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Racon is already an Albion fans favourite
Therry Racon has fulfilled the first goal of his loan spell with Albion.
Now the former Marseille and Lorient midfielder, borrowed from Charlton, has set his sights on taking another point or three against a club he used to watch at home in France when they were playing on television.
Racon has proved a big hit with Seagulls fans in his two appearances to date.
He got up and down the pitch effectively and passed the ball accurately in the 2-1 comeback win over Swindon, then offered more of a destructive role at the base of the midfield diamond in the 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest.
So the man who spoke about the play-offs when he first met the Sussex media a week ago today has helped his new mates into the top six. Not bad for starters.
Reflecting on a busy Easter, Racon said: "They were two very difficult matches.
"We came through the first one well with a good win at home. The second was tough although I thought it was quite even in that we could have taken the three points. But we're happy not to have lost.
"That puts us sixth which was one of the targets we were aiming for. But it's not over. We need to stay solid, finish the season well and clinch a place in the play-offs."
Racon comes across as a confident character which is just as well given his new team went behind after just three minutes of his debut against Swindon.
He said: "I didn't have any doubts. Everybody has welcomed me here. In the end we got the win because everyone had that solidarity and we all fought for each other.
"I had trained what? Once with them before the match.
"But it went well and with more matches we'll get to know each other better.
"We took another step forward on Monday so I'm very happy."
Having grown up in and around Stade Veledrome in Marseille, Racon has been lucky to step into the third tier of English football just in time for trips to the City Ground and Elland Road, two prestigious stadia which were used as venues at Euro 96.
But he has also sampled basic Withdean on a wild, windy and occasionally snowy afternoon and claims to have enjoyed that too.
He said: "It was fine. The crowd got behind us. I hope to give them even more wins.
"Obviously at Nottingham the atmosphere is a bit different. It's a big ground with some history.
"It's always fun to play somewhere like that. Especially when you don't lose.
"I love football so I know about Nottingham Forest. I know the team they had. I know the club's history. "When I saw their name on the fixture list I was really happy."
Racon revealed before his debut that he liked to take a few risks and get forward.
He did that against Swindon and was denied a goal by the outstretched foot of giant Slovak keeper Peter Brezovan. But he admitted he was reining himself in at the City Ground.
The 23-year-old from the south-eastern suburbs of Paris said: "They asked me to just do what I know. The manager had faith in me. He knows how I like to play.
"On Monday I was asked to stay in front of the defence and try to cover any gaps.
"I tried to do that even if every now and then I really wanted to go forward. I tried to do my job and that's important for the team as a whole.
"I wasn't surprised by the football. I had been told it was a very good level.
"The intensity is good. You have to be switched on all the time. Communication was fine. I've been in England for six-and-a-half months and I speak English quite well.
"I understand football language. There are no worries about that."
By the end of his second game, Albion fans were exploiting the great acoustics in the Bridgford End at Forest to sing, among other things, the name of their team's latest Frenchman.
They used the same tune as Arsenal fans when they used to hail Thierry, rather than Therry, Henry.
As Racon pointed out, he knows his history. And he knows all about the French connection at Elland Road.
"Leeds?" he said. "A big club. I've seen them on television in the Champions League.
"I know Eric Cantona started at Leeds when he came to England. Even though they are in League One, there will be 15,000 or 20,000 people there.
"It's a shame to see a club like that in League One but that's not our problem.
"I hope we bring back a point or maybe three."
What do you make of Therry Racon's contribution so far?
4:45pm Wednesday 26th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: stinky pete, a swamp on 6:52pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Looks like a very decent player, would make a great permanent signing on what we've seen so far
Looks like a very decent player, would make a great permanent signing on what we've seen so far
Posted by: James, Brighton on 6:53pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Very impressed with Racon, if some of the earlier signings this season had been anything like him we could be saying goodbye to the poor division we are in.
Very impressed with Racon, if some of the earlier signings this season had been anything like him we could be saying goodbye to the poor division we are in.
Posted by: Phil, in the middle on 12:59pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Fantastic!
Was that look of extra time on the ball which is a sign of real quality.
We need to try to sign him in the summer if the Club is serious about moving forward.
Fantastic!
Was that look of extra time on the ball which is a sign of real quality.
We need to try to sign him in the summer if the Club is serious about moving forward.
Posted by: Scarfer1, In Dreamland on 4:35pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Looks a great player but i doubt very much he'd want to sign for us - maybe if we go up but even then . . .
Looks a great player but i doubt very much he'd want to sign for us - maybe if we go up but even then . . .
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