Ben Old (AS Saint-Étienne | France)

On the pod, Shaun Gill says alot of interest in Old. At least 3 clubs now talking to the Nix.

Heard it on the radio this morning. Still has 2 years to run on his 3 year deal so should be a decent bit of coin again for the club if a deal can be struck.

Did they say which clubs are interested? Someone earlier said 3 or 4 clubs. The only name I've heard is St Etienne.

loyalgunner

Did they say which clubs are interested? Someone earlier said 3 or 4 clubs. The only name I've heard is St Etienne.

only St Etienne, no other names mentioned

A few weeks back it was said an unnamed Danish club were interested. Interestingly Gill mentioned the Nix in their history,are yet to really have a strong multi club interest scenario when selling a player.

A scenario where the Nix may prefer a different club to what the player prefers. So Old’s transfer may present that for the first time. The Nix obviously still in many ways learning about dealing with overseas clubs re player transfers

Edit - Sounds like all the ALM clubs share intel with APL, to make sure they ain't underselling their players to Europe. APL feedback, Nix are getting is that they are doing okay.

For those who thought the Nix sold Paulsen too cheaply, this week's pod with Shaun Gill is an interesting listen. As he said it ain't an exact science.

Guess RSL is the 2nd of those 3 clubs

RR

Guess RSL is the 2nd of those 3 clubs

Presumably club 3 is the Danish one

St Etienne would be the most attractive of the two I'd have thought?

theprof

St Etienne would be the most attractive of the two I'd have thought?

Don't sleep on the USA/MLS. I'd prefer to see him go to France if I'm being honest, but the standard of the MLS is excellent as well. Quite an enjoyable league to watch as well. Would suit Oldie to a tee 
 
Both clubs involved seem happy to throw a bit of cash around, which is good for us if a bidding war were to occur. Suppose that is a bit easier when either clubs owners are billionaires...

YoungHeartHM

theprof

St Etienne would be the most attractive of the two I'd have thought?

Don't sleep on the USA/MLS. I'd prefer to see him go to France if I'm being honest, but the standard of the MLS is excellent as well. Quite an enjoyable league to watch as well. Would suit Oldie to a tee 
 
Both clubs involved seem happy to throw a bit of cash around, which is good for us if a bidding war were to occur. Suppose that is a bit easier when either clubs owners are billionaires...

I'm more thinking from an outside of football life, Utah compared to St Etienne would be pretty dull I'd think?

theprof

YoungHeartHM

theprof

St Etienne would be the most attractive of the two I'd have thought?

Don't sleep on the USA/MLS. I'd prefer to see him go to France if I'm being honest, but the standard of the MLS is excellent as well. Quite an enjoyable league to watch as well. Would suit Oldie to a tee 
 
Both clubs involved seem happy to throw a bit of cash around, which is good for us if a bidding war were to occur. Suppose that is a bit easier when either clubs owners are billionaires...

I'm more thinking from an outside of football life, Utah compared to St Etienne would be pretty dull I'd think?

Screenshot_2024-06-14-14-51-40-04_40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12.jpg 331.31 KB

I suspect he'll be fine. 🏌️‍♂️😂

Vast country from East to West. Would think he'd have plenty to see and do.

YoungHeartHM

theprof

St Etienne would be the most attractive of the two I'd have thought?

Don't sleep on the USA/MLS. I'd prefer to see him go to France if I'm being honest, but the standard of the MLS is excellent as well. Quite an enjoyable league to watch as well. Would suit Oldie to a tee 
 
Both clubs involved seem happy to throw a bit of cash around, which is good for us if a bidding war were to occur. Suppose that is a bit easier when either clubs owners are billionaires...

The MLS is an open high scoring league, played also in summer. Yeah I reckon it would suit fast breaking Old

He could hang out with Macey Fraser. Maybe they could get married, read the crazy made up tale of Joseph Smith, convert to Mormonism and have 10 super althetic kids. Not until Macey had played 10 years with the Ferns though............  
I am joking of course. An even 8 (an even split of 4 future AWs & Ferns) will do

Edit - met a young educated guy a few years back who lived in Salt Lake City. He loved it, but then he loved snow boarding, and also his job monitoring the Colorado River. He was very liberal (his family grew Marijuana as a business in Idaho!) but he did say he worked with lots of Mormons, that he had to act very differently around. Salt Lake City itself sounds fine as a place, plenty bars, cafes etc. But yeah rural Utah can be very conservative apparently.

Ahhhh and yes YH has found plenty of golf courses for young Ben.

From purely a football angle you'd think it'd be St Etienne as the preferred option and Denmark as the least preferred (though still useful for remaining in the eye of scouts for his next move). As has been said, the quality of MLS is high. It's improved a lot in recent years.

I never made it to Utah when I was in the States but by all accounts Utah is stunning. And it's not like he's stuck there all year, they visit heaps of interesting places. 

theprof

YoungHeartHM

theprof

St Etienne would be the most attractive of the two I'd have thought?

