Wolves fans react to Tsun Dai joining Premier League side; Oxford United supporters shocked at sale
- Molineux club’s supporters see arrival of another Chinese player as a marketing ploy from owners Fosun
- Talk centres on the reported fee for a player who failed to make an appearance for the U’s last season
The 19-year-old has joined the Molineux side’s under-23s from Oxford United, where he failed to make a first team appearance.
Dai described himself as “buzzing” to have joined the club on his Twitter account but the feeling is not widely shared.
While Molineux Mix forum member WolvTown greeted the arrival with the message, “Great news, welcome to the club Tsun Dai,” other Wolves fans were less excited.
A user calling themselves The Radiator was flat. “This guy was actually alright for Bury in League one then Lee Clark ruined his progress. I don't think he'll get near the first team.”
We8wba wrote: “Wolves are soooooo desperate for a Chinese origin player.
“They really just need to go sign their best star whoever it is instead of peeing about all these L1&L2 players who very highly unlikely to make it.”
With Dai’s arrival, the Chinese-owned club have five players on their books with Chinese heritage.
Wolvesultra was even more cynical. “Another speculative signing in the hope one might make it so we can sell one zillion trillion shirts, but who'll probably never kick a ball for us.”
That was echoed by Bill S Preston Esq. “I hope I'm wrong and these lads are being signed on merit, but never before have we signed many Asian players. I just hope it's not club policy to sign them because of their background.”
Wolvesultra responded to that comment. “You're clearly not wrong, how many other players around league one level are we signing that aren't of Asian heritage?
“Nothing to do with where they come from (or even the reasoning behind it) that is the issue for me. What is in issue (that can certainly lead you down a slippery slope) is non-footballing staff are clearly making decisions on recruitment.”
A user called Corporate Wolf described the move as “purely for global marketing purposes”.
Oxford United fans appear to be happy at the reported £600,000 transfer fee they have received for a player that did not trouble the first team.
Phil Gilman called it the “sale of the century” with many others expressed their delight at the sale or exclaimed they had forgotten that Dai was on the books at the U’s.
Most fans took it as an opportunity for witticisms and wordplay.
Keith Harris responded to Bet365’s question of who will finish highest in the Premier League with more than a hint of sarcasm.
“Hard to see beyond Wolves now they've seen off all the competition and landed Tsun Dai.”
“We’ve got a Tsun Dai League player here for sure ...” wrote Twitter user Fly. Sunday league is the lowest form of amateur football in England.
“Let's hope he's decent enough and the Wolves fans aren't left thinking 'Tsun Dai bloody Tsun Dai',” wrote Ciaran Ratton, referencing the U2 song about the Easter Rising.
“Easy like Tsun Dai Morning ...” said Chris WWFC Wood, in a joke that many made tipping their hat to the Commodores and Lionel Richie’s hit song.
“Can he play midweek & Saturday matches, or can he only play Tsundai games,” was one comment on the Express & Star website, the local Wolverhampton newspaper.
Olly Bryant wrote: “I wonder if he has any brothers, I hear every Dai is like Tsun Dai.”
Not everyone was dismissive of Dai’s transfer with one Reading fan wondering if the club where Dai spent his youth career had erred in allowing him to move to Bury.
“Was it a mistake to let tsun dai go?” wrote Reading fan Sami.
Time will tell.
