including 18 clean sheets.*Albion, by contrast, are on pace to score about 60 goals and have already drawn four blanks.
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Albion beat title-winning Leicester home and away in 2013-14
Leicester conceded at almost one goal per game, with 43 goals again, and kept 18 clean sheets.*The Seagulls already have seven clean sheets and, at current rate, will only concede about 30 goals.
Leicester won 17 home games and Chris Hughton’s men are off to a similar start at the Amex.*But the Foxes will take some matching on the road, having won 14 away fixtures.
Knockaert has sights set firmly on promotion.

He told The Argus: “We really deserve to go there. We’ve got a real chance.“If we put everything we need to out on the pitch, in terms of desire and determination, I think there is no way we cannot be in the Premier League next year.
“It’s crazy to say that because we are still early in the season.”
Knockaert, who offered the comparison between teams as part of answer to an unrelated question, admits talk means nothing.
But he is confident his opinion will be supported by events at the end of this season.
He added: “It’s easy to say but the best thing we can do is work hard and do everything to win promotion. At the end of the season, we will see if I was right.”

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