Spot on re Stewart being Johnsons player. It was first window for Speakman and he and Johnson were a double act, no other staff in to help. Johnson knew Stewart and wanted him and thankfully KLD put some money on the table and got it done or he would have been a Rangers player on a free in the summer.
I don't think a CB is necessary. We have Ballard, O'Nien, Alese, Triantis, Seelt (long term injury I know), Hjelde, Johnson and Hume who can cover if necessary. Whilst a lot of them wouldn't be ideal, they could do the job for a game in a crisis. You can't collect squad players as good as first team players just for a "what if" scenario. RB and 2 CF for me and I'll be content.
You reckon half the championship has 11 backups of the same standard like? 5-6 is about par for league and we have that. We just need a striker.
With Pembele out, I'd hope for another RB in but I agree, Striker is the only place we're actually short. The rest should be 1 out, 1 in.
It’s difficult to judge “b team” players when you’re throwing eleven of them on the pitch at once. Young players need to be eased into the regular squad not thrown in as a group and expected to compete against other championship clubs first teams. It’s like putting in the U21s against Hartlepool and whinging he was ****. It’s boys against men what are people genuinely expecting of him? Look at how long it took Pep to ease in Foden, with experienced quality players all of the pitch helping him.
The fact we had a competitive game with Preston's first team, keeping in mind they have finished 13th, 12th and 10th in the last 3 seasons, indicates that when we change every single player in the team, we're still able to compete with a mid-table Championship team. There are no scenarios this season where we field a team like that other than by choice, absolute worst case scenario you lose 4-5 first team players and require these players to fill in, still highly unlikely. We're all set for a good season, last night was disappointing but not surprising, we need a striker and our business is done.
Aye. It’s not like we ever going to need to change 7-8 players for a league game. Whilst overall last night wasn’t great, it’s good experience for the you g lads and there were flashes from plenty that they could do well alongside the first team players. The fact we all saying the same thing says it all really, don’t it?
Didn't his agent tweet a picture of the AoL with the caption "nice day at Sunderland" a few days ago?
I know it's Stockport but that Gueye the big striker Blackburn signed can't half move about for his size. Looks canny, I think he will do well for them. Scored a header last night too
I have said for a while I dont think our squad depth is as good as some do. I didnt see last night but I saw enough of some players last season to think they werent at the standard we would need if we were to compete at the top of this league. I think we have a good first team barring the obvious. Below that it is a bit shallow for me. Moore seems a good pick up. Rigg is elite level already. Ekwah could probably still hold down a spot for a fee weeks, maybe more. I think we have signed a number of very good technical players, but in some cases they seem unable to have a positive impact on the game in the key moments. Ba is an example, clearly a talent, but I tear my hair out with him. Adil plays some lovely stuff but when it matters it breaks down too often due to really poor decision making. Rusyn just doesnt seem to fit this league, same for Hemir who I simply havent seen play well yet. Hjelde worries me defensively as I always feel I could find ways to improve his positioning as a coach. Pembele looks way off so far. Anderson isnt at championship level. Bennette another not championship level for me. Of the others. Mundle looks like he might be a good pick. Still raw in possession though. Poveda maybe, not as excited by him as some though yet. Alese I like but feel he needs to focus on CB as a left back he is not. Now I am not saying some of the above cant deputise for suspensions. Longer term injuries though I am nervous about any of them being the answer. Full backs seem so key to the new way of playing. If Huggins were fit I would be happy, as it is I am not. If Ballard is out for too long we will struggle I think. I dont see a Clarke alternative at all. I think some pruning is needed over the next couple of windows, with a focus on more quality less quantity, personally.
I'd go as far as saying I'm more concerned about our back up full back situation than I am our back up CDM situation.
You could see on saturday that full backs who can get forward are an absolute key for Regis's system. Cirkin is injury prone and if you have an injury to Hume the system falls down. You could see it last might with Johnson and Anderson being way out of their depth. Pembele has been the disappointment. But we defintely need another RB.
Ah if this Clarke rumor get confirmed I’m gonna be doing the running man in the living room for an hour. The statement of intent on that would be absolutely monumental from the club. Ha’way Jacky lad, nobody gonna love you like we do.
It's hard to sign backup players though. The depth behind Cirkin and Hume concerns me but how do you sell the club to a player while we have them two playing? No club will loan us a fullback if they aren't going to be playing either.
