Gus to meet De Fanti & Alfie

GUS POYET insists he will consider all transfer options in his summit talks with director of football Roberto De Fanti, including recalling Sunderland’s loan rangers.


Poyet is due to meet with De Fanti this weekend to plot Sunderland’s strategy for the January window, plus discuss his recommendations for which of the nine players who are out-of-contract at the end of the season merit talks over a new deal.

The Echo understands that Poyet is keen to have more of a say on the identity of any incoming players than his predecessor Paolo Di Canio, who was happy to simply describe the attributes he was looking for in Sunderland’s fresh faces.

But two players available to boost Sunderland’s ranks are Danny Graham and Alfred N’Diaye, who both departed the Stadium of Light on season-long loan deals during the summer, yet could be recalled in January.

Graham is unlikely to be brought back to Wearside after failing to find the net for Hull City, but N’Diaye has scored twice in 11 starts for Turkish side Eskisehirspor and has impressed sufficiently to force his way into the Senegal set-up.

It is possible for Sunderland to recall N’Diaye, although they would have to reach a financial arrangement Eskisehirspor if they cut short the 23-year-old’s loan.

N’Diaye would want reassurances over his playing time too after being offloaded without any explanation from Di Canio.

But Poyet says it would be foolish to ignore the pair in his recommendations to De Fanti for the areas of the squad that need strengthening for the survival battle ahead.

The head coach told the Echo: “I think we will consider everything.

“I like to have everything on the table – my ideas, my report, what I think about every single player.

“If I think we need to change something, whatever it is, we need to know what it is so they can start looking for it.

“If the option is bringing back someone from loan, then that is easier.

“And sometimes there are players who are not happy and they want to move.

“So you put everything on the table and then make a decision.

“That’s a part I love because for me, it’s the key.”

Sunderland made 14 signings during the summer, yet new boys Cabral, Modibo Diakite, Charis Mavrias, David Moberg Karlsson and El-Hadji Ba are all yet to feature under Poyet.

The Uruguayan has far from written them off, yet admits Sunderland’s recruitment, headed by new chief scout Valentino Angeloni, is pivotal to his hopes of success on Wearside.

“When you recruit players and bring players in who really do what you want, for the manager it’s easier,” he said.

“So the better we recruit, the easier it is for me.

“And I’m going to do everything I can to make it easier.

“It’s difficult enough so far so I don’t want to make it even more difficult!

“I’m going to do my part and give a physical, mental and technical report on the players we’ve got and what I need.”

After taking charge of five contrasting games though, Poyet believes he has drawn up an accurate picture of his squad prior to his talks with De Fanti.

Poyet added: “The Man City game last weekend was perfect timing.

“We’ve played five games, one of which was in the cup, but the City one was our first against one of the top teams so I’ve got a complete picture (of the squad) now.

“I can analyse what we need".

 

the more I hear from Gus, the more I like him. I just wish he'd got the job sooner.

 

Just talking to a mate yesterday and saying that we wouldn't have lost at places like Hull & Palace if we'd had Alfie in the side.

 

Lets say he does come back. We'll have Catts, Colback, Ki, Alfie, Cabal and Gards all fighting for 2 places.
Colback and Ki must start imo, but Catts is quality aswell when he uses his head.

 

Cattermole and Gardner will be lucky if they're here next season if we avoid relegation, especially if we take the option on Ki.

 

Fingers crossed we do keep Ki, i like the look of him.
Ive just posted a thread on Gards. It looks like he may be off in January.

 

So far, I like Poyet's style.

He appears to be saying, to the likes of Bardsley, "OK lads, here's the deal ..... you play well for me and we'll do our best to help you find a move to a club you like."

Everyone's a winner. On the other hand, if they don't show willing they'll be left to rot and end up at Boro.

 

I noticed they used the width of the pitch last sunday, rather than being too close like normal and kept the ball more rather than hoofing it up the pitch and I reckon that is the way to go.

 

Agreed - BUT all reports quoted Alfie saying that Di Canio couldn't guarantee him game time - whilt I agree he's a very good option, no player should ever be guaranteed game time - if you play **** you get dropped - end of story. Then, just after the quotes from Alfie about that came out (about 2 weeks later) another story saying how he had no explanation of his loan move from Sunderland - All depends on who is telling the truth and who to believe but need to tread carefully with him I think

 

Good read, inspiring interview, sounds like he knows he wants, cant wait to see who they are

 

Alfie can't get assurances, the world doesn't work that way, Go and sign for Boro and be forist on the team sheet if thats what he wants. He can't pass anyway.

 

Bet it's hard work getting him to use his head though!