Please go to River Plate. If there was a 30+ striker from Serie A, I'd want Di Natale, but there is no way he would come over.
Sign him for the rest of the season (1.5 million) with a team option for next year. Wasn't Nowak 35 when he came over in 1998 and he was a pretty good player for 5 years. So if it doesn't work at season's end just don't pick up the option. Atleast there making an effort to bring somebody in. Is this FK or Andy tiring to get him?
He's 37, he turns 38 on November 9th? Nowak retired at 39, so one and half years would put Del Piero at 39 also. I know that's alot of money for a 37-39 year old player, but if he could play and take the team and league serious I say we take a chance. If he doesn't look like and not taking it serious then don't pick up the option for next year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessandro_Del_Piero
If he was 34 like Nowak was then I would be all for it. Are we rebuilding or not? If yes, then this wouldn't make any sense. The guy will be chugging Metamucil and wearing Depends when we are truly ready to dominate. (meaning way to old in soccer terms of course.)
Del is still serviceable and much more mobile then Blanco when he came. You guys want a goal scorer, here is one... albeit an aged one, but a goal scorer none-the-less. But I'm bias (Juve Fan) and would absolutely love to have Del on the team. It would certainly encourage me to buy a new Chicago jersey and make the trip a couple times from Indy.
bias opinion aside, i would like the Fire to find a younger DP if they are going to spend that kind of money. Del has been riding pine for most of this past season. He's still a quality player, but he hasnt been a consistent starter for nearly 2 years. Usually a sub option for Juve.
Even if we're rebuilding, IF he was good for 1.5 years it could be beneficial. Not as good as a 34 year old Nowak of course, but we could stave off a third year without playoffs while searching for more players. At this price (considering the market these days) I would say it's a good risk. Do it now, show Quaker we can make a splash in the media market while finding some success on the field and get Quaker to re-up after next year.
I don't think we are going anywhere this year or next anyway, so I'm not going to go crazy if we make this move, and I will admit that I would probably enjoy watching him. A little while back, I looked up our big foreign signings -- the good ones. They were all 34 when they signed here. Nowak, Kubick, Stoichkov, Blanco. We got the best of them at 34-35. The ones that stuck around after 35 became less effective and more injury prone. Nowak was 36 I believe on that great 2000 team and I want to say that Stoich was 35 at that point. Every player is different physically, but del Piero would already be on the backend of any effectiveness, just from our past experience. So, I'm not against this unless we would have the ability to sign someone now who we could grow around and who would still be effective if and when we are championship ready. I don't know if its pie in the sky, but your Forlan suggestion makes more sense to me because he might have that extra couple of years on him to still participate in another championship era IF we start putting things together soon.
Mohamed Zidan, 30. ST Andy Johnson, 31. ST Dorde Rakic, 26. FW Ireneusz Jelen, 31. FW Idir Ouali, 23. FW Not gonna sell shirts, just score.
How old was Frankowski when we got him? I pretty much agree. Del Piero wouldn't get us a championship this year but would make the team more competitive and enjoyable to watch. It would also move some shirts. All at a "reasonable" price.
In that case, I would go full out on Drogba .Big ,safe and good risk . By the way ,I'm not a Chelsea fan
I'm not a Chelsea fan but Drogba is a great player. The difference is of course the cost. Isn't Del Piero rumored at about $1.5 million? Wouldn't Drogba be $5+ million?
I think he will cost $5 + mil easily plus add on. If we want to make a bold statement as a club ,than why not?.I think all parties involved will agree .
So we passed on Ivica Olic at 32 but were going to sign this over the hill striker? Render unto me a frickin break Hauptman
yeah obviously due to this BS rumor thread we're signing a player other than who you want and you should immediately curse everyone's name
How about Adriy Shevchenko for a snap decision, over the hill, never going to actually happen transfer target. He is out of contract in the summer according to this (http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/andriy-shevchenko/aufeinenblick/spieler_3522.html), and has a pretty good strike record this past season. Plus two beauties today at the Euros
Totally agree. I would be happy to have Andy Johnson join the Fire. He was great for Crystal Palace and not too bad for Everton. His time at Fulham was less impressive, but count me in as a fan. The problem is that he is not really a DP-type player from a marketing perspective, as he is not that well known. However, from a player perspective, he would rule.
neither was GBS nor Morales. Of course they got their DP status after they played in the league, but still, not marketing wetdream
He was incredible for Crystal Palace when they were promoted to the EPL (and relegated) in... What year was that? I only remember he had 20 or so goals.
I don't disagree at all. I am just not sure that Andy Johnson would join the Fire for less than DP money now.
He' made exactly "Keane" money this year. I'm sure theres a Championship club that will offer him between £600k-800k/year. I'm sure around the $1.5mil/year mark would be a reasonable offer by Fire.