There could also be something on the cards for Elijah Just, who earlier in the year spent some time away from the AC Horsens first team squad as he angled for a move to IFK Göteborg in the Swedish top flight. That didn’t happen at the time because it was outside of the Danish transfer window so ACH would not have been able to sign a replacement. But once they dodged the threat of consecutive relegations, Just seemed to play a lot less than he had been doing prior.
Could that have been preparation for his inevitable departure? His old Horsens coach is in charge of Göteborg so there ya go... although he might wanna hurry because IFKG are only one place above the relegation break with the Swedish league on its summer break until late July. The fact that a fresh EJ highlights package just appeared feels like a sign.
Friendly for Just's Horsens coming up away at Ryan Thomas' PEC Zwolle:
"On Saturday 13 July, PEC Zwolle will play a friendly match against Danish side Horsens AC in Wijthmen. On Friday, July 26, the opponent will be in the MAC3PARK stadium De Graafschap. Ticket sales have started for both matches. Below you can read how to get tickets.
PEC Zwolle – AC Horsens
Saturday 13 July, 14:00
De Elshof, Wijthmen
Wonder if Just will be playing? Ryan Thomas must still be out injured I'd assume. He didn't play in Zwolle's friendly win against a lower league side last week.
Made the interception to start the buildup, another touch, then finishes it off beautifully. Perhaps they should start him more often. Too good for this level, but unfortunately still 2 years left on his Horsens contract.
Switzerland, Sweden or Austria according to the article from Tipsbladet.
Switzerland would be a very intriguing move to be honest. Sounds like it will be to a top tier club at least, which will be good for him, having seen McCowatt and Dalton Wilkins secure moves over the past year or so that see them in the Danish Superliga.
Has reportedly signed for Austrian 2nd tier club SKN Polten. Very disappointing move. Maybe even a downgrade imo, to a side that’s near the relegation zone already 3 games into the season.
Would’ve been much better off coming back home to Auckland or Wellington for some stability.
This is a very underwhelming transfer for a player that showed a lot of promise a few years ago.
Feels to me the cycle of the U20 Boys from the 2019 WC group have stagnated.
Likes of Singh, Bell, Pijnaker, Waine, Just, Stanger, Elliot and Mata haven’t been able to kick on as much as we’d hoped.
Has reportedly signed for Austrian 2nd tier club SKN Polten. Very disappointing move. Maybe even a downgrade imo, to a side that’s near the relegation zone already 3 games into the season.
Would’ve been much better off coming back home to Auckland or Wellington for some stability.
This is a very underwhelming transfer for a player that showed a lot of promise a few years ago.
Feels to me the cycle of the U20 Boys from the 2019 WC group have stagnated.
Likes of Singh, Bell, Pijnaker, Waine, Just, Stanger, Elliot and Mata haven’t been able to kick on as much as we’d hoped.
Yep, confirmed. Loan deal with an option to buy. Gotta say I agree - that's an extremely disappointing move.
St. Pöltenwere 9th (of 16 teams) in last season's 2. Liga, and yes after 3 rounds this season sit 12th. So unless it's a case of new owners coming with lots of cash, doesn't seem an outfit in the Austrian Bundesliga promotion picture.
They play out of 8,000 capacity stadium and looks like they were last in the Bundesliga in 2017/2018, a short 2 season adventure.
Just was one of the better AWs in Vanuatu. Libby unquestionably the star act.
Don't fully agree that's Des's U20 2019 group are mostly stagnating. Cacace's in Serie A, Waine in the Championship, McCowatt Danish Superliga, Bell at a decent level in Norway. Singh we all know just needs that right club.
If Woud, Mata and Elliott all end up having solid ALM careers that ain't so bad. Throw in CBs Stanger & Pijnaker who could yet still end up in the SPL (Stanger's Ayr look a promotion contender) or say League One for Nando - and that's still a high number of that 2019 crop in solid pro environments.
Libby & Sarpreet will always have the biggest ceiling of that group. Waineo maybe not far behind.
Edit - and yes forgot Wilkins also being in the Danish SuperLiga
I see you’re argument for those players but for me it’s not even in question they’ve stagnated. Very blunt statement yes but it’s important to realise what I mean by that.
Bell signed in Norway about 4-5 years ago now and hasn’t reach another level.
Pijnaker same story.
Stanger is playing second tier football in Scotland.
Just had been in Denmark prior to the U20 WC and hasn’t kicked on for 5 years.
