Shane Smeltz (Guiseley AFC | England)
He must go to Europe to make experience next year,but not at Hajduk.
From Sky Sports UK website
New Zealand World Cup star Shane Smeltz is hoping for a move to the Bundesliga.
Smeltz currently plies his trade in the Australian A-League with Gold Coast United.
But the striker, who was actually born in Germany, would love the chance to play in his homeland.
Smeltz' only previous experience of playing in Europe was in England, where he spent all his time playing for Mansfield, Halifax and AFC Wimbledon.
Now Smeltz, who scored in New Zealand's famous 1-1 draw with Italy last week, is hopeful he can secure a move to Germany.
"I unfortunately don't speak any German, my parents moved over to New Zealand when I was just one-year-old and I have never been back to Germany since then," he told Sportinformationsdienst.
"I hope I am someday going to be back in this great country I was born in.
"It would certainly be a dream coming true to appear in the Bundesliga, I am a keen follower of the league via TV.
"The supporters as much as the atmosphere in the Bundesliga stadiums are incredible!"
Saying the right things atleast, if anyone is listening is another story.
Bundesliga would be great for his game. Here's hoping.
3 news saying rumours he's wanted at Fulham.
He did score against them pre-season last year. Nothing more than unsubstantiated rumours at this stage IMO. Would be nice to be wrong though.
Yeah thats what i was thinking aswell... However they made it sound as if a offer had already been made. On the Fulham forums they seem happy enough to have a player like Smeltz within there ranks... Dreaming is free :-)
With Fulham not having a manager, these rumors seem doubtful now.
So if he was linked with Fulham and the Fulham manager has moved to Liverpool does that mean Shane will be speaking Scouse soon? Ha ha ha
according to blieberg smeltz "negotiating with several clubs" but nothing concrete tabled yet. seems to expect him to leave
Google news alerts FTW.
Stuff have duplicated the article
Off to china apparently http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/171542,smeltz-set-for-chinese-switch.aspxbenji-t2010-07-11 20:29:08
Would not want to play in China but if the money is good why not? He's 29 and wont get many more chances for $$
apparently radiosport are set to make an announcement shortly
yep, what a dissapointment
part of John Key's "lets get more cozy" with China plan?
Yep gutted he's not going more north.
Yep gutted he's not going more north.
Shane is off to China:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/11/2950442.htm?site=sport§ion=football
Shandong Luneng, apparently.
zonknz2010-07-11 21:08:35
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/11/2950442.htm?site=sport§ion=football
Shandong Luneng, apparently.
zonknz2010-07-11 21:08:35
Jeez. Hopefully his lungs will survive, such that he can still turnout for the all whites.
zonknz2010-07-11 21:15:39
zonknz2010-07-11 21:15:39
looks like they are one of the biggest and most successful clubs in China.
Have never finished below 4th in the Chinese Super League and were champions in 06 and 08.
Shame we will never see him now, except maybe playing a few Asian Champions League games via some dodgy Myp2p internet feed.
looks like they are one of the biggest and most successful clubs in China.
Have never finished below 4th in the Chinese Super League and were champions in 06 and 08.
Shame we will never see him now, except maybe playing a few Asian Champions League games via some dodgy Myp2p internet feed.
I'm glad they're a good Chinese team, but still. His offers must have been Arabic countries, Saudi, Dubai etc.. because there is no way he would turn down Europe for China. Either he's just in it for the cash or the offers just weren't as promising as we thought. Can't believe we won't see his games, and at this rate he'll only be on Fifa11 with the All Whites as there's no CSL on there. Which is lame as because you can't buy players without a club.
As long as he is not playing us I don't really care where he is.
Earn some yen. Score plenty of goals. Come back to the Nix in a few years 
i think its very difficult to speculate as to what type of alternative offers he would or wouldnt have had. who knows. this kind of stuff is very fickle. has he done any interview (LF1?).
the main negative for me is that he'll have no profile over there. we wont see or hear about him like we would if he'd gone to europe, which is a shame.
As long as he is not playing us I don't really care where he is.
My thoughts too.
Re-read Fred's article
Thinking of his family I guess re the loads of renminbi he will be getting. Wonder if Nicole has approved of this (good shops over in Jinan?).
Two things Shandong is famous for: Qingdao beer (from the Germans), Shandong women.
Earn some yen. Score plenty of goals. Come back to the Nix in a few years�
yen is japan
waun (nt sure on spelling ) is chinese
yuan
or renminbi
or kuai
or renminbi
or kuai
bit of a let down, but surely he can do as well as the North Korean Rooney and sign for Bochum in Bundesliga 2
There's a few leagues in Europe that are decent quality that Smeltz could easily fit into. The Norwegian Tippeligaen for example. Jade North signed for Tromso IL this year, they're currently in 2nd place and look likely to be in the Europa League again next year. While the top end players in the league have gone on to bigger clubs, Mame Diouf to Manchester Utd, Tore Reginiussen to Shalke 04. But I guess if he's contracted to a club he can't go on the look out for a club, they have to find him? right? I just think the Chinese Super League isn't the right direction he should be going in..
Luis Garcia2010-07-11 22:08:58
Luis Garcia2010-07-11 22:08:58
yeah it seems a bit backward.....shame really...
would love to hear his logic.
http://tvnz.co.nz/football-news/smeltz-bound-chinese-super-league-3638477
http://tvnz.co.nz/football-news/smeltz-bound-chinese-super-league-3638477
Disappointing. If that offer from Turkey was still open then that would have been a far wiser move. Possibly (probably) less money but still.
With no knowledge of the club and going solely from wikipedia there appear to be two strikers who Smeltz would have a bit of a job getting ahead of in the pecking order (unless one of them is pretty much out the door).
Han Peng is a 26 year old who has played 29 times for China, scoring ten, while for the club he's scored 56 from 138 appearances.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Peng
Li Jinyu is 33 years old has scored 26 times from 73 appearances for his country while at club level he's scored 70 times in 137 appearances.
Hopefully Shane Smeltz will be a regular starter.
Han Peng is a 26 year old who has played 29 times for China, scoring ten, while for the club he's scored 56 from 138 appearances.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Peng
Li Jinyu is 33 years old has scored 26 times from 73 appearances for his country while at club level he's scored 70 times in 137 appearances.
Hopefully Shane Smeltz will be a regular starter.
I'd imagine living in China would make coming home to NZ for friendlies/OFC matches easier for him than if he went to Europe. Not the best football decision for him perhaps, but possibly good for marketing the sport here.
Looking at the clubs nicknames translated in to English.
"Big scorers"
"Double Champions"
"Real Madrid of China"
"Big scorers"
"Double Champions"
"Real Madrid of China"
Good on him for taking the cash. He aint getting any younger and has a gold digging missus to support.
more i think about this, good on him
he has no responsibility to go to europe to satisfy our preferences.
he is probably on a very good deal and should have more security about playing etc. why take the risk back in europe where he has had his frustrations before.
he is a good player but he's 29 and doesnt have to prove anything he doesnt want to by heading back to europe.
go smeltzy. go Shandong! and may he carve a path that potentially allows other NZ footballers to make a living in Asia.