Firstly there was the Bent-gate affair and the shock January transfer of DB the second a hefty fee was offered. Now, yet not such a surprise, comes the protracted Henderson saga. The will he wont he story has been with us for several weeks and if speculation in the media is to be believed, a fee of £20m will secure his services at Anfield. Now, although the loss of 2 important first team members is alarming, it cannot be denied that £20m for a 21 year old lad barely 2 years into his EPL career is hardly a poor deal for SAFC. I mean, when was the last time Sunderland AFC actually produce a youngster that could command that kind of fee? However, the trend here is what worries me most. I can only assume that Bruce has been told he has bugger all to spend this summer apart form what he can sell first. Bent and Henderson leaving wont kill SAFC but the calibre of their replacements may well do so next season. £38m in and we are all waiting to see if Ellis short is just keen to recoup his money now, or if he is genuinely ambitious to see SAFC succeed at this level? For Bruce too, the calibre of player he can attract will determine his longevity as manager of this club. My question is simple. Have we returned to the Cowie/Murray days of selling our best players to the highest bidder and trying to replace with sub-standard alternatives? We all know only too well where that policy got us in the 80's; 90's and into the early part of this Millennium. Relegation was a by-word at Roker and unfortunately the SOL as well so far. I have some really huge fears of where we are going at the moment and all the good will built up by NQ over the last 4 years, could so easily evaporate along with the ambition and money over the next 12 months. I trust m,y fears are unwarranted but I just have this niggling feeling again. Please act quickly to show me I am totally wrong Bruce and Quinn.
I'm with you Cest. Quite worried about next season, Henderson is gone as far as I'm concerned. I like the lad but £20m has to be snatched in this market. King Kenny is building a young British side, good for him, let's just make sure we squeeze him. Fingers crossed we sign a couple of Sessegnon/Gyan class players to add real quality to the team and a few of your Larssons, Vaughans, DJ Campbells, Wes Browns and what not to pad out the squad. Otherwise I see us having a class cup run (could be nice) and a near fatal league campaign.
This coming season fills me with trepidation, but also, as always there is the boundless optimism that the new season brings. heart and head do not good bedfellows make when it comes to this club but we have to patient. KTF
Very concerned, but also think the so called ambition has long since gone, Agent will be bullied by Arry into buying his ****e, we are becoming a well known market place, for offloading tallent cheaply, and buying pretenders expensively.
Wasn't saying yo look like a makeshift dildo by the way. Was saying you're cool about it all. Just in case there was any confusion...
Please Bill no more Ive just dropped a tear in my whisky,if i read anymore comments like this ill become a manic depressive before the season starts.
Its OK to discuss it in between now and then though isn't it? My view is that as long as our wages remain above 75% of our turnover the Club will inevitably run at a loss unless we either: a) slash the wage bill b) increase revenue c) profit from transfer activity Slashing the wage bill means less players or getting rid of high earners. As we are cut to the bone already, and are heavilly reliant upon the quality we have this is not viable Increasing revenue is difficult as this is the North East of England and there ain't too much money going around. Our attendances are good and (apparently) increasing non-football related revenue is why Milliband was brought in. Therefore we have to subsidise our inproportionate wage bill by generating a net gain on transfer activities. I think Short has no issues in writing big cheques, but only for players who will appreciate in value.
So you're pretty cool with Bent and Henderson leaving then Syd? I'm not saying that the money offered is poor but its the trend we are setting about selling any decent players we have. Are you equally comfortable that the replacements will be good enough? I hear some very worrying statements from the club recently and I just get the impression that Quinny is about to be wheeled out again soon, to perform some 'fans PR' again and get us to believe that **** is really clay, when we have all seen enough **** over then years to know it isnt. I thought Quinny and Short would be different that's all but it seems to be back to the Cowie and Murray 'glorious planning for failure' for me here. Hope I am miles off but seen these signs before. Too many times.
Bent had to go, he was playing crap and wanted away. Henderson going will be best for everyone IMO and its what we do with the cash I will be looking at. I'm looking forward to next season, maybe a fool but its the truth, I am and I remeber that Henderson is the same one we all wanted dropped a few weeks ago
To save me typing it all again, my thread this morning.. ------------------------------------------------------------- Hendo again The case to sell Hendo and yes I know its all gossip and yes I know we all have differing views about Hendo and the names being bandied about but lets just look at the principle, use the names as a guide. Today’s gossip is sell Hendo to Liverpool for 20 mil and bring in Welbeck, Gibson and Brown from Man U. This would.. 1. Let Henderson improve his career and income by moving him to a bigger club and yes Liverpool are a bigger club. Surely that’s the right thing to do for Hendo. 2. Get a fantastic price for the lad that can only benefit Sunderland if spent properly. 3. Using the 3 names mentioned but remembering it does not need to be those 3 it would bring in an experienced premier defender who at the very worst would give excellent back up. A good young midfielder who in many eyes is as good as Hendo at this stage and a striker we know is good and who works well with Gyan. Now to me that seems a win win situation all round and the keep and build around him argument, build around the lad who just about everyone was calling to be dropped a few weeks ago.
