Cashed up United chase Larsson’s signature

Roar Pro

By Paddy Higgs, 24 Jun 2009 Paddy Higgs is a Roar Pro

Tagged:: A-League, Clive Palmer, football, Gold Coast United, Henrik Larsson, Jason Culina

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Gold Coast United club chairman Clive Palmer (right) and head coach Miron Bleiberg speak at a press conference at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009. Palmer and Bleiberg confirmed marquee signing Socceroos star Jason Culina for their debut A-League season. AAP Image/Laine Clark

It means business, does A-League newboy Gold Coast United. The fledgling club has been full of bluster and swagger since the club was awarded its licence back in June last year.

Outspoken owner Clive Palmer has talked up his side’s intention of taking out the title in its debut season, and the mining billionaire is at least putting his money where his mouth is.

Not content to sign key Socceroo Jason Culina, United has now been linked with a big-money move for famed Swedish striker Henrik Larsson.

The former Barcelona, Manchester United and Celtic goalscorer is now 37, but his pedigree is undoubted and he is still good enough to play for his country.

Larsson is reportedly already in talks with United over a nine-match guest stint at the club, at a reported $100,000 a match.

With guest roles outside the salary cap, clubs can offer as much as they want. And with tycoon Palmer at the helm, United seems keen to use the loophole to entice the popular Swede down under.

Still, it is a huge outlay, and one that is worth questioning.

Guest stints have – of course – had mixed results in the A-League‘s short history.

Romario’s shortlived stay at Adelaide United was clearly only to further his quest to reach 1000 goals, but the impact of both Benito Carbone and Michael Bridges at Sydney FC was largely successful.

Larsson appears to have a far more grounded personality than the legendary Brazilian striker, and has consistently performed at a higher level than all three.

And he certainly has stature to stimulate would-be United supporters which, judging from the mediocre turnout to the club’s derby friendly with North Queensland Fury, might be just what is needed.

Many believe the A-League’s guest role is a ; an American-style initiative that lowers the league’s credibility.

They have a point.

But there’s no doubting the excitement Larsson would create if he was to move to the A-League.

Of course, at $100,000 a match, he’d want to perform well, lest he become a white elephant alongside Mario Jardel and the Melbourne Eye ferris wheel.

But if Palmer’s got the money to burn, then what better to spend it?

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The Crowd Says (26) | Page 1 of Comments

whiskeymac said | June 24th 2009 @ 9:06am | Report comment

Great player – best Swedish player ever or is Brolin and Ibrahamovic the go there – and stil active internationally? OK, suggests he can perform above and beyond most others still (sheringham also played at a top level until 40 i think, so players can do it) but at 37 will he do as well in an Aussie summer?

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Midfielder said | June 24th 2009 @ 9:15am | Report comment

Big name hope they pull it off and he plays at Bluetounge..

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Pippinu said | June 24th 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment

I find it kind of depressing that clubs would splash that much money on players well past their best.

It’s another reason to hope that GC falls absolutely flat on its face first season – no other club in the history of sport has deserved to fail more than them.

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Pippinu said | June 24th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment

…after Collingwood that is.

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Tom said | June 24th 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment

For $100k a match, can’t they get someone younger than 37?

Great player though. Would love to see him in the A-league in any capacity.

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Mick of Newie said | June 24th 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment

Pip
I disagree, I hope they do well, a front half of Smeltz, Larson, Ryan Griffiths and Culina (and I hope some of their Brazlians do well) would put bums on seats all around the country. The league needs some big clubs and given SFC seems to have given up on their ambition that just leaves your Melb Victory. I also hope Glory do well with Burns and Sterj supporting Eugene Dadi.

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Pippinu said | June 24th 2009 @ 10:25am | Report comment

Mick

People may not realise it, but $100,000 per week is right up there with some of the very highest salaries in the world. So that an Australian club would choose to pay that over to a 37 year old player sounds pretty dubious.

Apart from Beni Carbone, who was 34 years old and only played 3 games (and who was a bargain in comparison), I can’t think of any examples of guest players who have contributed anything to their respective clubs for the short period they have been there (my recollection is that Carbone had a fantastic debut game resulting in a big win in a year when SFC were floundering under Butcher).

Romario was a massive name, as big as they come, probably hard to find anyone bigger – he contributed nothing to Adelaide, on or off the field, and if you look back through the records, AU took a massive tumble down the table during his time here.

I’d much rather we created a 2nd (or 3rd) marqee slot, than stuff around with these guest stints.

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Billy McClure said | June 24th 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment

And he certainly has stature to stimulate would-be United supporters which, judging from the mediocre turnout to the club’s derby friendly with North Queensland Fury, might be just what is needed

I was at the trial match against Fury and the turn out was hardly mediocre. GU only released a maxium of 5000 tickets. There seemed to be at least 3000 which was great considering the area has been bombarded with bad weather and the big name players were not playing.

Big fan of Larsson – hope he comes if very fit

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whiskeymac said | June 24th 2009 @ 10:39am | Report comment

Pip, I like this idea “I’d much rather we created a 2nd (or 3rd) marqee slot, than stuff around with these guest stints.” but at the same time am guilty of wanting to see players like Larson etc play here. I agree it seems to be a lot of money for a 37 yo. 9 games at 100K…cannot be recuperated from sales or shirt sales you’d think… but if they have the money to burn, so be it. The guest stint is a good idea if it’s built upon ie it’s used a trial to suss out a potential marquee as oppossed to being just a short term fix (and of all the short term fixes Miura’s stands with Carbone in the success stakes surely)

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Art Sapphire said | June 24th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment

Unlike other guest player who have (dis)graced the A-League,

Larsson is still playing full time for Helsingborg in the Swedish league.
He has played all 12 games this currnet season and scored 3 goals.
Last season he scored 16 in 27 games.

I would put him in the same category as Sheringham and Maldini. Players that can keep playing at a high level as an over 35.

It a good move by Clive, if they succeed in getting him.

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