We need a back to goal cf mate desperately. Strong in the air, strong at trapping, someone who can retain the ball high up the pitch to bring the defensive line forward. Last season was a nightmare, the defence was forced back far too easily because of clearances to Defoe were rarely completed and ball just kept coming back in until we conceded.
The budget will dictate who you go for really, but at the cheap end of the scale, maybe Peter Crouch could do a job, knows Defoe well enough to link up together, not many better with their head and surprisingly good feet for his frame. With a bit more to spend... maybe Bony.
Are things that bad? Well Sam's been known to kick start a flogged donkey once or twice over the years.
I'd like to go for Islam Slimani from Sporting. He's like a brick ****house but with more technique than the average target man. Good at dropping deep, strong as an ox and has an eye for goal. He's 28 and just finished the season of his life so a good time for him come to the PL. I think he'd adapt quickly given he's already a very physical player.
Didn't realise Blackburn had signed Anthony Stokes as well, interesting to see how they do with our reserves as strikers.
He's a baller mate, I think he'll cost a fair bit, probably upwards of £20m... although maybe Khazri could persuade him to join.
In Euros. I think we could get him for around £17m. Doubt Sporting could say no to that. He's got pace and he's a grafter too, he'd be perfect and I'd be tempted to go up to 20m. Yeah Khazri and Kaboul being Muslim could help. Am I being too ambitious?
Not at all Bri, Yedlin and M'Villa back plus three quality signings. We won't get a decent centre forward for less than £15mill anyway, £20mill is the going rate, realistic I would say.
I was going with the Algerian thing rather than the Muslim thing like mate turns out Khazri is Tunisian though, so maybe it makes no odds, although they are 'next door'... or does that mean they hate each other even more, like us and the Jocks? I'm not sure how much they'd take pal, they charged us £16m for Rojo and let Spurs have Dier for £4m so it depends if their FD is on acid on that particular day I guess
It was Everton away I think, the deflection !. I want Ronaldo to replace him and I don't care what he costs, come on Ellis be brave and I am on the special brew !.
I am surprised at his final total , it's way more then I expected him to get. Colback and Graham, that's them all gone now I hope and should be a warning to the club not to go down the Geordie route again. In DG s case he tried but basically he was not good enough and he is now at his correct level in the cship
Thinking that the attitude was right and if they can carry it over into the new season it could see a comfortable mid table finish. On the other hand, its Sunderland and they can make a balls up out of anything and at least another relegation battle is interesting. Footnote Danny Graham joins jon stead as a cf who never scored at his home ground. Granted they only had a few years to do that and may have needed a bit more time to do so.
