Perth Glory’s gamble on Daniel Sturridge has been labelled a failure by chief executive Tony Pignata, who admits it’s unlikely the English striker will be offered a new deal with the A-League Men club.
Sturridge, a former Liverpool forward with 26 England caps, was the highest-profile signing heading for the 2021-22 ALM season but has featured for just 93 minutes across five substitute appearances — failing to find the net.
The 32-year-old’s last game was against Macarthur in late February, coming on at halftime before limping off with a groin injury just 15 minutes later.
While Pignata believes Sturridge could yet feature before bottom-placed Glory’s miserable campaign ends, he doesn’t expect his time at the club to extend beyond this season.
“It has been disappointing. We had high hopes when we signed Daniel. It hasn’t worked,” Pignata told SEN’s The Global Game.
“From a marketing point of view, the first game, we had 18,000 on the back of him arriving and the hype. Then unfortunately he got injured … and he hasn’t been seen since.
“He’s training and there’s potential that he could play some minutes this week and then finish off the season.
“Next year? Look, I doubt that we’ll offer him another contract.”
Sturridge’s underwhelming stint in Australia has been one of several disappointments for the Glory in a campaign ravaged by COVID-19 border restrictions, injuries and fixture disruptions.
Pignata said the decision to part ways with coach Richard Garcia last month hasn’t had the expected effect on the squad, with interim boss Ruben Zadkovich launching into an extraordinary attack on underperforming players in the wake of a 6-0 hammering by Western United last weekend.
With financial difficulties mounting and a long injury list, Pignata said he doesn’t expect the team to snap their long winless run — now at 14 games — to avoid the first wooden spoon in the Glory’s history.
“We won’t win another game,” he said.
“The last three games, I don’t think we win.
“I know Ruben and Coyney (assistant Chris Coyne are doing the best they can with what they’ve got and it’s been tough on them but we’ll be out there every week regardless trying to pick up points.
“It is going to be hard but the rumours about the club being in disarray, the players’ discontent, that’s incorrect to be honest. That’s totally false.”
Pignata said Glory were aiming to have a permanent coach appointed by the end of May and Zadkovich remains “in the mix”, despite Perth picking up just one point from his seven matches at the helm.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Glory used around slightly over a million on Sturridge. That is what is said below. It is not that expensive if compared to Matti Steinmann who reportedly earning $400,000 in Brisbane Roar according to SPORTS UNFOLD, https://www.sportsunfold.com/brisbane-roar-players-salaries-2022-23-weekly-wages-highest-paid-players/ Are the above correct?
Mark
Guest
The conundrum for A-League clubs is they can only afford big-name marquee signings once they're at the very twilight of their careers and are no longer able to contribute consistently on the pitch. Out of the players you've suggested, Luka Modric is by far the standout, but to such an extent that there is little/no chance he is leaving Europe. He will play on at Madrid, or go to another top European club. Juan Mata is probably the most realistic get among the group, but if he's open to leaving Europe you'd have to think the MLS would be interested, and we would have difficulty competing with the money and other benefits that can offer.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i have no issues with the principle of 'marquee' signings, they have proven to attract additional people to the grounds. 0 hhhhhhhhhhhowever they need to provide value and not have a career littered with injuries another problem is what one club constitutes as a marquee, the FA might not. - the best example of this is diamanti. its well known that victory wanted to bring him over and asked for the FA's help in financing it, the FA said no - as hes not a marquee level player to justify those wages. the victory ended up signing honda instead, while diamanti became western uniteds inaugural marquee signing. Which club made the better acquisition? there are some great names in the mid 30's range out of contract this summer in europe EG juan mata, gareth bale, fernandinho, luis suarez, juan cuarado, luka modric once you factor in injuries and who could still do a job - juan mata stands out. but realistically only sydney, victory, city could afford him, would they be willing to put up 2 million and then have the FA add another 2 million to make it happen? if it was up to me, i would chase suarez - hes played for both liverpool and barcelona who have cult like followings in australia
At work
Roar Rookie
This is surely the worst season in Perth’s history. – Overspends on dud marquee player. – First ever wooden spoon. – Forced to play a distorted schedule due to general COVID postponements and their ridiculous state rules. – Coach sacked midway through. – Lost their captain and general great guy Brannerz through a season ending injury. – Probably burnt through a tonne of Sagey’s cash. – Sage openly calling their supporters keyboard warriors for fairly criticizing the club, ironically via a keyboard. – Probably traumatized a bunch of juniors who are now routinely on the end of crushing losses :laughing:
chris
Guest
Diamanti especially. Class from head to toe.
