If he remains healthy I can't see why he wouldn't do very well for himself (transfer and club wise) if he leaves AJAX. The only thing that kind of hurts him in not having EU status (but thats only for England right?). Thanks for the link Buff
In regards to my favorite player of all time, Johnny O. He could do quite well for himself, if his legs ever completely heal, which i suspect they will with some sort of lay-off. Barcelona was interested in him, as were a couple of Premier League teams. I've read many European articles that say he is right there with Van der Vart and co. in terms of talent on Ajax. England wouldn't be a problem, because of his status with teh national team. I dont completely remember the rule, but i believe its something like anyone who plays in 50% of his country's games in a two year period gets a work permit. I hope someone else with more knowledge of the game than this youngin' can help me out: is it better for JOB to move to a mediocre spanish, english or italian team and play 90 minutes, or stay at Ajax and play in the CL every year?
STAY AT AJAX!! at least a year or two more - if that group stays together for 1 or 2 CL's they will win the thing
is your screen name for ex-bc point guard scoonie penn? as for him moving on; i say go for it in a year or two. this team could really win the CL here in the next few years and that would only happen if most of the team stays together...which i hope happens, but i just don't see it happening. when he moves on, i would much rather see him play in england for my own selfish personal reasons, basically so i can see more of his games and highlights of FSW.
scoonie penn it is my buckeye friend. Jim O'Brien is a very good friend of mine, as was scoonie penn both at BC and at The Ohio State Univ. By the way, i completely agree on the England for selfish FSW reasons. Here here.
oh by the way, JOB doenst have a dutch passport, although i bet he could by now. also, add me to the "ajax could win the CL in two years" bandwagon.
Ajax COULD win the CL in 2 years. But hasn't van der vart been rumored to go? Add that to Ibramisovic (sp?) leaving for the EPL this summer and Ajax might have to wait a few more years for a CL run. Regardless if they leave or not, some new young star will probably come along through their youth system and they'll make another CL run in a few years. Dont blame JOb for wanting to move on though, its just natural to wanna try your luck at with the best in the EPL, La Liga, or Serie A.
I think its actually 75% but but getting English work permit should not be a problem with JOB. I also think you might be underselling him a bit if you think he'll make a move to a mediocre team in a great league. In all honestly, there is not a club in the world that he wouldn't be able to actually play for. That includes Real Madrid. Get right to it, he'd make an interesting replacement for Roberto Carlos. Of course Real would never make that move. They only buy super stars these days and as good as O'Brien is he isn't the type of player that would sell jerseys. He'd probably also have trouble cracking ManU's line up, he'd have to beat out Ryan Giggs or Veron or Keane int he midfield. At LB he'd have to beat out Silvestre (possible) or John O'Shea (not possible, I think the Irshman is better than O'Brien). Arsenal is definatly intriuging. Liverpool would love to have a player who could play wide like O'Brien. seeing as how that was their biggest weakness.
Off topic...but Penn was one of my favorite players to watch play against us while I was at PSU. Whats he doing these days?
okay, then you are my favorite new poster i am a big ohio state buckeye fan and when obie came here we knew we had a great basketball coach. he has been amazing as a head coach and when scoonie and redd were leading the buckeyes to the final four it was some of the great sports moments in ohio state in my lifetime <well until this past football season> anyways...now that i have gone off track. he was in europe for a bit, got hurt and last year was playing in the NBDL. he is around columbus a lot, you see him at games from time to time. there was a rumor he might be asst. coaching at ohio state but nothing ever came of that. his little bro even moved to columbus to play football, not sure what came of that.
I think Ajax will have a sell off either this summer or next summer (2004) and with that JOB will be gone. Places to go: I'd love to see him take the left back spot at West Ham, God knows we need him. Spain: Yep, that would be fun, as long as it isn't Real Madrid or Barce or we'll never see him on FSW. Italy: Very cool, but once again, selfish reasons say EPL and West Ham
would JOB want to move to a club that would play him in the midfield, though? would that limit his chances to sign with a top club? he's said all along that he considers himself a center mid. something to think about ......
I would love JOB to move to EPL so we could watch him on a regular basis or FSW could pick up the Eredivisie again.
Why shouldn't JOB stay? Hasn't Ajax learned its lesson on going the cheap route and not paying some of its top players? Besides, JOB and Ajax are a good fit. A CL final could change his mind.
Actually, the EPL recently changed the rule. They have no limit to the number of non-EU players a team can field, and since JOB could undoubtedly get a WP, so long as he can keep the WP that's the best place for him. Most other leagues limit the number of non-EUs (Germany has a different system, they count some Eastern Europe and Central Europe nations as "domestic") a team can dress on a given day. I think that's how it goes...I'm sure someone on here will spot any errors I've made.
I only have to point out two facts and then you guys could cut it any which way you like. John O'Brien has the word out HE is willing to leave for a better league. Remains to be seen if any offers come in. O'Brien is our star but not necessarely one of Europes elite much sought after by the big clubs. So before anything else an offer has to come in. Many of you say and think Ajax is about 2 years away from winning a CL. I would agree they have some outstanding young players. Remains to be seen how many of its star players will stay after the summer brake, if a great number leave Ajax will have to regroup and start rebuilding once again, CL will be a far reach.
Van Der Vaart and Chivu both have said they wnat to stay for another season. And O'Brien said he would leave AFTER his contract runs out. Which is after next season. The biggest losses look like Mido and Zlatan. But you would think that Ajax would have replacements
There could be a number of factors to it. John has lived in Amsterdam his whole adult life now and probally considers it home. He is fluent in Dutch and really likes it there. However if the chance came to move to Italy, Spain, or England he has said he would think about it. The deciding factors will be playing time, money, and climate. I think John would honestly like to move back to a med. type climate "he grew up in So Cal." So hopefully he wil be in Seville "playing for Real Betis in a couple of years.."
I think the best bets would be Spain or Italy. Germany and England don't have much to offer in terms of climate. *Rampant speculation*--JOB has been at Ajax since he was 16, right? I think he'll be turning 26 this August or October, and that would put him at 10 years of residency in Holland. I think that qualifies him for EU residency....
But West Ham is that close to no longer being part of the premeirship. Those 2 won't work out too well together then, will they? I'd be interested to see what bids, if any, come in for him this summer. Surely with a year left on his contract Ajax will need to consider them.
I could dream about West Ham staying up. Of course its just dreams now... I could also dream of Louis van Gaal taking the Hammers and bringing in JOB. Now that would be a dream.