One of the more unlikely football stories popped up on Monday night. As Victoria’s Leader Newspapers revealed, Hull City striker Dean Windass had been in advanced talks with Victorian Premier League club Sunshine Georgies over a guest playing stint.
Even better, Windass would donate his playing services for free out of friendship for former Hull City youth teammate and Georgies coach, Andy O’Dell.
Despite Windass’s stature, the story was yet to hit the national papers or Australia’s football websites late yesterday afternoon.
But the leaking of the story had still spelled trouble for Sunshine and its coach.
Alerted A-League clubs were quickly on the phone to the player’s representatives, and Windass will now arrive in Australia on Sunday night via Perth for talks with the Glory.
Adelaide United – itself in the market for a new striker – is also allegedly interested.
Windass is now aged 40, but scored in the English Premier League for the Tigers as recently as November.
Anyone seeking proof that he still has what it takes need only to feed his name into youtube.com to take in his goal that put Hull in England’s top flight for the first time ever.
That was around a year ago.
Windass spent the latter half of this season on-loan at League 1 outfit Oldham Athletic, but only managed to score once from limited game time.
Still, he certainly fits the profile of Glory coach Dave Mitchell.
Mitchell has shown he is not hesitant about signing players seemingly near their use-by date, with some success.
Veteran Cote de Ivoire striker Eugene Dadi became a fan favourite with thirteen goals, while former Selecao midfielder Amaral showed his class before a hamstring injury cut him down.
That is the risk you take when you sign older players. But Windass – despite his 40 years – has had a relatively unblemished injury record over his career.
And a man of his repute is well worth the punt.
Born in Hull’s Gypsyville area, Windass is as likeable as he is rough around the edges. He’s scored goals wherever his career has taken him: almost 250 goals from around 650 appearances.
Speaking yesterday, O’Dell said he was still hopeful that he’d see Windass in a Georgies shirt, even if talks with the Glory went well.
And every football romantic would love to see the all-action Englishman turn out for the honest VPL club at least once. But here’s also hoping that Windass could stick around for a stint at A-League level.
Despite his age, Windass still has the class – and the personality – to succeed in our domestic game.
Wug
Guest
Even an older player who has real class can still bring a lot to any club and the fact that he will play for free at Sunshine shows that he is willing to give back to the sport which has given him so much
whiskeymac
Guest
Jimbo, so long as you have a sparkly waistcoat to match i think you will always have a career on the northern club circuit. if ic an humbly suggest there's always the opener of: now, take my mother in law. no. please. take her.
jimbo
Guest
Whiskymac, would you like to see the desert menu? I'd recommend the puff pastry from the dutch oven with the blown raspberries and whipped cream.
whiskeymac
Guest
Jimbo, i thought there was protocol involved after such jokes. Don't you have to say " thankyou you are great, i am here all week, please, you should try the veal " after such a display?
jimbo
Guest
Windass wouldn't fluff his chance would he or blow a hole in the defense or fart around while on holidays would he?
whiskeymac
Guest
Firstly, overall this is a bit unfair on Windass, he hasnt signed with anyone other than seeminlgy agreeing to play for a mate for free so it's all speculation and conjecture. but getting back to the posts... i think that's the point too Paddy. Age isn't the only issue here, albeit concedingly it's a big one, it's also what he can bring to a team and for what cost. simply his value i guess. if he isnt asking much then what's the big problem? it's not controversial or laughable if he isnt being trotted out like miura or romario or carbone was. i fail to see how this would make us a laughing international stock either. it's how he is marketed (if at all). I would put that he is considered as a potential squad player, and on that basis why not trial him? In comparing being old (and he is at the very end of the spectrum) is it worse than being young (say 16 or 17)? why does the addage if you are good enough your old enough only seem to apply one way? Further, yes he isn't Roger Miller but neither is he Romario or Deane. I still think that if he was playing in the EPL in November why is the ALeague 10 months later so laughable? of course Brian Deane is a sobering comeback, but that whole saga (coach etc) was a disaster for Perth. Why does that necessarily apply to Dean Windass? if he is not upto it surely the coach will assess that before they sign him for the squad, but don't dismiss a player out of hand without first trying him (same advise goes to Pim). i would like to add that despite this post seemingly hypocritically i would prefer my team,CCM, invested in some promising youngsters as opposed to olde guys... but the point is i would value any seasoned professionals input into the HAL, especially as such input might not come with a finacial burden.
