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Club 34-40. Signing great, but slightly post sell-by date footballers
Even as a Gooner of some forty years standing I'm somewhat bemused by the impending Premiership comebacks of two of my former heroes Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell. At nearly 34 a faded, injury prone Vieira has been hired by Man City/cini at a reputed £140K a week, while Arsene Wenger has gone completely against previous policy and re-signed the 35 year old Portsmouth reject Campbell. Both signings are said to have been made to help "instill a winning mentality" or suchlike at the respective clubs. I wish both players every success (ok Campbell more than Vieira for obvious reasons). My question is, assuming they do prove to be successful, is the signing of great but slightly past sell-by date players likely to become a trend in these cash-strapped times and if so which 34-40 year old would you bring back and to which club ?
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Les Ferdinand.
Back to QPR - would still do better than the current work shy overpaid fops.
QPR bought Frank McLintock from the Goons when he was 35 and got 3 more years solid service from the old boy, including the magical 75/76 side which McLintock himself said was the best side he'd ever played in.
Funny...
I'd completely forgotten McLintock's time at QPR. If Vieira enjoys a golden spell at Man City a similar amnesia will probably set in.
A golden spell?
I haven't seen anything of Viera's recent performances in Italy so I'm going on hearsay alone. However the comments I've heard are that he was struggling in the comparatively slower Serie A and is likely to find the Premiership passing him by.
Even he was 5 years or so younger the £110 - £140K / week I've heard quoted seem ludicrously high. But that's City and their bulging wallet.
The great Neville Davitt....
.... of the legendary 1922 Barnstoneworth United team.
The great Neville Davitt....
.... of the legendary 1922 Barnstoneworth United team.
Another French guy
Cantona for Liverpool ;)
Graeme Murty
back to Reading FC. He ticks some boxes - a right back, a leader/captain and just someone that the fans can identify with after our whole squad of half decent players was sold.
Our current right back was bought in the summer by our previous manager Brendan Rodgers (already sacked...) and proved to be so poor that he ended up playing a 5 foot tall left footed midfielder instead.
Maybe they are all a bit past it but I would have Jimmy Quinn, Michael Gilkes, Phil Parkinson and Shaka Hislop back too while we're about it.
Sol back to Arsenal is a weird one, didn't he end his Arsenal career by having some sort of freak-out during a game?
Sol's freak-out
Yes, strangely ignored in all the coverage I've read.
It was against West Ham
He packed up and went home at half time having gifted Harewood a goal. As a Hammers fan it was a moment only eclipsed by Viera getting sent off at Upton Park. Although Lampard's straight red comes close, even if it was revoked after the event.
West Ham fans are very familiar with players arriving close to their sel by date. It describes most of our attacking options for more years than I care to remember.
Larsson
Celtic
Where do i start
Lampard, Cole and Ferdinand back to the 'ammers!
Paul Mariner.
FTOR: also Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen. Age being a relative concept, of course
Kevin Beattie
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2308514/Beattie-battles-back-f...
I think Bobby Robson was right. (And he, courtesy of a bit of a head start, had seen far more English-born players than I have.) The sense of excited anticipation whenever 'Tank' picked the ball up on the halfway line and drove forward is something I'll never forget.
I'll take your three as well, mind, itfc1959...
You're forgetting
Adrian Paz, Neil Gregory, Finidi George, Ulrich Le Pen, Amir Karic, Jonas Axeldal and Matteo Sereni - how could you?!
Very funny, Joe.
Thank you so much for reminding me...
Finidi George!
Christ you bastard, I thought I'd forgotten all about that wasteful piece of shit. Arghhh.
Well done Reading, btw. For lending us Rosenior, that is.
Rosenior
really...? He went off the boil towards the end of his time with us, hoofing the ball out, giving away possessin and he was a bit of a sulker. I guess that might have been more to do with bad management and tactics though.
We are desperate for a right back now and could do with him back, but we couldn't pay his wages so it looks like he's yours to keep.
Beardsley!
I'd have Peter Beardsley back at Newcastle like a shot. He's still got his football brain judging by his appearances in that Masters 5-a side tournament on Sky and even at forty odd years old, he'd be faster than the likes of Kevin Nolan and Nicky Butt.
Pedro
Beardsley was the first name that came into my head too, but basically anyone from the mid-nineties would spice up the Mags.
Gooners
Not in the Club 34-40 yet but I'd have Nic Anelka back. The sulky aspect seems to have gone and he doesn't mind where he's asked to play. Could play with RvP or on his own.
I am happy about Sol's return. Got to be better CB reserve than Silvestre, however old he is.
The Big Mon
Given the current goalkeeping shenanigans at Arsenal, surely the time has come to re-sign Pat Jennings. He was considered past his sell by date when he joined 30-odd years ago and looked how he turned out.
And...
...seemingly revered by both Arsenal and Tottenham fans.
along with Jimmy Robertson
:)
Lee Chapman
back at Leeds. He can't be any slower surely?
afte last night?
St John, Hunt, Lawler, Callaghan, Clemence,Gerry Byrne, yeats, Thompson, Souness, Rush, anyone really
Man Utd
I think the classic midfield of Giggs, Scholes, Keane and Beckham (current ages between 34 and 38) would still do a better job than the underperforming likes of Anderson, Nani, Carrick etc.
Until your post I hadn't
Until your post I hadn't actually made the connection of Campbell and Vieira coming back at the same time. By all accounts from Italy Vieira is a shadow of his former player and will be on ridiculous money at City for what he can offer.
However it is noticeable more than ever this season how much veterans have to offer - the likes of Ryan Giggs, majestic - it is great to see him still playing at such a high level, Paul Scholes - he makes the odd clanger but can still boss games and look head and shoulders above anyone else on the park against lesser sides, Graham Alexander at Burnley, knocking in the penalties every week, David James, probably still the best and most sought after English goalkeeper.
I am surprised no English club tried to get Beckham on loan before he went back to Milan. I thought even Man U might have buried the hatchet - Fergie has made a number of surprise loan moves in the past - and they have lacked a little bit of galactico quality since Ronaldo left.