The Red Baron: Josh Sargent at Norwich City

true - TFC can want and negotiate with whatever they like. And Norwich can pound sand. The more they trash him and keep him persona non grata and bash him publicly or privately and refuse to take a deal - they just reduce their own investment over time ... which they may want to do to send the message to all players not to F with Norwich. Fine. Norwich has chosen to cut off their nose to spite their face. They have every right to do that. I have never seen an iota of evidence that Sargent "quit (s) on his team" until this employee employer breakup. What we do know is that they are languishing in the bottom of the Championship and are pushing their younger talent for the long term and have a new manager that wants to make a statement. Until we hear more definitive evidence I am just going to plant my flag of support for Josh Sargent.

 

Toronto seems ideal for him. Close to family without having to live in the US.

 

I don't blame the club really, either. It's all business.

At this level, the player's career is almost always the first consideration over his commitment to the team. Everybody understands that, and those two things align 99% of the time. When they don't, tough decisions need to be made, and things can get messy.

 

Allez le Rouge, Sarge at TFC
Le Rouge goes rouge: Sarge to MLS-abroad
Toronto-the-good (for Josh), Sarge to TFC
We won't have Josh to kick around any more, Sarge to... well, you know.

 

He has turned down offers from Leeds, Sunderland, and Wolfsburg that we know... those are all some really good offers for a guy only 25 and reaching the peak of his career. Bro clearly wants out of Europe at all costs. Shame.

 

I said the best clubs in the world

 

"Comment made regarding..."

hair? spouse? choice in literature?

Out with it man!

 

I believe the play "Much Ado about Nothing" was written about someone having an opinion about Norwich's opinion about ... anything.

Obviously, there's some stuff going on in the Sarge camp/family between this and the German deal, but being as talented as Josh is, and having performed as well as he has at Norwich, what they say about him, esp if he's leaving the C-ship will mean... well... not much. Certainly much less than his play. He's clearly a guy that can play, is not particularly broken and seems to not really be committed to playing in Britain any longer so... Do what you got to do. The "Man" will lift 0 fingers to help you were the boot on the other foot - or, of course, on your neck.

 

Not so much about judgement but rather, honoring the commitment to your teammates and not putting your own demands above the team mid season.

I have zero issue with Sargent wanting to play closer to home and forcing the issue in the summer window.

 

The January window is for mid season transfers, I don’t see why he shouldn’t try to get it done now. I suspect commitment to Norwich wouldn’t be an issue if he was attempting to force a move to bigger club in Europe lol.

 

Flights from St. Louis to Toronto: 1 hour 55 minutes
Flights from St. Louis to London: 8 hours 5 minites

Train from London Heathrow to Norwich: 2.5-4.5 hours, not including the change of train
Taxi from London Heathrow to Norwich: 2.5 hours, minimum, with prices starting from £250

Rather a lot of help I'd say

 

People are REALLY running with this unhappy wife thing as if its gospel truth.

We know very little at all about the situation... hell we don't even know that the reason at all.

 

I almost posted this same sentiment yesterday. We have no idea his motivation to move to MLS (if true it's MLS or bust) is family related.

 

We don't. I could speculate that one of the kids has some sort of needs and there is help in Toronto. See easy to speculate!

 

IIRC there was some tabloid speculation in like maybe 1 article this summer about Josh's wife wanting to go back to the United States [or I guess NA].

It's not like Sargent or anyone close to him has come out and confirmed it. At least I haven't seen that.

So, the situation is perplexing, like, he's been in Europe 8 years now Norwich for 5... you would think he is pretty well accustomed to European life and if he hated Europe he would have come back much quicker...

Now he's on the cusp of his dream [I would imagine his dream was making it big in Europe, though I guess I can't confirm that just based on my memory], a huge money move to the EPL or back to the BL and he turns his back on it in the prime of his career to go to TFC?

Just bizarre to me. LIke, sure, family.. but why now? Not 1 year ago? 2 years ago? Small kids and wanting to be closer to home? I guess that's probably it but idk.

I just find it generally bizarre and disappointing. I was looking forward to following his next step in Europe for a couple of years now.

 

those who evaluate his decisions from a strictly soccer side of things arent required to evaluate his decisions from a family man angle though

its all well and good what he wants to do with his life....i dont think anyone is arguing that he must do what is best for his soccer career at the expense of his personal life......but we dont follow soccer players and evaluate them based on their personal lives. thats not why they get the attention and money they do.

they arent famous for being amazing family men lol...players dont get more attention after they retire and spend time with family lol

from a strictly soccer angle, i dont think anyone can argue he is prioritizing his career and success. its really not controversial.

and as such, those of us who follow him for what he brings to the soccer pool in the usa, are right to be disappointed in his decision making.

if youre argument is "hey guys hes a human, we cant be disappointed if he doesnt prioritize his soccer career" well i call BS....yes we can. its disappointing

the best national teams are not filled with players who prioritize their wives and family lives over their brief and precious chance to make as much money and success as they can as soccer players. for a reason.

 

welp look at BA with leeds renaissance and sudden best form of life....a change of scenery or a new preesure etc can do wonders for a player

as bad as sargent has been he was still the best usmnt forward in the 2022 WC and still on the actual depth chart of the team .....if not on the roster

as far as putting myself in sargents shoes thats actually where i dont like what hes been doing and the decisions he has made from day 1 in his career (aside from giving it a go at werder)....i dont think hes ever really put himself in position to succeed....but otoh he may just be out of position....mightve made a good dmid or played somewhere else better on the field

 

I understand the move from a soccer perspective. Sarge is in all likelihood not EPL quality and a lengthy stint at TFC is an upgrade to his current situation.

 

Is he the most high profile Yank to have such a blowout with their club abroad?

Still a shame as so many high hopes and expectations (considering his age) he might have eventually found success in a top 5 league and rack up some Yank Abroad goalscoring records.

 

I think bolded type is not true but the rest is