Transfer Rumours Summer Transfer window

Yep. The new guys have to earn their place too
Rigg injured at the moment it seems, but I agree about him. God knows how good that lad could be.

 

Hope you're right like but I respectfully don't agree. I think Rigg is a good talent but not sure i'd go that far for me

 

I have high hopes for Abdullahi like. Seems to have a lot of the attributes I like in a striker

 

Nectar’s injury coming at the worst time for him if he wants to stay here.

 

He's not good enough for the PL imo, I'd sell him

 

Yeah I hope we keep him around for as much of pre season as possible, like that he seems to be up for a scrap too, we will massively take to that

 

I think he will leave now if I am honest. If there was a deal to be done I think it would have been done by now. Sad as I am to say that.

I 100% believe Regis would pick him ahead of Sidiki in the first major friendly. That is based on ability, but it also based on Regis on field connection to the team. He was his captain last season, and they got promotion together. It was clear how much he relied on Neil on the pitch and how much he trusted him. I dont think any coach would throw that away without giving it a chance to succeed at the higher level. It isnt like Dan is some 33 year old going to the prem for the first time. He is still a relative youngster with his prime ahead of him and a growth mindset. Every season he has evolved his game to account for asks of him. Any top coach wants him around to go again next season. That is just coaching common sense. You need folk on the pitch who speak with your voice and that was Dan last season.

Wish I knew why the contract isnt what he wants. Something a bit sad about the whole thing tbh. The value to everyone concerned of having an academy player leading us out in the premier league is immense financially and reputationally. I think the club know that. Very odd and has taken the shine off the summer so far for me.

 

It's all opinions and I completely agree I'd love to see a Sunderland lad starting for us and captaining us but it could just be that Sadiki is a better player than Neil. I guess we won't find out for a few years which one goes on to the better future.

 

I think Sadiki could just be the better player to be honest with you, watching when Neil did come on, he looks lesser quality in my personal opinion, not as fast, not as quick on the turn, doesn't pass with the same pace and power the others did, I just think he doesn't look on their level to me.

There's nothing I'd love more for him to be and for me to be really impressed as I'd love one of our own to be a mainstay, but sentiment aside, he looks slower, not as a quick with the ball and just not on the other 3's level to me. It's one game and maybe Sadiki never looks that impressive to me again but very unlikely.

 

The disrespect towards Neil is mental

 

I don't think anybody is disrespecting him? Just saying the lads who have come in are a level up. As you'd expect them to be now we're a premier league club.

 

The first thread is up on the new page guys - @MadMackem77 with the thread, and I worked on the main graphic

 

It's not who the better player but who makes the team better

Neil and sadiki are both talented footballers and will both go and have cracking careers - id rather both stayed here tbh but the longer no news on a contract then we need to plan with Sadiki

I loved how the CM 3 played on Saturday, it was only for 45 minutes but the movements, pace, energy and rotations were a joy to watch.

It's who performs best in pre season that deserves to start the season imo, it's about what is best for the team and who gives us the best chance to win

 

It's not disrespectful, it's my personal opinion, it's not black and white, I like him or I don't. I like him I just don't think he's of the same level nor a PL quality level

 

If football was a easy as putting the best 11 players on the pitch each week anyone could be a head coach I think. I know that is not what you are suggesting by the way.

Crafting an effective team and squad is so difficult to achieve. At the elite level all players are at the top of their game. It then becomes about the smaller margins that can be the difference between a good team performance or not.

 

100% I think your point reinforces what Scout said about the midfield 3 performance the other night, IF they can keep up that level of performance and understanding then I think our midfield 3 has never looked this good

 

There's not been much tho, saying someone else is or might be a better player isn't being disrespectful

Hume is a lot better than Gooch for example but I have the upmost respect for Gooch as a player and a person

Sadiki looks good but we've seen more of Neil so natural that folk will pick holes in his game as we've all seen him play a lot more. Sadiki might have those same holes but because we haven’t watch him as much folk don't point it out

The biggest concern we all have with Neil is he hasnt signed a contract and only has 12 months left, if he isnt signong or unlikely to sign we need to look.elsewhere and plan without him

 

we can be friends

 

No I completely agree. Another thing we don't know though is if Dan Neil is the "type" of midfielder RLB wants in that role. He may have been working with what he had available.

This isn't saying Dan Neil isn't a good player. I think he could go on to be a very good premier league player. And still may go into the season as our main "6" and our captain. And I'd be happy with that if its what RLB wants.

I support Sunderland. I try not to get too attached to the players, as much as I'd love to see the academy lads playing, what I really want is to see the best possible Sunderland side available.

 

Hard to compare Neil and Sadiki to be honest, wildly different players even though they play in similar positions. All depends on what we are looking for in the central area. If we are wanting someone who is going to cover ground, pressurise higher up the pitch then it's Sadiki. If we are wanting more control, both in and out of possession in terms of holding a more structured shape then it's Neil.

However, the contract is the big thing here. If it's looking unlikely he's going to sign then I see little to no reason to play Neil with the first teamers in pre season.