Summer window

If I could get a delorean up to 88 i would only need about 3 years for a super league to be formed. If only I had Grays Sports Almanc.

 

Makes you wonder if that's the end game. I'm sure the Spanish teams would lap it up. Liverpool and Utd fans kicked up a fuss so it was put on the back burner. Maybe the Saudis picked the most gullible fans in the country to get a foothold for the English teams to join the super league.

Just looks t the golf today.

Money talks

 

You got that one right. Perfect match. Muppets.

 

Went to school with a load of them, plastic and match goers. All ****ing whoppers

 

Very interesting that with the Golf. All of a sudden the are in complete alignment and happy to merge?

****ing lifting. If sport in general continues like this then I'm in danger of reading a book so it better sort it's **** out.

 

It'll either be the Saudis or the Americans that get gold of football. Sad as ****. Maybe we need the big boys to **** off though to make it better for everyone else.

Im not a big golf fan but it was mad though, literally came out of nowhere. Be interesting to see what the players who kicked up a fuss ie McIlroy do now.

 

I think when it comes to Clarke, people might be overplaying the whole “model” thing. If we sell Clarke it’s actually got very little to do with the model.

any championship club being offered more than £20m for any of their players is going to at least consider it. “Model” or no model.

the “model” simply affects what we do with that money when it comes in. It’s about who we buy, not who we sell.

we are just so used to not having players anybody wants that we get really angst about the idea of other clubs buying our players. Like we see it as an afront. And I think we are also used to recruitment being ****, so the idea of losing best players is even worse.


Personally - I would accept at about £25m. But my personal opinion is kinda irrelevant as it’s all about what the club think they can get at the right time. And I trust them to do that more than I trust my own guesswork.

 

McIlroy must be absolutely fuming, stuck his neck out to support the tour and now seems to have been stabbed in the back.

Will be interesting to see how it develops. He might even quit.

 

USA have started a cricket T20 league up to rival the IPL so see who jumps ship over the the US for that one.

 

No sign of The Great White Shark for the photo opportunities either. Looks like he's been hung out to dry.

 

PIF couldn't 'buy' all the players so bought the PGA instead. Stinks. And what's the crack with them owning 75% of 4 of the teams over there? Corrupt to **** and no one can stop it it seems.

 

Starting to go down a dangerous road now after the recent transfers of Ronaldo and Benzema plus no doubt more to follow. Alarm bells today in the world of golf. It may be a long flight for a home game the way this might play out eventually. Our good neighbors sold their soul to these people so they could get a foothold in our game. Very concerning to say the least....

 

This really helps explain why it was impossible to find a direct replacement for Stewart / Simms in January when our 2 best strikers were suddenly stripped away from us without warning. Some folk were expecting the club to compile a whole year's worth of reports and analysis on potential replacements in the space of a few days. That's how you end up with someone like Grigg.

 

Jason Roy has mutually agreed with the ECB to cancel his central contract in order to play in it.

 

Isn’t it refreshing that most of the supporters are 100% behind the management team as we trust them to do the right things , it makes it all the sweeter that we are totally rid of dumb and dumber .

 

Just as a pre-emptive, before people panic that it’s “gone quiet” or we are slow etc…

Dan Ballard was our first signing last year. On 30th June.

2021 it was Alex Pritchard on the 9th JULY

2020 it was Aiden O’Brien on 30th JULY (although that was Covid hit season)

2019 it was Conor McLaughlin on 1st JULY

2018 it was Alim Ozturk on 21st June


My point is that even if we make a signing in the next two weeks, it will be the “quickest” signing we have made in 5 years (might be longer but CBA to keep googling). So whilst we were hoping for news last / this week - there’s nothing to worry about.

also how rancid does that list get as you move further down?!?

 

A couple of my mag mates (who were/are buzzing about the takeover) are big into golf and saying the PGA Tour is rotten now. I know nothing about golf but is that not a tad hypocritical? Or am I missing something?

 

You really need to put a disclaimer on this post, started having PTSD flashbacks at Aiden O'Brien onwards

 

(canny but long article)

Sunderland's summer priorities including Amad challenge & Ross Stewart

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...amad-challenge-ross-stewart/?ref=ebls&nid=937

SUNDERLAND bosses were, in the words of Kristjaan Speakman, "super happy" with the way last season played out.

Understandably so.

Consolidation was the aim before a ball was kicked and yet the Black Catsexceeded expectations despite having to deal with a number of obstacles along the way.

Sunderland were first forced into a managerial change early in the season before Tony Mowbray - Alex Neil's replacement - was dealt a string of injury blows to key first team stars.

