Cashed up United chase Larsson’s signature
Roar Guru By Paddy Higgs, 24 Jun 2009 Paddy Higgs is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- A-League, Clive Palmer, football, Gold Coast United, Henrik Larsson, Jason Culina
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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- Explore:
- A-League, Clive Palmer, football, Gold Coast United, Henrik Larsson, Jason Culina
June 24th 2009 @ 11:17am
whiskeymac said | June 24th 2009 @ 11:17am | Report comment
wonder if that money could have lured Viduka. actually larson aside who else could they have got do you think?
June 24th 2009 @ 11:25am
Macs.football said | June 24th 2009 @ 11:25am | Report comment
A legend of Celtic and a legend of Liverpool playing in the upcoming A-league season what more could u want?
June 24th 2009 @ 11:27am
Mick of Newie said | June 24th 2009 @ 11:27am | Report comment
Pip
I don’t disagree on the value of the guest. It appears that within the rules GCU are trying to make a big splash in season one and I support that ambition. $900K is a lot of $$. I would also support a second marquee but that is not the rules at the moment.
Art makes a good point about Larson still playing. You may get better value for your $900K on an elite player from a league that season does not align with the A league on a guest stint than a big name on a retirement package. Maybe the guest package should aim to pick up players from J or K league, China, Russia, Sweden on a short term basis during thier season break.
Maybe someone will think about bringing Josh Kennedy on loan from Nagoya in the J league off season?
June 24th 2009 @ 11:46am
Pippinu said | June 24th 2009 @ 11:46am | Report comment
In the context of a salary cap of about $2.2 mill – $900,000 for 9 games is a shitload of money!!
June 24th 2009 @ 12:06pm
jimbo said | June 24th 2009 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
It takes 150 years to develop a football culture and the culture-less Las Vegas of Queensland doesn’t deserve to win any football title in its first year – according to the Professor.
Hence they need to try and buy culture with money.
I will be watching developments with great interest and would welcome someone like Larsson – he would be a big positive for the Gold Coast and the A-League.
But I look forward to their defeat at the hands of SFC at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Sydney FC have four years of modern Australian football culture and it is their destiny to triumph!
June 24th 2009 @ 12:09pm
Pippinu said | June 24th 2009 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
GC and SFC are peas out of the same pod – they both deserve to be utterly humiliated.
June 24th 2009 @ 12:19pm
Towser said | June 24th 2009 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
What do we as fans want to see at a game. Exceptional football something above the ordinary. Clives got the cash so bring it on. What have we the fan got to lose. If hes a dud Clive cops the bill,if he delivers we get to enjoy football from a player that is a cut above the A-League. I remember Kazuyoshi Miura for Sydney scoring a great goal from a through ball by Dwight Yorke I believe. All class for me the fan as he & Dwight were on the same wavelength although Miura was completely new to the team. Experience & playing at a high level therefore understanding between quality players should not be underestimated in performance on the park. GCU will have Jason Culina who should be on the same wavelength & deliver the passes for Larsson to score. This is where NQF may struggle with Robbie Fowler,but if they brought in a quality experienced guest Robbie could hit his straps.
Thats the problem I see(apart from injury of course) with these older players from the top leagues,theyve been on a “reading the game platform”above the average A-League player & need another player from the same level to take full advantage of their aging but experienced talent.
But as I say regardless, we the fan have nothing to lose.
June 24th 2009 @ 12:43pm
GeneralAshnak said | June 24th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
If Clive wants to spend the money then that’s great for him and GCU. I still reckon that they are going to fall flat, however I am afraid this buys into some of the mud thrown at football. Critics say that football is a game where the title is for sale to the highest bidder, this sort of behaviour gives them ammunition.
Of course I always find it amusing that those critics usually are big fans of the EPL, where the behaviour they view as a justified critism is the norm!
June 24th 2009 @ 1:37pm
whiskeymac said | June 24th 2009 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
Larson aside the rest of the team sounds quite good though – Joel Porter, Smeltz, Minniecon, Culina and R & A Griffiths… not bad. with the added unkown Brazilians and a few solid HAL perfomers poached from other teams. The test will be whether they gel and operate as a team and whether Blieberg maintains the momentum when things dont always go his way.
Actually, it seems the team is a bit heavy upfront, Which striker will make way for the Swede though for a third of the season… ?
does anyone know
June 24th 2009 @ 1:42pm
Cpaaa said | June 24th 2009 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
i would rather see Viduka earn 100k a game in the HAL than Larson. Perhaps he will enjoy his football more and no long term contract. i would also think that Viduka is a name more familiar with all Australians and would create more media attention.
Larson Good…Viduka Better.
For Gods sake will someone bring him home!!!