Thursday, May 15, 2008
Archie the Second
If the tetchy negotiations and media blurtings surrounding Bruce Djite's imminent overseas move appear somewhat familiar, there's a good reason.
A little over two years ago, a similar situation was playing itself out in Melbourne, with Archie Thompson desperate to jump ship to PSV Eindhoven, where Guus Hiddink - his national team boss at the time - was supposedly going to lick him into shape for the 2006 World Cup. As it happened, of course, Thomspon was a complete cipher both with PSV and the national team in Germany...not that he could have known this at the time.
Like Thompson, Djite has taken an unseemly swipe at his A-League employers, and like Thompson, Djite has now gotten his European wish. But although the hasty press dash by Adelaide's CEO looks like a cave-in on Adelaide's part, they may in fact have done a neat bit of business.
Melbourne Victory's steadfastness in the Thompson case was perceived by many, at the time, as arrogant and self-defeating intransigence. In hindsight, it seems fairly clear that they actually provided a good example to other A-League clubs in dealing with the European market: they refused to be bullied into releasing their prime asset on unfavourable terms.
Adelaide United appear to have learned the lesson well.
Whether Bruce Djite is a prized asset for Adelaide is open to debate. Personally, I would rate him as promising, but a long way from the finished article. Yet Djite clearly considers himself a rare catch, and Adelaide, by their not-so-subtle initial over-valuing of the Olyroo striker, have craftily conveyed that impression as well.
And consider this for a moment: Djite has had only two injury-interrupted seasons with Adelaide, he has yet to establish himself in the senior international side, and he had only a year of his contract left to run. Given all of the above, the rumoured $500,000 transfer fee for the Olyroo striker constitutes an excellent deal for Adelaide, I feel.
A little over two years ago, a similar situation was playing itself out in Melbourne, with Archie Thompson desperate to jump ship to PSV Eindhoven, where Guus Hiddink - his national team boss at the time - was supposedly going to lick him into shape for the 2006 World Cup. As it happened, of course, Thomspon was a complete cipher both with PSV and the national team in Germany...not that he could have known this at the time.
Like Thompson, Djite has taken an unseemly swipe at his A-League employers, and like Thompson, Djite has now gotten his European wish. But although the hasty press dash by Adelaide's CEO looks like a cave-in on Adelaide's part, they may in fact have done a neat bit of business.
Melbourne Victory's steadfastness in the Thompson case was perceived by many, at the time, as arrogant and self-defeating intransigence. In hindsight, it seems fairly clear that they actually provided a good example to other A-League clubs in dealing with the European market: they refused to be bullied into releasing their prime asset on unfavourable terms.
Adelaide United appear to have learned the lesson well.
Whether Bruce Djite is a prized asset for Adelaide is open to debate. Personally, I would rate him as promising, but a long way from the finished article. Yet Djite clearly considers himself a rare catch, and Adelaide, by their not-so-subtle initial over-valuing of the Olyroo striker, have craftily conveyed that impression as well.
And consider this for a moment: Djite has had only two injury-interrupted seasons with Adelaide, he has yet to establish himself in the senior international side, and he had only a year of his contract left to run. Given all of the above, the rumoured $500,000 transfer fee for the Olyroo striker constitutes an excellent deal for Adelaide, I feel.
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I think Djite has been sold a lemon of a deal here by his agent. Is Bernie Mandic advising him?
Turkey would be pretty low down the list of places a HAL graduate should head to, especially with the strong interest from Holland and Germany.
As for the fee, I think it is a reasonable bit of business by AUFC, but I long for the day when the fees are a million plus.
Turkey would be pretty low down the list of places a HAL graduate should head to, especially with the strong interest from Holland and Germany.
As for the fee, I think it is a reasonable bit of business by AUFC, but I long for the day when the fees are a million plus.
# posted by 
: May 15, 2008 at 11:11 PM
: May 15, 2008 at 11:11 PM
i think djite`s patience might have disappeared after this last set of injuries.
whilst promising, the guy is looking pretty fragile, another long stay on the sidelines would confirm it.
here`s hoping for an injury free season in turkey. and some time on the field.
clayton
whilst promising, the guy is looking pretty fragile, another long stay on the sidelines would confirm it.
here`s hoping for an injury free season in turkey. and some time on the field.
clayton
# posted by : May 16, 2008 at 9:00 AM
: May 16, 2008 at 9:00 AM
Considering Adelaide have Agostino (well, I guess that's debatable considering his on-going injury status), Djite wouldn't be the first choice anyway...
He only had a shot in the first place due to Ago's injuries.
Plus, he has troubling realising when to pull the trigger and shoot, rather than hanging onto the ball. If he could, Adelaide would have scored at least an extra goal or two a game last year.
He only had a shot in the first place due to Ago's injuries.
Plus, he has troubling realising when to pull the trigger and shoot, rather than hanging onto the ball. If he could, Adelaide would have scored at least an extra goal or two a game last year.
"Turkey would be pretty low down the list of places a HAL graduate should head to, especially with the strong interest from Holland and Germany."
While Turkey may not be the strongest league in the world, it is still a very decent league particularly if you are playing for one of the top clubs.... and lets be honest at the current stage of the A-league its a pretty promising place for a HAL graduate to go
Alot of good players have been injuired this season, to me it was a signal of the nature of the league.. not a good path to be heading down.. its no wonder some of these players get frustrated and leave.
"Plus, he has troubling realising when to pull the trigger and shoot, rather than hanging onto the ball. "
What? at least he tries to work himself into a good position unlike other HAL players who will just shoot in the worst positions or if the crowd makes that stupid "SHOOOT" chant...
While Turkey may not be the strongest league in the world, it is still a very decent league particularly if you are playing for one of the top clubs.... and lets be honest at the current stage of the A-league its a pretty promising place for a HAL graduate to go
Alot of good players have been injuired this season, to me it was a signal of the nature of the league.. not a good path to be heading down.. its no wonder some of these players get frustrated and leave.
"Plus, he has troubling realising when to pull the trigger and shoot, rather than hanging onto the ball. "
What? at least he tries to work himself into a good position unlike other HAL players who will just shoot in the worst positions or if the crowd makes that stupid "SHOOOT" chant...
# posted by : May 18, 2008 at 10:58 PM
: May 18, 2008 at 10:58 PM
"What? at least he tries to work himself into a good position unlike other HAL players who will just shoot in the worst positions or if the crowd makes that stupid "SHOOOT" chant..."
Sure, but he overdoes it. Djite makes it look like he's trying to walk the ball into the back of the net...
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Sure, but he overdoes it. Djite makes it look like he's trying to walk the ball into the back of the net...
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