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I suggested a couple of weeks back in this blog that we need to trust the manager regarding our attack, and now Bruce has conjured up the signing of Ghana World Cup star Asamoah Gyan.
But £13.25 million is a lot of money for a striker who only scored 14 goals in 47 games for his previous club Rennes. We have seen players such as David Healy who excel for their national side while not really hacking it in the top league in the world, so let us hope that Gyan is different, age at least is on his side.
To quote an article by Tony Cascarino in The Times:
The £13 million Sunderland paid for Asamoah Gyan looks extravagant but they had little choice. With Frazer Campbell injured and Kenwyne Jones sold, Sunderland were potentially a serious Darren Bent injury from relegation.
But speaking as a fan, overall this looks like a plan, with the off-loading of Martyn Waghorn to Leicester and cutting the wage bill further by moving Teemo Tainio on. Sunderland’s net 2010 outlay was only £0.5 million, with the sale of assets like Cana, Jones and Waghorn. I was stunned to see that the club had laid out net £33.6 million in 2007, £28.4 million in 2008 and £11.8 in 2009. However, we have the backbone of a good young team, with two talented goalkeepers, a solid defence and creative midfield. Cattermole will hopefully fill Cana's boots well as captain and defensive midfielder.
If Gyan settles and conjures up a good partnership with Darren Bent, then the sale of Jones looks like good business, even though he was a crowd favourite. Danny Welbeck will definitely be called upon again after the news of Campbell’s cruciate knee injury and the resultant half-year absence.
Bruce’s transfer market moves will be tested in the cut and thrust of the Premier League, but the investments will be important to tide the team over until the return of other key players such as Craig Gordon and Andy Reid. We need to avoid last year’s winter of discontent, with that horrible 14 game winless streak, and frankly, it’s looking very good.
©Lars J.S. Knutsen
Comments
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Posted by JARRA on 09/03/2010
I wouldn't say Andy Reid is a key player for us anymore. Since Henderson has come to the fore and with the signing of Elmo and Malbranque's switch to the left I don't see him being part of our team unless the 3 mentioned already are injured/suspended.
And Jones wasn't a fan favourite.
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Posted by Monu Daniel on 09/03/2010
Gyan: with God all things are possible if God is with you
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Posted by Blonks on 09/03/2010
I totally agree with your thoughts on Gyan. He is a team player and gives opposing defenders a lot to think about but i do not think the word "Prolific" can be used to describe him.
Nevertheless I believe that he will do the playing while Bent does the scoring.
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Posted by kibai idd on 09/03/2010
My hope is that Gyan is the best striker. He can provide something spcecial to the club.
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Posted by BAZAADUT on 09/03/2010
Gyan signing is not a bad decision.
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Posted by Bear on 09/03/2010
Lars Knutsen:
Yes Asamoh scored only 14 goals in 47 outings. However, 13 of those goals came from last year season in which the top scorer in the entire French League 1 managed to register only 18 goals.
I believe if you want to analyse a player, you should also take into consideration where he plays. Just judging a player from his goal scoring ratios, it does not tell the whole story.
For example, last season, Arsenal-bound striker, Chamakh, scored 10 goals in the league and the season before that only 13. However, everybody at Arsenal agrees that he is a good signing.
It is very hard for a player in French League 1 to score more than 20 goals in a single season.
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Posted by sunderland on 09/03/2010
If anything the signing has got the fans excited!
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Posted by fasim on 09/03/2010
I don't think the 13 million will be wasted. Asamaoh Gyan is a proven striker and his goal against the USA was an example of his talent. Forget the penalty miss against Uruagay, he will show up in the EPL.
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Posted by sushil on 09/03/2010
Gyan and Bent together looks like a very good attack...lots of goals upfront for Sunderland. They can finish at top 7 in the league this season..
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Posted by don phils, ghana on 09/03/2010
Where were you critics when Gyan scored a crucial goal against DR Congo away from home in the 2006 World Cup qualifier? And when he masterminded the taming of the Czechs in the 2006 World Cup? Gyan is a striker I will spend my last cedi watching play!
