Smeltz saga - now with added hypocrisy.

As someone pointed out on Aus 4-4-2 the only man who seems to talk up Palmers money is Miron the mouth isn't it ?
Hard News2009-02-03 14:55:48

...after March 31st.

Never been a great believer in karma but now with GCU having grabbed Porter from under our nose and Smeltz from our pocket this definitely has the look of karma about it.

Latest... http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/sport/smeltz-tug-of-war-erupts/2009/02/03/1233423189211.html

Yuss! That boosts my belief that this can happen!

Edit - Hmmm, but will GC give the OK?
Torne2009-02-03 15:09:26

"Shane definitely wants to go," Pignata said. "I was happy to do the paperwork for him."
Well said Tony.

Id be happy to drive him to the Airport, Ill learn Turkish so he can have a language teacher if he wants. I'd do anything for him not to be playing against us next year!

If he plays well and scores goals, he'll be on the radar of bigger Turkish clubs who'd probably snap him up if the club does get relegated.

If it doesn't turn out well, he can always come back to the A-league. And hopefully to us in that case.

It's really a no-brainer for him from a footballing point of view.el grapadura2009-02-03 15:12:54

And as another plus side, we'll all have another club in another league to follow until our season starts again.

Win-win scenario.

This seems just a bit of a muddle, but am I right in saying this,

Smeltz asked us to do the paperwork for a move to Turkey since untill March he is a nix player (why dont the contracts end in June as in Europe btw?), we did that, and its up to him to get out of his letter of intent to sign with GCU?

I think it is Hacettepe SK who have to get GCU's consent.

This is great news.  While I'm all for Kiwi players spread throughout the A-League I don't want Smeltz at GCU, and the thought of him ripping up the Turkish Super League leaves me salivating.  If it is true that all Smeltz did was sign a letter of intent with the Gold Coast then how can they complain?  Especially when Joel Porter signed a letter of intent with us and then joined them!

I'd still love to have him at the Phoenix but he bowed to the pressure of his wife.  She wanted to go to South Queensland for the 'lifestyle' and it not being about money, then a bigger deal comes and they jump at it.  Is Hacettepe SK in a strictly Muslim part of Turkey?  If so it'd serve her right to be stuck in a burka for 3.5 years   (a bit harsh, I know).

It's Ankara, so I doubt it'll be that strict...

3.9 mil people.

It's in Ankara, the capital.

Turkey's a very secular country by the way. Some Turkish girls I've seen...Mmmmm. Nice.

I hope he stays at GCU from NZ football perspective. He is the highest profile footballer we have (highest profile in NZ that is, Nelsen's higher everywhere outside Australasia) and one of very few heroes for young footballers to aspire to (not that they should necessarily aspire to his management of employment relationships). If he goes to Turkey he will be lost to the NZ media and the NZ public. That would be a shame.

The only really bad thing about the move is that in NZ we don't get any Turkish League shown do we?

Iraq Goals??!?! Probably not.

So how much of a chance is there that this deal will go though?

His team isn't.

More power to him if he gets it.

Turkish beaches are nice, and so are kebabs.

I've been to Ankara, nice place to visit but I wouldnt want to live there, so I'm not convinced this is a great move for him with his family, but maybe they wont be going.

Will he be getting 400,000 a year or is that the transfer fee?

How much will he make?

If he is contracted to us only and has a letter of intent to the Gold Coast, wouldnt that mean that Phoenix get the transfer money?

Smeltz credibility factor now 2/10

Has anyone confirmed this is a fully-fledged transfer and not just a loan deal?

Seems to me a loan deal would make more sense. He would go until the end  of the Turkish season then can rejoin GCU or get a new deal in Europe. Wouldn't be surprised if the $400,000 being mooted is Smeltz's payment for the rest of the season, factoring in goal bonuses and keeping them up bonus ...
His EU passport helps his cause no end

Would it really be a good idea for him to accept the deal before even visiting Turkey? I'm guessing it's very different to here - Carle had problems there but Djite/Kewell/Troisi are doing very well. valeo2009-02-03 16:42:58

That article is bullcrap.

"But this afternoon it was revealed the deal was together without the knowledge of the player, his agent or Gold Coast United."

Yeah right!

Turkey is an amazing place. With regards to living there, just need to keep open minded about it I suppose. Whether Mrs Smeltz is keen to do so, I'm not too sure. Stayed in a place called Cannakale, couple of hours out of Istanbul, great weather, well cheap. Football wise, he would be silly to pass it up. If he can perform there and play in the Europa League (shudder, what was Platini thinking...), it will be a great shop window for the more prestigious European leagues.

Has he been talking to Chris Killen about hedging bets or something
There's no loyalty anymore that's the problem

Just as I post, his wife cracks the whip.

I suspect than in a few hours that story will be contradicted. That is just Smeltz and GCU covering their backsides for the time being. 

Mrs Shane must have gone on line to check the beaches and also voiced her dislike of kebabs and Iskander to Mr Shane and told him to call the whole thing off

I want to hear from Shane before I believe anything on that website.

Yeah me too but really, I HATE his wife... and Hate is a strong word.

If he's used another agent to broker a move to another club, what credence can we give to the first agent coming out and saying the move's not going ahead? And do you think Gold Coast are going to be the only club trying to retain him at all costs now? Or that the Turks are going to fight to the bitter end to keep him? It's going to get a lot messier before things become clearer

She's a pratt. 

tv3's take on the matter with more "quotes" from Tonyp

http://www.3news.co.nz/Smeltz-to-by-pass-Gold-Coast-for-Turkish-club/tabid/415/articleID/89577/cat/277/Default.aspx

Edit: 2B - Fixed link

too quick for me i'd just fixed it too

giddyup2009-02-03 18:03:29