The Summer is here!!!

Well the end of the season was as hectic as ever, what can be said other than congratulations manchester city, I for one am a happy chappy that they won the premier league title over united. Kenny Dalglish sacked, Alex Mccleish sacked and Steve Kean's future lies in the balance and could be sacked as early as tomorrow. I am looking forward to the coming euro 2012 tournament despite the rather underwhelming squad announcement (how Micah Richards was omitted is beyond me) and of course the football in the Olympics. But, despite the optimism there is a tinge in my heart as I type that possibly Sunderland could be significantly weakened by departures in the coming weeks, Martin O'Neill is now tipped to be the next Liverpool manager by many of the nations journalists however I don't fear the departure of MON. I fear that the board may lose sight of the project that they are trying to build and cash in on some of our better players such as Stephane Sessegnon should a high cash offer come in for him. Talk is abound that we are currently looking into the signings of Mohamed Diame, Carlos Cuellar and Kevin Davies, and although I feel that these are some players who would strengthen their respective positions I am concerned about the need for that 20 goal a season striker. Now if a club has that striker they aren't just going to gift wrap them but there are a few out there for a reasonable price, if the tabloids are to be believed we are after Dider Ya Konan of Hannover 96 as well as the most ridiculous rumour to date the £25million rated Spanish (rising) superstar Fernando Llorente. Whilst a more believable link to the Spanish league is that of Arouna Kone, the Ivorian has been out on loan for the past few seasons and has shown some promise in the late stage of his career, at the age of 28 won't demand a huge fee from cash strapped Sevilla and blessed with blistering pace he is very much in the ilk of a 'Martin O'Neill'  type of player 15 goals in the league for a strong looking Levante side after their promotion last season.
   Other areas of the pitch that need strengthening are the flanks both full back births have been sadly lacking in the past few seasons, not since the days of Mickey Grey have we had a good left back, the signing of Wayne Bridge was the first sign that we were looking to strengthen with the accusation of specialist full backs. But following a rather poor spell on loan from Manchester City it is believed that he won't be returning next season, Kieran Richardson has tried manfully to adapt his game to play there and at times has looked wonderful but sadly he suits a midfield role more. Siaka Tiene from PSG is available and we are rumoured to be interested in the Ivory Coast international who can play left back and on the left wing, Kyle Naughton should be available on loan or permanently from Spurs next season to shore up the right back slot that Phil Bardsley has flattered to deceive in. Aiden Mcgeady is unsettled at Spartak Moskow after falling out with their manager and could be available for as little as £7million as back up for the inform James McClean in midfield whilst also offering us something different on the right wing. Whilst Matt Jarvis, Junior Holliet, Morten Gamst Pedersen and Martin Olsson are available from relegated Wolves and Blackburn, with Holliet the most attractive prospect in the group as a free agent and an exciting prospect for the future. Central midfield will need to be strengthened by the acquisition of a playmaker who can offer something different to Sess but that will be the most difficult task of all, but other than that central midfield is good to go. Other options up front are Steven Fletcher of relegated Wolves, Yakubu from Blackburn and the forever linked Jermaine Defoe from Tottenham, Yakubu would be the cheapest option at a meagre £2million Fletcher could be available for £8million whilst Defoe would cost in excess of £10million. Any of the before mentioned options could help strengthen us significantly next year but we need to keep hold of our best players. Have a good summer everyone!!!