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Posted by Miguel on 09/04/2010
I honestly believe Gyan is a great signing for the club but let's be honest, that is a huge amount for a player that only recently came to the spotlight.
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Posted by donaman on 09/04/2010
I don't know why some people talk like a dog sometimes. The World Cup is where we know who is the best among the stars, and somebody like Rooney,Drogba, Ronaldo and Torres are the stars we wanted to watch but instead it turns out to be somebody like Gyan that is making the day. I think he is one of the best if not the best. Not everybody that watch England but everybody watches the World Cup. So please let's see what the stars have to give us before the money will come up to $78 million.
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Posted by sunderlandman123 on 09/04/2010
Gyan and Bent will be a great combination up front.
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Posted by ghana123 on 09/04/2010
Gyan and Bent will be a great combination up front.
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Posted by nii on 09/04/2010
I don't think the Cats have wasted 13 million, and mind you he could have scored more but came to Africa for the Cup of Nations, so the 13 goals were not a true reflection of his performance, bearing in mind the top scorer's 18.
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Posted by Frank Odoom on 09/04/2010
Yeah, 13 Mill seems a huge amount for Gyan at the moment, but watch out, in the next 2 seasons Sunderland will gain immensely from this investment by the time clubs like Madrid, Chelsea, Barca et al come calling. Mind you, Gyan is a hard worker and a fantastic player.
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Posted by mb on 09/04/2010
I'm not a Sunderland fan but I am from Ghana and Gyan is a great player. He is also very young and will get better, he will be a top striker one day.
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Posted by DERRICK on 09/04/2010
Well all I know is that he is worth the money! He has a great work rate and can shoot balls outside the 18 yard box, so hopefully he will make it...do u remember that great goal he scored against USA? Am sure the Americans can't say his not worth it!
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Posted by Mighty M on 09/04/2010
I think donaman has a problem with his brain or is rather a small thinking lad, Asamoah Gyan to me isn`t worth $1.2M. The reason is that he hasn`t even played in the Champions League yet, he hasn`t won any trophy in his entire football career; at the World Cup when Africa looked upon him he shamed them, I really think is a waste of money.........
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Posted by steven on 09/04/2010
Where does this guy get his info from? Andy Reid and Kenwyne Jones a fan favorite? bahhhhhhhh-ha, maybe they had a good run of games now and then...but just because a team has a chant for a player doesnt qualify them as a fan fav
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Posted by mallaver on 09/04/2010
It's hard to believe how soon people forget things. As a reminder, he scored 4 goals if not more in the African Cup of Nations when he was away from his club in January and even when he returned, he needed time to gel with the squad again. So 17 isn't bad for the whole season when the highest man notched 18. He's really bound to make it in Sunderland. big ups to him!
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Posted by Ian_Safc on 09/05/2010
@Monu Daniel
Gyan: with God all things are possible if God is with you
Amen.
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Posted by Isaac on 09/05/2010
Lets wait and see what Asamoah Gyan has to offer Sunderland. Asamoah cannot be judged based on past records. Most of the top strikers in the world that we are aware of did not offer something special during the World cup. But look at a player like Didier Drogba, look at how he is scoring in the Premiership. Let's give Asamoah a chance and I believe he is going to prove that he is worth that 13.25m bid.
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Posted by ghanaba on 09/05/2010
Gyan and Bent will make a good combination upfront, forget about the fact that he scored 13 goals in the French League 1 last season. He was in Africa for the African Nations Cup, and the top scorer managed only 18 goals that tells you how good Gyan is.
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Posted by CC on 09/05/2010
Gyan will bring a larger fan base and some hard work and creativity. Very strong forward.
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Posted by MAKAS on 09/05/2010
Gyan is a good striker and deserves the fee, I assure you all that are criticising the sign on fee that he will make everyone proud. Gyan my boy, do what you are capable of, this is not Rennes, this is the EPL.
