Eli Just (AC Horsens | Denmark)

Signed a professional contract, so worthy of his own thread.

From this week's Flying Kiwis.

"Lookin\u2019 great boys! 

Young players out there paving the way, showing that #theNZplayerCAN \u26BD\uFE0F\uD83C\uDDF3\uD83C\uDDFF@fchelsingor @FCHelsingor_Eng @mrjordangardner #TheOl\u00E9Way #Ol\u00E9FootballAcademy #ChangingDNA pic.twitter.com/iqUbrmxQmy

\u2014 Ol\u00E9 Football Academy (@TheOleWay)

May 7, 

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Now for the other couple Eastern Suburbs champions to wander into the pro ranks this week. Midfield maestro and assist king Eli Just and energetic fullback Dalton Wilkins – both in the U20 World Cup squad – have found their way into the books at FC Helsingør in the second tier in Denmark. Same division as Nikko Boxall is currently trying to get promoted from… although Helsingør needs a bit of a push over the last two games of this current season to avoid relegation. A draw this week got them off bottom but they’re still two points adrift of safety.

Just and Wilkins have signed on three year deals and will join the club in July once they’re done with the U20 World Cup with plenty of time to get a full preseason in. The curious thing about Helsingør is that a couple months ago they were purchased by a group of Americans looking to provide American players a pathway into European football… pretty much the same as what Ole Academy have done with Torslanda in Sweden. Now they’ve signed two Ole Academy heroes to get things going. Sounds like those parallel ventures got the two parties talking and one thing led to another. Just and Wilkins had been trialling with the club since April, while Callum McCowatt was also there and naturally they were keen on getting him locked in too but CMC’s waiting ‘til after the U20 World Cup to assess his next direction.

Thrilled that we have signed Eli Just & Dalton Wilkins out of the

Jordan Gardner@mrjordangardner

Thrilled that we have signed Eli Just & Dalton Wilkins out of the @TheOleWay
Academy in New Zealand! Both players are fantastic young footballers who will be w/ New Zealand U-20 National Team heading to Poland for the World Cup later this month https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/112529493/ol-academy-footballers-eli-just-and-dalton-wilkins-join-americanbacked-danish-club …

Eli Just: “I got a very positive impression of the club. There is a long-term plan and a new great stadium to play next year. I'm really looking forward to getting started in earnest.”

FCH Director Janus Kyhl: “Both Dalton and "Eli", as he is just called, are some hard-working players who can run the sun black. They are both creative, modern players who are very flexible. Eli can play all the seats across the centre, and Dalton is a modern wingback that manages the edge as well and can also play in the central defence. They are both players I expect are in play for our first team already next season.”

This kid is better than 3rd tier Denmark. Think he signed too early with Helsingor tbh (especially as they've now been relegated). Should have waited like McCowatt and see what was on offer after U20s.

Well I guess he was worried he was going to get stuck in Turnip 4th division

Some people just don't understand how valuable getting to play first team football is for a 19 year-old. If Eli isn't playing in a league at least equivalent to the Danish 1st tier three years from now people can come back to this post and make fun of me.

Agree. Just think he could have achieved regular first team football at a higher level. 

If he has a stand out tournament it is quite possible he will still get signed or taken out on loan. He hasn't played a game for them either, so he wouldn't have the stand down of playing for too many clubs within 12 months - so that might be a saving grace.

He certainly looked the part in game 1!

He did, but that’s no surprise. 

Would get significant minutes at the Nix, you'd think. Is Denmark 2nd tier better or worse career progression? I'm genuinely not sure.

Looking at him, he needs a bit of time to physically develop - it might be good for him to player in a lower tier until that happens where the demands aren't so great.

Then again, he could spend a season just making brutes look like idiots. I just hope he's made the correct decision for his career.

As a (very) tentative link, Luka Modric spent a year on loan with Zrinjski Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina top division when he was 18. He's awlays credited that experience as toughening him up and preparing him for physical demands of professional football.

Now 3rd tier

corrected

Let's all watch a game of Danish third tier and compare notes: https://mycujoo.tv/video/vanlose?id=41774

so about Masters 2 then?

What a waste of talent playing in such low level of a league.But then again maybe that level is where he is at in the Hight of his carrier.   

Well as far as Ole is concerned any level will do as long as it is not with the Phoenix

In the words of the great Steve Wooddin, the higher the standard, the easier it is

(of course, this only relates to good players)

Its a shop window - the club is likely to go up next season if the talk of investment is even half true... still I think he should have done what McCowatt did and hold off on signing until after the tournament.

There may not have been too many scouts watching us at the start of the tournament, but there will be a fair few more now!

Actually made his debut in Denmark already - scored in the 49th minute for Helsingor's reserves in a 6-3 loss to Nordsjaelland's reserves on 30 April. Would have been on trial at that time, couple weeks before signing was announced

From what I've seen, Elijah Just is one of those players who plays with a lot of heart and passion - It was so evident in the U17s World Cup and I, personally, am seeing spells of it in the U20s.

He knows how to calm players down on the pitch, I saw him pushing Joe Bell away in the match against Honduras when things were getting heated. 

Massive respect for the lad, if he chooses to listen to Declan and go to Helsingor, then good on him. 

There's no doubt a number of clubs will be knocking on his door though - Is there a way for clubs to still snatch him up even though he has recently signed on for a club? Or is it like FIFA Career mode where you have to wait for the next transfer window?

https://fchelsingor.dk/en/2019/05/26/statement-from-chairman-of-the-board-jordan-gardner/

Hi All. I also asked this question in the Ole@Torslander thread, but how did Eli Just get a work permit for this gig?

Lack of a passport cost him a contract at PEC

Are the rules different in Denmark?

Alot of those rules only count in higher divisions, not social football.

He does like a flop. It was noticeable at the U-20s that he and McCowatt hit the ground much more easily than the likes of Singh. perhaps an example of where being kicked around a park by Durante and co. had made stronger players. Hope this level helps iron that out as well.

if he flops and wins a free kick it's a skill... it's when players flop, don't get the foul and lie there complaining there's an issue. 

I don't like players going down too easy, but drawing fouls and getting the ref to go your way is important to learn. 

The salary minimum is lower in Scandanavia in general than the rest of Western Europe.

Especially when you're a smaller player.

Interesting article about FC Helsingor and what the new american owners are trying to do. Just gets a good mention. Can see the attraction for players like Eli and Dalton. Soft introduction into European football with more chance to get minutes and game time, as opposed to signing to early for a big club and wasting away on the bench.

https://www.planetfootball.com/in-depth/americans-have-taken-over-danish-club-to-buy-and-sell-on-young-usa-stars/

first preseason game this Thursday at the new stadium.  Trust Eli will shine from the start.

Helsingor started Danish 3rd tier season with a 1-0 win.

Don't think either Just or Wilkins got on the park.

They weren't in the matchday squad  

0-2 loss for Helsingor FC in the DBU Pokalen (Cup comp) against top tier AB.

Again no playing time for Just or Wilkins.

Not even in the matchday squad. Not good signs so far, thought they'd be a shoo-in for game time at this level. Any injury news we don't know about?

I'm just gonna say it, so far this move stinks.

Yeah, can't say it's done much so far to improve their prospects of becoming professional footballers.

Imagine if there was a club they could be debuting for professionally tonight...