Summer transfer thread

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Not true. I do many times. Nearly all the time away from the main board.

With this player, it was a complete random chance I bumped into as I was there with a contact who knew him. Not going to lash it out there as my mate is well known. The fact he didn't sign is crap but it's literally a lottery on deadline day.
Not true. I do many times. Nearly all the time away from the main board.

With this player, it was a complete random chance I bumped into as I was there with a contact who knew him. Not going to lash it out there as my mate is well known. The fact he didn't sign is crap but it's literally a lottery on deadline day.
so a player who you won't name was at the game told you he was going to sign but didn't
 
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so a player who you won't name was at the game told you he was going to sign but didn't

He said he was up here for talks and it was going well. To my scout mate who I was next too. That's basically it.

Didn't happen. Mowbray even said today it's a shame a few balls didn't drop in as they were close.

In hindsight I shouldn't have said anytning as it wasn't done. But given the context it looked to be.
 
Just listened to the Speakman/Mowbray interview. Speakman still rubs me the wrong way when he speaks, very much "the fans are dafties and I know best" air to him. BUT, found myself agreeing with just about everything he said. One thing of note was his emphasis on how the club is constantly identifying and assessing transfer options: no more of this sitting down at the beginning of July and deciding who we should take a look at signing..

Sadly that's the truth and I'm including myself in that.

Look how many players have been totally written off by the fans.

Clarke - weak and scared of his own shadow
Evans - too old and slow
Cirkin - positionally poor and inexperienced


And so on.

Most of us, if we're being honest, had never heard of the likes of Ballard yet Speakman has identified them, scouted them, approached them and their club, then negotiated a deal. Having supported the club for over half a century I have to say this is like witchcraft.
 
You were told in confidence then posted it on a Sunderland message board?

Then when asked more said it wasn't all the players but some.

Not your greatest evening mate
Should have kept my gob shut...
Just take it as my opinion...
I beg forgiveness
 
You do realise this will be picked up by those over the road and repeated don't you?

Hardly keeping confidence when it's probably going to blasted all over the 2 biggest fan sites we have
 
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So it's not what you know, first hand, just gossip.

That's fair enough, I thought as much tbh.

The players don't really have much contact once they're here and handed over to the coaches.
Not gossip...no, just what was said, and way I took it.
Blame it on booze
 
Sadly that's the truth and I'm including myself in that.

Look how many players have been totally written off by the fans.

Clarke - weak and scared of his own shadow
Evans - too old and slow
Cirkin - positionally poor and inexperienced


And so on.

Most of us, if we're being honest, had never heard of the likes of Ballard yet Speakman has identified them, scouted them, approached them and their club, then negotiated a deal. Having supported the club for over half a century I have to say this is like witchcraft.
That's all fair and I can't disagree with you. I think we view it all through a different lens though: there's too much emotion in it for the vast majority of us. Get thumped and we're out for blood and calling for heads to roll. A week later we thrash someone and every player is a hero :emoticon-0102-bigsm There's definitely some more level headed fans out there mind. From experience, these are usually the folks who stay well away from message boards like these and you can only find at the games. Usually older boys who've seen it all before too!

People like Speakman are where they are though because they can take the emotion out of it and are patient enough to watch the long game and see these lads develop. Full credit to him and those around him. Got to have ice in the veins to be effective in his position I suppose!
 
Maybe just maybe we are actually coaching our players on their weaknesses, we aren’t in a position to buy the finished article, identifying players with potential and putting confidence in the coaches to coach is the way we are going. I don’t have a problem with that, even the greatest players have or had a chink in their armour. I love the fact that we are taking a chance on these young lads and are putting a lot of emphasis on coaching them to become better players. TM wasn’t my choice but without doubt he was a good centre half, I dare say he will coach Ballard into a better player.
 
Maybe just maybe we are actually coaching our players on their weaknesses, we aren’t in a position to buy the finished article, identifying players with potential and putting confidence in the coaches to coach is the way we are going. I don’t have a problem with that, even the greatest players have or had a chink in their armour. I love the fact that we are taking a chance on these young lads and are putting a lot of emphasis on coaching them to become better players. TM wasn’t my choice but without doubt he was a good centre half, I dare say he will coach Ballard into a better player.
In the presser today Speakman said the coaching setup at the club is just as important as signing these young lads in the first place. We need to have the coaches to bring them on football wise and also their personalities. Mowbray wasn't choice but can't argue with what he has said so far. Seems a very decent bloke.