The problem is timing. If we settle for say 8, for Niko, then surely Bentley can only be worth 4 at most, maybe less. We paid 16.5 so I remember. No way will Levy take a hit like that. I think if we get rid of Keane, Bentley et al for something approaching reasonable prices (tough I know) then we may soften on Niko's.
Chirpy, The problem for Levy is that eventually these guys like Bentley, their contracts will expire - making them worth nothing to the club. I'm not sure how long Bentley, for instance, has left on his. But, surely, it's better to sell, than keep holding out, whilst all the time the contract gets closer to expiry?
Hi again lads, Strong rumours up here that Defoe is in the North East, anything from down there? He was up last Friday as well, apparently.
Like with Bent, I think JD would be a storming success for you. It's amazing what a change of scenery can do for a player! So much for him not liking the norf!
Personally I don't think Levy worries about whether he makes a profit or a loss - he just wants to buy and sell at the right value. Bentley is worth something as part of the squad - if we can't get that for selling him (including the salary saving) then we should keep him. I might disagree with the value we put on some of our squad players but the policy is right. It is perfectly consistent with saying that we won't sell Modric or Bale 'at any price' if we believe (probably rightly) that we can't buy someone better for 'any' price. But no-one would think Levy had broken this promise if he managed to swap them for Iniesta and Messi (not that I think this is in any way possible)
That's our feeling as well, similar circumstances, as it's kinda stopped working for him at Spurs, but he's a better player than Bent, even if Bent is arguably a better finisher. It's just talk at the minute, but it's gathering pace and it's not going away, and we need a striker, and you are looking to sell to buy. Makes a lot of sense.
It looks like Sunderland are going to start the next Premier League campaign with a totally different team to the one that started the last one! While there may be some fears about a poor start as the players get to know each other and gel as a unit, there should be enough quality there to get past that and push on. Should be interesting.
The one thing they definitely need is to strengthen in areas that they badly struggled with last-term injury wise. I think they topped the injury table - so some consistency in player performances by volume will be something on Brucey's mind IMO.
Think we've signed well mate. We haven't went out and bought 'wow' players as such, but every signing we've made has added something that was missing last term. Gardner - goals from midfield. Larsson - delivery from set plays, O'shea and Brown - Winning mentality and experience, Whickham - Height and strength up top (although we don't expect much this season). Sometimes a players fit to a team is more important than his ability as an individual, we feel we're getting a good balance, and can't wait for kick off now. In Sessegnon, we have one of the most talented individuals in the league (seriously, last 6 games he was unreal), and Defoe would be a nice cherry on the top. ShelfSide, I think the strength in depth flaw has been well covered, once these 3 sign on toady (fingers crossed).
I've been expecting Sunderland to impress ever since Bruce joined but despite spending large sums of money they've never shown more than flashes of good form.
Sorry, but I've got to disagree here. Levy has always been demonstrably averse to taking losses. Bentley is hardly part of our squad - and is unlikely to be included in the 25 man squad fpr next season. Let's face it, he went to Birmingham and got himself chucked out of there. We should, in this case, and in a few others, just sell for the best available price and invest the proceeds more profitably, elsewhere. Modric & Bale are a completely different kettle of fish. Top players, who are vital to our future. Bentley, and a few others, most certainly, are NOT.
One thing though BB, is where do all of these players fit in? Presumably Craig Gordon's on the way out, so I won't go into that, but Sessegnon, Gardner, Gibson, Cattermole and Larsson would mean only one up top and some other midfielders pushed down the pecking order. I suppose that Elmohamady and Richardson can play as full-backs, but both them and the likes of Malbranque and Riveros look to be on the way to either becoming squad players or leaving. If you mean to move them on and bring in youngsters as back-up, then that's fine, but it's even more disruption to the squad, which we've found to be extremely damaging in the past. If you mean to keep them, then I think you may struggle to keep them happy. It's a tricky balancing act to pull off and I don't think that our manager managed it last season. Only time will tell what Bruce's intentions are though, I guess.
Gordon will leave, he's in the last year of his contract, wasn't offered a new one, we reckon he's Arsenal bound, great keeper on his day, but a crock. Gibson won't sign now, we've gone for Vaughan instead, who as a left footer, is a better option for balance, the starting midfield in my opinion will be Larsson, Cattermole, Gardner and Sessegnon, the rest will have to prove they are worth a place, and that's good for the club, we have had a decent 11 for a couple of years, but struggled with the standard of the back up. Riveros has gone to Turkey yesterday, Steeeeed may well leave, he's been wonderful, as you lads know, but he's in decline now, sadly. Elmo and Ricco, as you say, will be used as wing backs, i feel Ricco will start left, giving us width and pace, and Elmo will back up Bardsley on the right. I guess to progress you have to have options, and now we should, keeping them happy is for Bruce, but i'd rather have players fighting for places than shoe-ins with o back up. I feel this will be the last window we see a massive turnover, we had several loan players last season, that will be limited to Welbeck (hopefully!) this year.
He's clearly in these pictures from the 5th. http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/back-on-the-ball-050711.html He's in this one from today, too. http://yfrog.com/ke0p07j
