Speculation - Stuart Holden

[Libertine]

Only cos I am an American and all...

He missed all last season rehabbing from a knee injury which took 2 operations to fix. BUT...before he had that knee torn up he was having a massive season at Bolton. 2 years ago they were on the edge of European play. Very similar to Jem, a disruptive, harassing, midfielder who chips in with the odd goal and links up well.

Bolton is down now and if healthy Holden has shown he can play top notch football at the premier league level. Worth a punt (if he passes a medical and is proven healthy enough for full time football)?

[GSY-Royal]

Fantastic player. I firmly believe that if Holden and their Korean bloke (not even going to attempt it) weren't injured for so long, they'd have survived comfortably.

Don't see why he'd be out of reach for us either. Great call.

[MouldyRoyal]

Quality player, Bolton's season would have been very different with Holden available. Is he fit yet though? His injury was pretty bad.

[Bring Back The SB]

Only cos I am an American and all...

He missed all last season rehabbing from a knee injury which took 2 operations to fix. BUT...before he had that knee torn up he was having a massive season at Bolton. 2 years ago they were on the edge of European play. Very similar to Jem, a disruptive, harassing, midfielder who chips in with the odd goal and links up well.

Bolton is down now and if healthy Holden has shown he can play top notch football at the premier league level. Worth a punt (if he passes a medical and is proven healthy enough for full time football)?

Such an American post

[RobRoyal]

Korean bloke (not even going to attempt it)

Lee?

Holden would be a terrific signing. I'd imagine he'll be snapped up by someone further up the food chain though.

[GSY-Royal]

Korean bloke (not even going to attempt it)

Lee?

Knew it was Lee but there are a few, Young Pyo, Chung Yong, etc. Looked it up and it's Lee Chung Yong.

[Reading4eva]

Would be a good call, and fairly cheap I imagine

[Libertine]

Fantastic player. I firmly believe that if Holden and their Korean bloke (not even going to attempt it) weren't injured for so long, they'd have survived comfortably.

Don't see why he'd be out of reach for us either. Great call.

Yep...I think he could be very much within our reach. But...

Korean bloke (not even going to attempt it)

Lee?

Holden would be a terrific signing. I'd imagine he'll be snapped up by someone further up the food chain though.

Would be a good call, and fairly cheap I imagine

Quality player, Bolton's season would have been very different with Holden available. Is he fit yet though? His injury was pretty bad.

Yeah the injury was quite severe. Both the ACL and cartilage were damaged to go along with a chip fracture. But if there are doubts about his fitness he might be fairly cheap and not on the radar of the bigger teams right now. But if he is fit I am sure he viewed by Bolton as key to them going right back up, so I don't think they will give him up without a fight.

[royalhaven]

Libertine, I am glad you posited this speculation, as I have thought about this for some time now. One of the best US up and comers (sorely needed for this qualifying campaign). I agree with your assessment and I would personally lead the meltdown of HNA? if this were to happen. Saddly I don't see it as even a remote possibility. What is his contract status with Bolton? If he has more than one year I don't think they will sell him. They know how good he is. I think Holden will want stay with Bolton next year (or at least until January). He needs time to get back into the game and regain confidence. The Championship is a good place for him to do that. He will tear it up. If Bolton stay down they will sell him next summer (ala Doyle, etc). But even if he comes on the market next year, I actually think he will be priced beyond us, which of course is saying something these days. I rate him just behind Demsey and second best American in the BPL. If he has a good year in the Championship his fee will be just a notch below Dempseys.

And if you want to see an HNA? meltdown, wait until we pay a 10K plus on an American! oiy.

[Bring Back The SB]

Libertine, I am glad you posited this speculation, as I have thought about this for some time now. One of the best US up and comers (sorely needed for this qualifying campaign). I agree with your assessment and I would personally lead the meltdown of HNA? if this were to happen. Saddly I don't see it as even a remote possibility. What is his contract status with Bolton? If he has more than one year I don't think they will sell him. They know how good he is. I think Holden will want stay with Bolton next year (or at least until January). He needs time to get back into the game and regain confidence. The Championship is a good place for him to do that. He will tear it up. If Bolton stay down they will sell him next summer (ala Doyle, etc). But even if he comes on the market next year, I actually think he will be priced beyond us, which of course is saying something these days. I rate him just behind Demsey and second best American in the BPL. If he has a good year in the Championship his fee will be just a notch below Dempseys.

And if you want to see an HNA? meltdown, wait until we pay a 10K plus on an American! oiy.

He's nearly 27

Up and comer?

[Libertine]

Libertine, I am glad you posited this speculation, as I have thought about this for some time now. One of the best US up and comers (sorely needed for this qualifying campaign). I agree with your assessment and I would personally lead the meltdown of HNA? if this were to happen. Saddly I don't see it as even a remote possibility. What is his contract status with Bolton? If he has more than one year I don't think they will sell him. They know how good he is. I think Holden will want stay with Bolton next year (or at least until January). He needs time to get back into the game and regain confidence. The Championship is a good place for him to do that. He will tear it up. If Bolton stay down they will sell him next summer (ala Doyle, etc). But even if he comes on the market next year, I actually think he will be priced beyond us, which of course is saying something these days. I rate him just behind Demsey and second best American in the BPL. If he has a good year in the Championship his fee will be just a notch below Dempseys.

And if you want to see an HNA? meltdown, wait until we pay a 10K plus on an American! oiy.

He is under contract until 2013. I do agree, I think he wants to stay with Bolton for now and prolly nothing will happen til January at the earliest.

The conundrum is right now the health of his knee is a major question mark and it would be an iffy proposition to sign him before he shows he has sufficiently recovered. But if the knee is fine and the form he showed before he was injured returns he might be out of our range as he will attract the attention of much bigger clubs and command much higher wages and fee to acquire him.

Also agree with if he is healthy he will rip the Championship to shreds. He was just coming into his own, in what should be the prime of his career. It would be a perfect signing for us, a talented and hungry player just entering his prime.