Genuinely think our best signing this summer so far, is Ghisolfi. Absolutely don't think we half of the players we have without him
Patto should go tbh. PSR and decent wedge for our no2. Wasn't that long ago he dropped for "reasons" when he could've broke a record. Thanks for the memories but time to move on imo.
https://www.removepaywall.com/searc...derland-transfer-spending-explained-analysis/ let me know if the link works a long but very good read about our PSR and spending etc
If all that is said is true tho, who is going to buy him? Maybes he could do with being out the north east
Ridiculous really, there's been countless posts about "something" going on with Patto but nobody will say any more than that. And if you dare to ask about Sunderland's no.1 goalkeeper on a Sunderland forum your post gets deleted mods being a bit precious, imo.
Trying not to speculate as I have no idea whatsoever about the habits stuff, but I wonder if duty of care comes into it somewhere? If an academy lad needs support in general it could be good for SAFC to provide that. Obviously players have to want to engage, but it's definitely a positive message for the club to very visibly support their academy lads in their low points.
That's true, but the first XI didn't really change all that much. This is a different level. May well be a necessary level, but it's a step change in pace.
None of that hits our 25/26 accounts though. It's all in last season's. Best estimate is that our PSR hit for transfers for the next few years is £30m in the red and counting.
Think we’d all have loved to see have seen the young lads that got us promoted thrive in the premier league but realistically most of us knew some/most weren’t good enough right now and we needed to improve drastically. We don’t really have the time to have a season of “bedding in” we need to survive the first season at all costs if we want to establish ourselves back as a regular at this level. Had we not replaced so much of the squad and went on to finish rock bottom with a tally similar to that of Southampton last season (which I think would’ve been very possible) then questions would’ve been asked and we could’ve been set back a few years. You don’t push with this much ambition just to stand still when the real challenge starts. KLD has done the right thing imo the club knew we needed huge improvements all over the pitch. The club isn’t going back on its roots of bringing through academy lads but the step up is massive and I’m sure any sane fan would rather a much better chance of survival than getting hammered every week just to give the local lads their shot in the PL. It may seem harsh on the likes of Neil and Patterson but the younger lads coming through like Rigg will benefit 10 fold from playing and training alongside much better players. Exciting times ahead.
Plenty teams will take him. He'll go in as no2 to a top prem club for a quota or go back to the championship. We've bought plenty in the past. Southampton spent 10m on Stewart when he couldn't walk. He'd find a club
Good article that illustrates the freedom that we currently have, but critically doesn't gloss over the need for us to think beyond this season.
Was looking at something you may be interested in yesterday. In 22/23, when RLB's Lorient side were good and had a squad full of good players, 20 players hit the 1k minute mark in all comps. Compare that to 15 in 23/24 where their squad was much weaker and 15 with SAFC last season. Does it suggest that with a better squad he is more willing to rotate?