Asamoah Gyan deal ends sorry saga for Sunderland
Posted On Sunday, 8th July 2012
Asamoah Gyan deal ends sorry saga for Sunderland
Asamoah Gyan’s move to the Middle East brings a conclusion to a saga that has dogged Sunderland ever since the Ghanaian turned his back on Wearside.
As soon as Gyan made the staggering decision to swap the Premier League for a get-rich-quick scheme in the United Arab Emirates, he effectively signed the death warrant on his Sunderland career.
Steve Bruce made little attempt to hide his disgust at Gyan’s season-long loan switch, and privately preached that the striker would never play for him again.
His chairman at the time Niall Quinn attempted to diffuse the situation by offering a ray of hope that Gyan could return.
“The olive branch is there for Asamoah to return, but he will need to convince Steve, the board and every fan of his commitment,” said Quinn.
But in reality it was a smoke screen to ensure Sunderland maximised the return on their investment in Gyan.
Quinn, like Bruce, privately realised Gyan would never have a future at the Stadium of Light after sulking his way towards the exit door.
Gyan had returned to pre-season training last summer overweight, and was clearly unsettled during Sunderland’s friendly programme and the opening three Premier League games of the season. The hope was that Gyan would settle once the August transfer window slammed shut, and Bruce had a heart-to-heart with the former Rennes striker during the early days of September.
But when a delegation from oil-rich Al-Ain arrived at the Academy of Light on September 9, Gyan sniffed the almighty dollar, and wrapped up the move within a matter of hours.
The manner of that exit left bitter taste among players, supporters and the club’s hierarchy and there looked precious little chance of a reconciliation.
Martin O’Neill’s arrival sparked a brief prospect that Gyan could return this summer at the end of his loan, with Bruce’s successor pledging to offer a clean slate to his squad.
But O’Neill was questioned about Gyan within days of his arrival, when he had little chance to gauge the situation on the 26-year-old.
It didn’t take long for O’Neill to discover from those already at the club the reasons behind Gyan’s departure, and the factors that clearly motivated one of the stand-out performers of the 2010 World Cup.
In the end, there was no conciliatory phone call, and no attempt to bring Gyan back to Wearside as the solution to Sunderland’s striking problems.
“You wouldn’t really want somebody who is unwilling to come back to the football club,” O’Neill tellingly said at the end of last season.
Sunderland have now achieved their objective of ridding Gyan from the wage bill and ensuring they didn’t make a loss on their investment in the African
Gyan leaves Sunderland for Al Ain
As for Gyan, the manner of his exit utterly overshadows the brief contribution he made in red and white.
After arriving in a sea of publicity on transfer deadline day in August 2010, Gyan began to charm both media and journalists alike before finally making an impression on the field when he shook off the excess pounds by November.
Either side of Christmas, while Darren Bent was in the treatment room, Gyan certainly looked the real deal for the Wearsiders.
He was sharp, quick, boasted immaculate control and was ice cool in front of goal – assets he demonstrated to devastating effect in Sunderland’s 3-0 victory at Chelsea.
But when Bent’s departure was coupled with an injury to Danny Welbeck, Gyan was left alone as Sunderland’s sole striker, and complacency began to set in.
Gyan found the net just once in red and white over the final three months of the 2010-11 campaign, despite the arrival of fellow Ghanaian Sulley Muntari.
He fared little better at the start of last season when he displayed all the hallmarks of a player far from match fit, and far from mentally fit.
Ultimately it is that image of a labouring striker who had the talent, but was unable to muster sufficient effort to show it, which Gyan will be remembered for.
It may come as little consolation, but as far as failed experiments go, at least Sunderland’s bank balance hasn’t borne the brunt.
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RPls don’t call Asamoah Gyan back into the black stars team.calling him back will provide a bad pace for the young stars who are coming up.Gyan should know best that he is a public figure and even if he score 10 goals in a match someone will criticize him for it.this means he shd not take things so personal to break from the team.if called back future stars will also do the same and wait to be begged back.lets give the new players a try and try to select the best.FOR THE SAKE OF THE BLACK STARS FUTURE.
Here is a pick of KRIS VOAKES interviews wit ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC-
(qstn): Do u get annoyed by criticism sometimes, particularly the criticism of u?
IBRA: I think its part of the game. Not everything should be paradise. You put the level high yourself by earning great results, den people xpect more of u after that. I think criticism personally is something dat motivates me, bcos wen i read something positive abt myself, its not giving me any Emotions… But it’s easy to read it wen somebody is criticising u- den dat is wen you change and become motivated to want to go out tommorrow on the field and do the opposite. That is something that is still following me.
Cristano Ronaldo was Jeered & Booed by his own fans at the ‘santiago Benebau’ for playing lacklustrely against Barcelona. The fans non-stoppingly Booed him regardless of his Hat-trick against SEVILLA dat nyt.
Wen asked wat he tinks of his fans defiances, he calmly said “If gr8ter stars like Di Stefano, Raul, Zizou,
Snr. Ronaldo n etc were similarly jeered at the Benabau, who is he not to b criticised! ” His critics was the more reason he uped his game against Barca at Camp Nou to hilariously score that cracker to clinch the league title for REAL MAD.
Leo Messi after questions of an un-equitable peformance for the ‘La Albiceleste’ to dat of Barca… Is now power steering the argentines- “tanks to the critics” he said
Zenedin ZIDAN in USA 94 was adjudged the Worse player of the tournament. But in France 98, he elevated to catalyst ‘Le Blué’ to clinch the ultimate. Wit a worse player tag in 94, he bcame the best player in 98. Tanks to Critics!
Every gr8t player is being guided by critics. It spread to every endeavour. Its the right medicine for a trypanosomianist. Its the wake-up call to determine ur turning point
@ D Light,point well made. However its one thing to criticise a player for poor performance and its quite another when death threats are directed towards the player and his family. The latter is what made Gyan reconsider his future with the Black Stars. You would have done the same thing too. Now that he’s nearin’ a comeback let’s us all embrace him and offer him our unflinchin’ support. He’s still one of our best player around.Only Christ knows what would have happened had he been involved in our match with Zambia in Lusaka. And don’t forget,the way to go is constructive criticisms not death threats !
union leader thank u so much u’re the kind of people we need in tis country and d light is right too keep it up and lets all aviod insults on the site. and those that deviat from issues to insult coaches shld bear in mind that it wont solve our problems GOD BLESS U ALL.
Gyan thinks money is everything, he better make sure he never become destitute, because if he does he will be the biggest idiot that ever walked the face of this planet.
@D light and Union. Your point is well taken but i think that Asamoah should have been smart enough not to engage in fights when there are death threats coming at you. it makes the situation more worse.