Someone already mentioned & i think there right...if Stewart injury is a bad one...we need to be looking at a long term option for Stewart...two ways to look at...needs to be someone who can step into the Stewart mould & play his role & can develop...if Stewart were to leave in the summer we have his replacement here & settled in...hopefully Stewart is here next season & we have a like for like backup ideally a striker possibly Simms & the Stewart backup next few days Either way club need to keep the extent of Stewarts injury as quite as possible or whoever were looking at the price goes up & probably wage demands. get the juggling right as Speakman has generally so far & we have one hell of a chance of making those playoffs...which i really hope we do Again two ways to look at...if we could get to that playoff final....its a one off game with massive chance to reach the prem...if we were to loose....these young players have gained experience massively in high pressure games & will be even more ready to hit the ground running next season....remember Reidys young side that lost a playoff final didnt do to bad the year after....KTF....its going to get more exciting....as someone on here...sure others will know who...something special os happening to this club....i cant help falling
good point this. Although Batth provides it in buckets and Evans is being kept around the team to do his rehab
True, was fine with the idea of him going when Cresswell was linked, this lads lack of first team football is a concern but so was alese’s and cirkins etc and they’ve been brilliant, I’ll trust the recruitment lot I guess
Saw he scored a couple for the 23s on Friday night, much rather get these lads permanently than develop them for their parent clubs
the defence is the area I’m least worried about experience. Have Bath and O’Nien there, plus Gooch. And Ballard played last 2 years in championship and plays like a seasoned international.
Fair point this actually, not like we’d be throwing the lad straight in either, go on then I’m converted haha
All hypothetical but if we got Simms back who would start. Him or Joffy? Or would we go 2 upfront. If 2 upfront does one of Roberts, Amad or Clarke get dropped. Obviously not happy about the LND situation but the options TM has must give him headaches trying to keep the full squad happy.
Probably go simms initially then let them fight it out, refreshing to not have an 11 that just picks itself they all have to be on it to get a look in which is evident when any of them step on the field, can’t remember the last time I even thought someone wasn’t giving their all
We'll stick with the 3 behind the main striker. We have so much fluidity in our play, it must be a nightmare to play against.
We don’t have an unlimited budget and we are well stocked in midfield imo. Especially attack-minded ones like Konate. The focus needs to be on a striker. I would accept bringing in an experienced defensive midfielder too given Evans’ injury.
Please don’t, the thought of Gooch returning to the defence gives me nightmares! I think Bathh and Ballard will always be the preferred centre backs going forward. Hopefully Alese gets moulded into Bathh’s role over a few seasons and eventually we have both a right and left footed centre back with Cirkin and Hume either side. I think that would be a quality back 4 once they’ve a couple more seasons under their belt.
Exactly. I’ve no idea why people keep suggesting 3 at the back or 2 up front. We play so much better with 4 at the back and 3 behind the striker plus it fits our better players in their preferred positions. Nice to have options I suppose.
Is this Everton lad any good? Doesn't seem to have had a loan to get first team games. Anyone seen much of him? Article says left CH and can play LB a bit like Alese.
Forget Simms: Mowbray could strike gold with Sunderland's "clinical" 20 y/o "natural" - opinion Whilst Sunderland could use the final few days of the January transfer window to bring in a new signing to bolster the club’s options in that position, Mowbray could also save Kristjaan Speakman millions by unearthing a gem from the academy. Harrison Sohna could step up and compete for a place in the midfield alongside the likes of Luke O’Nien, Edouard Michut and Dan Neil, if if given the opportunity to do so. The 20-year-old is a combative midfielder who was given a chance to catch the eye in the Carabao Cup earlier this season against Sheffield Wednesday and showed signs of promise. He made four tackles and interceptions combined whilst winning 100% of his aerial battles, and he completed 79% of his attempted passes against the League One opposition (as per Sofascore). Sohna also made three interceptions and two tackles in three EFL Trophy matches in the first half of the campaign, along with completing 88% of his passes and creating two chances for his team-mates as he showed his quality on both sides of the game. Journalist Josh Bunting recently described the youngster as “sharp” and “excellent” as he caught the eye in a pre-season friendly last summer, and his statistics in the Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy this term suggest that Sohna has followed up on that early promise. The 20-year-old may not have the experience that a player like Evans brings in the middle of the park, but the former Aston Villa talent has shown that he has the potential to be a combative, ball-winning force in midfield, and that is why Mowbray must use this injury as an excuse to unleash the prospect rather than taking a late punt in the transfer market.
How does a combative midfielder replace a goal poacher like simms weird article, not a dig at you @Dorset
Don't understand this article and headline which talks about forgetting Simms then the article tells us how good a midfielder this lad is and can compete with 09 for a slot, when 09 is playing in the back four. I'm all for bigging up the likes of Shona but the article is just contradictory, or am I being a bit thick.
Be nice if we could keep a few of them fit. We have lots of options in defence, but never had all of them available at once
