Early Days, but

[adz_safc]

Does the FFP rule benefit Sunderland? I certainly think we'd be fine for it but surely the Mackems were offering Brown/Sess/Larson sizeable sums to join the club. Wouldn't the amount of money they spent over summer be reflected in the wage bill? Must admit I don't have any idea what they're paying players but I wouldn't be surprised f some of them are on silly money due to Agent Bruce

Our problem is we were paying huge wages to the likes of Nosworthy, Healy, McCartney etc under Bruce. We were paying poor players good premiership wages, now we have good premiership players getting the going rate. I think we've cut back massively on our wages whilst also making big profits off Henderson and Bent whilst reclaiming half of Gyan's fee back in loan fee's!!! Oh and for a premiership footballer Gyan's wages for us are peanuts. Given we are getting a brand new sponsorship deal this summer I think we'll be doing just fine. We just need to get some of the people who give up on the club after those relegations a few years ago to come back to get the attendances up, season ticket sales are still really good just match day tickets don't sell at all.

 

[barnaby]

I think we will be feeder clubs for a few years yet.

Its a mixture of FFP and the 25 man squad rule.

Getting a player for 4-7 million from abroad is a risk for the likes of Man U/Man City etc etc, as they have to include them in their squad, buying a 20-30mil player is a lot less risk as they are World Class (or just bloody very good).

So the rest buy those 4-7mill players, like Sess for us, Santon/Cabaye/Tiote for you, because the chances are. they will improve us, and be pivotal to our team, for Man U they probably wouldnt be.

Then after 2-4 seaons, they have PL experience, and are bloody good buys for the liked of Man U etc. they come calling, we sell them at 100%+ profit, which in turn, helps us in the FFP and lets us purchase the next round of 4-7 million players.

The likes of Man U will always turn a huge profit, so the FFP doesnt really effect them (debt does but that doesnt matter), we will struggle unless we sell players at a huge profit, yes we have irons in the fire abroad, and Europe does help a little, but not that much.

Agree with this.

 

[Tino's Machine Gun]

Surprised there's still some of our fans talking **** to the Mackems, they're riding on the crest of a wave and have a very good chance of winning the FA Cup, as did we before we went and blew it against Brighton. While their form will simmer down eventually they'll still be decent, and they'll have the opportunity to strengthen in the summer - we'll see what MON has up his sleeve for them. Their squad isn't bad, they have some dead wood they need to get rid of like we did a couple of years back (and still do with Smith) but they've got Campbell back who is pretty good, Sessegnon and a couple of exciting young players like McClean and Ed Sheeran who scored a great goal last night. Sunderland fans finally looking forward to the future again after a genuinely miserable 2011.

Meanwhile we've proven we're not a flash in the pan and kept getting results even with a bunch of important players (Tiote, Saylor, Ba) out of action for long periods. Bringing in Cisse has signalled our intent, and while the onus will be on O'Neill at Sunderland to see who he brings in, it's our test to see if Ashley will stand firm to keep our best players. I wouldn't begrudge us selling someone if we got a ******ed offer like the one for Carroll, as long as we see that money reinvested in Carr's magic player lists, but for the most part we should be doing like Spurs did with Modric - if the player is under contract, one he signed of course, we don't have to sell. Look at the spine of our team - Krul, Colo, Saylor, Tiote, Cabaye, Ba - that is a very strong set of players. Getting Smith off the wage bill will free up wages for a better contract for Ba/fees for new players. If we can get in another centre back, full back and right mid then we're looking at a pretty strong squad.

Interesting times for both clubs and North East football. Couldn't really care less about the Smogs but at the same time certainly wouldn't mind seeing them up in the top league again.

 

[fredor]

Have to say I am a bit worried where Sessegnon and Krull will be playing next season