Message from Regis Le Bris to Anthony Patterson (Northern Echo)

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25559144.sunderland-message-regis-le-bris-anthony-patterson/

REGIS LE BRIS accepts Anthony Patterson is experiencing a ‘new situation’ as he sits on the sidelines at Sunderland – but the Black Cats boss has urged the North Shields-born shot-stopper to learn from Robin Roefs as he looks to force his way back into the first team. Patterson has been Sunderland’s undisputed number one ever since he broke into the starting line-up under Alex Neil, with the 25-year-old having played a key role in last season’s promotion success, not least when making a couple of crucial stops in the play-off final at Wembley....

“The goalkeeper’s position is a bit different to anywhere else on the pitch,” said the Black Cats boss. “It is a maybe a bit similar for the centre-halves as well, because you really need an injury to be able to come back into the game if you are not starting. The same is probably true of a goalkeeper. In the other positions, you can sub easily, but that doesn’t really happen with a goalkeeper. If you are a striker, then you will probably get chances in games. The position for a number two goalkeeper is a bit different.”

Le Bris and the rest of his coaching staff have held regular conversations with Patterson, and the North-Easterner remains an established part of the first-team squad...

“For Anthony, I think the reality at the minute is really clear for him,” said Le Bris, whose side are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. “I think that is important because we all know the situation. He remains really positive. He played a lot last season and the season before that, so his role is a bit different now. But he can learn. That is what he has to do.”

And if Patterson does use the next few months to learn from Roefs and improve elements of his game, Le Bris is confident he will benefit from the experience in the future.

“The goalkeeper’s life is a bit longer than most other players – they tend to play until they are a bit older – so you have time. You can enjoy a new situation and learn behind a really strong goalkeeper, with different qualities. If Robin is better in one area, then maybe he can help Patto to become better in that part of his game. Then, later in his career – and maybe this season, because we don’t know what might happen – he can be ready to be competitive.”

 

Great player and absolutely a worthy member of the squad, if Roefs were to get a bad injury I would feel fine knowing Patto is our other option.

 

Reg isn't daft....he's a top bloke, knows how to nurture his players.
Obs Patto must be thinking the situation isn't ideal for him but that's the life of a professional footballer.

 

Given his value as a homegrown player I'd be looking to sell him for whatever anyone is willing to pay.

Valuable back up keepers are a luxury I don't think we need.

 

Given how few homegrown players we have that are lined up to be long term squad members, we should think very carefully before letting any go. There’s money to be generated for sure, but if we have to spend any profit (or more) adding hg players just to make the number then it becomes a false economy. Same with contract offers to the likes of Neil and Cirkin. Their value goes beyond just that which comes from their ability.

 

If they aren't getting anywhere near the pitch I would argue they have no value beyond their actual value whatsoever.

I'd go as far to say their value to us is lower in keeping them than it is in selling them given the impacts on FFP.

 

FFP is one consideration but it isn’t the only one. If we sell them (although realistically we’re only likely to get money for Patto now) the hg squad pinch is likely to mean that replacing them is harder. The crunch is definitely coming next season without a tweak to the transfer/contract policy. We can move forward with a smaller squad and a little more money in the kitty, but it reduces our flexibility.

 

There was a post on FB the other day about roefs being out for a few weeks, not that I believed it but hoping that this story coming out now hasn't got something to do with it

 

As much as I love patto Roefs is clearly a better keeper in every aspect of his game least ten fold

I hope patto been watching roefs on his kicking & commanding of his area

 

wouldnt like to think we had to rely on Moore if out happens to Roefs or Patto

 

My assumption going forward, is that we will not be spending significant fees without balancing (ie selling) first, which I assume is fine because shifting a £20m signing for £50m after one season is exactly the type of business we'll be looking to do. Patto probably worth more to us on our bench than the fee we could probably get for him at this moment in time (£5-8m?).