Just seen this story on the 'BBC Gossip' website. "Sunderland have received several inquiries over Wickhamâs availability since the start of the season, including from one Premier League club prior to the August transfer deadline. Championship outfits have continued to pursue the 19-year-old on loan since August 31, including his former employers, Ipswich Town. But Wednesday emerged over the weekend as a potential destination for the £8million striker, with the Owls in need of reinforcements after sinking to just two points above the Championship drop zone." http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...it-on-move-for-sunderland-s-wickham-1-5130270 I was under the impression at the time that he'd left Ip5w1ch too soon, as he's hardly played for the first team since his overpriced move. Just another example as to why I hope CH looks abroad for another striker in the January transfer window!!!
He was just starting to break through into the Town first team and scoring goals on a regular basis when he left. I think it was a terrible move for him and a great bit of business to get £8m.
Unlike Jordan Rhodes, who was ushered out of the side door before he had even begun to unleash his not unconsiderable talent. Top move, Keano
I saw Rhodes score in a pre-season friendly at the Valley just before he was sold and he tore the game up. I think our best attacking option at the time was John Stead. I was livid.
as yorkie points out, ipswich did brilliantly to squeeze that much money out of sunderland. i do think he'll end up being a good striker... nothing special, but a premier league striker all the same. left ipswich way, way too early and so its not a surprise to see him loaned out to a championship club. i suspect the same may happen again next season too. have heard rumours he's on 22k a week too so he'd be our top earner! utterly ridiculous salary for a kid to be earning when he has proved nothing
The only good thing he ever did was consistently score against you lot! He is gash all pace and no knickers!
Made a huge difference didn't it? We've got someone who scores consistantly against you as well, Holty!!!
Just seen this on another forum and it tells a different story! Published: 16 November, 2012 by Stuart Vose O’Neill impressed with striker’s recent form. Martin O’Neill has been pleased with the recent progress made by Connor Wickham and says, in time, he will become a “real player”. The 19-year-old made his first senior appearance of the season as a late substitute at Everton last weekend after some impressive showings for the development squad and England’s under-21 side. His goalscoring form hasn’t escaped the attention of the Sunderland boss, who admits Wickham has had to develop under considerable pressure since joining the club in summer 2011. “Connor has been doing exceptionally well in training over the last few weeks and that’s very promising,” he said. “It’s been a tough time for him because he’s come here with a big price tag and he’s at a pretty tender age as well. “There has been pressure on him from day one to go and produce in this league as if he’s been here all his life. It’s taken a little bit of time to get used to it but he will adjust I’m sure. “In the course of time, we will see a real player.” Meanwhile O’Neill says he is looking to keep the striker in his squad amidst rumours of a possible loan departure. "A number of clubs have asked about him and we’ve already sent David Meyler out to Hull,” said the Sunderland boss. “We don’t have the biggest squad in the world. Of course it would be great for some of the younger players like Connor to get those games but we couldn’t do it last week because Connor was in our squad – in fact he came on late in the game against Everton. We just don’t have the numbers at this moment. “Plus the fact that now at this particular stage it might be difficult, because we have seven games in the next month. We just can’t afford to do that at this moment.”
He is a talented kid, there's no doubt about that. He is far from just a goalscorer. But it's just potential, so I will never complain about the £8m we got even if he ends up at a top club. Rhodes by comparison went for a song as have many others.
