Summer '24 transfer window

[C Montgomery Burns]

https://www.footballinsider247.com/...XdO56AYPut11qXZYrQ_aem_mxkI6nk-oQNMBzXrshCeIQ

Not sure if this has been spoken about so apologies if it has.

What are peoples thought on it. Personally I think it would be a good signing on and off the field. He’s been an elite player and was a trusted captain by one of the best managers of our generation in Klopp. Reports are suggesting that his ‘legs have gone’ but what he would bring in experience to our younger lads cannot be under estimated.

Already been discussed with most saying no. If his legs have gone, why bring him in? It's just taking up a squad place, slowing the development of our own and a drain on wages which would be better deployed elsewhere in the squad. He's only played three games for Ajax this season, which says something, along with the fact Ajax only signed him in January yet are prepared to let him go now?

Sorry, we were a last payday/retirement home for over the hill players in the recent past, we don't want to be now.

 

[Scootsie]

Already been discussed with most saying no. If his legs have gone, why bring him in? It's just taking up a squad place, slowing the development of our own and a drain on wages which would be better deployed elsewhere in the squad. He's only played three games for Ajax this season, which says something, along with the fact Ajax only signed him in January yet are prepared to let him go now?

Sorry, we were a last payday/retirement home for over the hill players in the recent past, we don't want to be now.

he wouldn’t be getting a payday here though, to be fair. Those days are gone for him.

He’d be brilliant for the likes of Neil, Rigg and Jobe.

 

[smithy in nl]

Already been discussed with most saying no. If his legs have gone, why bring him in? It's just taking up a squad place, slowing the development of our own and a drain on wages which would be better deployed elsewhere in the squad. He's only played three games for Ajax this season, which says something, along with the fact Ajax only signed him in January yet are prepared to let him go now?

Sorry, we were a last payday/retirement home for over the hill players in the recent past, we don't want to be now.

Says he's played for them 12 times in the article

 

[rooch 3]

https://www.footballinsider247.com/...XdO56AYPut11qXZYrQ_aem_mxkI6nk-oQNMBzXrshCeIQ

Not sure if this has been spoken about so apologies if it has.

What are peoples thought on it. Personally I think it would be a good signing on and off the field. He’s been an elite player and was a trusted captain by one of the best managers of our generation in Klopp. Reports are suggesting that his ‘legs have gone’ but what he would bring in experience to our younger lads cannot be under estimated.

Been discussed, hardly anyone wanted anything to do with the tosser, so I think it’s a big no.

 

[steesafc]

Think they’ll care if they win promotion?

Oh of course not. They've shown how they're going to go about it given the majority of their actions since relegation. Chuck more money at it. I like and prefer our approach. A balance of young lads with loads of potential who we can bring on and looking for the odd stalwart like Browne to add the experience. I think our way of doing it is very exciting.

 

[RLB's Beautiful Face]

Think they’ll care if they win promotion?

Think they'll care if they fail again, the owner gets bored of his plaything, and they go bust?

It's easy to throw "what ifs" around

 

[LD19SAFC]

Think they'll care if they fail again, the owner gets bored of his plaything, and they go bust?

It's easy to throw "what ifs" around

Aye, cause that’ll happen…

 

[C Montgomery Burns]

Says he's played for them 12 times in the article

Yeah, 12 times in total, but only three games this season. He played 9 league games for them last season after signing from Saudi.

It's another one of those poorly written FLW/FI/we love the 72 articles part culled from one and other.

Edit- he has played in the Europa League qualifying games and in the Europa League, when initially I only checked Eredivisie games.

 

[WorkyTicketFTM]

Yeah, 12 times in total, but only three games this season. He played 9 league games for them last season after signing from Saudi.

It's another one of those poorly written FLW/FI/we love the 72 articles part culled from one and other.

Edit- he has played in the Europa League qualifying games and in the Europa League, when initially I only checked Eredivisie games.

He’s played pretty much every game for Ajax this season and helped turn their season around last season btw. If we’re realistic he was far too good for Sunderland when he was in his prime, even at his age now he could more than do a job at this level.

 

[FellTop]

He’s played pretty much every game for Ajax this season and helped turn their season around last season btw. If we’re realistic he was far too good for Sunderland when he was in his prime, even at his age now he could more than do a job at this level.

