Angelo Ogbonna looks to be another 30 plus Iron who will be at the club for a few years yet despite celebrating his 33rd birthday in May of next year.
That’s just a year before he sets out on the final year of his contract which currently has an option attached for another year or two which could even take him up to 36.
There has been great praise for Fabian Balbuena’s attitude and improved form over recent weeks but Oggy has shown such professionalism since he joined us back in 2015.
He spent a long while in the shadows behind the Paraguayan and Issa Diop and was regularly linked with a move back to Europe.
Instead he battled his way back into the team and has become our rock and often mentioned possible Hammer of the Year by many.
That we have him tied up for what is likely to be the rest of his career is another plus among the over 30s.
After much talk last year of bringing down the average squad age. Looks like we are firmly on the path of tying ageing players to the club on big wages yet again.
Do we really want a 36 year old ogbonna in the side? Antonios injury record will just get worse and worse. Noble , a pay increase ? Really? He is not even playing! For good reason. Just let him go and come back when he’s retired.
We revert to type everytime with these sentimental fools running the place.
Last point first – you have to offer an increase on an option or they leave. It need only be a penny. The purpose of the piece was to update. No suggestion they will still be playing just advising on where we were with them
As far as a 36 year old Ogbonna is concerned – Liverpool seem happy to have James Milner around and he will be 35 next month
So I guess it depends on the individual
Speed has never been part of Ogbonna’s armamentarium and him slowing with age will only become a factor if with start playing a high line. Jagielka doffed his managerial role to help out on the pitch this week. At 38, he put in a fine performance for 35 minutes. Fitness, skill, attitude.