Sunderland Banter Archive January 22 2014

22 Jan 2014 22:53:40
First of all well done and good luck for the final lads. have looked a completely different team recently and poyet has installed a bit of confidence

hope you get to keep ki as I am a big fan of his from his celtic time and he has fitted well into your squad unlike the way swansea had applied him

22 Jan 2014 12:32:36
Ok. So this is where I think we are at: -

We have signed a back up keeper for Mannone due to Westwood being unlikely to return this season - Sensible

We have signed two defenders. Alonso has looked solid and committed, Vergini obviously I can't comment on until he has played - This spells the end for Dossena and I would expect Diakite and possibly Roberge to be moved on in Jan if we can and if not definitely in the summer.

If Stoke have offered £5m for Cattermole and we can get the Bridcutt deal over the line then I would definitely do this. Catts does a job but with him having to be restrained for discipline reasons he has looked poor. His passing is below par, he doesn't score and under pressure his basic football skills have been shocking. As a high earner get him off the books and hopefully replace him with someone with a greater skill set.

Cabral has gone on loan. I still have no knowledge of why he went from our best player in Hong King and against Fulham to not playing and being moved on. Either way, hopefully they buy him and we make some money on a free transfer signing.

I would get rid of Giaccherini as well. He has no pace and is too small and lightweight for the premier league. We must try to recoup as much of the £6.5m we paid however.

Ji has gone, thank god, and Graham will not be recalled. The club made a big mistake a wasted £5m income on Ji in the summer and Graham will not raise anywhere near the £5m we paid for him. Regardless of this we must get him permanently off the books.

Fletcher does not look interested so if we can get £8m or above I would sell him.

Altidore is struggling but having seen him play for USA he can produce. The system we play is making it difficult for him so I would personally persist and give him a chance.

I would try to sign Ki permanently now.

Borini works hard but for me needs to play up front, either lone or alongside Altidore. Only then can be decide if he is worth trying to sign on a permanent deal.

The likes of Gardner, Larsson etc who are out of contract should be sold if we can get any money for them. If not they will not have their contracts renewed in the summer.

All of this means we desperately need a good attacking midfielder and a fast striker. Our situation however means it is difficult to secure anyone of sufficient quality as we do not want to pay large transfer fees and sign long contracts.

It will be a difficult last 9 days of the transfer window but we must bear with it.