The Red Baron: Josh Sargent at Norwich City

The game on the 7th was against Tottenham, Bournemouth played Arsenal on the 3rd.

 

Clearly he made a big mistake going to Norwich - once Farke left that was the sign to get out …

He is trying now …

He has a family also to consider …

as I said already I don’t blame the club one bit - and I understand the sentiment here that he quit on his teammates - I also know that he has not said anything publicly yet.

 

There's no evidence that Norwich were standing in his way in the summer and when the Burnley and Wolfsburg offers/approaches were being discussed, they would have had enough time and the money from his transfer fee to bring in a replacement.

His decision to stay, presumably because he thought a promotion push was possible, prevented them from signing a successor. They have every moral as well as legal right to feel seriously let down and to refuse a transfer. Doubly so given the damage this will do to their recruitment efforts. Agents are surely telling Norwich "you offered us 6 months feeding one of the division's top strikers and now he's downed tools on you to force a move? Forget it."

They'll probably stay up but it's going to be tough and letting Sarge get away with this will trigger a stampede for the exits. They have to make an example of him but I'd still expect this move to go through - a pissed off/humiliated player is dressing room poison - but Toronto will have to up their bid and the club may try to make his last days thoroughly unpleasant

 

I think it’s safe to say we don’t know the whole story here. We certainly don’t know the player’s story.

Josh has been nothing but exemplary in his time at Norwich from all reports, not to mention their main goal-scorer for a number of years. I don’t think he just woke up one day and thought, You know what, I want out of here and I’m gonna be super petulant out of the blue and not play in the FA Cup game.

 

Not the first time a player put himself first when a better option is in play. Don’t blame him for trying. Worst case it doesn’t go through and he’s back in the lineup and hears some boos from home fans.

 

"He will never be able to show his face in Norwich again!"


Ok... but there must be SOME downside...

 

oh I don’t think he ever sees the pitch for them again … he is persona non grata now … he will just keep quiet and wait on whatever Clement and TFC determine …

 

I don't think we'll hear his side until he moves if even then.

 

If they didn’t have another striker scoring that may be the case, but Makama is one of the top scorers in the division. They can probably afford to leave him out in the cold, if he’s pissed them off that much.

 

Well, Norwich won on the road without him. Ali Ahmed, who just transferred in from the Whitecaps played and scored.

 

the almost immediate success of players moving from MLS to the Championship is an important story - and it’s not just Americans either

 

He didn’t score, he got an assist for the first goal.

 

They won't leave him out in the cold if they can make 20+ million on him. That would be one of the most idiotic decisions in history.

 

is it surprising to you?

players used to transfer directly to EPL from MLS and that never seems to happen lately.

i think some of the usmnt players going to championship is only bc money even though they are capable of playing at a higher level of play (that may not offer as much money) and the lure of potential EPL money if all goes well

 

Somehow I don’t think this move will turn out well for him. Maybe I will be wrong.

 

Are we talking about 20 million USD or STG? Because $20m equals £16m and £20m equals $27m. There's a bit of a difference there.

Joking aside, depending on the length of the contract, £16 million would normally get you a pretty good Championship striker but this is January and Norwich are in serious relegation trouble. They will have to pay over the odds. Josh also has pedigree at higher levels. A replacement of similar quality may not be available.

I just hope for Josh's sake that Toronto are as committed to signing him as they'll need to be because Norwich seem up for the fight.

 

Didn't the pound used to be worth more than the dollar?

 

Still is

 

Of course Norwich are up for the fight in the middle of January. There is plenty of time to make a deal and posturing at this point is all part of that.

 

But it used to be too.

 

True

 

Walked into that one. I didn't know there was going to be math.

 

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Mama said she was done with England.

 

Maybe he should be visibly upset also with his agent