Mata, Elliot and Woud have all has their rounds in Europe and have come back unsuccessful on multiple different
Definitely not jumping to conclusions because they’re all still 24-25 ish so have a long way to go, but just thought it was worth noting.
Cacace, Wilkins, McCowatt and Waine are the ones that have made good leaps since then. Singh i understand moved to Bayern after that campaign but the last 3 years have been horrid for him. So he’s definitely stagnated and I definitely hope he’s not holding out for Auckland FC. Far too good and too important to our NT to be playing A League level. coochiee
St. Pöltenwere 9th (of 16 teams) in last season's 2. Liga, and yes after 3 rounds this season sit 12th. So unless it's a case of new owners coming with lots of cash, doesn't seem an outfit in the Austrian Bundesliga promotion picture.
They play out of 8,000 capacity stadium and looks like they were last in the Bundesliga in 2017/2018, a short 2 season adventure.
Just was one of the better AWs in Vanuatu. Libby unquestionably the star act.
Don't fully agree that's Des's U20 2019 group are mostly stagnating. Cacace's in Serie A, Waine in the Championship, McCowatt Danish Superliga, Bell at a decent level in Norway. Singh we all know just needs that right club.
If Woud, Mata and Elliott all end up having solid ALM careers that ain't so bad. Throw in CBs Stanger & Pijnaker who could yet still end up in the SPL (Stanger's Ayr look a promotion contender) or say League One for Nando - and that's still a high number of that 2019 crop in solid pro environments.
Libby & Sarpreet will always have the biggest ceiling of that group. Waineo maybe not far behind.
Hopefully he can still make it, but if this is still his level in 12 months time, he would be better off coming to one of the NZ clubs in the a legaue.
Surely the quality of play and money would be better?
For the record as well. None of these Olé boys over in Europe will come home to New Zealand until the well completely runs dry, or it's approaching the end of their careers. I just don't see it happening.
Europe was (and is still) the pinnacle when Declan was running the show, and I remember at every turn the message from him to the players under his tutelage, subliminal or otherwise, was basically 'Get out of New Zealand.'
The only time they're back here now is for the AW's or on holiday during the European off-season.
I have spexulated that $ (eg a fat sign-on bonus) was a crucial motivator for AP joining ACFC. I've got to make the same assumption here, in order to be fair. It sounded like Just was being courted by teams in leagues that were better than the Danish 1st division. Why would you go to the second tier in Austria of all places when you could stay in DK or move up to a better league?
Maybe you he just wants to make as much as he can. Footballers do have very short careers...otherwise, it just doesn't add up for me.
I was also going to ask about the money. Anybody have any rough figures on danish second tier vs Austrian second tier salaries? At a guess I would think it would be similar if not a shade higher in Austria but I really don’t know.
At the risk of repeating what has been said many times, underwhelming move.
For the record as well. None of these Olé boys over in Europe will come home to New Zealand until the well completely runs dry, or it's approaching the end of their careers. I just don't see it happening.
Europe was (and is still) the pinnacle when Declan was running the show, and I remember at every turn the message from him to the players under his tutelage, subliminal or otherwise, was basically 'Get out of New Zealand.'
The only time they're back here now is for the AW's or on holiday during the European off-season.
I think some of Declan's strong anti NZ football, anti Nix views were valid in the past. The Nix played a pretty turgid system under much of Herbert's tutelage, and young guys like Barba & Marco got few mins. Same later agruably one of his pupils Boyd. The training facilities were very average. So yeah Edge discouraged his proteges going across town to Newtown. McCowatt & Boyd the exceptions.
But now it's completely different with the Phoenix. An Auckland likewise I imagine will play the youngsters, and with time have really good training facilities.
By going to such a low level league Just, really now puts his AWs squad position at risk. He's been a regular since first picked by Hay, but with guys like OVH, Randall, Gillion, Lachlan Bayliss to possibly be all regular starters in the ALM this coming season - then Just's spot is definitely under threat.
In the same way that guys like Tuiloma (not playing at all), or Pijnaker (still in the lowly LOI) risk missing out on the 2026 WC. And Bazeley doesn't have the same connection to Declan & that Eastern Suburbs (Ole in disguise) winning Handy Prem side that Hay had.
Hope for Eli's sake it's a well considered move, with a plan. It's only a loan deal to St. Pölten, and it seems he wasn't happy at Horsens where he still has 2 years on his contract. So maybe he plays this season in Austria, then once that's over May-June next year he's looking at another loan deal at a higher level. Unless St. Pölten are promoted to the Austrian Bundesliga which seems unlikely
