Parky Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Whilst our squad is probably better than theirs in quality by quite some margin, is it seriously unthinkable that they won't possibly close the gap further...possibly even overtaking us this season at some point? They are closing the gap as we speak. We still have one or two players of ridiculously high quality, but as a whole they are catching up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicago_shearer Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Whilst our squad is probably better than theirs in quality by quite some margin, is it seriously unthinkable that they won't possibly close the gap further...possibly even overtaking us this season at some point? Their first choice midfield is probably better than ours. Not unthinkable, but unlikely since they have terrible defenders and still no goalscorer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Hope our management are looking over the fence! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 At present... Given < Gordon Beye > Chimbonda Enrique > Collins Taylor > Nosworthy Faye > Higginbotham Milner < Malbranque Gutierrez > Richardson Butt > Reid Guthrie > Tainio Owen > Diouf Martins > Jones Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Icke - Son of God Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Newcastle's problem is though, that for every Owen, Beye, Given, Martins & Butt, there's a Milner, Smith, Ameobi, Taylor or Geremi. To be fair, like Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Some of the stuff in here is embarrassing. I know we're in need of signings but I didn't realise how desperate some people are for squad players from a team that finished three points above us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Newcastle's problem is though, that for every Owen, Beye, Given, Martins & Butt, there's a Milner, Smith, Ameobi, Taylor or Geremi. To be fair, like But Milner, Taylor, Geremi, um...yeah, are still better than those 5 Sunderland players. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 In a perverse way, it could be good for us if Sunderland do improve and continue to attract quality players since it could help raise the desirability of Newcastle and the North-East as a location of *choice* for players in a way not seen for quite a few years. If Sunderland became more successful it would raise the profile and boost the reputation of football in the North-East, rather than being so London-centric as it has been lately. May even help us sign the very best players in future rather than struggling time after time. Maybe? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Some of the stuff in here is embarrassing. I know we're in need of signings but I didn't realise how desperate some people are for squad players from a team that finished three points above us. Not as simple as that though is it? Chimbonda is a very good player in my opinion, so is Malbranque. Not fussed about Tainio but those two would have strengthened us (Chimbonda & Beye could have played alongside each other imo as RCB & RB). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Some of the stuff in here is embarrassing. I know we're in need of signings but I didn't realise how desperate some people are for squad players from a team that finished three points above us. Not as simple as that though is it? Chimbonda is a very good player in my opinion, so is Malbranque. Not fussed about Tainio but those two would have strengthened us (Chimbonda & Beye could have played alongside each other imo as RCB & RB). That would have weakened us though (if we sign Coliccini), because Chimbonda's not a centre half and certainly not as good a defender as Faye imo. Malbranque's a good player but he's not that good. You'd think the buggers had signed Kaka. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicago_shearer Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 At present... Given < Gordon Beye > Chimbonda Enrique > Collins Taylor > Nosworthy Faye > Higginbotham Milner < Malbranque Gutierrez > Richardson Butt > Reid Guthrie > Tainio Owen > Diouf Martins > Jones Their defence is laughable, but there really isn't a lot in the midfield. We are banking on Gutierrez to make an instant impact in a league in which he has no experience and Guthrie to instantly take the next step in his career from promising top 4 reject to regular first teamer in an aspiring (key word) top 8 side. We are also counting on Butt to roll back the years and Geremi to recover his form. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 The mackems are shite and will have to do a lot more before I start looking over the fence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 'Dodgy keeper' iyam. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Some of the stuff in here is embarrassing. I know we're in need of signings but I didn't realise how desperate some people are for squad players from a team that finished three points above us. Not as simple as that though is it? Chimbonda is a very good player in my opinion, so is Malbranque. Not fussed about Tainio but those two would have strengthened us (Chimbonda & Beye could have played alongside each other imo as RCB & RB). That would have weakened us though (if we sign Coliccini), because Chimbonda's not a centre half and certainly not as good a defender as Faye imo. Malbranque's a good player but he's not that good. You'd think the buggers had signed Kaka. You're the one going over the top. No-one's saying, or suggesting that at all. Merely people saying they've made a good signing and that he could have done a decent job at Newcastle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 You're the one going over the top. No-one's saying, or suggesting that at all. Merely people saying they've made a good signing and that he could have done a decent job at Newcastle. I hope we sign better, time will tell. