o I wouldn't obsess too much about the financial phrases mind, irritating though they are. In Dan's case, he didn't sign last year, he hasn't signed this. We could have been playing Millwall today. Would he have signed? Would he be here? If he runs his contract down he is making an appalling error. He will hardly play, his value to us will vanish of course, but his own stock will fall dramatically too. And he could get injured or whatever. It looks that he is waiting for some premier league or foreign club to come in and bid for him and pay him what he thinks he should be paid. Or perhaps he has been told that X club will move in for him. No one knows the numbers, but this hasn't happened, and though there is still plenty of time, the lack of action suggests that Dan is not at the top of any lists right now. If I was his agent I would have implored him to sign the "set up for life" kind of deal that Dan Ballard has signed. Other stuff will come, but he is rolling the dice IMO.
The question I ask myself, if I'm being honest, is this ... ... would any Sunderland supporter be hoping we'd sign Dan Neil in this window if he'd come through the Bristol academy? If we did sign him how much would we be happy to pay and where would he play? Sadly I can't see any PL side wanting to buy him and can't imagine he'd be scouted for Europe.
That’s the main point of my comment mate, it’s the turnover of players for the first game, i know we signed 13 players who were gradually intergrated or rarely used but this year it’s minimum 8/9, but like I’ve said our club knows what they are doing now and aren’t run like a tin pot club
It’s definitely a step change. The only new player who started first game last season was Alan Browne. Only two of the match day squad were new players. The club have built up tonnes of trust but this is completely new from them. Hopefully their previous success continues.
On the Dan Neil situation. I have supported him throughout. I think he is still a very good player. I acknowledge a poor final performance but really hoped he would play on for us. I see lots of references to new players and wages but this contract has dragged on so long. It can easily be argued we needed a major upgrade in many areas but the procrastination forces the club to look for replacements. Once found the situation for Dan gets worse. I was really vested with this team. Last year I will take to my grave for sheer excitement but if contracts aren't agreed be it the player/agent then sadly we have to move on. I did agree with the comment above about the PSR "profits" being higher on home grown. Bonkers idea on all accounts both for player development and the national team After waffling for yonks, it's my age, I still hope Dan,Dennis etc sign new deals
He's staying mind. If they have let this out - and Edwards is one of their main shills - he is staying. Very messy.
True. But last season we were in the same division we had been in for the previous two. We had built a squad there. The PL is utterly, completely different. There is no gap so wide between two leagues anywhere in the world, and it has never been bigger. It needs a lot of help just to have a chance, and that's all it is, a chance. Not making large investments and many changes would have led to a weekly massacre.
Could even be as messy as this which was very very messy "Van Hooijdonk announced that he had been told previously that he could leave the club at the end of the 1997–98 season if he so wished, that he felt betrayed by the club's owners who had failed to deliver on their promises to him regarding the strengthening of the team, and that he felt he could no longer play for his employers. Forest, desperate for a striker, refused to allow him to be transfer-listed again, so van Hooijdonk announced his intention to strike." "Because of his behaviour, Van Hooijdonk received criticism both from fans and from his teammates, not least from team-mate Steve Stone and manager Dave Bassett. The club refused to listen to offers for him, as they needed a top striker and the stand-off lasted until early November when van Hooijdonk, realising that he had no choice, agreed to return and played in a game against Wimbledon."
He does have a spectacular talent for walking face first into calamity mind. I’m good either way. Both outcomes are massively entertaining. What’s even better is that they’ll lose their nerve at the deadline and claim they had no choice
If this is true, the mags will now have an extremely unhappy player on their hands who they are paying a reported £150,000 a week doing nowt and when it comes down to agreeing to selling him probably won't get the approx £120 million at least that they think he's worth.. Oh well
The only time he really is right now is when he goes out on a limb like this regarding them. He is meant to be a Northern football writer for the Telegraph, but he is absolutely all in on the Saudis now. He does get news from them. If he has put this out, they want it out. Isak is staying.
Will the Mags bring out their big new 'ISAK' flag if he turns out ... ... what if he's only on the bench
Ah but according to Howe, he has to EARN the right to train with the first team before he's even contemplated to be part of the squad. I reckon that thigh injury is gonna take quite a while to heal!
As funny as this is turning out it is absolutely their right to do that. The twat has 3 years left on the contract he was happy to sign at the time it was offered. I understand the point that he is now a depreciating asset but ultimately they are the richest club in the world I'm sure they can live with that.
