timeEd32

What are we worrying about now?

The only way this is true is if we don't want to accrue £60-70m in losses again.

I agree if there was ever a time for Eddie to pull something new out this feels like when it’s needed.

Could be wrong but my assumption is that deal is done if we want it to be. All depends on if we can get someone that we want.

At least they have to get on with it at HT.

Confidence is clearly low and maybe as big of an issue as fatigue at this point. I think adding someone this window could galvanize our whole team, especially if they improve the quality of our midfield and have an energy about them. MGW would be perfect.

The explanation could be as simple as we like him at LB, but we have Burn and Tino there, and he’s atrocious in the midfield.

He looked promising to me at Chelsea. If this isn’t related to a clause in any way then there must be something the coaching staff is unhappy with. It’s a weird situation given the position we’re in.

Can’t wait for the draw. Maidstone home or away, otherwise anyone at home.

We must be trying to keep Hall below some clause. Only explanation that makes sense.

I’d love for them to go de Zerbi over Alonso.

Would be incredible to play Maidstone at SJP.

We’re going to win. 3-1

Or at all. The last thing I tried to order was the matchday jacket for my son and it got canceled a month later.

I find it oddly enjoyable seeing the best team in the world need a scrappy set piece goal to win.

The club was bought in October 2021, but we had a little problem called relegation. First order of business a new manager and then an insane January transfer market where they were all learning on the fly. Then they go on a hunt for a DoF and CEO and we get Ashworth and Eales in by summer 2022 along with a Chief Legal Officer. First up for Eales and co. is finding a Chief Commercial Officer, so we get that squared away around October 2022. The first order of business for most of these people is hiring. Ashworth puts together an overhaul of our scouting and youth coaching operation. In July of 2023 we announced a Chief Financial Officer In August of 2023 we hired a Partnerships Director. In September 2023 we hired a Director of Brand, Marketing and Digital. In October of 2023 we added a Retail & Licensing Director. It's really just in the last 6 months that we've got all the pieces in place on the business side and my guess is all of them are spending time hiring people, while also trying to get things rolling. We're just getting started.

The timing couldn't be more perfect. He'll want to move on from Leverkusen after this season because it's going to be difficult to replicate/maintain.

Going to be very interesting to see how this plays out. I'm glad we're not involved.

Yup, I think it means we've reached the public stage of contract negotiations. Not ideal, but also not really out of the ordinary. I think he'll end up signing unless Bruno's future becomes a factor.

It's also the training ground, entertainment zone, and dependent on whatever the hell these performance bonuses are based on: The club’s Wast Hills training ground will be renamed The Knighthead Training and Academy Grounds. A new fan ‘entertainment zone’ @ Knighthead Park, will be built, situated on club-owned land close to the Tilton and Main Stand at the Stadium. The deal is based on an annual sponsorship fee, a Men’s First Team performance-related bonus and a Club wide social media performance-related bonus which could deliver £6,241,666.67 for the remainder of the season and £9,450,000 for the 2024/25 season. Knighthead will also receive physical and digital branding rights across the stadium, training grounds and all club-owned channel

I'd say this is the exact opposite of ruling himself out: "At the moment, I am really happy here and enjoying my work here. I'm feeling each day and each game is a challenge and we are in an intense but in a beautiful journey here in Leverkusen and I am trying to give my best to help my players be ready for the next thing, and that's my goal. "What will come next, I don't know."

These minutes really are gold. The derby broke them. This was the opening statement: We are not swayed by extreme points on social media - that should never be the barometer of fan feeling – but we are very confident in what the mood of the majority of the fanbase is. The Emirates FA Cup third round tie was a complete mess, and whilst this debacle alone has had an impact on how supporters perceive the way our Club is run, it has also brought into focus what are now long-standing concerns. The message from fans to the owners and decision makers at the Club is very clear. We have had enough. We have had enough of being taken for granted. We have had enough of being an afterthought. We have had enough of "pound-shop" merchandise - when it's actually in stock. We have had enough of a level of customer service that would make a League Two Club blush. We had enough of the lack of pride in the Stadium and in the Institution that is SAFC. We have had enough of decisions that walk all over the sensibilities and pride of generations of Sunderland supporters. They are mad about: the allocation Black Cats bar being open at all Speaking directly to the owner: he, and the management team, had completely misjudged the importance of an SAFC versus NUFC derby, both today and historically. This decision, and its consequences, will be thrown in the faces of Sunderland fans forever and is one of the worst decisions the Club has made since taking over the Club. An emergency board meeting was held when the bar pictures started coming out

I hate Liverpool as much as anyone, but...

I think it was the first retirement that he backtracked on that led to a bad season. 2001 I think.

Found him very unlikable as time went on, but without him Pep’s City would have walked to six straight titles. No Klopp and no Salah soon enough definitely opens the possibility of regression for them. Great news.