Summer '24 transfer window

Its quite something that on the same day the richest club in the world Newcastle have to sell one of their prized youth assets to cover their financial mismanagement, "skint" Sunderland are able to beat them to the signature and offer more money to "massive Newcastle fan" Chris Rigg

 

Also shows confidence in us to allow him to develop in a decent side. He's expecting success.

 

I agree. Every footballer is different. We don't know how that amount of games at that age will affect Yamal on the back end of his career though.

Look at Ronaldo - managed very carefully when he was a teenager and still playing kicking 40. And then Rooney, played most games and legs gone in his twenties.

I'd like to see Rigg involved often but we have to identify if he starts flagging as early as possible and give him a rest. I think Jobe would have had an even more impressive season if he'd played ten games less because he'd have been a lot more lively.

 

I think it shows us that the whispers of KLD's intentions this season could have been very true

 

I don’t usually credit the club for their recruitment, but getting Rigg to sign is huge. If we get Neil & Ballard extending too then that is a real show of intent.

 

Cracking news to start the week. Over the moon he has signed

 

Best bit of business we will do

Hhhaaa'wwwwaaaaayyyyyy the lads

 

Problem there is the clubs who we are trying to buy from, will know we've got dosh so they'll up their price. Buy first b4 letting anyone go.

 

Don't buy this we ran Bellingham into the ground stuff, he's a young lad at peak fitness. He's a young lad who will be up n down with his form has nothing to do with being over used

 

Lucas Neil's son

 

I think he was playing in a horribly dysfunctional team and the coaching was very shoddy.

Hoping him and several others have much better season this time around.

 

I thought the owner has no money.....or do people ignore the fact that increased lengthy contracts can cost more than a transfer fee.

 

Thought it was him. He was very highly rated, sounds like it won't be long before he starts playing mens football

 

KLD will look at this as a shrewd bit of investment considering what his potential value could rise to.

 

He looked like he couldn't break into a sprint in some games. Slow and ponderous.

Whenever he'd had a rest for whatever reason, he looked a completely different player.

That can't be form stops you running fast, it's physical tiredness. He's still growing as well.

 

https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/the-neill-deal-why-sunderland-pounced-on-son-of-socceroos-legend-605333
Marcus Neill - son of Socceroos icon Lucas - has “ticked a lot of boxes” to land a switch from the Liverpool Academy to Sunderland, a move which has the potential to fast track the teenage striker’s football future.
Still just 15, Neill junior, who spent five years on Liverpool’s books, was headhunted by Sunderland's recruitment department and will link up with the Championship club's U-18s.

The playoff hunting Black Cats are already laden with talent in their early 20s and teens, with midfielder Jobe Bellingham, 18 - brother of Real Madrid and England star, Jude - a prime example.

There will be every opportunity for Neill, already high on the radar of Australia U-17s coach Brad Maloney, to develop and flourish on Wearside.

“We've known Marcus since he was a young kid at Blackburn before joining Liverpool,” said Sunderland's recruitment chief Stuart Harvey, formerly head of recruitment at Ewood Park.

“Liverpool is one of many clubs where we have developed strong relationships with, and as we know it can be really difficult for Academy players at Premier League clubs to have that pathway to first team football at the speed they would like.

"So we have to make sure that we’re in a position to act when those that don’t necessarily push on at these clubs become available.

“We jumped at the situation with Marcus and our Academy recruitment team, lead by Ian Archbold, did a great job in persuading both him and Lucas that coming here was the right place for him to be.

“It’s all about talent, and Marcus fits a model and the profile of the sort of player that we look for - he ticks a lot of the boxes and we believe that he can develop with us.

“Our model is giving youngsters the opportunity and platform to progress, and that’s what we aim to happen here.”

Harvey is mindful not to heap undue expectation on the intelligent forward, whose family pedigree in the form of famous father Lucas evokes obvious comparisons in how far he might progress in the game.

“The plan for him is to join the U-18s with an eye on the U-21s, but the last thing that we want to do is loudly broadcast his arrival to the world and place unnecessary pressure on the boy,” Harvey added.

“The Neill name in Australia carries a lot of weight, doesn’t it. Sometimes, though, that name can carry with it an unnecessary extra burden.

“Like many players whose families have footballing backgrounds, people naturally want to make a comparison with father and son, grandad, brothers or cousins, but for us it's important that we allow these players to express their talent in their own right and create their own unique identity.

“In Marcus’ case he aligns really well with our club values and our player profiles. He's a smart player, a good finisher, a really nice respectful lad, and we just want him to come in, enjoy his football and develop his game from there. He’ll be in the right environment to do that.

“Let’s just see how he gets on without putting him under undue pressure or scrutiny. He just needs to go under the radar now and hopefully we’ll see the fruits of his progress in a few years time.”

 

Alan Browne is now a free agent

 

Brilliant news. Agree with you about where he’s used mate.

 

That would be a tremendous coup and a boost for everyone.

 

Could he be the other signing? He's been up here I believe.