After our best result of the season and a decent performance against Sothampton, and a few new bodies in (thought Manquillo looked excellent personally) and the ability to field something that resembles a first choice 11 (at least 9 of them anyhow) just wondering how everyone is feeling today? It's a beautiful, sunny bank holiday and things have been pretty **** on here of late with more negativity than a nazi concentration camp!! For me, I was one of the "glass half full" brigade but it was looking more half empty without any quality and all of the injuries/kone/kaboul situation. Thought Saturday was promising. Central defence looked very solid. We still miss the composure of Kirchhoff in Midfield IMO although Pienaar looks a very good acquisition. All in all... Looking up rather than down. Has to be a good thing Should I sticky this? (That's a joke btw)
Im not worried. Ever since Moyes was appointed i have new faith. Bodji. Manquillio. Januzaj and a few squad fillers, and a few more decent ones to come hopefully Some of the U23 getting time and doing ok also. Much more optimistic.
**** me, I'm off to work. Can't wait to see how my new Mexican boss is going to baffle me today. But before I go, Come on -- weren't those last 11 -12 games of last season amazing. Most on here, and along the Wear, were expecting an easy jaunt up to the middle of the table. Then the FA decided they needed Big Sam to manage that old guy's squad. I'm willing to support Moyes, I thought Everton was a fine team when Dempsey was at Spurs, but he has to show me something, here and now.
I'm pretty positive mate, I think performance levels have been higher than I expected and I genuinely believe we will get a couple more in at least. We don't look a poor side even as it stands, just lacking a little something.
Not much changed yet for me. I`ll be a bit disgruntled if this is all we have at the end of the window. In fact, my gruntle will be in a reet strop.
It's hard to get to positive when our manager has a defeatist attitude when he speaks. I've always maintained we would get signings in, when most of this board were falling apart.
Bigger picture is we're in the a right mess. Smaller picture, or short term future if you will, I'll judge when the window closes. not a couple of days before when we still need loads of players!!!
Here's a funny thing about the club and it's finances. I went the club store at the SOL yesterday for a training top, I was the only person in and there were about 6 members of staff, for a bank holiday Sunday. Ludicrous. All the non Adodas stuff in there is absolute tat, as a side note.
This is what Martin Bain is supposed to be sorting out. We have got no interest in our club from outside of Sunderland. He has been talking about building the brand, and engaging with the supporters to generate more revenue. At Tel Aviv, he took them to a new level and brought the supporters much closer to the club and had them more involved. He brought out new apps, for the club shop amongst other things, and really had the supporters involved, which in return was obviously bringing in more wonga. It's early days for him obviously, but I'm expecting him to promote us on a bigger stage, in the future. He worked off a lean model to sort the club out internally, which obviously hasn't been implemented here yet, because 6 members of staff on a bank holiday is a joke. Our business hemorrhages money, everywhere you look.
Aye it needs looked at mate. I'm responsible for staffing and budgets and as such I see things like that, it boils my piss. The quality of the 'club made' merchandise has to be better, it's pound shop **** at a premium price. Club can make a fortune in that area just daft little things. There wasn't a single item outside the supplied by Adidas stuff worth a look, even things like key rings etc were incredibly low quality. That Karbon Grill place looked absolutely packed mind, I have no idea if that's owt to do with the club being a non resident of Sunderland!