afar

I've just caught up with the Fekir to Liverpool news, that's actually a perfect fit for them. Wow, they are building a great side. They've got that kid too coming through who starred in the u17 world cup last year haven't they. They do need a new keeper though now, surely just a matter of time before Butland or Heaton end up there.

When you are up against opponents that consist of a team who have a 3rd division player and a one that can't get into a team in Scotland starting, anything less than a big win should be expected but international football is weird.

What a goal that is

I'm all for moving the England games around the country, but why play in that shithole of a stadium ?

Are they playing tonight ? God I hate friendlies.

They are getting over the odds on a player they clearly don't want and couldn't afford to keep. Sometimes it makes financial sense just to walk away from a deal, taking a much smaller loss than you should. It's great business, he's not a player that will help them get out of Div 3 and they are getting a decent wedge for him and as you say cutting another big earner off their books. Honestly anything over 0 pounds for any of their top earners is great business for them now, once they get the wage bill under control, and make a dent in their transfer deficit they can start looking forwards.

Poch would appear to be the ideal person, obvious Spuds will dig their heels in to hang on to him, but having said that it's a club where winning is a requirement and Poch for all him qualities has no track record of actually winning anything. Wenger I think would be a good fit, Mourniho going back just doesn't sound like a great plan.

I thought that whole thing ended in tears there, why would they want him back.

Seriously that is excellent business for them, he's not worth half that, despite what they paid for him. Makes Colback look like a footballer.

How often you watch Stoke? Talking about Stoke, and I'll admit I have no where else to put this. Think they could be in a good position to bounce straight back up, if the sell Shaqiri and Butland, maybe Shawcross and one or two others, they could have a very sizable pot of money to work with to begin the task of rebuilding that squad. Their new manger, knows the division, and is pretty decent.

I'm not so sure. In the run in he wasn't even getting in the Brom team. The taxi incident puts question marks against his character and he's the wrong side of 30 now. Baring in mind the wages he'll expect, I would hardly be excited if he were coming to my team even for the low clause fee.

And keep the other £50m+ for a rainy day. Hehe, or probably put it aside to pay for players wages over 5 years.

Personally never really liked them, didn't really get much worse for me when they rejoiced at our demise. I kind of understood a small aspect of it. Funny as hell to see them in financial trouble, as much as we like to make fun of the Mackems and their attendances, these guys are just as bad, considering the population of the city they are located in and they are still very much the biggest name. Too much is made though of clubs going into administration and it being a sad day for the fans, for biggish clubs, it nearly always means a fresh start and things improve. Southampton, Leeds, Palace and Middlesboro all rose again from the ashes, obviously some teams like Leeds haven't risen back to where they were, but they are still very much alive. Villa will not die, neither would we have in 1992 had we gone down to the third division by the way, there would always have been a Newcastle United as there will be an Aston Villa.

Good news, it's really encouraging to see our junior level doing really well. Nice to see progress from Armstrong too, think he stagnated the year before his move to Blackburn, that's done wonders for him I feel. We might have a player on our hands, after all.

Why do I keep clicking on this thread ?

A lot of people are getting ahead of themselves here, understandable with Ashley as the owner. But he's not gone yet and honestly for 30-45 million that's been quoted, while Rafa is still here (which I'm sure he will be for this season at least) and assuming he maintains the "final say" on transfers that Ashley has promised, then he won't be going anywhere. If someone gets close to Van Dyke kind of money then Rafa will, rightly so, debate it in his head. It's hard to replace what Jamaal gives the side, for 70 million though you could bring in two players that may fill some of the void and plug another gap. As much as I love Jammaal, I don't think his reputation outside of NUFC is as high as the 70 million worth he is to us, so for that reason as long as Rafa remains in control, per Ashley's previous quotes, then he'll still be a NUFC player come the start of the season.

For 22 years of my 49 years on this planet I have lived in one of three different countries outside of the UK. I'm still and will always be very much an Englishman however, I'm very proud of that and I love our flags, especially the St George's cross, I do not associate it with any of these groups or movements. Having lived in both the US and Canada, there is a huge thing made about flying the flag, you see maple leaves here on practically everything Canadian. As a nation we shouldn't be embarrassed to show our colours, if these groups are making you feel that way then ask yourself why are you letting them, it's not theirs to mold to their will or agenda. The world cup is fast approaching, there will be lots of English flag floating around the country and rightly so, if the team does well that will only increase the numbers, I feel sorry for you if you can't take pride in that.

Perhaps he still has a future here, sounds like he's played really well at the tournament. I've changed my mind I wouldn't sell just yet, I would probably give him 1/2 a season as back up, if he's not getting the game time, or not impressing loan him out to a champo club in January. What he doesn't need at this stage is another Sunderland level league loan, he's proved himself more than good enough for that level.

WTF dude, so we have no national flag that you can look at with pride. That's sad, don't let these groups take away that from you man, you are just playing into their hands.

Yeah me too, think it will look a lot better on.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44376099 Suspended the CEO and Tony is taking over apparently something definitely up there. They gambled on a quick PL return and it's failed miserably on both attempts so far, they still have a year of parachute payments, so I think they'll be safe next year but they will be up against it, with the three relegated clubs all likely to be big hitters next year in that division. Failure to get promoted for a third year will leave them in the shit, and probably lead to a Forest style situation for them, of years and years of living outside the PL with little hope of a return.

In this market that's a great deal. Would have liked him for us is Kenedy was unobtainable.

I Rafa leaves, he'll be one of the names in the frame for sure, the mistake we made with McClaren though may work against him, he'll be seen as a similar type of appointment, with no guarantee of survival and therefore income stream. I still don't think Rafa leaves this summer no matter, but if he did I think they go for the return of Fat Sam, he's just perfect for Ashley's model, he just didn't know that himself when he took over and pandered to the masses.

Yeah I would certainly take third divison football, with an owner who doesn't have the financial clout to get me to the PL. It's a no-brainer. This may change things though, I wasn't aware this was actually happening: "Donald believes speed is of the essence with a major rebuilding job ahead on and off the field. He completed a £40m buyout on his own rather than wait for fellow investor Juan Sartori to receive Football League ratification. The Uruguayan is now going through that process while Donald presses on with his work." https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/sunderland-braced-third-paddy-mcnair-14745323

I never believed it was until recently but yeah, we will not be sold until Ashley passes away.