Rangers want Healy
David Healy
By The Black Cats
January 7 2009
Glasgow Rangers have expressed an interest in taking the boyhood Rangers fan to Ibrox. It is thought that the sale of Healy could bring in around £1million for Sunderland Boss Ricky Sbragia to use to strengthen his squad. Rangers are in a poor position financially, as well as in the league, though they're in second behind Old Firm rivals Celtic.
Rangers are expected to sell a number of their big players in the January transfer window as the Scottish Giants are strapped for cash.
But manager Walter Smith is hoping he can limit the damage with a few shrewd acquisitions.
Sunderland currently have a very big squad and are looking to move on a good number of players that have rarely been given a chance. Perhaps Ranger's could take Daryl Murphy off our hands too?
Healy would be one of these, a cheap striker, though unproven in the English Premier League, has an astounding International record for Northern Ireland.
Healy has never really featured in the Sunderland side in the Premier League and I believe that if he is to be sold that he would do great in the slightly poorer Scottish Premier League.
Healy's goalscoring exploits have made him one of the most popular players ever to appear for Northern Ireland.
Up to the end of the Euro 2008 qualifiers he had scored thirty-three goals in sixty-two appearances for his country.
Amongst the British international sides, only Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker, Jimmy Greaves and Michael Owen (all from England) have scored more goals. Healy's international average of 0.53 goals per game, or one goal every 1.88 games, compares with 85 goals in 326 appearances for his various clubs (up to the end of November 2007): an average of 0.26 goals per game, or one goal every 3.84 games.
His international scoring rate is therefore marginally over twice as good as his club rate. Eighty-one of his 326 club appearances - just under a quarter - have been as a substitute.
He is a rare example of a player who has consistently struggled to reproduce his international form at club level, which defies the more common trend of players being unable to reproduce their club form at international level.
This is despite playing much of his club football in the second tier of the English league, and playing for a largely unsuccessful international side in Northern Ireland.
His success for the Northern Ireland team has earned him the nickname "Sir David" amongst fans.
Healy was awarded an MBE for his services to football, mainly based on his International prowess.
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Get rid of him while people will still pay for him.