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicago_shearer Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Some of the stuff in here is embarrassing. I know we're in need of signings but I didn't realise how desperate some people are for squad players from a team that finished three points above us. That's a valid point only if Ashley, Wise & co. bring home some good players before the deadline. Then we can all breath a sign of relief and laugh at their mediocre signings and overexcitement. Otherwise the simple fact is that they improved their squad by signing better players than they had before while we didn't. I can turn my nose up at Taino and Malbranque now, but I won't be on August 31st if we are going into our season with Nicky Butt and Milner as first choice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Some of the stuff in here is embarrassing. I know we're in need of signings but I didn't realise how desperate some people are for squad players from a team that finished three points above us. Not as simple as that though is it? Chimbonda is a very good player in my opinion, so is Malbranque. Not fussed about Tainio but those two would have strengthened us (Chimbonda & Beye could have played alongside each other imo as RCB & RB). That would have weakened us though (if we sign Coliccini), because Chimbonda's not a centre half and certainly not as good a defender as Faye imo. Malbranque's a good player but he's not that good. You'd think the buggers had signed Kaka. You're the one going over the top. No-one's saying, or suggesting that at all. Merely people saying they've made a good signing and that he could have done a decent job at Newcastle. Well there's load of players you could say that about but I'd still be hoping for better. It certainly doesn't make me worry about them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 They're improving like, I'm surprised they've managed to attract Chimbonda, Malbranque and Diouf - three players who (if we're talking purely in ability terms) would nicely slot into our own squad and push for first team places. I'm surprised there weren't bigger clubs in for them three. Obviously it's not as simple as that like, but you'd expect those three to do well for them if they stay fit. Tainio is hardly a bad player, either. If they can keep the likes of Edwards fit as well, then they'll probably do alright next term. Surely it can only be better for us if Sunderland look like improving as far as motivation goes (for the owner, the board, the staff, the players and the fans). Might be the kick up the arse that we all need if they can start putting it together again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Heneage Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 I'm unsure meself. I just think as good as the players signed wheres the goals coming from. And their CB situation is still big problem, they need 2 goal getters and 2CB'S. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parky Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 They're improving like, I'm surprised they've managed to attract Chimbonda, Malbranque and Diouf - three players who (if we're talking purely in ability terms) would nicely slot into our own squad and push for first team places. I'm surprised there weren't bigger clubs in for them three. Obviously it's not as simple as that like, but you'd expect those three to do well for them if they stay fit. Tainio is hardly a bad player, either. If they can keep the likes of Edwards fit as well, then they'll probably do alright next term. Surely it can only be better for us if Sunderland look like improving as far as motivation goes (for the owner, the board, the staff, the players and the fans). Might be the kick up the arse that we all need if they can start putting it together again. These signings move them up a level no question. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 They're improving like, I'm surprised they've managed to attract Chimbonda, Malbranque and Diouf - three players who (if we're talking purely in ability terms) would nicely slot into our own squad and push for first team places. I'm surprised there weren't bigger clubs in for them three. Obviously it's not as simple as that like, but you'd expect those three to do well for them if they stay fit. Tainio is hardly a bad player, either. If they can keep the likes of Edwards fit as well, then they'll probably do alright next term. Surely it can only be better for us if Sunderland look like improving as far as motivation goes (for the owner, the board, the staff, the players and the fans). Might be the kick up the arse that we all need if they can start putting it together again. I'd be interested to know how much growth Sunderland's management board have built in for this season in terms of their player salaries budget. They simply must have made a decision to ratchet up what they're prepared to pay their players - because those three Malbranque, Chimbonda and Diouf won't have come cheap in terms of salaries, surely? So they're clearly bedding in for a longer stay in the Premiership this time round, under the management of an increasingly confident Roy Keane, and who's to say (?), maybe this will be a renaissance for them from here on in. You're right - if this doesn't give the Ashley & Co a serious jolt then nothing will. Things are going to get interesting and more exciting as a result. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decky Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 I think these signings make them better, but they will probably be similar to last season and end up finishing either in the same place or 1 place either side of that position. Last year they were very lucky to finish as high as they did, how many goals did they score in the last few minutes? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Not convinced Ashley etc will give a flying fuck about what Sunderland are doing tbh. Maybe if they finish above us this year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Heneage Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 I think we pretty much dominated them at our place so. I think depending on how we do up until the first derby will have a big effect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 I think we pretty much dominated them at our place so. I think depending on how we do up until the first derby will have a big effect. Verbal sewage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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