The Albion player you were most gutted to see leave/sold...

[Colossal Squid]

Darren Currie is a good shout.

I remember at the time thinking it was about time we unearthed some overlooked gem of a player. He wasn't a promising youngster and his career hadn't been particularly spectacular up until that point so expectations were relatively low but as soon as I saw him play I couldn't believe our luck. It was as if somehow the Albion was his dream club, bringing out the very best in him, and I loved seeing him whip in dangerous crosses each week.

What was so gutting about him leaving was that we didn't even get a whole season out of him. It's like we plucked him from relative obscurity just to have him showcase his skills for a bigger club to pick him up at the first opportunity. Went and scored on his debut for Ipswich too, which just made it sting more.

Of course the club did well out of the deal making a relatively easy £250k for a player picked up for nothing just 6 months previously, and given the position we were in I'm sure that cash was absolutely invaluable, but none of that mattered to me at the time. I was just gutted that this bleached blonde wing wizard was on his way so soon after having arrived and lit up the place

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Zamora, I was only young at the time and didn't understand why he wanted to leave

I remember writing a letter to him at Spurs and I actually got one back with a signed photo!

I love Bobby so much that my sons middle name is Bobby. This has just elevated him even further in my estimations. Absolutely LEGEND.

I was most upset to see Byrne leave. We had gone from the play-off final, to losing Nelson, Small & then Byrne in quick succession. Byrne is still in my top three favourite Brighton players

 

[Puppet Master]

This.

Funnily enough I remember your brother waking me up with a text quite late saying the Currie deal was confirmed. He never was great with his timing.

 

[Giraffe]

Saunders was a big blow, but I really felt the Zamora one more.

As a child I also felt the sadness through my dad of Peter Ward leaving.

 

[dougdeep]

Fred Binney. Best poacher we ever had.

 

[Munkfish]

Zamora and Knight.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Glenn Murray.

 

[Albion Robster]

Ryan Harley.

In all seriousness, Bobby Zamora. One of the best strikers in the Blue & White Stripes...in my era of watching the Albion.

 

[wallyback]

Peter Ward

"He shot, He left

I felt quite bereft"

 

[El Presidente]

Glenn Murray

 

[The Bear]

Jeff Minton. Was gutted when Horton robbed us of him. Never did replace him.

 

[Codner's Wallop]

Also a vote for both Kurt Nogan and Mike Small. Neither was close to the raw talent of Zamora but the circumstances felt very different.

Despite a lean spell, I couldn't see where the goals would come from when Nogan left. He was a natural finisher and looked dynamite at times. His goal ratio was one in every two games in a very mediocre team. Small's switch to West Ham after that depressing play-off final felt like a double blow.

 

[seagullmouse]

Kurt Nogan. Was in such good form.

 

[Return of the Rev]

fred binney. Best poacher we ever had.

when he was replaced by peter ward our promotion challenge went belly up!

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Glenn Murray, because it was so avoidable.

 

[S'hampton Seagull]

Glenn Murray.

Agreed. Whilst losing Zamora was gutting, however where the club was at the time it was understandable and inevitable. Murray on the other hand was unnecessary and then he signed for THEM.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Ward
Lawrenson
Stevens
Foster
Robinson
Horton
Zamora
Wilson
Case

All infinitely better players than any who have gone of late.

 

[Shirty]

Mike Small for me too.

 

[severnside gull]

Barry Rees.

He didn't "leave" though
(or if you count it as leaving it's a hell of a high transfer fee he paid)

 

[Postman Pat]

Nogan as a player.

Nothing hurt as much as Micky Adams leaving as manager the first time.