I just dont see it mate. I think so much of his game was about covering ground amd being an engine. He looks to me to have lost that. The championship will show up a midfielder who has lost that ability without any adaptation to his game. Maybe he could play Neils role but I have real doubts about that. I certainly cant see him playing 2 games a week at the intensity needed in that position anymore. We have too many really talented midfielders who need to be playing. We noe have Browne and possibly Samed as more experienced lads to learn from. For me Henderson would be a misstep and a place in the squad we dont need. I would rather we focus on full back cover for Hume and possibly a pacey right winger to push Roberts.

 

[Scout73]

He’s played pretty much every game for Ajax this season and helped turn their season around last season btw. If we’re realistic he was far too good for Sunderland when he was in his prime, even at his age now he could more than do a job at this level.

He didn't really help turn their season around, he played 9 games for them n was ok

As I said the other day I was speaking to guys over in Holland n they said his legs are gone

If folk have watched him for Ajax n feel he can improve us then fair enough but I think a lot are wanting hin back based on the player he was not what the player he is

 

[C Montgomery Burns]

he wouldn’t be getting a payday here though, to be fair. Those days are gone for him.

He’d be brilliant for the likes of Neil, Rigg and Jobe.

Sorry I disagree. He's 34, on £85k a week, not starting for his current club, only played 188 minutes of league football this season and that club only signed him in January and are happy to off load him now. He may not get a big last payday, but maybe no more than someone taking a place off a younger player, blocking their development. That's not what they need, especially with Browne there to be the "old head". A couple of years ago, even last summer, yes I could see it, but not now.

Just looking back and thinking of Defoe, we were saying the same thing then, how he'd help our younger forwards & look how that turned out. Personally, we should move on and not give in to sentiment.

 

[williebeams]

I think a lot of people naively writing people off over fitness, as if once you hit 30 the wheels come off. It all depends how much each player has committed to their craft over the year, the reason ronaldo is still playing and rooney isn't, isn't arbitrarily attributed to age and much more likely due to lifestyle decisions that affected the latters physical condition and health in addition to injuries over a career.

The fact is it all depends on the finances. You'd expect someone on 50k a week to play every week for example whereas someone on say 6k plays less and if there's a balance to be found there, why not?

The same people who bang on about fitness will additionally comment on the championship being tough, demanding and long.

We have 40 games to go, 40 90 min spells that need to be navigated through. We play with 3 in midfield and Samed is injured and yet to be seen, there's just a much chance of him being great as there him having an intermittent season coming back from injury. Browne has been injured already and missed some games. Neil has had a stinker, albeit in not a natural position but would arguably have been dropped had someone else been available. Rigg has arguably dipped the past 2 games.

The point is there's along way to go, injuries and suspensions will happen, if the finances are right then honestly why not? If it helps us get promoted, then lets do it.

All this saudi nonsense is just noise, bloke takes high paying job, who wouldnt. Theres probably folk on here earning saudi coin in some way, better wrap that in and get back to the plant in cleveland.

 

[WorkyTicketFTM]

I just dont see it mate. I think so much of his game was about covering ground amd being an engine. He looks to me to have lost that. The championship will show up a midfielder who has lost that ability without any adaptation to his game. Maybe he could play Neils role but I have real doubts about that. I certainly cant see him playing 2 games a week at the intensity needed in that position anymore. We have too many really talented midfielders who need to be playing. We noe have Browne and possibly Samed as more experienced lads to learn from. For me Henderson would be a misstep and a place in the squad we dont need. I would rather we focus on full back cover for Hume and possibly a pacey right winger to push Roberts.

Defo agree that he’s not a two game week player anymore but I’ve seen much worse 33+ year olds still doing a job at this level. Hendersons game was always about fitness he was a runner in Klopps mad system so this idea he’s all of a sudden going to be hopeless at covering ground, I just don’t see it.

The thing for me is whether or not we see Samed as a someone who’ll push for a start or if he’s just going to warm the bench and play the odd 15 minutes here or there, that’s the real dilemma here.. if he’s not and this midfield 3 are who we plan on playing week in week out then I’d bring hendo in. If Samed wasn’t at the club it would be an easy decision because he’s the only natural 6. Granted I’m not expecting Henderson won’t have the legs Neil does now, but he also won’t run around like a headless chicken out of position and knows the role inside out. He’s not only played, but captained in massively important games at the top of the football pyramid that most of our players if not all will never accomplish, that kind of experience is massive for a squad full of young lads. Even just coming off the bench to help us over the line and you’d imagine it would certainly help Neil because he looks like a fish with tits at the minute as the 6.

