Ishmael

Ameobi aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1384053/Michael-Dawson-adds-Sunderlands-crippling-injury-list-woes-mount-Steve-Bruce.html Seems they'll do anything to keep that injury list excuse going...

What a s*** semi final. Schalke were an embarrassment.

Did they have more 'meaningful' possession? What was the territorial percentages like?

That would mean dropping Nolan, surely? He's slowest most one dimensional player we have in the midfield... I do agree with that, but I wouldn't want us to sign a really limited physical player.

Sounds good, very good in fact. Will feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders the second we're mathematically safe.

There you go again.

Erm yeah, this point is being discussed above... Doesn't need one of your trademark pointlessly condescending posts to point it out, does it? You're a really good poster aside from this kind of s***. It really is pathetic.

The only opinions on Gosling I trust are those of two Everton fans I know on another forum. Their opinions on Gosling were by no means flattering, and that was way before he jumped ship. Not exactly damning, but they don't lead me to believe that he will be a surefire first team option next season or ever will be for that matter. 'One for the future' has been banded around his signing and I think that is exactly what he should be considered. I would be no means place any expectation on him being a significant improvement or even addition to the first team next season. Anything other than competence as a back-up will be a huge bonus.

I agree with junkhead in that Ireland would be too much of a gamble if you are to assume that he would arrive on such high wages. We've done well for ourselves only loaning him and we have learnt very little about him (what he can offer to our first eleven), nowhere near enough to seriously justify what appears to be a considerable gamble. A further loan with a view to buy would be the safest option, but I have no idea if that is feasible.

You must remember colinmk that Nolan is almost certainly going to be guaranteed a place in our XI, regardless of his physical ability to some extent. Would anyone disagree?

is Ireland the only option then? Would like us to sign another creative player, just not him. I don't think anyone on this board is partial to that information. Ireland would seem like being a big gamble at this point in time, so we'll just have to see how the transfer window unfolds.

Way to epitomize the blinkered view a lot of people take on here towards him

Not sure about that like. Why aren't you sure? Surely if we somehow mange to find an effective replacement for Carroll then our midfield should return back to their potent(ish) ways? Even the effectiveness of the players you've listed would be drastically reduced in our team if we don't have the forwards to at least worry opposition defenses.

Only a fully conscious Ameobi has the potential to dominate games for us out of our current crop. That in itself is a rarity and iirc the last time he did boss a defence was against the pitiful Wolves? Even then, he only managed to do it for the first half. Jonas - Tiote - Nolan - Barton Guthrie - Smith - R, Taylor Looking at that, it's the reserves that we need to improve. A definite worrying lack of depth behind the first choice 4. I'm only moderately confident in Guthrie out of those 3. Did I miss anyone (aside from the injured guy)?

Sorry, I didn't intend to be. Regardless, do you agree?

Our midfield's strength is it's tenaciousness and battling abilities. That is generally good enough to survive in the PL but to move to the next level (ie crack the top ten) it's lacking. I think you underestimate the capabilities of our midfield, which I assume is caused by you misinterpreting why we do not create chances / score consistently / retain possession consistently. As Michael said with better players in our front line our midfield will be able to contribute a lot more.

Disco is right, apart from lacking a bit of depth, our midfield is good enough for where we want to be. Assuming where we want to be is roughly 6-10th come the end of next season. We need quality players in the final third. Basically, we need a replacement for Carroll plus a suitable back up option at a minimum. In regards to the midfield I'm unsure if we can feasibly improve on the players that we currently have. The only player who I would want to see replaced is Nolan and he will no doubt remain as the club captain next season, consequently almost certain of being a first choice option. Just an addition or two to strengthen our foundations would be nice.

It's on Marca's cover today, hardly ITK info Why is this funny?

What irony?

Then maybe you should grow some thicker skin? Really is pathetic, dropping that name calling into the thread then coming screaming and crying to the other lads when the response wasn't what you probably wanted. I should be the one who looks pathetic in this thread and you've gone and achieved the seemingly impossible by turning it all onto yourself. Well done, oh and thanks a bunch.

Erm, I didn't pm you any abuse. I did pm you telling you to 'fuck off' because I didn't want any of it out in the threads as it's all rather pathetic. 'It' being a response to your really shit post. Happy now?

Bravo Pissi, you've outdone yourself.

Only because of 'contributions' such as your own... Not because the OP stinks of fail? Yes, I admit that calling Jonas the most technically inept player in the squad is stupid. He isn't, but my criticisms of him are valid. Still, the response, be it somewhat familiar and predictable, by the masses on here has been nothing short of pathetic.

Only because of 'contributions' such as your own...