Don't think we'll have a choice with Wyke. Think he's off to boro. Mcgeady may well price himself of staying too. Recruitment team have had months to look at players. Here's hoping they get a few gems to go with the younger players we already have Get Neil on the guinness and weights over the summer and he could solve a big problem too.
GK New number 1 Patterson LB Hume New signing RB New signing Onien CB New signing New signing Wright Flanagan Xhemajli Willis (Out most of the season) Centre midfield New signing. New signing. Dan Neil Winchester Attacking midfield Embleton Hawkes Left wing McGeady New signing Right wing Diamond Gooch Striker Stewart Obrien New signing Around 9 New signings (if O'Nien and Mcgeady renew) Hopefully Dobson and Grigg will be sold. I'd move Obrien on but with Johnson seemingly staying he seems like one of his favourites. Released Burge Matthews McFazdean McLaughlin Scowen Power Leadbitter Wyke will sign for Boro imo Jones and Sanderson won't be re signed.
So apparently Burge's contract is / has been renewed automatically. I am guessing due to number of starts like McGeady. In this scenario my guess is that we don't sign a new keeper unless Burge is sold, and we have Patterson and Burge competing for the no.1 spot.
For as long as I can remember we've signed players who have been great, only for them to turn **** when they start playing for us. Likewise, as long as I can remember, we've sold **** players for them to turn into maestros as soon as they leave. Give or take a handful of players, it's da Sunderland way innit.
I'd make a few tweaks and bring some more of the youth through. 10-11 new signings though, peinarily theough the aoine of the team and at right back GK Burge Patterson new reserve keeper LB Hume New signing RB 2 x New signings CB New signing New signing McLaughlin *Younger *Almond Xhemajli Willis (Out most of the season) Centre midfield New signing. New signing. O'Nien Winchester Attacking midfield New signing Hawkes Neil Left wing McGeady Embleton Right wing Diamond Gooch Striker Stewart Obrien New Signing New Signing *Harris?
Be happy with that unless we could get that lad from Stoke on a season long loan and get Patterson out to L1/2 for game time
Fair point, but I think this season has been a massive anomaly for Wyke and I'd be amazed if he got 15 goals next season as Johnson will want to play a different way. We need more pace and mobility up front.
I have been thinking about Burge. To me he is a good shot stopper and he is good in 1 on 1 situations. He can be caught on his line for crosses though and I like keepers who come and claim things, which can give defenders a lot more confidence. I therefore hope that we prioritise someone like that and then let a new keeper battle with Patterson and or Burge. If we wanted to shift Burge I am sure that there would be takers at league 1 level for a modest fee. Patterson showed last night what he can do. I would like to think that he can be a part of the squad next year.
Who does. From this post you seem to discount Younger and Patterson, and favour Maguire over Diamond, laughable.
No, that's not what I've done at all. I've stated that, based on goalscoring and assist stats, Diamond hasn't been as effective as Maguire over the course of this season. I made that statement to indicate that bringing through the youngsters isn't going to bring about an immediate improvement to the side. That doesn't mean that I prefer Maguire or that I don't want Diamond in the side, it was simply to point out that these are still developing players who haven't reached their peak yet. Hopefully, they will over the next season or two and will prove to be better than the current set of senior pros. I didn't mention Younger or Patterson in the post that you quoted so I don't know how you can determine that I've dismissed them. In other posts, I've stated quite clearly that I hope that they are in and around the first team squad next season. Based on what I've seen of them, particularly last night, they are clearly players with significant potential. Whether they are going to make it as first team players remains to be seen but, hopefully, they will. My disagreements with you about the u23s aren't because I don't want them to come through or even because I don't think they are good enough. I have disagreed with you because I think you calling Johnson a 'clown' for not taking the risk of selecting these unproven players and saying that taking Younger off is the worst decision you've ever seen, is completely irrational. I've been surprised at your stance on Johnson because you are usually one of the posters that I respect the most. Hopefully, we can agree that these young players have a lot of potential, leave it at that, and put any ill feeling behind us
No offence to Stoke, but if we went to them and offered them some cash and the opportunity to play for SAFC he'd jump at the chance.
I would be surprised if he was staying but I'd be telling Burge he is not going to play next year. Find another club
Patterson is out of contract as well according to Phil Smith (echo journo) on the latest wise men say podcast.
Maybe we should loan the likes of Younger, Hawke, Patterson and Neil to Blackpool next season. They know how to handle our young players who can’t get into our first team. (Tongue in cheek of course)
Over the road Tyrion Lannister is saying that a player is having a medical today. The betting seems to be for Owen Dale from Crewe.
Centre mid has been our achilles heel for 2 years and he's been 5th choice. He's nowhere near good enough to play Centre mid, even at this level
