Yeah could be an option but I don't think Advocaat has ever used him there. And because our first game after the international break is Spurs!
DA has made some shrewd signings in getting players he has worked with in the past or knows about through Dutch football especially in the positions that can transform our style without spending huge bucks.
Goalkeepers - Pants and Mannone, probably one of the best tandems in the league. Solid! Defence - Mathews, Yedlin, O'Shea, Kaboul, Coates, Brown, Jones, PVA, added some pace. Suspect! Midfield - Larsson, Catts, Rodwell, Toi, Lens, M'Vila, Watmore, Johnson, some serious quality in there. Solid/potentially spectacular! Forward - Defoe, Graham, Fletcher, Borini added someone with a work ethic and ability to score, (Fletcher take note!). Solid (barring any injuries) I know I have probably missed a few players but in general I'm quite happy with that little lot. Would have liked to have seen a younger/faster CB, but we get what we get. We have added some serious pace to our team though and I think there's reason to be optimistic.
Did a thread about 10 days ago about Congerton behind the 8 ball. I must admit in my opinion the guy has come through. It must never be easy with Sunderland probably because the cards he was dealt with after the Di Fanti fiasco but credit has to go where credit has to go. I think Dick hinted at the set up over the last two weeks when frustration was creeping in that if Ellis has has the right people in place let them get on with the job. I do believe Ellis will quietly be pleased with this window as we should all be. The only negative obviously has been trying to shift some of the dross out. That was the legacy handed to Congerton and he can get back to working on that when the Championship window opens up. We have bought quality with M'Vila, Lens, Borini, Toivenon, Yedlin, Kaboul. Matthews lets give the lad a chance. It will take time but I believe he will come through. Coates still to me for 2 million was worth a punt. Were not going to lose anything if we move him on. Happy days ahead....Fonzie
Should be a cracking season to watch. I dont see many 0-0 games. We will score plenty and concede a ****load. Entertainment value is a cert. Im liking the midfield/forward part very much. But the defence is scary. Not in a good way.
Just hope we can loan out Buckley, Bridcutt, Mavrias and Roberge. If we cant then we might be better off doing a deal on the contracts of the latter 2 at least. Also Fletcher isn't exactly going to be committed running his contract down. But aside from all that i'm buzzin and like Comm think we will be involved in some high scoring games!! Makes a change eh...
Got the makings for a cracking entertaining season. Just gotta get the upper hand in these 4-3 games.
Arguably our best window for a long time. If we could have, or do, convert some of the loans into permanent moves then we have a very good squad now. It's now up to DA and his team to mould them into a competitive team. On paper, we've added pace, quality and we now have cover for every position, decent cover as well, not just fodder to warm the bench. I'm excited, but then again, i was never glass half empty.
Well done mate and tbh, you probably expressed what most were feeling on here but never came out and said it. We did look very inactive and lacking ambition in the early part of the window and the club could easily have appeased the fans with a statement. Ellis tried but too little too late. That said i'm chuffed with thee business we've done, would like to have seen some outgoing and more permanent moves instead of loans but all in all, we now have a very positive looking squad. Over to you Dick. You asked for more players, LC provided them, now make it work.
Like most I am generally happy with this window. Let's not forget that we can still loan out players to the Championship, so some of the deadwood can still go out, even if we pay Hal of the wage for each one that still means we save half. It also means that they can impress at that level and hence get a contract at the end of the loan. I have lost touch with how long is left on the contracts of the deadwood can anybody help?
My honest opinion is that I don't think the window has been a good one. We are still terrible at the back, and we didn't sign a forward to play though the centre. It will be another season of struggle, and I pray we can stay up and build on it next year.
On paper we look better, with a bit of luck and a few results which in turn brings confidence we could do alright. We are getting there, but will need to continue to build with quality over quantity each window. I still think this season is going to be a tough one but this is Sunderland so who knows!
Our next 4 games Spurs Bournemouth Man City Man Utd I think these might give us some idea how we've done and where we're heading.
Thing with Fletcher. He knows he's leaving at the end of the season. If he wants a decent move then he'll have to seriously impress if and when he plays. He has ability and is great in the air. I think he'll play a part before he leaves. I'd pick him 100 times out of 100 ahead of Graham. Stay up. A lot of players coming to the end of deals that are surplus will free up a huge chunk in wages. Add in the new tv deal and i think we'll throw some serious money at it next summer with a new coach coming in. Top drawer striker and centre half. Just gotta finish 17th or better. Haway the lads.
Im relatively happy with this window. We have added some solid attacking options with that ever important goal threat that we sorely missed last season, however we failed to really solve our creaking defence though early days of the season we have leaked far more goals than we should especially as our largely unchanged defence was pretty solid last term. The big bugbear I have with this window however is our failure to ship out the dross and hangers on, I assume our over inflated wages are putting other teams off and making the players want to sit on a cushy wage for little work. But this is going to eat away at our finances until it is resolved and I can really see it holding us back in the market.
