I noticed that Gus Poyet was upbeat about the chances of signing Ki on a permanent basis, if you couple this with the fact that Swansea let him play in their FA Cup match on Saturday has a deal been struck? It certainly tells that he won't be back with us this season at least.
I don't think we can afford to pay big wages to Bony and Fletcher with one of them sat on the bench. For this reason I think, while Bony is here, the 2nd out and out striker at the club will always be someone young with potential. Adam Johnson would fit our criteria better IMO, lost his way a bit I know but does have the talent.
Fletcher is not really somebody of true value ... to us, is he? Shouldn't we be setting our sights somewhat higher.
I rate Fletcher highly, I think 90% of us do...just don't see us accommodating 2 top strikers. The more I think about it the more I feel Adam Johnson would be a good swap. I rate Ki but the only spot available to him is JDG's. If he comes back this summer and JDG doesn't, fine... But which position would you rather be shopping for this summer, a centre midfielder or a winger who can score and provide goals in a top class league? I think the winger would cost a lot more. If we did a straight swap we'd be getting a young British talent with a genuine left peg who is fast, can dribble, score and cross....for approx. £6m (Ki's transfer value). You would have had to have paid at least double that for Johnson not too long ago. Too those who say that he hasn't got it anymore I ask; could it be that, like Fletcher, he has found himself in a team that doesn't keep possession, doesn't control games and spends most of the time on the back foot...could it be that it is the team he is at that is making him look bad? I reckon that there are at least 50 midfielders playing in either Europe or Latin America that would improve us and join for £3-8m. If Adam Johnson felt appreciated and played regular in a team that frequently sought to it that he received the ball in dangerous areas he could regain the scintillating form that saw him destroy us single handedly in the Championship and perhaps one day become an England regular.
We've only got one dedicated striker of proven quality, so I wouldn't mind Fletcher. He's experienced, good in the air and very crafty with his positioning - finds space very well. We could do worse if the price is right but, unlike many others, I'm not writing off Alvaro because he has the class to come good in time. I know he's looked far from good so far but that has applied to many strikers in the PL who eventually went on to be big successes. Take a look at his striking record for the Spanish "under" teams. Impressive to say the least.
I like Fletcher but he's another one that thrives on service - and even more than Bony does imo. At least Bony will create chances for himself whereas Fletcher tends to rely heavily on quality crosses which he's very adept at putting away. Not sure he'd be the right fit for us for obvious reasons.
His attempt in the dying minutes yesterday summed it up for me , he needs more experience and confidence ,he tried bending the ball away from the keeper but the technique was poor , it seemed hit with no real conviction .
I don't see Fletcher setting the world on fire at Sunderland - even before this season. Therefore, I don't see his value in goal scoring especially if we trade-off somebody like Ki. Ki is going to play in the World Cup finals - Fletcher only if he dreams of it. Where we are going as a club, Fletcher looks more like another Pintado - works his balls off, great in theory, short on delivery and doesn't have the technical skills to fit into the philosophy and the system.
I agree with you, I think he's played well enough to not be called the new ****cter. He's been very unlucky, particularly against Valencia. If Ki doesn't come back, I'd definitely take Johnson over Fletcher. Suits our play style more and we can't afford him or Bony on the bench.
So by that logic, Ki is better than Bale and Ramsay as they can only dream of going to the World Cup? Personally I hope Ki does come back to us, but if a deal as been agreed, I'd be happy if it involved Fletcher.
The logic is confined to the two players in this situation - not generally applicable - and is reasonable and sound. Fletcher has done nothing at Sunderland to warrant us losing a player that can make a mark in Brazil, or he (Fletcher) would compete for a place as our starting striker. And that last point is critical - whoever we acquire as a striker, they must be capable of pushing Bony for a place or being an effective stand-in on rotation. IMO Fletcher is not that player. What about him indicates that he could play our style of football - if he can't he's going to be a square peg in a round hole. We are having teething troubles with Bony - he banged in 30+ in one season in Holland - that is worth persevering with .... Fletcher doesn't even come close.
Considering we loaned him out for the season, I'd say it's only fair we allow them to play him in the fa cup don't you think, as surely that would have been included in the loan deal 'small print'. Just saying like.
The team seems to have sussed at long last that crossing towards Bonys nut is a great option and it seems they are getting better at it . Bony could pass his target of 20 goals if they keep it up. I still hope the scouts have targeted another good crossing winger and a central defender to challenge chico n williams. If Bony keeps scoring with his nut and the team get used to supplying him well then how about as back up, and for ML`s rotation system plus incase he gets injured we get in Crouch ? good with the head and useful up front ? . His mrs aint bad eye candy either !
