You can't blame the player for signing or taking the wages. As a so called, wrongly imo, 'lifelong Sunderland supporter' O'Neill should've been aware of the 'Chopra factor'. The fact that he bought Graham to play him in the wrong way killed his chances from the start. It was a 'Steve Bruce style' piece of deluded arrogance form O'Neill, believing his genius would override everything else. Graham has never had a 'Defoe' to play alongside, at Sunderland, and it might just be a working partnership. Fletcher isn't a target man for Defoe to play off but he doesn't have the movement off the ball either. Graham looked, in the last two games, as if he understands what Poyet wants, and that will certainly influence the manager. Graham played well in a similar role at Swansea so who knows ........
He might just get his chance this week mate and i'd be happy if he could just provide the bullets for Defoe to fire
Our hands are tied re: his contract. Thanks MON. God knows we have tried, but any long term loan or transfer has not happened because we pay him too much. We have to honour contracts, as much as it bugs us. However, his last two games showed a completely different player. He looks fitter and more up for it, so he gets my backing while he wears the shirt and tries. Is he playing for a transfer? Dunno, but who the hell are we going to get in as another experienced striker at this stage of the window? The Defoe deal was ongoing in December, and a very good deal it is too. I doubt getting rid of DG or the others will happen in this window. Get on with it.
Who to play alongside Defoe in our home games is the question, non of our front three, Whicks, Fletch or Danny look tailor made. Fletch combined with Defoe once or twice against Spurs but they are similar in style , the big man little man suggests Whicks who needs to improve his team work imo, Danny ? maybe, but could a wild card be Alvarez or Giacca, even both in a front three at home. It would give us a strong bench.
SOUND BITE: Oatway praises Graham Published: 23 January, 2015 by Oscar Chamberlain Graham praised following return to Wearside. Charlie Oatway has hailed the excellent attitude and work ethic displayed by Danny Graham. The forward returned from a loan spell from Wolverhampton Wanderers at the start of 2015, and he has since worked his way back into the first-team fold on Wearside. And speaking to safc.com Oatway praised Graham’s professionalism and determination. “Danny has come on in the last couple of games and he has been magnificent for us. “He had a couple of chances as well and like Cabral and Charis Mavrias there is a possibility that he could be involved against Fulham, so we will see tomorrow.” He continued: “It comes down to the man and the individual and I have got so much respect for Danny Graham, because not once has he ever given us a problem or has he not turned up and trained properly. “He works continuously hard and he has found himself back in the team, and that is not down to Gus [Poyet] or the coaching staff it is down to him.” @Wembley Cest music to your ears?
An excellent attitude and work ethic count for nothing if the ability isn`t there. Might give Wickham and Fletcher a kick up the arse though. Those two haven`t exactly set the prem alight.
An excellent work ethic might just work alongside Defoe, sometimes opposites attract and all that good bullshit. Well it is Friday night
Oh all this analysis stuff ffs We are just a ****e team, have been for years, had many a palp supporting them but it's in our blood and that's what we do. Come what may, we have fans struggling to get up every day, fans that cannot get up everyday and fans on their deathbeds everyday. We have fans skint wondering where the next meal is coming from, fans chucking food out that they could eat and pompous twats that probably get more bonus than the average fan earns. Thing is on match day, we are all the same, we all Sunderland fans, yeah the team has failed the fans but, you know what? Who ****ing cares, we are Sunderland and we will always be there.. Ha'waaaay the Laaaaads..
I have never rated him, massive mistake by MON. I think we should just pay him off, but I guess its cheaper to keep him as a 4th choice. Onwards and upwards.
You should be doing the team talks marra... Your little 'rally call' has got me ready for tomorrow!!!
