I wonder of a reason for hanging onto patto, neil etc is for FFP if we get promoted. Don't fully know how it works but selling some homegrowns in the prem would give the club a lot of room.
I think that's about accurate, there are often a handful of teams that would do well in the Championship but the rest are mid-level League One sides, bottom end might be even worse.
My assumption is Le Bris has had a hand in identifying him. No problem if so. As I understand it he wants a certain type of CF to make his preferred style work. It may be scoring goals in the championship proves a bit harder for him as the defenders are generally pretty good at this level. If he can get between 10 and 15 goals, and bring the sort of never say die attitude and graft he could be an asset.
Just guessing but I think Le Bris will want a hard running 9 who'll shift the defenders around. Clarke and Roberts, etc, regularly came up against a defence that was too much 'in place' imo. All we need is a bit of chaos so they can come inside or have runners from midfield ... ... there's enough talent there to score lots of goals.
One of the things with Mendy is, he drops deep and runs the channels often too, he doesn’t press relentlessly but he presses smartly by the looks of it
That's all we need imo, it occupies two defenders which automatically creates space somewhere ... ... all we have to do is find it and use it.
I’m a tad nervous about Mendy being the saviour. Would have preferred somebody I already knew and had seen play. not for one second saying he’d be a bad signing. I’m just not as enthused as some about him.
The more I think about it, the more it makes sense to me, 60 goals in 3 seasons, you'd hope that can translate to 15 a season (more games in championship than ligue 2) here, also he's old, so it doesn't put the block on Mayenda/Hemir emerging as our first choice at some point in the not too distant future. Edit: That part in bold in perhaps the most important to the club.
I feel like this is exactly what we need to be targeting. Trying to find someone with his record in England is an extra 5m on top
Not gonna put too much stock into it but a bloke called Grimes on RTG reckons Mendy is done with announcement this week but it’s probs a pisstake I imagine
I think that will be a big part of their thinking. They will want one of the young lads, more if possible, to develop into our main strikers over the next couple of years. Mendy gives them breathing space if he is effective, and hopefully something of a mentor to aspire to and learn from. Sometimes the best way to learn is by seeing others do it, not be told to do it. I remember Mowbray saying Hemir had to pull his socks up a bit in terms of not being last on the training pitch every time etc. I have seen young lads a bit like that before and it isnt deliberate or vindictive, but when a someone occupying the position you want the penny soon drops in terms of how to get that place off them.
I'm enthused because Le Bris is enthused and because he's a proven experienced scorer. If he only scored 10 goals that would be a massive improvement on last year's strikers. The odds against signing a 20 goals a season striker are huge ... ... far better to have someone experienced who'll play that role and allow others to share out the goals.
this is exactly why i am happy to trust the recruitment (as long as the coach has some say)...if we go back to SKP and SNQ, my main reaction was 'who the feck is he, he's too small' and 'quinny, ffs, a plank that can head a ball' then i realised the best men were on it, i could go through plenty that we all thought 'would be the saviour'. basically, i am more upset when i hear the coach has no say, he is the bloke who can see any gaps and his input has to be vital.
Whoever we sign I think some people are going to have to reign in their expectations a little. last season in the championship showed that goals for a lot of teams are coming from wide men/attacking midfielders more than they are for strikers. if whoever we sign can lead the line, make it uncomfortable for opposing defences, give them something to worry about with the ability to run in behind, be a threat at set pieces and get 10-12 goals then we will probably have a decent season.
Commented on Mendy’s post with my Sunderland page and he has liked that comment also. I’m really hoping it’s close to being tied up
I could be totally wrong but if he's 30 and playing in the second tier of French football, albeit scoring lots of goals, I wonder how good this guy is. Seems completely at odds with every other signing we've made tbh
I doubt he’s the only striker we sign. Someone like Cannon or Stansfield on loan or someone like Mubama on a free.
