Agreed mate. I know a Villa fan who now despises him. Tells me they were never able to recover from his big spending. Big money on players like Nigel Reo-Coker He reckons he spent about 140m in the four years he was there and recouped about 35m back in player sales.
and the arrival of Sam Allardyce, now coach of the English team, it went downhill with Lens. At theBlack Cats he had been since the beginning of this calendar year often does not even select more players. "I did not play, was not even on the bench," said Lens. "I just had a problem with the club. What? No idea. Sunderland would just love to get rid of me." Allardyce, the coach that the attacker barely used, was replaced by David Moyes.But that changed nothing Lens' situation. "Though there were ten other trainers come, then I should have been gone." I have a good relationship with Dick, Good translate can be quite funny if you have a childish sense of humour like me.
But what about our younguns - we've got a very good academy probably better than Man U's - not at all sure about Love or McNair really - not yet to the point of criticising them mind. Off to get Crystal Palace ticket -1st game this season for me
What disturbs me about these two is I think they are rank average. from what I have seen so far, there is zero to get excited by either. But as you say, they are young and can improve and didn't cost the earth. But first impressions (and lets face it, that's what most of us go on) they wouldn't get anywhere near the first team for me.
I doubt Love will get much game time this season. But didn't McNair play around 25 games for Utd last season? I'm sure I read that on here. I think he'll get a good few starts this season. Unless that is, more experienced signings walk through the door in the next 39 hours.
I hate this "they're from Man Utd's academy they have pedigree $hite. Paul McShane was from Man Utd's academy and he is a hopeless attempt of a footballer. Still a case of wait and see with these two but they've both got a lot of improving to do as they'll both have a part to play in this season and need to stand up and be counted when it matters.
How many does that make Comm. I think somewhere about 18 have left this summer, all in and around the first team and not including any young'uns. This, together with our injuries has left us with one of our smallest squads I can remember. We all know this of course. The question is, are we going to get about 5 or 6 PROPER first teamers in by tomorrow. If we get M'Vila (for an instant 10 million profit if we only pay 5 million for him) that leaves us still needing a striker, at least 1 CB, a replacement for Lens, a winger and cover for PVA. Will it happen?
They cost you £5m for the pair mate, it's little more than a punt in today's market, stop crying about it and get over it. In a year's time you won't be complaining if like Michael Keane, or Drinkwater, or Heaton they end up being a very valuable asset on your books. I'm sure you've never wanted Sunderland to sign any of those three either.
No it wont happen. We will be thin on numbers. We may get another 2-3 but will still be short. Have to hold onto Jan. Which will be fun and games as Kone and Bodji bugger of to Africa for some cup.
I said it's a case of wait and see with them if you read my original post. Before that I was referring to the myth that all Man Utd youth players are excellent footballers just because they were at Man Utd.
Made up myth. Who ever claimed that? I'd argue we have a better success rate than any other club in this country. I'd say at least half of the teams in the PL have a United Academy graduate in their 25 man squad.
You're probably right about having a high success rate, not many have made it into team regulars though over the last few years, Evans, Lingaard, Rafael to an extent. It's certainly not a banker though that just because you're from Man Utd you're a good player. Sky commentators/presenters mention this pedigree thing all of the time with Man Utd youth players, it's not a given at all that they're good players.
I do think a lot of clubs do buy these unwanted players because they are "Man Utd" players. I would argue strongly if McNair and Love were playing for Stoke, we wouldn't have given them a second glance. After the success Man Utd had with Beckham, Giggs etc...I actually do believe some clubs think that gold dust rubs off on all their academy players....If they were any good, the Mancs would keep them.
You're confusing a high success rate of developing players with a total success rate. I don't think any academy can claim that every player they produce is going to be good. A lot more regulars than you list have made it from our academy, such as Pogba, Welbeck, Cleverley and Rashford to name a few and that's just our team, there's probably 20 in this league alone.
That's the thing though Flanders, we don't keep players just because they're 'any good', we sell 'any good' players as we care about the players, the likes of Shawcross who wouldn't have got a game at United at the time, or Michael Keane, or Danny Drinkwater... you can't just leave them to stir on the bench, hoping for a chance, they have to have games. If McNair ends up turning into a fantastic player, our club wouldn't think twice about putting £30m to you to buy him back, it's a risk we take by releasing all of our graduates. I assume you've signed the two from us because Moyes knows them from watching the youths during his spell here, that's the logical one for me.
great post - but they're getting stick from all angles, on here and at the match! My Dad is very vocal - but Moyes said they were brought in as development type players. Players who could get bits of game time and they've had to come in and do a job. They may not be good enough at the minute but I saw promise for McNair last season from the few games. He's come into a difficult situation with us and had to hit the ground sprinting. They'll get time from me but some others aren't as willing to give them that.
Agree mate, they're brought in to thicken a very thin squad, and provide options. From what I understand McNair is being touted for a holding role? He's a ball playing centre half, no wonder he's not looked the nuts. If he's all you've got to play that role then fair play to the lad for stepping up, it's much easier to hide. It's not his fault your club's hampered by injuries. Love isn't ready, evidently, but now you have a RB, the lad can develop there and if he fails, it's cost you 1/10th of the cost to watch Rodwell flop.
