It seems to me that Ferguson will only let players go if they fall into one of four categories. 1) They aren't very good, or atleast aren't currently good enough to play for Man Utd (Simpson, Obertan.) Many players have left at a young age and still had good careers such as Platt, Beardsley, Shawcross and Clayton Blackmore! 2) They are old and past it. 3) They are in their late twenties/early thirties and no longer fit into the fairly youthful team. (O'Shea, Brown) Stalwarts like Giggs and Neville are the exceptions as it was pretty clear from the start that they'd spend their entire careers at Man Utd. 4) They think they are bigger than the club. No matter how brilliant, he'll get shot of them. He won't sell his best players if they aren't causing him problems.
He scored a cracking free kick for us against Liverpool. Then we went and sold him. Same old bloody Newcastle. According to Wikipedia, he's scored over 150,000 goals for AC Milan in 27 appearences, so he might cost a few quid.
Your far to clever to be staying on your board. Well thought out that. No you watch too many movies, Santiagoooooo
You just know he's going to be joining the brothers Ameobi on the scoresheet now with the abuse you lads are handing out. He's only played 14 games in two years, mainly because he's behind four of the best wingers in the league (Park/Nani/Giggs/Valencia) With Young joining he had nowhere to go. Clearly he must not be a world beater if Fergie has let him move on, but he is still young at 22 and I'd rather be getting that than 30 plus has beens who Fergie has already bled every last ounce of talent out of and then moved them on. I'm not saying Brown/O'Shea won't do well but Brown is injury prone and on the slide, whereas O'Shea has always just been a useful utility player. Good experience but the moves seem a little short sighted. Highly unlikely with their current squad that Sunderland will be able to challenge for Europe so it seems a bit mad to be buying 30 plus players with limited time left (and on big contracts), and the only benefit is you might finish top 10?
Why do i sense that your trying to have a slight dig there, just a hunch. So are you happy with your new signing? Please don't mention that Sh**a name, he is a curse on us.
No not a dig at all. I just think Europe is going to be beyond most teams this year. I think the league will be a lot more predictable than last year because certain teams won't make such shoddy starts (Everton, Liverpool,Villa). I think the top 6 are pretty easy to see Man U, Man C, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham. After that its a bit of a lottery to be fair but Everton always seem to be talked of as not as good but then come through. Villa may not be as much of a threat under the new boss. After that there is band of about 6 teams including ourselves, you and a few others who are much of muchness. My point is I would have thought you'd only pay big wages to two older players like Brown/O'Shea if you were either in Europe or pretty sure of getting there. With all due respect to Sunderland's squad, I don't think they could guarantee a top 8 finish. If things go well maybe but its a bit risky to be giving these guys big contracts just in hope. Obviously a lot will depend how many european places we have, and what happens in the cups.
But its catch 22. to get there you need those sorts of players, experience (even just to teach the others how to do it), calming influence if things are going tits up, like they will. but by the time you actually get there, they have retired, but they may get you there. and obviously we can afford it, or we wouldnt do it, remember Brown only cost 1 million, personally i think he will be the buy of the season, he may not get player of the year, sess may get that, but i dont think he will be far off.
Oh as for the new signing, who knows. I think he is worth a punt and as a deal it makes sense. We have shifted Routledge for 2m who is just not good enough (or at least wasn't gonna be here), and paid an extra 1m for a 22 yr old who left France with a huge reputation but has struggled to make an impact at Man U. Wouldn't have been my 1st choice but he brings some much needed pace. I honestly don't know what to make of him. The Man U fans seem to think he is very talented but lacks confidence. I have only seen him a handful of times (well so has everyone!), and he has looked pretty average. But then he was fantastic against Hamburg in the CL. Happy to give him a chance and beggars can't be choosers!!
Defo think Sessegon will be player of the year, impressed with him everytime I've seen him. The again I think Gyan will be better this year after settling in. Most Africans/South Americans need a seasona and then come on leaps and bounds. If I was being brutally honest, I think you'll be lucky to see much of Brown. He has a horrendous injury record. He was cheap of course so the risk is minimised and as you say you guys have money to burn.
Well he was fit all last season, he just couldnt get in the side because of the form of Chris Smalling which even surprised SAF. I am not saying he has never had injuries, of course he has, but name me a defender that plays every game throughout their careers, I bet there are not too many of them. I just find it a bit ironic, we buy O`Shea and Brown, everyone says Brown is crocked and loosing his talent, O`Shea is the better buy, then O`Shea gets injured and misses all of pre-season, Brown plays and is excellent (from those that went to hibs). I was virtually a loan voice on here regarding Brown as soon as he was linked, lots never wanted him, didnt see the point of him, I still think he will be a revelation in a red and white top.
Obertan? 5 year deal. Bet all the craas say he is brilliant though and obviously will be better than anything we have signed. Lmfao
In fairness, Obertan would have had to get past Nani, Young, Valencia, Park and Giggs to get a game. Dont know what to think of this signing though, some of the Man U fans comments have reassured me a bit.
Is he ****. Still very young though and has the pace and technique to be a top class player. He just needs to learn how to use it, and there's plenty of time. I'd much rather have had someone else, but I live in hope he'll get the confidence he needs with us. 5 years is too long though imo. 4 would have been fine.
Not sure myself, think this could go either way to be honest, he looks like he has plenty of raw ability and I'm encouraged by what I've heard from Man Utd fans also, I think he just needs a regular run of games and bit of a confidence boost as he seems to have all the tools to be a very decent winger. Certainly not going to wax lyrical about his abilities because its pointless lying really, everyone knows hes had games where hes been absolutely hopeless, but if he does come good, hes going be ****ing GOOD with the pace and control he already possesses. Is there anyone currently in the Sunderland lineup who can offer you the same sort of pace?
In short... No. We have little pace currently! Maybe why we're being heavily linked with SWP and Bellamy.
Bellamy would be a cracking signing, definitely one of the players I miss most from the Sir Bobby era, I would be jealous of that one. But SWP? Never been impressed with him, I have no idea how hes made it into the england squad and such, has very little end product, much like Obertan but older?
Agree on Bellamy! SWP... Adds pace certainly, scores a few screamers, puts in a few decent crosses but more often than not a headless chicken.
Obertan sound like a younger version of SWP (but with the possibility of improvement). In case I'm not making myself clear - I hope we do not get SWP
