That's one of the most heartening things I've seen for a while ... ... after what we've suffered, over a decade, it's just what we need. Pride in Sunderland, it's bloody marvellous.
Zac Johnson, CB, apparently turned down PL clubs to stay with us as well. We have some great prospects at the academy so great that we now seem to be able to keep them.
Its a shame that 16 year old lad who we let travel with the first team squad to Wembley last season to gain experience, decided to sack us off for Everton. When you look at the likes of Sam Greenwood, Hugill and Pye etc who all left us for top 4 Premiership clubs, its pretty sad really to think of how much talent we could have had.
Yeah was disappointing him going but we got £1 million for him so not too bad. Under SD and CM think we lost Hugill, Pye, Stevenson and Mumba for less combined
His potential value will eclipse that. Its just abit sad really that we bring all these top kids through and only manage to keep and see a few of them develop. Pickford was the last one that we managed to keep
It is but think all clubs are the same. Was reading earlier that Arsenal are about to lose one of their best youngsters to Chelsea. Its about getting the best fee and having sell on clauses in these deals.
Im hoping now we are out of League 1 finally, itll be easier to keep them. Being in the 3 tier done us no favours at all when trying to convince young players and their parents that staying with us would be the best way for them to develop as a player.
All the more puzzling when it would seem to be much easier for a young lad to gain experience lower down the league,when you consider it's virtually impossible for anyone, but the super talented ,to establish a place in a PL side....especially one that's being beaten every week.
Cant blame the players as most have little to lose, better off financially short term, and prestige wise later when they move on. Its the system that needs looking at .
