do you think he's enjoying it up here....roll on Wednesday night. It'll be a late one in Baku but who gives a crap
He does seem to love it! I never get tired of saying it- swapping Altidore for Defoe must be the best transfer in years
We have a great habit of getting under players skins that we love, look at Quinn, Phillips, Ball and more recent times Borini and Defoe. It's just because we reward players that show emotion and give there all for SAFC.
There is always this stereotype that moving to the North East is the end of your career and you may aswell just hang your boots up - you're done, washed up. How many times have we tried to sign a player from London, or the South who don't even want to entertain the idea of coming up here - unless we pay them an absolute fortune - which has gotten us into a lot of trouble in the last few years. BUT! They come up here, realise what Sunderland is all about, the passion, even that of the Skunks and the region as a whole - and it is unlike anything they will have experienced before. On average 46,000 people turn up every week at home to cheer them on. Regardless of league position. The atmosphere yesterday you'd be thinking we'd won the Champions league final it was out-****ing-standing. I felt it come through the screen down here in Perth. Jermaine was choking up, and it's not the first time either. How many times did he do that with Tottenham? Portsmouth? He comes across as though he loves it up here, and you can't hide that. Others to have come up here and fallen in love is Borini. Sure he wanted to stay with Liverpool (he was a Pool player and they were in the CL - so you can't deny him that), but he did come back. Alonso still watches out for us all the time. Evans, Rose, they all still talk fondly of their time up here. We just need to push on, stabilise, and then we can hope to attract players who can see the passion, and hear their names chanted every week. So long as they show passion, heart, grit, determination, and a willingness to fight for the badge - which is the hardest thing to do for many. **** I love this club
Lets not get carried away. 99.9% are mercenaries. They go for the money. Who can blame them. Defoe seems happy, which is good considering most were sticking pins in a doll of hin years back. Catts. Now he loves the club. Same as Bally. Defoe and Borini are enjoying their time. These fellas love the limelight, they love the attention and passion. They will get plenty in the good times.
If he loved the club that much he wouldn't come back from the end of season break so out of condition every single year...It always takes him yonks to get up to speed which is so bloody frustrating..
Agreed. But you get my drift? All this 'they love the club bollocks'. Applies to very few these days.
As Roy Keane said, back in the day, it wasn't about getting the players signed up, it was about wives and girlfriends buying into it, like Sunderland was the backend of nowhere. Newcastle have had no problem signing good players over the years. Buy them mansions around Newcastle! All it takes is a good negotiation team to get the signings over the line. Hardly rocket science.
Lets hope Mvilla feels the same. I have a bad feeling his agent has told him "keep your head down at Sunderland and in the summer you will get a move to a bigger club on lots more money" We should have signed Defoe years ago he would have been the perfect replacement fir Bent. Think about the money spent in wages on Bendtner, Fletcher, Altidore, Graham etc... Yes Defoe earns a fortune but he is worth every penny.
Don't think he would have come years ago. Think he went to the MLS with the hope of a massive pay cheque and some decent footie, but found the footie quality to be seriously wanting over there. Think a return to the EPL, even with Sunderland - too good a chance to turn down. Think we tried for him after he left Tottenham, but went to Portsmouth instead with Ol'Saggy Chops who has more than ****ed us over with some signings in the past. Tried for Kaboul aswell before 'Arry blindsided him at the Casino. Only good time Harry ****ed us was when he saved us from signing David Nugent, who went on to sit in their reserves. Think Harry was just out to stop us signing players.
The one that springs to mind for me here is Steve Bould. When he retired he said he loved his time with us and regretted not coming up here earlier
He hasnt had such a good second half of the season which although sounding strange is good in my book. I believe he would have got a transfer to a bigger club but I'm hoping Sam can keep him, have a good pre season and improve his fitness levels. Befor eXmas he was our best player by a mile imo.
No chance. He'd be well down the pecking order. As a Sunderland fan, I don't want him anywhere near the England squad. He needs a good long rest over the summer. And as an England fan I want Woy to go with the young'uns to the Euro's to get them ready for the next World Cup.
