Westewood (free) Bardsley, Onuha (6m), Johnson (5m), Konchelsky (1m) Palacios (14m) Henderson, Sessegnon, N'Zogbia (12m) Crouch (8m), Gyan Gordon (inj) Mignolet Ferdinand Turner (inj) Bramble (inj) Al Muhammady (2m not my choice but we will have him nonetheless) Cattermole Vaughan (free) Reo Coker (free) Larsson (free) DJ Campbel (1m - relaease clause apparently if relegated) Bothroyd (free) Richardson (inj) Steed Meyler (inj) Colback Campbell (inj for 2011/12 maybe) Noble Other young players Lynch, Adams etc out on season loans Bent sale 20m Spend 49m Net spend 29m which equates to the TV money only for this season. Thats a squad, once fully fit, that could be a real strong outfit IMO and compete for that top 8 place next season AND the domestic trophies. None of these are beyond our clubs reach and all have experience in the EPL and Crouch, N'Zogbia and Palacios would form a very strong spine to build upon.
Your forgetting the 12 players you've added will all want signing on fees etc so your £49M quickly becomes £60M plus. Very ambitious though
I watched Palacios last season and didn't think much of him - looked undoubted quality but looked to have shot his bolt - if he regains original form that saw him sign for Spurs then definitly but if we sign the player that has been at spurs the last 6 months then definitely not for 14m!! Fully fit Catts wpould be better in that position IMO Konchesky I don't really rate - better left backs out there (including Bardsley - and sign a right-back) Otherwise - very impressed and amibtious line-up and probably agree with majority of them (if not all)
What a ****e defense that is. Bardsley's the only one who hasn't been awful recently. Reo Coker? Bothroyd?? Really???
IMO, Mig is still a raw prospect and looked a little fragile in the last few games. Westewood is 26 and has more game time in the English leagues than Mig and would get the nod IMO as number one to start the season. Commachio - You have a good point but I maybe should have made myslef clearer. If Bruce can turn round to Ellis Short and say look, I have been very creative with the financial situation and not required any new investement to bring these players in, his case will be much stronger to say to him your contrabution will be to finance the lump sums. I'm sure Short would be aware that a further investment would be required and that squad is very impressive for the money. If we finish another 2 or 3 places up the league, thats worth a further 3 or 4m anyway. 12 players and a squad full of energy and hunger for Ellis dipping in for 15m extra would seem like great business to me - if I had a spare 15m of course. Its great spending other peoples money isnt it. Lol
Good to see a left footed left back and midfielder it will add much needed balance to our play and attacking wise we will be much more of a threat. Konchesly isnt everyones cup of tea but wouldnt cost a lot and good left back are stupid money so I would go with him for next season. Overall it is a very relaistic team although I doubt N'zogbia will be heading our way.
Its all about what we want and a paper thin squad isnt it. All the top European stars which some fans keep mentioning, are simply not coming to SAFC anytime soon. They dont want to be a Sunderland player but the ones I have listed are well within our range currently. Maybe in another 2 years or if we get into Europe we can offer the top players an incentive but not at the moment and we have to be realistic about that. Konchelsky is a solid player IMO and just didnt fit at Liverpool, much as Hodgson didnt but he's a cracking manager too. As for N'Zogbia, he may or may not and I agree is least likely to join now but we should still be interested in him or maybe Downing for simailar money?
I watched Konchesky play for Forest this season as my house mate is a Forest fan and he was rubbish even in the championship. Palacious would be a good signing.
Palacios is supposedly off to serie A for £7mil. I'd have him for that. As for the team I'd love to line up with: Gordon Bardsley Samba Bramble Warnock Henderson Sessegnon Colback N'Zogbia Gyan Ba With Larsson, Bothroyd, Vaughan all in the squad.
vegas, how is the music business going, bb is after you to mix your music, no idea what that means mind and commacio wants a signed photo.
I would be chuffed with Johnson, Crouch and Zog.... Not Sure about Warnock, he was awful against us this yr... (Think he was brought off). I would happily keep Bardo left back and buy Hutton.
Konchesky was very good at Fulham mate never got the rub at Liverpool and we play more like Fulham than Liverpool. Bardo was getting sussed in the last 3 or so games and in my opinion will be a big mistake playing him at LB next season, put him in his preferred position at RB. Warnock would be my choice of LB and one dodgy game against us is no reason to not think about him, still think we need to buy players for the first team and not as squad players use the first team from last season as the squad players give them the shake up they need.