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Posted by Rams on 09/05/2010
If you all agree with me that Gyan is a quality, then let's not talk much about his goalscoring record with his former club Rennes. If Rennes bought Gyan for 8 million in 2008 when most of us here have not seen much of him and his quality, what is ever wrong with Sunderland getting him now that the world has seen him, and he was one of the top strikers at the World Cup this year. Obviously Rennes knew the sort of quality Gyan was that was why they did buy him for 8 million even after injuring himself in the 2007-2008 season with Udinese that got him only 13 appearances in the entire season coming in as a sub on 7 occasions.
I agree with your story, but i strongly believe he could have been worth even more than 13 million is his supposed move to Liverpool or Fenerbache has gone through.
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Posted by kamal on 09/05/2010
Asamoah: all the best but score goals, don't break wanaa heart again
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Posted by JoeUSA on 09/05/2010
Your concerns are definitely understandable any time a club splashes out that kind of cash.
International football and the World Cup in particular are not really good places to gauge talent (as previously stated by Arsene Wenger), but Gyan looks like a superb athlete unlike say David Healy, and he will likely contribute a lot to the team with his pace and power.
He should be able to find the goals; it's impossible to tell if someone will find a finishing touch in the EPL so it's always a gamble, but I wouldn't be too concerned by his past.
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Posted by Arthur on 09/05/2010
Asamoah Gyan has not just come into the limelight. He has been playing at a high level for more than four years. He scored a briliant goal against the Czech Republic (and missed a penalty!) in Germany 2006. He scored 13 goals at a small-ish club (Rennes).is a good creator of space and can take care of defenders leaving a goalscorer like Darren Bent with lot of space to work in.
I think Darren is going to be very happy if he stays fit. Asamoah also has a good record with injury. I think he is actually worth more, especially whe you consider his World Cup pedigree and work rate - much better than certain players priced in the 30 m pound range with nothing to show from World Cups.
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Posted by Meshack-.nairobi-kenya on 09/05/2010
Saying that Gyan is not worth 13M is mean and insultive!! He's worth MUCH MORE. it's no doubt that Gyan is a top class striker and most importantly a TEAM PLAYER. Gyan will stand the test of time just watch this space!!! He'll prove you wrong Critic!!
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Posted by Ebo on 09/06/2010
Why are many people are complaining about the signing of Gyan? Hasn't he shown his class at the world stage where big names like Rooney, C Ronaldo, Torres and the like failed to deliver when their services were most needed? Just give Asamoah a break. I'm so proud to be a native of his country of birth i.e. Mother Ghana. Go high Asamoah Gyan. I just like his goal celebrations. Can any of the above mentioned strikers do what he does when he score a goal? He is in a class of his own. I'm an Arsenal fan but i think Gyan will do wonders at Sunderland.
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Posted by John Wangolo on 09/06/2010
I think you are a little unfair to Asamoah. The lad is definitely and all rounder. His work ethic on the field is an asset that I think Steve Bruce considered before buying and not just goals. Gyan is so powerful that his off the ball movement puts an entire defense off.
In my view the fee is justifiable if not understated. If you look at others in the past then you might undestand me.
Michael Carrick - 18 Mil Pound
Shevchenko - 30 Mil Pound
Adebayor - 25 Mil Pound
Berbatov - I don't know (but was more than Gyan's)
... And the list goes on
Give Gyan a chance!!!!
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Posted by kojo on 09/06/2010
He is strong and fast. I think Gyan is suited for the Premier League,his goal against the USA in the World Cup was among the best if not the best. Believe me, the dancing goal scorer will excel in the Premiership.
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Posted by Russel k on 09/06/2010
Baby jet is a world class player but can never be compared to the Drogbas and the Etos, but hey let's consider Gyans age, just 24. Lets give him only two seasons and the whole English Media will be chanting his niki baby jet. Give us your famous dancing celebretion when u score your first goal for the BLACK CATS. GO GYAN WE PROUD OF UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.
