Spurs fan in peace. Where in your opinion does Ellis Short see Sunderland in 5 seasons time? At christmas time you were riding high in 6/7th place with arguably the strongest strike force in the prem at that point, with talk of european qualification. Then Bent was allowed to leave to a team whom were below you in the league, certain players lost form and others were injured resulting in yourselves falling down the table. Now one of the most promising youngsters Sunderland have brought through for a long time is the subject of a bid from a club whom may have a glorious history, but also an uncertain future and currently can't offer anything more than Sunderland. I could understand if it were Man United/Chelsea/Citeh (purely bcos of money)/Arsenal. Why are you selling your best players to the very same clubs you are trying to topple in the near future? Will Gyan be next if he has another decent season? How will you attract top talent to SAFC if they think you cant currently compete with the likes of Villa/Pool? Should Bruce go?
I've mentioned on another thread, a big money sale could be suicidal to our attempts to attract top level players. What quality player wants to join a selling club?
best strike force is very wrong, we never score many goals, and bent had 1 good season,season before last, his only time to score more than 20 in 1 season since ipswich, which he needed 46 games and championship defenders to do it. Henderson isnt away yet, but if we can get 20 million + for a home grown player, who lets be honest, wasnt at his best for the last 5 months of last season, i would snap their hand off lol
Don't know if we will end up selling henderson yet, Wouldn't be suprised if your very own manager comes in with a bid for Gyan. As for Ellis Short, well another slump like the last one, and there will be big changes, as he won't stand for it, we know where he wants us to be in 5 years, in your clubs positin. But getting there is a different proposition completly. And no Bruce shouldn't go, but that opens up a big can of worms on this site.
After all the **** we took from Spurs fans about Bent's ability when he was here, I find it amusing that we now have one who is saying he was arguably the best striker in the country! As for your question: I would like to think that Short would want us challenging in the top half rather than the bottom end of the table, and perhaps a good couple of cup runs mixed in with that.
Im definitely not saying Bent is one of the best strikers in the country, and i am a spurs fan who was glad to see him go as he had no ability of linking up the play. I was merely saying that the combination of Wellbeck/Gyan/Bent was absolutely frightening, and with better service from a more creative midfield would in my opinion have transformed Sunderland into one of the most free scoring teams in the prem. Henderson hasn't gone yet - but considering your team already suffer from problems in the creativity department, surely selling young Jordan is only going to push youy a further step backwards.
Jordan's not particularly creative though mate, he puts in a good cross on the run, but is woeful from set plays. He can beat a man square on but has little by way of trickery. He rarely picks a defence splitting pass. He has the potential and ability to change all this mind, hence we like him, and so do others. He's also an excellent finisher, when he gets in position. My opinion is he won't leave anyway, but if he did, it wouldn't shake the foundations.
sell them all I say because we had a **** first half to the season, thank god for our second half when all the prima donners had bad legs. we are sunderland, we want nerve jangling season ends followed by top two finishes, its what we like. hope that answers your kind enquiry, please call agin.
In Henderson's position, with a choice of Dalglish's Liverpool or Bruce's Sunderland, I'd .... well, do I need to say it? It's a no-brainer, surely. I'd be off like a shot if I were him. I don't envisage any top players coming here. People on these boards might rubbish Bent, but fellow-pros look at 102 Prem goals in six years and a goal a game since getting a regular England place, and they respect him. In their thinking, if Bent left, there's something wrong at that club. I doubt very much if ANY top pros are coming here now. Five years? - well, it's hard to see beyond Bruce's sacking next May. However, a good long-odds bet would be top six in the Championship ... but with an ambitious new owner and a VERY bright future, of course. Put Sunderland out of your mind, mate. It's a con trick from top to bottom. And has been for years.
Steve - please, PLEASE believe me, there will not be a happier man on this earth if you're right. I sincerely hope to god you're right. But I've listened to SAFC's sh*t for just a tad too long, After Bruce kept his job this May, I reached the outer limit of my belief span. I will never in my life go near that stadium again now. The start of the hurt came in 1957 with Alan Brown, and the final, final insult was when that lying c**t Quinn had the cheek to insult us with another season of the useless c**t Bruce. Oh, I can be conned, like anyone else, but it'll take more than the likes of Bruce. PLEASE be right - I'd give anything for that. In the meantime, let me just welcome you to fantasy world, SAFC.
The only member of last years Sunderland team that looked any good was Danny Welbeck... seemed lightyears ahead of the rest in terms of ability.
I think this question will be answered over the Summer. We need a lot of investment or its another rollercoaster.
