Must be missing his over inflated wages.... After being absent without leave all summer, Papy Djilobodji will finally report to the Academy of Light for training tomorrow. The defender had refused to turn up for pre-season training and made it clear he saw his future away from the club, but the transfer window for most of Europe shut on Friday without a move materialising. During this period the club had withheld the player’s salary payments due to the 29-year-old’s non-appearance but, now he is returning to training, the club are taking legal advice and plan to sue Djilobodji for breach of contract as he has directly reduced his value to the club. Sunderland paid Chelsea £8m for his services under then manager David Moyes and clearly have no chance of getting a return on that investment. He attracted interest from the likes of Trabzonspor and Hannover 96 during the transfer window but both moves fell through, with the player’s demands being too high for the buying clubs. Although he will be allowed to return to training as he’s still under contract to the club, Djilobodji will not be allowed to train with the first-team and, while the current owners are in charge, he will never play in the red and white stripes of Sunderland again. While the club explore legal action against the player, we understand that the club are looking to withhold his salary until all legal avenues are exhausted. Should Didier Ndong return to training in the future, he will suffer similar consequences as the club are in no mood to accept people taking liberties with the owners, management and fans of the club.
I suppose we shouldn't be surprised these two will come crawling back as no one else wants them. Hope the club stick to their stance as this report indicates and keep them well away from the first team squad.
The sad thing is we paid over 20m for them both and neither of them would strenghen our current squad, if anything theyd probaly weaken our starting 11 and they both earn more than twice as much as any of our other players.
I'm still not sure of what our legal position is now they've returned to training but it's good to know that the club is doing as much as possible to never have to pay them again. Whether we can manage it remains to be seen.
Donald has said both have ‘made it clear they will not play for the club again’. Looking at that, I’d suggest we should be able to get rid, but withhold registration and as such remain entitled to compensation should they sign elsewhere. Issue being, what club in their right mind would take a chance on players with that attitude, especially given that they are both bang average at best. Big difference of a top talent forces a move to someone who frankly offers little. How can N’Dong in particular not see the harm his agent has done to his career? He would have been playing in Serie A right now without appalling and ulterior driven advice. Thick as mince.
If somebody went out and shot both of the in the knee caps with a shotgun, what would happen as far as SAFC are concerned? I'm not volunteering by the way
I want them both starting on Saturday and they will/should love this division and get them selves noticed, they need to get their fingers out and think how lucky they are playing for a fantastic supported club 32,000, no matter which division you are in. Either that or just keep away form our players all together.
Great to see the club standing up to them . Whilst I couldn’t give a **** if Ndong starves , in a way I would like to see him sue his agent for messing up his income prospects
**** me! Partly agreeing with Monty here! If they're better than what we've got, get them fit and get them out on the pitch! Why cut off your nose to spite your face ffs? Now that would be bad business! It'll be up to Ross to manage their re-introduction into the squad, their behaviour, and others, within it, but that's what he's there for. If they can do a good job for the next 4 months, that's what, 16-18 games, 48-54 points, and help keep clean sheets, then its a no-brainer for me. If we can sell them in January great, but until then get them working!
Because they'd be toxic to the dressing room when team spirit is the best it's been in years. Playing them in league one wouldn't have much effect on their value but it could potentially derail all the good work put in by Ross.
Its just an assumption that they'd be toxic though Nacho. One that most of us would make. And that's why I put the proviso in about Ross managing their re-introduction. If he says straight up its not going to happen, its a bad idea, then fair enough. Its his shout. But if their attitude seems good and they're prepared to work their arses off to help the team then use them. Ross's call though.
I don't know if the info in Tees' post is straight from the horses mouth but if it is then the club is looking at taking legal action against them because of their behaviour, I'm baffled that you think it'd be fine to have players like that in a squad that's finally got its act together. Added to which Pap is half the player Ozturk is and Ndong has always been disinterested. We don't need either of them from a purely objective point of view, barring horrendous luck with injuries. The only problem is the effect not playing would have on their fees but they've already ensured we won't get **** all for them thanks to their attitudes.
What message does it send to the other players if we let these 2 clowns back into the squad I cannot see how it would be a good idea to get them into the 1st team. Under any circumstances.
Burley, How would it be a good idea to bring these two back into the first team squad on the wages they are earning against the relative pittance most of the others are on. I know Catts and Oviedo are on higher wages but they didn't down tools and piss off. Just think bringing them back into the fold would be a slap in the face for the new guys and our youngsters who are putting decent performances together at the moment. Who would you drop to accommodate them?
Whoa, hold up guys, I did add in quite a few caveats. If they're better than what we've currently got. (Ozturk is 2nd choice to Baldwin, would he still be?) If Ross thinks its necessary given the depth and quality of the squad. If their effect would be toxic for the squad or not, ie, is it even an option? Would it help / strengthen the squad or not? It would be just until the next window. It would also be up to Ross and him only. Ignoring the legalities for now, none of us are at the club and know what impact their re-introduction would be. It would be for Ross to decide. This isn't a black and white issue for me. My point was that its a matter of whether it strengthens the squad for the next 4 months or not. That question will need to be faced by Ross. In fact I'm sure he's already considered the possibility.
Honestly? They should hold off judgement and see how they perform. We both know that there are too many who won't give them the chance though. We all sit here, in the stands or armchairs, on the interweb, just assuming we know all of the facts behind a story. We slag off the players and ignore the malign influence of Agents who are largely responsible for most of the career decisions made by footballers then learn years later that decisions were being made around and about players without their involvement. Like I said, it has to be Ross's decision. I think he's done pretty well so far and if he decides its worthwhile including 1 or more of them then that's fine by me.