Paddy Higgs
Guest
Of course they would be on different wages, but ask any North Queensland fan whether they'd rather have Dean Windass or James Robinson in their side, and I think we'd know the answer. Windass shouldn't - of course - be considered a marquee signing by any club. But if the price is right, why not? And while he has never been the player Romario was, that he could play for Sunshine for nowt is proof that he wouldn't be here for the money, whatever he'd command.
sledgeross
Guest
Good point about Brian Deane (Im a Leeds fan btw). He scored a few goals in the Championship (including a hat-trick) a few months before he came to Perth. I though he would go better than what he did, but he failed (I think in main the style the manager used was a factor though).
StiflersMom
Guest
whiskeymac, your right about Roger Miller, what a display, what a player. Truely added to the games.. But Roger Miller this guy ain't.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
Sorry Paddy but I can't think of much worse for the A-League then a 40 year old guy who can't even make it in the English 3rd tier. Internationally it'd make us a laughing stock. Brian Deane anyone? I do think it'd be great for the VPL and I'd turn out to support such a move.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
geez, I hope Windass' ankles are robust enough to play on a ground like Sunshine's. Tell him to watch out for exposed sprinkler heads, and from the odd bit of protruding metal from the Sunshine harvester days.
BIGfootBALLS
Guest
Unfortunate name, Windass.
whiskeymac
Guest
on another aspect of the story - " Windass would donate his playing services for free"- good on him. what a gent. [two other strikers who were old but gold - sheringham and larson.]
Coach
Guest
Windass is gonna need his toughness about him if he is to pull on the boots for Sunshine, playing in that area and having a profile like he does will place a target on his back. But how good is it for the VPL!! This is the positive step they need!! Hopefully he ends up at Sunshine so I can go watch him, as its only 10 mins from home ha ha
whiskeymac
Guest
True Stifler, as a general proposition that is probably correct. But like most things there are always exceptions to the rule, and if the player is still playing at a decent level his input - not just on the pitch but in training and professionalism -could be worth the risk. Thats what trialling and guest stints could establish and so long as the clubs dont throw massive resources at him then why not. Especially as he has greater pedigree than a lot of other players - having still be an Championship/ EPL standard striker a few months ago suggests he looks after himself and remains relevant even at 40. He wont play like Zullo or Minniecon but why should he for, if he gets the good service all strikers need, he could still be a good buy. In the examples provided, Amaral was great when he wasn't injured and conversley it's true that Romario was a shadow (a much fuller one) of his previous self. With old players, as the legs fade, they use their smarts to keep performing - Maldini is the best example outside of the goalkeepers, and although most players end up in midfield/ defence (Yorke, Cocu, Corica, Cannavoro) when it comes to strikers I always remember Roger Miller at the 90 WC. Rivaldo must be getting on now too?
StiflersMom
Guest
We've been down this path with Romário at Adelaide, Class or not at 40 your legs don't move that quick and your agility is somewhat diminished the only thing left at top class level is his nous and positional sense. Should he play with Perth he's best bet is to hold last man position and hope to get on the end something nice supplied by a decent midfilder. But I cannot see anything exceptional, quick or tastefully comming from anyone in their 40's, unless they are playing against a team of over 40's. Dave Mitchell looks like he making the right moves to turn Glory's fourtune's around since Sage took sole ownership, but this would be a step backward.