Sydney FC end marquee mess with Juninho swoop

[No Use For A Name]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/sydney-fc-scores-juninho/2007/07/31/1185647907525.html

SYDNEY FC's prolonged search for a new marquee player is over, with former Brazilian international Juninho Paulista agreeing to join the club for this season.

Juninho, 34, is believed to have agreed terms last week and is expected to be unveiled by the club on Friday. The former Middlesbrough playmaker is set to make his first public appearance in Saturday night's pre-season match against Newcastle Jets.

Juninho has not played regularly since being released by his Brazilian club, Flamengo, two months ago, and had hoped to return to England. But a failed move to newly promoted Premiership side Derby County has convinced Juninho to join the Brazilian exodus to the A-League, where he becomes Sydney FC's first signing from South America.

While Sydney FC coach Branko Culina had shifted his sights to signing a striker following a failed attempt to recruit Dutch veteran Phillip Cocu, the recent collapse of negotiations with former England forward Robbie Fowler moved Juninho back to the top of the list of targets. It is believed Culina intends to use Juninho in an advanced midfield role, where his record suggests he can contribute a steady stream of goals.

Juninho will be the only foreign marquee player in the competition this season and is the highest-profile player to join the A-League since Sydney's previous marquee signing, Dwight Yorke. The signing is a timely boost for the club following the recent dramas surrounding Socceroos pair David Carney and Mark Milligan, who have made no secret of their desire to move abroad on the eve of the new season. Sheffield United, relegated from the Premiership last season, are believed to have made a formal offer for Carney late yesterday.

Two years ago there were only two Brazilians in the A-League, but this season there will be 11.




Good signing for Sydney and the league?

[Rhys]

FANTASTIC signing!!!

Despite being 34, he'll be head and shoulders above everyone else.

[georgez]

He is fuckin shit and so is SFC. Melbourne will kill the whole league again go victory.

Sydney will finish last

[pydgey]

He is fuckin shit and so is SFC. Melbourne will kill the whole league again go victory.

Sydney will finish lastCome on - how old are you? What is the use of posting those sorts of unsubstantiated dismissals? You're obviously too blinded by your hatred for SFC to realize that this is a good signing for both SFC and more importantly the league.


A decent recruit it appears, but apparently he hasn't played much within the past few months... Question marks about form and fitness?

[Rhys]

I don't think fitness will be too big a concern, Carbone was underdone when he came, and still killed it.

[savvas]

Come on - how old are you? What is the use of posting those sorts of unsubstantiated dismissals? You're obviously too blinded by your hatred for SFC to realize that this is a good signing for both SFC and more importantly the league.


A decent recruit it appears, but apparently he hasn't played much within the past few months... Question marks about form and fitness?

haha relax, he is just trying to piss off all the Sydney siders. No need to get all serious about things, you got to seperate things to get serious about and things to laugh about. Everyone knows that this player is not shit, but if you had to get serious about things, in my opinion he could be good a bad, I personally don't know too much about the player but at this age he couldn't bring too much for the A-League both on the pitch and marketing wise, if Sydney had signed someone like Fowler that would have been more effective for them.

[p0rt0b0y]

I personally don't know too much about the player

Nuff said.

if Sydney had signed someone like Fowler that would have been more effective for them.

Are you serious? In what way? He might help reduce the supply of cocaine in Sydney but i don't see how that would help Sydney FC or the A-League? Anybody that knows anything about football would pick Juninho over Fowler in a heartbeat.

[Mitch23]

anyone know if he'll make an appearance tonight even for a few minutes?

[Sataris]

haha relax, he is just trying to piss off all the Sydney siders. No need to get all serious about things, you got to seperate things to get serious about and things to laugh about.

and you would know :rolleyes:

[savvas]

and you would know :rolleyes:

Its a bit obvious isn't it?

[Silas]

Some of you don't know which Juninho he is.

[Smoggle]

Having seen Juninho play first hand before his major injuries I can say he is a breathtaking player.

I hope its successful for him and wish him all the best.

[No Use For A Name]

anyone know if he'll make an appearance tonight even for a few minutes?

He was in the crowd for the game. Needs to get some fitness back but would hope he'd be ready in 3 weeks time for round 1

[ozmfc]

I wasn’t really impressed to be honest. I think he’ll prove to be a fairly ordinary signing.