Don't you just love football transfers. They're great for conversation and speculation and always bring with them the usual rhetoric from players and managers - stuff like 'It's a dream to play for Fulchester. I always supported them as a lad... ', bla, bla.
We all had an inkling that Sir David of the Healy was going to be given little or no chance at FFC this season, especially with the purchase of Bobby Zamora and countless other personnel. There were rumours of both Cardiff City and Ipswich and even talk of the Spanish La Liga or France.
However, Roy Keane has managed to persuade Ulster's favourite son to move up to Wearside. What's more, he managed to do this without so much as going to the cashpoint, with Etuhu going the other way.
No one has any doubts about Sunderland's ambition and Healy must surely be delighted with a move to an improving Premiership club. There has been much excitement throughout Ulster concerning his move but it hasn't been mirrored in quite the same way on Wearside.
Ask any Leeds or Fulham supporter their view on David Healy and it doesn't inspire. Although played out of position for most of his time at Elland Road the Leeds fans saw him as lazy and simply not able to score goals. The Fulham faithful see Healy as an over-hyped legacy from Lawrie Sanchez' brief reign at Craven Cottage.
It seems that Keane sees it differently though. "David will be a good signing for us. He has lots of experience at the top level and his international record is phenomenal. He scored a few goals for Fulham last season, one of them was a well-taken strike against us at Craven Cottage, and he's another signing who will increase competition for places."
"I know Roy Keane from my Manchester United days and it's a privilege to join him at Sunderland. I'm well aware of the passion of the Sunderland fans, having played at the Stadium of Light a few times, and I can't wait to get going. It's an exciting move for me," added the Chosen One.
Whether Healy is included in the starting eleven is another matter. Djibril Cissé has been acquired from Marseille and it looks like Blackburn's Benni McCarthy could be joining him. With Kenwyne Jones on his way back to fitness that would likely put Healy as fourth choice striker, effectively replacing the role Michael Chopra has currently. |