Franko
Guest
I agree. There's a sort of helpless or hopelessness about his comments. It must be difficult coming from Sydney where every favour is afforded. McGowan effed him and it was downhill from there. Had they invested and retained youth over the last couple of years, lord knows ECU have pumped them out.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Where do I go to sign the “I told you so” card :laughing: Sad but predictable. But at least he got a near sell out crowd for his home debut.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
That's part of the same point being made. You aren't going to get a world renowned player in the peak of his career. An injury prone 32 year old might about as well as you can do. Having said that, Rodwell has been a bit better for the Wanderers, although that's not a huge achievement. I'm talking about owners chasing "name" players for marketing purposes. Of course, hard to argue with your point that if you chasing more wins than losses, spend the money on a player who can deliver Ws.
David V
Guest
Let's take Diamanti and O'Shea. One has Serie A, B and EPL experience. The other has League One and Two experience. Both are ball players (O'Shea was often among the best playmakers at the level he played). These are more the kind of player the league could do with.
Grem
Roar Rookie
That may be correct. He missed a few games here and there, but played many and was a good contributor to the team without being outstanding. A couple of top notch goals, though.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
he was a loan though right, not a permanent signing? from memory he was on just over a millions bucks for that stint as well i cant remember how many games he played, i know he scored a few goals
Grem
Roar Rookie
Siem DeJong did pretty well for Sydney. He contributed well and was there on grand final day when they won.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
not injury prone marquees though lol. can you name, an injury prone marquee that has actually done well in the a league?
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
jardel, financially was a bad deal for the jets. He was on around $15k a match and played how many games? 10? did he make 10 matches? lol even with todays inflation, he still has proved better value then daniel sturridge
Grem
Roar Rookie
I still give credit to Sage and Pignata for having a go. If Covid hadn't hit so hard. If Mark McGowan had not been so hard on the border. If they could have nursed Sturrudge along in a normal season with less time on the road earlier in the season. The 17000 at the first game was promising, but it was a gamble and unfortunately it did not work.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Under normal circumstances, you start a season where two clubs have signed reasonably well known players such as Sturridge and Rodwell, you'd think that's going to be a boon for the league overall. Good, bad or indifferent, the key point is that people want A-League clubs to make marquee signings, well, whatever you might think of the merits of these two players, the hard truth is that the chances of any A-League club signing a bigger marquee name than these two are almost zero.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Don't forget Mario Jardel!
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Fk him!, he was crap and Glory deserve better. But please i hope the learn from this or else they might as well crash and burn next season and lose there A-League license.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I dont know what hopes they had but it was never going to work out having Sturridge with Fornaroli even if they were fully fit. Two 9's in the same spot. The injuries they didnt lose a lot. Fornaroli did something for them, Brandon ONeil is their one huge loss, he was the only thing keeping them competive. The rest Keogh,Sardinero, etc are not losses they were useless to begin with. Perths real failure has been an inability to get their young players to gain any fitness. The reverse is happening a young player enters this squad , can run a bit first game then is in zombie mode after . The schedule and travel are the excuses, young players actually able to handle that better than older players.
Coastyboi
Guest
Tony Pignata is angry. I understand. The WA government failed Glory first & foremost. Everything else after that was a domino effect of bad luck.