I only ask this because I got involved in an exchange with a Belgian football expert (and he is) the other day, and he lifted the lid on real bitterness, bordering on hatred, towards Knockaert from many/most fans of his former club Standard Liege.
Now I have been following this game long enough to know how it works, and when the rose-tinted spectacles kick in. Like most Albion fans I have watched Knockaert in recent games and think he could be the Championship buy of the window if not season. He has been brilliant, and far too good for Belgian club football.
So I looked into it a little more, and the gist of it seems to be that they all got the hump after he arrived saying he was desperate to win titles with Standard, kissed the badge a few times, then left after five months. He got a dog's abuse on Twitter, and cracked a couple of times (almost understandably) saying how delighted he was to have joined a club with proper fans!
What do people think about this. Is it a case of 'all is forgiven' when he is our player and just their sour grapes, or would you have concerns for the future? I think I am in the box marked 'Get us up, and I don't give a monkey's' but if he does it again I wouldn't be happy....
Your point above is a little lightweight considering Belgium are ranked 2 or 3 in the World at the moment and Belgian clubs have produced brilliant players recently playing all over Europe with top clubs. Only Finances and TV money (the lack thereof ) makes Belgian clubs less attractive to play for.
Most players who come to England to play are not here to play in what all the TV Pundits claim to be ''the best league in the world'' - It isn't. It is only the Wealthiest.
As for Knockeart and the Standard Liege fans.. I actually care not one jot. He only did what all the other mercenary footballers who have come to England have done. He sold his talents to the ''highest bidder' and I find nothing wrong with that.