1.3m is a bit rich tho
1.3m is a bit rich tho
I'm torn on deciding if this is a good or bad thing (assuming we do announce that we have signed him)..
He just seems to be the complete opposite of the rest of the signings that GVE has made this year. Most have been young, quick, extremely fit, run all day.
They were joking on ABC radio this morning about the marketing potential for Heskey brand Esky's.. Or supporters wearing them to games, etc..
ouch so now we're taking the game backwards.Having Heskey in A-League would buck a trend towards mobility
By Tony Tannous, 19 Sep 2012
England's Emile Heskey. AP Photo/Tom Hevezi
If the rumours and reports linking former Liverpool FC striker Emile Heskey to A-League club the Newcastle Jets are true, then unfortunately, after the great gains made by the signing of Alessandro Del Piero, it would buck a trend towards mobility.
This argument has nothing to do with Heskey’s nationality but everything to do with the technical evolution of Australia’s domestic competition over the past few seasons.
While Heskey is a well recognised name to those in this country obsesssd by the English Premier League, anyone who actually watches it would recognise that Heskey’s best days were at least a decade ago, when he had a good season or two at Leicester City.
As his career has moved on at various clubs, clumsy touches and an inability to link have been his hallmarks, for club and country.
His recent goal-scoring record and general play has become the subject of many a joke across England.
The fact he isn’t been chased by too many others must say something.
After the credibility garnered by the signing of Del Piero, showing us to be bold and ambitious, landing on Heskey would be a reality check, a reminder that we still have much to learn.
His signature would fly against everything that Jets manager Gary van Egmond is purportedly putting together: a young squad, full of mobility, that like to move it around and keep it down.
Yes, the Jets might never have had a great number 9, bringing in such disasters as Jardel and Edmundo Zura, but the addition of a weightlifter like Heskey doesn’t appear the answer.
Increasingly, better educated A-League managers are making smarter recruitment decisions, evidenced by Ange Postecoglou bringing in Besart Berisha and Perth Glory’s chase of Shane Smeltz.
Others that have gone down the path of big target-men have been less successful.
Last season, when Graham Arnold lost Matt Simon to Korea, he went for John Sutton. He proved a flop.
Famously, Vitezslav Lavicka made a big song and dance a couple of seasons ago about signing a big target-man to hold up Sydney FC’s play.
He waited and waited, trailing all sorts, before bringing in the likes of Juho Makela and Bruno Cazarine.
While Cazarine did score goals, he never quite suited the defensive Lavicka strategy, which was more about sitting and waiting rather than getting on the front foot and getting balls in from wide.
The evolution of the standard of the league into a more mobile, technical competition, is the main reason target men have generally struggled.
That and the general size of our central defenders.
The likes of Michael Beauchamp, for example, would rather fancy facing up to a Heskey over a Berisha or Archie Thompson.
At a time when the modern game is moving more and more away from big, bustling target men, to mobility, Heskey would defy the trend.
This, unfortunately, would be a signing that takes the A-League back a few years to the days before the likes of Carlos Hernandez, Jason Culina, Thomas Broich and Berisha lifted its technical level from the dire standards of the opening three or four seasons.
In truth, Heskey might not be the only big target man on an A-League roster this season, with Melbourne Heart manager John Aloisi moved to bolster his striking stocks by bringing in Dylan Macallister, while Ricki Herbert emphasised the “presence” of Belgian signing Stein Huysegems.
Elsewhere, and judging by my first look at West Sydney Wanderers’ Croatian recruit Dino Kresinger last week, Tony Popovic has also gone for a big man as the focal point in his attack.
Crosstown rivals, Sydney FC, appear to have gone the other way, with Kruno Lovrek seemingly the type of mobile, technical striker that is equally as comfortable roaming outside the box as he is inside.
It’s the same at Melbourne Victory, where Guilherme Finkler has been added to the front third stocks, and Adelaide, where John Kosmina has brought in diminutive Argentine Jeronimo Neumann.
Increasingly, this appears to be the trend not only overseas, but in the A-League.
And while the likes of Heskey might bring some variety, the move to a more technical and mobile front third appears the more likely solution.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/09/19...ards-mobility/
$1.3m is huge money probably would have been better to go for ADP at $2m a year. Honestly can't see us getting any where near the return on that investment.
If we have that sort of coin to spend I'd rather sign griff for this year and focus and regroup for the 2013-14 season and try and get the cream of the free agents, not settle for what's left on the shelf this year.
I agree totally with that article and there is no way I can see $1.3m of value in Heskey.Originally Posted by Pico
how good does normal service resuming feel
OK
likewise. (to Zico's point).
If Hesky is a brilliant signing and scores more than Joel has previously, then I'll buy a HSGHPNUJFC Strip and get Heskey on the back.
look on the bright side - at least we'll get mentioned every week in Soccer AM
OK
I wish Craig Foster would put his own name on his articles.
Keeping track of all his alias' is really hard these days.
Another thing, how much is Griff on in China? Half that (1.3m) much? Does anyone have any accurate info?
Just seems weird we're willing to splash huge dollars on Heskey when the people's champ could be pryed away for less.
I just want to see more unbelivable tekkers..
Pretty sure griff is on 1mil
Defo Griff is on more than a million a season - I remember reading it somewhere on the old foz.
I'm just gonna remain optimistic and say he won't weaken our squad lol
we were looking at Griff for 300-400k & jerks management said he gets more than 3 times that in china.
so carry the two, deans out is the answer.
OK
can confirm will be getting Heskey jerseys purely for the lulzturtlez
OK
Heskey has more meme cred than any other EPL player in EPL history.
Tribal football reporting Hesky has rejected our offer.
Last edited by samus; 19-09-2012 at 11:30 AM.
Hopefully when Heskey rejects us Middleby and Deans will tuck their heads in and buy Joels contract out.
Are they reporting the first rejection or is he rejecting the new offer?
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The report is from yesterday.
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