Transfer flops - Chris Sutton

Sutton being presented as a Chelsea player

You wouldn't think that someone who has over 150 career goals could be thought of as a transfer flop, but after a big money move to Chelsea the striker spectacularly failed to live up to the price tag and expectations.  However that is what happened to Chris Sutton when he headed to London, after earning many plaudits in previous spells with Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers.

It was with the Canaries where he began his career, making over a century of appearances and averaging around a goal every three games.  In three years at Carrow Road his reputation was suitably enhanced and it wasn't long before links with big money moves away started to be touted.

Ewood Park was Sutton's next destination, when Blackburn Rovers made him the most expensive player in English football at £5m in 1994.  It was here that the infamous SAS partnership was formed with Alan Shearer, with the pair spearheading the Rovers attack and leading the side to it's maiden, and still only, Premier League title.

However following this success the squad started to break up, and relegation mire ensued.  In 1999 following inevitable relegation Sutton departed, heading to Stamford Bridge where it was hoped an Englishman could succeed amongst the plethora of nationalities.

During his Villa stint

This proved not to be the case.  Following the £10m move he immediately started to struggle, a problem that stretched the whole season and has been adapted by big money strikers that have since made the move to Chelsea.  One season, including an FA Cup final where he didn't even make the squad, and one league goal later his bags were packed again.

This time the Scottish Premier League (SPL) was the destination, where he averaged nearly a goal every two games in a five and a half year stint at Celtic.  Following his successes in Scotland Sutton returned south to try his luck in the Premiership, but again it didn't really work out.  Half a season at Birmingham City was followed by a year at Aston Villa, before an attempt at management was undertaken.

Sutton also only managed one cap for the national side, after representing England at under-21, B and senior level.

The USA - football's care home!

As another player drifts across the pond, the debate once again begins to rage.

Thierry Henry has joined David Beckham in America, three years after the Englishman skipped across the Atlantic and into the arms of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

What both these moves have in common is one thing, they both show a distinct lack of ambition.

Fair enough Beckham wasn't getting treated fairly at Real Madrid, so it was kind of understandable when he thought his time was up.

He will never admit he regrets it, but his time on loan at AC Milan will certainly have eaten away at him and show the seeds of regret have begun to sow.

The Frenchman will no doubt feel a similar sense of regret after a year or two, glancing back over the pond thinking 'if only'.

He will rack up a ridiculous goal tally in America, as the circus show that his career will become trails around from one city to the next.

His new side the New York Red Bulls, were one of the MLS' worst ever performers last season, so this a major coup for them.

A major name can work wonders, on paper, but the craze could soon ware off as it did in Beckham's case.

As previously mentioned it is not a as if these two didn't have European offers, but they chose the more lucrative, meaning a higher wage, option.

It should be a disappointing site to all football fans, that these stars who still have a lot to offer don't mind wasting the end of their careers.

Ryan Giggs at 35 become the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and also claimed the PFA Players of the Year award for his displays last season.

Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham are example of strikers who continued well into their twilight, so what is the fad of 'cracking America'.

It seems any player entering their 30s and nearing the end of their contract is linked with a move to USA, to take their 'brand' and try to improve the view of 'soccer'.

The quotes used upon the announcement also bring about a state of deja vu:

“I want to promote football in America. It is the world’s greatest sport and will be big in America soon,”

If neither Pele or George Best could muster this feat it is unlikely that Henry will have much of an impact.

It seems that we will have to admit that passion and ambition are now a thing of the past, a quick buck in a footballers twilight is the new dream.