Sunderland Banter Archive August 25 2014

25 Aug 2014 10:06:24
A big week ahead in the transfer market - but it didn't have to be - if we had agreed a reasonable fee for Alonso and moved diikette the other way we could have had additional cover at the back and an unwanted off the wage bill - and if we had met a fair valuation for Mutch we could have closed it out before other teams were involved with another Rodwell like player in the squad - leaving a search for a striker - and with circa 14 mil to spend we could have bought 2! - or do what we have done and hang out for Borini - with a big pot to use if get cold feet - but with less fish to catch!
My point to all this is I am sick of the lame excuse about players not wanting to come to sunderland - I believe the above was more than realistic - just Congerton didn't make it happen! - so the next week requires a slice of good luck and a lot more good judgment than has been shown at times and probablies more money than what we refused to pay to close out the above deals - So MR Congerton keep up the GOOD work ( Buckley, Rodwell, Vergini but permanent would have been better) and give it your absolute all to bring in at least 1 central defender, an attacking midfielder and a centre forward (on permanents ) to push the club onwards and upwards! - not just store our problems for another day!

{Ed024's Note - Fiorentina said from the start they wanted to see Alonso after a full pre season with them, and Diakite's agent confirmed back in June that Fiorentina had decided against making the Diakite loan a permanent transfer. Not sure Congerton can be blamed for that one.}

25 Aug 2014 02:53:16
First, I have to say I enjoyed the performance today. Good show. But this was the second (league) game in a row that Poyet played Wickham and Fletcher up front together. I just don't think this works well. They just don't seem to compliment each other. Obviously we're short a goal scorer, but I would like to see Altidore used more with one of them. He's not a proven goal scorer, I know, but his hold up play is better than either, and he his an excellent decoy; always seeming to draw at least 2 defenders. I'm not saying it would solve our problems up front but it might get Connor or Fletch into better positions. Any thoughts? Ed? Mr. Mackem?

{Ed024's Note - I thought Wickham did OK, in his defence I'm sure he'd rather be playing through the middle. He didn't hold the ball up well, sometimes put us on the back foot after losing possession. For me he seemed too disconnected from Fletcher. That said he gave their defence some problems. I was expecting to see Wickham come off for Altidore and for him to play closer to Fletcher to give their defence a different problem towards the end of the game. This would have given us greater attacking threat but could have given Valencia an easier run at Van Aaholt.

Obviously Wickham isn't at home on the left hand side, he isn't exactly the quickest player and isn't too great on the ball, what I saw of him yesterday he seemed to avoid doing lots of the simple things (which count for a hell of a lot by the end if the game), he seemed to be more of a nuisance rather than a direct threat unlike Buckley, Fletcher is running out of excuses, he doesn't have enough heart, his touch is off and his movement is not what it used to be, and if your a touch and move forward it is a BIG problem, I still believe if we give them enough time at least one if them will come good
Altidore so far has looked very focused and up for it, last season he would always run after everything and put himself around but this season he looks the level above, he looks settled, and Poyet says he is the happiest player at sunderland so I expect a big season from him, I reckon Fletch and Wickham are out to show that they're the top striker whilst Jozy is a team player (as he showed countless times last season)

But we lack goals, Wickham missed big chances, Fletcher doesn't look up to it and Jozy ain't exactly proven, but I think if you give them time they will all come good, but will Gus wait? Probably not, we need a forward who can run in behind too, which I think is why we are linked to Kalou, Borini and Welbeck, I think we will get at least one of these

25 Aug 2014 00:27:09
fantastic point today, some people said man u weren't very good but made them look poor. We stayed compact and I thought cattermole was outstanding an van aanholt learnt from valencias assist that he has no left foot and would try and do that every time so was good to see him learning from his mistakes. I have no clue why gomez is even near the football pitch he is absolute litter and the only plus I can see from haing him there is that we can rest our first teamers in cup games and play him. But we need to build on what we have we've shown we hae a half decent starting 11 but strength and depth is key! Saw poyet hugging hernadez after the game and having a word and ignored everyone else so being a hopeful supporter could a bid be imminent??

I hugged my mother this morning but talks over a permenant switch haven't been positive.

Haha decent banterrr