St1pe

People are obsessed with the idea that we should only have 11 players. Here's a radical thought, how about we have more than one player who can play in a certain position. Wow... I was literally just asking where this lad will likely to play as I know very little about him aside from the odd MOTD blinder.

I'm still not really sure where he's likely to play and in what system? I've read he played as a 10 at West Ham but surely that'll likely be given to Perez? Would be be able to play a similar role that Sissoko was supposed to be occupying last season?

About an 8. On paper we've got one of the strongest squads, if not the strongest, but on paper we shouldn't have been relegated.

I'm really not keen on Sissoko but that isn't even close to being true.

I really hope this whole thing is concluded quickly. I can see it being a long, drawn out one though.

I'm pleased he's gone and especially given the fee we've got for him. Good player but just didn't want to know playing for us in too many games. I'm undecided whether he'll really kick on and be a top player given his lack of effort at times. I think Klopp could be the right manager for him if it's ever going to happen. Like others have said, good deal for all parties.

He's obviously a talented player and there were many other factors why we were relegated but I'll be pleased when him and Sissoko leave, watching two of our best players put in so little effort is not something I can easily forget. Hopefully we get serious money for both and we build a stronger side with it.

Loved him in his first couple of seasons, loathed him last year. Good luck to him but he's one of many I won't miss.

If he wants to move back to the Premier League surely there's a better move out there for him? Pardew has an incredible track record of nulifying his own wingers and Palace were in free fall. How can that be an encouraging prospect for him? I think if it was Southampton, Everton, West Ham etc I'd be more understanding but to move to another potential relegation battle with Pards.. Urgh!

I hope we con someone into giving us a massive fee for him.

Wow booing an England player every time he touches the ball is pathetic. I didn't even think some of them lot would be that thick.

Christ that's scraping the barrel.

I hope he stays but I can see him leaving to be honest. A year of first team football in the Championship would probably be ideal for him, especially if he does well and we get promoted. I can definitely see him looking for more money somewhere and sitting on the bench of a Premier League team though.

For all this season has been an absolute disaster it's quite a nice feeling to not be an absolute nervous wreck before a game.

I think there is only really him and Lascelles that I'd be disappointed to lose. Maybe throw Mbemba and Mitrovic in that as well - the latter because I think he'll come good in the end. Townsend is comfortably our most dangerous player though.

I hope he stays. He'll make a hell of a difference playing in a team with more possession like he did when Swansea adopted that playstyle and hopefully in the Championship he'll be seeing more of the ball. He made a massive difference in the West Ham and West Brom home games because there was movement and willing runners. Once players like Wijnaldum and Sissoko are moved on and are replaced by players who are actively seeking the ball rather than hiding from it I think he could do well. I'm not saying he's been good or that he's made a noticeable difference but if we are to rebuild I think he could a useful cog in that process, he hasn't been the one of the major factors from the playing staff that shoulders blame.

It's really hard to say what'll happen until we know it Rafa is going to be here or not. I hope we sort out Aarons's and Mbabu's contract though. Those two could do well in the league then who knows how they'll progress with games. It'd also be nice to see some natural width on both wings assuming we can somehow keep Townsend too.

Would be nice if all of the Sunderland fans on my Facebook feed - most of which I didn't even know followed football - actually mentioned how well they've done to stay up rather than sharing infinite amounts of anti-Newcastle stuff.

Didn't Villa reject Rafa based on fan opinion? Was that not McClaren? Nah it was McLiesh http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13793274

Didn't Villa reject Rafa based on fan opinion? Was that not McClaren?

They'll definitely get the points tonight. Anyone harbouring an hope is setting themselves up for more disappointment. The worst part about it all is that they fully deserve to stay up over us, we've been an absolutely shambles throughout the majority of the season.

I wonder if there's a realistic chance of Rafa staying? I guess it'll depend on a whole host of things. I don't really trust our board to give him the assurances that he would probably need to persuade him to stay.

I wonder if we'll actually have money to spend because we need 2-3 players now and that's before any of the first team players leave.

WE got promoted from the championship last time because the other teams didn't have finishers and we did. If he's our striker next season, we might well be the other team. We don't exactly play to his strengths though do we? If Andy Carroll had this lot for service he'd be absolutely knackered.