Don't sleep on the USA/MLS. I'd prefer to see him go to France if I'm being honest, but the standard of the MLS is excellent as well. Quite an enjoyable league to watch as well. Would suit Oldie to a tee 
 
Both clubs involved seem happy to throw a bit of cash around, which is good for us if a bidding war were to occur. Suppose that is a bit easier when either clubs owners are billionaires...

I'm more thinking from an outside of football life, Utah compared to St Etienne would be pretty dull I'd think?

at least he might get a post game photo with messi 

theprof

YoungHeartHM

theprof

St Etienne would be the most attractive of the two I'd have thought?

Don't sleep on the USA/MLS. I'd prefer to see him go to France if I'm being honest, but the standard of the MLS is excellent as well. Quite an enjoyable league to watch as well. Would suit Oldie to a tee 
 
Both clubs involved seem happy to throw a bit of cash around, which is good for us if a bidding war were to occur. Suppose that is a bit easier when either clubs owners are billionaires...

I'm more thinking from an outside of football life, Utah compared to St Etienne would be pretty dull I'd think?

If anything I think he would have more fun. The best thing about Saint Etienne is that it's close-ish to a few other nicer places, which isn't exactly an endorsement on the city itself.

That’s how I’ve always felt about Hamilton.

loyalgunner

That’s how I’ve always felt about Hamilton.

Melville United is club 3 confirmed??

loyalgunner

That’s how I’ve always felt about Hamilton.

One of my best Fever trips Hamiltron. And the Gardens are really cool. Under the radar. 

Though tbf one of the attractions was the bowls club let us have a casual roll up on the morning of game.

Just watched highlights of Michael Boxall's Minnesota (down to 10 men) losing 0-1 to Austin the MLS. Lots of wide open spaces it seemed and fast counter attacks.

Just checked some football field sizes, and can see why Old might be a good candidate for the MLS. They play on big fields.

https://www.networldsports.com/buyers-guides/soccer-field-dimensions-guide#:~:text=Despite%20this%20recommendation%2C%20the%20majority,120%20yards%20(109.7m).

The English Football Association recommends that soccer fields should measure 110 yards (110.6m) in length and 70 yards (64.0m) in width. Despite this recommendation, the majority of Premier League soccer pitches in England actually measure between 112 yards (102.4m) to 115 (105.2m) yards long, and 70 yards (64.0m) to 75 yards (68.6m) wide.

MLS soccer fields, have a length of 120 yards (109.7m). Rio Tinto Stadium, Salt Lake is large at 120 yards long x 75 yards wide.

Reports from French Twitter accounts that he is heading Saint-Étienne

RR

Reports from French Twitter accounts that he is heading Saint-Étienne

Fingers crossed. The fans there are... Abrasive, to say the least. If he can cut it there, he'll have a good career in Europe (From a mentality perspective of course, he'll obviously need to develop technically too). 

I think he'll do alright in that regard though, he's always had that flash of aggression and doggedness to him since coming through into the nix side. Excited to see him make a stab of it

His ability to burst forward and dribble past players is really dynamic, Something that sets him apart from others in the NZ set up at the moment. So hope he can continue to develop his end product. Lots of potential still un realised there. Really hope he finds the right environment to continue developing.

RR

Reports from French Twitter accounts that he is heading Saint-Étienne

Tu peux nous donner des liens ?

(BTW, coochiee is right about "rural Utah can be very conservative apparently. " That's the part of the world where you get coffee shops where they don't actually sell coffee.)

EDIT: ah, voici 
https://twitter.com/TRIBUNESTE42100/status/1806314833643483386

Watching those Georgia players attack Portugal reminded me of Oldie

Jazzy Jeff

RR

Reports from French Twitter accounts that he is heading Saint-Étienne

Fingers crossed. The fans there are... Abrasive, to say the least. If he can cut it there, he'll have a good career in Europe (From a mentality perspective of course, he'll obviously need to develop technically too). 

I think he'll do alright in that regard though, he's always had that flash of aggression and doggedness to him since coming through into the nix side. Excited to see him make a stab of it

I agree you get that feeling there is a bit of steel about him. The eyes.

But yeah Ligue 1 in France will be tough. Hopefully Saint-Etienne have a well thought out plan for him. Looks like one of their reserve GKs is English born, so there is the Anglophile bilingual translator Old will need.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/france/association-sportive-de-saint-etienne-loire/901/

And he'll get a feel for the country during the Olympics.

I wonder if the French know he was a Golf Protege?? ;)  

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Watching those Georgia players attack Portugal reminded me of Oldie

Kvichold Kvaratbenia

Few French Twitter accounts floating the idea that Saint-Etienne might bar him from playing in the Olympics if he signs, given New Zealand are of course facing France in the group stage. Bit of a horrifying thought

mrsmiis

Few French Twitter accounts floating the idea that Saint-Etienne might bar him from playing in the Olympics if he signs, given New Zealand are of course facing France in the group stage. Bit of a horrifying thought

Surely the French ain't worried about little ole NZ?
Saint-Etienne actually have 19 year old from Guinea on their squad - though he's yet to play for the first team - are they going to bar him?

