Jack Baldwin has pledged to give his all for Sunderland and believes the squad has what it takes to achieve promotion at the first time of asking.The 25-year-old has signed a two-year deal on Wearside after Sunderland spent £200,000 to bring him from League One rivals Peterborough United. The former Hartlepool United defender and Posh captain has spoken passionately about Sunderland and admits it was a 'no-brainer' to move to the Stadium of Light. A leader on and off the pitch, Baldwin is hoping to help Sunderland win promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt. “League One is a battle of consistency,” said Baldwin. “The teams that are the most consistent in this league are the ones who tend to get the job done. "At Peterborough, in years gone by, it has been consistency that has let us down because there have been times when we have been flying and there were times when we couldn’t buy a win. "With the experience in this group, I can’t see why we can’t get the job done at the first time of asking. “It’s a passionate place and that’s part of my game - I’m passionate on and off the pitch, and I’ll give my all for the football club. “It’s going to be a challenge. It’s a bit overwhelming for me walking in the door because it is a massive club with a brilliant set-up, and the history of the club is incredible. “For me as a young lad I was ready to go to university until I signed for Hartlepool, so in the space of a few years to now be here is overwhelming. “But I relish challenges and I’d like to think that I’ll hit the ground running. "I’m delighted to be here. It’s a massive, massive, football club," he told the club website. Baldwin added: "I’ve lived in the North East before and I know how much football means to the people up here. “I’ve still got friends up here from my time at Hartlepool and I know the area, so it is not like jumping in at the deep end not knowing what I am coming in to. “I sat in my flat in Hartlepool when I was 18, watching the derbies and scrolling through Twitter, because I have some friends who are Sunderland fans and some who are Newcastle fans, and seeing how much it means in this part of the world." Baldwin made 118 appearances for Posh during his four and a half year stay at the ABAX Stadium after joining from Hartlepool United. Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony described Baldwin as “nothing but class” throughout his time at the club. Sunderland made an initial bid for Baldwin earlier in the summer, the defender one of Jack Ross' top defensive targets. Having gone back with an improved bid last week, the move then happened quickly with Baldwin eager to settle quickly back into North East life. He added: “From what I understand there was a bit of interest early on but these things take time and I was backwards and forwards and didn’t really know what was happening. “I got a call on Thursday from my agent saying they had agreed a fee and I was ready to come up, and I needed to make a decision on what I wanted to do. "It was a no-brainer for me, and I came into the club [Peterborough] on Friday to pick up my boots and say my goodbyes. "It was straight up the road, met the gaffer and did the medical. "I suffered an injury a few years ago which sidelined me for a while but either side of that I have played quite a few league games and I’d like to think I’ll play a lot of games here and get the club where it needs to be.”
Nice to hear what he has to say. Hes,another in the right age group with a desperation to prove himself and the club need to be congratulated in finding so many relatively unknowns to the vast majority of fans. These players all exude a desire to improve their lot and that is what in my opinion will see us through to a successful season which I cannot wait to start. Bring it on.
We need players with lower league experience but still at a young enough age for them to be fired up to take their careers to the maximun. That is exactly the type of players we are signing and exactly the right way to approach this season. I think players like Catts who have only ever played in the Prem were completely blew out of the water with the physicality of playing at this level and playing twice a week against teams that are full of big strong lads that subsitute lack of ability with workrate and passion. Southampton got promoted from this league 7 years ago with Schneiderlein, Lallana, Fonte and Ox Chamberlain in their team. Lets hope we have some hiddens gems aswell.
I don't remember any of these sort of statements from Kone and Khazri etc, I think we're signing the right players and this season is going to be very enjoyable. About ****ing time too.
The right attitude will be crucial to rebuilding. Don't need self-interested "SAFC = just a stepping stone" twats any more...
My exact thoughts. Yes, the drop in level has brought it out of a lot of them as we are massive at this level, but it’s still refreshing to hear after years of ****e, years of folk here for the money etc. At least you’d imagine we will have a team fighting and wanting to succeed here if nothing else. I can’t wait for Saturday to start working out where we are and what we are this season.
If our deadwood wantaways don’t get away, one nice thing to witness this season will be the unknowns becoming heroes and crowd favourites whilst they slither into becoming the ignored .
I get the feeling that we've signed some great characters as well as being competent for at least this level. They don't seem the types to soil themselves at the first sign of trouble or to panic about being a goal up. I predict multiple crowd favourites from this season.
It has, what a bunch of bottlers and hiders we've been stuck with. Loss after loss after loss. Hard to take man.
Everyone, from the new owners, new manager, new signings, are all saying the right things, the things the fans want to hear. But the ball hasn't been kicked in anger yet. Sorry guys, but I really don't understand where all this over-confidence is coming from. There's nowt wrong with pre-season enthusiasm but at least try and keep at least 1 foot on the ground. Apologies if that sounds like I'm on a downer.
I think everyone’s keeping their feet on ground personally. Not seen anyone predicting we will run away with it, seen many quite rightly expect us to be competitive at the right end. Facts are we will know a little bit more after Saturday, a lot more in a month or so. I’m excited about it and I’ve not been excited about games since Sam left.
I think that with just a little bit of optimism in the air, we are bound to grab the chance of being enthusiastic - even if overly so- whilst we have the moment. But I’ m sure at the back of our minds are still the words “ but this is Safc”. !
Oh aye, if anyone can **** it up it’s us. I just don’t think we will, I’ll review this after Saturday of course...
..... just hope Charlton don’t have any ex or players with some tenuous link to us , cos as we well know they always score their only goal in a thousand games against us . !
