Let's be honest, Donald didn't save SAFC. Without Short they wouldn't have been here at all. He may well have stopped another buyer coming in who'd have done the job better, got us promoted and not caused this huge resentment with the supporters. Whatever the case the people, on both sides of the argument, won't change their views so they're best forgotten asap imo. I have every faith in KLD not to put us in massive debt and to push the club forward. If better shareholders come in I'd hope they're better than D&M but, if not, I'll continue to ignore them. The club is doing well and I'm not spoiling that by worrying about these two.
He reminds me of Cattermole who split opinions. But Gooch is now at the perfect age and has improved no end since with proper coaching. The fact he now has players around him who'll track back and support him doesn't hurt either. When he's looked poor has been generally when players haven't made space to receive a pass/cross or left him with two players to mark. Having the likes of Jordan Jones 'supporting you' is just a lottery. I've noticed whenever he goes on a run now Evans will fill in. If Gooch loses the ball it's no longer the catastrophe it's sometimes was. He's an ex-PL player and could play there again imo.
I have been for and against keeping him so many times I really dont know how I would feel if he left. If you reckon he could play in the premier league what position would you play him ?
In the PL I'd only see him as wing back tbh, with the right players ahead or behind him. (If Colback can hack it I'm sure Gooch can.) There's been times, in the past, when he's received the ball and set off only to see his team mates just watching him. He takes risks, which you have to in order to create chances, but he needs other players to switch on. Having said that I'd love him to have decent competition in any position.
He would need to improve his crossing ability for me to be totally convinced, lets see what AN does with him in pre season if he does sign up.
This is fantastic news. Gooch is Mr Sunderland to me. He epitomises what this club stands for. He's been here for years and absolutely loves the place, never gives anything less than his full effort, no matter what ridiculous position a manager plays him in and he enjoys our relative success like a fan! Many of our fans seem to criticise him for making mistakes, but I look at it the other way - he makes those mistakes because he's bold and not afraid of trying to beat his man, even if it didn't come off last time. Many players would hide and look for the simple pass to avoid "mistakes".
The thing with Gooch, or any player really, is that it is easy for any of us to notice and focus on what they can't do, rather than what they can. It's the " Messi can't tackle" argument, and it is always flawed. Right now, and for a bit, the recruitment has been as good as we could hope. So as far as I'm concerned, more of the same would be champion. Even if we had daft oodles of money, there is plenty of evidence that it is very difficult to blast your way out of the Championship with cash.
i am struggling to understand that it seems many fans did not realise just how close the club was to going under...i thought it was common knowledge in all honesty. i have just watched STID again and i am noticing things i think i missed before due to my thoughts on SD and CM, they really did seem to have a lot to sort out once they came in, dont get me wrong, i want them to sell and move on as much as the next man but i doubt we will ever know just how bad it was and i dont think it was coincidence that bain was sharp out the door,considering he was meant to be the one with all the financial stuff in his grasp. as for gooch, i hope he stays...he provided some of our best chances (that were not always taken) and i think he will be disappointed with his seasons work, once he was told/allowed to keep it simple he was much better, i honestly think he can at least play a part in the championship.
This. I’d sacrifice some youth talent if it meant bills were paid and the club survived. Not much point in having the next Messi if he’s got nowhere to play.
I think people know tbh mate. It may just be a case of people being sick to death of hearing about parachute payments, Bain and flower displays. It's becoming similar to the Brexit campaign where so many fictional facts were flung around no one had any idea what was real and what was fake. Surely there has to come a time when we start to put it on the past and look start looking forward.
Spot on m8 but i think that time for a lot of folk will be when the two amigos ride out of town for the last time
