Summer window

Used to spend about a week scouting players in the transfer windows on FM then a few days actually playing the season I wasn’t bothered about that actual matches lol get far too carried away looking at data. Jealous you get to do it for a living! I’d love for us to get into the Portuguese big 3 for some talent they have huge squads but I think we have everything in place for French players to come here and settle in quickly.

 

From the Echo:

Before their play-off games against Luton, Mowbray said the club, and Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman, would be prepared to move quickly in the transfer market this summer.

"Everything lands on my laptop for me to look at and check - snapshots of players from around the world that we have got on our radar," said Mowbray.

"I always give them feedback, I tell them ‘he’s good, I like this one, I think this one is better than that one’.

"I am involved in the recruitment, Kristjaan is coming into my office and we are discussing some players.”

I know there's a lot said about managers wanting control of everything but, to me, this seems an ideal situation. Obviously, if your feedback is 'this or that player looks awful, absolutely not what we need' and we then subsequently sign that player, then I can imagine things going south quickly, but assuming you're aligned with the general vision, which surely you are by virtue of having the job, I guess that isnt happening and it therefore seems like a great position to be in as the person in charge of picking the team.

That being said, if we start the season without 3 legit strikers in the squad I retract the whole statement

 

Aye i've watched benfica B a few times this season n they have some cracking players. Ive mentioned him before but cher n'dour is a talent n a player called schjuprupp (no idea if thats the spelling) is one of the best young players ive watched over last 18 months. Sporting have some talent as well, they have a lad called matues fernandes who is a CM who is going to the top - great player on FM as well lol

Ill be watching a lot of the u20/u21 championship this summer so will keep folk posted on talented players.

I think the south american market is one we will explore this summer, the value for money there is unreal and a lot of the players have the mentality that would fit will in sunderland- that hard working, working class background

 

Really need Amad to stop commenting on the Sunderland Twitter page before I convince myself he’s coming back

 

Yep. But they changed owners and now gave some guy who thinks it's funny to say "if it ain't broke, consider breaking it" .

We he broke it, and it's still broke.

 

Love reading this stuff from you mate...keep it coming!

 

All sounds very positive. I really hope we get some early business done. The Ross Stewart situation concerns me - I can't see him going in the summer, but I can see him running his contract down. This injury has really ****ed us because we can't sell him now (surely no team would take that gamble for the money we are asking) and if he goes in Jan it will be for pennies.

 

Without knowing the terms of the contract he's already got,it's difficult to predict. I wouldn't worry too much, KS and others seem to know what they're doing.
The injury situation has complicated things with a number of players contract discussions,I would guess......Embo,Cory in addition to Roscoe.
It's going to be an interesting time,particularly as we have no play off involvement,so we know where we are from now.

 

Been the 1st season in ages where we haven't had loads of players out of contract. Think Evans signed a new deal so it's potentially only Pritchard that is coming to the end of his deal (we already know Winniesta is leaving)

Suppose I'm concerned from the "Stewart is our best striker" angle, but of course there are other players who can score at this level - it feels like Amad will be the biggest loss of all

 

that’s a shame. Perhaps he wanted more game time which is totally understandable

 

Don’t see michut as a starter in the premier league at this stage but all the best to him all the same

 

A little bit surprised by this. Surely a player whose value is only going to increase and he looked quality at times, hope it wasn’t us choosing not to exercise the option to buy. Wouldn’t be surprised if he went to Brentford.

 

Extremely disappointed with this, he is a cracking little player for not a lot of money.
Yes there's competition in midfield for him but that's how it should be, think he'll go for double his fee at present given a year or two with plenty game time. Shame really.

 

Suppose you could argue that he hasn't done a great deal in his time here. 1 goal and 1 assist I think? He looks tidy enough on the ball, but does he add enough to the team? If Neil/Ba are going to be our more technical players and Evans/Ekwah the more defensive option, does Michut fit in? Is it worth spending £2.5m on him just in case?

FWIW I'd sign him and see what he can do with a full preseason under his belt

 

I'm disappointed that he hasn't signed too mate. If the final decision was the clubs, then I think we can expect Matete and Embleton to be moving on, as neither of them are anywhere near as good as Michut in my opinion.

If Bellingham comes in, I would still like us to sign another midfielder, as Ba is still a little raw.

 

Embo is a different sort of player - wide forward or No.10. He can play as an 8, but not his strongest position
Think I agree re Matete - he couldn't get in Plymouth's team by the end of the season. Think he only started 8 of their 21 games. Probably needs another loan

 

So coming here has potentially been good for him, worked out for all concerned.

 

Matete was well thought of when he first went to Plymouth.
Don't know if there was an injury or suspension but he fell down the pecking order somewhat.
He came on at Morecambe as sub late in the game and completely changed the game, scoring and an assist which made a 1-1 draw into a 3-1 win.
Still think there's a player there but has he enough to get into our midfield at present?

 

I would have liked us to sign Michut he's a tidy player with potential. The thing that stood out for me was his fight and ability to get tackles in, even in a physical league he wasn't used to. I think he'll have a successful career.