I would laugh if he turned around & said, if I can't play for New Zealand, then I can't play for you. Remembering they are not the powerhouse club they once were. And denying a player to play in a serious competition and not in a friendly, is not a good look unless he's carrying an injury into the game.

I still don’t think he’s ready for the move. Hasn’t really shone in the islands. Don’t forget Tuiloma was in France in L1 but hardly played.

Marto

I still don’t think he’s ready for the move. Hasn’t really shone in the islands. Don’t forget Tuiloma was in France in L1 but hardly played.

Doubt Saint-Etienne (or other clubs reportedly interested) are even really watching the Nations Cup games. They are of little to no relevance. It's all about how he went week in week out at the Nix. They have seen enough there to think he's a good fit for them.

Old can be explosive on his day, and there is that old maxim "you can't coach pace". Definitely he has work ons, but how do we know for sure the coaches at a Ligue 1 club, can't help him work on them as much as the Nix staff. He is certainly now a more physical player, not flopping over at the merest hard contact.

He came down from Akld to Welly 6 years ago, maybe he just feels for him it's the right time for a move. Wants a new challenge. The Nix will get a healthy fee, and have the likes of OVH and GSR to step up to try fill his spot. That's the club's model after all.

Billy T went to France around age 18, with no prior pro experience. The Nix pathway, via the Academy prepares these young guys very well now for Europe. It's in the club's best interests to do so.

I like the move for Ben Old (and probably the club too) but selfishly I was hoping he would stay around for another season. I feel like he never really scored a screamer for us and now he never will... Definitely looked like he had the potential when he lost a few players and struck it on goal

I like Old and apart from Rojas and Ifill, he is the only nix forward who whenever he gets the ball, I look up and get excited when he runs the ball.

I think however he really needs one more league in the A league, before Europe and in particular one of the top 5 leagues. 

Of both Surman and Old, I also think that Surman has the ability to transition into a European first team with more ease and has the ability now to be a starting player.

From a NIX viewpoint Surman is also the one who if they are looking for the dollars from their investment is the better player to move as:

1: He is in the final year of his contract and now is the time to cash in

2: He is more easily replaced with two potential young kiwi centre backs in the squad who have shown far more last season then our young wide players.

3: With the Auckland teams arrival the more wow attacking players who excite the nix have, the better. Even better if they are kiwi, they are rare and old fits that bill.

Surman is the one we should look to transfer 

The Old to St Étienne is still only a rumor. L’équipe magazine 26 Juin had an article on St Étienne recrutement. Basically the club is in transition with the new Canadian owners still working through the process of appointing staff. They want to sign young players with room for development and then sell them for a good profit. So I guess that fits Bens profile.
The problem that all French clubs are having is that less than six weeks out from the new season the French governing body still has not signed any agreements for TV rights for the upcoming season. The clubs can’t do their budgets which impacts on recruitment.
Someone mentioned an English guy at the club. He’s the reserve keeper and the locals love the fact that his name is Étienne Green. The clubs colors are green.

AucklandPhoenix

I like Old and apart from Rojas and Ifill, he is the only nix forward who whenever he gets the ball, I look up and get excited when he runs the ball.

I think however he really needs one more league in the A league, before Europe and in particular one of the top 5 leagues. 

Of both Surman and Old, I also think that Surman has the ability to transition into a European first team with more ease and has the ability now to be a starting player.

From a NIX viewpoint Surman is also the one who if they are looking for the dollars from their investment is the better player to move as:

1: He is in the final year of his contract and now is the time to cash in

2: He is more easily replaced with two potential young kiwi centre backs in the squad who have shown far more last season then our young wide players.

3: With the Auckland teams arrival the more wow attacking players who excite the nix have, the better. Even better if they are kiwi, they are rare and old fits that bill.

Surman is the one we should look to transfer 

I imagine the Nix will end up selling both Surman & Old over the next few months. Selling 2-3 players (throwing in Paulsen) in an off season is pretty common now for most ALM clubs, especially those ones coming off a good season.

Have been told this move is a done deal. Announcement to come over the next week or so.

Per my source, and at the camp prior to the AW's departure for the OFC Nations Cup he was telling the lads that he's off.

Excellent, excellent move.
No word on the fee, but with three years to run on his current contract, you'd think it will easily be pushing towards that €1,000,000 mark (🤞) + add-ons.

YoungHeartHM

Have been told this move is a done deal. Announcement to come over the next week or so.

Per my source, and at the camp prior to the AW's departure for the OFC Nations Cup he was telling the lads that he's off.

Excellent, excellent move.
No word on the fee, but with three years to run on his current contract, you'd think it will easily be pushing towards that €1,000,000 mark (🤞) + add-ons.

I remember in his man of the match interview after the Allstars vs Newcastle game he was pretty confident he would be in Europe next season.

Would've liked another season at the Nix for him, but hopefully he gets a good amount of playing time in Europe as he is a pretty dangerous and exciting player already let alone with a few more years of development.

Training and playing against better players day in day out can only be good for him.