Anthony Reveillere SUNDERLAND will hold discussions with Anthony Reveillere over his Black Cats future, with the full-back’s short-term contract expiring in the summer. Reveillere has been a revelation since arriving on a free transfer in October after Sunderland’s injury situation forced Gus Poyet and Lee Congerton to scour the Bosman market for a stop-gap signing. The former France international had been without a club since leaving Napoli in May, was just about to turn 35 and had never played in the Premier League before. But despite his advancing years, Reveillere immediately adapted to the English game and has continued to shine in the last two games after returning from an Achilles injury. Reveillere only penned a deal until the end of the season when he first arrived, but head coach Poyet has revealed that Sunderland will look into the possibility of extending the ex-Lyon man’s Stadium of Light stay. Poyet said: “I think we will talk to him for sure. “Between now and the end of the season, there are decisions we need to make with players finishing contracts, positions and things like that. “But he’s a good lad. “When we signed him, he was 34, it was October and my first question was ‘Why didn’t you retire?’. “He said that he felt alright. “He’s shown that because it’s not easy at that age to stop playing for four months and coming back that way at Crystal Palace (Reveillere’s debut) and marking the players he marked. “You need to be good and he was good. “We couldn’t go and get him in the summer because he wasn’t among the players you think of signing for three years. “But then circumstances put us in a situation to think about it.” Reveillere had enjoyed a glittering career in France - making more than 400 appearances for Lyon and Rennes, while winning 20 caps for his country. And Poyet admits that if Reveillere was much younger, Sunderland may not have had the chance to sign him. “I would buy him if he was 25,” added Poyet. “I’m going to be honest though, I don’t know if he would be here! “He would be playing Champions League every year. “He’s very intelligent. With respect to the rest, he’s the one you can tell things too and he gets it so fast. “He makes all the other players sure, he’s good on the ball and he’s calm. “He’s a great, great addition and a really good professional.”
Signing a 34 yr old on a short term deal is only ever going to be stop gap. Even if the player stays on you still need to fill that position in the summer imo.
Agree entirely Roger, he is a quality player who has proved he can still hack it at this level so we would be mad not to keep him, he is definitely the best right back at the club
Why on earth does age come into it? The lad is an outstanding, intelligent footballer and when he is in the side the whole shape and fluidity is improved. Without question PVA & Jones can learn from him. I don't care if he's 134, he's good enough, and absolutely worth another year. Plent have played well beyond 34, indeed, Paolo Maldini, the best wing back there has ever been (arguably...) played to 40. Rev oozes quality, you can see it in every touch, age ain't ****. Would we rather sign a 23 pile of ****e?
Chopper Harris once played for Chelsea in Div. 2 against Port Vale, whose player/manager was Stanley Matthews, aged 50 at that time. All the lads in the Chelsea dressing room were pulling Harris's leg for having "an easy day". Harris later told Radio 5 Live : "I chopped him off by the thighs after ten minutes. He was quiet enough after that. But I've never had a worse ten minutes in my life! Forget 50, he was far too good for the likes of me." If he's good enough, he's good enough. End of. I couldn't care less what his birth certificate says.
One word- legs. O'Shea getting on and not the most mobile, Brown getting on and not the most mobile. Generally players lose pace as they age please log in to view this image , we have an old defence, and pace makes up for a lot of other deficiencies. A slow defence automatically means you set up defending deeper and thus is detrimental to the midfiels and attack. A lack of pace at the back is fine if its part of a balanced defence but if its a chronic problem then you have big problems. As for Maldini, Rev might be class, but as classy as Maldini, surrounded by the same quality of team mates. Maldini could get away with not being as quick as young players because he was so good in great teams.
Agree, whether your young or older, makes no difference so long as you're good enough, he's got to be worth at least a 1 year contract
Don't think so, in slower leagues those skills come to the fore more but will get crucified in the PL. Is our defence smartenogh, got a good enough touch and positional sense to negate such a chronic lack of pace, I don't think so.
And when has Rev been crucified in the PL this season? I can't think of one game where he's been done time and again, due to his lack of pace, can you? In fact he was great against Palace in an unorthodox LB role against some of the paciest players in the PL.
If he's that good are we going to roll out a 5 year contract, offer Ronaldinho the same, get KP and Quinn back? Bodies let people down as they age, not everyone ages at the same rate and in the same way. Some players can play at a higher level for longer than others, but he isn't going to get any quicker, and neither are our other CBs the wrong side of 30. I'd hope not fresher targets are being sought in conjunction. Its as good as loan, it does nothing to help long term. And several people are disparaging about them.
Don't think this is relevant. What is relevant is his level of performance, he hasn't been a 'steady stop gap' he's been one of our best players and easily been of upper mid table standard in this league. That is and should be the only consideration 'is he good enough'. Absolutely he is.
