Shadow Puppets

The issue quite clearly stems from the midfield three.

He had a tough first half… thought he was great second half though. Headed everything away. Would still like to see more Tino though.

Burn had a shocker against Luton, no doubt, but he was great for 65 mins against Villa and the whole Fulham game. I don’t quite buy the overreactions that he’s a massive liability… he’s not at all. Would still prefer Tino to start though.

I will caveat that by saying that is based on info I had two weeks ago, so I'm not sure if anything has changed. I was told two weeks ago that it would likely be early March before we saw him back on the pitch.

They're taking it very carefully with him due to the nature of the injury. So he is training, yes, but nowhere near full intensity. Much like they did with Botman.

I have nothing to report on that one mate. The only injury I can really report on is the Anderson one… still a month away at least last I heard.

Although in reality there probably won’t be any incomings, his exact words were… ”I’d be more than happy if the window shut right now with no incomings or outgoings”

Absolutely fucking brilliant result, and 80 mins of excellent performance. What a night!

Fantastic first half performance. Just need to keep it simple second half. Catch them on the break when it opens up.

He said no war chest meaning we're not going to just go out and spend £200m without selling anyone. But in my opinion, and reading between the lines, he very much expects a busy summer, but it'll hinge on someone significant leaving.

Anderson’s still at least a month away.

?

Eh? I watched a really scrappy game… one where both teams were poor… one where Fulham had 2/3 shots on goal all game… and where we took two chances that fell our way. We didn’t play well with the ball, but defensively we were pretty good. The midfield for me is the problem. A seeming lack of confidence / ability to keep the ball. Understandable considering the absentees.

Is it?

? Maybe take a break from the internet mate.

??

See my post above. He hasn’t pushed for any more. That of course doesn’t mean he wouldn’t move if an offer was accepted, but he is in no way driving this.

“He doesn’t want to leave” doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t if an offer was accepted. But he absolutely IS happy at NUFC and is happy to stay. At no point has he asked NUFC to let him leave, or offered encouragement to Bayern. The club may have offered encouragement… his agent perhaps, I dunno… but he himself absolutely hasn’t.

He doesn’t want to leave, though. Don’t know how many times I need to say it ?

It’s not “whispers and rumours” FFS ? It’s been confirmed repeatedly to be completely made up bullshit from a pair of Sunderland fans.

So I’ve just been speaking with the same people who gave me the info about Tripps last week (without going into too much detail, for obvious reasons, it’s very close to the horses mouth)… They reiterated: - he has no specific desire to leave, loves NUFC and the area. - various family members have just moved up into the area. - NUFC have told him that they don’t want him to leave either and aren’t actively trying to sell him. But… - Bayern are definitely pushing to make it happen, and there seems to be a growing sense that he may have to make a decision should a bid come in that’s too good to turn down. Basically, exactly what I was told last week, except with an edge of worry that it may be reaching a stage where things could change.

He. Doesn’t. Want. Out.

Not like you to go over the top, mate ?

Such a bellend this guy. Backtracking on his sensationalist headlines…

and they’d be wrong