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Posted by edem Duvor on 09/06/2010
i think Gyan is a pretty good player considering his exploits at the just ended World Cup; you need no magician to tell you this is not the best time at the moment for Sunderland considering their injury situation.
The money involved is huge though but you should know that he has an impeccable strike record with his nation at the African Cup of Nations and also the World Cup. I think it's lift off for the player to prove his worth at this great club of ours.
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Posted by jesse on 09/06/2010
The point raised by the writer is half-baked. Gyan is worth more than even the 13 million price tag considering his age and the options he brings to every coach. He can play alone on top and can also partner with another striker up front. He has featured 44 times for his country and scored 22 goals which an average of at least one goal in every two games. He scored 13 goals for his former club Rennes earning the second top scorer in the French Ligue 1 appearing 47 times. We shouldn't forget that he was out on international duties at the African Cup and he scored 3 goals bringing his tally to 16 goals for that season. He is a good player and he will bring a lot on board to Sunderland .
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Posted by Jonathan on 09/06/2010
Gyan is a good player. I pray he will fit very well into to EPL
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Posted by PRINCE DAHEY on 09/07/2010
I THINK HE'S WORTH MORE THAN THAT AMOUNT EVEN THE SO-CALLED TOP STARS FLOPPED WHEN THEY WERE NEEDED MOST. YET HE MADE THE WHOLE OF AFRICA PROUD EVEN AT RENNES HE PLAYED LEAST NUMBER OF MAT CHES BUT HE MANAGED TO SCORE 13 GOALS IN ABOUT 29 LIGUE 1 APPEARANCES. THAT'S THE MARK OF A GOOD STRIKER. KEEP IT UP [GYAN]
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Posted by franklin. Ashaiman on 09/07/2010
i think signing of Gyan will help Sunderland improve and also they will profit from the transfer of Gyan to a bigger team later. Sunderland have invested and wouldn't regret it.
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Posted by orkaambe on 09/07/2010
it's quite funny how people refer to African players as being young players. Gyan isn't young. he is well older than the age on his passport. Moreover, he isn't a class act nor a prolofic striker. He wastes more goalscoring chances than he scores. he is a younger version of Yabuku (Everton). Gyan is pretty lazy and he is a unidirectional player. Bruce has wasted 13m that Sunderland can ill afford. Time will prove me right on this.
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Posted by wabonzy on 09/07/2010
i wonder why some people are criticising my baby. Personally I think he is worth more than the £13 million after he was nominated among the top ten best players in the just ended World Cup.
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Posted by niddo on 09/07/2010
Gyan - just have faith in God as always and never mind what haters say and just do the things you are best @ doing.
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Posted by Deji aremo on 09/07/2010
How old is Asamoah? 21, 22, or?? A man that looks like him in Ghana should be around 30.
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Posted by Tunde on 09/07/2010
Gyan is a good player and had a wonderful World Cup. Unfortunately, international football is far different to club football. Having just come to the Premiership, I see him struggling with the pace of the game in his first season. But I strongly believe that a strong and agile player like him will come good in the coming seasons ahead. Good luck Gyan and congratulations for having the opportunity to play in the best league in the world.
Posted by Kwame Boateng on 09/07/2010
Give the guy a chance to prove himself then you can say what you are saying.
Posted by kojo baafi on 09/12/2010
Well baby jet just scored..now what? For a player to score on his debut? You got to be kidding me, this guy deserves his price tag and it wasn't like his team had the best of possesion..NO..he just made use of the only real opportunity that came his way, now that is a striker
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About
Lars Knutsen was born in Sunderland of Norwegian parents across the Wear from the SSOL back when shipbuilding not car manufacture was the city’s main industry. His first game was in 1968 and he has followed the Black Cats since then, with great memories of the 1973 FA Cup. He hopes the “yo-yo” days are over and defines supporting a team by whether the result affects your mood (but maybe not in the way portrayed in the book “Fever Pitch”!) so has been cheerful recently. He endured school in Newc**tle, has a Ph.D. in Chemistry, a Professorship at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, and works in the Pharma industry as a consultant Medicinal Chemist.
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