Just a bit of fun but we are heavily linked with these players now and this would be a good line up imo. Gordon, McCartney, Bramble, Sess, Richardson & Elmo sold or released and the following 7 in. Mig Bardsley, O'Shea, Brown, LB McGeady, Diame, Fernandes, McClean Fletcher, Agbonlahor Westwood, Turner, Cuellar, Killgallon, Colback, Catts, Larsson, Campbell, Ji, Wickham, Gardener, Vaughan, Meyler Thoughts?
I can see Colback at LB in that line up but feel some of your subs may not be with us, would be happy with that team mind
I'm unsure who else will leave Syd but we cannot afford to let too many go, given the injury problems we have had in recent times. Maybe one of the midfield trio of Gardener, Vaughan or Meyler (or even 2 of them) will be allowed to leave but I think we will keep Turner and Killa. Also, I sincerely hope Jack isn't the new left back as he will fail there imo. He is a good central midfielder and a make shift full back only. Time for us to bring in a specialist left back imo, after 3 years filling in or switch Bardsley to left back and bring in a right back.
I dont think we will see that team.... IMO it will be somewhere along the lines of: ................................Mignolet................................. Bardo............Oshea..................Cuella................LB??? ..................................Catts.................................... ..................Fernandes...............Colback..................... McClean..........................................................McGeady ................................Agbonlahor.................................. Before people say that is too defensive, no its not. 4-3-3 IMO is the best formation as its flexable and not as rigid as 4-2-2. You have the 3 midfielders, Catts will defend and Colback with someone else will be able to pass the ball around. Then you have the two wide men who will hug the line, but can also come into the middle to help the forward. You then have a fast forward who plays on the last man. It is an attacking formation, which enables us to drop back if needed. This is how MON will play IMO.
I don't think there are enough goals in your team kidda. Our problems are a lack of firepower and your solution doesn't offer any improvement. Mon knows we are not potent enough and will look to change this hugely and he has always said we need 2 new faces up front. Fletcher and Agbonlahor will be the 2 main targets imo.
I see you point, the only problem is Catts and Colback will play next season. It has been reported Catts will get a new contract, and MON i believe is big fan of Colback. I know why you would play 4-2-2, and Fletcher/Agbonlahor maybe a good pair, but I dont see him playing 4-4-2. But suppose we will never know till Sept 1st.
If we end up with this quota, there'd be no gripes from me Cest. A pretty balanced squad imo. .....I'm still hoping Mr O'Neil persuades Sess to complete his 'unfinished business' with us mind though.
Westwood, keepers get injured and this guy can do a job We should hang onto all these 3, we knew Brown was injury prone before he came and if we sell any of them (Titus is surely a gonner), we need to replace them with decent players;- Turner, has done well as CB alongside O'Shea -his high wages could make it difficult to agree to new terms with a new club Cuellar, can operate across the back: LB or RB and can cover CB Killgallon, pacey, calm and good in the air -left footed too and may be able to do a job as LB Colback, definitely one to keep Catts, same -he was one of our stand out players last season Larsson, sell -he doesn't offer enough apart from his free kicks and McLean can strike a ball Campbell, time's not on his side -maybe loan him out until January Ji, he's never played badly in a red and white shirt -use as a sub and cover Wickham, loan him out - that still leaves room for one more striker imo We cannot keep all 3 of these guys surely? Gardner, did really well in defence Vaughan, I rate highly -he's sharp and creative Meyler, he deserves a chance of a few games imo, I think he has the ability to be our best CM
Larsson, sell -he doesn't offer enough apart from his free kicks and McLean can strike a ball I still think a fully fit Larsson has a lot to offer us - he won us a load of points last season and got 7 (I think) goals from midfield which is something we have been missing for years
Riever, I agree with you 100% Larsson for me is untouchable indeed all this talk of a right wing replacement (even McGeady) has upset me a wee bit. I think when the lads in full flow he offers a great deal and let no one on here ever say he dosent give 100%. Lets face it he has waded in with his fair share of goals this season. Sorry Shameless me auld pal but I strongly dissagree with that one
For the LB issue, i think for a season could we not play Cuellar there? Or even sign Paulo Ferreria on a pay as you play for a year Ideally Fabio on loan would be best imo
Add Guidetti on the bench and 1 or 2 of those subs cleared out and I would be very happy, send Wickham to boro for a season and we need to keep Sess
I think Sess is already gone personally. I think he wants to go and we can cash in on him right now to fund other players. Larsson is in no way to be sold but he tired badly last season and played with injuries for many games, so we need do cover and competiton and not just stand in ones. Cuellar for me would just be another fill in left back and we've had 3 years of them tbh. We need a proper left back.
GORDON ELMO...BRAMBLE...TURNER...MCARTNEY STEED..WHITHEAD...LEADBITTER..MURPHY STOKES..BENDTNER Well, I can dream
.......................Alnwick................... Mcshane.....Babb.....Breen............McCartney Halford..whitley...Thornton....Murphy ...........Andy Gray...Kevin Kyle....................... That's a scary team
Kevin Kyle would run through walls for us - unfortunately usually without the ball!! God loves a trier though!
Hope you're wrong about Sess cest (does that sound like a stutter!!) I really hope we can keep hold of him - he is the most skilfull player I have seen in my lifetime watching Sunderland (Yes, better than Arca!) - I also think Cattermole will be one of the first names if fully fit - he's getting a new contract so the manager obviously likes him (and so do I - on his day he is one of the best defensive midfilders outside the top 4 - and he also outplayed Gareth Barry and Nigel De Jong when we played City!)
I liked Julio but he must be amongst the most overrated players safc have ever had. His skill consisted of turning 360° and then repeating it like a dog chasing his tail.
