For love of Okocha, •Bolton plan new deal

VINDAVE · Post by **VINDAVE** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 8:38 am

For love of Okocha

•Bolton plan new deal

BOLTON chairman Phil Gartside believes the Trotters now have the financial muscle to resist any bids for Nigerian playmaker Austin Jay-Jay Okocha.

Businessman Eddie Davies, based in the Isle of Man, has injected a further £2.25m into his hometown club.

That has boosted his shareholding in the parent company, Burnden Leisure Plc, from 29.7 to 94.5 per cent effectively making him the new owner.

There were fears if the proposal had been voted down by shareholders at the annual meeting, Bolton could have been forced to sell players - including influential captain Okocha - next month.

Instead, Gartside says they are now in a position to offer him a new contract when his current deal ends in the summer.

"We are not looking to sell anyone," he said "That has been our position all along.

"What has happened now makes it easier to turn people away who come in with an offer.

"We are looking to secure Jay-Jay’s services for a longer period. I’m confident we can do that".

Larry Ashagbe · Post by **Larry Ashagbe** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 12:13 pm

Okocha would rather come to South of England.

VINDAVE · Post by **VINDAVE** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:26 pm

Larry Ashagbe wrote:Okocha would rather come to South of England.

Please name that club Mr Larry...

Shownoja · Post by **Shownoja** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:34 pm

I am of the firm belief that it is better foe JJ and his career if he stays at Bolton. He is a hero there, has taken them to the verge of Europe, they have improved beyond measure while he was thee and he is constantly been raved there.

If he moved anywhere else in England, I think the expectation levels will be way too high, and the way the fickle fans and press operate here, it will not bee too long before he turns from hero to villan.

Egunje · Post by **Egunje** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:41 pm

Shownoja wrote:I am of the firm belief that it is better foe JJ and his career if he stays at Bolton. He is a hero there, has taken them to the verge of Europe, they have improved beyond measure while he was thee and he is constantly been raved there.

If he moved anywhere else in England, I think the expectation levels will be way too high, and the way the fickle fans and press operate here, it will not bee too long before he turns from hero to villan.

I agree with you perfectly, I think he should just stay put at Bolton for now.

VINDAVE · Post by **VINDAVE** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 2:05 pm

Egunje wrote:
Shownoja wrote:I am of the firm belief that it is better foe JJ and his career if he stays at Bolton. He is a hero there, has taken them to the verge of Europe, they have improved beyond measure while he was thee and he is constantly been raved there.

If he moved anywhere else in England, I think the expectation levels will be way too high, and the way the fickle fans and press operate here, it will not bee too long before he turns from hero to villan.

I agree with you perfectly, I think he should just stay put at Bolton for now.

IF YOU A CONTENTED WITH THE PRESENT, YOU WON'T GET TO THE FUTURE.

sunshinestar · Post by **sunshinestar** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 7:45 pm

Okocha should not leave certainty for uncertainty,a bird in hand they say...

tolahs · Post by **tolahs** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 10:33 pm

Larry's on the ball on this - JJ needs & wants to be with a bigger club preferably southwards.
Shownoja please lets keep it real - Europe's out of the question for Bolton - making the top 10 will be a landmark for them. The chairman told Talksport that they still owed £38 million but signing JJ will be fillip 'cos he puts "bums on seats". When do you rest him? He looked jaded against Liverpool.
But JJ's played most games even Carlton cup type games. A bigger club will keep him out of those plus other stars will share the load.
You need to ask yourself why he hasn't signed knowing his contract is up in the summer?
Why in the preseason did he express an interest in playing for ManU?

ROSSIKE · Post by **ROSSIKE** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 6:31 pm

All this 'JJ should stay put at Bolton' talk is a load of pure BOLLLOCKS.

This guy should round up his career at the very top of the world club game, where he TRULY BELONGS.

This guy must not retire till he features in at least TWO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CAMPAIGNS WITH A MAJOR CLUB.

Jay Jay Okocha remaining at Bolton is A GREAT DISSERVICE TO WORLD SOCCER. AND A GREAT INJUSTICE TO WORLD SOCCER FANS. SIMPLE.

JJ IS JUST TOO GOOD FOR THAT CLUB, IN FACT, SO GOOD THEY NAMED HIM TWICE...

omonaija · Post by **omonaija** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 11:02 pm

Jay-jay better leave that kick and follow team...imaging campo playing in midfield of this bolton team???

SITH · Post by **SITH** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 12:05 am

tHE ONLY OTHER tEAM JJ can play for, play CL games and start on the right is Man U so either oga stays in Bolton or come to where Dreams are made !!!

okuns · Post by **okuns** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 1:14 am

The same also applies to Youri Djorkaeff and Ivan Campo... Even so, we can throw in Ibrahim Ba for jara or Mario Jardel. The bottomline is that until someone puts money on the table, Oga should stay put, as in P-U-T.

Dujon · Post by **Dujon** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 1:46 am

There is no doubt in my mind that, should Bolton be able to afford his wages, that's where he should stay.

At the moment he is a big fish in a small pond - although it's a pond which, partly due to his contributions, is growing.

In view of his 'on again', 'off again' form I suspect that in a 'bigger' club - i.e. the top three - he could well be bench warming for a while. If Bolton had gained a goal for every time the man hit the woodwork they'd be well and truly entrenched in the top six! 'Tis true. Would Man Utd., Arsenal or Chelsea accept that? I doubt it.

Now, don't get me wrong here - Okocha is a very, very good player and is the reason I joined this forum (thank you for allowing that.)

So, I guess I'm somewhat biassed. Having followed the Trotters/Whites for some 50-years I figure I'm entitled to the odd opinion, even though you might think my opinions somewhat odd.

Cheers, all.

Larry Ashagbe · Post by **Larry Ashagbe** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 4:09 am

Dujon,

Welcome on board.

Okocha has found the perfect club that understands him and he understands the love and affection shown by the Bolton fans and probabaly will not find a better club for the rest of his career.

I agree with most of your points.

Good players are hard to come bye.

Harry Redknapp is looking for a striker to sign that will give him 10 goals till the end of the season and he was lamenting SKY TV today about how difficult it is to find the right player.

Harry is considering either to get soembody from a lower league or sign a foreign import and his biggest concern is that the player could too long to settle and time is something he does not have on his side.

Dujon · Post by **Dujon** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 2:31 am

Larry Ashagbe,

I thank you for your welcome, kind sir/madam.

Whilst I reside well south of the equator I do talk frequently to Bolton supporters. Love him! I reckon half of them would smother him. He seems to have fitted, not only into the team, but into the hearts of all the fans - given Bolton's history with 'imports' that is no mean feat, believe you me.

Come through the cup series in one piece, please, Jay-Jay, we're going to need you fit and 'on song' for the last few games.

Bigpokey24 · Post by **Bigpokey24** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 2:39 am

OLd news again from Vindave , u all see what am talking about. This same post have been posted b4.

anikulapo · Post by **anikulapo** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 3:13 am

Larry, Can you e-mail Rednapp and tell him that he is a dumb a$$ for selecting the wrong Nigerian striker. If he had invested in Aghahowa insted of Yeyegbeni then he would be in a different spot right now

eislike · Post by **eislike** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 7:08 am

for my selfish reasons, i want to see jay jay so good they named him twice @ a big time club..so i can smile when i see little white kids wearing his shirts,and when the commentators, during a big time game tell the people were he is from.. "jay jay the nigeria toys with the ball and makes defenders looks like a fish out of water."

Cybereagles

For love of Okocha, •Bolton plan new deal

For love of Okocha, •Bolton plan new deal

JJ's call