Alright chaps, I went to the game last night (yes I know it was a friendly) but I think and especially with the departure of Steed to St Etienne today that position could cost us like a striker did for the second half of last season. We know the club are doing all they can to solve that problem by trying to recruit someone but there aint many left wingers out there is there and who could be realistic. IMO we need to look overseas as there is no-one at all in the premier league. The only ones I can think of are Adreas Guardado (Deportivo who got relagated) Tranquilo Barnetta (Leverkusen) Juan Vargas (Fiorentina) Mark Gonzalez (CSKA - ex L'pool) Royston Drenthe (Madrid) Aiden McGeedy (Spartak) Anyone think of any?
Good shout How about Max Gradel? We've been recently linked with him and he's pretty handy so I hear.
Is Krancjar a LW? Would love to bring him in if saggy chops would play ball and not try to thieve Gyan off us. Gradel gets good reviews, but I've seen nowt of the lad.
I rather Red Ken Livingstone as our 'Ambassador' or (whetever the frig he is) than the Pale Pink David Miliband - but I guess my politics are showing. Anyway I'm not sure about this - there is a danger in overpaying for average players who fit the bill as naturally left-footed wide players are not exactly in abundance. I know the Mags scout was keen on Barnetta but to be honest I do not know anything about him (I actually thought he was a right-sided player) but I think he's on a free-transfer (?) so might be worth a look... Of course anything we know Bruce & his team know in advance of us and in more detail than us so unless Bruce is already interested I's say they are either too expensive or not much cop. I would have thought Cooke was too young/inexperienced to hold down a first team place in the Prem.
The fans, Bruce, Quinn & Short all know where our weakness is and that is the left wing/fullback positions but there just isnt the right players out there and for the right price. Its a shame really because we could waste some money on SWP or some of the names mentioned but we still would have a right footer on the left giving us zero balance. Its a shame we havnt got the cash like Liverpool etc because they have great balance if you take into account Enrique ends up there so they have Enrique/Downing on the left and Johnson or Kelly/Henderson or Kuyt or Suarez on the right. Im sure our time will come with the men we have in charge but its going to be some time before we can have our perfect line ups and as Sunderland fans for this season at least I think we just have to accept that.
