WHY SANNEH MIGHT THINK ANEW ABOUT HIS POSITION Sunday afternoon, Gran Canaria, 3 p.m.: Nürnberg’s Coach Klaus Augenthaler collects his players for the first training unit in the training camp. Not taking part: Anthony Sanneh, who shall join the team on the Spanish island after his extended stay in the USA. When and if this will be, is written in the stars, Klaus Augenthaler calculates “with 99% without him”. The mainly for cost saving measures planned transfer to English Premier League team West Bromwich Albion shall be finished in the next days. And this although it seemed that the negotiations failed. The US national players said yes to England, but no to West Bromwich Albion. As reason he told lacking perspective (“I’m not changing from horse to donkey”). But: isn’t it better to ride on a donkey than running next to a horse? This is the reason that might make the 31 year old think about his position. Klaus Augenthaler called “Anton from Berlin” and told him that he doesn’t have good cards in Nürnberg. Sanneh, free transfer from Berlin in 2001/2002, is not seeded anymore. In the defence players like Thomas Stehle, Marek Nikl or Stephan Paßlack are ahead of him. In the offence the Coach wants to trust in the lately brilliant Junior. The final moment might be caused by the English though, if they offer him a spot in the central defence, the favourite position of the US-Boy.
olaf, reading between the lines, Nurnberg is saying: Since you won't help out the club by going to WBA on loan for the rest of the year, we'll retaliate by benching you.
This story makes me think of his recent interview http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/players/334677.html I guess we'll see what happens if he doesn't end up going to WBA.
there have been complaints about Donovan's tactics with Leverkusen, but as Sanneh's situation shows, clubs are not opposed to using leverage when it is in their best interests.. Why should players not use the same advantage as the clubs?
Yes and No. Of course they create some pressure on him, but OTOH he was about to lose his starting position at the end of the last year. And don't forget that the whole roster is preparing for the second season half, they are having friendlies (e.g. against Rosenborg Trondheim tonight, live on Eurosport), they try out some new formations and also because of that he is put to the end of the queue. I think that he'll get his chance if he stays, but it'll take a while.
I remember Sanneh's brilliant game against Bayer Leverkusen where he almost singlehandedly prevented them from winning the Bundesliga title. Are you sure he was about to lose his starting position? Sanneh played in the central defense position in that game, his best position. Perhaps the coach did not want him in the center, and he was not good enough for the outside position.
Maybe Sanneh just doesn't want to play for such a dire side such as WBA. He may not be happy or wanted at N'berg anymore, but would he be better off going to a soon to be relegated team?
I said end of the last year, not end of the last season. In other words: about games 15 to 17 of the 2002/03 season. He sat out twice with injury and played once due to an injury of the player, who should have started instead of him anyway.
I read the Nigerian defender is a left sided defender. Tony plays either on the right or in the middle. Did WBA need only one defender, or as may be the case with several teams at the bottom of the pile, are they looking to upgrade the whole defense? Scumby
I don't want to pick on Tree here, he's not the only one. Tree, this is a loan. The implications are that WBA will buy him outright if they stay up, send him back if they relegate. Tony's pay would be too high for a Div. 1 defender. Alot of people seem to be missing this point. It's a loan. It's almost certainly a sort of extended trial. It is NOT a transfer.
Are you talking about Coly, or did West Brom sign a fifth player? Coly (from Cameroon, by the way), played on the right side against Arsenal yesterday and was absolutely terrible - worst player on the pitch by far. He was constantly skinned by Pires (OK, he's not alone in that regard) and should have been sent off for a rash challenge on Henry.
Even if it is a loan to WBA, what good will it accomplish? He'll either: A: be on a relegated time, then sent back to N'berg B: help them stay up and get sent back to N'berg C: help them stay up and perhaps be offered a contract to a team who he doesnt want to play for it's WBA....if quality of team is an issue, he might as well go back to DC United...WBA is THAT bad neither of those options look very sexy at all...Staying with N'berg and helping them perhaps to a INTERTOTO or UEFA Cup spot would probably be more enticing to him than WBA. What does this have to do with anything? Coly is on Birmingham...maybe i just read your post totally wrong but i don't see it's relevance
Pretty passionate Tree. Here are other options: A: be on a relegated team, but gets a half season to audition in the Premier League B: help them stay up, and earn a permanent move. I believe a large part of his hesitance is due to their likely relegation. If they stay up, maybe he views them differently, with a full EPL season ahead of them. C: help them stay up, but return to N'berg, go to another BL team or go to another Euroteam. I think he's being a little harsh on WBA but it's his call. I really don't like the way he's being treated though. Why does he need to be vilified by Nurnberg?
New kicker article: FURTHER TROUBLE ABOUT SANNEH, CIRIC FIT AGAIN From the sportive perspective the preparation of 1.FC Nürnberg is working very well. After respectful indoor peformances with the tournament win in Riesa, the Club also won the first two outdoor games. Against D2 team Wacker Burghausen the Augenthaler-Eleven won 4:0 and against Champions League participant Rosenborg Trondheim they qualified for the final of the Maspalomas Cup in Gran Canaria after penalty shootout. Back for the final on Thursday is forward Sasa Ciric, who had to miss lately due to back problems. Jacek Krzynowek had his first 16 playing minutes after a six-months break due to torn ACL and showed some promising actions. The matter Sanneh is still causing for some trouble though. The US national player did not appear in the training camp on the Canaries, despite of the demand by the club officials. Instead Sanneh gets medical treatment in Los Angeles because of his back (slight slipped disc). After a long while the 31 year old, whose contract is running until 2004, seems to have decided to stay. Now he will appear in Nürnberg on Monday for further talks with the management. GM Edgar Geenen did not entirely give up yet to get the top earner off the salary list.