Indeed, let's hope the Super Sizzling Soaraway Sun is right about this one. Either way, Leadbitter starts yet again despite the season being effectively over, as does a loanee. Both in favour of Hyam and Carson who don't so much as make the bench. The Jewell way - always building for the future and giving our youngsters a fair chance.
Are we playing Leadbitter to put him in the shop window so we can get the best possible price for him? Is PJ saying he wants to keep him for the same reason? I know most of us think we should be playing people who will be here next season but is there a method to the madness?
Leadbitter’s on a free so there’s no shopwindowing required there. PJ might be trying to suck up to him if he wants him to look sympathetically on any new contract offer, so is playing him when there’s no apparent point. Same with Murphy – perhaps PJ wants to sign him up come May! My initial reaction would be neither are worth it. We should be improving in as many positions as possible or bringing on our own players rather than sticking with what we’ve got. Then again, you might argue that we’re going to be in the Championship for at least another season, so would these two be handy for the purpose of challenging for promotion without costing a fortune in transfer fees? Possibly, but then again, Leadbitter was a fixture in the PJ team that earlier this season was surely the most embarrassing in our history, and Murphy (while he was injured for much of that) was around during the nightmarish Keane years. Not only that, but Sunderland fans who had to put up with Murphy as a permanent member of their squad wrote him off as a waste of space, Championship or otherwise. People get carried away with a brief smattering of good form and forget all the dross that proceeded it. People are even more prone to forgive if the squad appears, on the face of it, shambolic and paper-thin (I.E., us). Fine if you’re a developing young players showing promise, but experienced players? We’re garbage at the moment, that’s why we’re re-signing up the like of Edwards – for two seasons an average-at-best right winger and a largely calamitous right back; Scotland – a spectacularly unspectacular Championship striker; Delaney was offered a new contract; Healy was offered a new contract (only for even PJ to recognise the error of his ways); goalkeepers Murphy and ALB were offered new contracts (luckily for us Murphy refused); now apparently Leadbitter is deemed worth a few more years, all against a backdrop of a squad so poor these decisions are regarded as reasonable. Even Martin is being talked up after 2.5 years of ineptitude. A brief flurry of decent form after being played in a free role behind a lone striker (a tactic seemingly stumbled upon after all else has failed) and he’ll probably be signed up for another everlasting contract, despite his previous cluelessness and continued amazing propensity to bottle easy chances and mess up potentially killer passes that the cat currently sitting on my neighbour’s fence could complete. I think the point I was originally alluding to is that I’m depressed with the shambles that we’re in. That we're signing players and then re-signing players that ITFC wouldn't normally be touching with somebody else's bargepole and (with the signs PJ seems to be giving out with his team selections) that we’ll carrying on like this for some time.
I always enjoy reading other fans opinions on things. You have created a good article, and it was a good read! I agree with certain things your saying, and can see where your coming from in other opinions too. However, I completely disagree on this - " Weâre garbage at the moment " - clearly we're not, we're in great form and are far from garbage. If we'd had the form from the past 15 games or so, we'd be top 4 ! We were certainly garbage at the start of the season, then got into the play offs until the home loss by Palace started a 7 going losing run - how weird are we !? Personally, I feel signing Edwards on cheaper terms is a good move. I think he gets a lot more flak than he warrants, and Cresswell far more praise than he deserves. Both get caught out at times, Edwards positionally, but I feel with good centre backs they'd be great options at full back next season. They'd require a firm base. CB certainly needs addressing. Martin has been good all season. He's come good, and is certainly worth investing another contract in. I think he's bulked up, and would be fine on a wing again too. Martin + JET + Chops to me = a very lethal front 3. JET HAS improved several areas across the season, I think he could be even better next year. Agree on Leadbitter. Hopeless for large spells, with two managers unwilling to drop him for what reason exactly !? They loved his below par sideways passing displays ? I don't think he offers anything defensively whatsoever. Murphy is an interesting one. I'm not a huge fan on the guy personally, however, he adds balance height etc like Walters did for us. He's certainly improved in that position. Would have to be on our term wage wise, Jewell's already said we can't afford his current deal. Scotland - so unfit for a lot of his spell here, however, he hasn't had a bad season and has certainly ran a bit under Jewell compared with Keane. Again, his wages will be lower and I think he could be worth keeping myself. Another striker required too. " I think the point I was originally alluding to is that Iâm depressed with the shambles that weâre in. " I can understand where your coming from here - when will we be able to put a season together properly and last the distance !?! So frustrating. We have plenty promise for SPELLS - other SPELLS completely kill off the season. 14 games without a win under Keane, 7 straight losses this season. The mentality of the squad appears so damn weak at times. Personally, I feel you DO stick with the manager and give him time. Rome wasn't built in a day, and I think we're aware that our best sides have come when we have given the manager a chance. Next season is big for Jewell. Minimum requirements are an improvement on this season, which I think will happen. People will give managers time so long as they can see where its heading. I do like the fact Jewell enjoys keeping a settled side. We've had very few changes since the turn of the year, which has helped. A shortage at CB / ability there / likewise poor goalkeeping / zero protection in many games from the midfield is why we're the leakiest bucked defensively in the league. Let me come up with the sort of team I think we can expect next season- GK - new keeper. ALB will be number 2, cheerio Wright too. LB - Cresswell + other player possibly new signing. How is Joe Whight progressing ? RB - Edwards + Ainsley CB - New signing + Delaney CB - New signing + Smith. Pretty sure Sonko will go, fair play you certainly helped us concede less CM - Drury + Hyam + ( bye bye Leadbitter / Bowyer ) CM - Bullard + Stevenson + new signing ( 2 out bring 1 in we still have 5 ) LM - new signing as Murphy I don't think will happen- Carson NEEDS to push on..... RM - JET + same as above AMC - Martin or 2nd striker 4-4-2 CF - Chopra + Scotland + Murray + new signing. Overall, I think we'll sign around 6 players to add to the side. I'd be gutted if Martin was to leave! Nathan Ellington please just go. Jewell appears to have ruled out massive changes, which would be ideal. We're not a million miles off in some areas I don't think, however in others ( mentality ) we're miles off. I think we'll do the odd loan signing next season too, good to get some premiership quality, however loaning 5 / 6 players at once I don't feel helps anything. I'd like to think we could have a few more season ticket holders next season too. I know it's tough times with the economy, but I feel the 12 month scheme by the club is a great move. I just want this season to end really ! Onwards and upwards !
Nice post Westy, I think you are pretty much spot on in all that you have took the time to put down here. It is a very big 2012 for Jewell, he has to be very smart with the in's & out's this summer. The start of next season is crucial, no massive swings in our form, if we are in and around the top 8 by the end of the year then that will surely be good progress. For me promotion next season is not the priority, I want to see more youthful players coming in so we can build a solid team foundation that can carry us forward over a number of years.
Martin’s definitely contracted for next season Westy (he might even have one of these extra season options like most players signed by Keano seem to have…. Has he been linked with somewhere else??
cheers mate yeah martin is contracted next season, however, only 1 year left on the deal and I think he could attract interest this summer. I wouldn't be surprised to see a premiership side gamble on him. Now he's playing well, he's key and needs to stay !
