We're all getting older, you included. It's simply more difficult for my lads to pop down for weekends etc now that they have kids. I was seeing less of them so now we live in Mansfield and go down to the place in Antibes whenever we're free. It's just a role reversal. The other consideration were the flights back for games. East Midland flights have stopped and I can only use Newcastle on Friday nights which meant an overnight stop there which I didn't like.
I always look forward to the season ....... if winning is the only thing that makes you happy then you're doing it wrong. Being with your friends, family and the other supporters is half the enjoyment. Last season was one of my favourites and I saw the most I've seen for years.
http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/altr...unto-su-cuadrado-savic-armero-e-clasie-576792 They dont want to sell but will do for 5m Euros and Diakhite... as said, just want a higher fee is all
I spent 7 months in Italy, last year, so picked up a bit of the language. What he's saying is, "I've been to the Daniel Levy school of transfer negotiation and won the 'head shave' & glasses by coming top of the class. Alonso wants away but I've offered him a bung if he keeps his mouth shut while I wind the price up. With any luck I'll get the most out of Sunderland without doing an 'Alan Hutton' and end up looking a twat."
Sunderland target Marcos Alonso will not be leaving Fiorentina this summer, according to reports in Italy. The Black Cats have been in protracted negotiations with the Serie A club over a move for the Spanish left-back, who spent the second half of last season on loan with the Wearsiders. Sunderland were understood to have offered around £2m plus out-of-favour French defender Modibo Diakite - who spent a spell on loan at Fiorentina last season - in exchange for the 23-year-old. Boss Gus Poyet said at the weekend that talks were continuing with Fiorentina, although he admitted that it was taking longer than he would have liked to secure a deal.
Seems like they are after more cash. To be fair though Alonso is worth at least double what we're offering. We know he's quality and what to expect. If he was English he would be worth 10 mill +. We need to get him signed up
I hope Ellis knows that by losing Borini and Alonso we will be relegated next season, if they go who do we get in ?, certainly Danny rose at left back, and I have heard about Brown being dodgy at Darlington last Saturday, is everything starting to go wrong again ?.
I'd far sooner we spent a bit more on him than chase Borini for silly money. Ideally both for less than £20m which is still overpaying.
Agreed - I think Alonso (or a known quantity at Left Back) is more important than Borini personally - although I want both of them
SUNDERLAND are still hopeful of sealing a deal for Marcos Alonso, despite reports in Italy that Fiorentina want to keep hold of the left-back. The Black Cats have spent the entire summer looking to re-sign last season’s loanee Alonso, with Modibo Diakite heading the other way in a part-exchange deal. There were suggestions in Italy yesterday that Alonso had impressed Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Montella sufficiently in pre-season that the Serie A outfit were looking to keep hold of the Spaniard. But Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet rubbished talk that the deal was dead when asked about the speculation over Alonso. “It’s close, but not close enough,” said Poyet. “Everything is on track. “It’s just like I explained before. These deals for everything to come together, so many people need to be happy. It’s not that easy. “We need to look at other things as well because depending on how much you spend on a player, it depends what else you’ve got. “We’re trying hard. It’s been a bit more difficult than I expected, but we’re not going to stop.” With only three new signings added to a squad which lost 12 players at the end of last season so far this summer, supporters have grown anxious over the lack of incomings. And Poyet admits it is a concern that his ranks remain so threadbare, with Sunderland heading to their pre-season trip to Portugal on Friday morning. “It’s difficult to say how much progress has been made in a number - 50 per cent or 75 per cent,” added Poyet. “But we’re trying. “Days go past and there are things that we need to do quickly because Portugal is approaching and we want most of the squad in there. “My idea was to have probably 20 of my 23 squad in Portugal. That’s not the case. “I’m working for it and I’m believing, until that changes. “It’s just an ongoing situation which is not easy. “The market is only on with big, big signings and big transfers. The rest are all waiting, I don’t know why. “It’s not my job, so I think it’s better if you ask (sporting director) Lee Congerton.”
I think it's more likely a dig at the media. They keep pursuing Poyet because he's more 'box office', interesting & likely to give a good quote. Congleton wouldn't sell many papers unless he has a newsagents.
FOOTBALL Sunderland still pursuing Marcos Alonso © Getty Images By Jack Prescott, London Correspondent Filed: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 13:30 UK Last Updated: Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 13:30 UK Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has confirmed that the club is still trying to sign Fiorentina defender Marcos Alonso on a permanent deal. The Spanish full-back spent the second half of last season on loan at the Stadium of Light, helping the Black Cats to avoid relegation from the Premier League. While Poyet admits that talks over a move have been 'more difficult than expected', the Uruguayan remains hopeful of landing the 23-year-old. "It's close, but not close enough. Everything is on track," he told the Sunderland Echo. "It's just like I explained before. These deals for everything to come together, so many people need to be happy. It's not that easy. "We're trying hard. It's been a bit more difficult than I expected, but we're not going to stop." Alonso made 20 appearances in all competitions for Sunderland during the 2013-14 campaign. Well what the jells going on Look at the time it's ****e repeat post just deleat this mods
