Jussi - Lack of Ambition or Loyalty

clevelandspur · Jussi - Lack of Ambition or Loyalty

Well Bolton GK Jussi Jaskalinnen turned down possible moves to Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs to stay at Bolton it really puzzled me. No offense to Bolton but they are probably going to be in a relegation scrap again. Jussi is 33 years old, wouldn't you think he would want to challenge himself, this is probably the last chance of his career to play at the very top level. I hate to bash a player for staying loyal to the club which gave him a brek but surely Bolton fans wouldn't have been bothered if he left and most resigned to losing him. Quite curious one this,

Thoughts?

Serbitar

I think he realised, "I'll be at best, a back-up at a better club, If I stay, I'll most likely play regularly"

He's a good goalie, but he's not top 6 or even top 8 standard.

clevelandspur

You don't think? Probably a back up for a top 4 club but I can imagine he could play right now for Spurs or Villa. Robinson was awful last year.

stevebwfc

hmmmm, Well to be honest, i am not really overjoyed he is staying. I think Al-Habsi proved himself as more than capable for premiership football during the last season. He has a great kick, and some of his saves are brilliant, he just lacks the experience, which he will gain from playing. But if Jussi stays, then he is more likely to be first choice, and then Al Habsi will not want to stay on with us because of lack of games. And so, in 2 years when Jussi wants to retire or is just not good/fit enough for the prem (yes we are staying up) we will not have a great back-up keeper. . .its a hard one !!!

funkymonkey

I think Jussi is a very good keeper. I'd put him in the top 6 premier league goalkeepers. I actually think he could be top three if he played in a team with a decent defence like Man U or Chelsea.
You look at some of the keepers that are classed as top 4 and I really wonder how well they would do playing in goal for Bolton!

For the last 3 or 4 seasons he has knocked back attempts to move on to a bigger club and I suppose it could be lack of ambition but I'd like to think he is very loyal which is to be commended.

Lou Cipher

Maybe their keeper felt more secure staying at the club. Any mistakes he made playing for any of the so called glamour clubs would be more high profile and possibly he doesn't have the personality to deal with extra critisicm.

clevelandspur

^ I reckon that may be it Lou. As Steve said too it seems like Bolton almost wanted him to leave which is why I found it even more curious.

Also I agree I think he is a top 6 keeper with a proper defense. To your point funky Sometimes I watch Almunia and Reina and I think if they played for say Wigan they would be maligned on a game by game basis. neither of them would fill me with confidence between the sticks.

AlexH

Seeing as Hodgson yesturday picked up Andranik I thought id post in here.

I think it is a very safety first approach by the guy. Despite Al Habsi looking pretty decent between the sticks, he knows the No.1 spot will be his while he would really have to work hard to get the nod at one of the bigger clubs. He is still a good goalkeeper but it just seems like a very cautious approach-However, I can see Bolton doing quite well next season.

Marcucas

As an international he needed to make sure he was playing regulary and added into the fact that he likes first team football probably was the reason for staying. I like players who are not toyed by money into moving and the prospects of staying on the bench for more money.

Its loyalty not really shown much nowadays.

Maverick

I think everyone has pretty much covered everything I was going to say. He is a good keeper and has kept Bolton in games that they didn't deserve to be in.