Sunderland are weighing up a cut-price move for West Ham striker Frederic Piquionne. The 32-year-old is available and keen to move back into the top flight. Manager Steve Bruce is weighing up various options.
I thought he was good when at Portsmouth. I don't think he's the striker we seek, but he might provide cover if Gyan or Sessegnon get injured.
It's not the player that bothers me its the looking at cut price options. Something is very wrong IMO, a year in January when w sold Bent I'm sure Bruce, Quinn or both talked about breaking the transfer record to find a replacement. I dont buy this having to spend money because of loan players, how is that a surprise, it was always the case and are we saying that if SAF phoned and said we can have Welbeck for 9mil we would have to say no. I know we have spent but I cant see what we have spent to suddenly make us skint, is Short pulling the plug? If its Nuggsey, Ringo and Kilgallon's wages then give them away. Just all getting a little scary to me.
I think it may be a smoke screen, given the fact that SB & St Niall both know the club is now heading in the direction, they both know that a real top class striker is the only option right now & I do think that's what they are working on
I seem to recall playing for Portsmouth and West Ham he scored a few goals against us so he can't be that bad!!
I have to say I agree with these sentiments. You are right Syd, back when old Judas left, the reason for NOT bringing in a short term solution was excused by the club by saying they were keeping their money for the summer as they didn't want to bring in someone who wasnt in the long term plan. They DID say they wouldn't be afraid to break the transfer record to land their man and at the time (when I had a very angry head on) I said I didn't think we would break it. We have recruited well but without major outlay and we have only spent the remaining Judas money and Henderson money so far. As an investment, the club are in the black as far as transfer money goes and have self funded the whole summer campaign. If we are really serious about a top 10 or better finish, then a top striker and attacking left midfielder is a priority surely. SNQ & SB have done much to placate their thinking thus far this summer and have turned around those fans such as myself who were very critical but a move for a very average player like Piquionne would undermine that good work for IMO. If we did go for a 'cut price' option, then it would beg the question why we didn't just do that in January and maybe the slump we endured wouldn't have have been so dire. Credibility has to be maintained and if the club had no intentions of delivering the 'big name' striker this summer, they shouldn't have said they would. That opens up a whole can of worms that had been tossed aside in recent weeks and is a step backwards. Its all probably just horseshit paper talk again but I sincerely hope it is.
Totally agree, when I read in the Echo yesterday that the club had brought in 9 new players pricing them out of N'Zog the alarm bells rang for me. Obviously the Echo did it in a the club has spent billions way but we are not stupid. We have brought in 9 players at no where near the cost of Bent and Henderson. Wages I hear you cry, you have to imagine that Bent was our top wage earner, also we were paying the loanees wages who have all gone (elmo apart). Yes we have some dead wood but not that much and our squad is pretty lean. If the club is looking to balance the books - I have no problem with that, I don't want to see us go to the wall. however don't lie about it and promise breaking the transfer record, and the only way is up. After all that's been said about our board and Newcastles I feel they both have the same tactics only ours is much better at the PR stuff. Plus Quinn took the club from impending doom and Newcastle were high flyers when Ashley took over. However due to their spending Newcastle were going to the wall too.
I agree syd. what happened to all the reports on Crouch and Defoe the fans were talking about Bentdner N'gogg were they worthy enough to come to the club, now we are looking at Piquionne FFS Quinn get Bruce sorted Quinns quote from last year when we struggled "Stoke have 6 strikers maybe we need to look at things" Well im sorry we have not replaced Bent and like syd says looking in the basement to look at what ****e is left does nothing for me. All the good work done so far is going down hill fast if we don't get another striker and left winger in. I say give young Gradel a chance from Leeds as well. Thats my morning rant over.
I do believe that wages are the key. Short seems happy to invest cashwise, and the transfer kitty should be ok with the big sales. But we must meet the new financial regulations over the next year or so, and massive wages will prevent us from doing so. Quinn has said repeatedly that the key to paying these wages is filling the ground. IF we do that on a regular basis we can move on to that next level. I know a lot of people say we need to invest to fill the ground but are we really prepared to risk our entire club hoping the big name signings succeed and fill the ground. I for one am delighted at our current approach to transfers. Also, where does this mentality come from that a player is only any good if he breaks the transfer record. Agreed, for a quality player you often have to pay a hefty fee, but the likes of Everton have never paid over the odds, investing heavily in youth and they do well year in year out. Lets keep building as we are. Who knows Dong and Wickham could prove to be big hits with Dong in particular not breaking the bank. I have a great feeling about this season and am delighted at Bruce, Quinn, and Shorts work this summer. FTM
Totally agree, I'm starting to get nervous now as I can see a real lack of ambition which either means Short isn't willing to invest much more or our finances are in a bit of a state. I think we've been thrown a curve ball here and have been blinded by the amount of signings we made early on. Ok there is a couple of good signings there but no one IMO that would seriously be counted on as a major improvement on what we had last season. If they think the fans will fall for Wickham being a replacement for Bent then they are playing a dangerous game as he is nothing more than an unproven prospect the same goes for Henderson's replacement (whichever one that is). Yes we have brought in experience (OShea/Brown) and workman like grafters (Gardiner/Larrson/Vaughan) but all for what would be considered to be on the cheap whilst we recouped (in if rumours are to be believed) over £35M from the sale of Bent and Hendo. So indeed it looks like nervous times ahead as we are an unknown which could go either way. Not being able to get N'Zog proved it for me but hey, lets hope they are playing a crafty game and will surprise us all before the start of the season.
Well said mate .. And on a side note correct me if I'm wrong but the only place this Piquionine bollocks appears is in the Daily Fail! This paper has done nothing but get slated for it's stories throughout the whole transfer window, why now believe anything it has to say. Utter garbage.
Piquionne in Bruce sights at Sunderland 09:00 AM 28 July, 2011 Frederic Piquionne is in the sights of Sunderland Football Club. Steve Bruce has been the busiest manager in the Premier League this summer, and the Black Cats boss has not finished adding to his squad just yet. A new striker has shot to the top of the wanted list at the Stadium of Light, and reports claim West Ham Unitedâs Piquionne has emerged as a target. The 32-year-old is likely to leave Upton Park following Unitedâs relegation from the Premier League, and Bruce would hope to land his signature for a knockdown fee. THOUGHTS LADS, cant see any mileage in this one
Not for me. Would have taken in him January when we were crying out for someone but we have big, strong goalscorers in Ji and Wickham. Would sooner see them get games.
