28 Jun 2015 13:01:55
We need to be realistic. We cannot attract the best because we are near the bottom again and also cannot afford huge wages. There is a need to concentrate on a CH with pace and defensive nous ( a young Wes Brown) a creative no 10, a striker who can score at least 15 goals a season a FB who can defend as well as attack and a formation that allows Defoe to do what he does best. Congerton has shown he is not up to the task, but I don't think Advocaat would have signed up without being the sole arbiter of who is bought and sold.

1.) 28 Jun 2015
28 Jun 2015 23:19:25
While I agree that we need to be realistic about players who would strengthen the side that would actually come here,
there does not seem to be any indication of real change in ambitions or expectations. The truth is that Brown is a liability who has single-handedly lost us games over the past two seasons with his poor discipline, woeful decision-making and complete lack of pace. Re-signing him was a depressing start to a supposed 'new era'- he would not be in any decent Premier starting eleven and there seems little point in retaining squad players who are no longer good enough to step up. Coates performances overall have not been inspiring either- he has shown little positional sense and is easily turned,and I suspect that he only looked more promising in the last few games because he was replacing even poorer performers. Of course, perhaps Dick has seen something in him that he can work on, but signing him is not exactly a coup. What is most worrying about this is that centre-back has been a major weakness for three seasons now and we have effectively re-signed two of the main reasons for this. So we have frittered away a rumoured £4m of the war chest and added probably £3/4m to the wage bill and still need two premier quality centre-backs. Groundhog day again in Sunderland.

It must be clear to everyone- Short, Congerton and Advocaat included, that this season will be another disappointing struggle against relegation unless something changes quite dramatically over the next month. But from what we have seen so far, it is hard to be optimistic.

2.) 29 Jun 2015
29 Jun 2015 16:29:25
No m8 we can't get the best because where we are in the world nothing to do about EPL place if we were in London players would be falling over them self's to play for us 43 plus crowds ever week that's why we need a good youth team try and get the best players while they are young only chance we have

3.) 02 Jul 2015
02 Jul 2015 22:24:37
Agree with the point Brandon makes about it being hard to be optimistic in this "new era" under Advocaat.Especially as today we handed a five year deal to Cattermole who is also a big liability on and off the field.It is even more depressing to have to look forward to red and yellow cards while creating absolutely nothing going sideways and back.Unless some quality is brought in as promised, it will be another relegation fight.We simply must get rid of these players with the loser mentality or eventually they will take us down. chris-s