ianovthetoon

We need to take a step back here like. So we're not in the Premier League, so it's going to be difficult to attract players of the calibre we will covet once promoted. It's hard to see who we could bring in who wouldn't want big money over and above what we can currently afford. Clubs don't want to loan out players who they might need when they are trying to get the odd extra million or so in TV money by finishing 14th. It's very much a sellers market. I'm also in no doubt that when we go up Rafa will be given what the club can realistically afford to give him. Rafa may be ambitious but he will also be pragmatic. He won't be expecting Chelsea levels of investment - for now. There will be a plan to be a near top half team next year with year on year improvement. He will also have cast iron assurances in writing I'm in no doubt. If Ashley reneges on these it will cost him just as much to let him leave. I have a feeling he's learned a lesson and he's been given a chance to keep the fans off his back for good. Let's just enjoy the rest of the season, hopefully go up and reevaluate where we are when pre season comes around again. I think people have to realise we aren't a premier league club. At the moment at least

Obertan to Palarse? Oh dear.....

Must be contenti to play in the championship next year....

Even worth bringing him in to mentor Mitro? Could work and if we have an injury crisis he's a fall back option. Doubt he's gonna demand big money at 36

https://m.facebook.com/shares/view?id=1350242828374810&overlay=1&notif_t=story_reshare&notif_id=1481180416338318&ref=m_notif

I know we are in danger of clapping for every tragedy known to man but it's came to light last night that the young Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery has got worse and medics haves advised his family to take him home. A fans group on Facebook are asking folk to clap and chant his name on the 5th minute. Least we can do. Can't begin to think how his family feel right now

I have a feeling he might roll out a cup tie type team for this one. Arguably the cup quarter final is a more difficult game and the 'cup' team rolled Preston over last round

Scotland could be after Moyes according to the Northern Echo

There's a thread on RTG now comparing Ellis Short to Donald Trump. What a bunch of clowns

3 of the 12 away fans work at our place and only went cos they're related to Adam Campbell - not much of a travel from Houghton le Spring

The irony is, the model he has aspired to build probably works in a round about way with Rafa. He identifies players who offer value for money, and at some point they will still be sold because they're either surplus to requirements or want to move on to bigger and better things. Difference being the players have an opportunity to improve under a world class coach and become more valuable, and the club is sold to them on the basis that the club wanrs them and not purely as a stepping stone. Cold hard relaity is that if we end up with players becoming world beaters they will likely want that big move, or perhaps we end with a degree of success as a result of said players. The model will largely remain, but the structure is different

Funniest thing is it closed down a while ago and recently reopened as a Brewers Fayre....

It's dress down on a Friday at work, and one the sad bastards came to work in full mackem kit. Premier League badges on the arms and Kirchoff on the back the lot. Prick

BBC report it as just under 14k....

A pub in Sunderland has shared that link about the back yard on their wall stating how classy it looks. Just commented that I've seen better dressed Wheelie Bins

Rafa should get the rest of the team together and put a phone call in to Sissoko's agent on speakerphone pretending to be the Real Madrid President saying he'll pay the fee and give him a massive salary then everyone can start pissing themselves laughing shouting wassup!!!!

After police arrested him, the 38-year-old confessed: “I’ve been noncing in front of schoolgirls, I’m a horrible dirty *******” I don't know what's more shocking. His confession or the fact he's only 38....

Serious question but let's just say he did have a clause in his contract what would the consequences be of not playing him? Surely he would lose all credibility as a "sportsman" if he tried to invoke breach of contract when there are better options available? I use the term sportsman very loosely......

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/serial-flasher-brands-himself-horrible-11732820#ICID=FB-Chron-main Classy. Even got his mug shot taken in his dirty top....

Wa' gannin' ta win tha leeegue!

Cheeky bid for Giroud if he signs

None as far as I know. Pure fantasy. We need a poll up. Would Messi and Ronaldo fancy a season in the Championship? Yes/No/Drug induced lunacy........

More chance we'll end up with someone like David Nugent or Jordan Rhodes tbh. I think there's far too much blind panic. We've lost one game away from home to a team putting in a performance because it was a big game in front of tv etc. A better gauge will be where we are in a couple of weeks after the Brighton game just before the international break.

Didn't we lose some stinkers last time? Scunthorpe rings a bell. People forget the tramps lost their first few games with Quinn in the dugout before the dog nonce came and saved their season.....

I have a feeling our business is done other than to replace anyone who leaves now. Sissoko will go and we will replace, probably Janmaat too.