Sure the rehabilitation team will be looking at it. Hamstrings are a pain in the arse, especially when the player is developing and is quick. It will also depend which muscle within the group is causing the issues (semitendinosus, semimembranosus, biceps femoris). Moreover, it maybe that there is a muscle imbalance somewhere, glutes for example of even into the lower back. Loads of qualified folk to ensure things can be improved though.
That makes sense, as much as I want it to happen immediately he is under contract so can wait a few weeks to get it done. I think a few in the championship will get a rude awakening when they have him breathing down their necks for 90 minutes, trying to pounce on every little mistake!
On the fence with Broadhead. If we thought he could stay fit it would be a no brainer I think we have done our business brilliantly this summer. I'm just slightly concerned that our focus seems to be on maintaining last season's side, rather than improving it (Ballard aside of course). I think there's a hell of a lot of merit in that. I'd just like to have seen perhaps a bit more of an uplift rather than just trying to keep at the baseline. Still 7 weeks of the window left so I'm sure we'll see it.
I know where you are coming from in terms of last seasons side being what we largely have now. One way to look at it though is that it is the post January squad, not the pre January squad. We know how light in terms of squad we were first half of the season, despite the work we did over the summer. The second half saw players like Baath, Roberts, Clarke, Matete bolster our squad and gives us better options. That is the squad that went 15 unbeaten. I tend to think the squad that finished the season were championship level so getting them back is great to see. I do think some additional lads will land too, to push us on again.
Sunderland backed to beat Middlesbrough in race to sign Troy Parrott on loan this summer. That is according to Spurs insider John Wenham, who regularly breaks news about the club on his Lilywhite Rose social media channels. https://www.teamtalk.com/sunderland...ill-likely-join-black-cats-over-middlesbrough
I still insist Alex Neil is half the battle. He knows what he’s doing. And the way he got us playing back end of season would have seen us consolidate in championship IMO. The recruitment team may quite rightly be not wanting to disrupt that harmony too much
I get where you are coming from, the difference with this squad is that we have lots of good young players so in theory they should continue to kick on. Players like Neil, Hume, Patto, Cirkin, Matete, Clarke and even Stewart & Roberts should kick on with more experience
This. By securing Wright,Gooch and Roberts,then adding Clarke,we've cemented the platform. Adding Ballard and 3 or 4 more will take us on. Patience. Our recruitment is the best it's been in at least 10 years. Even when we get it slightly wrong...eg Hoffman,Alves....we can get out of it quickly.We've cleared the dead wood....Grigg gone,McGeady gone.....the unfortunate Burge,Willis and Arby.....we're doing ok imo. This squad looks lean,young,fit and, subject to some additional quality,ready to go.
I don't disagree and hope you're right mate. But the Championship is a different beast to leauge one. That squad as it stands is very light. I'm sure new players are primed to come in, but the season kicks off in a couple of weeks. I haven't posted my concerns to be a massive fanny though. lol
I reckon we will get Broadhead on a permanent and Parrot on loan. Are we still looking at Bellinghams brother as an option? Seems to have gone quiet that one.
I think Bellingham will have much bigger offers, to be honest. It’s a good sign that we’ve even been trying to get him, though.