How many championship clubs would turn down having a premier league, champions league and international captain at their club? Madness imo.

 

[WorkyTicketFTM]

Sorry I disagree. He's 34, on £85k a week, not starting for his current club, only played 188 minutes of league football this season and that club only signed him in January and are happy to off load him now. He may not get a big last payday, but maybe no more than someone taking a place off a younger player, blocking their development. That's not what they need, especially with Browne there to be the "old head". A couple of years ago, even last summer, yes I could see it, but not now.

Just looking back and thinking of Defoe, we were saying the same thing then, how he'd help our younger forwards & look how that turned out. Personally, we should move on and not give in to sentiment.

He’s started 2 of like 5 league games they’ve played this season and came off the bench in the rest.. and all 7 Europa league games. He’s probably not starting the league games because he’s playing the midweek game. Battered both the polish champions and Besitkas 4-0 but apparently couldn’t do a job against Plymouth… give over.

 

[WorkyTicketFTM]

He didn't really help turn their season around, he played 9 games for them n was ok

As I said the other day I was speaking to guys over in Holland n they said his legs are gone

If folk have watched him for Ajax n feel he can improve us then fair enough but I think a lot are wanting hin back based on the player he was not what the player he is

I think they were unbeaten in the 9 he started though weren’t they? He helped steady the ship for sure. I know match ratings aren’t the be all and end all, especially playing in a division but of those 9 games he averaged a 7.5 - over the course of the season that would be an incredible figure which indicates he played fairly well for them.

I agree I think many want him for the player he was, and he simply will not be that good anymore. In my opinion though he could offer a lot to the club for what I’ve mentioned above from the experience he’s gained as a captain on the biggest stage, to coaching Neil, to offering something on the pitch. Jonny Howson is 36 and he’s been decent for Boro last few seasons whilst being nowhere near the player Hendo was. Slow as piss anarl

 

[Robertson]

He’s started 2 of like 5 league games they’ve played this season and came off the bench in the rest.. and all 7 Europa league games. He’s probably not starting the league games because he’s playing the midweek game. Battered both the polish champions and Besitkas 4-0 but apparently couldn’t do a job against Plymouth… give over.

Well argued, I'll give you that. Do you think he is playing all of the minutes in the Europa games as Ajax think his experience is most useful there?

 

[Charley Farley]

Something else to consider.

If he is slowing down or his legs have gone then next season he will be worse. I don’t know how his current fitness is or if his ‘engine’ is still there.
How long would we give him a contract for.

If it’s only the rest of this season it’s hardly worth disrupting our midfield to fit him in.
If he gets a 2 or even 3 year deal I can see it being Defoe all over again.

I would rather stick with our current lads.

Maybe a coaching role sometime in the future.

 

[Nacho]

We don't need Henderson. We're top of the league and are pretty stacked in midfield, we've already got Browne as our experienced CM we don't need another.

In addition to that a large percentage of our fans, me included, don't want him because of how he dropped everything to be a paid shill for the Saudis. Lots of people understandably want to distance themselves from that **** as much as possible.

 

[C Montgomery Burns]

He’s started 2 of like 5 league games they’ve played this season and came off the bench in the rest.. and all 7 Europa league games. He’s probably not starting the league games because he’s playing the midweek game. Battered both the polish champions and Besitkas 4-0 but apparently couldn’t do a job against Plymouth… give over.

Jermaine Defoe. We said the same thing there and look how it turned out.

And I'll ask again, why are they willing to let him go, their highest paid player only signed in January, now? He's not known as a trouble maker, so unless it's something from Ajax end it's highly unlikely to be a fall out. It's more likely that his legs have gone, as Scout says, and he's lost a bit of sharpness along with a bit of pace. It happens, sometimes gradually or other times quickly. Look at Gerrard, for example, contender for player of the year in the 2013/14 season, limited game time and our the door to the USA by the end of the next. Or Keegan who quit at 33 when the mags got promoted in 1984 because he knew his legs had gone at the top level.

I'm old enough to remember us signing Alan Kennedy from Liverpool, 18 months after he scored the winning penalty in the European Cup final against Roma, 2 years after he won his England caps and was only 31. Yet it was clear after a few months that his legs were going and we peddled him to Wigan about a year later.