The Black Cats came up short in the play-offs but finishing in the top six was a major achievement in itself. The aim and the challenge now, though, is to build on last season's success and maintain what Speakman described as the "incredible pace" at which the club is moving on and off the pitch.

Despite his superb work, there was uncertainty over Tony Mowbray's position at the end of the season amid speculation linking the Black Cats with a couple of overseas bosses. Speakman didn't address those links directly in his interview with the club reflecting on the campaign, but did praise Mowbray for the job he's done so far. Mowbray, who is extremely popular with the players and supporters, made it clear he wants to stay and lead the Black Cats into the new season and is still expected to be the man in charge come the start of next season.

So, as Sunderland prepare for the coming campaign and look to build on last season's success, what is on the to-do list?

Build on transfer success while finding balance

Alex Neil was clear last summer.

“The strategy for this club is to buy young developing players, improve them and create value within the team, create value within the club and the squad," he said.

“They will be supplemented by senior players but the majority of our transfer fees, pretty much all of our transfer fees, will be spent on younger players.”

Come August, Neil was frustrated. He felt his squad was too thin and told of how "reinforcements were needed". That transfer frustration was no doubt a contributing factor to his departure. And with hindsight, the squad wasn't as deep as it needed to be, as became clear when injuries started to pile up.

And yet there's no doubt that the transfer strategy that Neil spoke of has been successful. Sunderland have impressively identified and then captured young talent. Dan Ballard, Aji Alese and Pierre Ekwah all arrived lacking experience but showed their quality and will be key men next season, while the Black Cats hope the likes of Jewison Bennette, Abdoullah Ba and Isaac Lihadji will benefit from a settling-in period and can make a big impact moving forward. Plenty of clubs will be kicking themselves for allowing Jack Clarke to move to Wearside last summer.

Sunderland are looking to move early in the transfer window. A deal to sign Nectarios Triantis is well down the line, while Jobe Bellingham is expected to move from Birmingham City.

Sunderland will no doubt have more young gems up their sleeve this summer, but need to strike a balance and ensure there's enough experience in the squad to help get the best out of the rookies.

And equally as important as arrivals this summer could be what happens regarding departures. Every player has a price but building on last season's success becomes extremely difficult if Sunderland lose key men such as Jack Clarke, who is wanted by Premier League clubs. Top flight interest in players is evidence in itself that the transfer strategy is working but the true test of the scouting and recruitment system will come when key players need replacing.

Sign at least one striker - and resolve Stewart situation

The obvious area that needs strengthening this summer is up-front.

Ross Stewart needs competition and - potentially - a partner. Mowbray liked the idea of playing Stewart and Ellis Simms as a two last season but never got the chance. Sunderland could do with two strikers this summer - one who is ready to make a mark in the first team and another - perhaps a young permanent signing - who is given time to find his feet while offering Mowbray another option.

Then, of course, there's the matter of Stewart's contract. The striker has one year left and it needs resolving one way or another as quickly as possible. Sunderland don't want a season of distraction where their star striker is concerned.

Find another Amad?

How do you go about replacing a £19m Manchester United star? Finding another Amad Diallo is the ultimate challenge for Sunderland this summer.

The dream scenario would be getting the youngster back for a second season but, with Erik ten Hag keen to have a look at the winger and with several Premier League clubs monitoring developments if Manchester United do sanction another loan, a Stadium of Light return feels unlikely.

Ba, Lihadji and Bennette will all have benefited from their time in and around the first team last season and will play a bigger part, but filling the boots of the Championship Young Player of the Season nominee is a huge ask.

Sunderland will, however, be in the market for more young Premier League talent on loan and Amad's success on Wearside will have been noted by top flight clubs. Mowbray has a reputation for developing young talent - one of the reasons why Leeds were so keen on Joe Gelhardt choosing Sunderland in January - and Premier League clubs will know their promising youngsters are in the safest of hands at the Stadium of Light.

Behind scenes improvements

It's not just on the pitch that Sunderland are keen to ensure they keep progressing.

Behind the scenes, work is underway on improvements at the club's training base.

"We have some renovation work going on at AOL," explained Speakman.

"There's huge investment going into the football club. We have a brand new refectory being fitted out trying to give us best in class in nutrition and performance which will benefit all our players from nine through to the first team.

"Then there's loads of processes, loads of unsexy stuff that has to be there to be an elite organisation and elite sporting environment that we're really turning the screw and trying to improve on.

"Then for the rest of 2023, hopefully more success. We want to be putting out a team that will hopefully be challenging at the top of the league, no-one is satisfied with getting into the play-offs, while it's a great achievement in our first year back, we have to keep improving."

 

Yes very hypocritical. The PGA just got into bed with the Saudis despite banning their players from the pga tour who signed up to play LIV. A few quid will have changed hands.