Optimistic Nut

Top GK, plus another as backup would be ideal but if we have to keep Pope another year or could haggle Ramsdale down to £12-15m as backup, I'd settle for that. Left & right-back cover is essential. Someone like Hickey from Brentford who can play both would be the jackpot, like. I'd be keeping Schar or Burn but not both. Go for a younger defender 25 or under who'd push Thiaw & Botman for their spot. Sell whoever fetches the biggest fee out of Schar & Burn. Sell two of Woltemade/Wissa/Osula, not arsed which two. Get the number 9 signing right in the summer. Sell Murphy, sign a new RW. I think that'd be enough of a squad to compete for top 5 when we have either no Europe, or Europa/Conference League level opposition in Europe.

I don't think it needs anything massive. We have less 5 or 6/10s in the squad but our 8/10 keeper has become a 5/6, and we lost our 9/10 striker. Quality keeper, quality striker, 1 or two Tonali/Bruno/Hall level signings in other positions and I think we're golden.

I don't think that "North-East Top Dogs" phrase was ever used until 99/00. I remember Eric Gates using it loads on the Three Legends.

First time I've properly noticed that they even tried to rip off our crest.

Celebrated winning a tackle at 3-0 on an 18-year old Miley more than we celebrated the Carabao Cup Final.

Because they normally play a free-flowing tiki-taka brand of football.

Fans turning on some of the players people were wanting us to have bought back in October time (Diarra thread for example).

Doubt I'd be far off saying Andre Gray has more career Premier League goals than this Sunderland XI?

Honestly thought he was 25-26, 29 a month into next season. Wouldn't pay more than £40m.

I like him, think he's a Howe striker and would get us 15-20 in the league.

Big win for Hebburn against Gainsborough who are near the top. Still top.

13 points from the last 18 available after 14 defeats in a row. 4 adrift now, brilliant recovery.

This would be the escape act of all escape acts if they pull it off.

We seem to have a good home record against the big clubs at home in the cups under Howe. Mainly Carabao Cup like, but you'd imagine this will be 4th on City's list behind the CL, league and a cup final?

I'm going Lescott & Given as the guests.

It's been a clear "big 6" until the last 4 seasons.

It's the 6 richest clubs who've finished top 6 more often than not over the last 20 years tbf. Spurs have been in there 15/20 last seasons.

Saw something mentioned with him and Robbie Keane together. Would have shades of Shearer & Dowie.

These look like fun. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FMBtWJcvK/

I've been saying for ages the family enclosure was too big, like. Was increased to the amount it is by Ashley to get bums on seats. More availability to the regular punter is only a good thing?

Only got a 2-3 game retrospective ban start of the next season too.

4th worst according to Sky, Sunderland first by a bit.

He's 6 foot 3.

Hang on, we're above them in that league.