Back in November, the Sunderland Echo‘s thoughtful columnist Tony Gillan posed the interesting question: “Are Jan Kirchhoff’s legs so wonky that he couldn’t be offered a rolling contract?
Given the extent of Sunderland’s midfield problems – injuries and sheer lack of quality – it’s an idea that could have legs, depending of course on the actual state of that wonkiness.
It is clear Chris Coleman will have precious little money to spend on what has become a desperate battle for survival even at the lowly level to which the club has been allowed to sink.
Kirchhoff has been without a club since leaving Wearside at the end of last season. He was certainly injury-prone, but he is still only 27.
Gillan wrote that any debate about which area of Sunderland’s team was weakest was so depressing that it was “to be avoided”. He nevertheless suggested central midfield as the key area, recalled how superb Kirchhoff had been under Big Sam and reminded readers how popular he had become after a shaky start.
“Maybe [his legs] are [too wonk]and the mere suggestion smacks of desperation,” he added. “But so what?”
It’s a thought, desperate or otherwise, that has also occurred to a Salut! Sunderland reader, Dave Gladstone.
“Given the injury to Darron Gibson and how vital he has become to our system (amazing as that seems), why is nobody talking about Jan Kirchhoff as a possibility?” he asks
“He plays in a similar way to Gibson but is significantly better at it, doesn’t currently have a club and was very popular here.
“I know he is prone to injury but signing him on a six-month deal with an option to extend would not seem a very high risk to me and would give him the chance to remind clubs of his ability.”
Does anyone out there have an update on Kirchhoff’s fitness?
Unfortunately, I suspect there is a reason he has been without a club since last May.
Pay – per – play contract.
The problem is , that anyone with a modicum of ability has either been sold , loaned out or not offered a new contract. Even players we’ve taken on loan don’t want to play for us . Is Kirchhoff still in the country, and rolling contract or not he’d want a weekly wage . I don’t think he’d accept a pay as you play deal . Rodwell do the decent think and quit this club and Short, either back Coleman or sell up .
The eternal optimist says I liked Kirchoff and would bring him back on a rolling contract but not only that I would bring back khazri he was never given a chance after big Sam and think Coleman would get him purring like a rolls Royce never mind a cat again anichibe struggled to stay injury free but would be also be worth a look at on another short term deal looking at the state of us at present also know it won’t happen as we can’t afford him but there has been talk of colback and irrespective of what a lot of us think he is a fighter which we need badly
Would he want to sign for a club like the one we have become? Answers on a postcard please…..
No chance Pete , we are a pathetic impersonation of the Big Sam team he remembers.