Free agents

Dear needy football clubs,

The transfer windows have closed. At least most of them. But the domestic window is still open in the UK. Better still, unattached players can be signed outside transfer windows. So a few tips, brave lower league clubs, on who is available. Pay per play deals? Pay per goal?

There's a whole team here (4-3-3 formation) so, if you are thinking of starting a pub team, here they are.

Heurelho Gomes. 39. Goalkeeper. Brazilian international, 8 caps. Ex Spurs, Watford. Perfect age for a goalie. No injuries.

Nathaniel Clyne. 29. Right back. English international, 14 caps. Ex Liverpool, Southampton. Missed 48 games with cruciate ligament injury 2019/20.

Gael Clichy. 35. Left back. French international, 20 caps. Ex Man City, Arsenal. No history of  long term injuries.

Ashley Williams. 36. Centre back. Welsh international, 86 caps, many as captain. Ex Everton, Swansea. Almost completely injury free over many years.

James Collins. 37. Welsh international partner of Ashley Williams (2 for the price of 1?), 50 caps. Ex Aston Villa, West Ham and recently Ipswich Town. No recent injuries other than those associated with the rigours of playing against bullying strikers of the like of Andy Carroll.

Tom Huddlestone. 33. Defensive midfielder. England international, 4 caps. Ex Spurs, Hull City, Derby County. 242 Premier League appearances, 11 goals. Only 57 days injured (hamstring) since 2013.

Shinji Kagawa. 31. Attacking midfielder. Japan international, 97 caps, 31 goals. Ex Man Utd, Borussia Dortmund, recently Real Zaragoza. No serious injuries.

Jack Wilshere. 28. Midfield playmaker. England international, 34 caps, 2 goals. Ex Arsenal, Bournemouth, West Ham. Genius. Highly injury prone (792 days injured last 4 years). Apparently wants "to try something different". How about League One with Ipswich Town, Jack?

Daniel Sturridge. 31. Striker. England international, 26 caps, 8 goals. Ex Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City. Last seen playing in Turkey for Trabzonspor, so playing for Wycombe Wanderers in the Championship should be pretty similar.  Injury prone, mostly constant niggling injuries rather than serious long-term ones.

Danny Welbeck. 29. Striker. England international, 42 caps, 16 goals. Ex Man Utd, Arsenal and Watford. Plenty more left in the tank, I'd guess. Probably wouldn't come cheap. Injury prone (774 days injured last 5 years).

Mario Balotelli. 30. Italy international, 36 caps, 14 goals. Ex Inter, Man City, AC Milan, Liverpool, Nice, Marseille, Brescia (a pattern there?). 52 goals in Serie A, 41 in Ligue 1, 21 in the Premier League, 8 in the Champions League - need I go on? Virtually injury free. Get him to play and you've got a player.

Now that's a pub team ⚽

Yours,

Nigel
Free agent agent consultant.

Thanks to transfermarkt.co.uk for a terrific database.