Summer window

Think Tony said they were having a couple of days off,back in and then a long weekend. We'll probably get it then.

 

Just seen the Gooch interview. True Sunderland legend. Hope he comes back and works for the club at some point.

 

Gooch is gonna come back to the region when he finishes player, that’s clear.

Gotta be a shoe in for a role in the club you’d think.

 

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/23767090.tony-mowbray-surprised-not-interest-alex-pritchard/

By Scott Wilson

TONY MOWBRAY is surprised there was not more interest in Alex Pritchard ahead of last week’s transfer deadline – but is delighted the midfielder is still part of his Sunderland squad….


“We will have chats with Alex,” said Mowbray, whose side climbed into a top-ten spot thanks to their weekend exploits. “We have lots of chats already, to be honest.

“What a good footballer he is. I’m just amazed the phone didn’t ring as much as it might have done because he’s a wonderful footballer.

“Pritch is quality. You see with your eyes what I see with my eyes. He gets the ball, he sticks it through someone's legs and hits a 40-yard diagonal ball and we're off and through on goal. Not every player can do that.

“We have to get that balance right of how the team looks. We have to try and maximise his time on the pitch, but also grow the young players.”

Pritchard is one of a number of attacking midfield players who will be hoping to secure as much game time as possible in the next few months.

Jack Clarke remains a key component of the first-team squad after the Sunderland hierarchy turned down a number of offers from Burnley, with Patrick Roberts also still a Black Cat despite strong late interest in the window from Southampton.

Abdoullah Ba impressed as he made his second league start of the season at the weekend, Bradley Dack scored his first goal as a Sunderland player against the Saints and Jobe Bellingham has caught the eye repeatedly after making a summer move from Birmingham City.

“Where’s Pritch going to play,” mused Mowbray. “Is he going to play behind the striker? Well, we might play two strikers, we might play three strikers, we might need only two sitting midfielders.

“I have to do this with Dack and Pritchard, and then try and fit Roberts back in the team, I've just been laughing with him (Roberts) – ‘It's going to be tough in two weeks’ time, Pat, I can't change that team’. Let’s wait and see.”

While Pritchard remained beyond the end of the transfer window, Batth and Gooch both headed to pastures new.

Mowbray always maintained he would not stand in the pair’s way if they got an opportunity to safeguard their futures, and proved as good as his word as Batth signed a one-year deal with Norwich City, with the option of a further 12 months, and Gooch penned a two-year contract with Stoke City.

Batth was Sunderland’s Player of the Year last season, while Gooch spent more than a decade on the club’s books after graduating through the academy, and Mowbray developed a close relationships with both players.

“I have to love my players,” said the Black Cats boss. “They have to feel that I care about their lives and career and kids and wives and families.

“I care about them. That's why I’m happy for Danny Batth. If they're not going to play, they should go and get on with their career. It’s the same with Goochy.

“What a decision for Gooch to leave this club, it’s unbelievable. But if he gets more security and thinks he has a better chance of playing then good luck to him.”

 

Have we ever had a manager who speaks more sense than TM.
He's got a tough season ahead keeping everybody happy, but what a lovely dilemma to have, thinking back 5 years or so the differences are like night and day.

 

Used to enjoy Alex Neil's press conferences. At the time he seemed a great fit for the club and exactly what the squad needed at the time. Shame it all went tits up

Then you compare AN & TM to Lee Johnson and the utter ****e that used to pour out of his mouth. Night and day

Will be good to get back to talking solely about football when TM does his next PC - no more transfer talk for a few months

 

You git, you just made think back 5 years or so and I honestly hated most of the players at our club, I would have been happy if they were sacked off and never played again.

 

Worked for a brilliant company, got new owners and started taking s hite like that. that was my days numbered, left as soon as I could. Company gone within 2 years.

 

This transfer window/Stewart situation has me wondering ...

... will players always move for more money and does loyalty exist in the modern game.

 

Very little loyalty left in the game for me, you get a player moves to your club maybe scores runs about kissing the badge 18mths later better offer kissing someone else’s badge

 

Just a reflection on modern life mate...I never see the same person twice at some of the shops,businesses etc.I go to. We live in a transient society where nothing is permanent.

 

Sergio Ramos just moved back to Sevilla where it started for him after turning down Saudi, hopefully we see more of it and it isn’t just a one off

 

Very few one club players these days, two year stint and their agent is whispering in their ears about greener grass elsewhere.
As said above its a transient world we live in now.

 

Very true, I would only ever kiss the badge of my supported club mind.

 

I'd like to think the fact we are signing players at a young age and improving them will result in a bit of loyalty, sure there will be some who feel otherwise mind. Ballard, Neil and O'Nein spring to mind as they certainly could have moved elsewhere for a lot more money

January will be interesting as I reckon there will be a lot of clubs circling for a few of our players again.

 

Loyalty does exist.
For every Stewart there is a Gooch

 

Don't think we need to worry too much,our league form will give a clue. Most of our players are signed to longer term deals...I was on about this yesterday...I think there's only Roberts,Evans and Pritch contracts expiring next June. It's generally accepted that our summer transfer business was financed by the sale of Stewart,so it doesn't seem as though we would have to sell in January to balance things. With the caveat we haven't seen these new recruits yet, I think the only position we need to fill currently is a dcm,which I'm sure we'll address in January,depending on our form. If we are doing well and looking as if we could be in the top 6, I would expect these players to want to stick around.However, if our form drops off and we're mid-table,one or two of them could be tempted by a move.

 

The fhuge najority of fans showed on Saturday what we think of Pritchard

 

Aye, love the lad.