The Red Baron: Josh Sargent at Norwich City

So your sources are what you think people are saying even though they’re not saying it? That’s a wholly inadequate reason to crap on a marriage and the people in it, though I struggle to imagine what a good reason to crap on the marriage of strangers would be, at least if if they don’t spend a lot of time holding up their marriage as a model for others. (Anybody who wants to crap on hypocritical marriage influencers for their lousy marriages, please proceed.)

I mean, maybe Sargent’s wife is pushing him around selfishly. Or maybe she isn’t. We don’t know. And I don’t think it’s our business to gossip about strangers’ marriages either way.

I also find it a little sad how quickly Internet convos about stuff like this degenerate into assuming that if a husband does something for the benefit of his marriage and his family that may hurt his short-term job prospects, he must be less of a man. Because real men don’t give a shit about their wives and kids, I guess.

To be clear, I’m not a fan of players going on strike to force a trade unless something about their situation at the club calls for it. But I think we’ve all seen enough soccer business to know that the club situation often does call for it.

 

What does having a good reputation do for anyone? What value does a player have on having a cult hero or just even hero status at a club the rest of their life? Lots of good reasons. Potential employment opportunities, potential networking relationships ruined but even just having the love of a fanbase seems pretty dope to me.

A lot of people put up with a LOT worse for the sake of their spouses career. People get moved for work all the time. People work in fields that require one spouse is gone a lot of the time. Most of them in fields where they are earning a normal wage and enjoy no public adulation or celebration.

Josh can afford every convenience this world can provide for his family short of regular private jet travel [probably].

He can afford a full or part time nannies/chefs/maids.

He can afford to let his parents or his in laws retire early or shift to working less so they can spend as much time as the home office will allow them in the UK.

He can afford to get his parents and/or in-laws an apartment in the area or stay at his place.

Additionally, Sargent isn't even from Toronto.. I fail to see how living in Toronto is so much better for his family than East Anglia. You still have immigration restrictions. You still have to fly... is all this worth a 2.5 hour flight once a month as opposed to a 10 hour flight?

Finally, Sargent has a contract. He is obligated to play and perform. NCFC is obligated to pay him. I don't see any indication NCFC has failed to uphold it's end of the contract. All indications are Sargent is breaking the contract.

This whole situation is ridiculous.

Sargent isn't spending 8 months of the year on a ship or on an oil rig for 6 months a year risking his life to make $150k a year.

 

Imagine Messi's wife and kids being like we hate it here in Europe lets return to Argentina after only 4 years at Barcelona. lol

 

Delia Smith and the self-financing model is gone, replaced by an American billionaire - he owns the Milwaukee Brewers. 'Nuff said - so they don't really "need" the money and maybe not at all.

What they do need, especially after the Jonathan Rowe shenanigans, is for everyone in football to read the "Under New Management" sing and understand that Norwich players who try to force cut-price moves will fail, and suffer into the bargain.

Sarge's transfer value was going to take a hit from him and his family being so set on Toronto/ MLS but going on strike has blown a major hole in it. Eating 6 months' pay on top of that does add a salary insult to transfer fee injury, but that injury - anywhere between 5 and 10 million sterling - has already been suffered. If 700k more stops deters someone from trying the same in the summer and losing them another 5-10 million, it's a business investment.

Meanwhile, with the MLS season opener is just 2 weeks away, I can't imagine Sarge is feeling too valued by Toronto right now. If this is squeaky bum time, I doubt it's at Carrow Road.

 

Good point. But that was after nearly two decades of him playing at the highest levels in Europe. At that point I think nothing but family decisions matter. lol

 

How could he betray *checks notes* Norwich City? U.S. soccer will be set back decades.

 

so is he expected to be out of the doghouse anytime soon?

 

I can't imagine he'll ever play for them again. I suspect they'll hold him until the last days of the MLS window and sell him. That could give leverage to MLS to offer less, but that'd be a bigger-picture bad look for them.

 

Yeah, I can understand Norwich being upset with Sargent, but if you absolutely, positively know you’re going to sell a player anyway, why wouldn’t you try to get as much money as you possibly can? Weird from a business standpoint.

 

Its a warning to the others who might make decisions based on WAGs.

 

There are different rules for the GOATS of the game, so Messi could have gone on strike to force a move he wanted.

He didn't, which is (one) reason why he's the GOAT.

 

Messi could have played minor league baseball for the White Sox, come back 2 years later and still been great

 

And now Norwich are doing just fine without him. Badly played by Josh.

 

Since Josh walked off the job, Norwich have played 6 games and won 5 of them with one loss, a narrow 1-0 defeat to table-toppers Middlesbrough, scoring 14 goals and conceding 3. That run includes victories over Coventry and Wrexham.

In the 6 games before that, with Josh stating 3 of them, they won 3, drew 1 and lost 2, scoring 5 goals and conceding 5. More concerning is that 2 out of those 3 wins and the draw came in the 3 games where Josh was absent to follow concussion protocol.

If we take the last 9 games without Josh versus those with, Norwich have 22 out of a possible 27 points without, which is automatic promotion form, versus 8 points with him, which . . . isn't. Other clubs will take note. Toronto had better stay interested or he's in real trouble.

 

It'll get done.

Norwich don't need him.

He's not GAINING in value sitting in the doghouse.

Toronto isn't going to bid against themselves either.There's just a game of chicken now. Norwich will just extract the most they can get from TFC right before the MLS transfer deadline.

 

How could he betray himself? His career will be set back badly. Very, very badly.

 

He has done what he thinks is best for his family...and has shot the family breadwinner in the foot in the process.

 

The idea wasn't necessarily wrong, but execution has been juvenile.

 

How so?

 

His career is fine.

He'll move to Toronto and probably have a higher salary than he had at Norwich.

He's playing for a bottom half Championship club; not Real Madrid. According to capology, his gross pay at Norwich is roughly 2.2 million dollars. That's roughly what a guy like Djordje Mihailovic makes in MLS.

He will likely get a PAY RAISE to come to MLS. Latte Laith came to MLS from Boro and is paid 4 million. Paxten Aaronson came back to MLS and is on 2.2 million guaranteed, and he's a lot less accomplished as a pro than Josh Sargent.

So let's stop this nonsense about how coming back to MLS will somehow damage Josh Sargent. 1) He'll likely get paid more in MLS than at Norwich. 2) Its clear that players are getting into the USMNT from MLS. Beyond clear. His USMNT standing moving forward won't be damaged if he's playing well in MLS. 3) He WANTS to raise his family in North America. So even if he takes a half-step step back in his soccer trajectory, that DOESN'T matter. He's doing this with his family in mind. His primary motivation is no longer shooting for the highest club-standing possible. That's the ambition ya'll have for him. it's HIS LIFE, and he's prioritizing family.

The MLS transfer window is still open for more than a month. Norwich has shot themselves in the foot. They had a reasonable offer from Toronto, but Toronto isn't going to bid against themselves. Norwich is probably hoping another MLS club (ST Louis? Kansas City?) gets involved in the bidding. if not, they may not get Toronto's offer any longer. Josh's value isn't GOING UP while he's sitting in the doghouse.

The only thing Josh has done has eliminated his chance for WC26. While he's been on the shelf, Agyemang at Derby has taken his chance. But after that? The slate is clean and his career will be fine.

 

Surprising sum! No wonder Norwich held him out.