MARTIN OâNeill has issued a hands-off warning to clubs looking to prise James McClean or Stephane Sessegnon away from Sunderland. The Black Cats duo have both been linked with summer exits from the Stadium of Light this week, with Manchester United credited with an interest in McClean, while Sessegnon is thought to be catching the eye of Arsenal and former employers Paris St Germain among others. But OâNeill insists Sunderland must keep hold of the eye-catching pair if the club are to continue progressing. Republic of Ireland winger McCleanâs whirlwind rise saw him sign a new three-year deal last month, while joint top scorer Sessegnon still has two years left to run on his Sunderland contract. OâNeill said: âI havenât any cause to be overly concerned, primarily because I havenât given it any thought. But these are the type of players we need to keep at the football club. âIf we are going to progress, these are the players the fans want to see, the likes of McClean and Sessegnon who both belong to us. âWeâve just given a new contract to James, who is worth every single penny out of it, thereâs no question about that. His attitude has not changed one drop. âIf I was advising him, his immediate future has to be at our football club. âHeâs going to play pretty often at the moment. I would love to be able to say to him that his place is in jeopardy. But he holds that place on merit at the moment and heâs still just learning the game. âSessegnon is a bit older and I think he has improved. âHeâs a very accomplished player in a lot of positions, but weâve given him a position where he can work wonders for us. âHeâs enjoying his football and weâll do everything we can to keep him at the football club. âI think he is happy in the way heâs playing, but heâs obviously going to attract attention from major football clubs in the European scene.â Speculation over Sessegnonâs future increased last month when former Portsmouth striker Vincent Pericard name-checked the Benin international. In an article on the battle with depression foreign players face when settling on these shores, Pericard cited Sessegnon as a player potentially heading for the exit door because his family remain in Paris. Pericard said: âSunderland signed Stephane Sessegnon but are at risk of losing him because his wife is not happy,â But Sessegnon is understood to be quite content on Wearside despite rumours of being homesick. âWeâll certainly look at every factor with Sessegnon,â added Sunderland boss OâNeill. âPericard had mentioned him in an article about depression that clubs didnât do enough to help foreign players. âBut I think that was more to do with his family being in one country and him being in another. âI donât think it was to do with Sessegnon being depressed. âThe only time Iâve seen him down was in the dressing room after the Newcastle game when he was sent off.â
NICKLAS Bendtner has pledged to wait until the conclusion of the summer’s European Championships before deciding his long-term future. Bendtner’s return of four goals in five Premier League outings has raised the issue of Sunderland making a bid to land the on-loan Arsenal man on a permanent basis. The Gunners are believed to be willing to offload the 24-year-old for as little as £2.5million, although there remain significant financial barriers to the Black Cats should Martin O’Neill opt to make a move for the striker. Bendtner has two years remaining on a contract worth around £60,000 per week, plus a lucrative bonus scheme which can take his weekly earnings up to £90,000. Should Bendtner impress for Denmark in Euro 2012, then his price tag is likely to subsequently rise, too. But Bendtner insists he will not contemplate any future employers until his international commitments are complete in Ukraine and Poland. Bendtner said: “I haven’t given it much thought. I really like the club and the manager has done really well since he came in here, but I haven’t given it any thought yet. “I still have two years left with Arsenal, it isn’t just up to me. “Ideally it would only be in my hands, but I’m just waiting to see in the summer. We’ve got the Euros, then, in the summer after the Euros, we will see where we are.” Bendtner certainly appears to have discovered a new spark since scoring Sunderland’s goal in the Tyne-Wear derby last month. Last week’s header at Manchester City took his Black Cats tally to seven, with only Stephane Sessegnon and Seb Larsson scoring more in red and white this season. “I have had to adapt to a different style of playing – it isn’t just a fitness thing,” added Bendtner. “There are loads of different reasons. I’m just happy that it’s going better. I have just taken each game at a time. If I’m in the right position and I’m not getting the ball, there’s not a lot I can do about it. “People who know about football can see that – obviously people who don’t know football well, they will get upset.”
Because earning 50,000 quid (or whatever Sess is on) a week isn't enough for them to uproot themselves and come out of their comfort zone.