Arise, Sir Niall Quinn

Its been a while since I last blogged and A LOT has happened since. Where to start probably with the recent news that Saint Niall Quinn has stepped down, it's a rather strange moment for the club as Quinn probably represents everything that has been good about this club in the last 6 and a half years. Although he didn't single handedly bring the club out of the doldrums he certainly played a bigger part than most and was the catalyst for our current premier league position, without Quinn we would probably be...well we wouldn't be anymore and that's exactly why we owe the man a great deal. Peter Reid signed him for £1.3 million and to be honest that is the most well spent money in football history because not only was he a top class centre forward, he was quite adept between the sticks and Bradford on 'That' night, whilst off the field he proved himself to be a force in the world of business as manager he was unlucky whilst he also lacked the necessary understanding of a tactics board. That is no discredit to Quinn who made sure that manager after manager we have had the best man for the job, with certainly his best appointment in place at the minute in Martin O'Neill, we are into the 7th year of a five year plan that has now started to bear fruit. Sunderland fans may mourn the loss of a great man for the club he will always be welcome at the stadium of light and will truly go down as one of if not the biggest legend the club has ever had, the club should be thankful to Quinn and give him a fitting tribute like his name above the south stand the petition set up has already put the wheels in motion the club should take heed.

Thanks Damian

Bruce Gone!!!

I know i haven't blogged in a long while since i first posted but i feel the need to have my say about bruce rather than ranting on twitter. First of all the main feeling i have is a great sense of relief after recent results and fan insubordination that the club and mainly Ellis Short have been able to recognize the need to change something and had the stones to wield the axe freely. Although i am perfectly sure that the club have considered every option in sacking Bruce i do have an uneasy feeling about the next manager and i am left with a great taste of bitter disappointment that the job hasn't worked out for Bruce. He can surely be labeled as a great person a certainly warm and welcoming man who probably wouldn't say boo to a goose, unfortunately for him though what Sunderland AFC need right now is a man who can handle the expectation and the weight of wearside on his shoulders...a man such as Martin O'neill. O'neill has often been linked with the frequently vacant seat at the Stadium of light and has never been able to take over for one reason or another, but i truly feel that this time if he is offered the job O'neill would take the job and would be welcomed by the Sunderland faithful with open arms. He is a modern day Brian Clough a mercurial creature the stuff of legends and fables as far a SAFC have been concerned in the past but he may now truly be the stuff of fact; he would certainly be the man to reinvigorate a team sadly lacking in confidence the players would be well drilled tactically and even the slightest mistake would have serious consequences from a manager who would certainly be able to handle any ego maniacs in the dressing room and would hold on to our talismans for dear life such as Stephane Sessegnon. Where a big money bid may have forced Bruce's hand O'neill would stand firm in the face of the board and demand yet more funds rather than dismantling everything that has been built at the club. Whoever takes over at the SOL will be stepping into a pre made job with perfect foundations for a strong future.

Hi,
     this is my first blog so go easy on me ok... well anyway if you are reading this then you will have probably guessed that i am a Sunderland fan. I like many other SAFC fans am a season ticket holder and i am going to try either every 2 weeks or every month to give you my views on what is going on at SAFC or in the general football world.
              Firstly i would like to thank Niall Quinn for his tireless efforts at Sunderland, like most i was shocked and dismayed by his recent resignation as chairman of the club. My first instinct was to think of the worst as most SAFC fans do, but as the news broke that Ellis Short would be taking charge of the club and Quinn was to stay on in the International development role he now has my heart leaped. The thought of someone who truly holds the club close to his heart selling our product abroad made me optimistic about the future of sunderland, the fact also remains that Ellis Short our clubs owner is now taking an active interest in the day to day running now this can go one of two ways either he decides that the club is no longer right for him and sells us or he turns us into a true force in financial terms. Although him running the club like a business may be the wrong thing to do in terms of player out goings i feel that with the new financial fair play law being brought in by FIFA we will be able to operate at peak capacity as Short turns us into a club on the forefront of the European stage. Whilst clubs like Manchester City can boast a £400 million sponsorship deal with Ethiad airways others will struggle without the backing of owners like ours and they will feel the pinch as no money enters their club as their lack of business brains makes them flounder in the transfer market and as they struggle to pay wages of players like a certain Peter Crouch. With the board being stronger than ever a brilliant group of players and a sense of stability finally settling on wearside i am compelled to believe that the futures bright in red and white.

Thanks
Damian