Del Piero

[Fernandinho]

Has signed for Sydney FC????

A massive move for not only Sydney FC but the A-League, which has been getting some great exposure from the deal.

Definetely raises our profile like Shangai recently did with the Anelka/Drogba deals (probably not as big but still big).

I think he will be class in the leaugue to be honest.

Dream come true for my family who are all Juventus fans and for the many other Italians in Sydney and probably all of Australia

What do you lads think...

[Tee]

I want him at Anfield. Sydney can wait.

[Imy]

Would have loved him to sign for us.
As an option from the bench/rotated he'd be excellent - much better than having five defenders a GK and Stewart Downing on the bench

[Fosterbloke]

Well actually...

http://www.football365.com/news/21554/8051733/Could-Liverpool-Sign-Alex-Del-Piero...-

[Fernandinho]

I posted this thread based on recent twitter news as of an hour ago. Seems pretty much confirmed. I think Sydney are releasing news in 30 mins too.

[the rev leeroy brown]

i'm genuinely baffled by the seemingly overwhelming desire to have a 37 (near 38) year old footballer, with a recent poor goalscoring record, whose general fitness is at a low level due to having missed pre-seaon therefore giving him an uphill battle to obtain a level of fitness that would be anywhere near acceptable for the EPL before the january window, whose legs have deserted him years ago meaning he has no real pace leading to a struggle to play the rodgers way of closing down the defenders and especially as there are / were far far better options on a free and in our youth setup!!!

The move for del piero would have been nothing more than a shirt sales / commercial decision and one which made no sense to what really matters . . . . . on the field performances.

[Alex]

I think he was being thought of for us as an impact sub.

Its a good move for the A League. But it will take more than Del Piero to get it moving. A League isn't even that popular in Australia is it?

[Vermilion]

i'm genuinely baffled by the seemingly overwhelming desire to have a 37 (near 38) year old footballer, with a recent poor goalscoring record, whose general fitness is at a low level due to having missed pre-seaon therefore giving him an uphill battle to obtain a level of fitness that would be anywhere near acceptable for the EPL before the january window, whose legs have deserted him years ago meaning he has no real pace leading to a struggle to play the rodgers way of closing down the defenders and especially as there are / were far far better options on a free and in our youth setup!!!

The move for del piero would have been nothing more than a shirt sales / commercial decision and one which made no sense to what really matters . . . . . on the field performances.

[Fernandinho]

It is growing in popularity here. Its a real shame we didnt get the World Cup, football here is begging for a moment like that, it will explode when it happens.

Having said that its so hard for the a-league to grow when all the rugby codes (AFL, Rugby League and Union) are so intimidated by football in Australia that they are all trying to do everything they can to keep the sport down.

Its still the most played sport in the nation, unfortunately we just dont get the crowds to match it like Union/League/AFL.

The quality of the league is growing every year and memberships have steadily increased at Sydney.

With out huge italian population nation wide, I generally think that for all the away games and for at least the first few home games at Sydney Del Piero could lift crowds by a few thousand...

Also, no matter what people say about having "lost his legs" etc, I still think he will have a massive impact here. Heck, Dwight Yorke was a success here and he had nowere near the technical ability of Del Piero.

[Bender]

Australian side Sydney FC have completed the high-profile signing of former Italy international Alessandro Del Piero.

The 37-year-old forward has signed a two-year deal with the A-League club.
Del Piero left Italian champions Juventus in the summer after making more than 500 appearances for the Turin side.
He had recently been linked with a move to the Premier League before deciding to sign for Sydney.

Liverpool had reportedly shown an interest, although it is understood no approach was made, while Del Piero was also linked with a move to Southampton. Scottish champions Celtic were also interested, having held preliminary discussions with the Italian's advisors.
"I am extremely happy to be joining Sydney FC," said Del Piero.

"This is a very big moment for me because I want to continue my career in a new part of the world where I can make a major contribution and help grow the game I love."
Del Piero, who was capped 91 times for Italy, is the latest in a list of former stars to have moved to Australia.
The likes of Robbie Fowler, Romario, Juninho and Dwight Yorke have all previously played in the A-League. BBC

[Lee]

Grr, I was quite excited at the thought of him signing for us.

[Shanks]

Grr, I was quite excited at the thought of him signing for us.

Excited at the thought of us signing a 37 year old!
Have we really stooped that low as a club...

[Vermilion]

And we think expectations need managing.