A few talking points then. 1. Its good to hear MON saying they will stay and unless either Mclean or Sess ask for a move I think they will, neither will ask IMO. 2. If Bendy stays true to wait and see he may find we no longer want him, if we do in the first place. 3. Being very unfair, IMO, on Sess's family, kids settled, happy home, his wife may just be happy in France.
have you all seen the bentner artical this morning or shall i post it??? it basicaly him hinting he is missing london
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/sunderland/9632307.Bendtner_talks_confidence__lifestyle_and_the_future/ NICKLAS BENDTNER is enjoying a new lease of life at Sunderland but wants to put talk about his future on hold until after this summer's European Championships. The Denmark international, likely to be his country's biggest name in Euro 2012, still has a further two years to run on his deal at the Emirates Stadium once his loan at Stadium of Light has come to an end. And his long term future will be a source of debate during the close-season with clubs from across Europe aware Bendtner is likely to be sold by Arsenal before the start of next season. His recent burst of form in a Sunderland shirt has reminded manager Martin O'Neill of his qualities, although there is some doubt as to whether they would be able to match his reputed £60,000-a-week wage in North London. There would also be a fee believed to be in the region of around £4m. Moving to the North-East for the season has been completely different for Bendtner, a Scandinavian brought up in the Danish capital of Copenhagen before moving to London aged 16. He is not writing off a move to Wearside full-time, although he does admit the slower pace is something he has had to get used to during his first seven months with the Black Cats. Bendtner said: "The difference is massive, of course. I don't think I've ever lived so far from London. I had a loan with Birmingham but it was only two hours from London, so I could easily just drive there all the time. Of course, it is a big difference living up here. "I spend all of my time in the house, I don't really go outside the door. When I do it's mainly to see my son living in London. It wasn't the same in London, it's a total culture change. All my friends are back there as well. "I have still enjoyed my time at the club (Sunderland), that's the main thing - that the football is decent. Of course the lifestyle is important but I knew there would be a change when I moved. "I can't speak for other people but I like to live a full life. I like to be able to do things all the time so it's a big change for me there." Despite the obvious reservations about turning his back on big city life on a full-time basis, the 24-year-old is in no rush to make a judgement on the future. "I haven't given it much thought," he said. "I really like the club and the manager has done really well since he came in here but I haven't given it any thought yet. "I still have two years left with Arsenal, it isn't just up to me. Ideally it would only be in my hands but I'm just waiting to see in the summer. We've got the Euros, then in the summer after the Euros we will see where we are." Whatever lies around the corner, Bendtner will never be short of the belief he can be a success. O'Neill has regularly made light of the player's self-confidence since taking over, but on the evidence of his performances - certainly of late - he has every right to. "He (the manager) does joke with me about it sometimes," said Bendtner. "I don't know how other people think of their confidence and how other people rate themselves, but I do have confidence. I don't see why I shouldn't." Such a confidence can often inspire dislike. While assured, though, Bendtner is friendly and happy to talk - most of the time! "The only thing I'm tired of is that I apparently said I was one of the best players in the world, which I never said," said "That is the only thing that really annoys me, which is repeated all of the time. I don't always enjoy interviews. "One thing I have said is that one day I could potentially be among the players who have scored the most goals in the Premier League. I said that because I genuinely believe it." In his last seven matches, Bendtner has scored four goals for Sunderland. The quality of his performances have also reached new heights, highlighting to the fans just what he is capable of. "There are loads of different things (why I'm playing better)," said Bendtner. "I have had to adapt to a different style of playing - it isn't just a fitness thing. There are loads of different reasons. I'm just happy that it's going better now. "I have just taken each game at a time. If I'm in the right position and I'm not getting the ball there's not a lot I can do about it. People who know about football can see that - obviously people who don't know football well, they will get upset. "I don't really know what to say, as I said there have been games where I've come off and I haven't even had a shot on goal, how am I supposed to score?"
So he misses London, as most young millionaires would...... Maybe QPR or Fulham may make an offer then.
Once again pleased with MON's attitude. Of course he knows if big clubs come in for any player we will struggle to keep them, the thing is to make them feel wanted here. I said from the start with McClean, he is just what ManU are looking for, now Giggs is winding down. He would slot right in their team. If they came in for the youngun I can't see us holding on to him tbh. Hopefully both he and Sess are here for quite some time to come. Bringing in better strikers alongside them could swing any decisions they make. We actually look like a top half team at the moment, things can only get better.
