It’s an eloquent rebuttal of criticism but I think there are things I’d disagree about to some extent. If Danns was always the primary target then things happening so late allowed the possibility of things going wrong. Tricky as he may have been an unavailable target until quite late. I’ve never really bought the too much competition argument either, if that was true no one would ever be able to have cover unless they came through their academy. They are not big gripes but I think they are legitimate considerations.
I hope he sees himself here. This first 5 year stint is only the start of a project. You are absolutely correct that if he does quality recruitment for the PL there will be eyes on him though. There’s an element that will never admit it, but he is the absolute key to everything wonderful that’s happened in last 3-4 years.
It works for engagement to be fair. I don't really listen but if we're doing well, I'll find the Sunderland section to hear a neutrals opinion about us.
Was on a Facebook post mate, quite a long statement. WATSON HAPPY TO STAY Kristjaan Speakman has rubbished claims that Tommy Watson “wanted to leave” Sunderland on deadline day. Let’s face it the lad is a massive Sunderland fan and his family watch him every week, why would he want to go to Brighton? DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE “I think it would be really unfair to suggest that the player wanted to leave. Tommy is like a number of young players that we’ve got, where they’re on the up, they’re highly-rated and ambitious, which we want them to be, and then they get presented with an opportunity. Ultimately, Tommy didn’t have a decision to make because there wasn’t an agreement between the clubs. If the clubs had agreed, he would have had a decision to make, and you could understand why he would choose to stay, but you could also understand why he might decide to leave. That would be based on his views. But we never got to that point, so it was never really an issue. I think Tommy is such a level-headed kid that it’s absolutely not a problem. He’s Sunderland through and through, but he’s also ambitious and wants to get promoted and play in the Premier League with Sunderland. I’ve spoken to him this morning and he’s the usual Tommy Watson – he wants to get back fit and wants to get back to the Stadium of Light, scoring goals.” CONTRACT “I don’t think it was a risk. Tommy’s got a year left on his contract. At the minute, he’s fully committed to what we’re doing, and there’ll obviously be ongoing conversations about whether he can extend that or whether there’s going to be a moment where a club is able to agree a fee with us. We’re just focused on the short term at the minute, trying to make sure that the team is as cohesive as possible. We have to try to navigate these remaining 16 games in the best possible way, and Tommy can have a massive impact on that for us.” NO REPLACEMENT “Over the last season, Tommy’s worked himself to be one of two wide-left options in our squad. There’s him and Romaine (Mundle), you can’t let one of those players leave without finding a suitable replacement. That’s part of our thinking. There’s a trading element within the business of football, which is, ‘If you’re going to trade this player, what other opportunities does that present for you as a club?’ We look at all those things within it, and that’s ultimately part of the decision-making process as to whether you an accept an offer or not, and whether at a specific moment, you think that offer is the right value to enable you to do something else, or whether you want to hold to a future window. We’re really comfortable from a club perspective, and I think the player is really comfortable too because he recognises how good an opportunity Sunderland is at the minute, and he’s fully committed.”
I think that's fair enough, although there's no real feeling for me that Speakman desperately wants him to stay.
I'm not 100% sure Speakman is in the "keep at all costs" position on any of our players. I feel he's entirely open minded to players leaving, and that everyone has a value to us and if that value is met then the player can decide. I think its absolutely the right way to do it. But only if the "value" is a dynamic thing. No point agreeing it at the start of the season and then sticking to it in January even if you're in a promotion fight.
There isn’t. And in a way that’s positive I feel. He’s protected him whilst keeping the option open. The way I see it is if the club are open to sell, they know better than us, but while a player is here let’s have their back. It’s good management. We may have a mega target planned for that spot end of season we won’t know until we know what league we in. Imagine 2 or 3 Le Fee level signings would be the aim end of season, some would have to make way.
I have a feeling the quality of our targets has gone up several levels, even if we dont go up (which we will) the standards are rising across the board. The exciting thing for me is the next few younger signings and the levels they are at / have potential for. I defy anyone to not be enjoying watching the current crop develop and the next batch of them will be even higher immo
Yeah I agree fully. We are likely starting to see benefit of the better commercial deals now, as well as the true ambition now that promotion is very real. Somebody mentioned the other day getting playoffs sealed so we can ‘take handbrake off and fully go for auto’ and they are absolutely right. We can genuinely just go for it once playoff secured. I’d imagine we’ve already made contact with some targets and they will be watching, putting on a show a great way to get them done.
No is the simple answer for me. Lots of reasons to keep him. Not least his character and personality around the place. Then his ability on the pitch, it may be 15 or 20 minutes at then end of the game, but a bit of his own brand of game disruption, or his ability to pick good passes from deep. Most importantly though for me, and this is sentimental but sentimentality has its place, he will have earned his chance with us. More than most. I hate it when clubs do a Forest and buy 20 players and bomb most of them who have got them there. We arent that I hope, otherwise the game really has been lost to us fans.
Why would he? No room for emotion in the boardroom, football is a business at the end of the day. I think KS said it perfectly, it's all about evaluating the trade. If we think we can get good value for someone and bring in a replacement who'll help the squad even more, then it would be bad business to let our decision be influenced by "wanting players to stay" imo.
Agree I would hope, that if (when) we do go up this season, the majority of the squad get a chance to prove themselves. Including O9. He isn't a typical CB, but he is an intelligent player both off and on the pitch (the impression I get at least) and adds something that others don't. Clearly we would need to strengthen (RW, both FB positions, maybe a GK, and a CF), but, presuming we keep elf, then I wouldn't want wholesale changes. It's too disruptive to team spirit Besides, PL teams are trying to buy our players, so why not allow them to prove it with us
" Tommy didn't have a decision to make because there wasn't an agreement between clubs" No further comment needed. The lad is our player and he plays for us....and I,for one,am looking forward to seeing him and Romaine fit again on that left side....magic!
Speakman may back himselft to pull in replacements that are as good if not better - remember we can probably now shop in a slightly better talent pool as we have a bit more cash behind us - especially if we've sold a couple of players. For me hes earned the trust to be able to pull better signings off.
He's certainly earned our trust. Some have suggested his manner is difficult to deal with,but,everything I've seen has given me confidence in our future.
It's great to know we have people at the club making decisions that benefit the club, not just the bank balance. Some people were kicking off because we 'sold' Stewart and Clarke but, in truth, we've barely missed them. It may also be that Speakman rightly identified that one's injury would possibly reoccur and the other would be replaceable with what we had. It's also a bit of a backhanded compliment that our medical people picked up what Liverpool hadn't ... ... if he'd gone to another Championship club, would they have identified the issue. Perhaps we have to accept that what we see and hear is exactly what the club wants us to ... ... and, more to the point, what we want other clubs to believe.
